GOF Chapter 17: The Four Champions
Apr. 22nd, 2011 04:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oryx_leucoryx posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
deathtocapslockSo nobody cheers Harry. I'm guessing some students are wondering how it is that he managed to get chosen while they (or their friends) got kicked by the age-line. Others are convinced it's Dumbledore playing favorites again. And others are hoping he'll get seriously hurt (or worse) in the tasks. (What would have been the reactions if someone popular but underage got in? At least within that student's House?)
Dumbles isn't smiling - no, that did not go as planned, at all.
Looks like Ludo was the first among the organizers to recover. (I'm telling you, he was the real mastermind!)
Aha! The age restriction was a new thing - it was a function of Dumbly's age-line, not integral to the goblet itself. So in the past the goblet selected young students to compete? If all the goblet knows about a person is hir name and hir school, how does it know whom to choose anyway?
Did Severus join the staff in the room of his own accord, because the Potter boy managed to get himself into more danger he will need saving from, or at Dumbles' request?
Olympe and Igor are of course assuming Harry is the other Hogwarts champion. Well, Dumbles won't tell them he is actually the champion of the wizarding equivalent of St Brutus. Oh, so Igor has some promising underage candidates? Good to know. (Not that it matters.) Severus says the truth - Harry has been crossing lines since first year. And has been getting into unnecessary danger.
Dumbles looks directly into Harry's eyes as he questions him. Does anyone doubt he is using some level of Legilimency here? Of course, if Dumbles has a direct view to Harry's eyes this means Severus doesn't. So now Dumbles knows Harry did not enter his name or ask another to enter it for him. He also admits that the age-line in itself was useless. (OTOH Severus doesn't have hard evidence Harry did not cheat, or arrange for someone to cheat in his name, since he was not in position to perform Legilimency on Harry.)
Now that Voldie's plot has been set in motion, Imperiurised Crouch no longer looks bored, he looks spooky. I'm guessing he knows exactly what has happened but is helpless to do anything against it.
Now the school heads want to renege - how can they forget their prize students are bound by binding magical contract? Ah, it's 'Moody' reminding them of that. He is finally here. (What was he doing all this time? Checking his Polyjuice supply?)
Maybe someone's hoping Potter *is* going to die for this chance. Yes, you for instance, Barty. Though not so soon.
And here Barty gives the plot away - though nobody believes him - except Dumbles, who saw the parchment with Harry's name so he knows which school Harry was entered under. Note that while everyone else is talking about how Harry's name could have gotten into the goblet, 'Moody' was the only one who made the point that to make Harry's name come out, in addition, not instead, of Cedric's name, more magical intervention would have been required.
Yes, Barty, it is your job to think the way Dark wizards do, because you are one. (Whatever complaints I have about JKR's writing, the Barty/Moody identity was inspired.)
Twinkles has recovered - his plan is to go along, let Harry compete and do nothing to control the risk to him. Well, maybe the Harrycrux problem will be solved sooner than he expected! And since he is on record for having made a token effort to keep Harry out of the competition with the age-line he can manage any PR repercussions. (However, Sybil's 2 prophecies are entirely compatible with a scenario in which first Tom kills Harry and then goes on to become more terrible than before. Does he have a contingency plan for that?)
But seriously, now that Twinkly knows Harry did not get into the contest on purpose he knows this is some kind of set-up. Does he realize by whom? I think he knows it isn't some kind of student prank, because whoever did it knew to use a different school name and to enchant the goblet - and had the magical knowledge to pull it off. So who is on the list of suspects?
Ludo - was on trial as possible DE once, is overly happy with the surprising development.
Igor - certainly has the knowledge and the power. Yes, he is protesting and he did break with the DEs with his plea bargain. But he may be attempting to kill Harry as a way to buy his way back into the fold.
Crouch Sr - if Twinkly suspects he is under some kind of compulsion.
'Moody' - well, he was the only one who seemed aware that it was not enough to get Harry's name into the goblet in order to create that state of affairs. (So is Albus considering the possibility 'Moody' is someone else or under some kind of outside influence, but still letting him around students or has 'Moody''s behavior really been beyond suspicion so far?)
