Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in the Harry Potter series.

First published on June 21, 2003 by Bloomsbury Books in Britain; Scholastic and Arthur A. Levine books in the USA; Raincoast Books in Canada.

The fifth book begins in the summer before Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts. Harry is being portrayed by the media as a raving lunatic, and Dumbledore as a madman. No one will believe that Voldemort truly has returned to full power. The ministry begins taking over Hogwarts as a group of wizards and witches called The Order of the Phoenix re-bands to fight Voldemort's evil.

In this book, we are introduced to new characters like Nymphadora Tonks, Dolores Umbridge and Kingsley Shaklebolt. Harry's character is developed, and is revealed to be growing up.

The chapterguide is written by Dumbledore, the owner of the site, and edited by me. The chapter pictures are from the American edition uploaded by Dragonheart and Dracos1gal.

Chapter One - Dudley Demented



Dudley is a big trouble-maker. Harry is depressed and angry about the events of the previous year (Cedric's death) and that he is not being told anything about what is going on. He goes for a walk and meets Dudley outside. Dudley starts teasing Harry about some bad dreams Harry has been having and Harry threatens to cast a spell (knowing he really wouldn't do it for fear of being expelled) to try and shut Dudley up. Suddenly out of the blue 2 dementors show up and try to kiss Dudley and Harry. Harry produces his Stag patronus and gets rid of them just before one of them give Dudley the kiss. Mrs. Figg shows up right after, and is furious because Mundungus Fletcher, who was on shift to protect Harry, wasn't there and left him alone with her. She admits to him that she is a Squib that was assigned by Dumbledore to watch over him.

Chapter Two - A Peck of Owls



Dudley tries to convince Petunia and Vernon that Harry was trying to kill him. Harry gets an Owl that says he will be expelled for using magic outside of school. He decides to run away. Another Owl comes and tells him to stay put. A third Owl comes and tells him he isn't expelled anyway, but get a trial to decide if he will be expelled or not. The Durlseys want to kick Harry out, but then a Howler comes for Aunt Petunia that changes their minds. We find out that she knows a lot more about the Wizarding World than she has let on.

Chapter Three - The Advance Guard



Harry gets rescued from Privet Drive by Lupin, Moody and some new characters from the Order of the Phoenix. Among them Tonks and Shackenbolt. They have fooled the Dursleys out of the house so thet can take him to their hideout for protection, without informing the Dursleys.

Chapter Four - Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place



This is our introduction to a new location: Sirius Black's place. It's the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. A new character, Kreacher the house elf is also introduced. Also, it's a kind of reunion because loads of Harry's friends are hanging out here, including Ron, Hermione and Sirius. Harry acts out his anger and frustration towards Ron and Hermione.

It is established that he has basically disowned his family and tried to distance himself from Dumbledore and his followers by kissing up even more to Fudge.

Chapter Five - The Order of the Phoenix



We find out that the Order is a group of "overage Wizards (and witches) who have left school" that are dedicated to prevent Voldemort from carrying out his plans. Voldemort is building up his army of Death-Eaters and is after a weapon of some sort. Harry is also told what he 'what he needs to know'. He learns that Fudge and the Ministry is doing everything to run down Harry and Dumbledore.

Chapter six - The Noble And Most Ancient House Of Black



Here we basically just learn more about Sirius' past and his geneology. How he has family ties back to Malfoy's mom and to the Weasleys as well as many other prominent wizards (including a pevious Headmaster of Hogwarts). He learns this while they are cleaning out the wizard's house.

We see Dumbledore ignoring Harry a bit and find out that Sirius has been pretty much banned to stay in the house so as not to jeapordize the Order because the Ministry is looking for him.

Chapter Seven - The Ministry Of Magic



Summary: Harry is escorted to the Ministry of Magic for his Trial. He was summoned in chapter 2 to find out if he should be expelled or not. He nearly misses his trial because the Ministry tried to trick him by changing the time and location at the last minute, and Mr. Weasley and he do not get word until 5 minutes after the new time.

