Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Rob Black
Ro353
Gryffindor
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in J.K. Rowling’s
Harry Potter series was released in English this past June. This book follows
the life of Harry Potter in his fifth year at Hogwarts; once again, Harry must
face a threat to his life from Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who killed
Harry’s parents. In addition to the exterior threat, many things are
happening at Hogwarts with the introduction of a new Defense against the Dark
Arts Teacher, and a tightening of ministry control over the school.
The book begins with Harry, as he does every summer, staying with his
muggle relatives at 4 privet drive, little whining, surrey; a normal town in
England, which, to the best of Harry’s knowledge is devoid of any magical
people. That illusion is shattered after dementors attack him and his cousin
Dudley, and he finds out that his neighbor, Arbella Figg, is a squib who was
told to watch over him by Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. Following
his encounter with the dementor and his use of the Patronus Charm, he receives
a letter telling him that he has been expelled from Hogwarts for violating the
Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry. Through fast
intervention by Professor Dumbledore, as well as other members of the Order of
the Phoenix, a league of wizards created to fight Lord Voldemort in the first
war that is summoned upon the news of Voldemort’s rise, the expulsion is
withdrawn, and instead Harry would have to face a hearing at the Ministry
later in the summer. A few days later many Order members arrive at the house
of Harry’s Aunt and Uncle to take him to Headquarters; included in the group
are Remus Lupin, a werewolf and former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,
Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, an ex-Auror who caught many of the dark wizards in
the First War, Tonks, a current Auror, and many other people.
Upon arriving at Grimmauld Place, Sirius Black’s house and the new
headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, he is reunited with Ron Weasley and
Hermione Granger, his two best friends, and learns about some things that have
been happening in the wizarding world since his departure. He spends the rest
of the summer there leaving only to attend his hearing at the Ministry of
Magic, in which instead of just facing a few wizards he faces the full
Wizengamot, the first time it had been assembled since the end of the first
war. Much to the disappointment of Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge, who
are denying Harry’s claim of Voldemorts return, Harry is found not guilty
after Arbella Figg testifies that a Dementor was present in Little Whining.
Harry returns to Grimmauld Place following the trail and remains there until
the start of school on August 1.
Upon arriving at Hogwarts Harry is in for yet another surprise,
Professor Umbridge, the witch responsible for gaining and losing control of
Hogwarts, is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. At the first
Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Harry receives a detention for claiming,
correctly, the Lord Voldemort has risen. This first of many Detentions for
making this claim, is especially sadistic, Umbridge forces Harry to write with
a magical quill that cuts the words into his hand. As the year continues
Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter decide to take action
regarding their lack of education in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and create
a secret DADA society called Dumbledore’s Army. DA met many times throughout
the school year and was comprised of students from every house except for
Slytherin. Dolores Umbridge was then appointed Hogwarts High Inquisitor in
order to give her greater power in controlling the happenings of the School.
The turning point of the year occurred when a member of DA told Umbridge about
it, only through a well-timed memory charm and Dumbledore’s cover-up was Harry
able to avoid expulsion, though Dumbledore had to flee after cursing the
Minister and many Aurors. After Dumbledore’s departure Umbridge became
Headmistress and open revolt began among both Gryffindors and Professors.
Fred and George Weasley left Hogwarts on their brooms after creating a swamp
which none of the teachers were able to remove, though many knew how to;
Professor McGonagall was seen telling peeves how to unscrew a chandelier, and
many other teachers refused to do anything without Professor Umbridge’s
assistance. At the end of the school year, Harry has a dream that Sirius
Black, his godfather, is being held in the Department of Mysteries by Lord
Voldemort, in traditional fashion Harry gathers a group of friends who then
raid the Ministry. Harry finds out that the dream was planted in his head by
Voldemort and that Sirius is, in fact, safe at home; he also finds out what
the weapon is, a prophecy given before his birth. Following the realization
of a trap at the ministry Harry and his friends attempt to escape; they are
saved by a group of order wizards, as well as Dumbledore, who duels with
Voldemort. Unfortunately, Sirius Black is killed when he falls through a
curtain, devastating Harry. Upon their return to Hogwarts Harry hears the
prophecy, which states:
“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those
who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord
will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows
not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while
the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be
born as the seventh month dies...”
This Prophecy explains why Lord Voldemort killed Lily and James Potter and
attempted to kill Harry. The book concludes with Harry returning to spend yet
another summer at Privet Drive.
J.K. Rowling does an excellent job, as usual, in the fifth book in the
series, though there are some points that seem forced. The portrayal of Harry
begin to advance into adulthood, and having to deal with the increased
pressure of girls as well as the increased responsibility, creates a character
who is more like a real person, who is finally realizing the immense burden
placed upon him, instead of the kid we saw in the first four books. On the
downside, some of the scenes seem forced. For example, the scene in which
Sirius Black is killed seems to be placed in there just to kill him off and is
over before it started. In addition, there are many other scenes in the book
that leave questions unanswered and seem to be placed in the book for no
apparent reason. However, assuming JK Rowling performs as she has in the
past, the need for these events will become clear in later books, and the
overall quality of the fifth book will improve greatly.

I would have to say this is excellent as well, you have a great knowledge of the book and also you used a quote which shows that you understand the book and not only that it shows that know the book very well and proving your point...

60 points
well done...