The Portkey & Bagman and Crouch
chapters six & seven of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys wake early to walk to their Portkey, which they catch with Amos and Cedric Diggory. They then find their campsite, and after meeting a few friends and running into Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch, they set off for the Quidditch World Cup.
“What d’you think?” he asked anxiously. “We’re supposed to go incognito – do I look like a Muggle, Harry?”
(by salamandersoup)
“Ced’s talked about you, of course,” said Amos Diggory. “Told us all about playing against you last year…. I said to him, I said – Ced, that’ll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will…. You beat Harry Potter!
(by gerre)
He could feel Ron and Hermione on either side of him, their shoulders banging into his; they were all speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling color….
(by MartinTenbones)
A little further on they saw Cho Chang, a very pretty girl who played Seeker on the Ravenclaw team. She waved and smiled at Harry, who slopped quite a lot of water down his front as he waved back.
(by gerre)
“Muggle women wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these,” said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.
“I’m not putting them on,” said old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze ’round my privates, thanks.”
(by gerre)
Mr. Weasley was having no success at all in lighting the fire, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
(by Laura Freeman)
Mr. Weasley jumped to his feet, waving and grinning at a man who was striding toward them. “Aha!” he said. “The man of the moment! Ludo!”
(by glockgal)
Mr. Crouch had complied with the rule about Muggle dressing so thoroughly that he could have passed for a bank manager.
(by Laurence Peguy)
“Thank you for the tea, Weatherby.”
(by Laura Freeman)
about the chapter
Something You May Not Have Noticed
Harry walks by one tent that breaks the Anti-Muggle rules rather blatantly, “an extravagent confection of striped silk like a miniature palace.” I suspect I know who this one belongs to, because it also has peacocks tethered in the front yard. There’s one family Harry knows who loves showing off their wealth, and who we’ll also see in a few years keeping peacocks on their property. Lucky for Harry they didn’t stop by and see who was home.
The Wizarding World
Harry is reminded several times at the Quidditch World Cup that coming into the Wizarding world at age eleven is very different from having grown up in it; his basic assumptions (like the size of a tent’s interior) are always being called into question on things that Ron never thinks twice about. This is something that will come up over and over again throughout Harry’s life, as it’s clear even things like toys and fairy tales are completely foreign to him.
The Boy Who Lived
It’s lucky for Harry that he found the Weasleys. As he meets more and more wizards, he’s learning over and over again that most of the wizarding population sees his fame before they view him as a person. With the Weasleys though, things are different – when he first met Molly, her reaction on finding out he was Harry Potter wasn’t excitement over who he was, but sympathy when she realized why he was alone in King’s Cross Station. The times Harry spends with them seems to be virtually the only time he’s treated as just another friend (or family member, even), and though he can’t fully appreciate it yet, it’s an incredible gift that they’ve given him.
The Final Word
“[The Quidditch World Cup is] Ireland v. Bulgaria…. I just wanted countries that don’t normally do great stuff sports-wise. Although Ireland did pretty good in the soccer two World Cups ago [Italy 1990], but then, they are not the most sporting nation in the world, and nor are Bulgaria as far as I am aware.”–J.K. Rowling, October 1999
I didn’t even consider the striped tent with the peacocks to be the Malfoys! Excellent catch!!
Meredith said this on July 28, 2009 at 9:50 am
Me neither.
Hayley said this on July 31, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I always thought that the peacocks-tent belonged to Lockhart, but that idea got shot down when yu see him in the next book still in a hospital
kim said this on August 7, 2009 at 5:21 am
I absolutely ADORE this chapter. It has so many tidbits about the wider wizarding world that we had never known before! Like little wizards playing with toy broomsticks or their parents’ wands, or foreign wizards, or the hilariously incapacity of wizards to dress like muggles (to wit, one of the craziest and funniest little scenes with the wizard dressed in a long flowery dress!).
Lola said this on August 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I didn’t catch the tent with the peacocks either, really good point, it’s almost definately meant to be the Malfoys.
On meeting Harry for the first time, Mr Weasley was just pleased to meet the kid his son has spoken much of – he doesn’t even mention Harry’s fame. Mr and Mrs Weasley sure are admirable parents (and people too!).
