Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Prisoner of Azkaban/Chapter 19
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Chapter 19 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Servant of Lord Voldemort
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[edit] Synopsis
Snape found Harry's Invisibility Cloak by the Whomping Willow. He was bringing Lupin his Wolfsbane potion when he noticed a very interesting map on Lupin's desk. As he suspected, the map showed that Lupin was helping Black. Snape magically binds Lupin before he can explain, and tells everyone they are returning to the castle to have a word with the Dementors. Harry blocks the door and demands Snape listen. Snape orders him out of the way, but Harry disarms him, helped by Ron and, surprisingly, Hermione. Their triple-force spell throws Snape against the wall and knocks him out.
Harry does not yet fully believe Lupin's story. Lupin asks Ron to hand over Scabbers, and he will provide proof. Ron protests. Even if Peter Pettigrew is an Animagus in the form of a rat, why should it be Scabbers? Sirius explains that he saw Scabbers in the photograph of Ron's family on vacation in Egypt. He had gotten the paper from Fudge when the Minister visited him at Azkaban. He recognized Pettigrew, having seen him transform many times, and he noticed that Scabbers was missing a toe. Pettigrew severed his own finger before killing the Muggles. Shouting that it was Sirius who killed James and Lily for bystanders to hear, Pettigrew blew up the street, and transforming, disappeared into the sewer. He left his severed finger behind as evidence he was dead. Ron insists this is impossible, but Lupin reminds him that Scabbers has been in the Weasley family for twelve years, whereas a common rat lives only three or four. Lupin observes that Scabbers is not looking too good at the moment, although Ron claims it is strain caused by "that mad cat" going after him all the time. Harry figures differently: Scabbers was already looking stressed in Diagon Alley, just after returning from Egypt, presumably because he had heard about Black's escape in the meanwhile.
Sirius says Crookshanks recognized Pettigrew for what he was. He had also spotted Sirius and initially distrusted him, but helped him once he understood what Sirius was after. Unable to bring Scabbers to Sirius, Crookshanks stole Neville's password list and later told Sirius that Scabbers had vanished, leaving blood on Ron's sheets. After all, appearing dead had worked once before.
Sirius is about to kill Pettigrew, but Harry says he should have let Snape take Sirius to the Dementors. It was Sirius who was his parents' Secret-Keeper and betrayed them. Sirius says he was not the Secret Keeper. He was responsible for their deaths, but only because he persuaded James and Lily to use Pettigrew as their Secret-Keeper rather than himself, believing no one would suspect a weak wizard like Pettigrew. When Black checked on Pettigrew's hiding place, he found him absent with no signs of a struggle, he feared the worst. He then went to Godric's Hollow, and finding James and Lily's bodies amid their destroyed house, realized what had happened—Pettigrew had betrayed the Potters to Voldemort.
Lupin calls a halt, and he and Sirius cast a spell to transform Scabbers into a human: a short man with vaguely rat-like features, colorless hair, and a large bald spot—it is Peter Pettigrew. Lupin demands that Pettigrew explain about the night James and Lily died. Pettigrew says he knew Sirius was going to escape and come after him, because he has powers that "He Who Must Not Be Named" taught him. Black says that Voldemort's followers are unhappy with Pettigrew, that Voldemort went to the Potters' on Peter's information and died there. The Death Eaters in Azkaban think Pettigrew double-crossed Voldemort, and many are still at large. Lupin asks why an innocent man would stay hidden for twelve years. Peter claims he was scared because he put Voldemort's top lieutenant, Sirius Black, in Azkaban. Sirius angrily reminds Pettigrew that he (Pettigrew) was the Potter's Secret-Keeper.
Black says Pettigrew never harmed Harry because he would not risk acting on Voldemort's behalf unless Voldemort could protect him. Sirius also explains that he remained sane in Azkaban by changing into a dog when things became unbearable. A dog's simpler thoughts are not as affected by the Dementors as a human's. Because Dementors cannot see, they were unable to detect him transforming. Instead, they feel and navigate towards emotions. When Black recognized Pettigrew's animal form in the photograph, he realized the traitor had to be exposed. As a dog, he was able to evade the Dementors during his escape. He journeyed north to Hogwarts and lived in the Forbidden Forest, emerging to watch the Quidditch matches.
