End of term

The end of term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a period of intense culmination, where the academic year's academic, athletic, and emotional arcs converge. For Harry Potter and his friends, the final days of the term are defined not only by examinations but by the resolution of the year's central crises: the fate of the Hippogriff Buckbeak, the true identity of Sirius Black, and the exposure of Peter Pettigrew. The period is marked by a mixture of triumph, loss, and the forging of new bonds, setting the stage for the summer ahead.

Exams and Academic Climax

The end of term is dominated by the final examinations. The third-year students face a grueling schedule, including a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts exam designed by Remus Lupin, which involves an obstacle course with a Grindylow, Red Caps, a Hinkypunk, and a Boggart. Harry Potter earns full marks on this test. The exam results, released on the last day of term, show that Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger have passed every subject, with Harry expressing amazement that he passed Potions, suspecting Albus Dumbledore intervened to prevent Severus Snape from failing him deliberately. Hermione, despite passing with exceptional marks, decides to drop Muggle Studies and Divination to have a normal schedule, having returned her Time-Turner to Minerva McGonagall.

Quidditch Victory and House Championship

The term concludes with a triumphant note for Gryffindor House. Their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, culminating in a victory against Slytherin, secures the House championship for the third year running. The end-of-term feast is held amid decorations of scarlet and gold, with the Gryffindor table being the noisiest as everyone celebrates. Harry, despite his underlying worries, manages to enjoy the feast, eating, drinking, and laughing with his housemates.

Aftermath of the Shrieking Shack Confrontation

The end of term is profoundly shaped by the events of the night in the Shrieking Shack. The truth about Sirius Black's innocence and Peter Pettigrew's betrayal is uncovered, but Pettigrew escapes. Sirius Black, now a fugitive, is rescued by Harry and Hermione using Buckbeak and a Time-Turner. The immediate consequence is the resignation of Remus Lupin, who, after his lycanthropy is revealed by Snape, decides he cannot risk another transformation near the students. His departure weighs heavily on Harry, who considers him the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they have ever had. The Dementors, who attempted to administer the Dementor's Kiss on an innocent Harry, are removed from the school by Cornelius Fudge, who orders them packed off back to Azkaban.

Departure and New Beginnings

As the Hogwarts Express departs for London, Harry's spirits are low at the prospect of returning to the Dursleys. However, a letter from Sirius, delivered by a tiny owl, brings him immense joy. Sirius reveals he sent the Firebolt, apologizes for frightening Harry the previous year, and encloses a signed permission form for Harry to visit Hogsmeade. He also gives Ron the tiny owl as a replacement for Scabbers. The letter, which Harry clutches all the way to King's Cross, promises a much better summer than the last, as he cheerfully informs his uncle Vernon that he has a godfather who is a convicted murderer on the run.