Harry Potter, #5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Christmas on the Closed Ward
Overview
Haunted by the snake vision, Harry fears Voldemort is possessing him and plans to flee, but Phineas Nigellus delivers Dumbledore’s order to stay. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny persuade Harry he is not possessed, easing his guilt.
At Christmas, the group visits St. Mungo’s, encountering amnesiac Gilderoy Lockhart and, most gravely, Neville’s parents, revealing Neville’s painful family history and Bellatrix Lestrange’s crime.
Summary
Reeling from the vision of Arthur Weasley’s attack, Harry obsesses that Voldemort is possessing him and that he himself is the “weapon.” Disgusted with himself and terrified of endangering the Order, he decides to leave Grimmauld Place. Phineas Nigellus appears and delivers Dumbledore’s terse instruction to “stay where you are,” which infuriates Harry, but he remains and falls into troubled sleep filled with the recurring black-door dream.
Withdrawing from everyone, Harry hides until Hermione arrives with Ron and Ginny. When Harry snaps that he might be possessed, Ginny calmly explains her own past possession by Voldemort and notes Harry has no memory blanks. Ron confirms Harry never left bed during the vision, and Hermione rules out magical transport from Hogwarts. Convinced, Harry feels immense relief: he is not Voldemort’s puppet.
Christmas preparations lift spirits; Sirius is buoyant with a full house. Gifts are exchanged, though Percy’s rejection of his jumper makes Molly cry. The group finds Kreacher’s squalid den and notice his prized photo of Bellatrix Lestrange; Sirius realizes Kreacher is missing but assumes he is hiding.
They visit St. Mungo’s, where Molly berates Arthur for letting a trainee try Muggle “stitches.” Seeking tea, the teens meet Gilderoy Lockhart, now an amnesiac in the Janus Thickey Ward. Inside, the Healer mentions another improving patient, Broderick Bode. Then Neville appears with his stern grandmother. Ron’s greeting inadvertently exposes that the patients behind the curtains are Neville’s parents.
Mrs. Longbottom explains that Neville’s Auror parents were tortured into insanity by Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange. Neville’s mother shyly gives him a sweet wrapper, which he keeps. The revelation deepens the group’s understanding of Neville’s burdens while linking Kreacher’s idolized Bellatrix to a personal tragedy, and Harry keeps Dumbledore’s prior confidence about the case.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterTormented by fear of possession, nearly runs away; stays on Dumbledore’s order; reassured by friends; shares Christmas and visits St. Mungo’s.
- Hermione GrangerArrives early for Christmas; reasons Harry out of his fears; accompanies visit to St. Mungo’s and reacts to Neville’s revelation.
- Ginny WeasleyDraws on her past possession to convince Harry he isn’t possessed; firm and insightful; visits St. Mungo’s.
- Ron WeasleySupports Harry, confirms he never left bed; inadvertently exposes Neville’s parents at St. Mungo’s; shares Christmas morning.
- Sirius BlackElated to host Christmas; decorates tirelessly; notes Kreacher’s absence but dismisses concern.
- Phineas Nigellus BlackDelivers Dumbledore’s message to Harry to stay put; needles Harry with sardonic counsel.
- Molly WeasleyFusses over Harry; distraught over Percy’s rejection; furious at Arthur’s Muggle “stitches.”
- Arthur WeasleyRecovering at St. Mungo’s; tried Muggle stitches on his wounds; endures Molly’s scolding.
- Gilderoy LockhartAmnesiac former professor in the Janus Thickey Ward; eager to sign autographs; memory still fragmented.
- Neville LongbottomFound visiting his parents; ashamed and defiant as friends learn they were tortured into insanity.
- Augusta LongbottomNeville’s stern grandmother; reveals his parents’ fate and urges Neville to feel pride, not shame.
- KreacherAbsent house-elf; filthy den discovered, featuring a mended photo of Bellatrix Lestrange.
- Remus LupinSupports the family at St. Mungo’s; helps calm Molly; escorts visit.
- Fred and George WeasleyBring humor on Christmas; report Percy returned his jumper; accompany family to St. Mungo’s.
- Mundungus FletcherProcures an enlarged car to ferry everyone to St. Mungo’s on Christmas Day.