But really, even if we ignore the possibility of levitating the parchment into the goblet, Twinkles should be suspecting everyone over 17 in the castle, at least as the one who physically entered Harry's name. After all, only 2 years previously a possessed first year student managed to Petrify 4 students, a cat and a ghost. Why isn't Dumbles suspecting that some other artifact of Tom's might have a student or a staff-member under its power? Pretty much the only adults who are beyond suspicion (besides himself, of course!) are Filch and maybe Hagrid, because no compulsion can make them enchant the goblet to accept a fourth school when they lack the magic.
Crouch Sr looks ill. Not at all like someone who has his mind wiped with the 'just relax, just float, just go with the flow' feeling of the Imperius Curse. I agree with Elkins - it's a sign that he is fighting the compulsion - and losing.
The first task tests daring, courage in the face of the unknown. This is very important for wizards, which is why doing schoolwork isn't. If they study they might know stuff and there will be fewer unknown things for them to face. The champions aren't allowed to ask or receive help from their teachers. Nothing about receiving help from non-teachers (or teachers who aren't theirs) - whether students or adults. So guess whose help Harry will end up accepting? Also, the champions are exempt from end-of-the-year exams. OK, it so happened that the Hogwarts champion is a 6th year, so he doesn't need to take NEWTs this year. But it could have been a seventh year - what would s/he have done for qualifications? And what about the visiting champions? Because both Fleur and Viktor are in their last year of school.
Yes, Dumbles notices something is wrong with Crouch. But the latter's programming prevents him from staying around, where his condition might be recognized and taken care of. His excuse? Weatherby is over-enthusiastic. Hey, if Crouch stays away any longer Weatherby might start running the department!
Oh, Cedric doesn't believe Harry didn't enter the competition on purpose! Harry can't understand why anyone would believe he'd want to risk competition against much older and more experienced students. Just ask Severus Snape, Harry. Last year he caught you risking an encounter with a mass murderer and dementors for candy! Why would risking your life for glory and 1000 Galleons be out of character for you?
So who wants Harry dead? Nobody, right? Oh, there's Voldemort, but he's far away. (Why should that matter? What makes you think he'll stay far away or that he can't act by proxy? Don't you remember Quirrellmort and diary!Tom, Harry?) Interestingly Harry doesn't suspect Draco or Severus in wishing him dead. Looks like this version of Harry does have some sense of proportion.
The Gryffindors are celebrating. What do they care if Harry cheated (as they believe) as long as one of them is champion! House over everything else! Principles and morality are for Hufflepuffs!
Poor Harry! Even Ron doesn't believe him! (But when has Harry been supportive of Ron since their first train ride anyway?)
Dumbles isn't smiling - no, that did not go as planned, at all.
Looks like Ludo was the first among the organizers to recover. (I'm telling you, he was the real mastermind!)
Aha! The age restriction was a new thing - it was a function of Dumbly's age-line, not integral to the goblet itself. So in the past the goblet selected young students to compete? If all the goblet knows about a person is hir name and hir school, how does it know whom to choose anyway?
Did Severus join the staff in the room of his own accord, because the Potter boy managed to get himself into more danger he will need saving from, or at Dumbles' request?
Olympe and Igor are of course assuming Harry is the other Hogwarts champion. Well, Dumbles won't tell them he is actually the champion of the wizarding equivalent of St Brutus. Oh, so Igor has some promising underage candidates? Good to know. (Not that it matters.) Severus says the truth - Harry has been crossing lines since first year. And has been getting into unnecessary danger.
Dumbles looks directly into Harry's eyes as he questions him. Does anyone doubt he is using some level of Legilimency here? Of course, if Dumbles has a direct view to Harry's eyes this means Severus doesn't. So now Dumbles knows Harry did not enter his name or ask another to enter it for him. He also admits that the age-line in itself was useless. (OTOH Severus doesn't have hard evidence Harry did not cheat, or arrange for someone to cheat in his name, since he was not in position to perform Legilimency on Harry.)
Now that Voldie's plot has been set in motion, Imperiurised Crouch no longer looks bored, he looks spooky. I'm guessing he knows exactly what has happened but is helpless to do anything against it.
Now the school heads want to renege - how can they forget their prize students are bound by binding magical contract? Ah, it's 'Moody' reminding them of that. He is finally here. (What was he doing all this time? Checking his Polyjuice supply?)
Maybe someone's hoping Potter *is* going to die for this chance. Yes, you for instance, Barty. Though not so soon.
