Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Eight:
Flight of the Fat Lady

Synopsis by William Silvester
Notes and links by Steve Vander Ark and Michele L. Worley

US hardcover edition: pages 141 - 161
UK hardcover edition: pages 107 - 121
UK paperback edition: pages 154 - 175
Timeframe: xx September - 31 October, 1993 [Y13]

Defence Against the Dark Arts remains a favorite, Quidditch practice begins, Crookshanks goes after Scabbers, tension builds between Ron and Hermione, Harry is denied permission to visit Hogsmeade, Lupin talks to him about fear, Snape brews a potion for Lupin, Hallowe'en feast, and Black slashes the Fat Lady's portrait.

Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:

This chapter gives us our first glimpse of Wolfsbane Potion.

"Gryffindor haven't won for seven years now."

"Staying here Potter? Scared of passing the Dementors?"

"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me. I've been feeling a bit off-color, this potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."

Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a crazy urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.

Characters introduced in this chapter:

• none

Characters returning in this chapter:

• Bell, Katie

• Creevey, Colin

• de Mimsy-Porpington, Sir Nicholas (Nearly Headless Nick)

• Filch, Argus

• Johnson, Angelina

• Malfoy, Draco

• Potter, Harry

• Spinnet, Alicia

• Wood, Oliver

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

• Binky

• Dobby (as "our old house-elf")

Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:

• corridors leading to the library

• corridor outside Gryffindor Tower, a

• corridor outside DADA professor's office

• DADA classroom

• DADA professor's office

• Divination classroom

• Entrance Hall, the

• Great Hall, the

• greenhouses

• Gryffindor Tower

  • Gryffindor boys' dormitory

  • Gryffindor common room

• Hagrid's cabin

• Potions dungeon

• Quidditch pitch, the

• Transfiguration classroom

Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:

• Hogsmeade

  • Dervish and Banges

  • Hogsmeade post office

  • Honeydukes

  • Shrieking Shack

  • Three Broomsticks, the

  • Zonko's

• Magnolia Crescent

• Owlery

Exceptional character moments:

• Oliver Wood's pep talk regarding his last year to win the Quidditch Cup.

• Gryffindors discussing first Hogsmeade weekend visit.

• Crookshanks attacking Scabbers in Ron's bag.

• Lavender Brown telling students in Transfiguration class about her rabbit, Binky, dying on 16 October.

• Harry asking Professor McGonagall to sign his permission slip for visiting Hogsmeade, and her refusal to sign it.

• Halloween morning and all the students with partent/guardian permission leaving for Hogsmeade visit.

• Harry running into Professor Lupin outside his office.

• Professor Lupin inviting Harry into his office to see a grindylow and have a cup of tea.

• Harry asking Professor Lupin why he was not allowed to fight the boggart in the wardrobe.

• Harry telling Professor Lupin that his boggart would have taken the shape of a Dementor, not Lord Voldemort.

• Harry telling Ron and Hermione about Professor Snape giving Professor Lupin a potion and Lupin drinking it.

• All attending the Halloween feast in the Great Hall.

• Gryffindors discovering that the portrait of the fat lady has been slashed and she is missing.

• Peeves the Poltergeist telling Dumbledore and all others around the slashed portrait that the portrait was slashed by an angry Sirius Black.

Spells:

• none

Links and Resources:

• Bestiary, the

  • flobberworms

  • grindylows

  • kappas

  • Red Caps

• magical items and devices

  • Stink Pellets

• puffapod

• Wolfsbane Potion.

Memorable lines:

• "But we also know we've go the best -- ruddy -- team -- in -- the -- school." [Oliver Wood]

• "I need to visit Zonko's, I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets." [Fred Weasley]

• "They're bound to catch Black soon. He's been sighted once already." [Hermione]

• "There's something funny about that animal!" [Ron referring to Crookshanks after he attacked Scabbers in Ron's bag]

• "That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" [Ron]

• "The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission. I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word." [Professor McGonagall]

• "You know that day we fought the boggart? Why didn't you let me fight it?" [Harry] to [Professor Lupin]

• "I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort." [Professor Lupin]

• "I didn't think of Voldemort, I -- I remembered those Dementors." [Harry]

• "Well, well . . .I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is -- fear. Very wise, Harry." [Professor Lupin]

• "Lupin drank it? Is he mad?" [Ron]

• ". . .if he was trying to -- to poison Lupin -- he wouldn't have done it in front of Harry." [ Hermione]

• "Oh yes, Professorhead, he got very angry when she wouldn't let him, you see. Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black." [Peeves the Poltergeist to Professor Dumbledore regarding the Fat Lady]

Strictly British:

• ruddy

Timelines/Calendar:

The action of this chapter begins immediately after the preceding chapter, and ends late on Hallowe'en night.