Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapters 1 & 2

Wizard rock of the week: "Get Back to Hogwarts" by A Very Potter Musical (in honor of a new book, and the announcement that there will soon be A Very Potter Sequel!!!!!!!!!!!)

And we're back again! In my effort to get back on schedule, this post is going up on a non-Tuesday. It's time for a new book, Prisoner of Azkaban, one of my favorites (though, to be fair, they're all my favorites on some level. But PoA is super-special because I love backstory, and this book has it in spades!)

This week's adventures feature lessons in telephone etiquette, Very Annoying Relatives, a wee bit of foreshadowing, and an early glimpse of Harry's forthcoming Hormonal Teenage Angst. Ready? Here we go!

Chapter One: Owl Post

What Happens:

Harry is up late doing summer assignments, hoping the Dursleys don't discover his nefarious nighttime habit of (gasp!) doing homework. While writing an essay about Wendelin the Weird, Harry's POV gives the dear readers a nice exposition of his life and the previous two novels. Highlights include a recent call from Ron which didn't go over very well with Uncle Vernon. Tip: telephones are for talking, not imitating Sean Penn in Mystic River. (which, btw, is an incredibly powerful movie).

Hedwig and Errol arrive with birthday greetings for Harry and a note from Hogwarts. Ron sends Harry a Sneakoscope, a letter, a newspaper article about the Weasley's recent trip to Egypt, and the news that Percy's the new Head Boy. Hermione's gift is a Broomstick Servicing Kit. Even with good intentions, Hagrid's gift - The Monster Book of Monsters - isn't quite as appealing. The Hogwarts letter is a permission form for Hogsmeade visits, and Harry isn't quite sure how he'll get the Dursleys to sign it. Nevertheless, he's glad to be thirteen.

Commentary:

Here we are again, ready for a new year! A couple of little things to note: Harry's using a flashlight to read his textbook, because underage wizards can't do magic. So, ahem, no Lumos Maxima nonsense here.

Rowling's characteristic humor shines through in her tale of Wendelin the Weird... but I have to wonder... a Flame Freezing Charm won't hurt you, so how did Wendelin get away from her captors once they were certain she'd be good and dead? I'm probably overthinking this.

This chapter contains some of the cleverest recapping; not nearly as awkward as in CoS. I was happy to see that Jo abandoned the whole "Previously on...." segments by OotP. I mean, really, if you haven't read the previous books by now, why are you picking it up halfway through? Either read the preceding volumes or, *cringe* look up the plot summaries on Wikipedia if you're lazy. Gah.

The Monster Book is so... Hagrid. I love it.

So much is set up here! And so sneakily! Oh look, a picture of the Weasleys in the paper. Oh look, there's a certain rat on Ron's shoulder! And oh, a Sneakoscope for detecting Shifty People. Lovely!

Chapter Two: Aunt Marge's Big Mistake

What Happens:

In the morning, Harry makes breakfast in the kitchen as a the news reporter talks about someone named Black, a dangerous escaped convict. Harry's morning doesn't improve when he remembers that Vernon's sister, Marge, is coming for a visit. He tries to leverage this unwelcome news with Uncle Vernon; Harry will stick to the story about his attendance at St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys... if Vernon signs the Hogsmeade permission form.

Marge's visit is predictably horrendous. Over the next few days Harry tries desperately not to let her goading get to him as she insults his person, his appearance, and his family. He holds it together until the last evening, when Marge (under the influence of quite a lot of brandy) makes some pointed remarks about his parents. Harry finally reaches his limits and yells back at her... but Marge seems to growing larger by the moment. Within a few minutes she swells like a balloon. Harry runs to his room and grabs his trunk and supplies. Over Vernon's screeched protests, he declares he's had enough and stalks out into the dark street.

Commentary:

My, what an unpleasant person! [/understatement] Harry does fly a little off the handle here, but, frankly, wouldn't you? He's only thirteen, for Heaven's sake, so losing his temper like this s kind of part of the territory.

There aren’t really too many other things to take note of here; Marge is a wretched person. But do take notice: Harry’s first use of magic (accidental, of course) is bursting Marge’s brandy glass. But… he doesn’t get a Ministry owl swooping down on him promising punishment. This doesn’t jive with past precedent; after all, in CoS, Dobby was the one who dropped the pudding, and Harry was blamed instantly. I believe that in the next chapter Harry will note this inconsistency. Is the Ministry simply so apoplectic about Black’s escape that they’re not quite as harsh against minor offenders?

That's all for today! Tomorrow is a Tuesday and Chapters Five and Six will be up for your re-reading enjoyment! Have a lovely day, friends.