31. HARRY POTTER and the GOBLET of FIRE

J. K. Rowling 2000

The fourth book in the series kicked off the Triwizard Tournament between three magical schools, the competitors from each school chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire. Three unforgivable curses are also introduced by the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Mad-Eye Moody: Imperius Curse, Cruciatus Curse and Avada Kedavra, the killing curse that Harry survived as a baby.

"Harry had no idea where Dumbledore went during the summer holidays. He amused himself for a moment, picturing Dumbledore, with his long silver beard, full-length wizard's robes, and pointed hat, stretched out on a beach somewhere, rubbing suntan lotion onto his long crooked nose."

"He sat there on the floor eating it, savoring the happiness that was flooding through him. He had cake, and Dudley had nothing but grapefruit; it was a bright summer's day, he would be leaving Privet Drive tomorrow, his scar felt perfectly normal again, and he was going to watch the Quidditch world cup."

"For those who don't want to Apparate, or can't we use Portkeys. They're objects that are used to transport wizards from one spot to another at a prearranged time...There have been two hundred Portkeys placed at strategic points around Britain, and the nearest one to us is up at the top of Stroatshead Hill..."

"Ron pulled out his Omnioculars and started testing them..."Wild!" he said, twiddling the replay knob on the side. "I can make that old bloke down there pick his nose again...and again...and again...""

"Harry started unwrapping the shopping. Apart from The Standard Book Spells, Grade 4, by Miranda Goshawk, he had a handful of new quills, a dozen rolls of parchment, and refills for his potion-making kit--he had been running low on spine of lionfish and essence of belladonna."

"I've had a letter from professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures--you've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas and werewolves, is that right?"

"My inner eyes sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. and I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas...most difficult...I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass...and perhaps sooner that you think..."

"The Imperius Curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not every one's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

"There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways...their magical prowess--their daring--their powers of deduction--and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."

"Madame Maxine! said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!" Somewhere under Harry's numb disbelief he felt a ripple of anger. Little boy?"

"But Harry didn't care; he wouldn't have cared if Karkaroff had given him zero; Ron's indignation on his behalf was worth about a hundred points to him. He didn't tell Ron this, of course, but his heart felt lighter than air as he turned to leave the enclosure."

"You know of course, that they have called this boy my downfall...You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him--and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen... I could not touch the boy."

"It was a sound Harry recognized, though he had heard it only once before in his life: Phoenix song. It was the sound of hope to Harry...t he most beautiful and welcome thing he had ever heard in his life... He felt as though the song was inside him instead of just around him... It was a sound he connected with Dumbledore..."

"You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time. I ask you to tell us what happened."

"I say to you all, once again--in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

"So what happens when a wand meets its brother?"

"Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave.."