# Dumbledore's Army

Dumbledore's Army (or D.A. for short) is a fictional student organisation in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. It is founded by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger after Dolores Umbridge, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, refuses to teach students practical defensive magic. With Harry as the lead instructor, the D.A. trains students in defensive spellcasting. It is founded in the fifth novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

## Synopsis

In the 2003 novel Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge, chooses to teach only the basic theoretical principles of the subject in her classes instead of practical applications. Her policy is an outgrowth of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge's erroneous fear that the Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore is assembling a student army to overthrow him. Umbridge's theory-only instruction is widely unpopular among the students, especially those who, like Harry, are in their fifth year and have to take O.W.L. exams on Defence Against the Dark Arts later in the year. Harry also believes that a lack of practical experience makes students more vulnerable to Lord Voldemort's forces, though the Ministry staunchly refuses to accept that Voldemort has returned. This prompts Hermione Granger to suggest founding a student group where Harry would teach practical Defence Against the Dark Arts.
After Umbridge learns about the project, she bans all unapproved student organisations, so meetings are secretly held in the Room of Requirement and announced to members through the use of enchanted fake Galleons created by Hermione. Cho Chang suggests the "Defence Association", shortened to "D.A.", as the official name for the group, but Ginny Weasley's suggestion of "Dumbledore's Army", to mock the Ministry's paranoia and to show the group's loyalty to Dumbledore, is chosen.
When Cho's friend Marietta Edgecombe betrays the group to Umbridge (Cho herself while under the influence of the truth potion Veritaserum in the film), Marietta is cursed with pimples on her face as a result of Hermione's casting a spell on the D.A. membership list which all members of the D.A signed. Later on, to prevent Harry's expulsion and the incrimination of other members, Dumbledore claims responsibility for organising the group, then escapes when Ministry officials attempt to arrest him. Though the D.A. stops meeting following these events, three members — Ginny, Neville and Luna — join Harry, Ron and Hermione in the battle in the Department of Mysteries towards the end of the fifth book. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Neville and Luna are distraught due to the fact that the D.A. no longer exists. When Hogwarts is invaded by Death Eaters, they are among the members who join the Order of the Phoenix in the ensuing battle.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with Harry, Ron and Hermione absent from Hogwarts, Neville, Ginny and Luna begin a covert rebellion against new headmaster Severus Snape by reactivating the D.A. However, Luna is abducted at Christmas and Ginny leaves during Easter, leaving Neville for a few weeks as the D.A.'s leader. Neville tells Harry that most of the D.A.'s activity ceased shortly after Michael Corner was tortured by Death Eater siblings Alecto and Amycus Carrow for trying to rescue a first-year boy from imprisonment. The group thereafter hide from the Death Eaters in the Room of Requirement, using a secret passage to the Hog's Head created by the Room of Requirement to find food. The D.A. believed that if Harry returned he would lead them in a revolution against Snape and the Carrows and are disappointed when he initially refuses to let them help. Harry does lead an impromptu revolt, but only himself, Luna and Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Slughorn take part in it, with Harry and Luna taking out the Carrows, and the professors (rallied by McGonagall and Harry) driving off Snape. In the book's climax, the D.A. (alongside the Order of the Phoenix) plays an important role in the Battle of Hogwarts, giving Harry enough time to find the remaining Horcruxes.
In the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, an alternate timeline is created in which Voldemort has won the Battle of Hogwarts, killed Harry and triumphed over the wizarding world. Ron and Hermione maintained the last remnants of the D.A. Twenty years later, they still wage hopeless resistance against the all-powerful Voldemort, clandestinely helped by Snape – in this reality still alive and still teaching at Hogwarts. Eventually, these remnants of the D.A. sacrifice themselves to cover the escape of Scorpius Malfoy and let him restore the timeline where Harry wins the Battle of Hogwarts.

## Members
#### Hannah Abbott

A Hufflepuff prefect in Harry's year. In Half-Blood Prince, Hannah leaves Hogwarts after her mother is murdered by Death Eaters, but returns in Deathly Hallows to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts. As an adult, Hannah becomes the owner of The Leaky Cauldron and marries Neville Longbottom. Charlotte Skeoch portrays Hannah in the Harry Potter films and voices her in the Order of the Phoenix video game. Louisa Warren voices her in the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 game.

#### Katie Bell

A Gryffindor Quidditch Chaser one year above Harry. In Half-Blood Prince, Katie is cursed after touching a necklace Draco Malfoy intended to give to Albus Dumbledore. In Deathly Hallows, she participates in the Battle of Hogwarts. Katie is portrayed by Emily Dale in the first two Harry Potter films. She is portrayed by Georgina Leonidas in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. Leonidas also voices Katie in the Half-Blood Prince video game.

