PoA Re-Read: Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen
Last time: Harry heard his Dad's voice, his last words to be precise, and told a very disturbed Remus, who told him they'd been friends at Hogwarts. Meanwhile, the trio was on the verge of being a trio again, but then Ron found blood where Scabbers had been, along with long ginger cat hairs.
Chapter Thirteen: Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw
Ron is furious with Hermione, who is in denial because Ron has always hated Crookshanks. Suffice to say, it looks like the end of their friendship. Harry tries to point out to Hermione that Ron has good reason to believe Crookshanks ate Scabbers, and Hermione bitterly accuses Harry of always taking Ron's side. So their friendship's on the rocks now, too.
What's interesting to me is that just as with the original Marauders, there's been a betrayal, and nobody really knows who the actual culprit is. Ron and Hermione suspect one another of manipulating the situation in a similar way that we'll learn Remus and Sirius did. And just as he did last time, Peter has faked a bloody death, making Crookshanks the guilty party. But even before any of this happened, Ron and Hermione were at odds with each other over this. They were unable to fully trust one another, and now, they think they "know why." Much like the Marauders, a bad situation has caused a rift.
Fred tells Ron it's just as well, given how sick he was, and that he probably didn't feel a thing when he was swallowed. This offends Ginny, who, come to think of it, hasn't been mentioned at all since the Portrait was ripped. George agrees with Fred, saying even Ron said Scabbers just slept all the time. Ron remembers the time Scabbers bit Goyle's finger, and I really want to know if there's a fanfic backstory on that. Fred says that the scar on Goyle's finger can be a lasting memory.
Harry talks Ron into attending the Quidditch team's final practice, where Madame Hooch is in awe over the Firebolt.
FFP: I think I'm going to call the Firebolt "Mary Sue." Every single character seems to be enthralled by her, and in the end, it's Harry who gets to ride her. All the Firebolt needs is to be Voldemort's illegitimate broomstick, and we're set.
Oliver tells Harry that he's just found out who the Ravenclaw Seeker is; it's a fourth year named Cho Chang, who Oliver had hoped wouldn't play because she'd been injured, and "scowled in displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery." Little does Harry know he'll snog Cho in two books. And make her cry doing so. What an awkward first kiss story that must be. But that's another story (literally).
Riding the Firebolt is even better than Harry had dreamed. It appears to obey his thoughts, and it turns so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screams. Chill, Spinnet. Oliver lets the Snitch out, and it takes Harry ten seconds to catch it.
FFP: What did I tell you? The Firebolt is the Mary Sue of the broomstick world.
Me: Don't you have an OC who can turn into a unicorn by way of sheer willpower?
It's the best practice ever, and George points out Oliver doesn't even have a single criticism. Oliver does ask Harry if he's sorted out his Dementor problem; Harry says he has, but secretly wishes it were stronger. You have no idea, Harry.
Ron has a go on the Firebolt, and then they had back to the castle. They see a pair of eyes looming in the darkness, and see Crookshanks; Ron starts to pick up a stone, but Crookshanks gets away before he can throw it. Really, Ron? Harry's more relieved that the eyes weren't that of the Grim. That's what you think, Harry.
The next morning, they show off the broomstick in the Great Hall; even Draco looks jealous. Cedric Diggory congratulates Harry, and Penelope Clearwater asks if she can hold it. Percy half-jokingly tells Penny not to sabotage it, and explains that they have a bet going on. Penelope goes back to her table, and Percy whispers that Harry has to win because "I haven't got ten galleons." Oops.
The Green Plastics (i.e. Crabbe, Goyle and Draco) come up to make fun of Harry, asking if he can manage it. Draco says it's too bad it doesn't come with a parachute, in case another Dementor turned up. Harry retorts it's too bad there's not an arm on his. The Gryffindors all laugh loudly, and Draco walks away.
Harry makes sure he has his wand hidden, and wonders if Remus will be in the crowd, watching. The Ravenclaws are already there; Cho Chang is the only girl on the team, and Harry can't help notice that she's pretty. Cho smiles at him, and Harry feels a "slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves."
Oliver and Roger Davies shake hands, and the brooms are mounted. Lee Jordan goes Wizardpedia on everyone by describing the Firebolt and the notations it has received. He is cut short by an impatient McGonagall - twice.
Cho is tailing Harry closely, and they sort of half-flirt on their brooms as Cho keeps trying to cut him off. Harry avoids a Bludger, but unfortunately, also the Snitch. Lee starts talking about the Firebolt again, and McGonagall asks if he's being paid to advertise Firebolts. I'm beginning to think he might be.
