I'll take Hagrid's word that the house-elves don't want to be free and that payment is an insult. I trust his knowledge in this area. Of course that does not mean that Hermione is altogether wrong -- there is a difference between serving willingly and being BOUND to serve. There should be a possibility of escape for those who do not want to. I assume the binding has developed because a wizard would want to know that his "servants" could not betray his secrets to other wizards, and so that would be a precondition for them being allowed to serve. That would explain why they entered into it (I don't expect they would have been forced into it originally, considering the power of their own magic).
I don't know if you should, actually. Hagrid's an expert on magical creatures, but then that makes him more inclined to look at things the way everybody's always looked at them. We are naturally inclined to take Hagrid's word on all matters related to magical creatures, but should we really? Of course, the house-elves themselves will make clear that they think the same way later on, excepting Dobby, so you could say that proves Hagrid right, but then it's not unheard of in human history either that oppressed classes are wary of attempts to change things, or even feel insulted.
No idea how the binding thing originated, I don't think we get enough information anywhere to really speculate about it...
I really like that Hufflepuff, which is so often portrayed as "the rest", the unremarkable and nice, have the Hogwarts Champion. It validates them as a house. They are always in the shadow, and suddenly they have produced the best of the year (or, part of two years, I suppose). I really like that.
Agreed. And it's rather mean on Rowling's part to sabotage that by having Harry butt in yet again.

I wonder how long it will take us to get the first nudgenudgewinkwink comments about the wand-weighing.
That's just you.

The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
- 4130 Views
Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
- 1855 Views
Early characters
16/08/2010 09:32:12 AM
- 1913 Views
Re: Early characters
16/08/2010 11:02:23 AM
- 2224 Views
Early plotting.
16/08/2010 09:32:52 AM
- 1917 Views
Re: Early plotting.
16/08/2010 11:02:09 AM
- 2021 Views
It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 11:38:14 AM
- 2021 Views
Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 11:47:16 AM
- 2023 Views
Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 12:16:16 PM
- 2249 Views
Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 12:36:30 PM
- 1919 Views
Re: Early plotting.
17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
- 1894 Views
Any other comments/observations
16/08/2010 09:33:34 AM
- 1828 Views
Mob mentality and British euroscepticism.
16/08/2010 10:37:10 AM
- 2130 Views
people in groups and baffling violence. And the godawful recaps
16/08/2010 11:03:09 AM
- 1964 Views
Yeah, I agree about the recaps, they're pointless at this point. *NM*
16/08/2010 11:17:37 AM
- 1101 Views
Good news! HP really caught on after this book and so the last books don't have a recap! *NM*
16/08/2010 03:27:24 PM
- 1064 Views
Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
- 1907 Views
Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
- 1946 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
- 2008 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
- 1976 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
- 1957 Views
Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
17/08/2010 12:44:19 PM
- 2083 Views
Re: Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
17/08/2010 12:47:29 PM
- 2042 Views
Oh, I can think of a few more things that will prove relevant. But that's for tomorrow.
*NM*
17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
- 1069 Views

