HARRY POTTER and the Prisoner of Azkaban CHAPTER 10

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Chapter 10

THE MISCHIEF MAKER’S MAP

Harry stays in the hospital all weekend. His teammates come to see him on Sunday. But something makes Harry very sad. His broom, his Nimbus 2000, is broken. It cannot be fixed. Harry feels like he has lost a best friend.

Ron and Hermione stay with Harry the whole time. He is happy they stay with him. But Harry does not tell them about the black dog he saw in the rain. It looked like the Grim, a dog that means death. He thinks Ron will worry too much. And Hermione may not believe him.

Harry is also sad about the dementors. He feels weak and ashamed. No one else reacts like he does when the dementors come. Harry loses consciousness. He blacks out. He hears a woman screaming when they are near. Now he knows - it is his mother screaming. She died trying to save him. He thinks about her words again and again.

Harry finally leaves the hospital and goes back to school. He is happy that Professor Lupin is back to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Snape is not teaching it. Lupin looks sick and tired, though. In class, the students complain about Snape. He gave them homework about werewolves, but they don’t understand it. Lupin says he will talk to Snape.

After class, Lupin asks Harry to stay. “I heard about the Quidditch game,” Lupin says. “I’m sorry about your broom. Can it be fixed?” “No,” Harry says. “The Whomping Willow broke it. Did you hear about the dementors too?” “Yes,” says Lupin. “That is why you fell off your broom, right?”

Harry is nervous. “Why do they affect me like that? Am I weak?” “No,” says Lupin. “It is not about being weak or strong. Dementors bring back your worst memories. You have bad memories from when you were a baby. Most people do not.”

“If you stay near a dementor too long,” Lupin continues, “it takes away all your happy thoughts. You feel only cold and fear. If they feed too long, they can take your soul. Then, you are alive, but not really living.”

“But Sirius Black escaped from them,” says Harry. “Yes,” says Lupin. “But the dementors are hungry. They want to feed. At the Quidditch game, they came because there were many people.” “When the dementor came on the train,” Harry says, “you made it go away.”

“There was only one dementor on the train. That is easier. Many dementors are much harder to fight. But there are ways to protect yourself.” “Can you teach me?” asks Harry. “I am not an expert on defending against dementors,” says Lupin. “But I will try to help. Right now, I am very busy. I was sick and missed many classes. But I will help you soon.”

Harry feels better. He wants to learn how to protect himself from the dementors. Then he will not hear his mother’s screams anymore. For a while, the dementors stay away from the school. Dumbledore is very angry with them.

The days pass. Christmas is coming. The children talk about the holiday. Ron and Hermione will stay at school. Harry is glad. They are good friends. Before the holiday, there is one more trip to Hogsmeade. Everyone is excited, except Harry. He cannot go. He has to stay at school.

On Saturday, it is cold and snowing. Harry watches all the children leave for Hogsmeade. He is sad and depressed. Then he hears a sound. “Psst! Harry!” It is Fred and George, Ron’s brothers. They are hiding behind a statue of an ugly old witch with one eye.

“What are you doing?” asks Harry. “We want to help you before we go to Hogsmeade,” says Fred. They take Harry to an empty classroom. “Merry Christmas, Harry,” says George. “Here’s an early Christmas gift,” He gives Harry a piece of old paper. It looks empty. There is nothing written on it.

“What is this?” asks Harry. He thinks it is a joke present. “This is how we know every part of the school,” says George. “Watch.” George takes his wand, touches the paper, and says, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” Lines appear on the paper. They move and criss-cross, and show a map.

Then words appear: 

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Providers of Help to Makers of Mischief are proud to present THE MISCHIEF MAKER’S MAP.

The map shows the whole school and even outside the school. Harry sees little dots moving on the map. Each dot has a name. One says “Professor Dumbledore.” Another says “Mrs. Norris,” the cat. The little dot for Peeves is in the trophy room.

“This map shows where everyone is,” says Fred. “It also shows secret ways out of the school.” Harry looks closely at the map. “Look, this one here,” he says, “...Goes straight to Hogsmeade!” continues Fred. “There are many passages to Hogsmeade.” 

“One way is under the Whomping Willow,” says George. “But don’t use that one, it’s very dangerous. But this one goes to the basement of the candy store in Hogsmeade. Filch doesn’t know about it. The door is behind the one-eyed witch.”

“When you are done, you must erase the map,” says Fred. “Touch it with your wand and say, ‘Mischief managed.’ Then it will look like normal paper.” They leave, and Harry is alone with the map. He is very excited. But if someone finds the map, he could be expelled. Still, Harry wants to go to Hogsmeade.

He walks over to the statue of the one-eyed witch. What now? He looks at the map again. It now shows a little dot with his name on it. And next to his name there is another word. It says: “Dissendium.” He says the word, “Dissendium,” and touches the statue. Suddenly, the behind of the witch opens! There is a hole there. 