The Ministry is a super cool place with a completely new location: in the middle of London. It's brilliantly planned out in both location and architecture. The details are fabulous (as always) and gives us plenty of eye-candy in this 9-story underground building. It's also nice to spend more time with Arthur Weasley, and learn more about him.

Chapter Eight - The Hearing



Introduces the Wizengamot and some new characters including Dolores Jane Umbridge (who gets her own chapter-title later), and Amelia Susan Bones. Percy is present as the secretary and is a real jerk. The hearing takes place in the same room where Harry saw them sentancing Death-Eaters in book 4. Dumbledore shows up as Harry's advocate and beckons Mrs. Figg as the witness. Harry barely escapes the sentancing and gets all charges dropped.

Bones is really cool and turns out to be a "good-guy" here. She rallys for Harry with Dumbledore's help and shows that she is impressed with Harry's abilities (conjuring a petromus, etc.). It's a great introduction to one of the very main characters in the book: Professor Umbridge. Very suspenseful and well-written trial.

Chapter Nine - The Woes of Mrs. Weasley



We see Lucius Malfoy visiting the Ministry with gold in his pockets for Fudge. It's obvious he has some control. On the night before they leave for Hogwarts, they all get their Hogwarts letters. Ron and Hermione both find out they have been selected as prefects and Harry is slightly jealous. Moody shows Harry a picture of the old Order of the Phoenix and we learn a little about it.

It's nice to see Harry's emotions getting played out. He is first jealous of Ron and then decides he must be a little arrogant to think he is better than Ron.

Chapter Ten - Luna Lovegood



This chapter introduces the best character since Moaning Myrtle. Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry meet Luna on the train to Hogwarts. Her dad is the editor of a tabloid-like magazine called the Quibbler. This magazine turns out to be used throughout the story - and in a good way! Invisible flying horse/reptile/bat creatures called Thestrals are also introduced here, though we don't learn what they're called until much later.

Luna is a sort of space-cadet type and is a terrific addition to the series. Thestrals are the invisible creatures that pull the students' transportation from the train to Hogwarts. They are mysterious and we find out that Harry can see them and Luna claims to, but nobody else seems to. This is a nice touch that opened many possibilities for explanations. The real explanation is explained in a later chapter, and worked brilliantly (of course)!

Chapter Eleven - The Sorting Hat's New Song



We hear the Sorting Hat's new song We also find out that Umbridge, from the hearing in chapter 7, is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She gets on our nerves and under our skin right from the start with her sickening speech to the school.

Kinda boring chapter, but the new song was nice. We learn even more about Hogwarts' past.

Chapter Twelve - Professor Umbridge



Fred and George have already established that they are working hard to build up their joke shop clientelle and product base. They offer to pay first-years to be their "test-victims" for these funny new joke pills that make you sick so you can get out of classes if you need a break. It's a brilliant side-plot that runs along the whole book. Obviously, the real star of this chapter is Professor Umbridge, who is bent on changing the whole school. She represents the Ministry of Magic, who's leaders (Fudge and a few elect others, including Umbridge) are paranoid that Dumbledore is raising an Army of students to raid the Ministry and force Fudge out of office. Because of this, she is using a "text-book only" approach to the DADA classes, and the students are not supposed to even practice the curses, but to just read theories. She tries to convince the students that Harry is a big show-off liar (something the Daily Prophet has been making common practice for a couple months) and that he just made up that stuff about You-Know-Who coming back. Harry defies her in class and yells out that he is not lieing and that Cedric was murdered by Voldemort. Because of him standing up for himself, Umbridge gives him a week of detention.

This is a brilliant chapter that sets us up to loathe Umbridge. She is so well written and we have no choice but to hate her. It's also a great set up to show us how society tries to control people with the media, and that people in power often become currupted and abuse their power to control others.

