Harry Potter, #3
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER TEN
Overview
Harry mourns his destroyed broom, struggles with Dementor-triggered memories, and gains hope when Lupin explains Dementors and agrees to teach him next term. Fred and George gift the Marauder’s Map, enabling Harry to sneak to Hogsmeade, where he overhears that Sirius Black betrayed his parents as their Secret-Keeper and Peter Pettigrew died confronting him.
Summary
Harry spends the weekend in the hospital wing grieving his shattered Nimbus and hiding his fear of the Grim and humiliation over collapsing near Dementors. He realizes the screams he hears are his mother’s final moments and sleeps poorly.
Back in classes, Draco Malfoy mocks Harry and provokes Ron into losing points. Professor Lupin returns, cancels Snape’s werewolf essay, and leads a hands-on lesson. After class, Lupin consoles Harry, explains how Dementors drain happiness and why Harry is more affected, and confirms Dumbledore’s fury at them. Lupin agrees to teach Harry defensive magic next term.
With Christmas approaching and another Hogsmeade trip scheduled, Fred and George intercept Harry and gift him the Marauder’s Map, which reveals Hogwarts, its inhabitants’ locations, and secret passages. Despite recalling Mr Weasley’s warning about thinking objects, Harry uses a hidden tunnel beneath the one-eyed witch to reach Honeydukes.
Harry meets Ron and Hermione, who argue over keeping the map. They tour snowy Hogsmeade and take refuge in the Three Broomsticks. When McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, and Minister Fudge arrive, Hermione conceals the trio behind a Christmas tree and they eavesdrop.
Over drinks, the adults reveal that Sirius Black was James Potter’s closest friend, best man, and Harry’s godfather, and that the Potters used the Fidelius Charm with Black as Secret-Keeper. Black allegedly betrayed them to Voldemort, then murdered Peter Pettigrew and a streetful of Muggles when cornered. Fudge describes Black’s disturbing composure in Azkaban before his escape. Shaken, Harry absorbs the devastating revelation as the teachers depart.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterGrieves his broken Nimbus, suffers Dementor-triggered memories, receives the Marauder’s Map, sneaks to Hogsmeade, and overhears Black’s alleged betrayal.
- Hermione GrangerWorried about rules and safety; shields the trio with magic; learns the map’s secret and the Black–Pettigrew history.
- Ron WeasleyDefends Harry, delights in Honeydukes; urges keeping the map; hears the revelations about Black and Pettigrew.
- Remus LupinReturns from illness; explains Dementors’ effects; reassures Harry and promises to teach anti-Dementor defenses next term.
- Fred WeasleyGives Harry the Marauder’s Map and explains its use, enabling Harry’s secret trip to Hogsmeade.
- George WeasleyCo-gifts and demonstrates the Marauder’s Map; advises on secret passages and map-clearing command.
- Rubeus HagridAt Three Broomsticks, recounts meeting Black the night the Potters died and condemns Black passionately.
- Cornelius FudgeDiscusses Dementor patrols; recounts Black’s betrayal, Pettigrew’s death, and Black’s unsettling composure in Azkaban.
- Professor McGonagallParticipates in the backstory discussion; recalls Black and James at school; disapproves of Dementors at Hogwarts.
- Professor FlitwickExplains the Fidelius Charm’s mechanics and reminisces about Black and James’s friendship.
- Madam RosmertaHosts the group at the Three Broomsticks and prompts the revelations about Black and Pettigrew.
- Draco MalfoyMocks Harry after the match; triggers Ron’s outburst in Potions.
- Severus SnapeEarlier assigned a werewolf essay; deducts points after Ron’s crocodile heart incident.
- Madam PomfreyKeeps Harry in the hospital wing; tends him after the Dementor incident.
- Albus DumbledoreOff-page presence; bars Dementors from the grounds and once offered to be Secret-Keeper.
- Sirius BlackDiscussed as the Potters’ Secret-Keeper who allegedly betrayed them and killed Pettigrew and Muggles.
- Peter PettigrewRecounted as confronting Black after the Potters’ deaths; killed and posthumously honored.