Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the latest and longest offering from the ubiquitous JK Rowling. In fact it is such a colossal read in comparison to the others that I really don’t know where to start. While I’m composing myself, I think I shall let me niece Drucilla take over .. She actually goes to Hogwart’s herself.

ANOTHER WORD FROM GRYFFINDOR…

Yeah, yeah Harry Potter, my Aunt is always asking me about him. I don’t have long; the Hogwart’s Express is leaving in an hour and my owl Hecate is refusing to get in her cage. If I’m late I’ll have to sit by first years again and I hate that cos they always ask me about Harry because he has survived the You Know Who thing.

What do you want to know then? Yes he does have a scar. Yes he is really clever, but apart from that he’s like any other boy my age, annoying and stuff.

I’m in fourth year with Harry. I’m in his potions class. He always helps me when I mess up, so he is nice enough. He hates Professor Snape as much as I do. He hangs around with the likes of Ron Weasley, who is far too loud for his own good at times. I mean he’s just so immature. Yeah and the class swot Hermione Granger bothers with them too. She’s always arguing with Ron. She makes his ears go almost as red as his hair. It’s obvious they like each other.

Boys just don’t get it do they? For someone so clever Harry can be awfully stupid. The three of them spent a lot of time hanging around the girl’s toilets one year. I dunno why cos they smell, they’re flooded and they have the most miserable ghost you’ve ever met in your life, Myrtle. What do you mean you’ve never met a ghost?

Anyway she always complains and always asks me how Harry is. I dunno why because it’s not like we ‘re mates or anything. We just chat from time to time. I don’t think he can be bothered
with girls anyway. He’s really good at Quidditch and plays Seeker for Gryffindor. I heard a rumour that there aren’t going to be any matches this year. There must be something really big happening. Anyway I really must dash; otherwise I’m bound to forget to pack something.

THE BASIC PLOT.

Yet again we find Harry in the familiar hell of the Dursley household. Uncle Vernon is still puce, Aunt Petunia, still rather equine with Dudley as rotund and repellent as usual. Harry is once again offered some respite in the shape of the jolly Weasley clan. But something far more exciting is in the offing. Thanks to his connections at the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Weasley has managed to acquire some much-coveted tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. (The irony in this is that as I was reading the Quidditch match sections England were thrashing Germany).

Harry should by rights be buzzing with excitement over this trip, but he has bigger things on his mind. The scar that he got thanks to a brush with You Know Who is starting to hurt and he is plagued by nightmares… can the two be connected? Events at the Quidditch World Cup turn rather sinister, as it seems that the Death eaters and their master.. The evil wizard in question seem to be active.

There is also a change of scenery as Hogwart’s scraps the Quidditch season for the challenge of the Goblet of Fire. The school plays host to two other magical schools who both have contenders in this competition of life and death but as ever things do not run smoothly.

On a personal note Hermione finds herself an unlikely admirer and Harry realizes that girls do have certain charms, which is a good job too as I was getting rather concerned over his apathy. Hermione and Ron continue to argue and have all the will they won’t they tease of early Rachel Green and Ross Gellar a.k.a. the sitcom 'Friends'

CHARACTERS

The delightful Sirius Black re
turns amid all the usual suspects such as the charming Professor Dumbledore et al.

However, this book also introduces us to Lord Voldemont on a completely different level. For some reason I kept imagining him to be the long lost brother of The Simpsons’ character Mr. CM Burns himself.

We are also given the pleasure of meeting diverse characters from the Ministry of Magic, like the jovial and bumbling Ludo Bagman. There is also a new member of staff in the form of Mad Eye Moody, a character with a sting in his tail.

The fantastic Professor Snape continues to be as growing as abundant as fungi in a very dark place. He still remains the character which inspires the majority of my personal interest.

The storyline of the Triwizard Tournament allows us to peek at other magical schools, with the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang staff and pupils providing yet more colour to the world of Harry Potter.

There is also a rather annoying but amusing character in the form of journalist Rita Skeeter.

Rowling also provides more of the loveable Reubus Hagid and the despicable little bugbear that is Draco Malfoy.

Harry , however once again remains an international boy of mystery.

While Rowling provides further comic touches through Fred and George Weasley the two twin tinkers who enjoy the odd jape and who have become a steadfast Laurel and Hardy scenario throughout the series of books.

CONCLUSION

This is a great addition to the growing body of Harry Potter literature, but I found it far harder to read than the previous books.

The language is harder, well at least I thought so but then again that’s just me.

The plot makes sense once you reach the end, but I do feel that Rowling tries to over complicate matters.

I did enjoy it, but I am really wondering what the next story can be. Will we tire of Harry? Probably if she tries to follow the same pattern of the f
irst four books.

Afterall Harry is now a teenager and we all know how changeable they can be! Am I the only person to want Harry to put a foot wrong just once because he’s in danger of becoming Gary Barlow of children’s literature?

ps If any of the usual suspects are reading this and wondering where I am please read my updated feeling everything and nothing op. No it isn't a shameless plug ... but remember I will be back in action very soon