Chapter 16: The Goblet of Fire

[Kaitlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 4506

Chapter 16:  The Goblet of Fire
Summary by Kaitlin
(all quotes are from the American edition)
"Krum, Harry!  Viktor Krum!"(248)
So the two schools have arrived and we find out that Viktor Krum, the 
star seeker on the Bulgarian National Quiddich team, is still at 
school (the Durmstrang Institute, to be exact).  Ron is going crazy 
because he idolizes Krum.  While Hermione doesn't really care
about 
him at the time, the other girls are absolutely smitten. "D'you
think 
he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"(248).
The Beauxbatons (French for "Fine Wands," I think) group chooses to 
sit with the Ravenclaws.  They're not too happy about being at 
Hogwarts.  And they're still cold, too.  Meanwhile, while Ron
tries 
to get the Durmstrang group to sit with the Gryffindors, they opt 
instead to sit with the Slytherins.  Remember how Malfoy mentions 
that he wanted to go to Durmstrang, but he was sent to Hogwarts 
instead?  I think their ideals mirror those of the Malfoy family.  A 
subtle hint of this is seen on page 251:  "
the Durmstrang
students 
were revealed to be wearing robes of a deep bloodred."  The 
Durmstrang lot seems to be somewhat happier than the Beauxbatons 
group.  Along with the seats for Madame Maxime and Professor 
Karkaroff, we notice two extra chairs at the head table.  By the way, 
our friend Viktor is "pampered" by his Professor throughout the 
dinner.  The poor boy has a bit of a cold.  He seems to be like 
Durmstrang's Harry Potter—the miraculous Quiddich seeker and
the 
Headmaster's favorite boy.
The welcoming dinner includes a variety of foreign dishes to welcome 
the guests.  While Harry and Ron are eating, a girl from 
Beauxbatons "who laughed during Dumbledore's speech" comes over
to 
get the bouillabaisse.  Harry and Ron (along with all of the other 
males in the room) goggle at her beautiful blonde hair, blue eyes and 
white teeth.  "She's a veela!" Ron tells Harry (252).  I love
what 
Ron says next:  "They don't make them like that at Hogwarts!" 
Harry, 
staying faithful to Cho, replies, "They make them okay at Hogwarts" 
(253).
Once dinner is finished, Dumbledore begins the Triwizard Tournament 
by bringing out the Goblet of Fire.  Bartemius Crouch (Percy's 
beloved boss and Head of the Department of International Magical 
Cooperation) and Ludo Bagman (Head of the Department of Magical Games 
and Sports, whom we first saw at the Quiddich World Cup) are there to 
explain the rules.  We find out that there will be three tasks held 
throughout the school year to test the appointed "champions'" magical 
know-how.  Anyone who wishes to be considered as school champion must 
write her or his name and school on a piece of parchment and put it 
into the fire.  However, the tournament is limited to students over 
the age of seventeen.  On Halloween night, the goblet shoots out the 
names of the three worthiest "champions"—one from each school. 
Once 
selected, each champion is required to participate until the end.
One section that I found very interesting is when the students and 
teachers are leaving the dining hall.  The Durmstrang group 
recognizes Harry and stares at him.  Mad-Eye Moody comes and says 
"Yeah, that's Harry Potter" (258).  Karkaroff is stunned by
Moody's 
presence, and we get the feeling that they have known each other for 
quite some time

Nearly everyone under the age of seventeen begins plotting ways to 
deceive the Age Line.  Fred, George and Lee decide to take Aging 
Potion while Ron and Harry discuss sneaking in at night.  We find out 
what happens when someone takes Aging Potion:  when Fred and George 
try to cross the line, they each sprout a long white beard.  You 
don't mess with Dumbledore's rules!
Rumors are flying about (or, as they say in Spanish, "the rumors are 
running from mouth to mouth":))regarding who the champion will be.  
All of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students have entered.  For 
Hogwarts, the top contenders are Warrington from Slytherin, Angelina 
Johnson from Gryffindor, and Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff (the 
favorite).
The next day, on their way to visit Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione 
see that the Beauxbatons students sleep in their giant carriage.  
When they get to Hagrid's house, they find him all "dressed up"
for a 
date.  "Hagrid was wearing his best (and very horrible) hairy brown 
suit, plus a checked yellow-and-orange tie
he had evidently tried
to 
tame his hair, using large quantities of what appeared to be axle 
grease.  It was now slicked down into two bunches—perhaps he had 
tried a ponytail like Bill's, but found he had too much
hair
" (263-
264).
We discover that Hagrid fancies Madame Maxime and has done this for 
her.  Anyway, the trio has lunch with Hagrid.  Hagrid refuses to join 
Hermione's S.P.E.W., saying that it would be unkind to take work
away 
from house-elves.  As it grows dark, they go back for the 
announcement of the champions.
Since you all are probably just as impatient as the students,
here's 
who the champions are:
For Durmstrang, it's Viktor Krum.  No surprises there, as both
Ron 
and Karkaroff show us.  
For Beauxbatons, it's Fleur Delacour (French for "flower of the 
court").  She's the veela-girl we saw before.  Her classmates are 
disappointed for not having been chosen and begin sobbing.  
For Hogwarts, it's Cedric "Pretty-Boy" Diggory from Hufflepuff.  
While Ron is disappointed, the crowd goes wild.  It takes some time 
before Dumbledore can speak again.  And just as the three get up to 
receive their instructions in the next room, the goblet turns red 
again.  A flame shoots out again with a fourth piece of parchment.  
Dumbledore catches it and stares at the name on the paper.  "And then 
Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out—
	'Harry Potter.'" (271)

OK, that's it.  I don't know what kinds of questions to ask,
so I 
will let you do the asking.  Enjoy!