Introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Prison of Azkaban is known to be the Prison of Sorcerers. However, this terrifying place pales in comparison to this new prison unveiled in Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets.
An absolutely terrifying prison
Although JK Rowling is today at the heart of many controversies, following her remarks deemed transphobic by some Internet users, however, let us recognize that she has been able to give birth to an absolutely abundant universe. If the cycle Harry Potter immersed us for the first time in the world of magic, the author focused on England in the 90s. The reader discovered this world at the same time as the protagonist.
Although very localized, this first perception of the world of magic was already very rich. In addition to its own bestiary and flora, the wizarding world has a very structured political organization. From Harry Potter at the Sorcerer’s Stone, we learn that wizards have their own bank; in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretswe get to know the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, who orders the arrest of Hagrid, accused of being the heir of Salazar Slytherin, and sends him to Azkaban Prison.
This Prison is thereafter mentioned many times. Sirius Black, the godfather of Harry Potter, escapes from it in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ; in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, we learn that Barty Croupton Jr. also escaped; in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixit is the turn of several Death Eaters to make the trunk.
However, this rain of escapes from the Prison of Azkaban must not take our mind off how frightening this prison is. To be convinced of this, it suffices to recall the description given by Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban :
The fortress is located on a tiny islet off the coast, but there isn’t even a need for a wall or water to guard the prisoners. They are locked in their own head, unable to think a pleasant thought. Most of them go crazy within a few weeks.
Held by Dementors – which suck the slightest trace of happiness from the prisoners -, the Prison of Azkaban nevertheless has a sacred competition in the way of fear that it is able to arouse. Indeed, in Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secretsreleased this Wednesday in theaters, we learn of the existence of a new prison introduced for the first time in the Wizarding World: the Erkstag Prisonin Germany.
If it is much more accessible than the English prison, since in the heart of Berlin, Erkstag remains an absolutely gloomy place. Officially disused, the prison is nonetheless still used in the greatest secrecy by the German Ministry of Magic. Unlike Azkaban, Erkstag is not guarded by Dementors, but by a species of giant manticore (with scorpion tails), who kills the prisoners when their lantern goes out, devours them, before spitting out their bodies completely almost dissolved, for dozens of baby manticores to feast on. Also note that the Prisoners are suspended by the feet, upside down, and must fight so that the baby manticores do not kill them with their stingers.
So, unlike Azkaban, Erkstag does not even try to keep his prisoners alive, but on the contrary to kill them savagely, after several hours of struggle and terror. The fact that the prison is supposedly closed only increases Erkstag’s dangerousness. Indeed, the German Ministry of Magic can thus put any opponent there, without anyone suspecting it.
If you liked this article, we strongly recommend that you read our review of the Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets. And do not hesitate to tell us in this article if you liked this article.
