Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Three:
The Yule Ball

Synopsis by William Silvester
Notes and links by Michele L. Worley

U.S. hardcover edition: pages 403 - 432
U.K. hardcover edition: pages 351 - 376
U.K. paperback edition: pages 440 - 472
Timeframe: xx December - 25 December, 1994 [Y14]

In which an owl arrives from Sirius, Dobby startles Harry on Christmas morning, presents are opened, the boys have a snow ball fight, and all prepare for the Yule Ball. Emotions run high as Ron is angry with Hermione for consorting with Krum, and Harry and Ron overhear secrets of Snape and Hagrid.

Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:

The main event of this chapter, as indicated by the title, is the Yule Ball itself. During the ball, Harry learns things about several of his close friends, including Hagrid, Hermione, and Ron.

"Who're you going with?"

"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer.
Ron didn't answer. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby.

He climbed into the common room, and found Ron and Hermione having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they were bellowing at each other, each scarlet in the face.

Characters introduced in this chapter:

• Patil, Padma (technically not her first appearance, since she was sorted at the same time Harry was, but the first time we've really seen her)

Characters returning in this chapter:

• Bagman, Ludo

• Chang, Cho

• Crabbe, Vincent

• Crouch, Bartemius (junior) (as Moody, Alastor "Mad-Eye")

• Davies, Roger

• Delacour, Fleur

• Diggory, Cedric

• Dobby

• Dumbledore, Albus

• Fat Lady, the

• Fawcett (female)

• Finnigan, Seamus

• Goyle, Gregory

• Granger, Hermione

• Hagrid, Rubeus

• Karkaroff, Igor

• Malfoy, Draco

• Maxime, Olympe

• Parkinson, Pansy

• Patil, Parvati

• Pigwidgeon

• Potter, Harry

• Sinistra, Professor

• Snape, Severus

• Stebbins (male)

• Thomas, Dean

• Weasley, Fred

• Weasley, George

• Weasley, Ginny

• Weasley, Percy

• Weasley, Ron

• Weird Sisters, the

• (surname unknown) Violet (as Vi)

• (name unknown) two Beauxbatons boys who chatted up the Patil twins

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

• Bashir, Ali

• Boris the Bewildered

• Crouch, Bartemius

• Dursley, Dudley

• Dursley, Vernon

• Fridwulfa (Hagrid's mother)

• Granger, Dr. and Dr.

• Hagrid, Mr. (Hagrid's father)

• Pomfrey, Madam

• Skeeter, Rita

• (name unknown) Head of the Transylvanian Department of International Magical Cooperation

• (names unknown) Madame Maxime's parents

Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:

• Entrance Hall

• Great Hall

• Gryffindor Tower

Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:

• Beauxbatons, Palace of

• Durmstrang Institute

• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  • library

  • prefects' bathroom

• Transylvania

• Zonko's joke shop

Exceptional character moments:

• Snape, who (after his upsetting conversation with Karkaroff about the Dark Mark) blasts rosebushes to let off steam and takes House points off any trysting couples he happens to catch.

• Madame Maxime, who denies her giant ancestry and rejects Hagrid's overture during the ball.

• Hagrid, who openly admits his half-giant status to Madame Maxime in his pleasure at finding someone he hopes to be able to relate to.

• Viktor Krum, who can be quite pleasant if he comes out of his shell long enough to dispel the impression of being surly.

• Cedric, who repays Harry's kindness in telling him about the dragons by giving Harry a hint regarding the golden egg.

Spells:

• Conjunctivitis Curse (mentioned)

• Engorgement Charm (mentioned)

• Severing Charm

• Summoning Charm (mentioned)

• (spell unknown) spell used by Snape to blast rosebushes out of his way

Links and Resources:

• Bestiary, the

  • dragons

  • giants

  • house-elves

  • poltergeists

  • wood nymphs

• candy (Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Droobles Best-Blowing Gum, Fizzing Whizzbees)

• clothing (dress robes)

• essays

  • D'You Really Think They're Suited?: Why Hermione Is Not the Right Girl for Harry

  • Hermione's Love for Ickle Ronniekins

  • Partners and Friends: The Evolving Relationship Between Harry and Hermione

  • Prejudice: A Great Theme of the Books

• House Points - GF

• International Ban on Duelling

• items and devices, magical

  • books

    • Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland

  • carpet, flying

  • Cribbages Wizarding Crackers

  • Dungbomb

  • penknife

  • pictures with moving subjects

  • Sneakoscope, pocket

  • Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes (Canary Creams, Ton-Tongue Toffee)

• passwords

Memorable lines:

• none yet

Strictly British:

• cracker

• crisp

• fairy lights

• holiday

• jumper

• mince pie

• knobbly

• prefect

• pudding

• sweet

• tea

• tea-cosy

• toffee

Timelines/Calendar: