Flight of the Fat Lady
chapter eight of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
As the school year progresses, Quidditch begins, Ron and Hermione begin to fight over Crookshanks, and the third years make their first trip to Hogsmeade, leaving Harry behind. He visits with Lupin instead, though, and still enjoys the Halloween feast – until he finds Sirius Black has attempted to break into Gryffindor Tower.
“Gryffindor hasn’t won for seven years now. Okay, so we’ve had the worst luck in the world – injuries – then the tournament getting called off last year….” Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. “But we also know we’ve got the best – ruddy – team – in – the – school.”
(by Sheena Kristen Sy)
“There’s something funny about that animal!” said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket.
(by deeterhi)
“We’ll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,” said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for him.
(by Drew Graham)
Harry wandered dispiritedly toward the library….
(by Hannah-Dora)
“Water demon,” said Lupin, surveying the grindlylow thoughtfully. “We shouldn’t have much difficulty with him, not after the kappas.”
(by FrizzyHermione)
“Ah, Severus,” said Lupin, smiling. “Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?”
(by glockgal)
And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor.
(by Tealin Raintree)
“Oh yes, Professorhead,” said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. “He got very angry when she wouldn’t let him in, you see.” Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. “Nasty temper he’s got, that Sirius Black.”
(by Ditraveler)
about the chapter
I love the few times Harry sits down with Lupin during this school year, just to talk – even though Harry doesn’t yet know anything about Lupin’s past, they’re still more or less the only times in Harry’s had anything like a father figure in his life. For someone who’s been so deprived, it just feels good to see him with an adult who so obviously cares about him and respects him.
Life at Hogwarts
Lupin’s lessons for his third years are interesting. They seem fairly easy compared to the rest of Harry’s lessons, and Snape will shortly remark to that effect as well. On the other hand, Snape isn’t exactly unbiased… and Defense Against the Dark Arts is Harry’s best subject… and Lupin seems to be a really good teacher… and a boggart, for example, is certainly a creature that gives some fully grown, capable wizards problems. We’ll even see grindylows give a much older student trouble in the coming years. And to be fair, these are the first real Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons Harry’s class has had, after two years of incapable teachers. So maybe Lupin’s lessons are a bit on the easy side, and perhaps not, but either way they probably aren’t as simplistic as they seem at first glance.
The Boy Who Lived
Harry certainly isn’t perfect, but one of the things I love about Rowling’s writing is that she doesn’t try to pretend he is – as a thirteen-year-old, he’s copying his friend’s homework and contemplating having another friend forge a signature on a permission form. I’m sure more than a few parents hesitate at these sorts of things being included, but it just makes Harry’s experience that much more real to us, and that much more fun to see it through his eyes.
Something to Remember
One thing that’s worth wondering about is not only how Sirius Black managed to slip past the dementors and into Hogwarts, but also how he ripped the Fat Lady’s portrait to such shreds, with entire pieces of fabric lying on the ground below. I wonder if Dumbledore ever asked the Fat Lady for the details of this encounter?
Spoiler!
In something to remember you mention the shredding (and hint possibly at the sirius-being-an-animagus-thing). Couldn’t he have done that with the enourmous knife, which he also had when he finally manages to get into the tower?
Also, I don’t think that the classes Lupin gives are easy…they seem to be more mental: it’s more focussed on staying calm, following the right path (hinkypunk) don’t let fear overtake you (Boggart) and know what to do in the right situation… these things don’t seem hard for Harry, since he has done that in previous life-treathening situations too….just a thought ^.^
x-kim-x
kim said this on June 21, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I’m with the other kim on Lupins classes. One of the reasons this is my favorite book is that Lupin is introduced and I really like him as a teacher.
Great new art by deeterhi. I also really like Glockgal’s picture.
Kim said this on June 24, 2009 at 11:02 am
kim, good thinking on the classes.
Another thought occurred to me, which is that they *cover* more dangerous dark creatures (in Snape’s class he mentions that Kappas were on their test, and Hermione makes it sound like werewolves are on the schedule for later in the year), but that these are too dangerous for Lupin to bring to class – Kappas have an XXXX rating in Fantastic Beasts, and werewolves an XXXXX.
Meanwhile the creatures we actually see mentioned are simply the more memorable classes, because Lupin can actually bring in a Grindylow (XX), Red Caps (XXX), and boggarts. Perhaps the third-year curriculum is to discuss *all* dark creatures, but Lupin can only bring in ones that walk the fine line between “dangerous enough to cover” and “too dangerous to bring into a school.”
John Kearns said this on June 24, 2009 at 11:33 am
Perhaps Lupin is just a good teacher? I certainly remember from my school years that having a friendly, patient and intelligent teacher made even the hardest subjects seem much easier. [minor spoiler to follow!] For example, we see in later books that with the right coaching, even Neville can succeed at things!
Lizzie said this on September 2, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Did Sirius really think that ripping the portrait he was going to be able to go into the tower???? Or was he frustrated???
Excellent “Something to remember”…
Paula said this on October 27, 2009 at 10:53 am
Paula-
considering Sirius was in Griffindor, I doubt that he thought it would do much good. He was probably just frustrated that he couldn’t get in, especially considering the Fat Lady knew him
Adele said this on March 10, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Lupin really tugs at my heartstrings. I just adore him – the way he builds up Neville, being friendly and gracious to Snape despite their past…he’s just a decent guy.
We often think about how Harry or Sirius or even Neville suffered after Voldemort’s fall, but Lupin did too. He’s believed for the last 12 years that one of his dearest friends betrayed James and Lily to their deaths, then murdered Peter. Who did Lupin have left to turn to? He spent so much of his life ostracized and alone and, in one fell swoop, lost all the people who loved and accepted him. Must have been devastating.
Heather said this on April 20, 2010 at 8:54 pm
@Heather
That’s my reasoning for why Lupin never went to see Harry. He was too lost in grief to think beyond there deaths. Then he would have just tried to forget the past (along with Harry) and move on. Coming back to Hogwarts must have been hard for Lupin.
Phoebe said this on June 2, 2010 at 8:35 pm