GoF Chapter 11 Discussion

[Simon Branford]

No: HPFGUIDX 2051

I am having a bit of a nitmare at the moment. Messages I am sending 
are not getting through. I think the problem is with my ISP. So I 
apologise in advance if this arrives more than once.

As the chapter 11 discussions have still not commenced I have 
contacted Penny and agreed to do the summary. So here goes on another 
interesting and varied discussion. Yet again the chapter I am 
commenting on is short (11 pages this time), but this time it is much 
more interesting (last time I did chapter 2).


Chapter 11: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

This chapter starts with the triad (I do not like the word 
triumvirate to describe Harry, Ron and Hermione) at the Burrow in the 
aftermath of the Quidditch World Cup and the ensuing chaos. It is 
time for them to go back to school. That, of course, means another 
trip on the Hogwarts Express - the sixth time for Harry and Ron and 
the ninth for Hermione (Hermione goes home for Christmas in the first 
year - I am assuming by the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Ron had a 
slight problem causing them to miss the train in their second year).

We start however with the boys (Harry, Ron and the twins) arriving 
for breakfast to see Amos Diggory on the wizard equivalent of a 
telephone. There is a dual reason for this. On the one hand it is to 
introduce us to this form of communication, which we see used by 
Harry and Sirius shortly before the first task. It is also to give us 
an indication that something has happened to Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody.

In the description of this incident we learn a little about the 
character that is Mad-Eye Moody. We are told that he 'was a great 
wizard' but has 'been getting paranoid in his old age'. We are also 
told of Arthur's plug collection (just had to put this comment in), 
who then rushes off to help out his friend.

It could be argued that this meeting with Amos is an indication that 
Cedric is going to be the one to die at the end of the book. This is 
the second meeting with some of the Diggory family and it is this 
that is turning Cedric into the 'character we care for'. We are 
seeing how his father reacts to help an old friend and extend this 
characteristic to be one that Cedric also possess.

This brings us to the travel to London and the Hogwarts Express. We 
see how little Molly knows about muggles, as she is surprised that 
the taxi drivers seem unhappy at the party they are transporting.

This time Harry, Ron and Hermione pick a carriage in the middle of 
the train. Charlie then gives us a tantalising indication that 
something important is going to be happening that year at Hogwarts 
but will give no details.

Having had an indication of the Beauxbatons school in chapter 9 we 
now learn, from overhearing Draco in a nearby compartment, of 
Durmstrang. We hear that Lucuis contemplated sending Draco to this 
school, as he knows the Headmaster.

Following this Seamus, Dean, Neville and several others drop by to 
say hello. Unfortunately Dean and Seamus have left the door ajar and 
Draco has noticed their presence and come to try and wind them up.

He taunts Ron over his dress robes, which are covering Pigwidgeon's 
cage to shut him up. He then follows up by talking about the 
Triwizard tournament, which Lucius has told him about, but gives away 
few details.

They arrive at Hogsmeade, which is in the middle of a torrential 
downpour, and transfer to one of the carriages to head up towards 
Hogwarts.

Questions and comments (at least those I could think of at 2am while 
watching the Olympics):
Am I making too much of the meeting with Amos pointing towards 
Cedric's death?
Where do the Weasley's live? Most indication and comments, based on 
the first three books, has been that they live in the Devon area but 
suddenly they are using taxis to travel, if the hypothesis is 
correct, a journey of 200 miles. Did someone else pay for the journey?
Are we given enough indication of Mad-Eye's character to work out 
what has occurred? This is when he was replaced and yet are we told 
enough here to work it out? 
Compare the actions of the triad in this chapter with that of 
previous books. They take a more prominent position in the train 
(nearer the front). Is this an indication that Harry is getting more 
used to his fame? Is he less worried and happy that he is going to 
have a 'quiet year'?
Compare the actions of the triad in this chapter with their actions 
on the train home. Ron gets very close to taking action against Draco 
for the taunts. Does this give us an indication of the events of the 
journey home? 


Have I started to sound like a schoolteacher? If so I am off to panic.

Simon