Oliver tells Harry that "this is no time to be a gentleman" and that if he has to, he should "know her off her broom." Nice. Cho is grinning, and she continues to tail him instead of the Snitch. Harry tricks Cho into thinking he'd seen the Snitch, and then he actually does see it - above the Ravenclaw field. Cho suddenly screams, and Harry sees three tall hodded Dementors looking up at him.
Without stopping to think, Harry pulls out his wand and screams: "Expecto Patronum!" Something enormous retreats from his wand, but we don't actually see what it is, because Harry doesn't. He can't believe how clear his mind is. He just looks ahead, as he is nearly there. It goes without saying that Harry gets it. When he lands, Angelina, Alicia and Katie all kiss him. (I imagine Ginny's seething with jealousy.) Percy tells Harry "well done!" and then goes off to collect his ten galleons.
Harry then hears Remus say, "that was quite some Patronus, Harry."
Remus looks both shaken and pleased; again, we later learn what he's seen - James's old animagus form. Which begs the question - did Harry subconsciously know, perhaps having seen his father's form as a baby (you never know), or are Patronuses (Patroni? Patrona?) actually spirits of a sort? In any case, Remus is mostly proud, as is Harry because he didn't feel a thing.
Is it bad that I know what happens next word for word?
Remus tells Harry it's because they weren't actually Dementors; he leads him to Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Marcus Flint, who are struggling to remove themselves from long, black hooded robes. McGonagall is standing over them, furious. It appears they had attempted to scare Harry by pretending to be Dementors.
It has to be said again - Draco's really the same guy fandom made clever, suave and coolly sarcastic?
McGonagall takes fifty points from Slytherin, and says she's going to tell Dumbledore. There's a party in the Gryffindor Common Room, so Harry goes off to join (as he's pretty much the guest of honor anyway). Everyone's partying, which makes it feel as though they've already won the Quidditch Cup. The twins disappear, and return a few hours later with sweets from Honeydukes. Angelina asks how, and Fred whispers to Harry that it was with a little help from my friends Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
The only person not celebrating is Hermione; she's sitting in a corner, trying to read a book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry breaks away and attempts to make conversation... by asking if she even came to the match. Harry, you suck at trying to cheer people up. No wonder Cho cries when she makes out with you later in the series. Hermione says she's glad they won and everything, but has a lot of work to do. Harry tells her to at least have some food, and looks at Ron in hopes that he'll bury the hatchet. Hermione says she has to study and that Ron obviously doesn't want her there, and at that moment, Ron makes a comment about Scabbers having liked Fudge Flies.
Hermione bursts into tears and rushes off. When Harry asks Ron what his deal is, he says it's that Hermione isn't even acting remotely apologetic or like anything's amiss. Is that really how you talk about your future wife, Ron?
That night, Harry has a strange dream:
He was walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was winding its way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he turned a corner into a clearing and -
Harry is rudely awakened by the dream when Ron screams "AAARGH! NOOOO!" He thinks he hears the dormitory door slam, and Dean Thomas turns on the lights. Ron is sitting straight up in bed, the hangings torn on one side, with a terrified look on his face. He exclaims that he saw Sirius Black with a knife.
FFP: OMG!!
Me: ... you knew this part was coming.
FFP: I KNOW!
Everyone scrambles out of bed, and they sprint down the staircase. Doors open from behind them, and people start asking them what they're doing and who screamed. Ron explains, and swears he wasn't dreaming. A few more people join them, and Fred excitedly asks if they're still celebrating. Oh, Fred.
Percy orders everyone back upstairs, pinning on his Head Boy Badge. Once again, I see him as Wesley from Buffy. (Not Angel!Wesley, season three of Buffy Wesley.) Ron tells "Perce" (maybe the only time we've seen him be called by a nickname) that Sirius was in his dormitory with a knife.
Percy looks startled, and tells Ron it must have been a nightmare. McGonagall storms into the room, asking why they're still up, saying she expected better of Percy than to allow the partying to continue. Percy says Ron had a nightmare, and Ron screams that it wasn't one. Minnie McG asks how he could have gotten through, and Ron tells her to ask Sir Cadogan.
McGonagall goes outside to do just that, and everyone listens carefully. Yeah, I'm going to quote this scene directly.
“Sir Cadogan , did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?”
“Certainly, good lady!” cried Sir Cadogan.
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room.
