Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Chapter 34 Summary

Chapter Thirty-Four

Priori Incantatem

 

Harry bravely duels with Voldemort even though Harry has lost most hope that he will ever survive this duel with the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever known. At one point, Harry hides behind a gravestone until he realizes that he does not want to die a coward.  Bravely, Harry stands back up to face Voldemort. Both Harry and Voldemort shout spells at the same time. When the two spells meet, something truly mysterious happens: a long strand of light connects the two wands. Both Harry and Voldemort are shocked at this turn of events, but Harry refuses to break this strange wand connection. Both Harry and Voldemort are levitated above the ground by the power of their wands (both still connected by the stream of light). Suddenly, a dome of light encompasses both wizards and Harry begins to hear the beautiful song of the phoenix. Harry is again filled with the hope he lost at the beginning of the duel.

Next, Voldemort’s wand emits something truly surprising: shadowy images of the people that Voldemort killed beginning with the most recent and ending with the least recent. The first ghostly image to float out of Voldemort’s wand is Cedric who tells Harry to “hold on” and to return his body to his parents. Next came the grounds keeper from the mansion at the beginning of the novel who also encourages Harry to fight. Then comes Bertha Jorkins who tells Harry not to let go. Then Harry’s parents both appear. Both of them whisper encouraging words to Harry (including a whisper of how to end the duel). Doting on his parents’ words, Harry finally breaks the wand connection and the ghosts surround Voldemort for a moment.  The ghosts impede Voldemort’s vision enough to allow Harry to run quickly to the Triwizard Cup that remains a portkey. Harry holds tightly to Cedric Diggory’s body as the two are transported through a howl of wind back to Hogwarts.