Owl Post Again (PA)

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An owl delivering Harry a letter.

Owl Post Again is the twenty-second chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Haste

Harry and Hermione run back to the hospital wing so that they can return before Dumbledore closes the door. They have ten minutes to get there; on the way, they overhear Fudge and Snape talking about the Dementor's Kiss that will soon be administered on Sirius Black.

"...only hope Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties," Snape says. "The Kiss will be performed immediately?"

"As soon as Macnair returns with the Dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forwartd to inform the Daily Prophet that we've got him at last... I daresay they'll want to interview you, Snape... and once young Harry's back in his right mind, I expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him."

Snape smirks, and the pair walk away. Harry and Hermione continue their path, but are forced to enter an empty classroom to duck Peeves, who is in a great mood—Hermione guesses that it can be attributed to the impending Kiss.

They arrive at the hospital wing just in time to hear Dumbledore wishing good luck to their other selves. He then turns and sees them. Harry informs him that Sirius has left, on Buckbeak.

Dumbledore grins, congratulates the two and ushers them inside. They return to their beds moments before Madam Pomfrey comes from her office, complaining, "Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?"

The two children eat their chocolate without resistance. Moments later, a roar of fury echoes from outside. The angry voices draw closer.

Outrage

"He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out —"

"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Snape bellows. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS — HAS — SOMETHING — TO — DO — WITH — POTTER!"

"Severus — be reasonable — Harry has been locked up —"

The door opens with a bang. Albus enters along with Snape and Fudge. The Potions master, completely outraged, attempts to get Harry to confess what he's done. Pomfrey is scandalised at his lack of control.

Even Fudge asks Severus to be reasonable; the door has been obviously locked.

"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Snape yells. "YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER! HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT —"

Dumbledore orders him to be quiet: the headmaster himself left the ward about ten minutes before, and the children have not left their bed (Poppy confirms this). "Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further.

Snape storms out of the hospital wing. "Fellow seems quite unbalanced," Fudge says in wonderment. "I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore." (HBP27)

Albus notes that Severus is not embarrassed; he has simply suffered a great disappointment. "And he's not the only one!" Fudge retorts. "The Daily Prophet is going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs nw is for the story of that hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a lughingstock!"

Dumbledore has Fudge confirm that the Dementors will be removed from Hogwarts. The Minister agrees, mentioning how absurd it is that the creatures would attempt to kiss an innocent boy. He wonders whether dragons should be placed at the school entrance instead.

Albus smiles and says Hagrid will be pleased. He and the Minister leave, and Pomfrey locks the door behind them.

Suddenly, Ron wakes him, at a complete loss. Harry reaches for some chocolate, and instructs that Hermione explain everything to the boy.