“You - you did?” said Professor McGonagall. “But - but the password!”*Facepalm*
So it turns out Sirius had the password. I think Sir Cadogan may be the most incompetent Knight ever. McGonagall comes back and asks which "abysmally foolish person" wrote down the password for the entire week and left it laying around?
FFP: Oh boy... :(
There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy-slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.
I have to say, I do love that Neville didn't hesitate to admit it. He squeaked, but he could have just shifted nervously until someone figured it out and nudged him or outright said, "oy, Longbottom!" But no, he stood up and admitted doing it. Neville Longbottom: The true hero of the series.
Okay, not really, but you have to give him huge amounts of credit here.
Chapter Fourteen: Snape's Grudge
FFP: Hey, do you ever think maybe Snape was in love with Lily, and that's why he has a grudge against Harry's Dad?
Me: ...
FFP: Nah, that's too unlikely.
Me: ... oh, 2002.
*Ahem*
Suffice to say, nobody gets much sleep that night, and the next day, the school is on panic mode. Flitwick can be see teaching portraits to recognize Sirius's face. The Fat Lady has been restored, but only on the condition that security trolls guard her. Harry can't help but notice that the statue of the one-eyed witch is unblocked, making him think he, the twins, Ron and Hermione are the only ones who know about it.. Harry does ask if they should tell someone about it, just in case, but Ron says they'd know if Honeydukes had been broken into. Except it was. By Fred and George. And Harry, a few chapters earlier. It's apparently not that hard to break in and out of there. Harry's glad Ron agrees with him, because if the one-eyed witch was boarded up, he'd never be able to Hogsmeade again.
Ron has become very popular, and subsequently exaggerated what happened. When the impressed second-years go away, Ron asks Harry why he ran. Harry can't argue with that; he reasons that maybe Sirius realized he would have to kill the whole House and the teachers to get away.
Poor Neville has been disgraced completely; he is banned from Hogsmeade, and not allowed to have any of the passwords. Worse yet is the Howler he receives from his grandmother; Ron tells him to run for it. Neville sprints off, but everyone still gets to hear Neville being told that he'd brought shame upon the entire family.
Really, Augusta? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?
Harry has a post of his own, an invitation to meet Hagrid for tea this afternoon "around six." Since when is six o'clock the afternoon? Is this a British thing or a JK Rowling's maths thing? In any case, they head off at six to meet Hagrid by the entrance hall. He doesn't want to hear about Ron's encounter with Sirius. When they get to Hagrid's cabin, they see Buckbeak eating ferrets and a hairy brown suit and orange tie. Hey, wasn't that in the movie? Did the movie actually get something right? Hagrid says it's for the trial, and Harry realizes he'd forgotten all about it.
Hagrid has met with them because he wants to talk about how they've been treating Hermione, pretty much rehashing the past few chapters. According to Hagrid, she's cried quite a few times, and is clearly biting off more than she can chew, even as she helps Hagrid with his trial. Ron and Harry apologize for not also helping, but Hagrid's more upset that they couldn't put friendship before broomsticks and rats. Hagrid tells Ron how distraught Hermione was when he almost got stabbed, and that her heart's in the right place.
The conversation turns cheerier, and they go back to Hogwarts. Ron sees that next weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, and he and Harry discuss going. Hermione says from behind him that she'll tell. Ron says she's trying to get Harry expelled, and asserts she's already done enough damage. Okay, Ron, now you're just being an asshole. Sorry.
Once Hermione's out of earshot, Harry says he'll go, but only with his Invisibility Cloak.
The next day, Harry calls to Ron that he'll see him when he gets back, hurries to the third floor, and sees Neville on the Map. If he'd look more carefully, he'd probably notice Sirius and/or Peter's name as well, but I guess the twins didn't either, so. Neville spots Harry and asks of he wants to play Exploding Snap; Harry says he has to work on a vampire essay, and poor Neville says he'll go with him. Harry says he forgot he already finished it, and Neville, totally not catching the hint, says then Harry can help him. I feel really, really bad for Neville.
Snape spots both of them, and asks why they're there. He tells them to go to the Gryffindor Tower, where Harry manages to shake off Neville. He hurries back to the third floor, and exposition short, catches up to Ron at Hogsmeade.
They visit the Owl Post, Zonko's, and enjoy wandering around, as awkward as it is for Ron to talk to Harry while he's invisible. They pass the Shrieking Shack, which even the twins couldn't get in. Nearly Headless Nick said he's heard a "very rough crowd" lives here. I wonder if that's true, or if that's something NHN started telling students when Remus was there to deter them? Though I'm not sure why NHN would have any reason to know, unless he sensed it or something.
