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

Professor Umbridge

Previous: The Sorting Hat’s New Song Next: Detention with Dolores

Overview

House tensions deepen as Seamus snubs Harry, OWL stress builds, and Snape unfairly zeros Harry’s difficult potion. Trelawney starts dream work. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Umbridge imposes a theory-only, Ministry-approved curriculum and denies Voldemort’s return. Harry openly challenges her, earning week-long detentions, and McGonagall urges him to keep his head down.

Summary

Morning begins with Seamus avoiding Harry, reflecting growing skepticism fed by the Daily Prophet. Hermione removes Fred and George’s risky job advert, citing prefect duty, while OWL-year anxiety rises. Angelina announces Quidditch Keeper tryouts. At breakfast and History of Magic, Hermione notes no Prophet updates and chides Harry and Ron for not focusing.

In a damp courtyard, Cho Chang approaches Harry kindly, but Ron’s Quidditch banter cuts the moment short. In Potions, Snape assigns the precise Draught of Peace; Hermione excels while Harry misses an ingredient. Snape vanishes Harry’s potion and gives harsh homework, deepening Harry’s resentment. At lunch Harry snaps at Ron and Hermione and storms off.

Divination resumes with The Dream Oracle and a month-long dream diary. Ron and Harry struggle to engage, avoiding Harry’s traumatic dreams. OWL workloads pile up.

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Umbridge demands rote responses, assigns reading from Defensive Magical Theory, and outlines a theory-only, risk-free, Ministry-approved course. Hermione challenges the lack of practical magic; Umbridge stonewalls. Harry insists real threats exist and names Voldemort. Umbridge deducts points, declares the return a lie, and gives Harry a week of evening detentions.

Sent to McGonagall, Harry receives unexpected biscuits and a stern warning: Umbridge answers to the Ministry, and missteps could have serious consequences. McGonagall cannot cancel the detentions and urges Harry to control his temper and tread carefully.

Who Appears

Harry Potter

Faces peer doubt, clashes with Snape, challenges Umbridge’s denial of Voldemort, earns week-long detentions, and is cautioned by McGonagall.
Dolores Umbridge

New DADA teacher; enforces theory-only curriculum, denies Voldemort’s return, penalizes Harry, and asserts Ministry control.
Hermione Granger

Advocates unity, removes Weasley ad as prefect, questions Umbridge’s aims, and urges Harry to temper his anger.
Ron Weasley

Backs Harry, frets over OWLs, derails Harry’s chat with Cho, and endures Snape and Trelawney with Harry.
Professor McGonagall

Receives Umbridge’s referral, warns Harry to keep his temper, and cannot rescind his week of detentions.
Severus Snape

Assigns Draught of Peace, humiliates Harry for an error, and sets demanding homework.
Sibyll Trelawney

Begins dream interpretation unit and assigns a month-long dream diary.
Cho Chang

Approaches Harry kindly; brief conversation cut short by Ron’s Quidditch comments.
Seamus Finnigan

Avoids Harry after doubting his claims, highlighting house tensions.
Fred and George Weasley

Advertise for risky product testers; confident about exploiting OWL-year stress.
Dean Thomas

Defends practical defense lessons and Lupin; challenges Umbridge before being shut down.
Neville Longbottom

Supports Harry socially; struggles in Potions and pairs with Dean in Divination.
Angelina Johnson

New Gryffindor Quidditch Captain; schedules Keeper tryouts.
Peeves

Mocks Harry in the corridor until McGonagall intervenes.