And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
- 1900 Views
Plotting - anything of note?
17/08/2010 08:23:53 AM
- 2112 Views
Re: Plotting - anything of note?
17/08/2010 11:10:22 AM
- 1984 Views
The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
17/08/2010 12:29:50 PM
- 2023 Views
Re: The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
17/08/2010 12:38:09 PM
- 1902 Views
I thought that might be it. Yeah, different names in the Dutch translation then. *NM*
17/08/2010 12:40:45 PM
- 1012 Views
Any other comments/observations.
17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
- 1982 Views
Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
- 1825 Views
Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
- 1923 Views
Plotting
18/08/2010 12:44:48 AM
- 1947 Views
Other stuff.
18/08/2010 12:45:13 AM
- 1888 Views
Krum Catching the Snitch
18/08/2010 02:28:58 AM
- 2002 Views
It makes a certain amount of sense, I think...
18/08/2010 01:23:46 PM
- 1906 Views
Clothes and other schools
18/08/2010 09:44:02 AM
- 1884 Views
There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
18/08/2010 01:37:14 PM
- 1924 Views
Re: There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
18/08/2010 01:45:58 PM
- 1864 Views
Chapters 10-12: Back to Hogwarts and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. *NM*
16/08/2010 09:34:48 AM
- 996 Views
Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. *NM*
19/08/2010 11:21:29 AM
- 1034 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
- 1926 Views
Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
- 1023 Views
There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
- 2029 Views
Re: There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
19/08/2010 05:41:04 PM
- 1984 Views
Chapters 13-15: First lessons, and the arrival of the foreign guests *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:09 AM
- 978 Views
Characters: The Trio, Neville, Moody, first impressions of Karkarov and Maxime *NM*
20/08/2010 11:49:04 AM
- 998 Views
Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
- 2005 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
- 2108 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
- 2078 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
- 1889 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
- 1866 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
- 1006 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
- 1888 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
- 2046 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
- 2133 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
- 900 Views
Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
- 1880 Views
Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
- 1926 Views
Chapters 16-18: The Tri-Wizard Tournament begins *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:31 AM
- 1031 Views
Characters: The Champions, Hagrid, Karkarov, and of course Rita Skeeter in person *NM*
21/08/2010 01:10:53 PM
- 1017 Views
Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
- 1923 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
- 1908 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
- 1881 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 2166 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
- 1912 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
- 2108 Views
Re: Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:41:44 PM
- 1961 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
- 1859 Views

Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
- 2051 Views

Definitely true
23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
- 2116 Views
Re: Definitely true
24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
- 2168 Views
Plotting and writing.
21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
- 2195 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
- 1926 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
- 1023 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
- 2207 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
- 2030 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
- 2143 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
- 2097 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
- 2137 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
- 1969 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
- 1851 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
- 1821 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
- 2181 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
- 1762 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
- 1919 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
- 1947 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
- 1009 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
- 1876 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
- 1898 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
- 1990 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
- 2175 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
- 1823 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
- 1971 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
- 1032 Views
Good plotting in this section
23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
- 1991 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
- 991 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
- 926 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
- 912 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
- 2076 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
- 2162 Views
Makes sense.
24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
- 1880 Views

Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
- 1872 Views

Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
- 1968 Views

Plotting and writing: a bit of a lull in the tension, perhaps, but there's still a lot going on. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:11:49 AM
- 1076 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
- 2073 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
- 1899 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
- 1080 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
- 2043 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
- 1932 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
- 2002 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
- 1943 Views
Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1939 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
- 1933 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
- 2016 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
- 2084 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
- 1970 Views
Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
- 1881 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
- 2009 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
- 1916 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
- 957 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
- 1852 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
- 2101 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
- 1880 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1963 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
- 1790 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
- 1924 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
- 1015 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1954 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
- 1975 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
- 1865 Views
Maybe they should have had a magical big screen projection of what was going on in the lake lol
25/08/2010 03:57:48 PM
- 1916 Views
Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:23:30 PM
- 1909 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:40:39 PM
- 1980 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:42:52 PM
- 1881 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
26/08/2010 11:09:20 AM
- 1878 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
26/08/2010 11:17:36 AM
- 2029 Views
Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
- 1924 Views
Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
- 995 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
- 1974 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
- 1943 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
- 2051 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
- 937 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 1033 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
- 1926 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
- 998 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
- 1936 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
- 2162 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
- 1971 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
- 1857 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 1036 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
- 1830 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
- 1823 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
- 1889 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
- 1006 Views
Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
- 1865 Views
Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
- 1877 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
- 989 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
- 974 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
- 1005 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
- 1959 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 978 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
- 1910 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 1024 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 2036 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1927 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
- 1963 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
- 2024 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
- 2070 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1916 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
- 2223 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
- 2169 Views