Book Three - Completed!

I can feel it happening. Slowly...the obsession is creeping in. I am doing what I can to stop it, but I can't hold it off for much longer. And my friends are not helping. So far, I think the books have been interesting yet not so so enthralling that they take up my life. However, the world that J.K. Rowling creates in these books is so real and inventive that you can't help but want to be a part of it, even if that just means reading further. And, the following that they have gathered has resulted in Harry Potter being everywhere you look. Movies, Legos, posters, etc. It is impossible to resist.
So, I continue my journey.


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the first book that I read about which I had no prior knowledge. I didn't even know the name of the third book so I had to ask the librarian just so I could check it out. I felt like a doofus. Anyway, it was fun to read an entirely new book and not know what was going to happen.

I found out quickly that the "Prisoner of Azkaban" was Sirius Black, whom I knew I liked from what I saw of him in the fifth movie. But, I was so confused! The whole time, Black is made out to be this terrible person who indirectly killed Harry's parents and was a traitor and killed innocent people and didn't care about it at all. He was Voldemort's servant! How could he become the cool guy that I knew he was later in the series?? It was a very interesting read, knowing that somehow, some way, he turned out to be good.

I was not disappointed. Well, in what concerned Sirius Black. There was one thing I was depressed about-- Scabbers! I really liked him; I was extremely sad when he turned out to be Peter Pettigrew: an abominable, cowering, stupid man. Oh, and another thing that made me sad-- that Lupin had to resign at the end. I really liked him :(

I had a prediction that was squashed while reading this book. I was convinced, halfway through the book, that Lupin would eventually be Sirius Black in some sort of disguise. Honestly though, Lupin knew all sorts of things about Black, he knew how to get past dementors, and his last name is Lupin, which resembles lupus and other forms of the word wolf. And since I knew that Black could turn into a wolf-like creature, I was sure Lupin would turn out to be him. But I was wrong, oh well. At least I was close with the wolf thing.
There were some things that I got to understand concerning Harry Potter, of which I have heard over the years. I learned:

• What dementors actually are. (Creepy, terrifying prison guards which suck the happiness out of people and make them go mad.)
• What Expecto Patronum means, and what a Patronus is. (Advanced magic which releases a sort of energy in the form of an animal [a Patronus] which drives back dementors.)
• What "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." means. (How to open the Marauder's Map, which shows countless passages within Hogwarts.)
• What a boggart is. (A creature that assumes the shape of your worst fear.)

I have decided that my boggart would turn into a stereotypical "Jack the Ripper" type serial killer. Absolutely mad beyond reason, brandishing a ragged knife and laughing maniacally. Of course, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a twisted smile. As I discussed this with Kelsey, we made the realization that many Riddikulus techniques would not have the same effect on my boggart like they did in the book, especially Neville's approach. I don't think it would be very funny to dress my serial killer in old lady's clothing.... So we decided that I would have to turn him into cardboard or something.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was good, and I was impressed with how the story came together, once again. Also, I would like to let you know that I am refraining from writing anything about what was revealed to me by watching the first part of the seventh movie because I am hoping to forget as much as I can. So that's why there's been no post about that.

Well, all that said, on to the next book!

Want to see my other posts about the series? Right here.