Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 7 Summary
The Boggart in the Wardrobe
Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, titled “The Boggart in the Wardrobe,” properly introduces Professor Lupin and talks about his first lesson as the new Professor.
Potions with Malfoy
Following his earlier mishap with Buckbeak, Malfoy does not return to classes until late Thursday morning. With his right hand in a sling, he swaggers into the class, which is double potions with Gryffindor. His exaggerated behavior gains the sympathy of Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherins, while Harry and Ron recognize that he is playing up his injury. Malfoy even winks at his friends Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy isn’t looking, further confirming their suspicions.
Snape doesn’t reprimand Malfoy for being late but instead allows him to slide by without consequence. Harry notes that had it been him instead of Malfoy, he would have been given detention.
Snape instructs Ron to cut Malfoy’s potion ingredients due to his “injury”. Ron unwillingly obliges, and cuts his roots quickly in a rough manner. Malfoy complains, and Snape orders him to exchange his roots perfectly cut up with Malfoys.
Malfoy then tells Snape he cannot skin his shrivelfig either, and Snape orders Harry to take care of it, much to Malfoy’s amusement. As he reluctantly helps Malfoy, he smugly taunts Harry, mentioning that his father is working to have Hagrid fired due to the Buckbeak incident.
A few cauldrons away, Neville was having an especially difficult time with his Shrinking Solution. His potion had turned orange instead of the intended acid-green. Snape, who loves to bully Neville, seizes this opportunity and publicly humiliates him for this. Hermione interrupts him and requests Snape to let her help Neville, but that earns her a reprimand from him. He further criticizes Neville’s intelligence and threatens to test the botched potion on Neville’s pet toad, Trevor, at the end of class.
Sirius Black Sighted?
During the classroom chaos, Harry receives some troubling news from Seamus. According to the Daily Prophet, Sirius Black was sighted by a Muggle nearby. The Ministry of Magic was alerted, but Black was gone by the time they arrived. The news worries Harry and Ron, but Malfoy takes the opportunity to mock Harry.
Malfoy asks if Harry will go after Black. Harry doesn’t think much of this taunt, but Malfoy continues- saying if he were in Harry’s place he would want revenge. He is confused by the insinuation, but Malfoy doesn’t elaborate. Harry is left unsettled, but Ron assures him that Malfoy was just messing with him.
Hermione, undeterred by Snape’s earlier comments, quietly whispers instructions to Neville, helping him correct the potion without Snape noticing. By the end of the class, the potion turns the right color, and when Snape tests it on Trevor, the toad successfully shrinks into a tadpole. Despite the potion working, Snape takes five points from Gryffindor for Hermione’s interference, souring the small victory for Neville and the rest of the Gryffindors.
Defence Against Boggarts
After Potions, the Gryffindors head to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Professor Lupin. Ron asks why Hermione did not lie about helping Neville, but there is no response. Ron turns around to find that Hermione is not walking with them anymore, even though she was right behind them. She reappears a few seconds later, at the bottom of the staircase.
They arrive at the classroom, and Lupin tells them to put away their books. He leads the class out of the classroom, citing that it will be a practical lesson. On the way, the class meets Peeves the poltergeist, who is stuffing chewing gum into a keyhole. Noticing Lupin, Peeves starts to mock him. Unfazed, Lupin uses a spell to shoot the gum straight up Peeves’ nose, impressing the class and earning their respect.
He takes the students into the staffroom, where the only person present is Snape. However, as the students file in, Snape says he would rather not witness it and leaves. He makes a snide comment about Neville and warns Lupin not to entrust the kid with anything important. With a smile, Lupin replies that he was hoping Neville would assist him in today’s lesson. Snape’s lip curls, but he leaves without saying anything.
Lupin introduces the lesson for the day and reveals that inside the staffroom cupboard is a Boggart. He asks the students if they know what a Boggart is, and Hermione’s hand shoots up in the air. She explains that it is a shapeshifter that can take the form of the onlooker’s worst fear. Lupin appreciates it, and reveals how to best combat a Boggart; through the “Riddikulus” spell. He has the class practice the spell once without their wands, then calls on Neville to face the Boggart first.
After telling Neville what to do, Lupin and the other students back against the walls. He opens the wardrobe, and from it emerges the Boggart; having taken the shape of Severus Snape, Neville’s greatest fear. Neville backs away in fear but manages to get the spell right.
Instantly, the Boggart transforms into Snape in a lace dress with a hat and handbag.
The class roars into laughter, and the other students start taking turns with the Boggart.
Harry’s Missed Opportunity
Parvati Patil confronts a mummy, Seamus Finnigan battles a banshee, and Ron faces a giant spider. Each student successfully uses the “Riddikulus” spell to defeat their fears, turning the boggart into something amusing. When it’s Harry’s turn, however, Professor Lupin steps in instead, coming face to face with a silvery white orb. This action confuses Harry, and he wonders why Lupin stopped him from participating.
Lupin then awards points to Gryffindor for each successful encounter with the Boggart, with Neville receiving extra points for his bravery. As the students leave the staffroom, they declare it the best Defense Against the Dark Arts class they’ve ever had. However, Harry remains preoccupied, questioning why Lupin stopped him from facing the boggart.
The chapter ends with the trio walking back from the lesson, with Hermione wishing she had gotten a chance with the Boggart and Ron mocking her.