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle are nearby; they're making fun of Hagrid, which is something Harry won't take. As Draco proceeds to insult Ron, Harry starts throwing mud at Draco. Draco's freaked out, and Ron taunts him, saying it's haunted. Harry throws mud again, and again, until the cloak slides off his face.
Draco stairs at Harry's head and screams, running back to Hogwarts. Ron tells Harry to run for it, which he does. As soon as Harry finds his way back to Hogwarts, he runs into Snape, who simply says "so."
He tells Harry to follow him into his office, and tells him what Draco thinks he saw. Harry tells Snape Draco should see Madame Pomfrey, if he's seeing things, but Snape's not buying it. "If your head was in Hogsmeade, so was the rest of you."
“So,” he said, straightening up again. “Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black . But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences.”
Although Snape's being kind of dickish about it, I kind of see his point. I think Remus puts it much better a page or two from now, though. And where Snape goes with this is pretty damn harsh: he continues to say that Harry is just like his father, and not in a good way; apparently James was arrogant, strutted around with his friends and admirers... Harry tells Snape neither one of them have ever done those things. Snape continues on, and Harry screams at Snape to shut up, crying that he knows James saved his life.
Snape's skin goes the color of "sour milk." (I love the descriptions JKR gives Snape.) He asks Harry if he knows the circumstances, which of course Harry doesn't; Snape goes on to tell Harry that James and his friend had played a prank on Snape that would have "resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment." His teeth are bared now, and Harry is forced to turn out his pockets.
Uh oh...
Harry says that Ron gave him the Zonko's bag, to which Snape says, "how very touching." He goes on to pick up the map, and Harry has to try very hard to keep his face impassive, dismissing it as a spare piece of parchment. But when Snape tries to throw it in the fire, Harry can't let him.
Snape's eyes are gleaming, and he tells the map to "reveal your secret!" (Are you ten, Snape? What was that?) When that doesn't work, he taps on it, demanding that it shows itself. The map stays blank, and finally, Snape says, “Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!” That's better.
This is another segment that begs direct quoting.
“Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business.”
Snape froze . Harry stared, dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn’t stop there. More writing was appearing beneath the first.
“Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.”
It would have been very funny if the situation hadn’t been so serious.
And there was more. . . . “Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever ever became a professor.”
Harry closed his eyes in horror . When he’d opened them, the map had had its last word. “Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.”
This won't end well.
Snape summons Remus, and I have to wonder if he knows their nicknames, or if he just realizes from the insults that this is probably related to them. It's pretty obvious they must have programmed it (somehow) to recognize his name and insult his hair. (Why doesn't Snape wash his hair anyway?)
Remus exits from the fireplace, and Snape shows him the map. A strange look appears on Remus's face.
FFP: Another reminder of the past. So terribly, terribly tragic.
Harry can tell Remus is doing some quick thinking; Snape impatiently persists, saying it must be full of Dark Magic. Remus gives Harry a quick glance urging him not to interrupt, and proceeds to say it's childish, but not dangerous, probably from a joke shop. Snape asks if it's possibly he got it directly from the manufacturers; Harry obviously has no idea what Snape's talking about, which actually helps his case, assuming Snape's watching Harry's body language (which he most likely is). Remus asks if Harry knows any of those men, and Harry quickly says he doesn't. Ron comes running in, stammering that he got Harry all of that stuff at Zonko's.
Remus says he needs to have a word with Harry and Ron about their vampire essay, and leads them out. Before Harry can say much, Remus gives him the smackdown. He reveals that he knows it was confiscated many years ago, that it's a map, that he does not want to know how it fell into their possession. It's too old, too poor, too dangerous. He goes on to say that he is astounded that Harry didn't hand it in, given the circumstances, and he can't let Harry have it back. Remus goes on to say that the "manufacturers" would have wanted to lure Harry out for laughs; Harry asks if Remus knows them, and Remus replies cryptically, "we've met."
Remus says that he won't cover up for Harry again, because he can't make him take Sirius seriously. There's more: "Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them - gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks.”
Wow. Maybe this is a bit harsh as well; on the other hand, he's absolutely right.
FFP: He must be so sad. I should comfort him with chocolate.
Me: You do realize he's not real?
FFP: Oh, right.
Harry realizes he left his cloak by the statue of the one-eyed witch, but doesn't dare get it. (Everbody - FORESHADOWING!) Ron and Hermione bump into Hermione, and they can tell she knows exactly what happened. Ron asks if she wants to gloat, but Hermione has bad news - Buckbeak's going to be executed.
