GF9: The Dark Mark – Harry Potter Lexicon

"I bet they'd be even more frightened than the rest of us to see him come back."
-- Bill Weasley

Harry dreams about Quidditch, some wizards run amok, Ministry wizards attempt to stop them, and Harry, Ron and Hermione hide in the forest, encountering Draco Malfoy along the way. Harry discovers that he has lost his wand. they meet Ludo Bagman, hear noises in the forest, and see the Dark Mark. Ministry wizards arrive and shoot Stunning Spells in every direction, hitting Winky the house-elf, whom they blame for conjuring the Dark Mark (though they soon realize that this is unlikely).

Calendar and Dates

This chapter takes place on the same evening as the previous chapter, a Monday in late August 1994, after the Quidditch World Cup final match finished, and one week before the first day of term at Hogwarts.

Interesting facts and notes

This chapter features the first appearance of the Dark Mark and of the Priori Incantatem spell effect.

"Où est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue -"

The girl is asking in French, "Where is Madame Maxime? We lost her -".

Since Hermione has read a book (no surprise there) about Magical Education in Europe, she deduces that they are students from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic attending the Quidditch World Cup.

Winky...was moving in a most peculiar fashion, apparently with great difficulty; it was as though someone invisible was trying to hold her back.

...which of course they were. J K Rowling tells us exactly what is going on here - Barty Crouch Jr, hidden by an Invisibility Cloak, is holding Winky back and restricting her movement - but disguises it as a simile.

"...he's got her bewitched so she can't even run when they start trampling tents!"

Hermione then provides an incorrect explanation for Winky's odd behaviour which tallies with what the reader has been shown of house-elf magic earlier on in the series - with Dobby hurting himself when sharing information he shouldn't about the Malfoys. Thus, J K Rowling's hint as to what is really going on is totally hidden in plain sight.

Winky's distress at being questioned by Amos Diggory, who works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures - and being threatened with clothes for her disobedience by her master Barty Crouch Sr - is quite real.

Exceptional character moments

Fred and George Weasley being sure that they won't let their mother know they won money betting on the match - and their father wisely not asking what they will spend it on.

The cruelty of the Death Eaters laughing at Mrs Roberts' knickers showing when they turn her upside-down.

Mr Diggory's aggressive questioning of Winky the house-elf, who is found with a wand where the Dark Mark was cast.

Barty Crouch Senior, sacking Winky - and Winky's distress at being told she will be given clothes (and have to leave the Crouch family).

Memorable lines

"Don't worry, Dad," said Fred gleefully, "we've got big plans for this money, we don't want it confiscated."
Mr. Weasley looked for a moment as though he was going to ask what these big plans were, but seemed to decide, upon reflection, that he didn't want to know.

"Granger, they're after Muggles," said Malfoy. "D’you want to be showing off your knickers in mid-air? Because if you do, hang around … they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."

....Ron’s face had gone oddly slack, and next second Ron was yelling, "Did I tell you I’ve invented a broomstick that’ll reach Jupiter?"
"Honestly!" said Hermione again, and she and Harry grabbed Ron firmly by the arms, wheeled him around and marched him away.

"Oh, stood over there, did they?" said Mr Crouch, turning his popping eyes on Hermione now, disbelief etched all over his face. "Said an incantation, did they? You seem very well informed about how that Mark is summoned, missy –"