While reading Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire the themes of friendship and sticking up for what you believe in keep arising. Throughout the book I believe J.K. Rowling is communicating these values and how important they are in one’s life. It teaches the reader the value of friendship, and to give in to the evil forces around you.
In the beginning Harry and Hermione are invited to the World Cup of Quidditch by the Weasley’s, and are invited to stay with them the rest of the summer until the children return back to Hogwarts. To some this may not seem like that big of a deal. However, the action of inviting someone in your home and taking them to an event of their lifetime shows a strong act of friendship. The Weasley family was more than courteous to Harry and Hermione. They even practically treated him as their own children, worrying about them and caring about them. Such as, when the World Cup was over for the night and everyone had returned to their tents. When the death eaters caused ciaos and scared everyone to run away Harry, Ron, and Hermione were separated from everyone. Together the three of them run into Draco Malfoy. Draco proceeds to call Hermione a Mudblood. Harry and Ron immediately defend Hermione telling Malfoy to “watch his mouth!” This shows the love and friendship they have for one another. By telling Draco to watch his mouth they were standing up for what they believe in, “Everybody present knew that ‘Mudblood’ was a very offensive term for a witch or wizard of Muggle parentage.” Soon after their encounter with Draco Malfoy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are almost stunned by a spell cast by the magic of ministry. The children simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Luckily, Mr. Weasley was among the men searching for the death eaters. Of course, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were accused of committing the crime. Mr. Weasley stopped the Minister of Magic from even having a thought that they would do something so evil. He defends all three of them. This is shows the love Mr. Weasley has for his son and his son’s friends.
Hermione sticks up for what she believes in throughout the book by defending the house elves. She says, “You know house elves get a very raw deal! It’s slavery is what it is! That Mr. Crouch made her go up to the top of the stadium, and she was terrified, and he’s got her bewitched so she can’t even run when they start trampling tents! Why doesn’t anyone do something about it?” Hermione recognizes that someone is not being treated as they should be. She goes against everyone around her by creating S.P.E.W., and she doesn’t care if people make fun of her for it. She is showing love and friendship to a crowd that is usually treated like crap.
Harry and Cedric also share a bond of friendship. They are the two competitors from Hogwarts. Naturally you would think they despise each other because they are from the same school. However, Harry warns Cedric of the dragons in the first task. Harry learned this information from Hagrid. By Hagrid showing Harry the dragons and Harry warning Cedric this shows how these characters care for one another. Because Harry warned Cedric of the first task in the Triwizard Tournament, Cedric helps Harry out in the second task. He tells Harry that he must open the egg underwater to hear the clue. It pays off being a friend to someone. Do unto others as you would have others do onto you is what JK Rowling is communicating here.
During the second task Harry is faced with the option of winning the tournament or helping another friend in danger. Even though Harry was suppose to bring one person up from the bottom of the lake he sees that Fleur Delacour is not coming to get her sister. Harry says, “But she’s my friend too.” The merpeople surround Ron and the young girl. Harry threatens them with his wand and they scatter. Harry is showing what it means to be a friend. He is risking his own life to save to others and will not let anything stop him.
The power of friendship is connected all throughout this book. Without one another, all of these children would not be the same. Each character is becoming a better person by being a friend, and standing up for what they believe in. These are lessons they learn throughout the book and that are taught to the reader.
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