Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapter Eight Summary & Analysis

Mr. Weasley leads his group towards the giant stadium, explaining that it seats a hundred thousand. An official points the group straight up the stairs to the top of the stadium. Harry looks around the box to see whom they're sitting with and sees a creature wearing a tea towel. Incredulously he asks, "Dobby?" but the house-elf introduces herself as Winky, a friend of Dobby's. She says that freedom isn't suiting Dobby well, as he wants to be paid. Winky looks horrified at Harry's blank look and says that house-elves never get paid. She says that house-elves are meant to obey, just like she is currently doing--she hates heights, but she's in the box because her master sent her there.

The box fills over the next half hour and when Cornelius Fudge arrives, he greets Harry warmly. He tries to introduce Harry to the Bulgarian minister, but there appears to be a massive language barrier. He says that Winky is Mr. Crouch's house-elf and as Lucius Malfoy arrives with his wife and Draco, he greets them too. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy greet each other coldly. Minutes after they take their seats, Ludo Bagman races into the box, magnifies his voice, and announces the beginning of the Quidditch World Cup. He announces the display from the Bulgarian team mascots: veela. The veela are the most beautiful women that Harry has ever seen, and he becomes entranced by their dancing and wants to do something impressive.

Bagman announces the Irish mascots and a huge comet takes the field and turns into a rainbow. Mr. Weasley shouts that the rainbow is made up of leprechauns, who begin to throw gold down onto the crowds. Ron throws an armful of gold at Harry to pay for his Omnioculars as the leprechauns sit across the field from the veela. Then, Bagman announces the Bulgarian team, the Irish team, and the Egyptian referee. Through his Omnioculars, Harry watches the referee set the balls loose and start the match. The Irish team is exceptional and scores 30 points in the first ten minutes. Everyone gasps as the Seekers dive toward the ground, but Krum pulls out at the last minute. The Irish Seeker crashes. Harry consults his Omnioculars, which says that Krum's move is called the Wronski Feint.

Once the Irish Seeker is cleared to fly, the Irish Chasers score ten more goals. As play turns dirty, the referee awards penalties to both teams. After a nasty argument between the referee and two Bulgarian players, the veela turn into scaly, angry birds. The Irish score more points and an Irish Beater hits a Bludger at Krum, hitting him square in the nose. The Irish Seeker dives again, Krum in pursuit, and once again the Irish player crashes. Krum pulls out of the dive with the Snitch, ending the game but letting Ireland win because they were so far ahead. The crowd celebrates and Harry hears the Bulgarian Minister sigh that his team fought bravely. Fudge is incensed to learn he speaks English after all.

Two wizards carry a huge gold cup into the top box and the Bulgarian players enter the box to shake hands with the Ministers. The Irish team arrives next to accept the cup. Once Bagman returns his voice to its normal volume, he gives Fred and George the money they won from their bet.