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BY OLIVER HORTON
BOOK FOUR
The Age Line
In the fourth Harry Potter book, the young wizard craves a quiet life. But death is close at hand and the end of innocence is inevitable.
H
arry Potter is too young to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, which comes as a relief. After three years getting battered by various dark forces he has had enough trouble for a lifetime. He prefers to be a spectator and to watch the Tournament through his Omnioculars. Dumbledore establishes an enchanted Age Line to prevent anyone under the age of 17-years-old from entering the contest. Naturally, 14-yearold Harry’s name wafts out of the divining cup. “Zey are saying zat zis
little boy is to compete also!” whines Fleur Delacour. The comment stings, but childhood is where Harry wants to be. There are parental figures in his life now. A whisper about his godfather, the convicted murderer Sirius Black, settles any dispute with Vernon Dursley. His friend’s dad, Arthur Weasley, comes to Privet Drive to collect him for the Quidditch World Cup. And Arthur must deal with the inevitable chaos when magic meets Muggle; Harry can just Floo away. He gets to be a
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