Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 15 Summary
The Quidditch Final
Chapter 15 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, titled “The Quidditch Final,” deals with rising tensions at Hogwarts, and the dramatic Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match.
Devastating News
Hermione approaches Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor common room.
She is clearly upset and hands them a tear-streaked letter from Hagrid. The letter reveals the devastating news that Buckbeak has lost his appeal and is set to be executed.
Hagrid, though heartbroken, mentions that Buckbeak had enjoyed his time in London and expresses his gratitude for Hermione’s help.
Harry is furious and exclaims that Buckbeak isn’t dangerous. Hermione tearfully explains that Lucius Malfoy probably frightened the Committee into making their decision. Although there would be an appeal, she expresses little hope.
Ron, in a rare moment of maturity, offers to help Hermione with the appeal, and she flings her arms around him, overwhelmed with emotion. Ron awkwardly pats her on the head, clearly terrified by the outpouring of emotion. After calming down, Hermione apologizes for her behavior regarding Scabbers, and Ron reluctantly accepts her apology.
A Confrontation With Malfoy
The trio’s only chance to talk to Hagrid comes during Care of Magical Creatures lessons, as security at Hogwarts has tightened considerably since Sirius Black’s second break-in. Hagrid is numb with shock and blames himself for losing the case.
Hagrid explains that Lucius Malfoy has the Committee in his pocket, and has lost all hope. He is resigned to making Buckbeak’s final days the happiest the Hippogriff has ever known.
At the castle steps, they encounter Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who have been eavesdropping. Malfoy sneers at Hagrid’s distress, and mocks him.
Before Harry or Ron can react, however, Hermione steps forward and slaps Malfoy across the face. She threatens him with her wand, and Malfoy backs away into the dungeons with Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind. This leaves both Harry and Ron very surprised, and they remind her that they are late for Charms.
The trio rushes to Charms, but as they enter, Harry and Ron realize that Hermione is not there with them. She doesn’t turn up all lesson, and is absent at lunch too, which worries the boys. Finally, they see her sleeping at a table in the common room with her Arithmancy book open. Harry wakes her up, and she kicks herself for missing Charms, reasoning that the confrontation with Malfoy made her forget about the class. She rushes to apologize to Flitwick and promises to join them in a few minutes for Divination.
Drama in Divination
Hermione rejoins Harry and Ron at the foot of the ladder to Trelawney’s classroom. As they climb, Hermione complains about missing the Cheering Charms lesson and worries that it might come up in exams.
The lesson, to everyone’s surprise, focuses on crystal ball gazing. Harry is simply glad that palmistry is over, since he was sick of Trelawney flinching every time she saw his palm.
Professor Trelawney, in her usual dramatic fashion, tells the class about how “the fates” have hinted that the crystal ball would be important for their exams. Hermione openly scoffs at this since it is going to be Trelawney herself who sets the papers.
As the lesson progresses, Professor Trelawney claims to see ominous signs in Harry’s crystal ball. She predicts the return of the Grim, the spectral omen of death that Harry encountered before. Hermione, finally at her breaking point, loudly interrupts her, dismissing her warnings about the Grim as ridiculous. Trelawney retaliates by insulting Hermione’s suitability for Divination, stating that her “mundane” mind lacks the subtlety required for the art.
Furious, Hermione packs up her things, shoves her book back into her bag, and storms out of the classroom, much to the shock of the rest of the class. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, who idolize Trelawney, seem scandalized by Hermione’s outburst, while Trelawney coolly remarks that she had predicted a student leaving the class around Easter.
Slytherins and Grims
The Easter holidays aren’t relaxing, since the third years have mounds of homework. Hermione, who has more subjects than anyone else, is usually the last person to leave the common room at night and the first to enter the library.
Ron has taken over responsibility for Buckbeak’s appeal. Harry on the other hand has Quidditch to worry about. Slytherin is in the lead with exactly two hundred points, which means that to win, Gryffindor would need to win their next match by more. The victory largely boils down to Harry, since he is the seeker and the snitch is worth a hundred and fifty points.
The tension between Slytherin and Gryffindor is at its peak, and small scuffles break out in the corridors, resulting in a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year ending up in the hospital wing. Harry has the worst of it, since the Slytherins keep trying to target him. Owing to this, Wood orders that Harry is never to be left alone, which the entire house follows enthusiastically.
Harry has a nightmare that night and wakes up thirsty in the middle of the night. He pours himself some water, looks outside his window, and spots a big animal of some kind walking across the silvery lawn. Thinking it’s the Grim again, Harry hurriedly puts on his glasses and checks again.
It’s not the Grim, however, but Crookshanks and a giant black dog. If Crookshanks can see the dog, it cannot be an omen for Harry’s death. He tries to wake Ron up to verify, but both Crookshanks and the dog disappear by the time he gets up.
The Quidditch Match
The morning of the Quidditch final arrives. The Gryffindor team enters the Great Hall to thunderous applause from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables, while the Slytherin table hisses at them.
The pitch conditions are perfect. After changing into their robes, both the teams walk out onto the field. The captains shake hands, and the match begins.
Team Slytherin resorts to dirty tactics, but Gryffindor maintains a strong lead. Gryffindor gets awarded multiple penalties, and the chasers manage to make the best out of it. Soon, Gryffindor had a sixty-point lead, which meant Harry could start looking for the Snitch now. He spots it hovering twenty feet above him and speeds towards it, but in a desperate attempt, Malfoy throws himself on Harry’s broom, making him miss it.
Gryffindor gets awarded a penalty again, but Alicia is so angry about the foul that she misses it by several feet.
A few minutes later, Malfoy spots the Snitch and speeds towards it. Harry realizes this and chases after him. Using the full speed of the Firebolt, Harry comes level with Malfoy, then throws himself forward at the Snitch. He catches it in his fist, and the match is won.
The crowd erupts in cheers, as Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup for the first time in years. The team is hoisted onto the shoulders of its housemates, and the overwhelming joy of the moment is shared by everyone, including Hagrid, Percy and Professor McGonagall.
The chapter ends with Harry feeling an immense wave of joy. If only a Dementor was around, he could have produced the world’s best Patronus.
