Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Chapter 3 Summary

Back at Privet Drive, Dudley is placed on a diet because of his extreme size. Harry, forced to eat the same diet food as Dudley all summer, asks his friends for help. Harry ends up gorging on hidden snacks that covertly arrive from his Hogwarts friends. Even Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts, sends some cookies. The most exciting snacks that Harry receives are large birthday cakes in honor of his special day. These (as well as the other copious snacks) Harry hides under the floorboards of his room so as not to be discovered by Dudley, who is now the size of a “killer whale.”

Unexpectedly, a letter arrives from Mr. Weasley, Ron’s father, inviting Harry to the Quidditch World Cup. Uncle Vernon, who hates everything magic, is about to refuse Harry the pleasure of attending, until Harry threatens to write his godfather, Sirius Black, about being mistreated. Ron and the other Weasleys send Harry a note (via their skittish new owl named “Pig”) saying that they would be coming to collect Harry for the Quidditch World Cup no matter if the “muggles” liked it or not. Harry sends a note in reply saying that he has permission from his aunt and uncle, and then follows it up with a note to Sirius about his painful scar. Meanwhile, Harry pulls up the floorboard in his room and eats a large chunk of birthday cake that has just arrived from his friends.