I associate each HP book with a color (this is mostly influenced by the beautiful covers of Mary GrandPre). Sorcerer's Stone is purple. Chamber of Secrets is red. And Prisoner of Azkaban is black. The cover gives off more of an orangey-red feel, but this book is chock full of dreary gloom. This isn't a negative -the plotline of Harry being pursued by a crazy escaped murderer calls for a bit of doom and gloom. There are terrifying dementors, Professor Trelawney's creepy predictions, the Grim, and Quidditch matches in torrential downpours (it seems as though it never stopped raining, thanks to the constant presence of dementors at Hogwarts). 
 Apart from the present darkness, Harry also finds out tons of critical and mostly depressing information about his past. He hears his mother's last moments, meets some of his father's old friends, learns how exactly Voldemort was able to kill his parents and who ultimately betrayed them...I felt bad for Harry before, but this whole book I just kept thinking, "this poor, poor, kid." I'm not sure if it's because I'm older and see children totally different now than I did when I was reading HP for the first time, but for some reason all of Harry's hardships are hitting me harder during this reread (this could also be thanks to Jim Dale's passionate reading of the audiobook). When he is hiding under a table in Hogsmeade and listening to Fudge, McGonagall, Hagrid, and others talk about the night of his parents death, I wanted to Apparate there and give him a huge hug. And then there's the whole chapter in the Shrieking Shack, where true identities are revealed and for a moment it looks as though Harry might have found a new father figure (view spoiler)[in Sirius Black (hide spoiler)], but of course this amazingness could never last. Back to the Dursley's he must go. 
 After I finished this book the first time, I had to wait a while for the next book, which I had never had to do before. I remember it being torture. Prisoner of Azkaban reveals so much, and leaves readers hanging on what might come next. It definitely gives off a vibe that Voldemort is getting even closer to returning, which is a scary thought even for a Muggle reading on their couch. It's crazy how real and important Rowling makes this fictional world and all its characters feel. I was certainly one of the many waiting in line at midnight to get my hands on The Goblet of Fire at midnight, because I simply couldn't wait a minute longer to find out what happens to Harry and his friends next. 
 Random thoughts: 
 -This book was so frustrating!! Especially the Time Turner scene. I just wanted to tell Harry, "no, don't do that!!" or "be nicer to Hermione!" or "please knock him out and tie him up and don't let him escape" or "Lupin, don't forget to take your potion!" It was frustrating in the sense that I knew so many unfortunate things were going to happen and there was nothing I could do about it. 
 -Lupin is the sh*t. Really though, he's a great teacher, and invaluable mentor, and a loyal friend. 
 -I know as the series progresses, (view spoiler)[Snape (hide spoiler)] becomes a bit of a hero, but going back over these books has reminded me how much of a bitter jerk he really is. Some of his bitterness is warranted, but he was totally trying to screw over (view spoiler)[ Sirius and Lupin (hide spoiler)] even when he knew they were in the right. 
 -It's pretty messed up that (view spoiler)[Scabbers was Pettigrew (hide spoiler)] the whole time, but that's what you get for thinking a rat is a good pet option, Ron. They are gross. 
 -This is one of the few instances of time travel that I can actually kind of grasp, so props to Rowling on that one.