Thereaux said this on August 23, 2009 at 4:37 pm
You don’t think that that tent might be a tad too flamboyant to be the Malfoys’? Wouldn’t they have an elegant black and silver tent or something? Although the peacocks do suggest it could be them…
Ben said this on August 27, 2009 at 11:19 am
Nice little irony this year, Bulgaria and Ireland are in the same FIFA pool. They’ve played to two ties.
JamesW said this on August 27, 2009 at 9:49 pm
My favorite thing in this chapter has to be the little kid prodding the slug with his dad’s wand. Whether it’s a wand or a power tool, little kids will always play with their dad’s things! That’s what I love about the series most I think. JKR manages to mix every day, mundane things, in with the fantastic world of magic in such a perfect way.
Lizzie said this on September 2, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Something to remember (though not highly important to the plot of the series): “[Percy']s been Apparating downstairs every morning since [he passed his test], just to prove he can.” says George. Keep this in mind when reading book 5. :-)
First the Weasleys say they don’t know how long the match might take, but then they only pay for their camp site for one night. I mean, they can always stay longer and pay afterwards, but it’s just a little something I noticed.
Something else to remember: Mr. Weasley tells Harry and Hermione a little bit about several Ministry members. Keep an eye out for which of those names come up again later in the series.
So Mr. Crouch speaks Mermish, Troll and Gobbledgegook. This had me wonder: Are those languages universal or are there for example American Mermish, Polish Mermish, Italian Mermish,…?
Kim said this on October 10, 2009 at 6:32 am
I absolutely adore JK’s descriptions of the wizarding world. I love that Harry is learning these things along with us.
I haven’t thought of the Malfoys either. Good point.
Paula said this on October 30, 2009 at 8:03 am
Kim: Now I’m stuck wondering about the finer points of Mermish dialect at 6am during an overnight shift… thanks… lol
But might it not be Atlantic Mermish, Pacific Mermish, Dead Sea Mermish, etc.?
Toby said this on November 27, 2009 at 4:55 am
Since that hilarious wizard talked about wanting a “healthy breeze…” I had the assumption they weren’t wearing much under their robes. Of course, that would have been hard to duplicate in the movies unless they wanted a “Basic Instinct” flair, but I wish they had gone less the route of full prep school uniforms and tried to keep it to some kind of black leggings underneath. Oh well.
Anna said this on January 30, 2010 at 9:44 pm
I didn’t even connect the peacocks in the yard to the peacocks at the Malfoy Manor. Nice catch
Adele said this on March 10, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Don’t forget this gem! Every time I come across those words describing Archie’s nightgown, I can’t help but think of this animation by Emmy Cicierega (of Potter Puppet Pals fame, no less!)
http://b1nd1.deviantart.com/art/Muggle-Pants-25254504?offset=540
Claire said this on July 2, 2010 at 12:51 am
I love the Mermish ideas!
Something that’s seemed odd to me here is the conversation between Arthur and Barty about flying carpets. If they’re banned because they’re muggle items, why aren’t flying brooms banned? I imagine this is just one of those things in the series that is the way it is because that’s how JKR writes it. But is there a logical explanation?
Laura said this on July 17, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Isn’t it peculiar that Barty Crouch can’t get “Weasley” correct when talking to Percy, but addresses Arthur by name? I would think, considering other peoples’ ability to immediately identify the Weasleys by hair color, that Crouch would at least know his surname.
Rory said this on August 6, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Laura, I’m am clutching at straws a bit here, but maybe because brooms for us muggles now-a-days are nothing like old school wooden brooms with twigs? Making them inherently magical as opposed to carpets which remain essentially the same… except for the flying part!
Kathryn said this on August 7, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Kathryn, I don’t think that’s clutching at straws at all. Flying brooms are specially made for the purpose by the magical community. Buying a broom at Wal-Mart and putting a flying charm on it would come under misuse of muggle artifacts (though Arthur Weasley would probably find it fascinating and try to sneak it home…).
Billie said this on August 28, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Does anyone else feel a tinge of sadness when they read Amos’ line about “you will be able to tell your grandchildren…” to Cedric?
Austen said this on October 3, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Austen-
Every single time. But that’s the point- foreshadowing at it’s best…
Sigh.
Adele said this on October 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Clare, I love that little animation and also think of it every time I read that passage. Now I have the remix version in my head and don’t mind a bit. :)
elizabethauthor said this on October 7, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I would think that such things as camping and “tailgating” would be beneath such VIPs as the Malfoys. The camps were set up because it took weeks to bring everybody in (and I assume a similar amount of time to return them) — so people with the worst tickets may have been there for a month.