Finally, Harry believes Sirius is innocent. Pettigrew's pleas for mercy are ignored. He admits to working for the Dark Lord, but claims he would have been killed if he resisted. Black says he should have died for his friends, as they would have done so for him. Lupin and Black prepare to execute Peter, but Harry intervenes, not wanting his father's two best friends to become murderers; they will turn Pettigrew over to the Dementors. Black and Lupin relent, and Lupin binds Peter and splints Ron's leg. Black warns Pettigrew that if he transforms, he will kill him. Lupin charms the unconscious Snape to float along with them. Black suggests that two people should be chained to Peter to prevent his escape, Lupin and Ron volunteer, and Black, using Snape's wand, conjures manacles. With Crookshanks leading, they return to the tunnel.
[edit] Analysis
Harry's actions are often ruled by his emotions and carried out without considering all facts. He was single-mindedly determined to kill Sirius to avenge the Potters, disregarding any consequences. However, Harry's already admirable character takes a great leap forward here. When he learns that it was actually Pettigrew who betrayed his parents, he acts to prevent Black and Lupin from executing him. After the initial shock and confusion, Harry quickly regains his composure and by logically analyzing the situation realizes the probable outcome: if Lupin and Black kill Pettigrew, even if it was to avenge the Potters, they would be convicted of murder. Harry acts to save them and protect the truth, and he will allow justice to deal with Pettigrew in the proper manner. For once, it is the student guiding the teacher.
In Chapter 13, it was believed that Neville lost the password list, and that Sirius Black had found it. In fact, as we discover here, Crookshanks stole them from Neville at Sirius' request. Granted, losing the list is the sort of thing Neville would likely do, but it appears, in this case, that he was punished for something that was only partially his fault.
Snape here has quite clearly decided what is going on, and not accepting explanations that might destroy his "understanding," has bound and gagged both Sirius and Lupin. While Harry does not yet fully believe Sirius' story, he is certain of Lupin's trustworthiness, and rebels against Snape's refusal to even listen to what Lupin has to say. While it is expected that Ron would join this rebellion, it is surprising to everyone, including herself, that Hermione also joins in.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Crookshanks is a cat / kneazle cross, which makes him very intelligent for a cat, but how could he have "told" Sirius that Scabbers had vanished?
- How did Black learn that Pettigrew was still alive?
- Why did Black and Pettigrew switch places as the Potters' "Secret Keeper"?
- Why do Harry, Ron, and Hermione knock out Snape in the Shrieking Shack?
- How did Black escape from Azkaban prison? Why were the Dementors unable to detect him?
- Why does Harry prevent Lupin and Black from killing Pettigrew?
- Why did Pettigrew, who had close access to Harry, never try to kill him?
- Although Sirius is innocent, why does he, by his own admission, claim he is responsible for the Potters' deaths?
[edit] Further Study
- Why didn't the Weasley family ever notice or question Scabbers' unusually long life?
[edit] Greater Picture
It has become obvious over the past few chapters that Crookshanks is not an ordinary cat. According to the author, he is actually part Kneazle, a cat-like creature that often associates with wizards. Intelligent, they are able to communicate with other animals, which is how Sirius, in his dog form, was able to receive and relay information.
Harry's decision to prevent Lupin and Black from executing Pettigrew has large repercussions. Pettigrew will escape, as we will discover shortly, and will, as predicted, return to Voldemort. He will also manage to trap one Bertha Jorkins, an employee of the Ministry of Magic, and it will be with her unwilling assistance, and Pettigrew's help, that Voldemort will be able to capture Harry and re-embody himself.
It should be noted here that Lupin's having failed to take the final dose of Wolfsbane Potion will have serious consequences. It is the night of the full moon, and Lupin will transform, thus putting all of his companions at risk. If Lupin had remembered to take the final dose, he would retain his mind after the transformation and Pettigrew would, in consequence, have been unable to escape. Without that final dose, however, Lupin will become a mindless animal, and Sirius will have to transform to dog shape to protect Harry and Ron. With both fully grown wizards occupied, Pettigrew will be able to transform himself and escape.
