Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Question: In the divination class where Hermione walks out, what exactly is she up to when she says "The Grim, possibly"?

Answer: She was being sarcastic to the professor about her predictions, thinking that it's all just guesswork. She doesn't believe in divination and walks out because she feels it is wasting her time. And she was insulted, of course.

lionhead

Question: How come Hermione didn't say something comforting to Hagrid as they we're leaving before the execution like Harry did? It seems a bit out of character for her.

Answer: Hagrid wants them to leave quickly, before the executioner and the Minister of Magic arrive. Also, Hermione may not have known what to say. One of Hagrid's beloved pets is about to be executed - what could anyone say to make him feel better about it?

Answer: It's not about Hermione. This has to do with filmmaking. The scene was constructed to maintain the pacing, timing, and the mood, which quickly changes when the execution party suddenly arrives at the hut and the Trio rushes out. Harry expressed what all three were thinking. Having each character say something to Hagrid, would just slow the action with unnecessary dialogue. There may have been more to the scene when it was originally filmed, but editing often deletes excess details, for the reasons stated above. Movies, in particular, have details eliminated during post-production editing.

raywest

Answer: McKellen said he turned it down for two reasons: first, he had already played a famous wizard (Gandalf) and didn't want to do it again; and second, he didn't want to take over a role from Richard Harris after Harris had called him a "dreadful actor."

To clarify, Harris never said that McKellen was "dreadful." He was quoted in an article as describing McKellen as a, "technically brilliant, but passionless" actor. He was also including Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi in that assessment and referred to them all as "nice actors" who were "careful." It was just his opinion about an acting style different from his own, which was more emotive.

raywest

Question: How come from the whole time from when Hagrid gives Scabbers to Ron, until he bites him and runs away after the execution, Ron keeps holding him instead of putting him in his pocket?

Answer: To start with, Ron recently believed that Scabbers was dead, and is relieved to have him back. So Ron is probably not in the mood to shove him into a pocket again. And why shouldn't anyone be holding their pet?

Question: When they go back in time, you can see Hermione was tended to first in the hospital wing, but why did Hermione need to be tended to?

Answer: It was probably to check that she was all right before tending to Ron. She had been slung around quite a bit by the Whomping Willow before being tossed into the tunnel. She likely had some cuts and scrapes. She is wearing a bandage on her hand.

raywest

Should they not have tended to Ron first though? His injury was more severe.

From what I can see through the jumbled, flashing images, it looks like Hermione is in the infirmary before Ron. He is probably being assisted off-screen, then later is transferred to the bed, where we see him with his bandaged leg. Also, as he could not walk, transporting him from the Whomping Willow back to the castle would take longer. Hermione probably went on ahead and was seen first. There may also be a different treatment room he was first taken to.

raywest

Question: How is Peter Pettigrew, aka Scabbers, even able to enter Hogwarts under the guise of a pet rat? Surely with all the enchantments protecting the school, one couldn't simply turn into an animal to sneak in? If it's that easy to sneak in, wouldn't the other death eaters turn into cats and owls to do the same?

immortal eskimo

Answer: Pettigrew didn't sneak in. He arrived with Ron in the first film as his "pet" rat, Scabbers, and returned with him each year up until "Prisoner of Azkaban," when his identity was revealed. "Scabbers" (Pettigrew) was previously Percy's rat and lived with the Weasley family for twelve years. Every student could bring a small pet to Hogwarts, so there was nothing unusual about Scabbers being there. Every pet was accounted for and any outside animals suspect. Death Eaters probably could have sneaked in as a Slytherin student's pet, though few witches or wizards were capable of becoming an Animagus (changing into an animal), nor could they choose or change the animal form - it reflected their personality. All legal Animagus were registered with the Ministry of Magic and their animal forms documented. (Like Pettigrew, Sirius Black was an illegal Animagus, and he entered Hogwarts via the secret tunnel.) There was little reason for Death Eaters to sneak into Hogwarts as Harry wasn't a specific target until much later, and his mother's death magically protected him from harm until he was legal age. (Many consider the Weasley twins having never noticed Pettigrew's name on the Marauder's Map to be a huge plot hole).

raywest

Question: What was Ron's joke when he said "Next time I see Crookshanks I'll let him know"? I knew he was making some sort of joke or being sarcastic. Can someone please explain it to me?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: Hermione wanted Ron to apologize. Ron jokes he will, but to the cat instead of her.

lionhead

I don't understand why Ron would joke about that. He owed Hermione an apology. And why didn't he just say sorry?

They are just kids. He just doesn't feel like he should apologize to her for accusing her cat of killing his rat. There have probably been incidents of Crookshanks chasing Scabbers, it is a cat after all.

lionhead

Answer: I watched the clip. Hermione does not appear to be smiling, though if she is, she is probably reacting to Ron's usual hyperbolic reaction to many situations. Hermione had said his leg looked "painful," so Ron then exaggerates, saying they might have to "chop it," as a means to elicit more sympathy. Both know the injury is not that serious.

raywest

Answer: Based on the way Hermoine's head is positioned in the shot, it's kind of hard to tell. Though a closer look will show that she does smile a bit after Ron says "They might chop it", just before the shot cuts. She likely found Ron's belief that he might lose his leg to be somewhat amusing. In the following shot, when Harry approaches Sirius, Hermoine can be heard off-screen saying "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will fix it in a heartbeat", so she must have thought he was worrying about it too much.

