Contents
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Overview
An urgent Floo call about Mad-Eye Moody sends Arthur Weasley to defuse a Ministry incident, hinting at Moody’s new role at Hogwarts. The students travel to school amid secrecy about an upcoming event. On the train, talk of rival schools and Malfoy’s taunts foreshadow a high-stakes competition. The chapter ends with a stormy arrival at Hogsmeade.
Summary
Morning at the Burrow turns chaotic when Amos Diggory’s head appears in the fire, reporting that Mad-Eye Moody caused a disturbance by attacking supposed intruders—likely a cat—with booby-trapped dustbins. Because of Moody’s reputation and a new job starting that day, Arthur Weasley hurries to the Ministry to mitigate charges.
Bill and Charlie discuss Moody’s past as a famed Auror and Dumbledore’s friend. With Ministry cars unavailable, Molly arranges Muggle taxis. Despite owl screeches, fireworks, and Crookshanks’s panic, the group reaches King’s Cross in heavy rain and passes through to platform nine and three-quarters. Bill and Charlie hint at an exciting year and changed rules, but refuse details.
Aboard the Hogwarts Express, Harry, Ron, and Hermione settle in. Overhearing Draco Malfoy brag about Durmstrang and deriding Dumbledore, they discuss concealed wizarding schools and Dark Arts curricula. Friends drop by; Hermione practices a Summoning Charm while Quidditch talk continues.
Malfoy barges in, mocks Ron’s lace-trimmed dress robes, and insinuates a prestigious, moneyed contest at Hogwarts, claiming insider Ministry knowledge. Ron, stung, shatters the compartment door before Hermione repairs it. His bad mood lingers as the train reaches Hogsmeade in a thunderous downpour, where the students transfer to horseless carriages bound for the castle.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterTravels to Hogwarts, observes secrecy about a coming event, deflects Malfoy’s taunts, arrives amid a storm.
- Ron WeasleyEmbarrassed by shabby dress robes, angered by Malfoy’s gibes about a competition; remains in a foul mood.
- Hermione GrangerShuts out Malfoy’s eavesdropping, explains Durmstrang and school concealment, practices a Summoning Charm, repairs the shattered door.
- Molly WeasleyManages departures via Muggle taxis, hints about an exciting year and changed rules at Hogwarts.
- Arthur WeasleyDashes to the Ministry to protect Mad-Eye Moody from charges after a booby-trap incident.
- Amos DiggoryFloo-calls with news of Moody’s dustbin incident, urging Arthur’s intervention.
- Mad-Eye MoodyOffstage; allegedly attacks a nighttime ‘intruder,’ causing Ministry trouble before starting a new job.
- Draco MalfoyMocks Ron’s robes, boasts of Durmstrang ties, and hints at a lucrative Hogwarts competition.
- Bill WeasleySees the students off and teases an interesting year at Hogwarts.
- Charlie WeasleyHints at classified Ministry plans involving Hogwarts; sees them off at the station.
- Fred WeasleyTrades jokes about Moody and the Ministry; sets off fireworks accidentally during travel.
- George WeasleyJokes about Moody and Percy; part of the chaotic departure.
- Neville LongbottomVisits their compartment, envies World Cup stories and Ron’s Krum figure.
- Seamus FinniganDrops by wearing a fading Ireland rosette; chats Quidditch.
- Dean ThomasStops in for Quidditch talk; present when Malfoy intrudes.
- Rubeus HagridGreets students at Hogsmeade station in the storm, promises to see them at the feast.
- Vincent CrabbeAccompanies Malfoy, laughs at Ron’s dress robes.
- Gregory GoyleStands with Malfoy, joins in mocking Ron.