Of the seven, a favorite for a huge number of fans is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is this volume that proves most amazing to revisit as no translation to film could hope to contain all the fantastic detail presented in these spanning 734 pages all leading to an uncelebrated rebirth and the Triwizard Tournament.

Here Harry’s reputation and name are plunged into darkness with no light in sight. After a murderous introduction, post portkey, we are taken to the fields of the Quidditch World Cup. The victory camaraderie is destroyed by a Death Eater assault branded by the dark mark itself which first brings Harry into question by the ever suspecting Barty Crouch, the man who sentenced his own son to Azkaban imprisonment.

Aside from smaller details such as with the fun Omnioculars, there are glaring omissions and many liberties taken regarding the film version of this installment. The importance of Winky a house-elf under the Crouch name comes to mind and Dobby (not Neville) being the one to give Potter the gillyweed prior to the second challenge of the tournament. As everyone has their “I can’t believe they left that out of the movie” moment, mine concerns the sphinx riddle within the maze of the final challenge:

“First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what’s always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of end?

And finally give me the sound often heard

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?” (pg. 629)

Nonetheless, this article isn’t meant to throw stones at the film version or drag involved parties through the mud; that later task is left to the despicable Rita Skeeter. Once Harry’s name bursts forth from the Goblet of Fire, this scamp of a reporter makes of mockery of our young Triwizard Champion and his companions. She is a constant perturbation not unlike a beetle (which is, incidentally, her unregistered form as an animagus and preferred form of eavesdropping). Yet even she can only speculate as to how this underage wizard’s name ended up inside of the goblet. The most obvious suspect appears with the introduction of the Hogwarts’ guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

Respected heads Madame Maxime and Igor Karkaroff arrive with students to participate as Triwizard Champions. Among those selected are Fleur Delacour of Beauxbaton, Viktor Krum of Durmstrang and Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts. The addition of the fourth champion, Harry, creates a more than hairy dilemma. He could die. Yet, someone always acts as guide for the lucky competitor, chief among which is new dark arts instructor, Alastor “Mad Eye” Moody who shamelessly introduces the student body to the unforgivable curses. It remains not only within this man’s best interest but Ludo Bagman’s as well for Harry to win.

Facing dragons, a sea of underwater life and unforgettable aftermath awaits our competitors. Little does the victorious know that deathly grounds follow as we are transported to a scene bearing witness to the return of the dark lord in the flesh, as predicted. Upon Voldemorts return Harry learns the vicious, summoned faces behind the masks of the Death Eaters which include none other than Lucious Malfoy. In a great clash of heroism and courage versus corruption and fear, the brotherly wands of the boy who lived and he who must not be named collide in a magical spectacle known as Priori Incantatem.

Returning victorious from the ends of the tournament are far from sweet. He has returned. Nothing will ever be the same in this world of fantasy for the young hero in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.