Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Chapter 17 Summary

Chapter Seventeen

The Four Champions

 

Harry stands there speechless as his name is revealed.  He feels all of the eyes of Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons staring at him. Harry tries to insist that he did not put his name in the goblet, but no one seems to believe him. Terrified, he walks to the back room with the other school champions. The other three champions are just as surprised as Harry at his appearance. They insist that there must be some kind of mistake in the matter. There is great controversy about Harry’s appearance from the goblet. Not only is Harry underage, but he is also suspected as possible cheating method. Dumbledore calmly asks Harry if he put his name in the goblet. Harry insists that he did not. Dumbledore, again, calmly asks Harry if he asked another student to put his name in. Again, Harry insists that he did not. Still, Harry is not allowed to exit the Triwizard Tournament because of the official rules. Mad-Eye Moody offers an interesting idea: that someone placed Harry’s name in the goblet as an attempt to kill him, for everyone knows the dangers of the tasks within the tournament. In fact, the champions are told that the very first task was designed to test their courage. They are not allowed to ask for help from any teacher and are not allowed anything at the task but a wand.

Harry is beside himself and, therefore, feels a bit of relief when he is finally allowed to return to the Griffindor Common Room to join his friends. However, he arrives to a less than amiable reception. Although many Griffindor students are stunningly impressed (such as Fred and George Weasley), Ron surprisingly refuses to believe Harry about his ignorance of entering the contest. Ron suspects that, somehow, Harry put his name in the Goblet of Fire and simply did not tell him. Harry is absolutely appalled that Ron would think something so heinous about his best friend. They argue a long while and go to bed still angry with one another. Harry is especially feels betrayed by the one friend who Harry thought would believe his true story.