#### Susan Bones

A Hufflepuff student in Harry's year. She is the niece of Ministry of Magic official Amelia Bones and Order of the Phoenix member Edgar Bones. Eleanor Columbus portrays Susan in the first two Harry Potter films and several video games.

#### Terry Boot

A Ravenclaw student in Harry's year. He is a close friend of Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein.

#### Lavender Brown

A Gryffindor student in Harry's year. In Order of the Phoenix, she initially believes the Ministry's smear campaign against Harry, but is one of the first members of Dumbledore's Army. In Half-Blood Prince, Lavender has a romance with Ron Weasley for several months. She becomes jealous of Ron's friendship with Hermione Granger, and eventually breaks up with him. In Deathly Hallows, Lavender is attacked by Fenrir Greyback. Her fate is not clear in the novel, although she dies in the film version. Lavender is portrayed by Kathleen Cauley in Chamber of Secrets, by Jennifer Smith in Prisoner of Azkaban, and by Jessie Cave in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

#### Cho Chang

A Ravenclaw Quidditch Seeker one year above Harry. She is Harry's first love interest. In the novels, she is described as being very pretty and frequently accompanied by a group of giggling girls. In Goblet of Fire, Harry asks Cho to the Yule Ball, but Cho replies that she is already going with Cedric Diggory. Cho is one of the first students to believe Harry's declaration of Voldemort's return. She joins the D.A. because she wants to fight Voldemort and avenge Cedric's murder. In the film adaptation of Order of the Phoenix, she exposes the D.A. to Umbridge while under the influence of Veritaserum, whereas in the novel it is her friend Marietta Edgecombe who willfully betrays the group. Cho kisses Harry under the mistletoe before the Christmas holidays, then goes on a date with him on Valentine's Day. Harry eventually ends their relationship, and Cho later dates Michael Corner. During a 2007 book signing, Rowling said that Cho eventually marries a Muggle.
Cho is portrayed by the Scottish actress Katie Leung in the Harry Potter films. Leung said that following her appearance in Goblet of Fire, she was the target of racist comments online. Rowling has been criticised on social media for selecting the name "Cho Chang" for the character. Social media users have called the name choice "lazy" and stereotypical, and have also criticised Cho's characterisation.

#### Michael Corner

A Ravenclaw student in Harry's year. In Goblet of Fire, he begins a romance with Ginny Weasley, but she eventually ends the relationship. He then begins seeing Cho Chang. In Deathly Hallows, Michael is tortured by the Carrows for trying to free a student from imprisonment. The incident causes the D.A. to cease operations until Harry returns.

#### Colin and Dennis Creevey

Two Muggle-born brothers in Gryffindor. Colin enjoys taking photographs, which saves him from the Basilisk in Chamber of Secrets. The camera shields him from direct eye contact with the creature, and he is Petrified instead of killed. Colin dies during the Battle of Hogwarts. Hugh Mitchell portrays Colin in the film adaptation of Chamber of Secrets and voices him in the Order of the Phoenix video game. Dennis does not appear in the Harry Potter films.

#### Marietta Edgecombe

A Ravenclaw student who joins the D.A. after being pressured by her friend Cho Chang. Marietta later betrays the group to Umbridge.

#### Seamus Finnigan

An Irish Gryffindor student in Harry's year. He is a close friend of Dean Thomas. In Order of the Phoenix, Seamus is initially influenced by the Ministry's smear campaign against Harry, but realises his mistake and becomes a late addition to the D.A. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Seamus conjures a Patronus to fight Dementors. Devon Murray plays Seamus in the Harry Potter films and voices him in the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 video game.

#### Justin Finch-Fletchley

A Muggle-born Hufflepuff student in Harry's year. In Chamber of Secrets, he is temporarily Petrified by the Basilisk, but is saved from death by Nearly Headless Nick. Justin is played by Edward Randell in the film adaptation of Chamber of Secrets.

#### Anthony Goldstein

A Ravenclaw prefect in Harry's year.

#### Hermione Granger

Hermione is a Muggle-born Gryffindor prefect in Harry's year, and one of his closest friends. She is a co-founder of Dumbledore's Army. She eventually marries Ron Weasley.

#### Angelina Johnson

A Gryffindor Quidditch Chaser two years above Harry. She becomes team captain in Harry's fifth year. She returns to the school to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts. Danielle Tabor portrays Angelina in the first three Harry Potter films. Tiana Benjamin plays her in Goblet of Fire and voices her in the Order of the Phoenix video game.

