Harry Potter, #5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Dumbledore’s Army
Overview
Hermione suspects Umbridge is intercepting mail, while a brutal Quidditch practice triggers Harry’s scar and a realization he senses Voldemort’s moods. Dobby returns Hedwig and reveals the Room of Requirement. Harry convenes the first secret Defense meeting, they name themselves Dumbledore’s Army, elect Harry leader, and successfully practice Disarming.
Summary
In Charms, amid practicing Silencing Charms, Hermione argues Umbridge must be reading Harry’s mail and nearly caught Sirius via the fire. Rain forces a miserable Quidditch practice; afterward Harry’s scar sears, and he realizes he can sense Voldemort’s moods—anger now, pleasure earlier—suggesting Voldemort is impatient about something being delayed.
That night Harry dozes by the fire, dreams of a windowless corridor and a locked door, and is awakened by Dobby, who returns a healed Hedwig. When Harry asks for a secret practice place, Dobby reveals the Come and Go Room—the Room of Requirement—detailing how it appears when needed.
The next day, despite storms canceling Quidditch, Harry spreads word for a Defense meeting. That evening he, Ron, and Hermione use the Marauder’s Map to avoid staff and summon the Room, which provides cushions, Dark Detectors, and shelves of defensive texts. Students arrive; Hermione calls a vote making Harry leader and they adopt the name Dumbledore’s Army to mask their purpose and tweak the Ministry.
Harry begins instruction with Expelliarmus. Zacharias Smith scoffs until Harry notes it saved his life. Practice is chaotic but improves; Neville succeeds, Fred and George prank Smith, and Harry circulates with advice, awkwardly coaching Cho and noticing Marietta’s reluctance. As curfew nears, Harry dismisses the group and schedules the next meeting while quietly savoring Cho’s admission that he makes her nervous.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterOrganizes the secret Defense group, senses Voldemort’s moods via his scar, dreams of a locked door, leads first D.A. practice.
- Hermione GrangerSuspects Umbridge reads Harry’s mail; urges caution; formalizes the group’s leadership and name; supports the Room’s use.
- Ron WeasleyBacks forming the group, practices in storms, worries over Harry’s scar, helps recruit and train.
- DobbyReturns Hedwig and reveals the Room of Requirement as the perfect clandestine practice space.
- Dolores UmbridgeOff-page presence; suspected of intercepting mail; her restrictions necessitate the secret D.A.
- Angelina JohnsonSecures permission to reform Gryffindor Quidditch; cancels later practice due to storms.
- Cho ChangSupports Harry as leader, struggles with spells near him, attends despite parental warnings; brings Marietta.
- Marietta EdgecombeCho’s reluctant friend; nervous and resentful during practice; her mother works at the Ministry.
- Neville LongbottomInitially partnerless; manages a successful Expelliarmus for the first time.
- Fred WeasleyEndures painful boils from prototype sweets; pranks Zacharias during practice.
- George WeasleyShares Quidditch misery and joins Fred in discreetly disarming Zacharias.
- Zacharias SmithSkeptical of Expelliarmus; repeatedly disarmed, partly due to Fred and George’s interference.
- Luna LovegoodEccentric but earnest participant; alternately effective and erratic; voices anti-Ministry views.
- Professor FlitwickOversees Charms; praises Hermione’s Silencing Charm.
- HedwigReturns healed with Dobby; a sign of Umbridge’s interference with mail.