Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 18
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Chapter 18 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Weighing of the Wands
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[edit] Synopsis
Harry wakes up feeling miserable and wanting to talk with Ron, but his bed is empty. He gets dressed and heads to breakfast. Everyone in the Gryffindor Common room cheers as Harry enters, so he heads out the portrait hole. Hermione arrives bearing toast and asks him to take a walk with her. Wanting to avoid the crowd in the Great Hall, Harry accepts. As they stroll around the lake, Hermione says she knew Harry did not enter, from his shocked look when his name was announced. Ron, however, is unconvinced; he is jealous over Harry's fame. Hermione suggests Harry write Sirius about what has happened, though Harry worries that it could risk getting Sirius arrested. Hermione says he will learn about it anyway, and Harry's being in the Tournament may already be in the Daily Prophet. When Harry finishes the letter, Hedwig flies down to deliver it. Sirius had earlier warned Harry that Hedwig is too recognizable, so Harry instead uses a school owl; Hedwig, offended, turns her back on Harry.
During lessons, Harry is unable to avoid other students, and Herbology with the Hufflepuffs is particularly tense. Their House seldom receives any glory, and they feel Harry is stealing what little they had. In Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins, Draco Malfoy is his usual insulting self, but he is interrupted by Hagrid telling the students that the Skrewts need exercising. Each student is given a Skrewt on a leash. The Skrewts are now so large that they drag the students around the lawn. Hagrid takes Harry aside to ask if he knows who entered his name. Harry, relieved Hagrid believes him, admits he does not.
Draco's taunts are becoming extremely pointed, and his attacks peak when he starts distributing lapel buttons that alternately display slogans reading, "Support Cedric Diggory – the Real Hogwarts Champion" or "Potter Stinks". When a duel erupts between Harry and Draco, their spells collide in mid-air, hitting two by-standers: Hermione and Goyle. Ron is aghast at Hermione's injury. Professor Snape appears, demanding to know what is going on. He sends Goyle to the Hospital Wing, but claims to see nothing wrong with Hermione, who leaves in tears. Harry and Ron both shout at Snape over his indifferent treatment towards Hermione. When the echoes die away, Snape penalizes Gryffindor House fifty points and Harry and Ron each receive a detention.
In Potions, Snape begins lecturing about antidotes, saying that they will be testing one in class. Colin Creevey enters, saying that Harry has been summoned by Ludo Bagman. The Champions are to have their pictures taken. With ill grace, Snape releases Harry, who follows Colin to a small classroom where Ludo Bagman, a photographer, a witch Harry has never seen before, and the other champions are waiting. Bagman tells Harry this is the Wand Weighing ceremony, to verify that their wands are in good working order. Bagman introduces the witch as Rita Skeeter, a reporter writing a story for the Daily Prophet. Rita takes Harry aside into a broom closet and, producing a Quick-Quotes Quill, starts interviewing him. Harry answers as best he can, but notices that the Quill records his comments inaccurately. Before he can do anything about it, the closet door opens and Professor Dumbledore asks Rita to allow Harry to return, as the wand weighing is about to start.
Back in the classroom with the five judges – Bagman, Mr. Crouch, Igor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, and Professor Dumbledore, the Champions are introduced to Mr. Ollivander. Ollivander examines the four Champions' wands. First up is Fleur, whose wand is rosewood and contains a Veela hair in its core, which Fleur says is her grandmother's. Ollivander goes on to test Cedric's wand (ash and unicorn's tail hair), Krum's (hornbeam and dragon heartstring), and Harry's (holly and phoenix feather). Ollivander declares them all in perfect working order. The Daily Prophet photographer makes a big fuss over taking the Champions' pictures with the judges. Afterwards, Harry goes to dinner, and returning to his dormitory, finds Ron, who tells him he has received an owl. He also says that their detentions are set for tomorrow night in Snape's dungeon. When he leaves, Harry wants to chase after him, but Sirius' letter is a greater lure. Sirius writes that he has more to say than is safe by owl post, and he asks Harry to be alone by the Gryffindor fireplace at 1:00 a.m on 22 November. He adds that Harry's participation in the Tournament is risky, but he should be safe as long as Dumbledore and Moody are there. However, Sirius believes someone wants to harm Harry.
