Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 24
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Chapter 24 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Rita Skeeter's Scoop
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[edit] Synopsis
Hermione and Ron seem willing to overlook their fight, although Harry notices they are oddly formal with each other. Harry and Ron tell Hermione what they had overheard about Hagrid being half-giant. Hermione seems unsurprised, saying he is too large to be human, but that Giants typically are twenty feet tall, and he is not that big. And there must be decent Giants, just as there are decent werewolves.
Christmas is over, and it is time to work on the neglected homework. Harry is worried, however. February 24th looks much closer from this side of Christmas, and he must still solve the Egg's riddle. While remembering Cedric's hint, he is feeling somewhat unfriendly towards him and disinclined to heed his advice. It is still snowy and cold when classes resume. Nobody is looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures, but when they arrive at Hagrid's hut, they are met by Professor Grubbly-Plank. Ignoring Harry's questions about where Hagrid is, she leads them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest where a Unicorn is tethered. She waves the boys back, saying that unicorns interact better with girls. This leaves Harry close to Malfoy, who comments that Hagrid is too ashamed to show his face and produces the Daily Prophet. In it is a scurrilous article by Rita Skeeter about Hagrid. It claims the Blast-Ended Skrewts are not only dangerous, but illegal, and some students have been injured. Crabbe is quoted as saying he was bitten by a Flobberworm. The article also mentions Hagrid's mixed Giant-human ancestry. Harry is incensed, pointing out that Flobberworms do not even have teeth. Malfoy says parents will be scared that Hagrid will eat their children and that the article will end Hagrid's teaching career. Professor Grubbly-Plank continues the lesson, but Harry is so angry he is barely able to concentrate. At the end, Parvati declares it was better than any lesson Hagrid has ever given, and she hopes Professor Grubbly-Plank will be there for a long time. Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to Hagrid's hut after Divination, but to no avail. Their repeated knocks go unanswered. Hagrid remains absent the next week, and Professor Grubbly-Plank continues teaching his classes. Hagrid is not even seen performing his grounds-keeping duties.
A Hogsmeade weekend is scheduled for mid-January, and Harry plans to go, much to Hermione's surprise and displeasure; she was expecting him to work on solving the Egg riddle. Harry lies and says he pretty well has it figured out. There are still five weeks left, after all. Heading to Hogsmeade, they spot Viktor Krum diving into the lake, apparently unaffected by the cold. Ron is almost hoping the giant squid will get him.
In Hogsmeade, they stop in at the Three Broomsticks. Harry looks for Hagrid, but does not see him. They spot Ludo Bagman, however, deep in conversation with Goblins. When Ludo notices Harry, he charges over and asks for a private word. When Harry asks what Bagman is talking to the Goblins about, he says they want to contact Barty Crouch, but nobody knows where he is. Percy, apparently, says he is still home sick and sends instructions by owl post. If Rita Skeeter finds out, she will probably report that he is missing, just like Bertha Jorkins. When Harry asks if Bertha has shown up, Ludo admits she has not. He offers to help Harry with the Egg, but Harry refuses, claiming it is nearly solved. Fred and George suddenly appear and offer to buy Ludo a drink, but he declines, insisting he must go. He leaves with the Goblins trailing after him. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione discuss what Ludo disclosed, Rita Skeeter enters, telling her photographer that someone (probably Ludo) refused to talk to her. Harry accuses her of intentionally ruining other peoples' lives. She responds that the public has the right to know the truth, and asks Harry for his side of the story. Before leaving, Hermione tells her she is an evil woman, but looking back, Harry sees Rita's quill racing across parchment. Ron suspects Hermione may be next in line for her axe.
Back at Hogwarts, Hermione beats on Hagrid's door, demanding to be let in. The door opens, and Professor Dumbledore greets them. Abashed, Hermione insists on seeing Hagrid, and Dumbledore invites them in. Harry tells Hagrid he should just disregard Skeeter. According to Dumbledore, many letters have arrived supporting Hagrid and demanding that he stay at Hogwarts. Hagrid protests that he is half-giant, but Harry points out that he is himself related to the Dursleys, and Dumbledore mentions his brother Aberforth, who was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat. Hermione asks Hagrid to return, and Dumbledore, as he leaves, says Hagrid is expected back on the job Monday, no excuses. Hagrid shows the Trio a picture of him and his father, who died during Hagrid's second year. Hagrid says he would be disappointed with Hagrid's behavior. Hagrid then asks how Harry is doing with the Egg, and Harry responds that he nearly has it solved. When Hagrid says how proud of him he is, Harry is ashamed he lied. Back inside the castle, Harry finally concedes that it is time to swallow his pride and give Cedric's hint a try.
