Bloomsbury Reveals Hidden Details in “Prisoner of Azkaban” House Edition Covers

by · May 19, 2019

When the 20th-anniversary editions of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were announced in January, we immediately started to save our Galleons. While there’s still some time to wait until the books are released on June 13, Bloomsbury has created graphics showing a breakdown of exactly what is featured on the cover.

Each cover features an illustration by Levi Pinfold of Sirius Black in Animagus form in the center because he is, after all, the prisoner of Azkaban. Each House cover also has its own details referring to characters and events important to the House or story. And yes, there are Marauders details.

First up is Gryffindor. Not counting Sirius Black, there are two references to the Marauders in this cover design. The moon in the top left is a reference to Remus Lupin and the stag on the right side refers to James Potter. There is also a subtle reference to the Shrieking Shack and Harry’s stag Patronus, both of which are important to the events of the book.

 

 

This cover also features two other characters with connections to Gryffindor House, Rubeus Hagrid and Sir Cadogan, whose portrait was temporarily guardian of Gryffindor Tower.

Hufflepuff’s bright yellow cover design showcases some House alumni who have connections to events in Prisoner of Azkaban. Cedric Diggory playing Quidditch can be seen in the top right of the design, and in the bottom left, the Knight Bus is featured as an initiative of Hufflepuff and Minister of Magic Dugald McPhail. There is also a link to Herbology with the image of the Whomping Willow.

 

 

For Ravenclaw, the tall towers of Azkaban lurk at the back of the cover design. Divination and prophecy is the main theme of this cover, with images of Professor Trelawney and a crystal ball appearing in and among the swirls of steam coming from a teacup.

 

 

Last but not least is the Slytherin cover. This cover also features a tower from Azkaban, as well as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle dressed as Dementors. There are also references to the events toward the end of the book. In the bottom right-hand corner is an image of Walden Macnair, the executioner tasked with executing Buckbeak, and a bottle of Wolfsbane Potion, which is brewed by Professor Snape for Lupin.

 

 

There is also a small image of a rat at the bottom of the design, which makes Slytherin the only House edition cover to make reference to Peter Pettigrew.

We love all of these hidden details in the 20th-anniversary editions! Which cover is your favorite?