Harry Potter, #3
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER THREE
Overview
Fleeing Privet Drive, Harry panics about expulsion, glimpses a mysterious black dog, and accidentally summons the Knight Bus. En route, he learns Sirius Black is a notorious Voldemort supporter who escaped Azkaban. At the Leaky Cauldron, Minister Fudge surprisingly spares him punishment, lodges him under supervision, refuses a Hogsmeade pass, and Hedwig reunites with him.
Summary
After fleeing Privet Drive, Harry rests in Magnolia Crescent, fearing arrest and expulsion for inflating Aunt Marge. Considering a clandestine trip to London, Harry senses he is being watched and briefly sees a huge black, dog-like shape. Startled, he drops his wand, and the triple-decker Knight Bus appears.
Harry boards under the alias “Neville Longbottom.” Conductor Stan Shunpike explains the bus and collects fare while driver Ernie Prang careens through the night. During the chaotic journey, Harry reads the Daily Prophet and learns Sirius Black, a feared Voldemort supporter who murdered thirteen people with one curse, has escaped Azkaban. Stan recounts Black’s capture and chilling laughter, unsettling Harry further.
The Knight Bus deposits Harry at the Leaky Cauldron at dawn. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, meets him immediately and ushers him into a private parlour. To Harry’s shock, Fudge reports the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad has deflated and memory-charmed Aunt Marge, and that Harry will not be punished for underage magic due to current circumstances.
Fudge arranges a room for Harry and imposes conditions: remain in Diagon Alley, return before dark, and avoid Muggle London. When Harry asks for a Ministerial signature permitting Hogsmeade visits, Fudge refuses, citing rules, and departs after briefly acknowledging the search for Black.
Tom the innkeeper shows Harry to his room where Hedwig has just arrived. Exhausted but relieved to be free of the Dursleys and not expelled, Harry falls asleep, ending a bewildering night.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterOn the run after inflating Aunt Marge; summons the Knight Bus, learns about Sirius Black, and is unexpectedly spared punishment by Fudge.
- Stan ShunpikeKnight Bus conductor; takes Harry aboard, shares sensational details about Sirius Black, and discovers Harry’s identity.
- Cornelius FudgeMinister for Magic; meets Harry at the Leaky Cauldron, reverses Marge’s incident, imposes curfew, and refuses Hogsmeade permission.
- Ernie (Ernie Prang)Elderly Knight Bus driver with thick glasses; drives erratically and discusses Azkaban and its guards.
- Tom (the innkeeper)Leaky Cauldron landlord; aids Fudge, provides Harry a room, and welcomes him.
- Sirius BlackEscaped Azkaban prisoner discussed in the Daily Prophet; portrayed as a murderous Voldemort supporter.
- Madam MarshSeasick Knight Bus passenger who disembarks early, highlighting the bus’s chaotic travel.
- HedwigHarry’s owl; reunites with him at the Leaky Cauldron, signaling a small comfort after the night’s turmoil.