Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter Three Summary & Analysis

Harry gets several blocks before he has to rest in Magnolia Crescent. After ten minutes, he's in a full-blown panic. He did illegal magic and, to make matters worse, he's stranded in the muggle world. Harry wonders if he'll be kicked out of the wizarding world and laments that Hedwig is gone—he can't even ask Ron or Hermione for help. Realizing he also has no muggle money, Harry wonders if, since he's already expelled, he could enchant his trunk and fly to London. As Harry starts to fish in his trunk for the Invisibility Cloak, he feels like he's being watched. He senses somebody in an alleyway and lights his wand. He sees something huge with bright eyes. Terrified, he steps back and trips over his trunk.

Harry throws his hand out to catch himself and just as he hits the street, he hears a loud bang. He rolls out of the way as a purple bus stops in front of him. It reads "The Knight Bus" on the windshield. The conductor steps out and begins his spiel, introducing himself as Stan Shunpike. When he notices Harry on the ground, he stops and asks why Harry is lying down. Annoyed, Harry jumps up and looks back to the alleyway. He starts to explain that he saw a dog, but stops when he notices Stan looking uneasy. He tells Stan his name is Neville Longbottom and asks to go to London. Stan accepts Harry's money and then helps lift Harry's trunk onto the bus.

The bus is filled with beds instead of seats. Stan settles Harry in the bed behind the driver, Ernie Prang. With a bang, the bus seems to jump 100 miles—Stan explains that they're in Wales when he notices Harry's shocked face and says that muggles don't hear the bus because they don't listen well. He fetches an ill-looking witch, sees her off the bus, and then with another bang the bus jumps. Harry's stomach churns, both from to the bus's action and from his worry about Aunt Marge.

Stan opens up a copy of the Daily Prophet and Harry notices Sirius Black, the man from the muggle news, on the front page. When Harry shares this with Stan, Stan chuckles and gives the front page to Harry to read. The article reads that Black is still at large and that Cornelius Fudge is facing criticism for telling muggles about Black. It says that wizards are afraid of another massacre like the one twelve years ago: Black murdered thirteen people with one curse. Harry hands the page back to Stan and Stan explains that Black was in league with You-Know-Who. Not thinking, Harry says "Voldemort," which makes Ernie swerve and Stan yelp in fear.

Harry apologizes and asks Stan to tell him more about Black. Stan says that after Harry Potter bested Voldemort, the government tracked down Voldemort’s supporters. Ministry officials cornered Black on a street and Black blew half the street to pieces, killing a wizard and twelve muggles. Then, he laughed and went quietly to Azkaban. Stan says that nobody's ever escaped from Azkaban before, since the Azkaban guards are so effective. Ernie tells Stan to change the subject; he hates the Azkaban guards.

Harry feels horrendous. He thinks that he broke the law just like Sirius Black did and wonders if inflating Aunt Marge is enough to land him in Azkaban. All Harry knows about the prison is what he heard from Hagrid, who spent two months there last year.

Stan gives Harry his hot chocolate and, finally, Harry is the last passenger. Ernie stops the bus in front of the Leaky Cauldron. Stan helps Harry with his trunk but instead of saying goodbye, he stands transfixed by something behind Harry. Harry hears a voice say, "There you are, Harry," and sees Cornelius Fudge. Fudge puts his hand on Harry's shoulder, testily thanks Stan for picking Harry up, and steers Harry inside. Stan and Ernie carry Harry's trunk in and Harry sadly waves goodbye before following Fudge.

Fudge motions for Harry to sit down and introduces himself. Puzzlingly, Fudge says that everyone was terrified when Harry ran away from the Dursleys, but all that matters is that he's safe now. He says that Marge is back to normal and won't remember a thing, and then he kindly says that though Vernon and Petunia are angry, they'll still house Harry next summer as long as he doesn't come home for Christmas or Easter. Harry insists he never wants to go back, which prompts Fudge to worriedly say that the family must all like each other deep down.

Fudge says that the only matter left to discuss is where Harry should stay for the last three weeks of the summer holiday. Harry asks about his punishment for breaking the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, but Fudge waves this away. Harry reminds Fudge that last year, he got a warning because a house-elf did magic at the Dursleys’ house. Fudge insists that circumstances change and then goes to talk to Tom about booking Harry a room. Harry feels like there must be something going on—underage magic seems a small problem for the Minister of Magic to deal with personally.

Fudge and Tom return and Fudge makes Harry promise to stay in Diagon Alley. He seems oddly cheery as he packs up to leave, but seems to slip a little when Harry asks about Sirius Black. As the two shake hands, Harry asks if Fudge can sign his Hogsmeade permission form. Fudge uncomfortably refuses and then leaves, while Tom shows Harry to his room. Hedwig is already there.