HARRY POTTER and the Prisoner of Azkaban CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12

THE PATRONUS

Harry knows that Hermione is only trying to help him. But he is still angry. She told Professor McGonagall about his new broom – the Firebolt. Now Professor McGonagall has taken the broom. She wants to check it for Dark Magic. Harry does not know if he will get it back.

Ron is also very angry with Hermione. He thinks what she did was wrong. Hermione thinks she did the right thing. But she knows her friends are upset, so she stays away from the common room. Harry and Ron do not ask her to come back. After the holiday ends, the other students return. Harry and Ron feel better with more people around.

Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, sees Harry. He is worried that Harry cannot play because of the dementors. But Harry says that Professor Lupin is helping him. Lupin will teach Harry how to protect himself. Harry also tells Wood about the Firebolt. “Don’t worry, Harry!” says Wood. “I’ll talk to McGonagall and ask her to give it back!”

Classes begin again. In Hagrid’s class, they study fire salamanders. The class is fun. But Harry’s first Divination class is not fun. They are learning palm reading. Professor Trelawney looks at Harry’s hand and says, “Your life line is the shortest I have ever seen.”

Harry is excited about Defense Against the Dark Arts. He reminds Lupin about the promise to teach him. “Yes,” says Lupin. “Come at eight o’clock on Thursday. The History of Magic room is big enough. But I can’t bring a real dementor to school.”

“Lupin still looks sick,” says Ron after class. “I wonder what’s wrong.” Suddenly, someone says, “Duh!” It’s Hermione. Harry and Ron passed her and did not notice. Her schoolbag is very full of books. Some books fall to the floor. “What do you mean, ‘duh’?” asks Ron, not happy. “Oh, nothing,” says Hermione.

“Yes, it is something,” says Ron. “I asked what’s wrong with Lupin, and you said ‘duh’.” “Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” says Hermione. “If you don’t want to tell us, don’t!” says Ron. “Fine!” Hermione says, then walks away. “She doesn’t know anything,” Ron says, angry.

On Thursday night, Harry runs to the History of Magic classroom. Lupin is there with a big box. “What’s that?” asks Harry. “It’s a boggart,” says Lupin. “I know that your biggest fear is a dementor. The boggart will look and act like a dementor. That will help you practice.”

Harry feels a little better. He doesn’t want to begin his training with a real dementor. “Take out your wand,” says Lupin. “This is a very difficult and advanced spell. It’s called the Patronus Charm.” “How does it work?” Harry asks.

“A Patronus is a kind of energy,” says Lupin. “It is like a shield. It pushes dementors away. It gives hope and happy feelings. Dementors cannot fight that.” “What does it look like?” asks Harry. “It’s different for everyone. Every witch and wizard has a unique Patronus.”

“How do I make it?” asks Harry. “You must say ‘Expecto Patronum’ and think of a very happy memory.” Harry thinks of flying on a broomstick for the first time. “Okay,” he says. “I’m ready.” “Let’s practice first. Say the words,” says Lupin.

“Expecto Patronum,” Harry says. “Again,” says Lupin. “Think about your happy memory.” “Expecto Patronum!” A silver light comes from his wand, and a silver gas, like smoke or mist. “Did you see that?” Harry says, excited.

“Yes, very good,” says Lupin. “Now let’s try with the boggart. Are you ready?” “Yes,” says Harry, but he is scared. He tries to concentrate on his memory. But there is another memory that appears. The screams of his mother! I must concentrate, he thinks to himself. I don’t want to hear my mother’s voice again. Or do I? He is confused now.

Lupin opens the box. A dementor is there! Its face is covered by a dark hood. The lights go dark. Harry feels cold. The dementor moves towards Harry. “Expecto Patronum!” Harry shouts. But everything goes black. He hears a woman screaming. It’s his mother’s voice. It is louder than ever.

“Not Harry! Not Harry! Please… I’ll do anything!” “Get away from him. Get away from him, girl!” “Harry!” Harry wakes up on the floor. “I’m sorry,” he says. He does not need to ask what happened. “Eat this,” says Lupin, giving him chocolate. “You did well for your first try.”

“I heard my mother,” says Harry. “Louder than before.” “We don’t need to try again today,” says Lupin. “No! I want to learn,” says Harry. “I have to learn how to protect myself if they appear during a game.” 

“Try a different memory,” says Lupin. “The last memory was not strong enough.” Harry thinks about when he helped Gryffindor win the House Cup. That was a very good memory. “I’m ready,” he says.

Lupin opens the box again. The room becomes freezing instantly. The dementor moves towards Harry. Harry tries the spell. “Expecto Patronum!” he says. But again, he hears voices. A man is shouting now.

The man is scared. He is shouting in fear. “Lily, take Harry and run! It’s him! Go! Run! I’ll try to stop him!” There is the sound of someone running. A door opens loudly. The evil laughter. Harry falls again. 

“Harry! Harry… wake up!” Lupin is shaking Harry’s shoulders. “I heard my father,” Harry says. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard his voice.” “You heard James?” Lupin asks in a strange voice. “Did you know my father?” “Yes, I did know him,” says Lupin. “We were friends at Hogwarts.”

