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asher553I'm halfway through the middle book in the Harry Potter series. The mood in Book 4, 'Goblet of Fire', is noticeably darker than in the preceding volumes. The opening scene takes place in an English town far from Hogwarts, and in the absence of any of the regular characters, a first for the series - and the scene ends with a death, also a first in 'Harry Potter'. In the chapters that follow, we see the ugly side of the magical world, with witches and wizards behaving maliciously (Chapter 4, 'The Dark Mark') and institutions relying on exploitation (which becomes the target of Ginny Weasley's personal crusade). In Chapter 14 we learn of 'the Unforgivable Curses', things far worse than the comparatively harmless magical pranks we've seen depicted in the story until now.
"There is bad wizards about!" declares Winky on p. 106, and she is telling the truth.
Also in this volume we meet the two oldest Weasley siblings - Bill and Charles - for the first time.
The story is taking us deeper into explorations of the uses and abuses of power. The unexpected (and unwanted) recognition for Harry - when he is chosen by the Goblet as the second Hogwarts champion - strains Harry's relationship with his formerly adulatory classmates, and even with his best friend, Ron Weasley. Harry, now fourteen years old, must come to grips with the social and moral burdens of power. [238]
"There is bad wizards about!" declares Winky on p. 106, and she is telling the truth.
Also in this volume we meet the two oldest Weasley siblings - Bill and Charles - for the first time.
The story is taking us deeper into explorations of the uses and abuses of power. The unexpected (and unwanted) recognition for Harry - when he is chosen by the Goblet as the second Hogwarts champion - strains Harry's relationship with his formerly adulatory classmates, and even with his best friend, Ron Weasley. Harry, now fourteen years old, must come to grips with the social and moral burdens of power. [238]
