Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Chapter 14 Summary

Chapter Fourteen:  Snape’s Grudge

The students are nervous as Hogwarts is searched again for the likes of Sirius Black.  Suddenly it occurs to Ron and Hermione to ask why Sirius Black would run away with Harry only a few short meters away. Hagrid asks Harry and Ron to tea and mentions how lonely Hermione has been since Scabbers’ disappearance. However, it does not improve their treatment of her when Hermione threatens to tell McGonagall about the map if Harry sneaks into Hosmeade again. Harry does, in fact, sneak into Hogsmeade using the invisibility cloak and meets Ron in order to check out the shops Harry has not yet visited. Malfoy corners Ron at the Shrieking Shack and, after insulting Ron’s family, is ambushed by the invisible Harry in an opportunity “too perfect to miss,” but Harry’s cloak is partially pulled off of him, revealing his presence. As Harry makes his way back to Hogwarts via the secret passage, Snape corners him, knowing everything. In Snape’s office, Snape reveals that Harry’s dad had saved Snape’s life once upon a time. Snape also discovers the blank Marauder’s Map which immediately insults Snape, who summons Lupin. Lupin denies the true nature of the map and insists that it is probably a piece of parchment designed to insult its reader. Lupin, knowing more than expected about the map, confiscates it for the time being, admitting that he knows “the manufacturers.” Suddenly, Hermione appears, telling Ron and Hermione that Hagrid lost the case. Buckbeak, therefore, is condemned to death by execution.