BOOK DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

[cmere]

“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…”

Some sort of explosion took place in the pit of Harry’s stomach.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in 1999-fifteen years ago! Book Three left many of us

Comments

[cmere]

What surprised you in Book Three?

[author_by_night]

Sirius being innocent - it actually took me a re-read and a half to wrap my head around all the details. Also, "Professor Lupin" being a werewolf.. Of course, the latter isn't much of a twist at all in hindsight, because come on, Remus Lupin? What's really funny is that I remember seeing Remus's name and thinking, "wow, JKR loves Roman names." You'd think it all would've clicked for me, but nope...

[philstar22]

Scabbers being Pettigrew. I suspected there was more to the story with Sirius, but Scabbers being a person was something I never considered.

[drinkingcocoa]

Mid-book, that Harry didn't ask Lupin more questions about James when he realized he was close to someone who had known his father.

[cmere]

In your opinion, what were the most memorable scenes in the book?

[philstar22]

The dementors were memorably creepy. The whole final scenes with Sirius and Remus and the Trio and then Snape and then Harry and Hermione and Sirius.

[abigail89]

Ditto. All of that was riveting reading. My sons wanted to hear those chapters read to them over and over.

[femme_slash_fan]

Dementors. Those things freaked me the hell out.

Also the whole deal with Buckbeak.

[cmere]

Share your thoughts on the newly introduced characters in Book Three or development of established characters.

[pauraque]

This book was when I really got hooked on the series, and a large reason for that was the introduction of Remus, his strange and uneasy rivalry with Snape, and that as a window into the whole backstory of Harry's parents' generation. I'd been wondering since Philosopher's Stone what was going on with Snape and why he was the way he was, and PoA provided the first real glimpses of answers.

When I came to the fandom the first thing I wanted was Snape/Lupin, or even gen that explored their relationship. I also wanted to know what Harry's parents were really like (was Snape's judgement of James accurate?) and why Peter betrayed his friends. It was those questions that first ignited that "I need to know more" hunger in me and guaranteed I'd read and write fic.

[woldy]

This book was when I really got hooked on the series Me too. Like you I love Remus, but what hooked me in was the revelations about Harry's parents - POA introduced this Greek tragedy vibe of James Potter's hubris and resulting downfall, and the lingering impact for his son, so the dynamics between Harry and Snape changed completely in that angle. It left me wanting to know more about the relationships between all of the Marauders generation.

[cherrytide]

Yes! The Marauders generation are possibly my favourite things about the books, and how we learn about them in fits and starts. Sirius, Lupin and Snape are, I think, three of the most complex and interesting characters in the books.

[cmere]

This book developed our knowledge of the wizarding criminal justice system much further with Azkaban and the dementors. What are your thoughts on the wizard prison?

[philstar22]

As a future lawyer, I have to say that the wizarding justice system is horrible. Putting people in with something like the dementors is not okay, especially because it seems like every sentence is for life. Also, no trial? Really?

[luna_altyerre]

So totally agree; it also made for a lot of retrograde horror when I remembered that Hagrid was thrown in Azkaban so that fudge could appear to be 'doing something'. *shudder*.

I've alsways wondered if there was a lighter sentence/prison for something like 'flying a broomstick under the influence'. Because Azkaban for that would be really harsh.

[kate34books]

It made me feel really bad for Hagrid being unfairly send there after this book showcased just how horrific azkaban is

the dementors gave me nightmares for a long time.

[cmere]

Sirius Black is after Harry? Black is Harry’s godfather? Black ISN’T the bad guy? Peter Pettigrew IS the bad guy?? Peter Pettigrew is Scabbers??? Hermione is using a time turner to take 3000 classes at the same time???? How was your ride on the plot twist rollercoaster? Did you see any of it coming?

[author_by_night]

It took me a re-read and a half, as I mentioned above. Then I kept re-reading PoA because I loved it so much. :P I really wish I'd written my reactions down somewhere, because that's all I can remember, as I read the book back when it was first released.

[philstar22]

I kind of suspected that there was something else to the story with Sirius. Pettigrew as Scabbers, though, I did not expect. I love it when books surprise me.

[author_by_night]

I think, had I not been a fantasy virgin at this point*, I probably would've figured there was more to Sirius. I was already an avid reader by the time Harry Potter came around, but used

*The only fantasy/sci fi thing I was into was the Prydain Chronicles, and even then mostly The High King because we read it in school, and the only mysteries I read were Nancy Drew books and Baby-Sitter's Club mystery specials, so the "bad guy is actually good!" trope evaded me completely.