Next up: Ron and Hermione reconcile, Hermione gets a little tougher, and Trelawney makes what appears to be a legitimate prediction.
Chapter Thirteen: Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw
Ron is furious with Hermione, who is in denial because Ron has always hated Crookshanks. Suffice to say, it looks like the end of their friendship. Harry tries to point out to Hermione that Ron has good reason to believe Crookshanks ate Scabbers, and Hermione bitterly accuses Harry of always taking Ron's side. So their friendship's on the rocks now, too.
What's interesting to me is that just as with the original Marauders, there's been a betrayal, and nobody really knows who the actual culprit is. Ron and Hermione suspect one another of manipulating the situation in a similar way that we'll learn Remus and Sirius did. And just as he did last time, Peter has faked a bloody death, making Crookshanks the guilty party. But even before any of this happened, Ron and Hermione were at odds with each other over this. They were unable to fully trust one another, and now, they think they "know why." Much like the Marauders, a bad situation has caused a rift.
Fred tells Ron it's just as well, given how sick he was, and that he probably didn't feel a thing when he was swallowed. This offends Ginny, who, come to think of it, hasn't been mentioned at all since the Portrait was ripped. George agrees with Fred, saying even Ron said Scabbers just slept all the time. Ron remembers the time Scabbers bit Goyle's finger, and I really want to know if there's a fanfic backstory on that. Fred says that the scar on Goyle's finger can be a lasting memory.
Harry talks Ron into attending the Quidditch team's final practice, where Madame Hooch is in awe over the Firebolt.
FFP: I think I'm going to call the Firebolt "Mary Sue." Every single character seems to be enthralled by her, and in the end, it's Harry who gets to ride her. All the Firebolt needs is to be Voldemort's illegitimate broomstick, and we're set.
Oliver tells Harry that he's just found out who the Ravenclaw Seeker is; it's a fourth year named Cho Chang, who Oliver had hoped wouldn't play because she'd been injured, and "scowled in displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery." Little does Harry know he'll snog Cho in two books. And make her cry doing so. What an awkward first kiss story that must be. But that's another story (literally).
Riding the Firebolt is even better than Harry had dreamed. It appears to obey his thoughts, and it turns so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screams. Chill, Spinnet. Oliver lets the Snitch out, and it takes Harry ten seconds to catch it.
FFP: What did I tell you? The Firebolt is the Mary Sue of the broomstick world.
Me: Don't you have an OC who can turn into a unicorn by way of sheer willpower?
It's the best practice ever, and George points out Oliver doesn't even have a single criticism. Oliver does ask Harry if he's sorted out his Dementor problem; Harry says he has, but secretly wishes it were stronger. You have no idea, Harry.
Ron has a go on the Firebolt, and then they had back to the castle. They see a pair of eyes looming in the darkness, and see Crookshanks; Ron starts to pick up a stone, but Crookshanks gets away before he can throw it. Really, Ron? Harry's more relieved that the eyes weren't that of the Grim. That's what you think, Harry.
The next morning, they show off the broomstick in the Great Hall; even Draco looks jealous. Cedric Diggory congratulates Harry, and Penelope Clearwater asks if she can hold it. Percy half-jokingly tells Penny not to sabotage it, and explains that they have a bet going on. Penelope goes back to her table, and Percy whispers that Harry has to win because "I haven't got ten galleons." Oops.
The Green Plastics (i.e. Crabbe, Goyle and Draco) come up to make fun of Harry, asking if he can manage it. Draco says it's too bad it doesn't come with a parachute, in case another Dementor turned up. Harry retorts it's too bad there's not an arm on his. The Gryffindors all laugh loudly, and Draco walks away.
Harry makes sure he has his wand hidden, and wonders if Remus will be in the crowd, watching. The Ravenclaws are already there; Cho Chang is the only girl on the team, and Harry can't help notice that she's pretty. Cho smiles at him, and Harry feels a "slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves."
Oliver and Roger Davies shake hands, and the brooms are mounted. Lee Jordan goes Wizardpedia on everyone by describing the Firebolt and the notations it has received. He is cut short by an impatient McGonagall - twice.
Cho is tailing Harry closely, and they sort of half-flirt on their brooms as Cho keeps trying to cut him off. Harry avoids a Bludger, but unfortunately, also the Snitch. Lee starts talking about the Firebolt again, and McGonagall asks if he's being paid to advertise Firebolts. I'm beginning to think he might be.
