The Dementor's Kiss (PA)

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Harry fighting the Dementors at the end of the chapter.

The Dementor's Kiss is the twentieth chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

1 The passageway to the Willow
2 Full moon
3 Dementors
4 Prongs

The passageway to the Willow

Crookshanks is leading the strange group down the stairs and out of the Shrieking Shack. Behind the half-Kneazle goesRemus, Peter and Ron. Snape floats along, his toes brushing against the steps, guided by Sirius, who is using Severus' own wand. Harry and Hermione are the last in the group.

It's hard to enter the tunnel, but they all manage to do so. Meanwhile, Sirius reminds Harry that turning in Wormtail means that he will be cleared of all charges; since Lily and James appointed Padfoot as the boy's guardian, it also means that Harry can leave the Dursleys' if he so wishes.

Harry is thrilled by the possibility, much to Sirius' delight. The Marauder truly smiles for the first time since the two met, and Harry catches a glimpse of the man in his parents' wedding picture (PA6).

They are silent until they reach the Whomping Willow, where Crookshanks presses the knot to freeze the tree. Sirius then eases Snape's way out of the tunnel, and lets Harry and Hermione pass. Remus' wand is still threateningly pointed at Peter's chest. The grounds are dark now, and the only light comes from the the distant castle windows.

Full moon

Suddenly, a cloud moves, bathing the group in the light of the full moon. Remus stops dead; Snape collides with him, and Sirius freezes, raising an alarmed arm to prevent Harry and Ron from walking further.

Remus has gone rigid, and his limbs began to tremble. Hermione panics, remembering that the teacher did not take the Wolfsbane Potion that evening. Sirius whispers, "Run. Run. Now. Leave it to me — RUN!"

Lupin's head lengthens, and so does his body, now hunched forward. Hair sprouts on his face and hands, which become paws. Crookshanks moves steadily away, frightened, and Sirius takes on his Animagus form of a big black dog.

The werewolf frees itself of the manacle that had bound him to Ron and Peter. Before it can do anything else, the dog seized its neck and pulls it backward, away from the others. They are locked, jaw to jaw, claws ripping at each other. Harry watches the scuffle, entranced, but a scream of Hermione's alerts him: Peter got Remus' wand, making Ron lose his balance and fall.

After one bang, Ron lies motionless on the ground; after another, Crookshanks is pushed away, flying high into the air before falling heavily.

Harry cries, "Expelliarmus! and orders Wormtail not to move, but it is too late. A bald-tailed rat scurries away through the grass.

The boy turns to the werewolf, who is now fleeing to the Forbidden Forest, and the black dog, who bleeds from several gashes, loudly warning Sirius that Peter has transformed and escaped. Sirius then starts looking for the rat.

Dementors

Harry and Hermione run over to Ron, wondering what could have been done to him. His eyes are half-closed and his mouth, open; he is alive but unresponsive. The pair decides to go ask for help in the castle; Harry soon realises, however, that they have unwanted company.

From a distance, he hears Sirius yelping and whining in pain; he follows the howls to somewhere near the Great Lake to find his godfather transforming back into his human form, crouched on all fours, moaning with his hands over his head. Surrounding him there are at least a hundred Dementors, and more appear every second.

Harry attempts to cast a Patronus Charm, all the while asking Hermione to try to do the same. She is unable to do so, and so is he; all that comes out of Harry's wand as he topples over is a feeble, formless Patronus. A Dementor's slimy hand reaches out of its robes to sweep aside the shapeless silver mist.

The boy is filled with terror as the creatures' rattling breath begins to circle him closer and closer. A nearby Dementor lowers its hood, and he sees what's beneath: in the place of the eyes, there is thin, gray scabbed skin stretched over empty sockets. Instead of a mouth, there is a gaping, shapeless hole. Harry suddenly can no longer move or speak.

A Dementor's hands attaches themselves to his neck, forcing his face upwards; he can feel its putrid breath, he can hear Lily's voice ringing in his ears, and he thinks he's going to die...

Prongs

Suddenly, a blindingly bright silvery form grows nearer, forcing the Dementors to glide away. The air grows warmer again, and Harry gathers what little strength he has left to look at the Patronus that has just saved its life.

It is a stag, which is now cantering back to a figure that looks very familiar. Harry has barely time to suspend his disbelief before he faints.