How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Most of the judges," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However ... Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points." (26.211)
Professor Karkaroff barely even pretends to be objective. He's also the judge who gave Harry a 4 out of 10 on the first task, which Harry completed nearly perfectly. What is the logic behind appointing Heads of schools that are represented in the Triwizard Tournament as the Tournament judges? Of course they're going to be biased towards their own students!
Quote #8
"Begging your pardon, miss," said the house-elf, bowing deeply again, "but house-elves has no right to be unhappy when there is work to be done and masters to be served."
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Hermione cried. "Listen to me, all of you! You've got just as much right as wizards to be unhappy! You've got the right to wages and holidays and proper clothes, you don't have to do everything you're told – look at Dobby!"
"Miss will please keep Dobby out of this," Dobby mumbled, looking scared. (28.36-8)
We've already said our piece about the ethics of Hermione's Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare earlier in this "Quotes and Thoughts" section. For this quote, we want to concentrate on how Hermione actually interacts with the house-elves she's trying to save. Why might Hermione be so unwilling to accept the words of the house-elves themselves? Why has she become so attached to this particular cause? And what do Hermione's efforts on behalf of S.P.E.W. show us about her character at this point in the novels?
Quote #9
The basin being circular, and the room he was observing square, Harry could not make out what was going on in the corners of it. He leaned even closer, tilting his head, trying to see ...
The tip of his nose touched the strange substance into which he was staring.
Dumbledore's office gave an almighty lurch – Harry was thrown forward and pitched headfirst into the substance inside the basin –. (30.24-6)
The Pensieve is an odd narrative device. It's a way for J.K. Rowling to give us direct flashbacks to events Harry can't possibly know, while still keeping the novel limited to Harry's point of view. That's why the Pensieve is a helpful narrative tool in Goblet of Fire. At the same time, we have to wonder if Professor Dumbledore had a motive in leaving Harry alone with the Pensieve. Yes, he claims that he just put it away quickly without being careful. But – Professor Dumbledore? Careless? That seems out of character. Could it be that Professor Dumbledore is intentionally leaving the Pensieve for Harry to find? If he is intentionally leaving the Pensieve to be seen, why might Dumbledore choose this indirect method of sharing information with Harry?