The Shocking Truth Behind Sirius Black's Escape from Azkaban in Harry Potter

At the beginning of the third Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black is introduced as a dangerous criminal who has evaded the soul-sucking Dementors of Azkaban. As the only person to have accomplished this feat, he has become the most feared man in the Wizarding World. Many believe that he has escaped from Azkaban to complete the dark mission of his master, the Dark Lord, which he couldn't complete thirteen years ago. Despite the uproar in the Wizarding World, Sirius is actually a good guy and deserves to be seen as such in the Harry Potter universe. As the story progresses, the obsession with Sirius' escape among the Wizarding World intensifies, with some believing that he is still a loyal follower of the Dark Lord. Harry is confused by the reaction of the Ministry of Magic and his friends, who urge him to be cautious and not seek out Sirius.

Sirius Black Exposes Peter Pettigrew's Identity

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is revealed that Sirius Black, unbeknownst to Harry, was his late father's best friend, the best man at his parents' wedding, and his Godfather. However, Sirius was branded as a traitor by the good side who believed he sold James and Lily to Voldemort. This led Harry to believe that his godfather's betrayal caused his parents' death, fueling his desire for revenge throughout most of the book. The truth eventually comes out in a gripping scene at the Shrieking Shack, where the Trio learns that Sirius was framed by his former friend Peter Pettigrew, who had been believed to be dead. Meanwhile, Pettigrew disguised himself as a rat and came into the possession of the Weasleys. Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban without a trial, making his story an extraordinary tale of justice denied and delayed.

Black reveals to the Trio in chapter 19 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, "The Servant of Lord Voldemort," the details of his escape from Azkaban and how he uncovered the identity and whereabouts of Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail (known to the Weasleys as Scabbers). He produces a crumpled photograph of the Weasley family that he had seen in the Daily Prophet the previous summer, in which he spotted Scabbers on Ron's shoulder. With the caption stating that Ron would be returning to Hogwarts with Harry Potter, Black quickly deduced Scabbers' true identity. In addition, he explains that Wormtail had intentionally cut off one of his toes before transforming in order to fake his own death, which was why only a finger was said to have been found by Cornelius Fudge.

Sirius Black's Prison Break

Chapter 19 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban reveals how Pettigrew managed to fake his own death. After being cornered by Sirius Black on a busy street, Pettigrew used a wand hidden behind his back to blow apart the street, killing innocent bystanders within twenty feet of him before escaping down the sewer. During their conversation at the shack, Hermione asked Black how he managed to escape from Azkaban without using Dark Magic. Black explained that he maintained his sanity and powers by staying innocent, and when he couldn't handle the emotional toll, he would transform into his dog form in his cell. "Dementors can't see, you know..." he added, going on to explain that once he transformed into a dog, his emotions became less and less human, making him harder for the Dementors to sense.

Sirius found new determination upon seeing Pettigrew in the photo with the Weasley family, despite his weakening state without his wand. His fear that Pettigrew was at Hogwarts with Harry, coupled with the reemergence of the Dark Side, led him to slip past the Dementors during mealtime. He swam to the mainland in his Animagus form, traveled North, and lived in the forest before coming to watch his godson play Quidditch. Harry finally believed Sirius, causing Pettigrew to lose the game and fall to his knees. This remarkable escape bewildered the bigwigs in the third Harry Potter movie, and Chapter 19 of The Prisoner of Azkaban offers a thorough account of the event.