Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 36
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Chapter 36 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Parting of the Ways
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[edit] Synopsis
After hearing Barty Crouch's confession, Professor Dumbledore binds him tightly, then asks Professor McGonagall to stand guard while he takes Harry upstairs. Dumbledore asks Professor Snape to arrange for the real Alastor Moody to be taken to the Hospital wing and to bring Cornelius Fudge so he can interrogate Barty. Dumbledore and Harry then go to Dumbledore's office where Sirius is waiting. Looking as haggard as when he escaped from Azkaban, Sirius demands to know what has happened. Dumbledore relates Barty's confession. Harry, exhausted, lets the words wash over him as Fawkes perches on his knee. Dumbledore asks Harry to tell what, exactly, happened after he touched the Triwizard Cup. Sirius protests, saying Harry is too exhausted. Dumbledore says that if he thought it would help, he would put Harry into a dreamless sleep, but delaying will only make matters more difficult. Harry has shown extreme bravery, and he must demonstrate that courage again. Fawkes sings a single note, and Harry, taking strength from the phoenix song, begins.
Dumbledore and Sirius seem shocked when Harry relates how Wormtail took his blood for the charm; Dumbledore inspects the wound. Voldemort told Harry that his blood gave him the same protection Harry has, and he can now touch him. For a moment, Harry sees what looks like a triumphant gleam in Dumbledore's eyes, but Dumbledore only comments that Voldemort has overcome that particular barrier.
Harry continues, but finds it difficult to explain how his wand and Voldemort's connected. Dumbledore says that this is a Priori Incantatem effect: when wands sharing a single source for their magical cores are forced to duel, one will be forced to disgorge the spells it had last cast. Dumbledore tells Sirius and Harry that Harry's wand and Voldemort's share a magical core: tail feathers from a single phoenix—Fawkes. Therefore, Voldemort's wand was forced to disgorge its most recent spells. Dumbledore asks if Cedric appeared, and Harry says he did and spoke to him. He says he also saw an old man, Bertha Jorkins, and his father and mother. Dumbledore explains that these figures are not ghosts, but only the spirit echoes or shadows that were created by Voldemort's victims when they were killed by his wand.
When Harry is unable to continue talking, Fawkes flutters to the floor. His tears fall on Harry's leg, healing his wound. Dumbledore says Harry has shown exceptional bravery, equal to wizards who faced Voldemort at the height of their powers. He recommends the Hospital Wing and a sleeping potion. Sirius changes to his dog form and walks with Harry and Dumbledore to the Infirmary. There, Mrs. Weasley, Bill Weasley, Ron, and Hermione are grilling Madam Pomfrey about Harry. Dumbledore forestalls Mrs. Weasley's questions by saying Harry needs sleep; questions can wait until morning. Dumbledore tells Madam Pomfrey the dog will be staying with Harry. When Harry spots Alastor Moody in another bed, Madam Pomfrey says he will recover. She gives Harry a purple potion, but Harry falls asleep before drinking it all.
Harry is awakened by loud voices. The doors burst open and Cornelius Fudge, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape enter. McGonagall angrily berates Fudge as he demands to speak to Dumbledore. Dumbledore enters, wanting to know what has happened. He expresses surprise at McGonagall, who was left guarding Barty Crouch Jr. McGonagall shouts that nobody needs to guard Crouch any more. The Dementor that Fudge brought for protection sensed Barty and administered the "Kiss", sucking out his soul. Fudge is unconcerned by the fuss, claiming Crouch was no loss. Dumbledore points out he is now unable to testify, to which Fudge claims that would have been pointless, as it appears that he was only following You-Know-Who's instructions. Dumbledore says that he was following Voldemort's instructions for his resurrection, and the plan was successful—Voldemort is back.
A blustering Fudge now attempts to deny that Voldemort has returned. Dumbledore tells him Crouch's confession and what happened to Harry. Fudge asks if Dumbledore is prepared to base his belief on Harry's evidence, saying that Harry has been a less than reliable witness. Harry suggests Fudge has been reading Rita Skeeter's stories. Fudge more or less admits that, but suggests Harry may be suffering hallucinations. Harry states he was there, he saw it, and he can name Death Eaters. Fudge discounts this, saying the names are public record. Fudge reiterates that this is a scare story, and they cannot claim that Voldemort has returned, it would destroy everything they have been working towards for the past thirteen years.