Harry climbs in and slides down. It is dark. “Lumos,” he says. His wand makes a small light. He is in a narrow, low passage. He walks through the tunnel for a long time. Then he finds stairs. He climbs up hundreds of steps. Suddenly, he bumps his head! He looks up. There is a trapdoor in the ceiling.

He opens it and sees he is in the candy store basement. He hears voices above. Carefully, he goes up. Soon, he is inside the candy shop. The store is full of Hogwarts students. Harry walks around. He is just another student in the store. There are many delicious candies in the store. Then he sees Ron and Hermione. 

“Harry!” Hermione says. “How did you get here?” Harry tells them about the map. Ron is surprised. “Why didn’t my brothers give it to me?” Hermione is angry. “Harry can’t keep this! What if Sirius Black uses the tunnels? You should tell a teacher.” “But one tunnel is under the Whomping Willow,” Harry says. “And the other is hard to find.”

But Harry thinks about Hermione’s warning. What if Sirius Black knows about the tunnels? He can use them to get into the castle! “And don’t forget about the dementors around here,” says Ron. “Black won’t get into Hogwarts.” Hermione is not as sure as Ron. 

They leave the store. Outside, the snow is white and clean. But it is very cold. They decide to go to the Three Broomsticks to get hot drinks. It is warm and busy inside. They sit near a big Christmas tree.

Suddenly, the door opens. Professor McGonagall walks in. Hagrid comes in, too. He is talking to a man in a green hat — Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. “Quick, Harry, hide!” Ron says. Harry hides under the table. Hermione quietly says “Mobiliarbus!” The Christmas tree moves slowly in front of their table. They are now hidden. They can hear the teachers talk.

Madam Rosmerta, the owner of the bar, brings the teachers drinks. “I heard there was trouble at Hogwarts on Halloween,” she says. “Yes,” says Fudge. “It was Sirius Black. The dementors have not found him yet.” “Minister, why did Black join You-Know-Who?” Rosmerta asks. “I always thought he was such a good student.” 

“Good student?” Fudge laughs. “Do you remember who his best friend was at the time?” “Of course I remember,” says Rosmerta. “The two of them were always together.” “Yes, they were!” yells McGonagall, angrily. “Always together causing trouble, that Sirius Black and James Potter!”

“They were best friends,” says Fudge sadly. Harry is shocked. He cannot believe what he is hearing. Sirius Black and his father were best friends? “Even after school they were best friends. Black was the best man at Lily and James’ wedding,” says Fudge. “He was Harry’s godfather.” Harry is in shock. 

“When the Potters were in danger from You-Know-Who, they used a spell to hide - the Fidelius Charm,” Fudge continues. “They chose one person to hide their secret: the Secret-Keeper. That person was Black.” 

“Dumbledore wanted to be the Secret-Keeper. Dumbledore knew that someone close to the Potters was talking to You-Know-Who, a traitor. But James trusted Black more. We thought that Black wanted to join You-Know-Who more than to protect the Potters.” 

“Then You-Know-Who found them. The Potters died. But You-Know-Who was defeated. And Black was alone. Everyone thought that Black was the traitor. He tried to escape. “That Black was a horrible person!” yells Hagrid suddenly. 

“I saw Black after Lily and James died. He came to their house. I was there to rescue Harry. He cried! I thought he was sad because his friends were dead. I was wrong. He was sad because his master was dead!”

“Then he said he would take care of Harry. I told him Dumbledore said Harry must live with his family. Black didn’t like that idea. But he finally agreed. He gave me his motorcycle and left. He disappeared!” 

“But he didn’t disappear,” says Fudge. “Peter Pettigrew, another friend of James and Sirius, found him.” “Do you mean Pettigrew, that fat little boy who was always around Black and Potter at Hogwarts?” asks Madam Rosmerta. “Yes,” says Professor McGonagall. “Pettigrew wanted so much to be popular like them.” 

“He was not as smart as they were. And he wasn’t a very good wizard. I was mean to him sometimes. I feel bad about that.” She looks like she will cry. “You do not have to feel bad, Minerva,” says Fudge kindly. “Pettigrew died a hero. There were many Muggles who saw what happened.”

“They say Pettigrew tried to stop Black. Pettigrew tried to take out his wand, but Black was faster. Black blew Pettigrew into little pieces. Only Pettigrew’s clothes and a finger were left. I was one of the first people to arrive.”

“There were also many dead Muggles,” continues Fudge. “There was a very large hole in the ground. Black was laughing. He was arrested and then he went to Azkaban. He has been there ever since.” “But isn’t he crazy now, because of the dementors in Azkaban?” Rosmerta asks.

“He seemed calm when I saw him, almost bored,” says Fudge. “But why did he escape?” asks Madam Rosmerta. “Does he want to join You-Know-Who again?” “That is… er… possible,” says Fudge. He does not look at her when he answers her. 

“But we will catch Black before that. We must catch him. If Black joins You-Know-Who, he will become very powerful again, very quickly.” “Well, I think it’s time we return to the castle,” says Professor McGonagall. Soon, they all leave the Three Broomsticks. Ron and Hermione look under the table. Harry cannot speak.