Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Chapter 30 Summary

Chapter Thirty

The Pensieve

 

As Harry enters Dumbledore’s office, Cornelius Fudge immediately greets Harry Potter a lot more amiably than one might expect. Fudge, Moody, and Dumbledore were about to leave on “an investigation of the grounds” of Hogwarts. Dumbledore asks Harry to wait in the office until they get back. Harry says hello to Dumbledore’s phoenix named Fawkes and then simply glances around the room seeing what he can see: the sorting hat, the portraits of the old professors, and the sword of Godric Gryffindor. However, what captures his attention most of all is a shallow stone basin filled with something that seemed neither liquid or gaseous. As Harry bends over to take a closer look, the contents of the basin begin swirling very fast, and Harry is pulled into the basin.

Suddenly, Harry is sitting right next to Dumbledore who neither sees nor hears Harry speak.  After Harry waves his hand frantically in front of Dumbledore’s face, Harry realizes that this is a memory he is seeing, so Harry sits back to watch a few different Trials of Magical Law.  Karkaroff is on trial for being a Death Eater and one of Voldemort’s followers. Karkaroff says that he wants to help the Ministry by naming names. Karkaroff does so, including the names of some directly inside the Ministry itself. Karkaroff also reveals that Snape was once a Death Eater, but Dumbledore insists that Snape turned spy for the Ministry. Karkaroff is returned to Azkaban for the moment while the memory that Harry is experiencing changes. Now Harry is experiencing yet another trial. Ludo Bagman stands on trial for being a Death Eater as well in that he has passed on information to Voldemort’s supporters. Bagman, at this point a quidditch player in his prime, claims that the information was passed on unknowingly. The crowd believes Bagman and claps for his most recent quidditch win. The memory changes yet again to the trial of four different wizards (one of whom is Crouch’s own son) who are accused of using the Cruciatus Curse on Neville Longbottom’s parents, driving them insane.  Suddenly, Harry hears Dumbledore speaking softly into Harry’s ear and is transported back to Dumbledroe’s current office.

Dumbledore explains to Harry that the stone basin is called a Pensieve. The swirling, silvery substance inside is actually a group of Dumbledore’s thoughts that he has removed for one reason or another. Suddenly, Harry remembers that he has really ventured into Dumbledore’s office in order to tell him about the dream Harry had in Divination. After Harry tells Dumbledore, Dumbldore admits that Harry’s scar hurts him when Voldemort is either near or thinking particularly hateful thoughts. The scar creates a vivid connection between Harry and Voldemort.  Before Harry leaves, he is brave enough to ask Dumbledore about why he thought Snape had stopped being a Death Eater. Dumbldore’s answer is quite perplexing: “That, Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself.” Then Dumbledore asks Harry not to speak about Neville’s parents to anyone before wishing Harry good luck on the third task.