Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter Five:  The Dementor

Just before the Hogwarts Express train starts speeding towards Hogwarts school, Harry pulls Mr. Weasley aside and tells him what Harry overheard. Mr. Weasley makes Harry swear that he will not go looking for Sirius Black. Harry swears but wonders why Mr. Weasley made that strange request. Harry, Ron, and Hermione gather in a train compartment with a sleeping Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts while Harry’s pocket sneakscope keeps going berserk around Ron’s pet rat named Scabbers. The three discuss their sadness at Harry not being able to join the group at Hogsmeade for their fun weekend trips. The train stops suddenly and the compartment gets icy cold while a cloaked figure, called a dementor, appears in the doorway. Harry faints just as he hears a woman screaming. When he awakens, Harry learns that professor Lupin “muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand,” saving Harry. They all discuss the icy feelings of unhappiness surrounding the dementor as well as the fact that no one fainted but Harry.  Right before the Hogwarts students begin their first big feast together, Dumbledore tells them that Hogwarts is playing host to many dementors who would be guarding the grounds looking for Sirius Black and that their new Care of Magical Creatures teacher would be none other than Rubeus Hagrid (the groundskeeper as well as a good friend of Harry, Ron, and Hermione). Harry reflects upon how he feels at home at Hogwarts.