HARRY POTTER and the Prisoner of Azkaban CHAPTER 22
Chapter 22
ANOTHER DELIVERY FROM OWLS
“Harry!” Hermione pulls Harry’s robes. “We only have ten minutes to get back to the hospital room before Dumbledore locks the door!” “Okay,” says Harry. He is still looking at the sky, trying to see Sirius Black and Buckbeak. “Let’s go!” They both run quickly down the tower stairs.
On the way to the hospital room, they stop and hide for a moment. Professor Snape and Minister Fudge walk down the corridor towards them. Harry and Hermione hear them talk about the escape of Buckbeak. When they pass, Harry and Hermione hurry down the corridor again. They have only a few minutes left! Suddenly, they hear a voice they know. It is Peeves, the bad ghost! He is coming towards them. They run into an empty classroom. “Oh, I really don’t like Peeves,” whispers Hermione. She looks at her watch again. “We have only three minutes left!” Peeves turns a corner and disappears. “Oh, no!” says Hermione in fear. “One minute!” They run quickly to the hospital room.
When they come close to the room, they hear Dumbledore’s voice behind the door. “It’s almost midnight,” says Dumbledore. “Three turns should be enough. Good luck.” They see Dumbledore leave and close the door. Harry and Hermione run towards him. Dumbledore smiles. “Well?” he says quietly. “We did it!” says Harry. “Sirius is gone. He flew away on Buckbeak!” “Well done!” says Dumbledore.
Dumbledore puts his ear to the door. “Yes, and I think you two have gone as well. Get inside. I will lock you in.” Harry and Hermione go into the room quickly. Only Ron is inside. The door locks behind them. They go back to their beds. Hermione hides the Time-Turner under her robes. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey comes in.
She is still angry that Dumbledore made her leave earlier. She gives the children chocolate to help them feel better after the dementors. Suddenly, they hear someone yell in anger from a room above them. “What was that?” asks Madam Pomfrey. Then they hear voices coming closer.
One of the voices is Snape’s. He is yelling loudly. “... Black did not escape alone! I KNOW HARRY POTTER HELPED HIM!” The door opens with a loud bang! Snape and Minister Fudge come in. Snape looks very angry. Fudge looks a little angry and confused. Dumbledore comes in after them. He looks calm.
“WHAT DID YOU DO, POTTER?” shouts Snape. “TELL US HOW YOU HELPED BLACK ESCAPE!” He points at Harry. Fudge tries to calm Snape. “You do not know Potter, Cornelius!” Snape shouts. “HE DID IT! I KNOW HE DID!” “That’s enough, Severus,” says Dumbledore calmly. “This door has been locked since I left ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, did the children leave?” “Of course not!” she says. “If they had, I would have heard them!”
“What?” says Harry quickly. “You didn’t hear?” says Hagrid. “Snape told everyone at the Slytherin table this morning. He said Lupin is a werewolf and that he was on the school grounds last night. Lupin is in his office packing his things.” “Packing? Why?” asks Harry. “He’s leaving. He says it’s too dangerous to stay. He might hurt someone.” Harry stands up. “I’m going to see him!”