Oliver tells Harry that "this is no time to be a gentleman" and that if he has to, he should "know her off her broom." Nice. Cho is grinning, and she continues to tail him instead of the Snitch. Harry tricks Cho into thinking he'd seen the Snitch, and then he actually does see it - above the Ravenclaw field. Cho suddenly screams, and Harry sees three tall hodded Dementors looking up at him.
Without stopping to think, Harry pulls out his wand and screams: "Expecto Patronum!" Something enormous retreats from his wand, but we don't actually see what it is, because Harry doesn't. He can't believe how clear his mind is. He just looks ahead, as he is nearly there. It goes without saying that Harry gets it. When he lands, Angelina, Alicia and Katie all kiss him. (I imagine Ginny's seething with jealousy.) Percy tells Harry "well done!" and then goes off to collect his ten galleons.
Harry then hears Remus say, "that was quite some Patronus, Harry."
Remus looks both shaken and pleased; again, we later learn what he's seen - James's old animagus form. Which begs the question - did Harry subconsciously know, perhaps having seen his father's form as a baby (you never know), or are Patronuses (Patroni? Patrona?) actually spirits of a sort? In any case, Remus is mostly proud, as is Harry because he didn't feel a thing.
Is it bad that I know what happens next word for word?
Remus tells Harry it's because they weren't actually Dementors; he leads him to Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Marcus Flint, who are struggling to remove themselves from long, black hooded robes. McGonagall is standing over them, furious. It appears they had attempted to scare Harry by pretending to be Dementors.
It has to be said again - Draco's really the same guy fandom made clever, suave and coolly sarcastic?
McGonagall takes fifty points from Slytherin, and says she's going to tell Dumbledore. There's a party in the Gryffindor Common Room, so Harry goes off to join (as he's pretty much the guest of honor anyway). Everyone's partying, which makes it feel as though they've already won the Quidditch Cup. The twins disappear, and return a few hours later with sweets from Honeydukes. Angelina asks how, and Fred whispers to Harry that it was with a little help from my friends Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
The only person not celebrating is Hermione; she's sitting in a corner, trying to read a book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry breaks away and attempts to make conversation... by asking if she even came to the match. Harry, you suck at trying to cheer people up. No wonder Cho cries when she makes out with you later in the series. Hermione says she's glad they won and everything, but has a lot of work to do. Harry tells her to at least have some food, and looks at Ron in hopes that he'll bury the hatchet. Hermione says she has to study and that Ron obviously doesn't want her there, and at that moment, Ron makes a comment about Scabbers having liked Fudge Flies.
Hermione bursts into tears and rushes off. When Harry asks Ron what his deal is, he says it's that Hermione isn't even acting remotely apologetic or like anything's amiss. Is that really how you talk about your future wife, Ron?
That night, Harry has a strange dream:
He was walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was winding its way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he turned a corner into a clearing and -
Harry is rudely awakened by the dream when Ron screams "AAARGH! NOOOO!" He thinks he hears the dormitory door slam, and Dean Thomas turns on the lights. Ron is sitting straight up in bed, the hangings torn on one side, with a terrified look on his face. He exclaims that he saw Sirius Black with a knife.
FFP: OMG!!
Me: ... you knew this part was coming.
FFP: I KNOW!
Everyone scrambles out of bed, and they sprint down the staircase. Doors open from behind them, and people start asking them what they're doing and who screamed. Ron explains, and swears he wasn't dreaming. A few more people join them, and Fred excitedly asks if they're still celebrating. Oh, Fred.
Percy orders everyone back upstairs, pinning on his Head Boy Badge. Once again, I see him as Wesley from Buffy. (Not Angel!Wesley, season three of Buffy Wesley.) Ron tells "Perce" (maybe the only time we've seen him be called by a nickname) that Sirius was in his dormitory with a knife.
Percy looks startled, and tells Ron it must have been a nightmare. McGonagall storms into the room, asking why they're still up, saying she expected better of Percy than to allow the partying to continue. Percy says Ron had a nightmare, and Ron screams that it wasn't one. Minnie McG asks how he could have gotten through, and Ron tells her to ask Sir Cadogan.
McGonagall goes outside to do just that, and everyone listens carefully. Yeah, I'm going to quote this scene directly.
“Sir Cadogan , did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?”
“Certainly, good lady!” cried Sir Cadogan.
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room.
“You - you did?” said Professor McGonagall. “But - but the password!”*Facepalm*
So it turns out Sirius had the password. I think Sir Cadogan may be the most incompetent Knight ever. McGonagall comes back and asks which "abysmally foolish person" wrote down the password for the entire week and left it laying around?