[edit] Analysis
That Hagrid immediately went into hiding after Rita Skeeter's article was published shows his rather child-like nature. Rather than confronting an issue and standing up for himself, he instead retreats into seclusion, to the extent that even his friends and supporters are unable to convince him to do otherwise. Hagrid symbolizes how innocent individuals are easily victimized by powerful entities like the media. Rita Skeeter represents the bigotry that permeates the series and how fear and suspicion can be deliberately manipulated to inflame peoples' hatred, perpetuating racial stereotypes. And while Skeeter's article is bias driven, it may be less about her personal beliefs than deliberately skewing the facts to incite readers' terror about giants purely to sell more newspapers. Despite Hagrid's gentleness and devoted service to Hogwarts, Skeeter falsely casts him as a dangerous and irresponsible individual. Surprisingly, the backlash results in supporters rallying to Hagrid's defense rather than condemning him; many are probably former Hogwarts students who know Hagrid. And while Skeeter represents many characters' bigoted views and racial oppression, Dumbledore and Hermione become its antithesis, championing equal rights and opportunities for all magical denizens who may be at even greater risk as Voldemort's power continues to rise.
Of the many characters Harry has a close relationship with, it is clearly seen here that Hagrid is one of the most important and influential people in his life, and whose good opinion Harry cultivates and values. Although Harry never means to disappoint others, his laziness results in him lying to everyone (and probably to himself) about solving the Egg riddle, and he remains unaffected by Hermione's criticism over his procrastination. However, he is completely shamed and humbled by Hagrid's total and unconditional faith in him, a faith Harry has failed to meet. Possibly only Sirius, Lupin, and Dumbledore could have close to same effect on him that Hagrid has. Harry guiltily realizes his actions have hardly represented how a Triwizard Champion is expected to behave, letting down those who have supported and believed in him. Harry resolves to work hard on solving the Egg riddle.
Just how much Ron is lacking in emotional sensitivity is shown here as well. Immediately after Dumbledore orders Hagrid back to work, the room is still emotionally wrought, Ron asks if he can have a cake; however, he probably unintentionally helped break the tension somewhat.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why has Harry been so reluctant to work on solving the Egg's riddle, even despite Hermione's prodding and Cedric's hint?
- Why does Harry feel ashamed when he lies to Hagrid about the Egg, but not to others?
- Why does Harry finally decide to use Cedric's hint?
- Why has Hagrid gone into hiding? Why does he agree to come back?
[edit] Further Study
- What motivated Rita Skeeter to write such a scathing story?
- Why does Ron think that Hermione will be Rita Skeeter's next "victim"? What does he mean by this? Is he right?
[edit] Greater Picture
Ludo's conversation with the Goblins in the Three Broomsticks appears to be going badly, and he seems to have lost much of his bounce. Ludo is in trouble with the Goblins over his gambling debts, and this is yet another episode where he attempts to settle matters with them. His abrupt retreat indicates he was unsuccessful, although Fred and George's sudden arrival may also have scared him off; he is avoiding the Twins because he also has refused to pay their winnings.
We see, in that encounter, another clumsy attempt by Ludo to help Harry with the Tournament. Almost certainly, the Goblins that Ludo is speaking with are the same group with which he is betting on Harry's victory. One might wonder why the Goblins allow him to talk to Harry so blatantly, as Ludo has already demonstrated that he is not particularly trustworthy. The Goblins must suspect that Ludo would try to influence things in his own favour, despite being a judge of the tournament.
Rita's story about Hagrid points up the prejudice and discrimination that the Wizarding world retains towards the other magical races; we will see this brought out again, in the person of Dolores Umbridge, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Umbridge will exhibit this prejudice to an extreme, displaying an irrational hatred for "half-breeds" like Hagrid and, illogically, the entire Centaur race. Voldemort will use this prejudice to win himself allies among those races that have been subjected to discrimination, notably the few remaining Giants and the Dementors.
Readers have probably noticed that many characters are first introduced by name before they actually appear in the story. Here, Dumbledore mentions his somewhat wayward brother, Aberforth, who will play a significant role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
