Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 20: The First Task

• In all fairness I think Harry would have made a good Hufflepuff as well. I say this as Hufflepuff and as someone who thinks that despite the fact that Hufflepuff welcomes every student, not every student has what it takes to be a Hufflepuff. Harry tells Cedric about the dragons simply because it is the right thing to do, because all the other champions know and it is only fair if Cedric knows as well. Cedric later returns the favour and they help each other in the maze and ultimately decide to win together. Harry never really sees the other champions as rivals – he doesn’t really think about winning until the third task. Harry only tries to stay alive during the tournament, and is rather one to help the other champions than trying to outpace them. The way both Harry and Cedric act in the tournament tells you a lot about them as a person.

• “‘Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it detects concealment and lies … no use here, of course, too much interference – students in every direction lying about why they haven’t done their homework. Been humming ever since I got here. I had to disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldn’t stop whistling. It’s extra sensitive, picks up stuff about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up more than kids’ stuff,’ he added in a growl.” – Of course the real reason the Secrecy Sensor and the Sneakoscope don’t work is Moody himself, or rather Barty Crouch Jun. disguised as Moody. Which reminds me of book 3 where Harry thought his Sneakoscope was broken when in fact it had reacted to Wormtail. We see the symptoms but not what causes them.

• It might be modesty but I think a lot of people would have reacted the same way Harry did, thinking they don’t have any strengths. Perhaps because we see things that we are naturally good at not as a strength, opposed to things we have to learn and exercise a lot until we are good at them. When it comes to be a talented wizard Harry is… not bad, but for example not on the level Hermione is or his parents were. He is good at some things, struggles at others. One thing however he is really good at is to perform under pressure. He had managed the Patronus Charm at a really early age – but then his life depended on it. He learns the Summoning Charm because he needs it for the first task. He learns a lot of defensive spells in order to get through the third task. He has strong nerves, which might also be the reason why he can resist the Imperius Curse. Harry isn’t more talented than other students his age, but he is constantly put in situations where his life depends on performing certain spells. And that might be why he later becomes a good Auror – because performing under pressure, performing because your life depends on it – he’s been doing this for a very long time.

• Also, it is pretty evident how much McGonagall cares about Harry. She never tries to show any favouritism, but it is clear how much she dislikes the idea of one of her students entering this tournament way too young, risking his life during each task. She might be strict but McGonagall has a very big heart as well.

• “Harry knew Ron was about to apologise and, suddenly, he found he didn’t need to hear it. ‘It’s OK,’ he said, before Ron could get the words out. ‘Forget it.’

         ‘No,’ said Ron, ‘I shouldn’t’ve –

         ‘Forget it,’ Harry said.

         Ron grinned nervously at him, and Harry grinned back.

         Hermione burst into tears.”

I just love this entire reunion scene. For no matter how stubborn they  were before Harry doesn’t hold any grudges, how easily they can go back to being friends. I had those fights with friends when I was younger where we just wouldn’t talk for a week with each other (besides sharing classes and all), until we no longer remembered why we were mad at each other in the first place and just went back to normal. But I’m also totally Hermione in this scenario. Boys. Sigh.