Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 21 Summary
Hermione’s Secret
Chapter 21 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, titled “Hermione’s Secret” deals with a powerful secret and the correction of past mistakes.
Awakening in the Hospital Wing
Harry wakes up in the hospital wing, feeling weak and disoriented. He hears voices nearby and realizes that Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic is here, engaged in a conversation with Snape.
Snape takes credit for rescuing the trio and explains how he was attacked by Harry. However, he insists that Sirius Black had bewitched the trio with a Confundus charm, which caused them to believe he was innocent. Snape further claims that their intervention might have caused Black to escape, and demands that they are punished for their actions.
Fudge listens to Snape, but seems more concerned about the Dementors’ reaction. When Snape had found them, the Dementors had mysteriously abandoned their pursuit and were heading back to their positions near the entrance. Sirius, Harry, and Hermione had all been unconscious at this point, which made it easy for Snape to restrain Sirius and turn him in.
Hearing about Sirius being turned in surges a wave of panic in Harry. He tries to sit up, but Madam Pomfrey quickly attends to him. She hands him a large piece of chocolate and warns him to rest. Harry argues that he needs to see Dumbledore, but she assures him that everything is under control; Ron will live, and the Dementors will kiss Sirius any time now.
Harry freaks out at this, and his scream is heard by the Minister. Both Fudge and Snape enter the ward, and they are greeted by Harry’s loud claims that Sirius is innocent. Fudge tries to calm Harry down, telling him he was hit with a Confundus Charm, but Harry only argues back louder. This nudges Madam Pomfrey to force him back into his bed. She asks Fudge and Snape to leave so that her patients can rest. Before they can leave, however, Professor Dumbledore walks in.
A Conversation with the Headmaster
Dumbledore greets everyone calmly and reveals that he has just been talking to Sirius Black. Snape snarkly questions if he had been fed the same lies as the trio, but it doesn’t faze him.
Dumbledore doesn’t pay attention to the others, and requests to have a conversation with Hermione and Harry in private. As Snape and Fudge turn to leave, Snape reminds Dumbledore of the time Sirius tried to kill him. Dumbledore calmly acknowledges the memory, and Snape leaves the ward.
Once they are gone, Dumbledore turns to Harry and Hermione. They immediately burst into an explanation, but Dumbledore stops them. There isn’t enough time, and they need to listen to him for now.
Dumbledore says that there is little proof to support Black’s story, apart from the word of two thirteen-year-olds. He assures them that he trusts Sirius, however, the evidence against him is far too much. What they need right now, is a little more time. It seems that Dumbledore is hinting at something, and while Harry has no clue, Hermione seems to have understood.
He informs them that Sirius is locked in Flitwick’s office, and if they play their cards right, they can save more than one life. Dumbledore warns Hermione that whatever happens, they must not be seen. Finally, telling her that “three turns should be enough”, he wishes them luck and leaves.
The Time-Turner Revelation
Dumbledore exits, leaving Harry confused. He looks at Hermione for some information, but she is busy pulling on a fine gold chain from under her robes. She pulls it out completely, and Harry notices a small, sparkling hourglass hanging by its end.
Hermione calls Harry near her, throws the chain around his neck, and turns the hourglass three times over. The ward dissolves around them, and it feels to them like they are flying. After a second, they hit solid ground; alone in the deserted entrance hall.
Before a confused Harry can ask anything, she pulls him into a broom closet and closes the door behind them.
Once out of sight, she begins to explain. The hourglass is a time-turner that has brought them three hours in the past. Hermione further explains that she got it from Professor McGonagall on the first day of the year, to help her with her lessons.
Suddenly, they hear footsteps. Hermione shushes Harry, as she realizes the footsteps belong to their past selves; who were going to visit Hagrid. Thinking about Hagrid makes Harry realize the meaning of Dumbledore’s clue; they need to save Buckbeak.
