Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Chapter 14 Summary

Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin classes the next day with a discussion about how Snape is probably jealous of Mad-Eye Moody because Snape has always wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. As class begins, Mad-Eye Moody (with his one magical eye rolling in his head) tells the class to put their books away because they won’t need them.  Then he shocks the class even more when he actually demonstrates the three Unforgiveable Curses on spiders for all of the students to see. Harry is the most disturbed by the effects of the Avada Kedavra curse because that is the particular spell that Voldemort used to kill his parents and is always accompanied by a “blinding flash of green light.”  All of the students leave class with great respect for their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Hermione has been spending a lot of her time in the library lately and finally tells her friends why: Hermione has started a new group with the initials S.P.E.W which stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. Hermione, of course, is incredibly bothered by the inhumane treatment of house elves and wants Ron and Harry to join her cause. Ron is  annoyed with Hermione. Harry is torn between exasperation at Hermione and Ron’s treatment of the subject. But then, Hedwig appears at the window with a letter for Harry. He has finally gotten his much coveted reply from Sirius! Sirius tells Harry that he is flying north right away in order to be near Harry. Sirius is disturbed with Harry's comment about his scar hurting.  Harry becomes upset that he told Sirius anything about his scar hurting because Harry wants Sirius to stay well hidden so he will not get sent back to Azkaban.