Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapter 16 Summary.
The Goblet Of Fire
Chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, titled ‘The Goblet of Fire’ marks the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament.
The Welcome Feast
As the students from Durmstrang enter the castle, Hogwarts students follow closely behind. Several sixth-year girls frantically look for a quill to get his autograph, while one wonders if a lipstick would do. This irritates Hermione, who views Krum as a simple Quidditch player.
Inside the Great Hall, students from Beauxbatons sit at the Ravenclaw table, while students from Durmstrang make themselves comfortable at the Slytherin table.
Filch the caretaker puts four additional chairs at the teacher’s table. This confuses Harry since there are only two extra headmasters that should require a seat. As both Kakaroff and Madam Maxime sit down, Dumbledore stays standing and addresses the gathering.
He hopes that the guests find their stay at Hogwarts comfortable, and announces that the tournament would officially begin after the feast.
As the feast commences, a large variety of dishes appear on the table, including foreign cuisines. Hagrid walks into the Hall a moment later with his hands heavily bandaged.
As they eat, a girl from Beauxbatons comes over to the Gryffindor table and asks to borrow the bouillabaisse. Ron goes purple at the sight of her and cannot get any words out, so Harry quickly allows her to take it away. Breathless and still rather speechless, Ron exclaims that she is a Veela. Hermione argues, but Ron isn’t wrong. He further declares that they don’t make girls like that at Hogwarts, but Harry, thinks about Cho Chang, and does not agree.
The Triwizard Tournament Begins
The students are joined by Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch, who sit on either side of the headmasters now. Once the feast is over, Dumbledore gets up to address the gathering for a second time.
He introduces Barty and Ludo and announces that they will be with the headmasters on the panel of judges. Dumbledore then asks Filch to bring in the ‘casket’, a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels.
Filch approaches Dumbledore with the casket in hand, and rests it on the table in front of him. Dumbledore continues and reads out the instructions for the tournament.
There would be three champions, one from each school, undergoing three tasks that would be spaced throughout the school year. Said champions will be chosen by an impartial judge; the Goblet of Fire.
From the casket, Dumbledore pulls out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup, full to the brim with dancing blue flames. He declares that the Goblet of Fire would be placed in the Entrance Hall, and aspiring champions have 24 hours to put their names into it.
Further, to ensure no underage student attempts to participate, Dumbledore would be drawing an age line around it. He finishes off the speech asking the students not to take participation lightly since giving their name to the Goblet would bind them into a magical contract.
Crossing the Age Line
Hearing about the age line gives hope to the twins, who think an aging potion would be enough to fool the line. Harry considers if he should try entering as well, but is conflicted and cannot make a decision.
The Durmstrang students get up from their tables and head back towards the ship for the night. As Kakaroff leads his students to the door, he comes face to face with Harry. His eyes flicker over to his scar, and he stops to stare at him.
From behind him, Moody growls that it is indeed Harry, and unless Kakaroff has something to say to him he should move long.
Students wake up early for breakfast the next day. There is a crowd of students in the Entrance Hall, with all of them examining the Goblet that had been put there last night. All of the Durmstrang students have already put their names in, but not many from Hogwarts have.
The twins appear near the crowd with their friend Lee Jordan. All three have consumed a drop of an Aging Potion each, and plan to cross the age line. Fred goes first and George follows him.
For a second it looks like it worked, but they are both magically hurled backwards. The twins fall about 10 feet from the line and have spouted identical white beards.
Dumbledore appears on the scene, and in an amused voice asks the twins to visit Madam Pomfrey.
Visiting Hagrid
Having nothing else to do, the trio decides to go visit Hagrid. Hermione realizes she hasn’t asked Hagrid to join S.P.E.W yet, and excitedly runs to her dormitory to get some badges. As they wait, Ron and Harry see the Beauxbatons students entering their names into the Goblet.
Hermione returns and the trio heads over to the grounds. Hagrid opens the door in his best brown suit and a yellow-and-orange tie. He had tried to tame his hair using something that looked like axle grease, and now it was slicked back into two bunches. Nobody comments on his appearance, and they ask him about the Skrewts instead.
The conversation shifts to the Triwizard Tournament. Hagrid promises that the first task is going to be spectacular, but cannot elaborate. Hermione asks him to join S.P.E.W, but he refuses flatly, saying it would be an unkindness for them.
Around half past five, the trio prepares to go back. Hagrid wishes to come to the castle with them and gets up to apply some cologne. He applies a little too much, and heads out to wash it off. Madam Maxime and her students emerge from their carriage at this moment, and Hagrid goes up to talk to Madam Maxime.
Hagrid heads off to the castle with her, which angers the trio, since he was supposed to go with them. They realize that Hagrid probably likes her.
The trio leaves the castle and heads towards the Great Hall. It is candlelit, and almost full now, and the Goblet of Fire has been placed in front of Dumbledore’s empty chair.
The Triwizard Champions
The Halloween feast begins, but most students just wait for the plates to clear. Soon, the feast ends, and it is time for announcing the name of the champions. He sweeps his wand and extinguishes all candles except for those within the carved penguins. The blue flames within the Goblet now are the brightest thing in the hall.
Suddenly, the flames go red. A piece of parchment flies up into the air, and Dumbledore catches it. He announces the name of the first champion; Viktor Krum representing Durmstrang.
A storm of applause sets off in the hall. Viktor gets up and walks towards Dumbledore, before turning right and walking into the next chamber.
A few moments later, the Goblet turns red again and spits out another piece of parchment. Dumbledore catches it and announces the champion for Beauxbatons; Fleur Delacour. It is the same girl who Ron thought was a Veela. She gets up from her table, and joins Viktor in the next chamber.
Finally, it is time for the Hogwarts champion. Everyone holds their breath as the Goblet turns red for a third time. Once again, Dumbledore catches the piece of parchment and reads out the name. The champion for Hogwarts, is Cedric Diggory. There is a thunderous applause from the Hufflepuff table as Cedric gets up to join the other champions.
Dumbledore begins addressing the gathering since all three champions have been chosen, but he stops abruptly. The Goblet has gone red for a fourth time, and spit out another piece of parchment.
The chapter ends as Dumbledore instinctively catches it and reads the name out. A fourth champion in the Triwizard Tournament has been chosen, and his name is Harry Potter.
