Harry Potter, #3
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Overview
Hagrid’s letter confirms Buckbeak’s loss and pending execution, deepening the friends’ resolve. Hermione breaks under strain, slaps Malfoy, and then quits Divination after clashing with Trelawney. Harry sees Crookshanks with a huge black dog on the grounds, complicating the Grim omen. In a fiercely dirty match, Harry outflies Malfoy to seize the Snitch, winning Gryffindor the Quidditch Cup.
Summary
Hagrid’s tear-stained note announces Buckbeak’s defeat at the hearing and a pending execution date. Hermione despairs at Lucius Malfoy’s sway over the Committee, while Ron vows to help with the appeal. When Draco Malfoy mocks a distraught Hagrid, Hermione slaps Draco and threatens him with her wand before storming off.
On the way to Charms, Hermione mysteriously vanishes and later is found asleep over Arithmancy. In Divination, Professor Trelawney again hints at the Grim for Harry, prompting Hermione to denounce the subject’s “Mundane” nonsense. Trelawney rebukes her, and Hermione quits the class, fulfilling Trelawney’s earlier prediction that someone would leave around Easter.
During the heavy Easter workload, Hermione becomes exhausted; Ron researches Buckbeak’s appeal; Harry trains relentlessly as the final against Slytherin nears. One night, Harry spots Crookshanks on the lawn beside a gigantic black dog, challenging the idea that the apparition is merely a death omen.
On match day, tension is extreme. The game turns vicious as Slytherin repeatedly fouls; Madam Hooch issues penalties while Lee Jordan’s biased commentary draws Professor McGonagall’s ire. With Gryffindor pulling ahead, Malfoy grabs Harry’s Firebolt tail to stall a Snitch capture, earning another penalty and rattling Gryffindor’s focus.
Harry regains control, clears a path for Angelina by charging the massed Slytherins, then dives after Malfoy in a final sprint. He knocks Malfoy’s arm aside and seizes the Snitch. Gryffindor wins the Cup amid wild celebration; Wood and McGonagall weep with joy, and Hagrid exults for Buckbeak’s sake as Harry lifts the trophy.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterDetermined Seeker; sees Crookshanks with a huge black dog; catches the Snitch to win the Cup.
- Hermione GrangerOverworked; slaps Malfoy for insulting Hagrid; disputes Trelawney and quits Divination.
- Ron WeasleySupports Hermione; commits to Buckbeak’s appeal; encourages Harry before the final.
- Rubeus HagridSends letter confirming Buckbeak’s loss; devastated but resolves to make Beaky happy.
- Draco MalfoyMocks Hagrid; cheats by grabbing Harry’s broom; loses as Harry takes the Snitch.
- Professor Sybill TrelawneyForetells the Grim again; insults Hermione’s aptitude; claims prediction of her departure.
- Oliver WoodDrives strategy and intense practices; goalkeeping heroics; weeps with joy after victory.
- Madam HoochReferees the brutal match; awards multiple penalties for Slytherin fouls and Malfoy’s cheating.
- Lee JordanCommentates enthusiastically and biasedly; narrates fouls and Gryffindor’s scoring surges.
- Angelina JohnsonScores crucial goals, including after Harry clears her path.
- Alicia SpinnetScores from penalties; later misses one when angered by Malfoy’s foul.
- Katie BellScores to extend Gryffindor’s lead; suffers a dangerous foul from Montague.
- Fred WeasleyBeater; retaliates against Flint; protects Chasers; celebrates wildly.
- George WeasleyBeater; elbows Bole after a foul; helps shield teammates; jubilant in victory.
- Marcus FlintSlytherin captain; plays dirty, rams Angelina; bleeds after Fred’s thrown club.
- Professor Minerva McGonagallAttempts to restrain Lee; openly rages at Malfoy; cries with pride at the win.
- CrookshanksSeen at night trotting beside a gigantic black dog on the grounds.
- Gigantic black dogAppears alongside Crookshanks; challenges the idea it is only a death omen.
- Lucius MalfoyInfluences the Committee, contributing to Buckbeak’s doomed verdict.
- Cho ChangOffers Harry good-luck wishes before the final.