My Favorite Moments - Book 4

The 4th book was really difficult to narrow down to just a few moments. Can I say the whole book is my favorite moment? 

No?

Ok then, here are four of my faves.

When Ron quips about Uranus. 

"'Oh Professor, look! I think I've got an unasapected planet! Oooh, which one's that, Professor?'
'It is Uranus, my dear,' said Professor Trelawney, peering at the chart.
'Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavendar?' said Ron.
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 13, page 201

Hahahahaha!!


When the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive at Hogwarts.

"And then Dumbledore called out from the back row where he stood with the other teachers --'Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegations from Beauxbatons approaches!'...

Something large, much larger than a broomstick -- or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks -- was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time...

As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forrest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant."

"'The lake!' yelled Lee Jordan, pointing down at it. 'Look at the lake!'

From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water -- except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the center; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks -- and then, out of the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor...
Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank."
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15, pages 242, 246

This part is so exciting to me! It shows that there is a whole world of magic out there beyond the UK. What are wizarding schools like in Asia? Or America? Is there an equivalent of Gringotts in South America, and is it run by goblins too? My imagination runs wild!

Snape's assignment.

"'Severus,' said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, 'you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready...if you are prepared...'
'I am,' said Snape. 
He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely.
'Then good luck,' said Dumbledore, and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as Snape swept wordlessly after Sirius."
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36, page 713

Voldemort has just come back earlier that evening, and following Fudge's absolute refusal to accept the facts, Dumbledore has started giving orders left and right. This is his last assignment, and it's so mysterious! What does Snape have to do? Why does he seem so afraid? What does this all mean for the future? 
When I first read this 13 years ago (wow! 13 years?!?), Carrie and I had many a discussion about this moment, and what we thought it meant.

When Molly hugs Harry.

"'It wasn't your fault, Harry,' Mrs. Weasley whispered.
'I told him to take the cup with me,' said Harry.
Now the burning feeling was in his throat too. He wished Ron would look away.
Mrs. Weasley set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around Harry. He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother. The full weight of everything he had seen that night seemed to fall in upon him as Mrs. Weasley held him to her."
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36, page 714

Throughout the series, I think it's easy to forget that Harry is just a boy. He is only 14 at this point in the story, and is afraid and confused and traumatized. And Molly Weasley, bless her soul, is one of the only ones remembering that he's just a kid. Just a kid with no family to turn to. 

I love Molly for loving Harry like a son. I like to imagine that somewhere, Lily Potter is grateful that Harry has a mother to hug him when he needs it most.

Book 5 coming soon!