FFP: Oh boy... :(
There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy-slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.
I have to say, I do love that Neville didn't hesitate to admit it. He squeaked, but he could have just shifted nervously until someone figured it out and nudged him or outright said, "oy, Longbottom!" But no, he stood up and admitted doing it. Neville Longbottom: The true hero of the series.
Okay, not really, but you have to give him huge amounts of credit here.
Chapter Fourteen: Snape's Grudge
FFP: Hey, do you ever think maybe Snape was in love with Lily, and that's why he has a grudge against Harry's Dad?
Me: ...
FFP: Nah, that's too unlikely.
Me: ... oh, 2002.
*Ahem*
Suffice to say, nobody gets much sleep that night, and the next day, the school is on panic mode. Flitwick can be see teaching portraits to recognize Sirius's face. The Fat Lady has been restored, but only on the condition that security trolls guard her. Harry can't help but notice that the statue of the one-eyed witch is unblocked, making him think he, the twins, Ron and Hermione are the only ones who know about it.. Harry does ask if they should tell someone about it, just in case, but Ron says they'd know if Honeydukes had been broken into. Except it was. By Fred and George. And Harry, a few chapters earlier. It's apparently not that hard to break in and out of there. Harry's glad Ron agrees with him, because if the one-eyed witch was boarded up, he'd never be able to Hogsmeade again.
Ron has become very popular, and subsequently exaggerated what happened. When the impressed second-years go away, Ron asks Harry why he ran. Harry can't argue with that; he reasons that maybe Sirius realized he would have to kill the whole House and the teachers to get away.
Poor Neville has been disgraced completely; he is banned from Hogsmeade, and not allowed to have any of the passwords. Worse yet is the Howler he receives from his grandmother; Ron tells him to run for it. Neville sprints off, but everyone still gets to hear Neville being told that he'd brought shame upon the entire family.
Really, Augusta? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?
Harry has a post of his own, an invitation to meet Hagrid for tea this afternoon "around six." Since when is six o'clock the afternoon? Is this a British thing or a JK Rowling's maths thing? In any case, they head off at six to meet Hagrid by the entrance hall. He doesn't want to hear about Ron's encounter with Sirius. When they get to Hagrid's cabin, they see Buckbeak eating ferrets and a hairy brown suit and orange tie. Hey, wasn't that in the movie? Did the movie actually get something right? Hagrid says it's for the trial, and Harry realizes he'd forgotten all about it.
Hagrid has met with them because he wants to talk about how they've been treating Hermione, pretty much rehashing the past few chapters. According to Hagrid, she's cried quite a few times, and is clearly biting off more than she can chew, even as she helps Hagrid with his trial. Ron and Harry apologize for not also helping, but Hagrid's more upset that they couldn't put friendship before broomsticks and rats. Hagrid tells Ron how distraught Hermione was when he almost got stabbed, and that her heart's in the right place.
The conversation turns cheerier, and they go back to Hogwarts. Ron sees that next weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, and he and Harry discuss going. Hermione says from behind him that she'll tell. Ron says she's trying to get Harry expelled, and asserts she's already done enough damage. Okay, Ron, now you're just being an asshole. Sorry.
Once Hermione's out of earshot, Harry says he'll go, but only with his Invisibility Cloak.
The next day, Harry calls to Ron that he'll see him when he gets back, hurries to the third floor, and sees Neville on the Map. If he'd look more carefully, he'd probably notice Sirius and/or Peter's name as well, but I guess the twins didn't either, so. Neville spots Harry and asks of he wants to play Exploding Snap; Harry says he has to work on a vampire essay, and poor Neville says he'll go with him. Harry says he forgot he already finished it, and Neville, totally not catching the hint, says then Harry can help him. I feel really, really bad for Neville.
Snape spots both of them, and asks why they're there. He tells them to go to the Gryffindor Tower, where Harry manages to shake off Neville. He hurries back to the third floor, and exposition short, catches up to Ron at Hogsmeade.
They visit the Owl Post, Zonko's, and enjoy wandering around, as awkward as it is for Ron to talk to Harry while he's invisible. They pass the Shrieking Shack, which even the twins couldn't get in. Nearly Headless Nick said he's heard a "very rough crowd" lives here. I wonder if that's true, or if that's something NHN started telling students when Remus was there to deter them? Though I'm not sure why NHN would have any reason to know, unless he sensed it or something.
