Harry Potter, #5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

by J.K. Rowling

Genre

Fantasy, Young Adult, Children's

Year

2003

Pages

870

Contents

Career Advice

Previous: Snape’s Worst Memory Next: Grawp

Overview

During Easter, Harry broods over Snape’s memories while Hermione plans revision. Ginny and the twins enable Harry to contact Sirius via Umbridge’s office fire. McGonagall fiercely backs Harry’s Auror ambitions against Umbridge. After Harry’s clandestine talk, Filch gains whipping approval, but Fred and George swamp the school and dramatically depart Hogwarts.

Summary

Hermione challenges Harry about ending Occlumency, while she drafts intense Easter study schedules. Harry, shaken by Snape’s Pensieve memory of James bullying Snape, withdraws. Ginny brings Molly’s Easter eggs, senses Harry’s distress, and suggests finding a way to contact Sirius despite Umbridge’s surveillance, just before Madam Pince ejects them for eating chocolate in the library.

Career pamphlets appear and the twins propose staging a diversion so Harry can use Umbridge’s unmonitored fire. The next morning Harry spots a limping Hagrid, then endures Potions where Snape pointedly smashes Harry’s sample and Hermione accidentally clears away the rest. At his careers meeting, Umbridge intrudes; McGonagall pointedly defends Harry’s record and vows to help him become an Auror, clashing fiercely with Umbridge.

In Defense class, Harry wavers but chooses to proceed when the twins’ diversion erupts. He unlocks Umbridge’s office with Sirius’s knife, uses her Floo, and reaches Grimmauld Place. With Lupin and then Sirius, Harry recounts the Pensieve scene; they admit youthful arrogance but insist James matured. They are alarmed Snape ended Occlumency and urge Harry to resume at all costs.

Hearing footsteps, Harry withdraws as Filch bursts in, gleefully seizing a signed whipping approval from Umbridge’s desk. Harry follows to the entrance hall where students and staff encircle Fred and George amid the aftermath of a massive Portable Swamp. Umbridge moves to punish them, Filch begs to whip them, but the twins summon their chained brooms, announce their new shop, and blast out of Hogwarts to wild applause. Peeves salutes them as they vanish into the sunset.

Who Appears

Harry Potter

Troubled by Pensieve memories; plots and executes using Umbridge’s fire to consult Sirius; urged to continue Occlumency.
Dolores Umbridge

Intrudes on Harry’s career meeting; clashes with McGonagall; later moves to punish the twins amid their swamp.
Professor Minerva McGonagall

Counsels Harry on Auror path; fiercely defends him and vows personal coaching, openly confronting Umbridge.
Fred Weasley

Co-plans diversion; unleashes a Portable Swamp; summons broom and quits Hogwarts, promoting the twins’ shop.
George Weasley

Partners Fred in diversion and dramatic exit; flies off, defying Umbridge and rallying students.
Hermione Granger

Creates revision schedules; urgently warns Harry against the plan; accidentally clears his potion sample.
Sirius Black

Discusses James’s faults and growth; vehement that Occlumency must continue; nearly rushes to confront Snape.
Remus Lupin

Moderates discussion about James; firmly insists Harry resume Occlumency and offers to address Snape.
Severus Snape

Ignores Harry in Potions, then ensures he gets zero; previously ended Occlumency after the Pensieve incident.
Ginny Weasley

Brings Easter eggs; encourages contacting Sirius, citing Fred and George’s boldness.
Argus Filch

Steals Umbridge’s whipping approval; delights in the prospect of punishing students.
Peeves

Cheers the twins’ rebellion and salutes them as they depart.
Madam Pince

Ejects Harry and Ginny from the library for eating chocolate.
Rubeus Hagrid

Seen limping from the Forbidden Forest, suggesting undisclosed troubles.
Draco Malfoy

Mocks Harry when his potion is smashed; present in Potions class.