Dumbledore calmly avers that Voldemort has returned. If Fudge accepts that truth and acts now, they may be able to save the situation. The first step is to remove the Dementors from Azkaban. Fudge resists, saying that half the Wizarding population only feel safe at night because Dementors are guarding Azkaban; Dumbledore says that the other half will lose sleep, knowing the Dementors will defect to Voldemort because he can offer them far more than being a prison guard. Next, continues Dumbledore, envoys need to be sent to the giants. Fudge interrupts, saying he cannot do that, he would be voted out immediately. Dumbledore says his love of the office has blinded him to what must be done. If their interests have diverged so greatly, then they have reached an impasse and must part ways. Fudge must do as he sees fit, as will he.
Fudge accuses Dumbledore of working against him, but Dumbledore replies he is only working against Voldemort. If Fudge is against Voldemort, they are still on the same side. Fudge plaintively says, "He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be...." Snape pulls back his left sleeve, exposing his forearm. He tells Fudge the Dark Mark is the Death Eater sign. It has been growing more distinct all year and tonight it burned black. Death Eaters must respond when Voldemort summons them. Karkaroff was also summoned; that is why he bolted. Fudge claims he does not know what Dumbledore is playing at, but he must return to the Ministry. He places a large bag on Harry's bedside table. "Your winnings," he explains, saying that there would normally be a ceremony, but under the circumstances... his voice then trails off.
After Fudge leaves, Dumbledore begins assigning missions. Asking Mrs. Weasley if he can count on her and Arthur, he warns them to avoid getting anyone at the Ministry in trouble. Bill Weasley volunteers to tell his father and leaves. Dumbledore dispatches Professor McGonagall to fetch Hagrid and Madame Maxime to meet with him in his office as soon as possible. He sends Madam Pomfrey to tend to Winky, who is still with Crouch. Dumbledore then asks Sirius to show himself. Mrs. Weasley is alarmed when the dog transforms into Sirius, but Dumbledore and Ron calm her. Dumbledore tells Sirius and Snape that he understands they can never be friends, but they must cooperate with each other; they briefly shake hands, still showing their mutual deep loathing. Dumbledore sends Sirius to alert the "old crowd": Mundungus Fletcher, Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, and to then lay low at Lupin's until he contacts him. When he asks Snape if he is ready for the mission they have discussed, Snape replies he is. Dumbledore sends him off without further instructions.
Dumbledore tells Harry to drink the potion, he needs sleep, and departs. Harry, fretting about the Tournament prize, says he does not want it. He blames himself for Cedric's death, and his family should at least have the Galleons. Mrs. Weasley tells him not to worry about it, but she is interrupted by a loud slamming. Next to the window, Hermione apologizes for the noise. Harry drinks the remaining sleeping potion and finally falls asleep.
[edit] Analysis
Although many questions have been answered, new ones arise, and the characters must now deal with the dire aftermath that Voldemort's return has created. To prepare for the impending war he knows is coming and cannot be stopped, Dumbledore's only recourse, given the total lack of cooperation he can expect from the Ministry, is to quickly regroup his former allies. Reiterating the book's theme that Voldemort can only be defeated through mutual cooperation, Dumbledore requests that Snape and Sirius set aside their mutual hatred and work together to fight Voldemort. They grudgingly agree, but whether they can maintain a truce or if Snape truly is loyal to Dumbledore remains to be seen.
At this cooperative spectrum's other end, Dumbledore's efforts to defeat Voldemort are stymied by absolutely no cooperation from Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry of Magic. We can see that Fudge is preparing to vehemently deny publicly that the Dark Lord has returned, an action that will only aid Voldemort's rise to power. Fudge allowing (or perhaps ordering) the Dementor to administer the Kiss to Barty Crouch is not only shocking and likely illegal, but it suggests he could be a Voldemort accomplice or that he is in such extreme denial about unfolding events that he will use any means to protect himself and the Ministry, including using a Dementor to suck out Crouch's soul so he is unable to corroborate Harry's claims, as well as hurling accusations that Harry hallucinated everything that happened to him. Even if Harry is administered Veritaserum, the Ministry can then argue that Harry actually believes his hallucinations are the truth. Fudge's action, we can already see, will result in an acrimonious and irreparable split between him and Dumbledore, and also between Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic.
