Heartwarming / Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

From the Book

• Harry's thirteenth birthday was also the first time he ever got birthday cards and presents from his friends. The narration points out that this is the first time in his life he felt glad it was his birthday, especially since his twelfth birthday in the previous year was his worst (although his eleventh in the first was his best, so it's both a bit of a Continuity Nod and Negative Continuity at once).
• Harry's two weeks of freedom in Diagon Alley is also pretty heartwarming and awesome. After a particularly horrible stay with his awful family and a near-miss with a Despair Event Horizon, he is given a very generous amount of slack from Minister Fudge and is given free reign within Diagon Alley, including getting to study outside the ice cream parlor!
  • It's brief, but in the book, it's even mentioned that Harry would receive free tutoring (and ice cream sundaes) from Florean Fortescue — the ice cream shop's owner — himself.
    • It also reveals a sort of hidden depth to Florean Fortescue — he could be portrayed as "dumb", given that all he's doing is selling ice cream sundaes... but the fact that Harry gets free tutoring implies Fortescue is smart, and sells ice cream sundaes because it makes people happy instead.
  • It becomes Harsher in Hindsight after watching the film, in which it is one of the first things from the films to be mercilessly left out. It's also mentioned that Mr. Fortescue was one of the wizards the Death Eaters killed when they attacked Diagon Alley before the events of Half-Blood Prince.
• Harry overhears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arguing about whether to tell him about how Sirius Black may be looking for him. Arthur wants Harry to be on guard while Molly is afraid the truth would terrify him this is notably one of the only times the reader sees Mr. Weasley raise his voice. What makes it heartwarming is while they disagree with each other you can tell both of them care deeply for Harry's well-being and are already treating him like a member of their family.
• Subtle, but McGonagall summons Harry to her office immediately at the start of term after hearing he'd been taken ill on the train and forces him to be checked out by the Matron. Harry doesn't exactly appreciate this but McGonagall usually supervises the first years and the Sorting at this time, so it's clear she places the health and safety of her students above everything else.
• The Trio and their never-ceasing defense of Hagrid. They immediately back him up after the incident, Hermione and then Ron do masses of legal research when it comes to a hearing, and they risk getting in trouble and breaking curfew just to be there for him at the execution.
  • Even when Hagrid's told them to go, as soon as Harry hears Hagrid's howls, apparently of pain, he immediately, unthinking turns around to head back to be there for his friend and has to be restrained by Ron and Hermione.
• Lupin sticking up for Neville when Snape insults him before the boggart lesson. Pretty much all of the teachers think of Neville as useless and tend to get exasperated with him, but Lupin notices his lack of confidence and tries to help him get over his fear of Snape.
  • Then you hear McGonagall describe Pettigrew: a plain kid with not much brains or talent that she feels she was perhaps too stern with. No doubt Neville reminded Lupin of him...
• The scene when Lupin has tea with Harry while the others are in Hogsmeade. He makes reference to the tea leaves incident (where Trelawney saw a symbol of death in his mug) and checks in about whether it's bothering Harry and puts him at ease. It's subtle, but after learning more about his backstory, Lupin is obviously relishing being one of Harry's honorary uncles once more.
• The fact that Snape was entrusted with brewing Lupin's Wolfsbane Potion and making sure it was always available. He still despises Lupin for his actions (or, rather, inaction to prevent James's and Sirius's bullying) back in their school days, but let it not be said that he doesn't fulfil his duties.
  • Keep in mind, judging from how Lupin says he was picked to be a prefect to hold back James and Sirius and how in Snape's memory Lupin is the only one of the four not partaking or cheering in Snape's bullying, Lupin might be the one whom Snape resents the least, as Peter Pettigrew was "buried" years ago, Sirius was the one who came up with the idea to lure him to the Shrieking Shack in the first place, and James was his main tormentor. Yes, he voices concerns repeatedly about Lupin being hired at all (and also does his best to hint at Lupin's true identity, then blurts it out after all is said and done despite not tampering with the potion all year), but that is mostly because he thinks that with Sirius Black on the loose, Lupin, a known old friend of his, is liable to help him even against the school, and he was out cold for most of Sirius's and Lupin's explanation, and most importantly for Pettigrew's, which washed Sirius's name clean.
