Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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I have brought you a new blog post today. Happy reading!

[WARNING: This contains MAJOR spoilers]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in the Harry Potter series. There are tons of new characters introduced in this book […maybe I’m exaggerating slightly]. Some of theses newbies quickly became my favorites, such as Luna Lovegood [a fourth-year Ravenclaw] and Nymphadora Tonks [an immensely talented Auror. She’s the real Alastor Moody’s apprentice]. Others left a really bad taste in my mouth—specifically, the one and only Bellatrix Lestrange [a dangerous, powerful Death Eater. She’s that annoying twit Draco’s aunt.] The titular Order of the Phoenix is an anti-Voldemort organisation [they’re too, too cool!] Another spectacular organisation is the DA [Dumbledore’s Army. It’s led by Harry Potter, but the credit goes to Hermione, as she was the one who suggested it.] Sirius Black and Remus Lupin reappear in this book!

Harry has been branded an “attention seeking liar” by the Ministry of Magic, as no one wants to believe his story of Voldemort’s revival. On top of this, he’s having nightmares about Cedric’s death. Dudley taunts him about crying out in his sleep, and just as Harry pulls out his wand, Dementors swoop down on the two of them. They narrowly escape the disgusting, soulless creatures; however, because Harry used magic to save his and Dudley’s lives, he is nearly expelled from Hogwarts, though the decision is later reversed after a hearing at the Ministry. While his aunt, uncle and cousin are away, he is whisked off by a group of wizards: the real Moody, Lupin, and several new faces including Nymphadora Tonks, a Metamorphmagus [ a wizard who can change his/her appearance at will], Kingsley Shacklebolt [a cool Auror] and Emmeline Vance [a powerful witch] to Sirius’ house, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. This building functions as the Order’s headquarters. Mr and Mrs Weasley [and Sirius] are important members. Consequently, Ron and Hermione are at Grimmauld Place, too [hurray!] They reveal that the Order of the Phoenix was established by Dumbledore, and that members of the Order dedicate their lives to battling Voldemort and his Death Eaters. There’s another big reveal—Voldemort is currently searching for something he desperately needs. It’s no secret that Fudge is refusing to acknowledge the threat presented by the Dark Wizards.

At school, Harry encounters the unpleasant [to say the least] new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge. She’s a senior Ministry employee [and a spy in all but name.] Harry immediately gets on her bad side [well, she does not have a good side, to be honest] and she forces him to write “I must not tell lies” with a quill that sucks his blood, permanently scarring him. She also refuses to teach her students defensive spells [I’m kinda grateful. This sets Hermione’s brain ticking, and she comes up with the DA.] The DA includes students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw [including Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang], and Hufflepuff. Oh, and Neville Longbottom [one of my favs] is a member as well! [The Weasleys, too.] Dobby tips Harry off about a lovely place called the Room of Requirement; far away from prying eyes, this close-knit organisation hones its skills.  Sadly, Hagrid is absent for this part of the book; he’s away on a mission assigned to him by Dumbledore. Umbridge, who is prejudiced against “filthy half-breeds” begins inspecting his Care of Magical Creatures lectures after he returns. She clearly burns with a desire to get rid of him. One night, Harry has a vision of Mr Weasley being attacked by Voldemort’s snake, Nagini. He informs Dumbledore and Mcgonagall, and Mr Weasley is rescued. Worried about Harry’s susceptibility, Dumbledore arranges Occlumency [a branch of magic that allows the user to defend himself against mental invasion] lessons with nasty Professor Snape. [Well, no pain, no gain.]

A girl called Marietta Edgecombe tips Umbridge off about the DA; in retaliation, Umbridge forms the Inquisitorial Squad, a group comprised mainly of Slytherins. Meanwhile, Harry’s resentment toward Snape is greater than his desire to learn Occlumency, so, naturally, the lessons don’t go well. When he witnesses a very sensitive memory of Snape [ it involves his father, James Potter, bullying Snape during their school days], a rightly enraged Snape throws him out and refuses to teach him further.

Umbridge continues to run rampant in the school, but she is met by obstinate resistance from both teachers and students [ particularly Fred and George Weasley, who fly away right in front of her shocked eyes.] On the last day of exams, Harry has a super disturbing vision of Sirius being tortured by Voldemort [bloody face, torn hair, savage eyes]. Distraught, he connects Umbridge’s fireplace with Grimmauld Place’s using Floo powder; the house elf, Kreacher, informs him that Sirius has been taken hostage and is currently restrained at the Department of Mysteries. Umbridge catches him trespassing in her office, but Snape arrives in time to free him from her clutches. Harry gives him [Snape is also an integral member of the Order] a cryptic message about Sirius’ condition. Snape immediately leaves [with a dramatic swish of his cloak], and contacts Headquarters. That foolhardy Harry determines to fly to the Ministry and see for himself; Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna all accompany him. Once they arrive, they are confronted by Death Eaters, whose ringleaders Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy reveal that there is a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort; its exact contents are unknown. Neville is such a lifesaver: his clumsiness causes the prophecy to shatter, preventing the Death Eaters from learning its contents, hurray! …However, Sirius, who wasn’t actually being held hostage, appears and engages his demented cousin, Bellatrix, in a heated duel; she has more than a bone to pick with him anyways. She fires a hex at him, misses, he laughs at her, she strikes him in the chest with a Killing Curse. It’s… devastating, right?! I was so mad at Bellatrix! I still haven’t forgiven her. I never will. It’s not over yet, though; Voldemort arrives in an attempt to finish Harry off, but Dumbledore steps in, forcing Voldemort to flee. Just before he vanishes, Fudge catches a glimpse of his repulsive, snake-like face [now he can’t deny that it is Voldemort in the flesh.]  Harry was still reeling from the after effects of Cedric’s death; now, he had to watch his dear godfather die in front of him. He’s nearly broken, but Dumbledore gently comforts him, stating that he must pull himself together, as he is the “Chosen One”, the “Boy Who Lived”; the one predestined to kill Voldemort. That’s what the prophecy states. His mental state changes from one of despair, hatred and fear to one of cool resolve. He determines to move ever forward for Sirius’ sake.

That’s all. I’m really sad about Sirius; he was a good, brave, loyal man. He may have had many faults [he was a bit of a loose cannon], but he’s one of my favourites. I’d have loved to see more of him. 

See you next time!

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I hope you enjoyed my article!