CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw

[geoff_bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 189958


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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw

Ron and Hermione quarrel violently about the evidence that Crookshank 
has eaten Scabbers. Hermione is vehement about the Kneazle's innocence 
and even rounds on Harry, accusing him of prejudice, when he attempts 
to support Ron.

Harry takes Ron to the team's final practice to cheer him up and Madam 
Hooch waxes lyrical over Harry's Firebolt. Oliver Wood tells the team that 
Cho Chang is playing as the Ravenclaw Seeker. They turn to practice and 
Harry plays at his best on the new broom. He goes for a walk around the 
stadium with Ron and is frightened to see eyes gleaming in the dark; it 
turns out to be Crookshanks prowling around. Harry realises that he thought 
the eyes were those of the Grim.

Harry takes the Firebolt to breakfast on the following morning where it 
creates much interest and a sarcastic exchange of insults between Harry 
and Draco. The match begins ands Harry finds he is being tailed by Cho, 
who blocks one attempt by Harry to capture the Snitch. He retaliates by 
luring her towards the ground and then, while chasing the Snitch, three 
Dementors appear on the ground looking at him. He fires a Patronus at 
them and then captures the Snitch to win.

Remus Lupin comes up to him to congratulate him on his production of a 
Patronus and it then transpires that the "Dementors" were in fact members 
of Slytherin house, including Malfoy, dressed up to look like them. The house 
goes on to a party which is slightly spoiled by the continuation of Ron and 
Hermione's argument. After they have all gone to bed, Harry is woken from 
a strange dream by Ron screaming in terror. They all wake up to find that 
the hangings of his bed have been slashed, Ron claiming that it was done 
by Sirius Black. The house gathered in the Common Room when Percy 
arrives, followed by Professor McGonagall.  They are dismissive of Ron's 
claims but, on asking Sir Cadogan, he reports that he had seen a man enter 
the Tower after giving him the passwords. It is then revealed that Neville 
had written down the passwords and left the list lying around.

Questions.

1. Do you think that Hermione was right in accusing Ron of 
being prejudiced against Crookshanks?

2. Was it wise for Harry to intervene in the argument, even if 
he thought Ron was right?

3. Harry is still letting thoughts of the Grim bother him. Is he 
right in thinking that the creature exists or were the various 
apparent sightings just coincidences or products of his over-
excited imagination?

4. Do you think that Cho is just using her flying ability to distract 
Harry or do you think she might be using her womanly wiles to 
affect him in other ways?

5. Were you surprised at the speed of Harry's reaction on seeing 
the Dementors? Would you have expected that he would have a 
similar reaction to that of the earlier Hufflepuff match?

6. How do you read Hermione's behaviour at the post-Ravenclaw 
match party?

7. Do you think Percy was too hasty in refusing to listen to Ron 
after the attack? Was this just a typical reaction from him?

8. What was your reaction on first reading about Neville's blunder?

9. Please add any questions which you might think are germane 
to the discussion.

Geoff

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