Remaining thoughts on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!
This book left me with so many warm feels! Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets were definitely children's books, you can't say the same for Prisoner of Azkaban. This book might be my favorite so far in the 'hp a day' reread. Harry Potter series might not be a full Young-Adult genre yet however it is just entering that, and it did with as much poise as Firebolt!
This book got us so many Magical Creatures and new spells! The world-building of this book is beautifully done. Although a little jarring at times but cute nonetheless. Kappas derived from Japanese mythology, Grindylow from English folklore, Red Caps, Hinkypunk derived from Scottish folklore, and so much more. And creatures like Werewolf (and true wolf) were main plot points of the storyline.
We also got so many charms and spells... so many of them! I am so bloody glad for it! Every time a new charm or spell was introduced I made note of them, I want to list them all here however then this blog will be longer than it already is. Having said that I am happy about this development!
World-building did not stop at just spells and creatures, it stretch from children's games to the political dominion of Wizarding World. Since we're already on political dominion, I should make myself clear, Ministry of Magic is useless! Useless something drastic happens and Percy does make some SYSTEMATIC change, I don't think my opinion will change!
Since Percy is mentioned let's go through other Weasleys', shall we? Ginny is very few times mentioned but it seems she still has a crush on Harry but she has managed her crush very well. And Dementors have the same effects on her as much as they have on Harry. Then there is Fred and George, they are way better brothers to Harry than to Ron. For crying out loud, they gave Harry the Marauder's Map...
The traits of Slytherins are Cunningness and resourcefulness. Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin from a Pure-blood Slytherin family, downed a Holloween costume to scare Harry in Quidditch matches...Hence, Draco is in Slytherin House for the same reason as Harry is in Gryffindor. If you know then you know, I won't expand on it...
Hermione Granger, what a fucking great character! From this book onwards she is actually coming onto her own. She wanted to study, she did exactly that but when she thought a subject is not teaching her any value then she was brave enough to walk out of it. By the end of the book, she also learned that she indeed bite off more than she can chew. Also, her matter-of-fact thinking, her bravery, her love and dedication(for studies), her snobbishness, and all shine through each and every chapter.
All the good things aside, I do have to say, this book highlighted her shortfalls as a witch and a human. She is a loner, yes, she is! If Harry and Ron wouldn't have saved her from a troll in the first year then she wouldn't have been their friend, in fact, she wasn't their friend in the beginning! Hermione's dealing with Lavender's Rabbit's death, was more like "I am not like other girls" dealing. She is quickly becoming "I am not like other girls" girl, "she is different" girl, "she likes to read books" girl, "she doesn't know how/ doesn't like make-up" girl, "she is one of the boys" girl, if you know then you know! Hermione doesn't have any friends (female and others) other than Ron and Harry. She DESPERATELY needs Ginny and Luna in her life. Honestly... I need Ginny and Luna in Hermione's life. Movies have made Hermione a one-man army hero. and she is indeed a hero however she is a 13-year-old girl, she needs people in her life that can show her the wonders of life (and female friendship)! I hope I don't have the Mandela effect, Hermione and Ginny become truly great friends and we will get to see how awesome female friends can be in future books...
Hermione's relationship with Ron had so many ups and downs. I loved every part of it, even those when Ron and Hermione were at the cross. Hermione stood up for her pet and Ron did the same thing and Harry got his first test at being a third wheel to his best friends!
Since we are on the topic of Ron and Hermione, let me rant about the movie. Everybody, I mean everybody (even YouTuber Nerwriter1 has a video on it) has put "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and the best one in movies ranking. Honestly, I understand why is that. The director is an Oscar winner, and the visuals are beautiful, the music is heavenly. However, story, the characters were butchered! Sirius is not a Rock star bad boy, he is a desperate Godfather who wants to connect with his Godson. Hermione is not a one-man army hero, she is a hardworking intellectual. Ron is not a jokester, he is a brave and loyal best friend who stands up for his best friend in front of mass murder. Snape has a lot more importance to the story than just appearing at the last minute in the third act. Having said that Remus Lupin might be the only character that got this movie right. Other than every character is pretty much butchered to fit for the movie. It should not have bothered me but it did! Because this movie affected future movies massively. The characters like Ron and Hermione were sacrificed. Ron's character in movies is ruined from now on but Hermione is a totally different character in the movies and in the books. So, every time I read any fanfics, I can easily identify which is the movie Hermione and the book Hermione. and surprise surprise; the movie Hermione is a lot more written than the book Hermione... Emma Waston is good and all but Hermione Granger in the book will always have my heart!
Coming back to the book, Sirius and his twist is not really a surprise to me or to anybody yet it is done comprehensively. There are reveals after reveals, twist after twist, loyalties tested among friends. Every reader's view is changed after the first read, what you know is not always the whole story. More than that Harry has something now that he did not have in the last two books. A family! Harry has his Godfather! Sirius Black! He might be on run but dear god, I am so happy he is here!
That has me thinking about the importance of that brief interaction between Sirius and Harry. Harry's only linking to his parents. So of course Sirius has a great effect on Harry. However, Harry picked up some negative things from Sirius. For example, Harry's hatred for Snape stepped up a notch because of Sirius's hatred for Snape. Sirius also indirectly taught Harry his first lesson in 'disregard in authority'. Let me explain, "I thought you'd come and help your friend. Your father would have done the same for me," said Sirius when Harry came to save Ron. That's nice and all but Sirius is still Mass Murder if he wasn't Harry's Godfather and a real DEATH EATER, what were the chances of these three 13 years old students have lived through the night? That little seed of not looking for any teachers or adults in crisis was always there in Harry but Sirius solidified that.
Harry in the last two books has done enough disregarding the authorities on his own. In Sorcerer's stone, he thought Snape wants the stone. So with his friends went on his own without listening to Professor McGonagall. In the second book, he thought Draco was a Slytherin heir. So, he again went on his own. In both cases, he and his friends ended up in the hospital wing. See, Harry doesn't NEED to learn that we have to question the authorities, he ALREADY does that (with as much grace as of newborn deer) yet Sirius, here, has indirectly taught Harry that authorities should not be trusted, going a step up to not only question the authorities but degrade them. It is not helped that later where Harry has to (because of Dumbledore's plan) take a bunch of Dementors all alone without any other adult, ALONE! FACING DEMENTORS! Thank god Harry is a talented wizard...
Here I will make my own point moot... well, I guess, Sirius was right, Cornelius Fudge (the ultimate authority, Minister of Magic) was ready to sacrifice an innocent man without listening to any reason. What I am trying to say is that there are many causalities that could be avoided if Harry and his friends had a bit less disregard for authorities. With all that said, newfound distrust in authorities, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, our golden trio will still trust Dumbledore, unfortunately...
This is a very small thing however in chapter 12 when Snape substituted for Lupin, the interactions between Snape and his students were somehow heart-touching to me. I can't really explain it well but the rapport among them was a bit unpleasant but familiar nonetheless!
That's it from me. Thank you for reading!
