Mayhem at the Ministry (GF)

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Mayhem at the Ministry is the tenth chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Before sunrise

Arthur Weasley wakes Hermione, Harry and the others a few hours after. He uses magic to pack up their things; when the group passes by Mr. Roberts, the Muggle has a dazed look about him and wishes them merry Christmas. Arthur comments that such disorientation is a common side effect of the Memory Charm, but it is only temporary.

After a hurried conversation with Basil, the keeper of the Portkeys who is now surrounded by witches and wizards desperate to leave the campsite, Arthur manages to find a place in line for his family. They all take a rubber tire to Stoatshead Hill before sunrise, and walked back through Ottery St. Catchpole to The Burrow.

Molly has been nervously waiting for them in the front yard for a while now, clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet (with the headline 'SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP'). She hugs her husband, and reveals how relieved she feels to see all her children safe.

Surprisingly enough, Molly hugs Fred and George the tightest, apologizing for yelling at them earlier (GF6). Arthur soothingly guides her back to the house, instructing Bill to fetch the paper. The sensationalist story, which blames the Ministry of Magic for the lax security at the Quidditch World Cup, was (of course) written by Rita Skeeter.

Hermione makes some tea, into which Arthur pours a shot of Ogdens Old Firewhisky. Percy starts complaining about Skeeter, who has been "saying we're wasting our time quibbling about cauldron thickness, when we should be stamping out vampires! As if it wasn't specifically stated in paragraph twelve of the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans—" Bill shuts him up with a loud yawn.

Arthur soon notices, much to his frustration, that Rita has reported alleged rumours of bodies being removed from the woods. He resignedly concludes that he will have to go to the Ministry to deal with that sort of rumours, which are bound to resurface soon, despite being on holiday. Percy volunteers to go with him.

Harry anxiously asks Molly whether Hedwig has brought anything for him. She replies that there has been no post. He then throws Ron and Hermione a look, and they all find excuses to leave the room together.

Harry tells his two best friends that his scar hurt on Saturday morning, and their reactions are the ones he had predicted (GF2). He confides in them that, in his dream, Voldemort ("Don't—say—his—name!" Ron hisses) and Wormtail were planning on killing someone—he cannot bring himself to admit that he was that person.

This chapter summary is not done yet. Please be patient.