Harry Potter, #4
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Overview
On the eve of the second task, Harry still lacks a solution until Dobby delivers gillyweed. Harry grows gills, reaches the merpeople first, and rescues Ron and Fleur’s sister, Gabrielle, delaying his return to save others.
Judges reward Harry’s moral choice with 45 points, tying Cedric for first; Crouch is absent again, heightening mystery.
Summary
In Charms, Harry, Ron, and Hermione debate Snape, Moody, and Crouch while pretending to practice Banishing Charms. Harry writes Sirius about Crouch in Snape’s office, then obsessively researches how to breathe underwater for the second task, finding nothing. Hagrid encourages Harry during a unicorn lesson, but anxiety mounts as time runs out.
On the task’s morning, Dobby wakes Harry in the library and reveals the hostages include Ron. He gives Harry gillyweed, overheard from staffroom talk, and Harry sprints to the lake barely in time. After eating gillyweed, Harry grows gills and webbing, dives into the depths, and fends off grindylows. Moaning Myrtle directs him toward the merpeople’s village.
Harry finds four hostages—Ron, Hermione, Cho, and Gabrielle—bound to a stone statue. He frees Ron with a rock but is stopped from freeing others. Cedric arrives using a Bubble-Head Charm and takes Cho; Krum, partly transfigured into a shark, frees Hermione. With Fleur missing after grindylow attacks, Harry threatens the mermen with his wand, frees Gabrielle, and struggles to tow both her and Ron upward as the gillyweed wears off, barely breaking the surface in time.
Onshore, Fleur is distraught but grateful; Madam Pomfrey tends the rescued. Dumbledore confers with the merpeople and the judges. Bagman announces scores: Fleur 25, Krum 40, Cedric 47, and Harry 45 for moral fiber, despite exceeding the time limit. Harry ties Cedric for first overall. The third task is set for June 24, and Crouch’s continued absence—Percy judges in his place—remains ominous. Harry resolves to thank Dobby properly.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterStruggles to solve the egg clue; uses Dobby’s gillyweed to breathe underwater; rescues Ron and Gabrielle; earns points for moral fiber.
- DobbyWakes Harry, reveals the hostages, and provides gillyweed enabling Harry to complete the task.
- Ron WeasleyHarry’s hostage; rescued and later teases Harry for taking the songs’ threat literally.
- Hermione GrangerResearches tirelessly; later rescued by Krum; praises Harry’s success.
- Albus DumbledoreOversees the task; speaks Mermish; leads judges to reward Harry’s moral choice.
- Ludo BagmanEmcees the task and announces scores; pleased Harry arrived.
- Percy WeasleySits in for absent Mr. Crouch; flusters over Ron’s safety.
- Igor KarkaroffJudge displeased with Harry; claps hardest for Krum; resists full marks for Harry.
- undefinedJudge; restrains distraught Fleur after the task.
- Cedric DiggoryUses Bubble-Head Charm; frees Cho and returns first but over time.
- Viktor KrumPartially transfigures into a shark; frees Hermione and returns second.
- Fleur DelacourAttacked by grindylows; fails to retrieve Gabrielle; gratefully thanks and kisses Harry and Ron.
- Gabrielle DelacourFleur’s younger sister; Harry rescues her when Fleur cannot complete the task.
- Moaning MyrtleAppears underwater and points Harry toward the merpeople’s village.
- Merchieftainess MurcusLeads the merpeople; reports events to judges influencing Harry’s score.
- Madam PomfreyTreats the champions and hostages after the task.
- Rubeus HagridEncourages Harry during a unicorn lesson, boosting confidence before the task.
- Professor FlitwickRuns Banishing Charm lesson that masks the trio’s private discussion.
- undefinedFetch Ron and Hermione to McGonagall, prompting their absence during Harry’s late research.
- Madam PinceExpels Harry from the library at closing; later finds him there overnight.