• Sirius breaks into Hogwarts on Halloween. Why then? Because it's a full moon and he doesn't have to do the one thing he fears the most — he doesn't have to face Remus, as Lupin is currently werewolfed in his office.
  • For bonus points? Since most students would be at the Halloween feast, Sirius would also be less likely to run into anyone in the Gryffindor common room, thus making him less likely to need to attack anyone other than Pettigrew. (Ron and Hermione call attention to how the common room would've been empty after everyone moves out into the Great Hall.)
• While substituting for Lupin's class while the latter is ill, Snape calls Hermione "an insufferable little know-it-all" when she answers a question out of turn and it makes her cry. All of the Gryffindors, who almost all think Hermione is indeed a know-it-all and often get annoyed by it, are furious at Snape for insulting her like this, while Ron, who as the narrator notes calls her a know-it-all at least once a week, stands up to Snape on her behalf, marking the first time in the series their class has pushed back on his bullying.
• Cedric Diggory's Establishing Character Moment: he's an excellent Seeker, but, as befitting someone from Helga Hufflepuff's House, is also extremely honorable. Although he catches the Snitch fair and square, the minute he sees that Harry has fallen from his broom, he immediately demands a rematch, realizing that the Gryffindor Seeker was sabotaged. Cedric either wants to win fairly or not at all, and he hates that this victory came by default.
  • The fact that Wood supposedly told Cedric the loss was fair. Even though Oliver wants to win the House Quidditch Cup more than anything, he only wants it if he and his team legitimately earn it. He also assures Harry that he does not blame or resent him for the loss and continues to praise him as an excellent Seeker throughout the story.
• Also, Fred and George making Harry feel better with some expertly-placed humour when Malfoy is taunting him about fainting around the Dementors.
• Sirius mailing Harry a Firebolt and signing his permission slip to go to Hogsmeade (as Harry points out, "That's good enough for Dumbledore!"), which is accepted as even though Sirius is a wanted criminal, he's still Harry's legal guardian.
  • Also, Sirius risking his safety and his mission to watch Harry play Quidditch against Hufflepuff. As James' best friend (and best man), he got the chance to see his son Harry play the sport that brought him closest to James. But he's also proud of Harry himself, as he wasn't a Chaser like James, and Quidditch is one of the highlights of his life at Hogwarts.
• Hagrid sticking up for Hermione to Harry and Ron, telling them gently but firmly that they should be better than this and not let their friendship with her go. Hagrid is Harry's friend and loyal to him through and through, but he's not above telling him when he's gone astray.
• The last two victorious Quidditch matches against Ravenclaw and Slytherin, the Grand Finale of the original Quidditch storyline. What's particularly heartwarming about it is the fact that they were doing pretty badly at first — Harry lost not only his first game but ended up getting his broom destroyed. Wood was half-convinced that he would leave Hogwarts with no Quidditch Cup. And yet... they did it!
• The narration briefly mentions that a black dog is sat in one of the stands — Sirius, the man who gave Harry his first broomstick when he was only a year old, risked his freedom to see Harry on a broom!
  • Sirius risks his safety just to see Harry fly on a broom — just once, he gets to watch his godson fly.
• Despite being all of thirteen to fourteen years old, with one of them badly injured, Ron and Hermione fling themselves onto Sirius unarmed to protect Harry from him, with Ron even telling him that if he wants to kill Harry, he'll have to kill him and Hermione too. Made even more poignant in that Harry observes something flicker in Sirius's eyes at Ron's words, no doubt because they reminded Sirius of how he was willing to sacrifice himself for James.
• The speed and ease with which Lupin accepts Sirius's innocence suggests that, even after all this time and despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence, he still harbored some doubts about his friend's guilt.
