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

Snape’s Worst Memory

Previous: The Centaur and the Sneak Next: Career Advice

Overview

Umbridge becomes headmistress, empowers the Inquisitorial Squad, and tries coercing Harry for Dumbledore and Sirius’s whereabouts. Fred and George sabotage the school with fireworks, undermining her authority. After a spat with Cho, Harry’s Occlumency lesson is delayed, and he illicitly enters Snape’s Pensieve, witnessing James and Sirius humiliating Snape while Lily defends him. Snape catches Harry and furiously ends the lessons, shattering Harry’s image of his father.

Summary

Overnight notices announce Umbridge as headmistress, while students buzz about Dumbledore’s dramatic escape. Malfoy reveals the Inquisitorial Squad and docks points, confirmed by the House hourglasses. Fred and George vow open rebellion. Filch summons Harry to Umbridge, who offers him a drink and presses him for Dumbledore’s and Sirius’s locations, boasting of monitored fires, owls, and passages. A massive explosion interrupts; Harry discreetly dumps the tea.

Downstairs, Weasleys’ enchanted fireworks flood the castle, defying spells and exhausting Umbridge as teachers unhelpfully defer to her “authority.” The twins become heroes in Gryffindor. That night Harry dreams he penetrates deeper into the Department of Mysteries to towering shelves of glass spheres before being jolted awake, then dreads the next Occlumency lesson.

The following day, Cho apologizes for Marietta, but the conversation sours as Harry defends Hermione’s jinx and condemns the betrayal; Cho storms off. At Snape’s lesson, Malfoy interrupts to report Montague’s reappearance, postponing the session. Alone, Harry notices Snape’s swirling Pensieve and, driven by curiosity and resentment, plunges in.

Harry lands in a memory of O.W.L. exams and follows teenage James, Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew to the lake, with Snape nearby. James shows off, then he and Sirius ambush Snape, disarm and humiliate him. Lily Evans intervenes, calling James an arrogant bully; Snape, freed, calls Lily a “Mudblood.” James demands an apology and resumes tormenting Snape.

Adult Snape yanks Harry out of the memory, livid. He hurls Harry away, forbids him from speaking of what he saw, and ends the lessons. Harry flees, shaken not by Snape’s rage but by witnessing his father’s cruelty and Snape’s public humiliation.

Who Appears

Harry Potter

Resists Umbridge’s interrogation, argues with Cho, illicitly enters Snape’s Pensieve, and witnesses his father bullying Snape.
Dolores Umbridge

Installed as headmistress; forms Inquisitorial Squad; monitors communications; attempts to extract Dumbledore/Sirius’s whereabouts from Harry.
Fred Weasley

Co-orchestrates spectacular fireworks pranks, triggering schoolwide chaos to undermine Umbridge.
George Weasley

Joins Fred in launching fireworks; delights in outwitting Umbridge; becomes a hero among students.
Severus Snape

Postpones Occlumency; his Pensieve reveals teenage humiliation; catches Harry and angrily ends lessons.
Draco Malfoy

Inquisitorial Squad member docking points; interrupts Snape with news about Montague; jeers at Harry.
Argus Filch

Supports Umbridge; relishes stricter punishments; futilely battles fireworks with a burning broom.
Cho Chang

Attempts to defend Marietta; quarrels with Harry over the jinx and loyalty, straining their relationship.
James Potter

In Pensieve memory, shows off and bullies Snape; rebuffed by Lily, exposing arrogance.
Sirius Black

As a teen in memory, aids James in hexing Snape; cool and complicit in bullying.
Lily Evans

Defends Snape, condemns James’s bullying; called a slur by Snape; rejects James’s advances.
Remus Lupin

Studious observer in memory; disapproves silently but doesn’t intervene against James and Sirius.
Peter Pettigrew

Follows and fawns over James; eagerly watches Snape’s humiliation in the memory.
Professor Flitwick

Feigns deference to Umbridge’s authority while letting her handle fireworks cleanup.
Professor McGonagall

Sardonically directs a student to summon Umbridge for a classroom firework, subtly undermining her.
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle

Back Malfoy’s intimidation as Inquisitorial Squad supporters.
Montague

Found jammed in a toilet after Vanishing Cabinet incident, prompting Snape’s departure.
Ernie Macmillan

Shares news about Umbridge and Dumbledore’s office; protests Inquisitorial Squad point-docking.
Ron Weasley

Supports Harry; watches chaos; present during common room celebrations and classes.
Hermione Granger

Warns twins about expulsion; later praises fireworks; her jinx sparks Harry-Cho dispute.