Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 17: Cat, Rat and Dog

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 190346

> Geoff wrote:
> QUESTIONS
> 1. When the dog attacked the group, what were your thoughts about where 
> it had come from and what it was? For example, did your mind return to the 
> Grim? 
Potioncat:
All along Harry has seen a Grim-like animal—I thought we were about to learn more about it. By now I was pretty sure the dog was something else, but I wasn't sure what.
> 
> 2. Did you assume that it was attempting to get at Harry? If that was the 
> case, what was your reaction that, after Ron pushed Harry aside, it then 
> apparently focussed its attack on him instead?
Potioncat:
At first I thought it had made a mistake. Then I thought Black had used Ron as bait to get Harry to follow into the Shrieking Shack. I think it took me a long to work out that the dog grabbed Ron to get to Scabbers.
> 
> 3. Crookshanks pushed the knot on the trunk of the tree which caused its 
> flailing to stop. What were your thoughts at that point about Crookshanks 
> and his actions? Accidental? More to the Kneazle than meets the eye?

Potioncat:
 This chapter grew more confusing as it went along. I wasn't sure whose side Crookshanks was on.
> 
> 4. In the Shrieking Shack, the dog is then revealed to be Sirius Black. Had 
> any sort of possibility like this crossed your mind previously?
Potioncat:
 Oh yeah. I had also worked out that the rat was Pettigrew----Of course not. I had no inkling. But it's really fun to look back now and see how it all came together. Not so much clues as you first read it, but little details all along that verify the outcome.
> 
> 5. Many of Sirius' actions and words at the outset still seemed to indicate 
> that he was after Harry. Do you think that he took a very great risk to 
> himself in increasing that perception by saying to Harry "Going to kill me?". 
> If so, why did he behave in this way? Would Harry have really attempted 
> to do this if Crookshanks had not intervened?
Potioncat:
 I think Sirius is still emotionally unstable. Just as he allowed himself to be locked up in Azkaban, he seems resigned to the fact that Harry would want to kill him. I don't know if Harry would have tried, but I don't think he would have been successful. It's also important that we see Harry's rage now, and the intense feeling of wanting to kill someone. This is a sort of a foreshadowing   to casting Unforgivables.
> 
> 6. To me, this is the most interesting chapter in the whole book because 
> there are so many questions answered, so many puzzles resolved and, as 
> a result,  so many pieces of the jigsaw fall into place. Would you agree 
> and, if so, what was for you the most illuminating information that was 
> revealed?
Potioncat:
 I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on this. It seems to me that as we get new information in this chapter, we end up with more questions. But I do love the slow unfolding —especially as Lupin works out Pettigrew's story---leaving the Trio and the first time reader more confused than ever.
These three chapters, "Cat, Rat, and Dog," "Moony, Wormtail , Padfoot, and Prongs," and "The Servant of Lord Voldemort" make a whole section that we used to refer to as the Shrieking Shack. (not to be confused with the Prank) and we discussed it endlessly. This section is one of my favorites.



Thanks for a great discussion! I wanted to join in sooner, but was determined to read the chapter first for a fresh viewpoint.