The Subi

This is my favorite part of Harry Potter because of how Sirius escaped. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban through a combination of his Animagus ability, his determination and the Dementors’ inability to recognise him in his animal form. Here’s how it happened: He was an unregistered Animagus: Sirius could transform into a large black dog. This ability became his greatest advantage. He was too difficult to control: Unlike other prisoners, Sirius was not completely consumed by despair. He knew he was innocent and that Peter Pettigrew was still alive. He transformed into a dog: Dementors detect human emotions and feed on human happiness. In his dog form, Sirius’s emotions were less complex and easier to conceal. He slipped past the Dementors: While extremely thin and weak from imprisonment, he managed to squeeze through the prison bars in his dog form. He swam to freedom: He transformed near the sea and swam away from Azkaban. The most interesting detail Sirius was able to escape because he had something most prisoners didn’t: a reason to live and something to fight for. He knew Peter Pettigrew was alive and believed he was the key to exposing the truth about James and Lily Potter’s betrayal. Interestingly, Sirius was the first known prisoner to escape Azkaban without outside assistance.