[edit] Analysis
Harry has become a near outcast among many students, especially Hufflepuff, who seldom excel in anything and now feel that Harry has deliberately undermined their Champion, Cedric Diggory, thus lessening their House's chances for acclaim. The only student who believes someone else entered him in the Tournament is Hermione. Harry feels alienated, just as he did during his second year when many believed he was the Heir of Slytherin and responsible for the attacks on Muggle-borns. At least Ron was on his side then, but without his support now, his peers' disdain is almost unbearable. Ironically, even though most Gryffindor students believe Harry cheated to enter the Tournament, they are ecstatic that a Champion represents their House, contentedly basking in Harry's reflected glory and unperturbed with how or why he was entered. They also seem unconcerned or oblivious that Harry could be in mortal danger. And though Harry is uncomfortable at having more unwanted attention heaped on him and upset over being called a cheater, especially by Ron, he is nonetheless excited about competing in the Tournament; it is an opportunity to impress Cho Chang.
Hagrid and Hermione also believe that Harry has been railroaded into the Tournament. It is interesting to note Hermione's reason for her conclusion: she could see from Harry's shocked expression when his name was announced that it was an unwelcomed and utter surprise. Ron was also watching Harry, but he failed to perceive what Hermione did; this is another indication, if one is needed, of Ron's immaturity and ongoing lack of emotional sensitivity.
The widening rift with Ron actually brings Harry closer to Hermione. Although Harry has always considered her a close friend, he has never felt quite the same about Hermione as he does Ron. This is hardly surprising, as Harry would naturally feel more at ease among his own gender. Now, however, Hermione not only fills a void, but assumes a new role, demonstrating her unwavering loyalty, trust, and support while never doubting Harry's word as others often do, including Ron. Despite Hermione's somewhat overbearing and bossy nature, she is always concerned over Harry and Ron's well-being; she offers solid, logical, if overly cautious, advice, although Harry and Ron have tended to be dismissive, especially if it interfered with their (sometimes prohibited) activities. Without Ron's presence, however, Harry is more receptive to her input. And though Harry has yet to consider Hermione fully equal to Ron, her trust and loyalty never falter throughout the entire series. Hermione and Harry also share much in common: both were raised as Muggles, learning about their magical abilities late in childhood and having to adapt to a strange, new world. Also, each being an only-child creates a stronger bond between them, and they gradually, and perhaps unknowingly, become as brother and sister, whereas Ron, who has many siblings, mostly considers Harry a "best friend."
Harry has his first encounter with Rita Skeeter, a reporter he already knows by her less-than-stellar reputation. She immediately isolates Harry for an interview, rendering him virtually powerless as she pumps him for information and purposely misquotes him, despite his protests; even before interviewing Harry, she has apparently pre-fabricated just how he will be portrayed in her embarrassingly inaccurate article in which she mentions nothing about the other Champions, causing Harry further despair. Skeeter not only shows here how a single individual can abuse the truth, causing immense personal damage, but she also represents how easily a powerful entity like the news media can insidiously manipulate the general public's opinions and perceptions with calculated lies and manufactured misconceptions on a much grander scale.
The analysis of Fleur's wand confirms Ron's suspicions that she is part Veela. The hair forming its core belonged to her grandmother, making her one-quarter Veela.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why does Hermione encourage Harry to write to his godfather, despite the risk to Sirius?
- Why is Hufflepuff House particularly upset that Harry is a Triwizard Champion?
- Why are the wands weighed and inspected?
- Why does Sirius think it is safe for Harry to compete in the Tournament, even though he believes someone wants to harm him?
[edit] Further Study
- Why are Gryffindor students so ecstatic that Harry is a Champion, even though they believe he cheated to enter the Tournament? Why do most other Hogwarts students treat him as an outcast?
- Considering her reputation, why is Rita Skeeter allowed to interview the Champions?
- Why does Snape send Goyle to the Hospital Wing, but not Hermione? Why is she so upset?
[edit] Greater Picture
The author once again draws the reader's attention to Snape teaching about antidotes. And though Harry dislikes Potions, mostly because Snape makes it so miserable for him, his knowledge about this subject will prove crucial in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
It should be noted that though a rift developed between Harry and Hermione following Harry's Firebolt being confiscated, it was entirely Harry's decision to avoid her; Hermione has stayed a true friend to Harry throughout, and will continue to do so until the series' end. In this chapter Ron has allowed jealousy to create a rift between him and Harry, and it continues until Ron realizes Harry's life really is at risk. During their secret mission in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ron will desert Harry and Hermione, on what might be considered petty matters, keeping Trio separated for some months. It is reasonable to assume that Ron's behavior is intended to reflect his character and immaturity relative to Harry and Hermione.