#### Lee Jordan

A Gryffindor student and close friend of Fred and George Weasley. He is two years above Harry and serves as the Quidditch commentator at Hogwarts. In Deathly Hallows, Lee becomes a pirate radio broadcaster on a station called Potterwatch, which supports the activities of Harry and the Order of the Phoenix. He and George defeat the Death Eater Corban Yaxley in the Battle of Hogwarts. Luke Youngblood portrays Lee in the Harry Potter films and voices him in the Order of the Phoenix video game.

#### Neville Longbottom

Neville is a Gryffindor student in Harry's year. He leads Dumbledore's Army after Harry, Ron and Hermione leave Hogwarts. He kills Voldemort's snake Nagini during the Battle of Hogwarts.

#### Luna Lovegood

Luna is a Ravenclaw student one year below Harry. She is the daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood.

#### Ernie Macmillan

A Hufflepuff prefect in Harry's year. In Chamber of Secrets, Ernie initially believes that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin and responsible for the attacks on Muggle-born students. Later, he is among the few students who openly support Harry's claims that Voldemort has returned. In Deathly Hallows, he participates in the Battle of Hogwarts. Louis Doyle portrays Ernie in the Harry Potter films and voices him in the Order of the Phoenix video game.

#### Padma Patil

A Ravenclaw prefect in Harry's year and the twin sister of Parvati Patil. In Goblet of Fire, Padma attends the Yule Ball with Ron Weasley. Padma and Parvati leave Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death in Half-Blood Prince, but return in Deathly Hallows to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts. In the Harry Potter films, Padma is in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw, and is portrayed by Afshan Azad.

#### Parvati Patil

A Gryffindor student in Harry's year and the twin sister of Padma Patil. She and her friend Lavender Brown are fond of Sybill Trelawney's Divination class. In Goblet of Fire, Parvati attends the Yule Ball with Harry. Padma and Parvati leave Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death in Half-Blood Prince, but return in Deathly Hallows to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts. Parvati is portrayed by Sitara Shah in Prisoner of Azkaban and by Shefali Chowdhury in subsequent films.

#### Harry Potter

Harry is a co-founder of Dumbledore's Army and its first leader. He is a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts and a close friend of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He is the orphaned son of Lily and James Potter.

#### Zacharias Smith

A Chaser for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. He joins the D.A. but is sceptical of Harry's claims. He is a Quidditch commentator in Half-Blood Prince. Nick Shirm voices Zacharias in the Order of the Phoenix video game.

#### Alicia Spinnet

A Gryffindor Quidditch Chaser two years above Harry. She returns to the school for the Battle of Hogwarts. Alicia is portrayed by Leilah Sutherland in Philosopher's Stone and by Rochelle Douglas in Chamber of Secrets.

#### Dean Thomas

A Gryffindor student in Harry's year and a close friend of Seamus Finnigan. Rowling omitted his physical description ("a black boy taller than Ron") from the British edition of Philosopher's Stone following her editor's request to reduce the length of a chapter, but his description was included in the American edition. Dean dates Ginny Weasley at one point. In Deathly Hallows, he is captured by Snatchers and taken to Malfoy Manor along with Harry, Ron and Hermione. They are all rescued by the house-elf Dobby, and Dean later participates in the Battle of Hogwarts. Alfred Enoch portrays Dean in the Harry Potter films and voices him in the Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows – Part 1 video games.

#### Fred and George Weasley

Fred and George are the identical twin brothers of the Weasley family. They are two years above Harry in Gryffindor.

#### Ginny Weasley

Ginny is a Seeker and Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She is one year below Harry and eventually marries him.

#### Ron Weasley

Ron is a Gryffindor prefect, a Quidditch Keeper and a co-founder of Dumbledore's Army. He is a close friend of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. He eventually marries Hermione.

## Cultural impact

In his essay "Heroes and Horcruxes: Dumbledore's Army as Metonym", Christopher E. Bell interprets Dumbledore's Army as a metonym. Several other scholars have regarded the D.A. as an example of inspirational educational practices.
The actor and comedian Andrew Slack created a group called Harry Potter Alliance to highlight the crisis in Sudan and social inequalities. In an interview, Slack compared Harry and the D.A. to Darfur, claiming, "With both the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet (the Wizarding World's mainstream news source) in denial that Voldemort has returned and evil is afoot, Harry and his underground rebel group, 'Dumbledore's Army,' work with the adult group, 'The Order of the Phoenix,' to awake the world into peace."