Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapter 11 Summary.
Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, titled ‘Aboard the Hogwarts Express’ deals with the trio’s journey back to Hogwarts, and hints about something big happening at Hogwarts.
Message from the Ministry
When Harry wakes up the next morning, there is a clear end-of-holiday gloom in the air. He gets dressed and heads down for breakfast. He finds Molly at the foot of the stairs, calling out for Arthur.
There is a message for him from the Ministry. Arthur hurries to the fireplace, where amidst the flames sits the head of Amos Diggory. He talks fast, seemingly unbothered by the fire around him.
He tells Arthur of an event that happened with Mad-Eye Moody. There was an intruder in his yard trying to reach his house but got ambushed by his dustbins. There was a lot of banging and screaming, which forced the neighbors to call the cops.
Amos is afraid of what would happen to Moody if Rita Skeeter finds out about the incident. Knowing Moody, the ‘intruder’ in his ‘yard’ was probably a stray cat loitering around somewhere on the road. Nevertheless, if the Department for Improper Use of Magic gets to him, he would be in trouble. Amos asks Arthur to take the offense under his own Department and help him get out with a minor charge.
Arthur promptly leaves, and Amos apologizes to Molly. She offers him a bit of toast before he leaves, and feeds it to him with a pair of fire tongs.
Mad-Eye Moody
Bill overhears the discussion and inquires about what happened to Moody. Mrs Weasley explains it to him, and George calls him crazy.
Molly warns that Arthur thinks very highly of him, and Fred makes a snarky remark about Arthur being similarly crazy since he collects plugs.
Harry asks who Mad-Eye Moody is, and Charlie explains. Mad-Eye used to work as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic. He was one of the best dark wizard catchers around, and half the cells in Azkaban are full today because of him. This made him a lot of enemies, and he now spends his old age in paranoia.
To Kings Cross Station
Bill and Charlie decide to come to Kings Cross to see the kids off. Percy heads to work instead, saying Crouch needs him.
Three Muggle taxis wait for them in their rain-washed yard, as the drivers struggle to load up six heavy trunks into their cars. Arthur had tried to get Ministry cars for them, but none were available at the moment.
The journey is highly uncomfortable. There is little space available, and several of Fred’s no-heat fireworks go off unexpectedly during the ride. They are relieved to get out at the station, even though it has started to rain hard.
Bill, Charlie, and Mrs Weasley bid goodbye to the kids, and Charlie announces they might see him sooner than they expect. Ron inquires, but Charlie says it is ‘classified information’ as of now.
Bill chimes in, admitting how he wished he went back to Hogwarts for the year. Everyone is extremely curious to know what is happening, but the adults deny them any information.
The trio heads to an empty compartment and discusses what this is about. Ron complains that Bagman had wanted to tell them about it during the World Cup, but his own family is unwilling.
About Durmstrang
The trio hears a voice coming from the compartment next to theirs and quiets down to listen. It is Malfoy, boasting about how his father considered sending him to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts. His father Lucius knows the headmaster of the school personally, but his mother did not want Draco going to a school so far away. At Durmstrang, muggle-born students are not accepted, and the school actually teaches its students to use the Dark Arts.
Hermione angrily remarks that Malfoy should have gone to Durmstrang. She explains that Durmstrang is another Wizarding school, similar to Hogwarts and Beauxbatons Academy. Nobody knows of its whereabouts, however, since the school wishes to protect its secrets.
Ron wonders how can someone conceal a school on par in size with Hogwarts. Hermione explains that even Hogwarts is hidden. According to Hogwarts, A History, if a Muggle were to look at Hogwarts, all they would see is a moldy old ruin with a ‘Danger’ sign.
Considering the Durmstang uniform which involves fur capes, Hermione assumes that it is perhaps situated in the North.
The Journey Ahead
The trio is joined by more of their friends, like Seamus, Dean, and Thomas. The boys talk about Quidditch, and Hermione reads The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4.
A few moments later, Draco walks into their compartment with Crabbe and Goyle. He makes fun of Ron’s dress robes, a sleeve of which had been hanging outside his trunk. Ron snaps back at him, but Draco and his cronies just laugh.
Malfoy asks if Ron is going to try and enter, but the trio does not know what he is talking about. Malfoy pokes further fun at him, asking how does he not know despite having his father and brother work at the Ministry. Laughing at them, he leaves the compartment.
Ron slams the sliding door behind Malfoy hard and shatters the glass in the process. Hermione consoles Ron and repairs the glass promptly. His bad mood continues for the rest of the journey.
The chapter ends as the train journey ends and the students reach Hogwarts. They greet a cheerful Hagrid, who guides the new first years into the castle.
