Aboard the Hogwarts Express (GF)

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Aboard the Hogwarts Express is the eleventh chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Leaving The Burrow

Harry Potter wakes up one rainy morning to find that his holidays are over. He changes to jeans and a sweatshirt and goes to the first floor in order to have breakfast. Molly calls Arthur downstairs, claiming that there is an urgent message for him from the Ministry of Magic: Amos Diggory's head is floating in the middle of the flames, apparently unaffected by the fire.

Diggory is reporting that the Muggle neighbours of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody heard bangs and shouting, and called "please-men"; Arthur promises that he will start working on the situation. Amos managed to prevent the Improper Use of Magic Office from interfering. Moody claims that there was an intruder in his backyard, who was ambushed by the dustbins.

Arthur, who is taking notes, is informed of the fact that the dustbins were terribly noisy, and moving on their own. Diggory is skeptical regarding the possibility that Moody could actually be speaking the truth about the intruder.

"But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye, he's had it—think of his record—we've got to get him off on a minor charge, something in your department—what are exploding dustbins worth?"

Arthur rushes off to take care of the Moody situation, and Amos apologises to Molly; her husband is the only one who can get Mad-Eye off. It's a wonder the man chose precisely today to make a mess, considering that that is when he starts his new job.

Molly offers Amos' head a bit of toast; he accepts, and then vanishes with a small pop. Arthur passes by the kitchen one last time before leaving, and Disapparates.

The Weasleys exchange information regarding Alastor Moody: he is a retired Auror, one of the best there ever was ("Half the cells in Azkaban are full because of him"; Arthur thinks very highly of him; Moody was a great wizard in his time; he is an old friend of Albus Dumbledore. Moody has plenty of enemies, mostly related to people whom he has sent to Azkaban. "I heard he's been getting really paranoid in his old age. Doesn't trust anyone anymore. Sees dark wizards everywhere."

Platform 9 and 3/4

Bill and Charlie go with their mother to King's Cross station; Percy stated that he was far too busy with Barty Crouch, Sr.. Molly orders three cabs from the regular Muggle phone service.

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