First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Ch 18-20

Episode Summary

Sirius would have died before he betrayed them. And at long last, Harry believed him. Throat too tight to speak, he nodded. And we all tear up and cry as well...so join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 18-20 of the Prisoner of Azkaban. They talk over some theories about what will happen, impressions of the characters, and what would be worse: death or Azkaban for a life?

Episode Notes

Chapter 18 - Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

• “They’ve — got — a — right — to — know — everything.” Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. “Ron’s kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don’t understand! And Harry — you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!” Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron’s bitten, scratched and bleeding hands. “All right, then,” said Black, without taking his eyes off the rat. “Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for…”

Q1 - Who is right here? Lupin for waiting, or Black for wanting to kill Peter first?

Q2 - Why didn’t Scabbers try to escape earlier on?

• “Because ... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework - the Ministry keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things…and I went and looked Professor Mcgonagall up on the register, and there have only been seven Animagi this century, and pettigrews name wasn’t on the list.”

Q3 - I ask again, what would you be if you could be an Animagus?

• “It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me. But then Dumbledore became Headmaster and he was sympathetic.”
• REDDIT - alphaWLFgang1 - So if we were looking at it from that perspective then I’d be a Nebelung Cat (according to Wizarding World) But, I mean if I had to choose I’d want to be something that could fly. So like an Eagle or maybe a Hippogriff would be sick too if that’s even possible? I’d want to fly or swim! So maybe a shark? I’d want to be an animal that can either fly/swim under water. I’d want to fly so I can travel faster places and swim because I love the water.

Q4 - Was Dumbledore right to let Lupin come to school?

Q5 - Why does Hogwarts have such a rag-tag bunch of teachers?

• “Now, my three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month. I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother was ill, and that I had to go home to see her…I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out what I was. But of course, they, like you, Hermione, worked out the truth and they didn’t desert me at all. Instead they did something for me that would make my transformations the best times of my life. They became animagi.” 

Q6 - Do you know and understand how truly difficult it is to become an Animagus?

Q7 - What was the craziest/most dangerous thing you’ve done in your life?

Q8 - Have you ever put someone else’s life in danger?

• “Sirius thought it would be — er — amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree-trunk with a long stick, and he’d be able to get in after me. Well, of course, Snape tried it — if he’d got as far as this house, he’d have met a fully grown werewolf — but your father, who’d heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his life.”

Q9 - Do you have any sympathy for Snape?

Chapter 19 - The Servant of Lord Voldemort

• “YOU'RE PATHETIC!” Harry yelled. “JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN _” “SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!' Snape shrieked, looking madder than ever. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck, you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black. Now get out of the way or I will make you.”

Q1 - What do you think of both Harry and Snape’s statements?

Q2 - Were they right to attack a teacher?

• "Harry I as good as killed them; he croaked. I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret Keeper instead of me ... I'm to blame, I know it ... the night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies - I realized what Peter must have done. What I'd done. His voice broke. He turned away.”

Q3 - What do you think of this whole story so far?

Q4 - Do you get the secret keeper thing still?

• Harry remembered what Mr Weasley had told Mrs Weasley. “The guards say he's been talking in his sleep …. always the same words... "He's at Hogwarts.” “It was as if someone had lit a fire in my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it…it wasn't a happy feeling…it was an obsession…but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog…it's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused…I was thin, very thin…thin enough to slip through the bars…I swam as a dog back to the mainland I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog…I've been living in the Forest ever since…except when I come to watch the Quidditch, of course…you fly as well as your father did, Harry…He looked at Harry who did not look away. Believe me croaked black believe me. I never betrayed James and lily. I would have died before I betrayed them. And at long last, Harry believed him. Throat too tight to speak, he nodded. 

Q5 - Is Ron nuts for letting Scabbers sleep in his bed?

Q6 - Why would Harry change his murderous tone after learning of all this, is he right to show mercy to Pettigrew?

Q7 - What are your thoughts on Pettigrew, Lupin, James, and Sirius now?

Chapter 20 - The Dementor’s Kiss

• “But I’m also — I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you — I’m your godfather.” “Yeah, I knew that,” said Harry. “Well…your parents appointed me your guardian,” said Sirius stiffly. “If anything happened to them…” Harry waited. Did Sirius mean what he thought he meant? “I’ll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,” said Sirius. “But…well…think about it. Once my name’s cleared…if you wanted a…a different home…”

Q1 - Is it at all crazy that Harry now is okay with living with Sirius?

Q2 - Do you think it's feasible that someone like Lupin forgot to take his potion?

Q3 - What did you think Harry’s patronus was on finishing this chapter?

Q4 - Who did you think cast the patronus on your first read?