Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. It was first published in 1999.

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Warning: Plot spoilers ahead!

Plot Outline

In the beginning…

During another unhappy summer at the Dursleys’, Harry meets Uncle Vernon’s sister, Marge, who viciously insults Harry. His anger is so great that he accidentally inflates her and causes her to float around. He flees the house and sees a large black dog watching him from the bushes. The night bus suddenly appears and takes him to Diagon Alley. He meets the Ministry of Magic and is surprised to find that the matter of performing underage magic is dropped. He learns that Sirius Black murdered thirteen people with one curse, is a supporter of Voldemort and is on the run.

There are a few changes at Hogwarts when Harry Potter returns. Professor Lupin has been appointed as the new Defence Against the Darkarts teacher and Hagrid is the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

As Black is still lose, Dementers are stationed in Hogwarts. Harry is particularly affected by their presence (they suck the happiness out of anyone near by) and Lupin shows Harry how to perform the Patronus charm to repel them. When Harry is playing Quidditch he is approached by a group of Dementors and faints, Dumbledore manages to save him from his fall but his broomstick is destroyed.

Ron and Hermione are not getting on so well because Hermione’s cat Crookshanks keeps attacking Ron’s rat Scabbers. At Christmas Harry receives a splendid new broomstick, a Firebolt. However, Hermione thinks it may be from Black and reports it to Professor McGonagall, who confiscates the broom for testing. This causes a major fallout between Harry, Ron and Hermione.

The Prisoners of Azkaban

Just before Christmas, the Weasley twins give Harry their Marauder’s Map, a magical map that shows the locations of everyone one in Hogwarts as well as secret passageways. Harry uses the map to sneak into Hogsmeade and discovers that Black is his Godfather but betrayed his parents.

After Harry completes his Divination exam, Professor Trawely goes into a trance and tells Harry that he shall meet Voldemorts servant tonight. Harry, Ron and Hermione make it up with one another when they learn that Hagrid’s creature Buckbeak is to be executed and they go to try and help. On the way Scabbers reappears and is chased by Crookshanks. Ron and Scabbers are attacked and dragged down a hole by a large black dog. Harry and Hermione follow them.

Inside Harry finds Black and confronts him. Lupin, who had seen the group on the Maurader’s Map burst in and hugs his old friend Black. Confronted by Hermione, Lupin admits to being a werewolf and also the map’s creator. Lupin and Black explain to the trio that Scabbers is in fact Peter Pettigrew, who is Voldemorts servant who betrayed Harry’s parents and framed Black for murder. Harry is unsure until Lupin and Black force Pettigrew back into his human shape.

On the way back to the castle a full moon rises and Lupin turns into a werewolf. In the commodity that follows Black is badly injured and Petter Pettigrew manages to escape. Dementors arrive to take Black away and suck out his soul.

However, Hermione tells Harry about the time machine she had been given that allowed her to attend multiple lessons at the same time. Harry and Hermione then use this to travel back in time a few hours to save both Black and Buckbeak.

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