Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has always been my least favorite book in the series. However, after re-reading it more slowly this time, I have come to appreciate it more. I didn’t get as frustrated with Harry as I have been in the past. I found that I was more frustrated with Dumbledore than Harry. Funny how your thoughts and feelings change as you re-read your favorite books. I really thought I would have a very difficult time finding a favorite scene in Order of the Phoenix; however, I found two that really stood out to me. One is fairly obvious and then other one – not so much.
The Obvious Favorite Scene:
I love the scene at the end where The Order stands with Harry to meet his aunt and uncle after the end of the school year. After feeling so alone throughout the year, Harry sees that he isn’t alone after all. He can stand tall when he meets his dreaded relatives. Mad Eye is just the best in this scene.
…he found a surprise awaiting him on the other side: a group of people standing there to greet whom he had not expected.
…
“Hello, Harry,” said Lupin, as Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry and turned to greet Hermione.
“Hi,” said Harry. “I didn’t expect…what are you all doing here?”
“Well,” said Lupin with a slight smile, “we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home.”
“I dunno if that’s a good idea,” said Harry at once.
“Oh, I think it is,” growled Moody, who limped a little closer.
…
“We thought we’d just have a few words with you about Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, still smiling.
“Yeah,” said Moody. “About how he’s treated when he’s at your place.”
Uncle Vernon’s mustache seemed to bristle with indignation. Possibly because the bowler hat gave him the entirely mistaken impression that he was dealing with a kindred spirit, he addressed himself to Moody.
“I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house – ”
“I expect what you’re not aware of would fill several books, Dursley,” growled Moody.
“Anyway, that’s not the point,” interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Aunt Petunia more than all the rest put together, for she closed her eyes rather than look at her. “The point is, if we find out you’ve been horrible to Harry -”
” – and make no mistake, we’ll hear about it,” added Lupin pleasantly.
…
“Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter’s been mistreated in any way, you’ll have us to answer to,” said Moody,
Uncle Vernon swelled ominously. His sense of outrage seemed to outweigh even his fear of this bunch of oddballs.
“Are you threatening me, sir?” he said, so loudly that passersby actually turned to stare.
“Yes, I am,” said May-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that Uncle Vernon had grasped this fact so quickly.
“And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?” barked Uncle Vernon.
“Well…” said Moody, pushing back his bowler hat to reveal his sinisterly revolving magical eye. Uncle Vernon leapt backward in horror and collided with a luggage trolley. “Yes, I’d have to say you do, Dursley.”
He turned away from Uncle Vernon to survey Harry. “So, Potter…give us a shout if you need us. If we don’t hear from you for three days in a row, we’ll send someone along…”
The Not So Obvious Scene:
This scene is after Mr. Weasley has been attacked by Nagini and still in the hospital. Harry blames himself because he thinks that Voldemort has possessed him. However, Ginny is able to bring him back into the company of his friends. I think this is when Ginny became a major character in the series. She has finally entered into the fold as a trusted friend.
“Oh, stop feeling all misunderstood,” said Hermione sharply. “Look, the others have told what you overheard last night on the Extendable Ears -”
“Yeah?” growled Harry, his hands deep in his pockets as he watched the snow falling thickly outside. “All been talking about me, have you? Well, I’m getting used to it…”
“We wanted to talk to you, Harry,” said Ginny, “but as you’ve been hiding ever since we got back – ”
“I didn’t want anyone to talk to me,” said Harry, who was feeling more and more nettled.
“Well, that was a bit stupid of you,” said Ginny angrily, “seeing as you don’t know anyone but me who’s been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels.”
“Harry remained quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he wheeled around.
“I forgot,” he said.
“Lucky you,” said Ginny coolly.
“I’m sorry,” Harry said, and he meant it. “So…so do you think I’m being possessed, then?”
“Well, can you remember everything you’ve been doing?” Ginny asked. “Are there big blank periods where you don’t know what you’ve been up to?”
Harry racked his brains.
“No,” he said.
“Then You-Know-Who hasn’t ever possessed you,” said Ginny simply. When he did it to me, I couldn’t remember what I’d been doing for hours at a time. I’d find myself somewhere and not know how I got there.”
Harry hardly dared to believe her, yet his heart was lightening almost in spite of himself.
There you go! Those are my favorite scenes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. What are yours? Please leave me a comment and let me know!
Leave a Reply