The Yule Ball

Interesting facts and notes

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?"

Well, let's try to answer that question.

It is interesting that we have no idea with whom George Weasley has gone to the Yule Ball - perhaps it may have been fellow Gryffindor Quidditch team member Alicia Spinnet, who had been standing next to Angelina when Fred asked?

"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.

Hermione, looking beautiful, is dancing with Viktor Krum and Ron is not happy about it. He should have asked her earlier. This will only end in tears.

Madame Maxime and Hagrid were cutting a wide path around the dance floor as they waltzed through the students and Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen.

The two of them together will cut a very wide path indeed. However, Madame Maxime will only say that she has "big bones" when Hagrid confesses his half-giant heritage to her.

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months, I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it –"

What Karkaroff is talking about is the Dark Mark - Voldemort's symbol. On the arm of a Death Eater it will call their master or call them to him. Snape and Karkaroff agree that it is becoming stronger - a worrying development.

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.

Inevitable that it would come to this.... Before the First Task, Ron kept his resentment against Harry going for quite a long time. He now goes overboard and accuses Hermione of helping Viktor Krum to solve the golden egg puzzle for the Second Task.

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.

Memorable lines

"Socks are Dobby's favourite, favourite clothes, sir! ....I has seven now, sir … but, sir … ....they has made a mistake in the shop, Harry Potter, they is giving you two the same!"

"I still can’t work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year," muttered Dean.
"Animal magnetism," said Ron gloomily, pulling stray threads out of his cuffs.

"Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamberpots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon – or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."

Hermione was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling her "Hermy-own".
"Her – my – oh – nee," she said, slowly and clearly.
"Herm – own – ninny."
"Close enough," she said, catching Harry’s eye and grinning.

"Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"

Words and phrases

• Cracker
• Crisp
• Fairy Lights
• Father Christmas
• Holidays
• Jumper
• Mince Pie
• Knobbly
• Prefects
• Pudding
• Sweets
• Tea Cosy
• Toffees

Characters Introduced

• Boris the Bewildered
• Miss S. Fawcett
• Stebbins