  • Elaborating on this, Lupin lost his three best friends over the course of two days and spent the better part of thirteen years alone and friendless. Meanwhile, Sirius was locked in prison for that same period of time for a crime he didn't commit and had everyone in the wizarding world thinking he was everything he had fought against. Once Lupin enters the Shrieking Shack and Sirius confirms what happened, they embrace, each overjoyed that they have one of their best friends back.
• The whole backstory of how the Marauders became Animagi. They learn that their friend is a werewolf and, instead of abandoning and shunning him like the rest of the wizarding community would, they spend three years learning a particularly difficult piece of magic for the sole purpose of helping Remus during the full moon. This also causes a bit of a Tear Jerker when you realize just how loyal Peter was to his friends when he was younger and think about what must have happened to make him become a traitor.
  • Also the fact that James, Peter, and Sirius were twelve and didn't abandon Lupin when most older wizards would have, and without a second thought at that.
• Crookshanks friendship with Padfoot. Especially when he lies on Sirius's chest to shield him.
  • Hermione adopting Crookshanks when nobody else wanted him. Not to mention that Crookshanks is described as a rather ugly cat but she thinks he's gorgeous.
• A subtle one: Sirius has survived for 12 years in Azkaban (an unheard-of length for a prisoner to last) solely due to the knowledge that he didn't kill James and Lily. He escapes when he learns that Harry is in trouble, and lives a hellish life out in the woods for almost a year while he desperately seeks a way to protect his godson. And upon seeing each other for the first time in twelve years, Harry immediately accuses Sirius of murdering James and Lily, even going so far as to attack him head-on. The fact that Sirius never raises a hand to protect himself, because as he puts it "I as good as killed them", and never even gets upset at Harry for the misunderstanding...
• Crossing over with CMOA and Tear Jerker:
  Peter: The Dark Lord... you have no idea the weapons he possesses... he would have killed me, Sirius!
  Sirius: THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED! Died rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!
• When Harry says that of course he wants to move in with Sirius and Sirius just beams.
  ...for a moment, he was recognizable as the man who had laughed at Harry's parents' wedding.
  • Harry being so quick to agree with the prospect of moving in when you remember he only really got to know Sirius a few hours ago.
  • Sirius being so hesitant to even ask Harry to live with him, understanding that Harry's already set up at the Dursleys' and might be attached to that home and family. Of course, Sirius has no clue how awful the Dursleys are, so he doesn't know that getting away from them is the only thing Harry wants. When this wish is granted, you can just feel how hopeful Sirius is that he can finally start fulfilling his obligation as Harry's godfather.
• Dumbledore telling Hermione to take Harry back in time, no doubt breaking a dozen rules and risking a threat to the timeline itself, in order to save the prisoner from a serious fate. Made more heartwarming by the Fridge Brilliance: he couldn't do anything to save Sirius twelve years ago, but he darn well will this time.
• Even as Harry and Hermione are rescuing him with time being of the absolute essence, Sirius still asks what happened to Ron and makes sure he will survive their earlier encounter before leaving.
  • Sirius also kindly gives Ron a pet owl to replace his rat.
• Sirius' parting words before flying away on Buckbeak:
  Sirius: You are ... truly your father's son, Harry.
• The fact that the whole student body is sad to see Lupin go. To them, he was never a monster but one of the best teachers they'd ever have.
  • Hell, when Harry finds out from Hagrid that Lupin resigned, he immediately runs to Lupin's office to beg him not to leave.
• For a while, Harry had believed that it was his father who had cast the Patronus when he had actually seen himself. When he tells Dumbledore how stupid he feels for even thinking such a thing, Dumbledore tells him he shouldn't because his father was there indeed, albeit in spirit.
  Dumbledore: You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night ... You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night ... You found him inside yourself.
• Ron holding out the tiny owl to Crookshanks to confirm that it's "definitely an owl" after disliking the cat for most of the past year.

From the Film

"You have-" "My mother's eyes."

