Harry Potter, #3
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER SIX
Overview
Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin Divination with Professor Trelawney, who dramatically predicts the Grim for Harry, unsettling the class but dismissed later by Professor McGonagall. In Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid introduces Hippogriffs; Harry successfully rides Buckbeak, but Draco Malfoy insults it and is injured, imperiling Hagrid’s new post. That evening the trio console Hagrid, who, sobered, orders them not to visit after dark.
Summary
At breakfast, Draco Malfoy mocks Harry for fainting before a Dementor, while the Weasley twins recall Malfoy’s own fear on the train. Hermione’s overloaded timetable raises questions Ron can’t answer; Hagrid, excited for his first lesson, hurries off. Seeking Divination in the North Tower, the trio follows the erratic Sir Cadogan to Professor Trelawney’s perfumed, shadowy classroom.
Trelawney proclaims Divination a rare Gift, tosses out ominous tidbits, and sets the class to reading tea leaves. Ron’s playful interpretations give way to Trelawney taking Harry’s cup and declaring it shows the Grim—an omen of death—prompting fear in most, skepticism from Hermione, and eventual dismissal of the prophecy by Professor McGonagall in Transfiguration, who calls such predictions imprecise and routine.
At lunch, Ron frets about the Grim, citing family lore, while Hermione derides Divination as guesswork. That afternoon, Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures introduces Hippogriffs. After Hagrid’s warnings about courtesy, Harry successfully bows to and rides Buckbeak, earning class applause and Malfoy’s resentment.
Trying to show off, Malfoy insults Buckbeak and is slashed by its talons. Hagrid rushes Malfoy to the hospital wing as Slytherins blame Hagrid and Gryffindors insist Malfoy provoked the attack. That evening, worried for Hagrid’s job, the trio visit his hut; they find him drunk and despairing about starting too ambitiously.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione promise to back Hagrid’s account, arguing Malfoy ignored clear instructions. After Hermione empties Hagrid’s tankard and Hagrid sobers himself, he abruptly scolds them for coming after dark and escorts them back, warning them not to risk it again.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterTarget of Trelawney’s Grim prediction; rides Buckbeak successfully; supports Hagrid and visits him after dark.
- Rubeus HagridNew Care of Magical Creatures teacher; introduces Hippogriffs; devastated after Malfoy is injured; later sobers and scolds the trio.
- Draco MalfoyMocks Harry; insults Buckbeak during class and is slashed; fuels threats to Hagrid’s position.
- Hermione GrangerSkeptical of Divination; mysterious overloaded timetable; comforts and sobers Hagrid; argues against Grim superstition.
- Ron WeasleyWorries about the Grim due to family lore; supports Hagrid; clashes with Hermione over Divination.
- Professor Sybill TrelawneyDramatic Divination teacher; foretells the Grim in Harry’s cup and various ominous events.
- Professor Minerva McGonagallDismisses Trelawney’s predictions as imprecise; steadies the class and assigns homework.
- BuckbeakGrey Hippogriff who accepts Harry and allows him to ride; later slashes Malfoy when insulted.
- Sir CadoganEccentric knight in a painting; dramatically guides the trio to Divination.
- Neville LongbottomStartled by Trelawney’s remarks; breaks teacups during Divination; nervous in Hippogriff lesson.
- Lavender BrownFrightened by Trelawney’s prophecies; points out the approaching Hippogriffs; unnerved by the Grim.
- Vincent Crabbe and Gregory GoyleMalfoy’s cronies; mock and menace others; take part in Slytherin backlash against Hagrid.
- Pansy ParkinsonMocks Harry about Dementors; sides against Hagrid after Malfoy’s injury.