pauraque_bk | GoF 13

If you showed up early for Chapter 12, you may want to have a look at later comments:

sistermagpie: This is the Hufflepuff book.

black_dog: If Dumbledore did sense something off about Moody, what would he do about it?

caesia390: Junior's acting skills, assisted by a little Dark Magic?

wolfie_thu: Musical chairs at the High Table.

GoF 13: Mad-Eye Moody

Squeezing the Bubotubers was disgusting, but oddly satisfying. As each swelling was popped, a large amount of thick yellowish green liquid burst forth, which smelled strongly of petrol. [...] 'An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, Bubotuber pus. Should stop students from resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples.' (172-173)

Dude. Dude!

I could say something here about expressing Harry's puberty through magical imagery rather than literally (CoS was chock full of that), but I think I'm too grossed out.

'And why would we want to raise [Blast-Ended Skrewts?] I mean, what do they do?' asked Malfoy. 'What is the point of them?' (174)

Hagrid has no idea, and neither do I. He doesn't know what they eat or anything else about them. They eventually serve as an obstacle in the maze, but if no one knows anything about them, how would they know they'd be suitable for that? No sense.

Hagrid simply loved monstrous creatures -- the more lethal, the better. (175)

And that, my friends, is why I like Snape/Hagrid.

[Trelawney:] 'I way saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth ... your dark hair ... your mean stature ... tragic losses so young in life ...I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in mid-winter?'

'No,' said Harry, 'I was born in July.' (177-178)

Trelawney might do better to familiarize herself with her students' birthdays if she's going to do this sort of thing. The fact that she doesn't weighs on the side of her being an unintentional fraud. If she were deliberately trying to fool people, she'd do a better job.

'It is Uranus, my dear,' said Professor Trelawney, peering down at the chart.

'Can I have a look at Uranus, too, Lavender?' said Ron. (178)

Heh. Won-Won and Lav-Lav. I wouldn't call this a hint at future shipping, but it is more amusing in light of HBP.

'Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!' said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet, and speaking very loudly so that everyone in the packed Entrance Hall could hear. 'Listen to this!' (179)

Here's another prime example of the Ron-Draco rivalry. Draco comes running in for the express purpose of humiliating Ron, and gets a huge kick out of it -- he's "crowing". They exchange insults for a while, until Harry comes to Ron's defense. When Harry turns his back, Draco supposedly pulls his wand (according to Crouch!Moody), though we don't actually see him do it.

Then:

'I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned,' growled Moody, as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. 'Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do...' (181)'Well, I know your father of old, boy ... you tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son ... you tell him that from me ... now, your Head of house'll be Snape, will it?'

'Yes,' said Malfoy resentfully.

'Another old friend,' growled Moody. (182)

Indeed! One of the fascinating things about Crouch!Moody is how infrequently he lies. Junior sure does know Lucius and Snape, from when they were all DEs together.

I also strongly agree with what

etrangere said in Chapter 12, that Junior has every reason to want to abuse Draco -- his father was a Death Eater who walked free. A "stinking, cowardly, scummy" thing to be, in Junior's eyes! I think he's enjoying himself here; appearing to be helping Harry is just a bonus.

'Don't talk to me,' Ron said quietly to Harry and Hermione, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table a few minutes later, surrounded by excited talk on all sides about what had just happened.

'Why not?' said Hermione in surprise.

'Because I want to fix that in my memory for ever,' said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face. 'Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret...'

Harry and Hermione both laughed, and Hermione began doling beef casserole onto each of their plates.

'He could have really hurt Malfoy, though,' she said. 'It was good, really, that Professor McGonagall stopped it--'

'Hermione!' said Ron furiously, his eyes snapping open again. 'You're ruining the best moment of my life!' (182-183)

Man, Ron is taking this really seriously. And as usual where Draco is concerned (in this part of the series), Harry doesn't particularly care!

It's perhaps significant that it's McGonagall who stops Crouch!Moody here, and not, say, Snape. McGonagall in her capacity as a voice of reason. She's right to stop him, and Hermione confirms it. Could be taken as a hint that something is amiss with Moody.

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