And here Barty gives the plot away - though nobody believes him - except Dumbles, who saw the parchment with Harry's name so he knows which school Harry was entered under. Note that while everyone else is talking about how Harry's name could have gotten into the goblet, 'Moody' was the only one who made the point that to make Harry's name come out, in addition, not instead, of Cedric's name, more magical intervention would have been required.
Yes, Barty, it is your job to think the way Dark wizards do, because you are one. (Whatever complaints I have about JKR's writing, the Barty/Moody identity was inspired.)
Twinkles has recovered - his plan is to go along, let Harry compete and do nothing to control the risk to him. Well, maybe the Harrycrux problem will be solved sooner than he expected! And since he is on record for having made a token effort to keep Harry out of the competition with the age-line he can manage any PR repercussions. (However, Sybil's 2 prophecies are entirely compatible with a scenario in which first Tom kills Harry and then goes on to become more terrible than before. Does he have a contingency plan for that?)
But seriously, now that Twinkly knows Harry did not get into the contest on purpose he knows this is some kind of set-up. Does he realize by whom? I think he knows it isn't some kind of student prank, because whoever did it knew to use a different school name and to enchant the goblet - and had the magical knowledge to pull it off. So who is on the list of suspects?
Ludo - was on trial as possible DE once, is overly happy with the surprising development.
Igor - certainly has the knowledge and the power. Yes, he is protesting and he did break with the DEs with his plea bargain. But he may be attempting to kill Harry as a way to buy his way back into the fold.
Crouch Sr - if Twinkly suspects he is under some kind of compulsion.
'Moody' - well, he was the only one who seemed aware that it was not enough to get Harry's name into the goblet in order to create that state of affairs. (So is Albus considering the possibility 'Moody' is someone else or under some kind of outside influence, but still letting him around students or has 'Moody''s behavior really been beyond suspicion so far?)
But really, even if we ignore the possibility of levitating the parchment into the goblet, Twinkles should be suspecting everyone over 17 in the castle, at least as the one who physically entered Harry's name. After all, only 2 years previously a possessed first year student managed to Petrify 4 students, a cat and a ghost. Why isn't Dumbles suspecting that some other artifact of Tom's might have a student or a staff-member under its power? Pretty much the only adults who are beyond suspicion (besides himself, of course!) are Filch and maybe Hagrid, because no compulsion can make them enchant the goblet to accept a fourth school when they lack the magic.
Crouch Sr looks ill. Not at all like someone who has his mind wiped with the 'just relax, just float, just go with the flow' feeling of the Imperius Curse. I agree with Elkins - it's a sign that he is fighting the compulsion - and losing.
The first task tests daring, courage in the face of the unknown. This is very important for wizards, which is why doing schoolwork isn't. If they study they might know stuff and there will be fewer unknown things for them to face. The champions aren't allowed to ask or receive help from their teachers. Nothing about receiving help from non-teachers (or teachers who aren't theirs) - whether students or adults. So guess whose help Harry will end up accepting? Also, the champions are exempt from end-of-the-year exams. OK, it so happened that the Hogwarts champion is a 6th year, so he doesn't need to take NEWTs this year. But it could have been a seventh year - what would s/he have done for qualifications? And what about the visiting champions? Because both Fleur and Viktor are in their last year of school.
Yes, Dumbles notices something is wrong with Crouch. But the latter's programming prevents him from staying around, where his condition might be recognized and taken care of. His excuse? Weatherby is over-enthusiastic. Hey, if Crouch stays away any longer Weatherby might start running the department!
Oh, Cedric doesn't believe Harry didn't enter the competition on purpose! Harry can't understand why anyone would believe he'd want to risk competition against much older and more experienced students. Just ask Severus Snape, Harry. Last year he caught you risking an encounter with a mass murderer and dementors for candy! Why would risking your life for glory and 1000 Galleons be out of character for you?
So who wants Harry dead? Nobody, right? Oh, there's Voldemort, but he's far away. (Why should that matter? What makes you think he'll stay far away or that he can't act by proxy? Don't you remember Quirrellmort and diary!Tom, Harry?) Interestingly Harry doesn't suspect Draco or Severus in wishing him dead. Looks like this version of Harry does have some sense of proportion.
The Gryffindors are celebrating. What do they care if Harry cheated (as they believe) as long as one of them is champion! House over everything else! Principles and morality are for Hufflepuffs!
Poor Harry! Even Ron doesn't believe him! (But when has Harry been supportive of Ron since their first train ride anyway?)
