Cue No. 1

This score opens less conventionally than the previous three. Instead of hearing the warmth of the familiar Hedwig’s Theme, we are introduced to the fourth film with Voldemort 1. A brief Hedwig’s Theme statement follows, but then plunges back into the former until the title appears on screen. At the moment introducing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, there is a fusion of Voldemort 2 and Hedwig’s Theme, representing the connection shared between the protagonist and his nemesis. The combination of themes also helps emphasize that this chapter in the story is now equally about Voldemort as it is Harry.

The strings tremolo as the cellos move downwards, following the camera as it pans to Frank’s house. There is a small accented moment signaling his light turning on, and the score settles with some two-note slurs. There is another accent, this time over Frank seeing the light on in the Riddle House up the hill. As he prepares to go see what the fuss is, the orchestra moves into slow but insistent repeated C-sharps. Over these pulsing notes, there are small gestures from the harp, celesta, and pizzicato basses, all emphasizing an octatonic sound.

Once Frank has entered the house, the music moves into the more familiar but still mysterious Sneaking Around theme. He ascends the stairs, and the theme is interrupted by his foot causing one of them to creak. When the camera sees Peter Pettigrew, we get a statement of his theme in the harpsichord. The mysterious other character who we will come to know as Barty Crouch Jr. is accompanied by a new musical idea called the Plotting motif. This is played twice in the timpani for Barty, who may be helping Voldemort carry out his plans.

Voldemort’s snake, Nagini, slithers up the stairs to the Chamber of Secrets 2 theme. This theme was used heavily in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) to represent the mystery that unfolded in that film, but also acted as a musical description of Voldemort’s search for immortality. Moving forward in the series, it only made sense for it to be reprised during times when this topic is discussed or implied. The theme speeds up and comes to a halt when Frank realizes he is caught. The Three-Note motif plays as Voldemort kills Frank and, somewhere far from Little Hangleton, Harry Potter wakes up in a cold sweat.