And after the excitement of the summer’s Quidditch World Cup and reappearance of the Dark Mark, it is time to go back to Hogwarts, and finally learn what this mysterious special event is that no one will tell them about.
Ready to find out? Here we go!
Podcasts:
Episode 9: “The Dark Arts … are you TRYING to be bad?” by Steve VanderArk
House Ghosts by Bridget Bartlett
Canon Thoughts: Goblet of Fire by Steve VanderArk
Reader’s Guides:
These guides were originally written in March of 2002. Since that time, a few edits were made here and there but basically the text remained the same. To get ready for this Canon Celebration, our editors have been revising each one. We’ve added fan artwork to the Guide which illustrates the text. At the bottom in the Commentary section we’ve added a gallery of additional artwork. So even if you’ve read our guides before, please give them another look. And if you’re doing a re-read of the first book, have the Guide to each chapter open as you go! I’m sure you’ll find a lot of information you didn’t know.
Calendars
Fitting the books into the real-life calendars isn’t easy! In fact, it’s impossible. But that didn’t stop us:
Day by day calendar of events in the book
Text Changes of the Editions and the Years
Differences between the British and American versions
Essays
Some Thoughts on House-Elves by Douglas Moran
Languages at Durmstrang by Eric Oppen
Improper Use of Magic Office: Not the only office for improper use of magic? by Ninclow
Teachers and Curriculum: Would You Want This For Your Child? by Steve VanderArk
Snape’s Eyes by Edmund M Kern
Interesting Artwork
We have hundreds and hundreds of pieces of fan artwork in our collection. Some subjects get a lot of depictions — Diagon Alley is a favorite topic, for example, and, well, of course it is! But there are a few pieces which illustrate more unusual moments in the text. Here are a few examples:
Amos Diggory’s head in appearing in the fireplace (GF11)
Draco Malfoy – the bouncing ferret (GF13)
Beauxbatons’ winged horses only drink single malt whisky (GF15)
Ron’s unhappiness with Harry’s success (GF17)
Professor Snape ignores a “Densaugeo” jinx on Hermione (GF18)
Artwork Challenge
We have tons of images of the Fleur Delacour, Dementors and Divination. Snape and Potions lessons are another very popular topic. Our Artwork Challenge for all you fan artists out there is to depict one of the lesser known scenes and characters in the series. If we really like your work, we may feature it in the Lexicon! Here are some suggestions from these chapters:
- Mad-Eye Moody jinxing dustbins…and Mr. Weasley investigating (GF11)
- the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione riding in Muggle taxis (GF11)
- “a number of Filibuster’s Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks went off unexpectedly when Fred‘s trunk sprang open, causing the driver carrying it to yell with fright and pain as Crookshanks clawed his way up the man’s leg.” (GF11)
- Peeves pelting students with water balloons and “wreaking havoc and mayhem” in the kitchens (GF12)
- A council of ghosts debating whether or not to allow Peeves at the Welcome Feast (GF12)
- Dennis Creevey and other members of the 1994 class (GF12, GF15)
- Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs
- Hermione and her activism with S.P.E.W. (GF14, GF15, GF16, GF19)
- Durmstrang students and their ship (GF15)
- Beauxbatons students and their flying carriage (GF15)
- the grounds and facilities of either of the foreign schools (or any of the others – Castelobruxo, Ilvermorny, Mahoutokoro, Uagadou (WSch)
- Madame Maxime and her Abraxan horses (GF15, GF18)
- Fred and George attempting (and failing) to fool the Age Line protecting the Goblet of Fire (GF16)
- the Weighing of the Wands ceremony (GF18)
Send your artwork to [email protected]. By submitting it, you are giving us permission to display your work on the Lexicon. We would like to include your name with your artwork so you are properly credited, so when you send your work let us know what name to use. Please also include a way to get a hold of you so that if we decide to feature your work as part of our regular collection we can contact you for more details. All artwork we display remains the property of the artist and they retain all copyright.
Special Feature: What kind of witch is the part-Veela Fleur?
“Yes,” he said quietly, “nine and a half inches … inflexible … rosewood … and containing … dear me …”
“An ‘air from ze ‘ead of a Veela,” said Fleur. “One of my grandmuzzer’s.” (GF18)
We first see Fleur Delacour properly with the rest of the Beauxbatons delegation when they are in the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast (GF15), although only learn her name when she becomes her school’s Triwizard Tournament champion.
The Beauxbatons students are under-dressed for October in Scotland (although it can be very cold in Europe that time of year as well). Fleur’s at that point undisclosed Veela ancestry affects Ron Weasley and other males right away – although not Harry.
“I’m telling you, that’s not a normal girl! ….They don’t make them like that at Hogwarts!” (GF16)
Initially she is unimpressed with Hogwarts – feeling the cold of the castle (GF16), critical of the choice of a “little boy” by Goblet of Fire (GF17), appearing “haughty and unruffled” in the corridors (GF19), complaining about the heaviness of the food (GF23) and dismissive of the Yule Ball decorations (GF23).
But, even from the beginning, there are little things that can be noticed about her:
All the Beaubatons students are trained to be polite. They rise to their feet when Headmistress Maxime enters the room and wait for her to sit down before seating themselves (GF16).- Fleur also asks very politely for the bouillabaisse from the Gryffindor table (GF16).
- She is a skillful witch who is able to manage the First Task with only a small mishap (GF20).
- The person she would most miss is her little sister Gabrielle (GF26).
- Her gratitude to Harry for saving her sister lasts for the rest of the book.
When Fleur returns to London in later books, she is not any less beautiful but it is also not surprising that she is a friendly, kind and loving part-Veela witch (OP4, HBP5, HBP16, HBP29, DH8).
From the Atlas: Durmstrang Institute
“Durmstrang Institute’s location is a well-kept secret, although thought likely to be in the far North of Europe – possibly either charmed to look like ruins or carrying a Muggle-repelling charm. It will also be unplottable so that other wizards will be unable to find it (GF11, GF23).”
Things we know about where Durmstrang Institute can be found:
It must be located somewhere cold as they have fur capes as part of their required school uniform (GF11).- The Durmstrang students were impressed by the Great Hall – the starry ceiling, the golden goblets and plates for the Welcoming Feast and the warmth of the room – compare that to the the Beauxbatons’ reaction…. (GF16)
- They are so secretive about their precise location in the “north of Europe” that visitors agree to have a Memory Modifying Charm performed to erase its whereabouts. In spite of having their memories erased, the visitors do report the school has extensive grounds with “stunning views” (WSch).
- The Durmstrang ship is docked on an adjacent lake (WSch).
Coming up next week…
We will see Harry be pitted against dangerous creatures of all shapes and sizes, from firebreathers and malicious reporters to double-agents and pure evil reborn. Will any of these take Harry down at last? Come with us and find out!
