When the Marauder's Map insults Snape.
"As though an invisible hand were writing upon it, words appeared on the smooth surface of the map.
'Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business.'
Snape froze. Harry stared, dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn't stop there. More writing was appearing beneath the first.
'Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.'
It would have been very funny if the situation hadn't been so serious. And there was more...
'Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor.'
Harry closed his eyes in horror. When he'd opened them, the map had had its last word.
'Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.'"
-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14, page 287
Glorious, wonderful marauders. The first time I read this part, I laughed so hard I cried. Snape is an ugly git, and I loved that someone finally told him so! I know, I know, Snape plays a great role in the story, and is instrumental to Harry's success, but he's still a slimeball.
Plus, we really get to see a bit of the personality of the marauders.
When the Marauders are revealed.
"'I doubt whether any Hogwarts students ever found out more about the Hogwarts grounds and Hogsmeade than we did... And that's how we came to write the Marauder's Map, and sign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter is Wormtail. James was Prongs.'"
-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 18, page 355
I love the moment where Harry first realizes that he's been carrying around his father's map all year. He has so little knowledge of his parent's personalities, and this map helps him to understand who his father was a bit more.
Book 3: When Sirius asks Harry to live with him.
"'You're free,' said Harry.
'Yes...,' said Black. 'But I'm also --I don't know if anyone ever told you -- I'm your godfather.'
'Yeah, I knew that,' said Harry.
'Well...your parents appointed me your guardian,' said Black stiffly. 'If anything happened to them...'
Harry waited. Did Black mean what he thought he meant?
'I'll understand, of course, if you wanted to stay with your aunt and uncle, ' said Black. 'But...well...think about it. Once my name's cleared...if you wanted a...a different home...'
Some sort of explosion took place in the pit of Harry's stomach.
'What -- live with you?' he said...'Leave the Dursleys?'
'Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to,' said Black quickly. 'I understand, I just thought I'd --'
'Are you insane?' said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Black's. 'Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?'
Black turned right around to look at him... 'You want to?' he said. 'You mean it?'
'Yeah, I mean it!' said Harry.
Black's gaunt face broke into the first true smile Harry had seen upon it."
-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 20, page 379
This is the first glimmer of hope for Harry. He gets to leave the Dursleys, and live with someone who not only knew his parents, but loved them! And most importantly, someone who loves him. This is the first time in his life that Harry is looking forward to having a home, and the first time he has felt love from a family member that he can remember.
Stay tuned for Book 4!
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