• Doubles as this and a Tear Jerker, but watch Petunia when Aunt Marge is insulting Harry's parents. She politely laughs along when Marge is insulting James, but when she starts on Lily, Petunia stops smiling. However much she may have resented her, Petunia misses her sister, which she outright says to Harry years later in Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 (albeit in a Deleted Scene).
  Petunia: You didn't just lose a mother that night in Godric's Hollow, you know. I lost a sister.
• Harry has, inadvertently, summoned the Knight Bus. Just before he did, he spotted a large black dog watching him from the bushes — who we later realise is Sirius — who has come to check that his godson is safe before moving on to his quest of murdering Peter Pettigrew. As important as Sirius's quest to kill Pettigrew is... Harry is more important.
• While the short scene with Harry and his roommates eating those strange candies is supposed to be there for comic value, it's also heartwarming in the sense that it's one of the few times in the entire series where we see Harry actually looking and acting like the teenage boy he is; just enjoying some pure fun with his friends, with all of his usual worries at the back of his mind.
• While spending time together, Lupin gently reassures Harry that the reason he stopped the Boggart wasn't because he didn't have faith in Harry's capabilities; instead, he was worried that it would take the form of Lord Voldemort, which would definitely have sent Harry and his classmates into a panic. He also adds that, contrary to what Malfoy and the other Slytherins have been saying, fearing fear itself is a very wise decision on Harry's part.
  • Afterwards, he takes the time to tell him about Lily, whom he fondly describes as an "uncommonly kind woman" who had a "way of seeing the beauty in others even, and most especially, when that person could not see it in themselves". Knowing Lupin's condition and his close friendship with James, they would've had to tell Lily about his lycanthropy at some point, and yet, it's all but stated that she still welcomed him with open arms, making Lupin's statement that she was "there for [him] at a time when no one else was" all the more poignant.
  • He also talks about James in such a manner that Harry immediately relates to his father despite never even having met him.
  • Up until this point, the only things Harry has of them are his mother's famed eyes and his father's perpetually Messy Hair, along with the photographs Hagrid managed to find at the end of the first installment. Now, he finally has stories to go with the faces, and you can just see that it means the world to Harry. Even better, Harry hadn't even asked; Lupin gives him all that information for free.
    Lupin: You're more like them than you know, Harry. In time, you'll come to see just how much.
  • There's also the music in question for the scene mentioned above ...
• Extremely minor, but when the Fat Lady is attacked, you can see a knight draw his sword in protection of a painting full of people in a wagon, clearly furious.
  • Not just any knight, but Sir Cadogan, the infamously bumbling knight painting.
• In order for the Patronus spell to work, one must think of a strong, happy memory. After a failed attempt, Harry mentioned that there is one memory that might be strong enough. He tries it and it manages to repel the Boggart Dementor. He later tells Lupin that the memory was of his parents. Harry didn't even know if it was real or not, but it worked.
  Harry: They were talking to me. Just talking. That's the memory I chose. I don't even know if it's real. But it's the best I have.
  • Also, Lupin being so obviously proud of Harry for learning the charm so quickly, even saying that he "would've given [his] father a run for his money. And that is saying something."
• Lupin and Sirius hugging upon reuniting with each other in the Shrieking Shack. Sirius is crying Tears of Joy.
• Although she's just revealed his deepest, darkest secret, Lupin sincerely calls Hermione "the brightest witch of her age" during the confrontation scene at the Shrieking Shack.
  • It gets a Call-Back later on: just before Sirius flies off, he thanks Hermione for all her help by saying, "You really are the brightest witch of your age." Cue Hermione giving him a soft smile in return.
    • This bears hammering in: throughout the series, Hermione is mocked repeatedly for her inability to hide her high intellect, with Snape even outright calling her an "insufferable little know-it-all" in front of the whole class. Despite this, Remus and Sirius take the time to pay her what she obviously takes to be the highest of compliments. Not even Harry and Ron were so appreciative of her, at first.
