diff --git "a/data/Book 5 - The Order of the Phoenix.txt" "b/data/Book 5 - The Order of the Phoenix.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/data/Book 5 - The Order of the Phoenix.txt" @@ -0,0 +1,49465 @@ +HARRY + +POTTER + + + + +I + + + + +DUDLEY DEMENTED + +The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to +a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square +houses of Privet Drive. Cars that were usually +gleaming stood dusty in their drives and lawns that +were once emerald green lay parched and yellowing; +the use of hosepipes had been banned due to +drought. Deprived of their usual car-washing and +lawn-mowing pursuits, the inhabitants of Privet Drive +had retreated into the shade of their cool houses, +windows thrown wide in the hope of tempting in a +nonexistent breeze. The only person left outdoors was +a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a +flower bed outside number four. + +He was a skinny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who +had the pinched, slightly unhealthy look of someone +who has grown a lot in a short space of time. His +jeans were torn and dirty, his T-shirt baggy and +faded, and the soles of his trainers were peeling away +from the uppers. Harry Potter’s appearance did not +endear him to the neighbors, who were the sort of +people who thought scruffiness ought to be +Page | 2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +punishable by law, but as he had hidden himself +behind a large hydrangea bush this evening he was +quite invisible to passersby. In fact, the only way he +would be spotted was if his Uncle Vernon or Aunt +Petunia stuck their heads out of the living room +window and looked straight down into the flower bed +below. + +On the whole, Harry thought he was to be +congratulated on his idea of hiding here. He was not, +perhaps, very comfortable lying on the hot, hard +earth, but on the other hand, nobody was glaring at +him, grinding their teeth so loudly that he could not +hear the news, or shooting nasty questions at him, as +had happened every time he had tried sitting down in +the living room and watching television with his aunt +and uncle. + +Almost as though this thought had fluttered through +the open window, Vernon Dursley, Harry’s uncle, +suddenly spoke. “Glad to see the boy’s stopped trying +to butt in. Where is he anyway?” + +“I don’t know,” said Aunt Petunia unconcernedly. “Not +in the house.” + +Uncle Vernon grunted. + +“Watching the news ...” he said scathingly. “I’d like to +know what he’s really up to. As if a normal boy cares +what’s on the news — Dudley hasn’t got a clue what’s +going on, doubt he knows who the Prime Minister is! +Anyway, it’s not as if there ’d be anything about his lot +on our news — ” + +“Vernon, shh\” said Aunt Petunia. “The window’s +open!” + +“Oh — yes — sorry, dear ...” + +Page | 3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +The Dursleys fell silent. Harry listened to a jingle +about Fruit ’N Bran breakfast cereal while he watched +Mrs. Figg, a batty, cat-loving old lady from nearby +Wisteria Walk, amble slowly past. She was frowning +and muttering to herself. Harry was very pleased that +he was concealed behind the bush; Mrs. Figg had +recently taken to asking him around for tea whenever +she met him in the street. She had rounded the +corner and vanished from view before Uncle Vernon’s +voice floated out of the window again. + +“Dudders out for tea?” + +“At the Polkisses’,” said Aunt Petunia fondly. “He’s got +so many little friends, he’s so popular ...” + +Harry repressed a snort with difficulty. The Dursleys +really were astonishingly stupid about their son, +Dudley; they had swallowed all his dim-witted lies +about having tea with a different member of his gang +every night of the summer holidays. Harry knew +perfectly well that Dudley had not been to tea +anywhere; he and his gang spent every evening +vandalizing the play park, smoking on street corners, +and throwing stones at passing cars and children. +Harry had seen them at it during his evening walks +around Little Whinging; he had spent most of the +holidays wandering the streets, scavenging +newspapers from bins along the way. + +The opening notes of the music that heralded the +seven o’clock news reached Harry’s ears and his +stomach turned over. Perhaps tonight — after a +month of waiting — would be the night — + +“Record numbers of stranded holidaymakers fill +airports as the Spanish baggage-handlers’ strike +reaches its second week — ” + + + +Page | 4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Give ’em a lifelong siesta, I would,” snarled