Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.

Extremely unusual though he was, at that moment Harry Potter felt just like everyone else: glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday.

who had been complaining loudly about the long walk between the fridge and the television in the living room. Dudley had spent most of the summer in the kitchen, his piggy little eyes fixed on the screen and his five chins wobbling as he ate continually.

‘we’ve told Marge you attend St Brutus’s Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys.’

it. A good thrashing is what’s needed in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred.

Madam Marsh clamped a handkerchief to her mouth and tottered down the steps. Stan threw her bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another loud BANG, and they were thundering down a narrow country lane, trees leaping out of the way.

carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand which Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

‘Black’s not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It’s the Azkaban guards who’ll get him back, you mark my words.’

‘Shut up, Malfoy,’ Harry repeated. ‘Careful, Potter, there’s a Dementor behind you –’ ‘Oooooooh!’

They’ve got a new captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory

And I am telling you all to turn to page three hundred and ninety-four.’

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER’S MAP

Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!’

‘Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him.’

‘So Black was the Potters’ Secret Keeper?’

‘Black betrayed them?’ breathed Madam Rosmerta. ‘He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters’ death.

It was little Peter Pettigrew – another of the Potters’ friends.

And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him … a heap of blood-stained robes and a few – a few fragments –’

Ron and Hermione’s faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words.

Harry’s parents had died because their best friend had betrayed them?

‘I’ll never know what they’d have wanted because, thanks to Black, I’ve never spoken to them,’ said Harry shortly.

‘Another jumper from Mum … maroon again … see if you’ve got one.’

‘Because I thought – and Professor McGonagall agrees with me – that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!’

Personally, Harry was sure that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point out to Hermione that the evidence all pointed that way, she lost her temper with Harry, too.

Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy’s Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.

‘Pity you can’t attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy,’ said Harry. ‘Then it could catch the Snitch for you.’

Harry turned and caught sight of Cho; she was grinning.

Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy-slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.

‘What did you say to me, Potter?’ ‘I told you to shut up about my dad!’ Harry yelled. ‘I know the truth, all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for my dad!’

‘I just thought you ought to know … Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed.’

‘We’ve won the Cup! We’ve won the Cup!’ Tangled together in a many-armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth.

Even Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working; they were about to take their O.W.Ls (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting ready to sit his N.E.W.Ts (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests),

‘The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant’s aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight … before midnight … the servant … will set out … to rejoin … his master …’

The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light over the long-shadowed grounds.

an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.

Ron’s leg had broken, and next second, his foot had vanished from sight.

It was Sirius Black.

‘An Animagus,’ said Black, ‘by the name of Peter Pettigrew.’

someone who looked strangely familiar … but it couldn’t be … Harry didn’t understand. He couldn’t think any more.

If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight.

you – must – not – be – seen.’

‘Prongs,’

The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed

‘You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.’

Gryffindor house, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House Championship for the third year running.

‘It’s the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we’ll go and see it!

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade at weekends.

‘Hang on, there’s a PS … I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it’s my fault he no longer has a rat.