HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 16
Chapter 16
THE GOBLET OF FIRE
“I don’t believe it!” Ron says with a big smile on his face. They are walking back up the steps behind the visitors from Durmstrang. “Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum!” “For heaven’s sake, Ron,” Hermione says, “he’s only a Quidditch player.”
“Only a Quidditch player?” Ron says. He looks at her like she is crazy. “Hermione, he’s one of the best Seekers in the world!” Harry watches Ron and laughs. Ron cannot stop smiling. They enter the entrance hall and move toward the Great Hall.
Harry sees other students trying to look at Krum too. Lee Jordan jumps up and down to see over people’s heads. Some older girls look worried. “Oh no,” one of them says. “I don’t have a quill pen. How will I get his autograph?” “Really,” Hermione says, shaking her head.
“I’m getting his autograph if I can,” Ron says. He turns to Harry. “You don’t have a quill pen, do you?” “No,” Harry says. “It’s upstairs, in my bag.” They reach the Gryffindor table and sit down. Ron sits on the side that faces the door. He wants to keep watching Krum.
The Durmstrang students stand near the door. They are not sure where to sit. The Beauxbatons students sit at the Ravenclaw table. They look cold and unhappy. Some still have scarves around their heads. “It’s not that cold,” Hermione says. “Why didn’t they bring cloaks?”
Ron leans forward. “Over here! Come sit over here!” he whispers, as if Krum can hear him. “Hermione, move over, make some space.” Hermione looks at Ron. “Ron, what are you doing?” But it is too late. Krum and the Durmstrang students walk to the Slytherin table and sit there.
Ron’s smile dies. “Great,” he says. “Now Malfoy will try to be his best friend.” Harry looks over. Malfoy is already talking to him. Crabbe and Goyle look proud, like they won a prize. The Durmstrang students take off their heavy fur cloaks. Underneath, they wear blood-red robes. They look warmer than the Beauxbatons students.
Soon the teachers walk in and sit down. Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, and Professor Karkaroff arrive last. When Madame Maxime comes in, the Beauxbatons students stand up at once. Some Hogwarts students laugh, but the Beauxbatons students do not look embarrassed. They sit down only when Madame Maxime sits down. Dumbledore continues to stand. The Hall becomes quiet.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and especially our guests” Dumbledore says, smiling. “Welcome to Hogwarts. I hope your stay here will be comfortable and enjoyable.” A Beauxbatons girl gives a small, rude laugh. “No one is making you stay!” Hermione whispers, angry.
“The tournament will be opened at the end of the feast,” Dumbledore continues. “Now please eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!” He sits down. At once, the plates fill with food. There is more food than usual. There are many different dishes, including some Harry has never seen before.
Ron points at a strange soup. “What’s that?” “Bouillabaisse,” Hermione says. “Bless you,” Ron says. “It’s French,” Hermione says. “It’s very delicious.” “I’ll trust you,” Ron says. He takes something else instead.
The Hall feels different tonight. The new students’ uniforms stand out. People keep looking around, excited and curious. Then a voice speaks near them. “Excuse me… are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?”
Harry looks up. It is the Beauxbatons girl who laughed a mean laugh before. She is not wearing her scarf. She has long, silvery-blond hair and bright blue eyes. Her teeth are very white. She is beautiful. Ron turns red. He opens his mouth to speak, but only a strange sound comes out.
Harry pushes the dish toward her. “Here, you can have it.” “You have finished with it?” she asks. Ron finally speaks, very fast. “Yeah. Yeah, it was excellent.” The girl takes the dish and walks away. Ron keeps staring at her like he has never seen a girl before. Harry laughs.
Other boys stare too. Many people look at her as she walks across the Hall. Hermione points at the staff table. “Look. Someone just arrived.” Harry looks. Two men sit down at the table. One is Ludo Bagman. The other is Mr. Crouch. “What are they doing here?” Harry asks. “They are helping with the tournament,” Hermione says. “They probably want to see it start.”