Chapter Thirteen - Detention With Dolores



The whole school already knows about Harry's argument with Professor Umbridge, and rumors start flying again about Harry being mad, and what happened at last years Triwizard Tournament concerning Voldemort and Cedric. Ron, Hermione, and Harry agree that Umbridge is a horrible teacher from which they will learn nothing if they cannot use hands-on methods. All the teachers warn the students about the end of the year O.W.L.'s, and Harry and the gang are upset to find Professor Grubbly Plank substituting for Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures. Harry has detention with Umbridge where she forces him writes the words "I must not tell lies" over and over again on parchment in his own blood. Each time he does, these words are scratched onto the back of his hand for a moment, and then disappear. Over the week, Harry continues these detentions every night. Eventually the words leave a scar in his hands that does not go away. He refuses to give in to Umbridge and does not tell on her for this punishment or admit that it hurts. On Friday after detention Ron tells Harry that he has been appointed to the position of Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, which makes Harry very happy.

This chapter starts to show the reader what kind of a character Umbridge will turn out to be. It shows her to be evil almost, and non-caring about the feelings of her students. It also marks a new direction for the quidditch team when Ron is appointed Keeper, the position that was before held by Oliver Wood.

Chapter Fourteen - Percy And Padfoot



Summary: Hagrid has still not returned to Hogwarts since the end of last school year when Dumbledore sent him off on a secret mission. Harry's scar hurt when he was in detention with Umbridge, so he suspects her of being a Death Eater. He decides to send Sirius an owl asking his advice. Ron gets a long letter from Pery, counciling him to part ways with Harry Potter, which Ron naturally ignores.

This is somewhat boring and just moves the story along. It really puts Percy in a bad light. We all hate him now - if we didn't before.

Chapter Fifteen - The Hogwarts High Inquisitor



The Daily Prophet Headline of the day says it all: Ministry seeks educational reform, Dolores Umbridge appointed first ever High Inquisitor. The trio finds out that Fudge had passed an "Educational Decree" that allowed him to force Umbridge on the school as the DADA Professor. Umbridge's new role allowes her to inspect all the classes to see if she can weed out any bad teachers. The trio becomes so sick of her lack of "real" teaching in the DADA class, that Hermione suggests that Harry start teaching them how to really defend themselves. She says, "We've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books. We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use spells and correct us if we're going wrong." Harry agrees to think about it, though he's not thrilled about the idea at first.

Here's where I thought it was getting a bit over-the-top giving Umbridge so much control. It was becoming a bit silly, i thought. Of course, it gets much much worse - meaning she gets even more power. But I'm ok with that because it's an example to show us what can happen if power gets into the wrong hands, and when we start letting government take too much control on every little thing.

Chapter Sixteen - In the Hog's Head



Harry agrees that Hermione's idea about a defense class is good, and that he is willing to teach it. She convinces him to teach not only her and Ron, but any student that is willing to learn it from him. He is reluctant to this at first, but agrees to meet with any interested students to discuss the idea. They all meet in a shoddy pub at Hogsmeade called The Hog's Head to find out who's interested in learning from Harry, and to set up a schedule. It turns out that 25 students are interested, one of them being Cho Chang, who shows that she has a crush on Harry.

This is a great set-up for what IMO is the coolest part of the book: The secret group. It develops into something even cooler in a few chapters...

Chapter Seventeen - Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four



This is the start of a long list of "educational decrees" that show how the Ministry is trying to take control over the school. #24 states that the kids can't have study groups or any type of group or team without having approval by the "High Inquisitor" who turns out to be Umbridge. This is to destroy their Defence lessons from Harry, but also includes all kinds of associations, including Quidditch. Umbridge ends up giving Slytherin immediate approval for their Quidditch team, but tries to deny Gryffindor the privledge because of Harry. Sirius communicates with the trio through the common room fireplace and expresses his approval for the Defense group. He also relays Mrs. Weasley's concern about Ron being involved in something not approved by the school. They see Mrs. Umbridge's hand groping at Sirius in the fireplace, but he gets out before she can capture him.

Good set up to show the Ministry getting more and more control of the school. It seems that Umbridge is very one-dimensional, meaning that she is ALL bad. That's cool and all, if not somewhat unbelievable.

Chapter Eighteen - Dumbledore's Army



Harry has been having nightmares through the whole book, and in discovers he is reading Voldemorts mind, seeing what Voldemort sees. The Defense group starts meeting in a secret room in the school called, the Room of Requirement. They elect Harry to be their leader and choose the name "Dumbledore's Army" (DA for short) for their group to spite the Ministry of Magic since the Ministry is convinced that's what Dumbledore is up to anyways.

