Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 14 Summary
Snape’s Grudge
Chapter 14 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, titled Snape’s Grudge, deals with the aftermath of Sirius Black’s break-in, heightened security at Hogwarts, and a risky adventure into Hogsmeade.
Increased Security at Hogwarts
No one in Gryffindor Tower sleeps after Sirius Black’s second break-in. The entire house waits anxiously in the common room, hoping for news of his capture. Professor McGonagall returns at dawn and informs them that Black has escaped once again.
The castle quickly adopts stricter security measures. Professor Flitwick charms the front doors to recognize Black’s picture, and Filch obsessively boards up even the tiniest holes and cracks.
Sir Cadogan is fired, and the Fat Lady returns on the condition that she receives extra protection. The protection comes in the form of Surly security trolls, who now guard the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.
Harry notices that the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor remains unguarded. Fred and George’s suspicions proved correct; nobody else knew about the secret passage behind it. Harry asks Ron if they should tell a teacher, but Ron dismisses the idea, arguing that Black couldn’t have entered through the Honeydukes tunnel without anyone knowing. Relieved, Harry keeps the secret intact, knowing it will allow him access to Hogsmeade.
Ron’s Fame and Neville’s Punishment
Ron, for the first time in his life, finds himself in the spotlight. He eagerly recounts his encounter with Black to anyone willing to listen. He exaggerates every detail, including Black’s filthy hair, his skeletal appearance, and the long knife he wields.
However, Ron and Harry remain puzzled about why Black fled without attacking Ron. Harry notes that Black clearly doesn’t mind killing innocents, and he was only facing five teenage boys this time; four of whom were asleep.
They conclude that Black probably fled because he realized he would have to kill the entire house before getting out of the Tower. Also, once outside, he would have come face to face with all the teachers.
Meanwhile, Neville faces harsh punishment for compromising the Gryffindor common room’s security. Professor McGonagall bans him from all future Hogsmeade visits, gives him detention, and forbids anyone from sharing the common room password with him. Neville now has to wait outside the portrait each night, hoping someone will let him in, while the trolls leer at him unpleasantly.
Two days after the break-in, Neville receives a Howler from his grandmother at breakfast. As the scarlet envelope arrives, the Slytherins burst into laughter. Neville bolts from the Great Hall, holding the letter like a bomb, but the Howler still goes off in the entrance hall, loudly shaming him for embarrassing his family.
Harry is too distracted feeling sorry for Neville to notice that Hedwig has also delivered him a letter. Hedwig nips at Harry’s wrist for his attention. Harry thanks him and opens the note. It is an invitation from Hagrid, for tea at six o’clock.
Tea with Hagrid
At six, Harry and Ron hurry past the security trolls and meet Hagrid at the entrance hall. They expect to tell him about Black’s break-in, but Hagrid surprises them by saying he already knows everything. Inside the hut, they saw Buckbeak lying on Hagrid’s bed, enjoying a plate of dead ferrets.
Harry notices a large, hairy brown suit and a hideous yellow-and-orange tie hanging on the wardrobe door. Hagrid explains it is for Buckbeak’s trial before the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, scheduled for this Friday.
Harry and Ron feel a huge pang of guilt for forgetting to help with the defense, having been distracted by the arrival of Harry’s Firebolt.
Hagrid then brings up Hermione. He tells the boys that Hermione has been visiting him frequently since Christmas, probably since she feels lonely after her fight with Ron. He tells them that she has bitten off more than she can chew, and is now drowning in work.
Despite her workload, however, she still found time to help Hagrid prepare Buckbeak’s defense. Hagrid scolds Harry and Ron, suggesting they should value their friendship with Hermione more than broomsticks and rats.
Although Harry starts feeling remorseful, Ron remains stubborn. He insists he won’t forgive Hermione until she gets rid of Crookshanks, whom he still blames for eating Scabbers. Hagrid dismisses his anger, remarking that people can be overly attached to their pets.
A Risky Trip to Hogsmeade
When a new Hogsmeade weekend is announced, Ron urges Harry to use the Marauder’s Map to sneak out. Hermione overhears their conversation and threatens to report Harry to Professor McGonagall if he leaves the castle. Furious, Ron accuses Hermione of trying to get Harry expelled. Hermione leaves and Ron asks Harry if he’s coming. Harry considers, checks if Hermione is out of earshot, and then agrees; but says he will bring his Invisibility Cloak along this time.