Sirius is in Flitwick’s room, and if they rescue Buckbeak, they could use his help to fly to his window and rescue him. The plan terrifies Hermione, and it would be a miracle if they could pull this off without being seen, but this is their only shot.
Mission Rescue Buckbeak
Harry and Hermione cautiously make their way outside. They hide behind trees, watching the earlier events unfold. Hermione decides that they need to wait till the executioners have seen Buckbead tied outside before they can rescue him. Otherwise, it would look like Hagrid set him free.
They see themselves at Hagrid’s hut and hear the execution party approaching. Dumbledore, Fudge, Macnair, and other officials arrive, ready to enforce Buckbeak’s sentence.
As the officials step inside to speak with Hagrid, Harry seizes the moment. He tries to untie Buckbeak, and while the Hippogriff resists at first, Harry manages to string him along. Hermione helps Harry, and together they lead him into the forest.
They barely made it in time. The officials step outside, expecting to find Buckbeak tied up. When they see he is gone, Macnair furiously swings his axe into a nearby fence post. Dumbledore, however, seems strangely unbothered and requests Hagrid for a drink.
Buckbeak is now safe, but Harry and Hermione must wait for the right moment to act on their second mission; saving Sirius.
To the Whomping Willow
Harry and Hermione hide near the Whomping Willow, and once again witness past events unfold. They watch Ron run behind Scabbers, Sirius in his dog form, and the Whomping Willow’s attack. Soon, the trio disappears into the passage, leaving the ground empty.
A few minutes later, Lupin walks up to the tree and disappears into the passage as well. Harry tries to grab the invisibility cloak from the foot of the tree, but Hermione stops him.
The past events continue to unfold. Snape charges out of the castle, picks up the cloak, and enters the passage as well. Everyone is in the Shrieking Shack now, meaning Harry and Hermione simply need to wait for their return.
Hermione ties Buckbeak’s rope to a nearby tree, and they sit down in anticipation. She asks him why hadn’t gotten Sirius when they were attacked. Harry recounts that they were all driven away by a powerful Patronus, but he didn’t know who conjured it. Hermione asks him to guess, and Harry hesitates to respond. He thinks it was his dad who saved them.
An hour passes, and the group finally emerges from under the Whomping Willow. Harry’s heart starts to beat faster, and Hermione warns him to stay put.
Saving Sirius Black
Within a few seconds, Lupin begins transforming. Harry exclaims that they need to run since Lupin would be charging into the forest any moment now; right at them. They rush into Hagrid’s cabin, which is empty except for Fang.
In the cabin, Buckbeak makes himself comfortable, and Hermione calms down a barking Fang. Harry decides to step outside to keep track of events. His heart races as he waits for his father to show up with a Patronus.
Harry waits at the opposite bank of the lake. He witnesses his past self’s attempts at a Patronus, which die out soon, meaning his dad should show up any moment now. Harry realizes it was not his dad he had seen, but his future self.
Wasting no time, Harry casts the Patronus charm; and from the end of his wand emerges a large and beautiful silver animal. It charges straight at the Dementors, forcing them to retreat.
When it returns to Harry, he realizes the animal is a stag. He calls it “Prongs”, after his dad’s nickname.
Hermione and Buckbeak enter the scene, and Hermione yells at Harry for interfering. She calms down when Harry explains and realizes their need to hurry to the West Tower. Less than forty-five minutes remain to Black’s execution now.
They wait by the tower until Macnair emerges from it, on his way to summon the Dementors. Harry seizes the opportunity and climbs over Buckbeak’s back with Hermione. They fly till they are next to the window, and Hermione opens it using Alohomora. Harry calls to Sirius, who climbs the Hippogriff in confusion.
Buckbeak takes them to the top of the West Tower, and Harry urges Sirius to leave. Sirius thanks Hermione and Harry, and climbs over Buckbeak’s back again.
The chapter ends on a positive note, as Sirius and Buckbeak fly off into the night, out of sight and out of danger.