This is one of my favorite chapters! I love the way it sets up this group that reminds me of the Rebellion in Star Wars: An underground group standing up for what they believe. Very cool! It also builds up more on Cho's crush on Harry, which is handled well and with good humor.

Chapter Nineteen - The Lion And The Serpent



Slytherin and Gryffindor have their first Quidditch match of the season. Gryffindor wins (of course) in spite of Ron being lousy as keeper. Draco Malfoy and his croonies say some really cruel things to the Weasleys and Harry after the match, and Harry, George and Fred lose their tempers and start to beat up Draco. This gets them expelled from the Quidditch team "for life" and Umbridge takes their brooms. Harry is super depressed because Quidditch was all that was keeping him going.

I am probably the only one out there that isn't super thrilled about the Quidditch parts of the stories. I'm kinda anti-sports in real life (not that I am against them, just that I'm very uninterested in them) so I find Quidditch slightly boring. Another factor leading to me somewhat disliking this chapter is that it's always so perdictable that Gryffindor always wins. I'd like to see Slytherin beat them just once. Maybe next book. For being such a master of defence and spells, Harry certainly has ZERO control over his temper.

Chapter Twenty - Hagrid's Tale



After being forced off the Quidditch team, Harry is about ready to pack up and leave the school for good. Hagrid shows up at just the right moment, so Harry changes his mind. Hagrid tells the trio what has happened to him. He was on a quest to try to recruit the giants to help fight Voldemort, before the Death Eaters did. It didn't go too well because there were Death Eaters present at the giants as well. Hagrid has a cuts, scratches, and bruises all over his face. He refuses to tell them why.

We find out some interesting stuff about giants and see Madame Maxine again - if only for a cameo - who assisted Hagrid on his journey to the giants. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of them in the next book(s).

Chapter Twenty-One - The Eye Of The Snake



We learn what Thestrals (the flying horses) can only be seen by people that have seen death. Umbridge inspects Hagrid's class, set to sabotage it and make him look bad. It's Christmas break at Hogwarts, and the DA has their last class before the break. They are all making great progress - especially Neville. Harry has a dream/vision that he is a snake and slithers up to a man in the Ministry of Magic, next to a certain corridor, and bites him. Then he sees that the man is Arthur Weasley. He is awakened by Ron because he was fussing so much in his sleep. Professor McGonagall believes Harry, and takes him and Ron to Dumbledore.

Chapter Twenty-Two - St. Mungo's Hospital For Magical Maladies And Injuries



Dumbledore is still avasive with Harry, not looking him in the eyes. We find out that the previous Headmasters that abide in portraits in Dumbledore's office have all sworn to serve the current Headmaster at all times, and they assist in investigating the snake-bite mystery. They find out that Arthur Weasley was bitten and bleeding badly on the floor in the Ministry of Magic, just as Harry dreamed. Everard (one of Hogwarts most celebrated heads, says Dumbledore) is assigned to "raise the alarm and make sure that Mr. Weasley is found by the right people." Because of this, Mr. Weasley is found in time and taken to the Wizarding Hospital. The Weasley children are collected and taken to the hideout at Sirius' place. They eventually get to go to St. Mungo's to see Arthur, who is recovering. While visitng Mr. Weasley, the kids they eavesdrop on the grown-ups (consisting of Moody, Tonks, and the Weasley parents) overhearing that they are concerned about Harry's dreams. Moody suggests that You-Know-Who might be possessing Harry.

Chapter Twenty-Three - Christmas On The Closed Ward



Here we get to see some nice cameos from Lockhart and Neville's parents when Harry and gang visit St. Mungo's during Christmas.

I really love the cameos. It's also great tension to wonder if Harry is possessed and what is going on with Voldie.

Chapter Twenty-Four - Occlumency



Dumbledore wants Harry to take Occlumency lessons. Occlumency is learning to resist mind-reading and thought-control. Snape is the one assigned to give Harry these lessons. Harry discovers that he can tell Voldemort's mood by how his scar hurts. At the end of this chapter, he senses that Voldemort is really happy about something.