On the morning of the trip, Harry avoids Hermione’s suspicious glances and slips the map and his Invisibility Cloak into his bag. After the others leave for Hogsmeade, he heads to the third floor, and prepares to enter the secret passage. Right when he opens the passage, he is interrupted by Neville. Harry tries to shake him off, but they are caught there by a suspicious Snape, who orders the duo to return to their Tower.
Harry finally manages to shake Neville off near the portrait of the Fat Lady and rushes back to the secret passage. He checks the Marauders Map, enters the passage, and then wipes the map clean.
Once in Hogsmeade, Harry meets Ron outside Honeydukes. They explore the post office and Zonko’s Joke Shop, where Harry secretly passes gold to Ron to buy tricks and sweets. Eventually, they climb a hill to visit the Shrieking Shack, which is rumored to be the most haunted building in Britain.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle soon arrive, mocking Ron about his family and taunting him about Buckbeak’s likely execution. Harry stops Ron from lunging at Malfoy, and promises to take care of him.
Hidden under the cloak, Harry goes behind Malfoy and throws mud at him. Malfoy panics and sends Crabbe forward. Harry pokes Crabbe with a stick and laughs, but Crabbe stumbles and steps on Harry’s cloak. For a second, Harry’s face is briefly revealed. Terrified, Malfoy races back to Hogwarts to report what he saw. Realizing the danger, Harry too rushes back to the castle.
Snape’s Interrogation
Snape intercepts Harry as he re-enters the castle. He leads Harry to his office, and tells him what Malfoy has just reported. He accuses Harry of sneaking out to Hogsmeade and taunts him, comparing him to his father, whom he describes as arrogant and reckless. Enraged, Harry defends his father, shouting that he knows James once saved Snape’s life.
Snape tells Harry that James did not save his life, he simply got cold feet from a dangerous prank he pulled on Snape along with his friends.
Snape then orders Harry to empty his pockets. Harry reluctantly hands over the Marauder’s Map and the tricks from Zonko’s, saying Ron gave it to all to him. Snape picks up the map and inquires about it.
Harry replies that it is simply an old piece of parchment. Snape doesn’t believe him, and tries to get the map to reveal its secret. A few lines magically appear on the map, but it is not something Snape expected.
The creators of the map, Mr. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs start to mock Snape with lines like, “Keep your abnormally large nose out of other people’s business” and “Wash your hair, slimeball.” Furious, Snape summons Professor Lupin through the Floo Network.
Lupin’s Rescue
Lupin arrives and calms the situation. Snape alleges that the piece of parchment is clearly full of Dark Magic, but Lupin disagrees. He explains that the map is probably a harmless prank that Harry purchased from Zonko’s. Snape questions if he indeed got it from Zonko’s, or from the manufacturers themselves. At that moment, Ron barges into the office, and confirms that all of the things were indeed given to Harry by him.
Lupin cheerfully takes the map from Snape, and asks Harry and Ron to come with him. He tells Ron and Harry he knows it is a map, and that it was confiscated by Filch a long time ago. He is disappointed that Harry didn’t hand it in instantly, and confiscates it.
As they leave the dungeons, Lupin warns Harry not to take risks. He reminds Harry of the dangers inside and outside the castle and expresses disappointment that Harry did not turn in the map earlier. He further scolds Harry, telling him to take Sirius Black more seriously, and that after all his parents did to save him, he shouldn’t be risking his life like this.
Harry feels worse going back than he did in Snape’s office. As Harry and Ron return to the common room, Hermione intercepts them in the corridor. Expecting her to gloat at what happened and fearing she reported them to McGonagall, Ron lashes out at her. To their surprise, Hermione does neither. She hands them a letter instead, her lips trembling.
The letter contains grim news. Hagrid has lost Buckbeak’s trial, and the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures has sentenced the hippogriff to execution.
The chapter ends with the trio feeling drenched with despair. All hope seems lost, but there might be a silver lining to all of this.