• When Sirius is desperately proclaiming that he's waited long enough to kill Harry or rather, Pettigrew, Remus tells him to wait, because he firmly believes that Harry has the right to know what's really going on.
• Sirius on Hogwarts:
  Sirius: It's beautiful, isn't it? I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again as a free man.
• It's a very quick moment, but one that also doubles as a CMOA: when Harry, Hermione, and Ron are being threatened by werewolf-Lupin, the first thing Snape does is to get between the kids and the werewolf and throw out his arms in a "oh-no-you-don't" gesture. It's even better because this wasn't an "oh, meh, I gotta go save Potter's sorry life again" moment; it was an actual knee-jerk reaction on Snape's part.
  • He even does it twice: When he and the trio all fall to the ground after Lupin tries to attack them, he immediately jumps to his feet and throws out his arms again. The implication in that scene is that, while Snape may have his Jerkass moments and personally can't stand Harry and his friends, he's still a teacher, damn it, and he won't let anyone hurt his students.
  • What's even more awesome: just before he saw the werewolf, he was boiling with rage over Harry assaulting him. The second he sees the werewolf about to attack the kids, he goes from "what the fuck, Potter," to "get behind me, children."
  • Also he tells Dumbledore earlier on that he wants Harry to know the truth about Sirius Black. Harry, who was only pretending to be asleep, overhears them and is immediately confused why Snape would be concerned for him.
• The scene where Harry and Hermione have gone back in time and Lupin in his werewolf form tries to attack them. Buckbeak then arrives to save them and Harry shields Hermione and then hugs her, but also comforts her when she was scared by the attack.
• Keep in mind that Sirius absolutely loved flying (as evidenced by him enchanting his motorbike to do so), then remember his extremely delighted reaction to riding Buckbeak. This was his first time flying after twelve years of being wrongfully locked up, and he's doing it with his beloved godson, who loves the activity just as much as he and James did. Of course, he's having the time of his life!
• Just before they say goodbye, Sirius mentions how much Harry looks like his dad. Normally in the books, Harry comes off as either indifferent or slightly irritated at constantly being told this, but here, he grins and finishes the sentence. You can tell he's happy just to have a connection with Sirius.
• Also, Harry's and Sirius's goodbye at the end. Undoubtedly the most heartwarming lines in the film.
  Sirius: It's cruel that I got to spend so much time with James and Lily and you so little. But know this, the ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them in here. (places his hand over Harry's heart)
  • Also, this:
    Harry: But, you're innocent!
    Sirius: And you know it! For now, that'll do.
• The music really upped the heartwarming tear-jerker aspect of those scenes. Even better when you realize that the theme is titled "A Window to the Past," which is so fitting for this book/movie and its context to the rest of the films.
  • The scene with Sirius and Harry being parted in the film is even more poignant; Sirius doesn't care in the slightest that the wizarding world does not know he is innocent — as long as his godson, the one living reminder of his friends Lily and James, does. That's all he wants.
• Sirius's joyful cheers while flying away on Buckbeak, finally enjoying his freedom after twelve years in prison.
• Lupin explaining to Harry that their rescue of Sirius and Buckbeak was certainly not in vain, even though Sirius wasn't able to clear his name and had to go on the run. Until that night, Lupin had lost all three of his closest friends — James and Peter were dead (or so he thought), and Sirius was responsible for both. Now James is still dead, and one of the four Marauders is still responsible for everything they've been through, but Lupin has Sirius back.
• The Firebolt Harry receives from Sirius. All of his friends are excited to see what it can do, so they rush out of the Clock Tower with him to cheer him on.
  • The first gift Sirius gives Harry after being released calls back to his own love of flying - the enchanted motorbike - and Harry's reaction to its blinding speed? Pure, unadulterated joy! He's had a rough year, been through a new slew of horrors, but now he has a loving godfather, and he knows the perfect way to make up for 12 missed birthdays!
  • Hell, even the Slytherins are excited. Until Malfoy stops them, out of pettiness.

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