Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Editorials / The Daily Prophet

Turn to Page 394: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” Edition

by Athan · March 12, 2023

Professor Snape instructed the class to turn to page 394 in their Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The class obliges and flips to the page, only to discover that they would be learning about werewolves – how fitting, since Snape is covering for an indisposed Professor Lupin. But in this series of editorials, we’re diving into what lessons await us on each page 394 in the Harry Potter series.

We started with the time-bending lessons from year three in Turn to Page 394: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Edition. We’re referencing the US hardcover editions, so if your editions have different content on page 394 we’d love to hear about it in the comments! Now, let’s pull out our copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and (in Snape’s voice) “turn to page 394.”

 

Source

 

We Apparate into the Gryffindor common room and sit down with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George talking about the highly anticipated and nerve-racking Yule Ball. Harry and Ron are far from having dates, and their adolescent timidness is the only thing standing in their way. We see the contrast between how they’re handling the situation and how Fred is confidently able to yell across the room at Angelina Johnson and get an “all right, then” to secure himself a partner. They engage in immature and rude talk about all the “good ones” being taken, ending up with a pair of trolls, or how they’d rather go alone than with Eloise Midgen. Unfortunately, I guess we can’t expect much else in this sort of scenario from some 14- and 15-year-old boys in the ’90s.

Page 394 in this book is also in the same chapter that Ron discovers – or at least dares to admit – that Hermione is a girl. However, he is too late in his realization, and she is asked by “the enemy,” as Ron puts it.

 

Source

 

I appreciate how both the Harry Potter books and movies so accurately depict and portray teenage awkwardness. Growing up reading the books and watching the movies, I never understood why the characters, scenarios, and relationships were so relatable. Now, as an adult, I see it is because all of those are seamlessly tied to the odd, awkward, ever-changing, and insecure teenage soul. That might sound harsh, but this scene on page 394 and its encapsulating chapter are a direct reference to what I’m talking about.

There is something precious and innocent about a teenager, but also something confused and chaotic. The weeks leading up to the Yule Ball provide the students from all three wizarding schools with an equal amount of stress and excitement. It provided audiences of the Harry Potter series an opportunity to see our magical friends experience something most Muggles experience – a school dance. The conflicting feelings of putting yourself out there to ask your crush, best friend, or someone you’ve been infatuated with since you first saw them is a pivotal moment in some young people’s lives.

 

Source

 

We see how these different characters respond to a stressful, uncertain, and new experience. Fred is confident and asks a teammate; Hermione is content and exploring an unexpected relationship; Ron is panicked and mortified about everything from the dress robes to the dancing; Ginny is simply happy to be going; Harry is conflicted about Cho and out of his element. Which character’s avenue of navigating the Yule Ball is most like you in stressful or uncertain scenarios? Which character’s demeanor and approach would you prefer?

Whether it’s a school dance, moving to a new city, or getting your first job, any uncomfortable or new scenario sends us on a journey. It’s up to us how we approach, handle, and process it all. Your tendency may be similar to how Ron or Harry reacted as December 25th slowly crept closer. Perhaps you’re like Fred and handle these moments with ease and familiarity. Or maybe you see times like this as an opportunity to expand people’s perceptions of you, like Hermione.

 

Source

 

I’d imagine that many readers would like to go about these situations like Fred, Hermione, or Ginny, who appear to be free from anxiety, insecurity, or fear of any kind. But it’s possible they are experiencing those feelings – they’re just manifesting them differently than Harry’s and Ron’s. Regardless, they all end up at the Yule Ball with dates, where each of them has a very different experience. Their individual experiences are a direct reflection of how they went about handling the weeks and days leading up to the event.

 

Source

 

Perhaps when approaching a new moment or uncertain situation, think of the end result. Think of how you want to feel on the other side of that moment. Think of the kind of experience you want to have throughout the situation. Think of how you’ll feel when you follow your heart, your dream, or your goal and come out on the other side successfully.

Although Ron was embarrassed when he scream-asked Fleur to the ball, he still asked her. Neville was rejected by Hermione because she was already going with someone else, so Neville asked Ginny, and the two were the last to leave the ball. Hermione’s lovely evening came to a tear-filled end, but Viktor still asked her to write to him when he left Hogwarts.

Ultimately, everything – even stressful situations – is going to work out how it’s meant to happen… in one way or another.

 

Source

 

Share with us which character you’re most like in situations like these, or which character you’re hoping to be like one day. Next up – page 394 in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Social:

  • Next story “Potterversity” Episode 34: “Hogwarts Forever”
  • Previous story Librarian’s Signed First-Edition “Harry Potter” Books After Chance Meeting with the Author in 1999 Went Up for Auction

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

May 2025

Mon, May 12

Domhnall Gleeson's birthday
Recurs yearly

Bill Weasley (DH1, DH2)

Tue, May 13

Robert Pattinson's birthday
Recurs yearly

Cedric Diggory

Samantha Morton's birthday
Recurs yearly

Mary Lou Barebone

Zoë Wanamaker's birthday
Recurs yearly

Madam Hooch

Thu, May 15

Pomona Sprout's birthday
Recurs yearly

Fri, May 16

Stanislav Yanevski's birthday
Recurs yearly

Viktor Krum

Sun, May 18

Miriam Margolyes's birthday
Recurs yearly

Pomona Sprout

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Albus Dumbledore sees his family in the Mirror of Erised, just as Harry Potter does.

Potter History

March 1, 2001 – Two schoolbooks from Harry Potter’s world – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages – are released. All the profits go to Comic Relief, a British charity.

Potter Quote

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.