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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Analysis

By: Harleen

    Hi everyone. In this article I will be concentrating on four of the most important character introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
    Fred and George Weasley first introduce them unknowingly to Harry in the form of the Marauder's Map. At first the map was used as a good way to get out of the school and visit Hogsmeade illegally. But Harry soon saw that the map would do much more than that. By the end of the book Harry feels he
knows much more about Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs and I will be looking at how Harry's encounter with Wormtail will influence the rest of the books. 
    There are also three more essential characters introduced in
Prisoner of Azkaban: Professor Sybill Trelawney, Professor Remus J. Lupin (could his middle name be James?), and Crookshanks. I'll talk about these three as well.
    Harry spared Peter Pettigrew's life. Peter cannot deny it, nor can Voldemort. Wormtail is now in Harry's debt. But that isn't that much of a problem is it? Voldemort had Death Eaters aplenty; he can use anyone he wants to do his bidding, not only Wormtail. Ah, but there's another problem. Peter Pettigrew gave his hand for the renewal of Lord Voldemort. Now Voldemort has some of Harry's blood and Wormtail's hand. Perhaps Wormtail
will be the one to save Harry and kill Voldemort in the end. After all, Wormtail owes him one.
    Professor Trelawney makes her second prediction in Prisoner of Azkaban. It is just as foreshadowing and ominous as the first prediction she made and I think she will make more accurate predictions in the future. Perhaps another prediction will surface at the demise of Harry or Voldemort? Only time will
tell. 
    Professor Lupin also enters and is an essential character in the book. He teaches Harry about numerous fantastic beasts as well as the Patronus charm. Lupin definitely seems to be giving Harry a crash course if the need ever arose that he had to fight the murderer Sirius Black.
    What I thought was the most interesting and mysterious new character was Crookshanks. He seems to be a very perceptive cat indeed as he was able to see through Scabbers desguise as well as communicate with Padfoot. I'm almost positive there's something essential about him. Crookshanks is part Kneazle,
that accounts for his unusual intelligence and his ability to identify suspicious characters. There are also rumours that Crookshanks is in fact Lily Potter. Hard to believe I know, and personally I'm not convinced just yet. The rumours are that Crookshanks has red fur and green eyes and that Lily is probably an Animagus. However he is evidence that he is not:

· "...Wide yellow eyes glinting in the darkness - Crookshanks." Crookshanks has yellow eyes, not green eyes.

· J.K. Rowling had stated in an online chat that we would never see a live Lily and James Potter.

· Crookshanks is a male.
    
    Although it appearst that Crookshanks is not Lily Potter, I believe he will play a vital roll in future books, aiding either Harry or Hermione in the fight against Lord Voldemort.