“Let’s stop now,” he continues. “It’s too much.” “No!” Harry stands up. “I want to try again. I need to think of a happier memory, that’s all.” Harry thinks about when he discovered he was a wizard. He remembers when he learned he was leaving the Dursleys and going to Hogwarts.

He is ready. Lupin opens the box for the third time. The dementor appears again. The room becomes dark and cold. “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” Harry shouts. “EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!” A big silver shadow comes out of his wand. It fills the space between Harry and the dementor. 

He hears the screams again, but they are softer now. They sound like they are coming from behind a very strong door. Harry begins to feel weak. He does not know how long he can continue the charm. “Riddikulus!” shouts Lupin. Harry’s Patronus charm disappears and so does the dementor. Lupin pushes the boggart back into the box. The boggart has turned into a bright, silver ball. Lupin closes the box quickly. 

“Great job, Harry!” Lupin says. “Very good start!” “Can we try again?” asks Harry. “Not today. Eat this chocolate and rest. Same time next week?” “Okay,” says Harry. Before he leaves, he asks, “If you knew my father, did you also know Sirius Black?”

“Why do you ask?” Lupin says, looking angry. “Nothing,” says Harry. “I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts, too, my father and Black…” Lupin relaxes. “Yes,” he says. “I knew him. At least I thought I knew him. It’s getting late. It’s time for you to get back to Gryffindor.” Harry leaves.

Harry walks back, thinking about his parents. He is confused and sad. If he learns this charm, maybe he won’t hear their voices anymore. “They’re gone,” he says. “And I can’t change that. It makes no sense to listen to their voices. You need to focus.”

Life returns to normal for Harry. He trains harder for the next Quidditch game. He keeps asking McGonagall about the Firebolt. He asks so many times that she gets angry at him! “If you ask me one more time, Potter, I’ll throw your Firebolt into the fire! When they finish the examination, I will tell you. Now stop asking me!”

Harry keeps practicing with Lupin. But it’s still hard. His Patronus is not strong enough. He feels sad and angry. He still wants to hear his parents’ voices. “You are doing very well,” Lupin says. “You’ll be ready if the dementors come during a game.”

One night, Harry asks, “Professor Lupin, what is under a dementor’s hood? I can’t see their faces” “Well, the people who see their faces cannot tell us.” “Why?” “There is something called the Dementor’s Kiss,” continues Lupin. “It is when a dementor wants to destroy someone completely. They put their mouths over the victim’s mouth… and eat their soul!”

“They kill their victim?” asks Harry, very afraid. “They don’t kill them,” says Lupin. “They take their soul. The person stays alive, but they feel nothing. They have no self. Their soul is gone. The Ministry will let the dementors do that to Sirius Black,” Lupin adds.

“He deserves it,” says Harry. “Does anyone really deserve that?” Lupin asks softly. “Yes,” Harry says, feeling his hatred for Black. “At least… for some things…” He wants to tell Lupin what he heard at the Three Broomsticks. The conversation about Black and his parents. That Black is a traitor.  

But he does not say anything. Finally Harry leaves. On his way back to Gryffindor, Harry is thinking. He almost walks into Professor McGonagall. “Oh, do pay attention, Potter!” she yells. “Sorry, Professor,” says Harry.

“I just left Gryffindor. I was looking for you,” she says. Professor McGonagall is carrying something big in her arms. “Well, here it is. We examined it for every curse and dark magic spell.” She gives Harry what she is holding. It is his Firebolt!

“I can have it back?” he asks. “Yes. I imagine you’ll need it for the game on Saturday. Try to win this time, please” she says with a smile. Harry goes to the common room. Everyone runs to see the broom and touch it.

“Can I try it tomorrow?” asks Ron. “Sure!” says Harry. He feels happy again. “You know, Ron, we should try to talk to Hermione again. She was only trying to help.” “Yeah, you’re right,” says Ron. “She’s over there, working, like usual.”

“She has so many classes,” says Ron. “Divination is at the same time as Arithmancy. But she goes to both!” “Let’s not worry now,” says Harry. “I’ll go talk to her. Can you take the broom upstairs to the room?”

“Of course!” says Ron. “I need to give Scabbers his medicine. I’ll take it upstairs.” Ron happily runs up the stairs carrying the Firebolt. Harry goes to Hermione. She is working. “I see you got your broom back,” she says.

“Yes,” says Harry. “There was nothing wrong with it, you know.” “There might have been something wrong with it,” says Hermione. “Now you know it’s safe.” “You were right…” Harry starts to say.

Then Ron runs in. “LOOK!” he yells. Ron is walking towards them. He is holding his bedsheet. “LOOK!” he yells again. “Ron, what—” Hermione starts to ask. “SCABBARS! LOOK! SCABBARS!” “No…” says Hermione in desperation.

“SCABBARS IS GONE!” Ron throws the bedsheet onto the table in front of Hermione. Harry and Hermione look. There is blood on the bedsheet… and orange fur from a cat.