CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 3: The Knight Bus

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 189432

Thanks, Lui, for the questions!
 
> QUESTIONS:
> What did you first think after reading about Harry's latest bout of underage
> magic? Did you also think that he would be expelled or that Ministry wizards
> would come to arrest him or at least to break his wand in half?

Annemehr:

I didn't really think about punishment until the book brought it up later in the chapter.  I was more interested in the powerful emotions and the rising magical power evident in Harry.  I never thought of this as a temper tantrum; there are good reasons for anger and what Marge did was one of them.  

Of course, even appropriate anger is best controlled, but Harry had prepared for it and done his best, and in the end there was really nothing he could do.

Then afterward when pulled out his wand and *told* them he was leaving and no one was going to stop him - after having been made to sit and listen to abuse - was a bit thrilling - I hoped it was a sign of the strength to come.

<snip>

> We are introduced to Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Knight bus. Harry
> places him at around eighteen or nineteen years old. We should've seen him at
> Hogwarts in Harry's first year. What do you think of his magical education?

Annemehr:

If Stan left Hogwarts after his OWLs, which seems likely, then they may have missed each other, as Harry is only guessing at Stan's age.  But even if they were in school together, I doubt Harry would have noticed Stan, since Harry barely notices people in is own year.


> 
> It says in the newspaper that "Black" (eventually we know it was that rat
> Pettigrew) murdered thirteen people with one curse. What spell do you think he
> used? Do you think the Killing Curse was involved, or that Pettigrew would be
> powerful enough to cast a similar curse?

Annemehr:

I believe Peter's intent was to cause a diversion, and that he didn't care if he killed anyone or not.  My guess is that he really did blow up the street (and the sewer), and the muggles were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 
> 
> Harry steps down to London and is greeted by none other than Cornelius Fudge,
> Minister of Magic. Why do you think such an important political figure came to
> fetch Harry?

Annemehr:

I'm not sure there's a real explanation in the book, other than the author wanting to reintroduce Fudge.  But I suppose we could say that he wanted to be on the spot of a successful "rescue" to contrast with their difficulties in recapturing Black.


> 
> Fudge explains that Aunt Marge has been restored to normal and that the
> Dursleys are prepared to take him in next holidays, no matter how angry they
> were. Do you think that Fudge knows about Harry's blood protection in Privet
> Drive ?

Annemehr:

I think he knew that DD arranged some sort of protection for Harry there but did not tell him the details.

> 
> Harry is relieved from any punishment for blowing up his Aunt, and doesn't
> even get expelled for using underage magic. Fudge even looks uncomfortable and
> deliberately makes excuses to not explain his actions. What was your first
> reaction to this?

Annemehr:

My reaction had always been: "But...but...but...accidental magic!"

Hagrid explained accidental magic very thoroughly in the first book, after JKR described quite a few instances of it in Harry's early life, so I thought it was a common thing in young witches and wizards.  I'm not sure how I expected Fudge to know it *was* accidental in this instance, though, and if Harry would have told him, surely it would only have sounded like making excuses.

That was my first reaction.

But I think Fudge looked uncomfortable because in the normal course of things, the MoM *would* have punished Harry, but that DD put the pressure on to get him off.  And Fudge is worried that this will come back to bite him.  It's a tough time for him politically anyway, with Black still on the loose.

But it still makes me wonder about how often muggleborn witches and wizards get into trouble for accidental magic in the usual course of things.

Annemehr