The "gleam of triumph" in Dumbledore's eyes as Harry tells about Voldemort using his blood in his reanimation has been endlessly discussed by fans. Of course, this blood tie creates yet an additional connection between Harry and Voldemort, and it can be assumed from Dumbledore's reaction that it may actually somehow weaken the Dark Lord. However, this is still speculation, and it is yet unknown just how it will affect the story's outcome. All that is known is Voldemort claiming that his greatest enemy's blood will make him stronger; it is debatable, however, as to just who his greatest enemy actually is: Harry or Dumbledore.
Fawkes is relatively central to the scene in Dumbledore's office. In addition to learning that this is the Phoenix who donated the tail feathers that lie within Harry and Voldemort's wands, it is Fawkes who gives Harry the strength to retell his story and provides the tears to heal his injured leg.
It is unknown just what Hermione was doing by the hospital window at this chapter's conclusion, but it will prove to be meaningful later.
Also, although Harry feels responsible for Cedric's death, it is probable that he would have been killed anyway. Cedric would have reached the Triwizard Cup first, but, grateful for Harry's help, wanted Harry to take it. Harry instead insisted they grab it together because they helped each other equally throughout the Tournament. If Cedric alone had grasped it, he would have been transported to the cemetery rather than Harry, and, being useless to Voldemort's rebirth, likely would have been instantly murdered on Voldemort's command.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why would Fudge allow a Dementor to administer the Kiss to Barty Crouch? Were his actions legal?
- What is the significance of the mark on Snape's forearm?
- Why does Harry feel he is responsible for Cedric's death? Is he justified in believing so?
- Cedric would have reached the Triwizard Cup first. What would have happened if he alone had grabbed it?
- Why does Fawkes only sing a single note to Harry when he is in Dumbledore's office? How does it affect Harry? What else does Fawkes do that helps Harry?
- Why is Harry given a potion for "dreamless" sleep?
[edit] Further Study
- Who and what might the "old crowd" be that Dumbledore is referring to?
- Harry shows no reaction when Dumbledore mentions someone named Arabella Figg. Should he?
- What missions might Dumbledore assign to Hagrid and Olympe Maxime and also to Snape?
- Why might Hermione be making such a commotion next to the hospital window? Why does she say nothing about it?
- Snape and Sirius loathe each other. Is it possible that they can suppress their mutual hatred and work together as Dumbledore has requested?
- Why does Dumbledore have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes after Harry tells him Voldemort used some of Harry's blood for his reanimation?
[edit] Greater Picture
After Fudge's departure, Dumbledore begins dispatching various people on separate missions. The missions, only hinted at here, are fully explained in later books. Bill Weasley updates his father, Arthur Weasley, as to what has happened. Arthur, along with Molly, will be working within the Ministry of Magic. Hagrid and Olympe Maxime will seek out and contact the giants, to attempt to win them to Dumbledore's side, or at least keep them neutral. In Voldemort's previous time in power, Dumbledore had headed a group called the Order of the Phoenix, who worked against Voldemort outside of the Ministry; Sirius has been sent to alert former Order of the Phoenix members, including Remus Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher, and Arabella Figg to reactivate that group. Lupin is later sent to infiltrate and spy on a werewolf pack headed by the particularly vicious Fenrir Greyback, who has formed an alliance with Voldemort. And Snape is apparently sent to re-establish contact with Voldemort, although this will not be revealed to us until two books later.
It is also interesting, but hardly surprising, that Harry fails to recognize Arabella Figg's name; neither he, nor most readers, have yet to connect her with batty, old Mrs. Figg with all her cats back in Privet Drive. She is later revealed to be a Squib, and she has been guarding Harry since he first arrived at the Dursleys.
In the next chapter, we will learn that Hermione has discovered how Rita Skeeter is able to "bug" so many private conversations; she is, in fact, an unregistered Animagus, taking the form of a beetle. The commotion Hermione was making at the infirmary window was her trapping Skeeter in a jar.
It is learned in the final book that the "triumphant gleam" in Dumbledore's eyes is when he realizes that Harry's blood that is now within Voldemort's body will actually protect Harry from Voldemort, a fact unknown to the Dark Lord when he reanimated himself. Dumbledore explains that when Voldemort used Harry's blood, he also transferred the protection that had been conferred on Harry by Lily's sacrifice; thus, Harry now cannot die, at least not at Voldemort's wand, as long as this embodiment of Voldemort is alive.
