The Harry Potter Companion

Harry began to grow up in his third year at Hogwarts, and it really started when he overheard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley discussing the fact that Sirius Black had escaped Azkaban just to come after him. All of a sudden Harry was becoming a center of everyone’s attention, whether he liked it or not – and the problem only worsened the following year when he unexpectedly became a Triwizard champion. Voldemort’s return, of course, marks the end of an era as well: after these two years in transition, Harry will think of little else until Voldemort is gone.
 

Harry’s friendships are put to a test, as he spends a good chunk of one year not talking to Hermione and a good chunk of the next avoiding Ron. But of course, each relationship comes out on the other side stronger for the experience.
 
Both Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at Hogwarts [over Christmas], and though Ron said it was because he couldn’t stand two weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library, Harry wasn’t fooled; they were doing it to keep him company, and he was very grateful. (PA10)

(by Hannah-Dora)

 

Meanwhile poor Neville seems to get less capable with every year….
 
“Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn’t you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn’t I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?” (PA7)

(by glockgal)

 

…and Parvati and Lavender find their new favorite subject.
 
Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney’s tower room at lunch times, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn’t. (PA8)

(by prettyannamoon)

 

Another interesting aspect of Harry’s third year is the fact that Pettigrew spends the entire year disguised as Scabbers, knowing full well that he’s around his old friend Lupin. I have to wonder what went through his mind as he considered Lupin and Sirius’s situations. Did he feel any regret? Or remorse?
 
“Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord… you have no idea… he has weapons you can’t imagine…. I was scared, Sirius, I was never brave like you and Remus and James. I never meant it to happen…. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named forced me — He — he was taking over everywhere!” gasped Pettigrew. “Wh — what was there to be gained by refusing him?”
(PA19)

(by Ani Bester)

 

Meanwhile, taking twelve classes and being Harry Potter’s friend proved to be a little much for poor Hermione.
 
Hermione’s immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted. (PA12)

(by salamandersoup)

 

Though while Hermione spent her time studying, it’s not hard to envision Ron and Harry taking advantage of their new toy, the Marauder’s Map.
 
Harry’s frequent nighttime wanderings had given him an unusually good knowledge of the castle’s secret passageways… (HBP15)

(by robin edwards)

 

And oh yes, Hermione did find time to help Hagrid prep for Buckbeak’s trial, too.
 
“[Hermione's] cried a fair few times, yeh know. Goin’ through a rough time at the moment. Bitten off more’n she can chew, if yeh ask me, all the work she’s tryin’ ter do. Still found time ter help me with Buckbeak’s case, mind…. She’s found some really good stuff fer me… reckon he’ll stand a good chance now…” (PA14)

(by gerre)

 

By fourth year, of course, the trio are all friends again, and Harry even gets to go to Hogsmeade…
 
Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though he’d swallowed a bottle of hot butterbeer in one gulp.
“I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.”
(PA22)

(by Alicia M.B)

 

…until Harry’s seemingly pleasant year gets screwed up by this guy.
 
“Imagining things, am I?” growled Moody. “Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy’s name in that goblet. . . (GF17)

(by FrizzyHermione)

 

Of course one highlight of Harry’s year is running into Dobby, ecstatic about his freedom and collecting odd clothing for himself.
 
“Socks are Dobby’s favorite, favorite clothes, sir!” he said, ripping off his odd ones and pulling on Uncle Vernon’s. (GF23)

(by mneomosyne)

 

But by the end of the year, Voldemort is back. And while we know Harry and Dumbledore are both filled with regret over the news, it’s both interesting and sad to think of how Snape must feel to see that Dark Mark burn, too.
 
“Severus,” said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, “you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready . . . if you are prepared …”
“I am,” said Snape.
(GF36)

(by Miri)