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle are nearby; they're making fun of Hagrid, which is something Harry won't take. As Draco proceeds to insult Ron, Harry starts throwing mud at Draco. Draco's freaked out, and Ron taunts him, saying it's haunted. Harry throws mud again, and again, until the cloak slides off his face.
Draco stairs at Harry's head and screams, running back to Hogwarts. Ron tells Harry to run for it, which he does. As soon as Harry finds his way back to Hogwarts, he runs into Snape, who simply says "so."
He tells Harry to follow him into his office, and tells him what Draco thinks he saw. Harry tells Snape Draco should see Madame Pomfrey, if he's seeing things, but Snape's not buying it. "If your head was in Hogsmeade, so was the rest of you."
“So,” he said, straightening up again. “Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black . But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences.”
Although Snape's being kind of dickish about it, I kind of see his point. I think Remus puts it much better a page or two from now, though. And where Snape goes with this is pretty damn harsh: he continues to say that Harry is just like his father, and not in a good way; apparently James was arrogant, strutted around with his friends and admirers... Harry tells Snape neither one of them have ever done those things. Snape continues on, and Harry screams at Snape to shut up, crying that he knows James saved his life.
Snape's skin goes the color of "sour milk." (I love the descriptions JKR gives Snape.) He asks Harry if he knows the circumstances, which of course Harry doesn't; Snape goes on to tell Harry that James and his friend had played a prank on Snape that would have "resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment." His teeth are bared now, and Harry is forced to turn out his pockets.
Uh oh...
Harry says that Ron gave him the Zonko's bag, to which Snape says, "how very touching." He goes on to pick up the map, and Harry has to try very hard to keep his face impassive, dismissing it as a spare piece of parchment. But when Snape tries to throw it in the fire, Harry can't let him.
Snape's eyes are gleaming, and he tells the map to "reveal your secret!" (Are you ten, Snape? What was that?) When that doesn't work, he taps on it, demanding that it shows itself. The map stays blank, and finally, Snape says, “Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!” That's better.
This is another segment that begs direct quoting.
“Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business.”
Snape froze . Harry stared, dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn’t stop there. More writing was appearing beneath the first.
“Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.”
It would have been very funny if the situation hadn’t been so serious.
And there was more. . . . “Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever ever became a professor.”
Harry closed his eyes in horror . When he’d opened them, the map had had its last word. “Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.”
This won't end well.
Snape summons Remus, and I have to wonder if he knows their nicknames, or if he just realizes from the insults that this is probably related to them. It's pretty obvious they must have programmed it (somehow) to recognize his name and insult his hair. (Why doesn't Snape wash his hair anyway?)
Remus exits from the fireplace, and Snape shows him the map. A strange look appears on Remus's face.
FFP: Another reminder of the past. So terribly, terribly tragic.
Harry can tell Remus is doing some quick thinking; Snape impatiently persists, saying it must be full of Dark Magic. Remus gives Harry a quick glance urging him not to interrupt, and proceeds to say it's childish, but not dangerous, probably from a joke shop. Snape asks if it's possibly he got it directly from the manufacturers; Harry obviously has no idea what Snape's talking about, which actually helps his case, assuming Snape's watching Harry's body language (which he most likely is). Remus asks if Harry knows any of those men, and Harry quickly says he doesn't. Ron comes running in, stammering that he got Harry all of that stuff at Zonko's.
Remus says he needs to have a word with Harry and Ron about their vampire essay, and leads them out. Before Harry can say much, Remus gives him the smackdown. He reveals that he knows it was confiscated many years ago, that it's a map, that he does not want to know how it fell into their possession. It's too old, too poor, too dangerous. He goes on to say that he is astounded that Harry didn't hand it in, given the circumstances, and he can't let Harry have it back. Remus goes on to say that the "manufacturers" would have wanted to lure Harry out for laughs; Harry asks if Remus knows them, and Remus replies cryptically, "we've met."
Remus says that he won't cover up for Harry again, because he can't make him take Sirius seriously. There's more: "Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them - gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks.”
Wow. Maybe this is a bit harsh as well; on the other hand, he's absolutely right.
FFP: He must be so sad. I should comfort him with chocolate.
Me: You do realize he's not real?
FFP: Oh, right.
Harry realizes he left his cloak by the statue of the one-eyed witch, but doesn't dare get it. (Everbody - FORESHADOWING!) Ron and Hermione bump into Hermione, and they can tell she knows exactly what happened. Ron asks if she wants to gloat, but Hermione has bad news - Buckbeak's going to be executed.
Next up: Ron and Hermione reconcile, Hermione gets a little tougher, and Trelawney makes what appears to be a legitimate prediction.