Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch. 6: The Portkey

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 191551

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "willsonteam" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:

> GOBLET OF FIRE CH. 6: The Portkey
 
> 1. Much of JKR's WW comes from folklore. What do you think inspired "Portkeys"?

My reaction is that Portkey and also Apparition seem to be distant 
cousins of transporting or teleportation as it has appeared on various 
sci-fi stories in the past. As a side issue, I am always surprised that the 
latter is so easy; I thought in the early books that it involved invoking a 
spell but Wilkie Twycross' explanation in HBP almost suggests that an 
intelligent young wizard could work it out without a training course.

> 2. We finally meet Cedric Diggory after hearing about him last year. What do
> you think of Cedric? What do you think of Mr. Diggory? How does your opinion
> change at the end of the book.

Seems to be a little too good to be true. But, by the end,. he and Harry 
have befriended each other and be good brothers-in-arms in the final Task
although Harry seems to be the leader here.

> 3. How would you compare Mr. Diggory and Mr. Weasley as fathers?

Arthur seems to be very easygoing in many ways. He interacts easily  with 
his children who, when not being organised by Molly, gives an impression 
of secretly wanting to join in with their activities - legal and nefarious!

I've already written comments about Amos in other answers = including 
those with higher numbers... I don't always answer things n the correct 
order.

> 4. The Weasley family doesn't have a lot of extras--so how did they afford all
> these good tickets. Per canon, they didn't have cheap seats.

Molly's letter to the Dursleys says:
'...my husband, Arthur, has just managed to get prime tickets through his connections at the Department of Magical Games and Sports...'
(GOF "The Invitation" p.32 UK edition)

Suggests that Arthur may have asked for them as a favour in return for 
something he did.

> 5. Is this chapter as simple as it looks? What is its purpose?

Seems so. We meet new people, learn about Portkeys and Apparition and 
I think the chapter shows that Amos Diggory is a trifle obsessive about 
Cedric. His rather patronising remark about Harry falling off his broom 
made me dislike him when he first appeared as did Cedric who appeared 
to be given a rather squeaky clean image by JKR.

> 6. Your questions here ( Bonus points if you can think of a way to discuss Snape
> relative to this chapter.)

> Geoff:
> OK. You asked for it... hee, hee.
> 
> 6. With your knowledge of Professor Snape's experience gained from refereeing
> Quidditch matches, discuss the reasons why you think he has not joined the
> group for the Quidditch World Cup final.
>