Casual Person

Answer: For one thing, they're kids, and Hermione knows Harry is ill-equipped to handle this and he will just run off in a blind rage with no thought about what ti do. Hermione is methodical and always thinks before she acts and follows the rules. She wants Harry, who is impetuous, to do the same, and for them to work together.

raywest

Answer: Unlikely she would be seen. The boys would be separated from the girls. I watched the YouTube clip, and there didn't appear to be any girls sleeping in the Great Hall, at least not in that section of it.

raywest

I will add that in the books, its stated that "the three of them" grabbed a sleeping bag and moved to a corner. So while we may not see her in the movie, in the books she was present with Ron and Harry.

Ssiscool

Answer: From all the activity she was doing, such as being flung around by the Whomping Willow, crawling through the tunnel, being in the Shrieking Shack, running away from Lupin (when he's in his werewolf form) and so on.

raywest

But where was it first seen?

It doesn't really need to be seen for it to happen. If it was gained from being hit over by the willow then they're not going to show a close up of the dirt transferring on to her clothes.

Ssiscool

It's first really noticeable when they're inside the Shrieking Shack. Before then it was too dark to be seen.

raywest

Answer: Because they were confused and surprised by Sirius' sudden appearance while he was in his dog form. It took them a few moments to collect themselves and react to the situation.

raywest

Question: Why didn't Hermione cast immobilus on the Whomping willow when they were running after Ron after Sirius drags him into the shrieking shack? Or after it hit them back and they tried to get in themselves?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: They didn't know a simple magic spell would work on it. Students were forbidden to approach the tree because it was so dangerous. In the book, the Willow was turned "on" and "off" with a secret switch located at the base of the trunk. Only the Hogwarts teachers and some staff knew about it.

raywest

Question: After Buckbeak's execution and Scabbers bites Ron and escapes, why is Ron more shocked and upset about Scabbers biting him instead of running away?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: He is his pet rat, he probably runs away all the time but always comes back.

lionhead

Answer: Ron is shocked that his beloved pet would bite him, something Scabbers (Pettigrew) had never done before and was out of character.

raywest

Question: There is a fanfic that I am looking for that is a version of Prisoner of Azkaban. I've been looking for it for a long time. The only helpful thing I can say is the 6th chapter is called "Harry protects Hermione." Does anyone know where I can find it?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: You could try fanfiction.net. It has fictional stories written by many people.

I have. That's where I first found it years ago.

Answer: It's a little shorter and curlier. The bangs are also a little different. It's hardly surprising since a few months have passed from the end of the school year in HP2 and the start of HP3, just before the new school year begins. All the younger characters have changing hairstyles throughout the series.

raywest

Question: When they walk down to Hagrid's why does Hermione have her mouth open then have her arms folded and glare at the executioner right after that?

Questionasker340

Answer: All of her actions and expressions are a result of her being angry, disgusted, and defiant that Buckbeak is to be unfairly executed. She is specifically directing her anger at the executioner as he gleefully sharpens his huge ax.

raywest

Answer: If you mean why didn't Hermione freak out its been proven time and time again that Hermione is a lot more calm and in control of herself than Ron is. She was able to keep cool around him. Plus Ron was pretty hurt and probably in shock. If you mean why she didn't save Pettigrew its because she knows who he is and what he did, she finds him quite repulsive.

lionhead

What I meant was she didn't seem weirded out when Pettigrew was all "sweet girl, clever girl" and I wondered why.

Answer: Ron's still in a bit of physical and emotional shock. He was dragged into the Shrieking Shack by what he thought was a vicious animal (Sirius Black) that was going to kill him. His leg was injured when he was being pulled through the tunnel and he's in pain. The biggest issue is his learning that his "beloved" pet rat, Scabbers, was actually Pettigrew, who, for the past few years, was constantly with Ron, being held by him, sleeping in his bed... Ron was totally disgusted by finding out of the truth. That's why Hermione's reaction is different.

raywest

Answer: Ron's shoes that were taken off him when he was put into the bed. That's why they disappear when Harry and Hermione go back in time. If you play it in slowmo, you can see it when they disappear.

lionhead

Why were they taken off him? Pomfrey could still fix his leg if they were on.

Probably because it's simply more comfortable. Odds are good he would be spending the night in the hospital wing, so he wouldn't wear them to sleep.

LorgSkyegon

Answer: No specific reason is given and any answer is speculation. My take is that it is only about plot timing and pacing to serve the story line. After Harrry and Sirius exit the tunnel, they have a short conversation in which they solidify their godfather/godson bond. Sirius also offers Harry a home, if he wants. If Lupin and Pettigrew had come out sooner, this narrative would have been interrupted. After their conversation, Lupin and Pettigrew then emerge, and the story continues, building up to Pettigrew's escape.

raywest

Visible crew/equipment: At dinner, just after Harry takes the plate from Petunia and as Aunt Marge says, "A bit more," referring to the brandy Vernon pours, in the left glass door of the hutch behind Vernon, there is a nice clear reflection of a crew member lowering his white sleeved arm off screen. (00:02:40)

Super Grover

More mistakes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Sirius Black: Brilliant, Snape. Once again you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the task and as usual come to the wrong conclusion.

More quotes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Trivia: Actor Tom Felton's Hogwarts' robes' pockets had to be sewn shut to prevent him from taking food on set.

More trivia for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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