HARRY POTTER and the Prisoner of Azkaban CHAPTER 2

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Chapter 2

AUNT MARGE'S BIG MISTAKE

The next morning, Harry sits down for breakfast. Uncle Vernon and Dudley are eating at the kitchen table, watching TV. Aunt Petunia is washing dishes. There is a news report on the screen.

“...it is important for the public to know that Black has escaped. He has a weapon and is very dangerous…” A picture of the escaped prisoner appears. He has long, dirty hair and looks crazy. “Where did he escape from?” shouts Uncle Vernon. “He could be coming here right now!”

“The best way to deal with criminals like Black,” Uncle Vernon continues, “is to hang them!” His face turns red with anger. He looks at his watch. “I have to go, Petunia. Marge’s train arrives at ten.” Harry is shocked. “Aunt Marge?” he asks. “She’s coming here?”

Aunt Marge is Uncle Vernon’s sister. She is very cruel to Harry, and he hates her. She has been mean to him since Harry came to live with the Dursleys. She lives in the country with many dogs. “Marge will stay here for a week,” says Uncle Vernon, glaring at Harry. “Before she arrives, you need to understand something.”

“First,” Uncle Vernon growls, “you will be polite to Aunt Marge.” “Fine,” Harry replies angrily. “I will if she is polite to me.” “Second,” Uncle Vernon continues, “Marge doesn’t know about your…abnormality. And she won’t find out. Do you understand?”

“I’ll behave if she behaves,” Harry says, growing angrier. “And third,” Uncle Vernon adds, “we told Marge you go to St. Brutus’s School for Criminal Boys.” “What?” Harry shouts. “You will tell her the same if she asks. Or you’ll be in trouble.” Uncle Vernon’s face turns purple.

Before leaving, Harry asks Uncle Vernon a question. “Uncle Vernon, I need you to sign a permission form. Third-year students at my school are allowed to visit a nearby village, but I need your permission.”

“Why should I do that?” Uncle Vernon asks. “Well, it will be hard for me to remember everything you want me to say to Aunt Marge. I might accidentally say something wrong…”

Uncle Vernon steps closer. He raises his fist as if to hit Harry. But Harry doesn’t move. “If you say something wrong, I’ll hit you so hard you’ll forget who you are!” Uncle Vernon shouts. “But if you sign the form, I’ll act perfectly,” says Harry.

Uncle Vernon stops and thinks. “Fine,” he says angrily. “If you behave while Marge is here, I’ll sign your form.” Then he leaves the house.

Harry goes to his room, feeling sad. He hates Aunt Marge but decides to behave. He hides all his magical things and sends his owl, Hedwig, and Ron’s owl, Errol, to Ron’s house. He puts Hedwig’s cage in his closet. Soon, he hears Uncle Vernon’s car returning.

Harry goes downstairs to meet Aunt Marge. She is a large woman who looks like Uncle Vernon. She even has a mustache! She carries a big suitcase and a mean bulldog.

“Would you like some tea, Marge?” Uncle Vernon asks. They go to the dining room. Aunt Marge ignores Harry. When Harry sits down, Marge’s dog, Ripper, growls at him. Aunt Marge finally looks at Harry. “So!” she barks. “You’re still here, are you?” “Yes,” Harry replies. “Don’t speak to me like that! You’re lucky Vernon and Petunia let you stay. I would have sent you to an orphanage.”

Harry wants to say something mean but remembers the permission form. He forces a smile. “Don’t smile at me like that!” Aunt Marge yells. “You still have no manners. Don’t they hit you at school when you misbehave?” “Yes, they hit me all the time,” Harry says.

“Good,” says Aunt Marge. “But they should hit you harder! Petunia, write to the school and tell them to be more severe with him.” Uncle Vernon changes the subject. “Did you hear the news, Marge? About the escaped prisoner?”

Harry is miserable during Aunt Marge’s visit. On the third day, during lunch, Aunt Marge says, “Vernon, it’s not your fault the boy is so bad. In dog breeding, if there’s something wrong with the bitch, there’s something wrong with the puppy…”

Suddenly, her glass of wine explodes! “Marge!” Aunt Petunia shouts. “Are you hurt?” “I’m fine,” says Aunt Marge. “I’m stronger than I thought.” But Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon look at Harry suspiciously. They think he caused the explosion. Harry is worried too. He cannot control his magic and he must be careful.

Harry runs to his room. He wants Uncle Vernon to sign the permission form but he is also worried about using magic outside Hogwarts. If the Ministry of Magic finds out that he is using magic, he could be expelled.

The days pass, and Aunt Marge is leaving the next day. At dinner, no one says anything bad about Harry. He feels relieved. But Aunt Marge has drunk too much wine. Dudley eats four pieces of cake. “Look at this boy!” says Aunt Marge. “He’ll be strong like his father!”

Then she looks at Harry. “But this one,” she says, “is like the weakest puppy in the litter. With bad blood. You know what you do with the weakest puppy? You kill it. You drown it in water. The bad blood always comes from the mother.” Harry struggles to control his anger.

“Your sister had bad blood, Petunia. Even in the best families, there’s always someone with bad blood. Then your sister married that Potter man, and here’s the result.” She looks at Harry with disgust. “He was no good. A lazy loser.” “He was not a loser!” Harry shouts, shaking with anger. 

“Go to bed, now!” Uncle Vernon yells. “No, Vernon,” says Aunt Marge. “What were you saying, boy? Are you proud of your loser parents? They died in a car accident. They were probably drunk.” “They did not die in a car accident!” Harry yells, standing up. “Yes, they did, you liar! And now your aunt and uncle must take care of you. You have no respect for your family, you little…” But Aunt Marge doesn’t finish her sentence.

Her face begins to swell, her eyes pop out, and her mouth stretches. Buttons fly off her jacket, and her fingers look like sausages.

“MARGE!” Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia shout. Aunt Marge floats up like a balloon, rising toward the ceiling! Ripper barks loudly. “NOOOOO!” Uncle Vernon grabs Marge’s foot but starts floating too. Ripper bites Uncle Vernon’s leg! Harry runs to the small room under the stairs. The door bursts open with magic!

Harry grabs his trunk and pulls it to the front door. He runs upstairs to collect his Hogwarts things. He takes his books, presents, broom, and Hedwig’s cage. He runs back downstairs to pack his trunk. Uncle Vernon appears, his leg is bleeding from the dog bite.

“COME BACK HERE, BOY!” he yells. “YOU COME BACK HERE AND FIX HER!” But Harry is too angry. He pulls out his wand and points it at Uncle Vernon. “She deserved it!” Harry shouts. “She’s cruel, and she deserved it!” Uncle Vernon moves toward him.

“Stay away from me!” Harry yells. “I’m leaving. I can’t take this anymore!” He opens the door, grabs his trunk, and walks into the night with Hedwig’s cage in his hand.