Rowling gets experimental with her writing here, and it seems to be in due to the focalisation through Harry. There is an astonishing use of ellipses during the fight. It also shows up in Voldemort's way of talking. I am not sure what to make of it. I think it makes the scene more disjointed (which fits), but I cannot put my finger on why. Maybe it is an attempt to express Harry's confusion and shock.

Her way of showing Harry's shock once he returns to Hogwarts is more effective, I think: her use of ``it''. It is not Fudge who says something, he is not pale. It is. It is all about the outside: Harry seems to have shut down his ability to … empathise? take in others. At least for a while. It is never done in relation to Dumbledore, but nor is he described in the more normal way. His words are left unattributed. This continues until Harry is alone with Moody. There it seems to pass.



Plotwise, we get the reveals. Moody explicitly goes over some of his earlier comments and explains how they mean something else than what Harry thought (death eater who went free). And we get his story, which neatly ties up the clues along the way.

I like how the incredible (somewhat) fact that Harry could hold his own against older wizards is in part explained by Moody/Crouch's interference. The information that Crouch Sr. is dead is also revealed almost in an aside.

We get the explanation for why Winky was running so oddly (as if something was holding her back, if I recall correctly) in the forest: it is not because she was not allowed to leave the tent, but because she was dragging Crouch Jr along. Interestingly, this moment was the triggering of Hermione's SPEW obsession -- the idea that Crouch would force her to stay in the tent.

Did we remark on the introduction of Veritaserum as a plot point earlier? If not, that is a bit of an oversight.


More importantly, there is the ``gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes''. I don't remember the relevance of this in future books, but I am sure there is something. I can feel it just outside my field of vision.

There is also Dumbledore's comment that ``no spell can reawaken the dead'', which is a massive theme, especially in the last three books, not to mention the finale.


The dementor. Was it acting on order when it killed Crouch? Voldemort's orders? Or did it just recognise him as legitimate prey?

We also get Fudge's threat to interfere at Hogwarts, which is the main part of the following book.

And there is a mention for Arabella Figg. Harry does not catch it, but I am very glad it is there. I had not noticed it before, I think. It sets her up neatly to help him in the opening of the next book.

There is also a suggestion of the protection spell when Dumbledore insists Harry must go to the Dursleys. Dumbledore would not have forced the Dursleys on Harry after his ordeal unless he had a good reason.


And, shock of shocks, Harry is right about Snape going to spy on Voldemort. Cue fainting fits from all readers. I think this was actually used in an argument as proof that Snape must be evil.


On a different note: I really like Ron's asking for Krum's autograph. It is such a weird moment after all that has gone before. The world has almost ended as they know it, and this asking for an autograph, to me at least, seems like it is drawing back to the pre-horror period. It is a token indication that life goes on.

I also like how Harry gives his winnings to the twins. I wonder whether that moment is the whole reason why we had to endure the Bagman/twins plotline. To provide a good place for Harry to get rid of his winnings.