Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
From ArticleWorld
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third in a series of seven novels about a young wizard, Harry Potter, written by British author JK Rowling. This novel follows Harry Potter in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was published in 1999 and a film of the same name was released in 2004.
The Dursleys
This novel, like the last, begins during Harry’s summer break from Hogwarts and he is, again, staying with the Dursleys. News from the wizarding world looks bleak. A madman named Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban. In addition, Harry is dismayed to find out that Uncle Vern’s sister, Aunt Marge, will be visiting. During Aunt Marge’s visit, Uncle Vern and Harry strike a deal. If Harry can stay out of trouble for the duration of the visit, Uncle Vern will sign permission for Harry to visit Hogsmeade, a wizard village, while at Hogwarts. Unfortunately things don’t work out and Harry ends up making Aunt Marge blow up like a giant balloon. Harry becomes quite upset because underage wizards are not allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts. He is afraid he will be expelled so he runs away. While on the run, Harry encounters a large black dog that startles him. He accidentally summons the Knight Bus; a magical bus that can move faster than the blink of an eye. The bus brings him to the Leaky Cauldron where he runs into the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Fudge knows about Harry’s magical indiscretion and decides not to punish him but instead goes on about this dangerous madman, Sirius Black. Apparently Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban because he was a follower of Lord Voldemort and killed thirteen people.
Dementors
Dementors are shrouded creatures that guard Azkaban prison. They suck the soul from a living body and steal all happiness away from anyone near them. They are dangerous creatures, as Harry and his friends find out. While on the train to Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and Hermione share a coach with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. While traveling, the train suddenly stops and the Dementors enter the train and Harry passes out. He is upset to learn that no one else passed out. At the first school feast, Professor Dumbledore announces that the Dementors will be guarding the gates of Hogwarts because Sirius Black is on the loose. This disturbs Harry because Mr. Weasley told him, tat Sirius Black is after Harry.
Sirius Black
Throughout the novel, Harry and his friends, as well as everyone else in the wizarding world, are afraid of Sirius Black and what he might do. He is, after all, a madman. Towards the end of the book, Harry finds out, through Professor Lupin, that Sirius is innocent of the crimes he was sent to jail for. Sirius was actually a friend of Harry’s father, James Potter. He is Harry’s godfather. In the end, Harry and his friends help Sirius escape the Dementors and Harry longs to leave the Dursleys and spend time with his new found family.