The Malfoys, on the other hand, would have swept in at the last possible time as guests of the minister with no inconvenience to them. Just like taking hours to get into the Superbowl, unless you’re a politician or pop star du jour. My guess is there was a portkey in Fudge’s office to be used at his whim.
Dr. Triffid said this on January 22, 2011 at 6:03 pm
I really love the scene at the water line, expecially that Hermione is giggling so bad that she has to leave the line.
I have always wondered, do witches and wizards just hide away in the magical world and not see what muggles wear. It does seem odd sometimes that Aurher who works protecting muggles doesn’t pick up a few dress tips. He seems so facinated by them.
Erica4hope said this on February 15, 2011 at 11:30 pm
I know Arthur said that is was a pain to organize an event this big but I find it wierd that people with cheaper tickets have to come in two weeks in advance. If Percy is complaining at the thought of how full his “In Box” at work would be if the match lasted five days, imagine the people who were there for, at most, two weeks. At least the Quibbler is a monthly publication since Amos Diggery said the Lovegoods were there a week but what about everyone else?
Jeremy said this on April 16, 2011 at 9:09 am
One thing I just noticed is that the portkey does not turn blue before pulling them to the campsite. Did J.K. just not think of that part yet? Or just not write it in that time?
Jeremy, I bet most of the witches and wizards there could do some of their work at the campsite. Only one person really needs to stay at a time to hood their spot.
Ari said this on May 29, 2011 at 1:40 am
I like J.Ks detail to the wizarding world outside of Britain she mentions in theis chapter. for instance the Salem witch club or whatever it was called
zeus said this on June 10, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Ari, I always assumed the Portkeys only turned blue at the time that they’re turned into Portkeys. The boot was already a Portkey, so it wouldn’t flash blue. It was set to go at a predestined time, because it was a ministry-approved Portkey, unlike many Portkeys we will see in the future, that flash blue at their point of creation.
And Erica4Hope, Arthur actually does dress like a Muggle very well. I don’t think Harry’s “very good” was sarcastic at all. He’s wearing jeans and a golfing sweater. Not too strange at all, I would say. Especially compared to a kilt with a poncho!
About broomsticks, the ones that are made specifically for Quidditch, at least in the films, are clearly made for sport. They have a place to rest the feet/ankles during use, and the actual stick part tends to rise up a little bit higher than wear the twigs (would you call them twigs?) are. I know we try not to use the films as fact here, but I like the way they’ve done that. It makes them seem much more magical in nature, and less likely to be seen as just an enchanted Muggle artifact.
And speaking of foreshadowing, the introduction of Accio and Portkeys is very important to the plot of the story. Harry uses Accio to get him out of the graveyard, which conveniently he has to use a Portkey to do. Also, Amos clearly states that Cedric cannot apparate yet, showing that he is most likely, as others have guessed on, in his 6th year, but turns 17 early on in the school year, and exactly why he isn’t able to just easily leave the graveyard at the end. At this point he’s like Harry and friends (albeit with more magical knowledge, except for Fred and George maybe).
Casey said this on June 14, 2011 at 3:57 am
Oops, I meant “where”. How embarassing…
Casey said this on June 14, 2011 at 3:59 am
Another thing people may not have noticed (I didn’t until my current re-read of the series): Mr. Crouch is dressed impeccably as a Muggle, yes, but he’s dressed in a full suit, such that he could pass for a bank manager, while AT A CAMPGROUND. Can you imagine an actual Muggle dressing like that while camping out? We wouldn’t even have those kind of clothes with us on a camping trip. I suppose this points to one of Mr. Crouch’s major flaws, his tendency to adhere to rules to such an extent that he ends up completely out of touch with reality.
Reebus said this on July 26, 2011 at 11:02 pm
I love this chapter for all the details we are given about the wizard world, it’s so vivid and colourful. It also makes me wonder exactly what kind of clothes wizards do wear – it must differ a lot from ours judging by this chapter.
A little something I noticed is that the colours for the Quidditch are reveresed here – we’re used to see Harry and his friends with red flags during Quidditch, and the Slytherin’s with green. Here, it’s the other way around as Harry & co are cheering for Ireland (green), while Bulgaria’s colour is red. Bulgaria even has a lion on some of their souvenirs! I doubt this means anything, it’s just a nice little touch :)
Amanda said this on September 5, 2011 at 12:14 am