Uncle +Vernon over the end of the newsreader’s sentence, +but no matter: Outside in the flower bed, Harry’s +stomach seemed to unclench. If anything had +happened, it would surely have been the first item on +the news; death and destruction were more important +than stranded holidaymakers... + +He let out a long, slow breath and stared up at the +brilliant blue sky. Every day this summer had been +the same: the tension, the expectation, the temporary +relief, and then mounting tension again . . . and +always, growing more insistent all the time, the +question of why nothing had happened yet... + +He kept listening, just in case there was some small +clue, not recognized for what it really was by the +Muggles — an unexplained disappearance, +perhaps, or some strange accident ... but the +baggage-handlers’ strike was followed by news on the +drought in the Southeast (“I hope he’s listening next +door!” bellowed Uncle Vernon, “with his sprinklers on +at three in the morning!”); then a helicopter that had +almost crashed in a field in Surrey, then a famous +actress’s divorce from her famous husband (“as if +we’re interested in their sordid affairs,” sniffed Aunt +Petunia, who had followed the case obsessively in +every magazine she could lay her bony hands on). + +Harry closed his eyes against the now blazing evening +sky as the newsreader said, “And finally, Bungy the +budgie has found a novel way of keeping cool this +summer. Bungy, who lives at the Five Feathers in +Barnsley, has learned to water-ski! Mary Dorkins +went to find out more...” + +Harry opened his eyes again. If they had reached +water-skiing budgerigars, there was nothing else +worth hearing. He rolled cautiously onto his front and + +Page | 5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +raised himself onto his knees and elbows, preparing +to crawl out from under the window. + +He had moved about two inches when several things +happened in very quick succession. + +A loud, echoing crack broke the sleepy silence like a +gunshot; a cat streaked out from under a parked car +and flew out of sight; a shriek, a bellowed oath, and +the sound of breaking china came from the Dursleys’ +living room, and as though Harry had been waiting +for this signal, he jumped to his feet, at the same time +pulling from the waistband of his jeans a thin wooden +wand as if he were unsheathing a sword. But before +he could draw himself up to full height, the top of his +head collided with the Dursleys’ open window, and +the resultant crash made Aunt Petunia scream even +louder. + +Harry felt as if his head had been split in two; eyes +streaming, he swayed, trying to focus on the street +and spot the source of the noise, but he had barely +staggered upright again when two large purple hands +reached through the open window and closed tightly +around his throat. + +“Put — it — away\” Uncle Vernon snarled into Harry’s +ear. “Now\ Before — anyone — sees!” + +“Get — off — me!” Harry gasped; for a few seconds +they struggled, Harry pulling at his uncle’s sausage- +like fingers with his left hand, his right maintaining a +firm grip on his raised wand. Then, as the pain in the +top of Harry’s head gave a particularly nasty throb, +Uncle Vernon yelped and released Harry as though he +had received an electric shock — some invisible force +seemed to have surged through his nephew, making +him impossible to hold. + + + +Page | 6 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Panting, Harry fell forward over the hydrangea bush, +straightened up, and stared around. There was no +sign of what had caused the loud cracking noise, but +there were several faces peering through various +nearby windows. Harry stuffed his wand hastily back +into his jeans and tried to look innocent. + +“Lovely evening!” shouted Uncle Vernon, waving at +Mrs. Number Seven, who was glaring from behind her +net curtains. “Did you hear that car backfire just +now? Gave Petunia and me quite a turn!” + +He continued to grin in a horrible, manic way until all +the curious neighbors had disappeared from their +various windows, then the grin became a grimace of +rage as he beckoned Harry back toward him. + +Harry moved a few steps closer, taking care to stop +just short of the point at which Uncle Vernon’s +outstretched hands could resume their strangling. + +“What the devil do you mean by it, boy?” asked Uncle +Vernon in a croaky voice that trembled with fury. + +“What do I mean by what?” said Harry coldly. He kept +looking left and right up the street, still hoping to see +the person who had made the cracking noise. + +“Making a racket like a starting pistol right outside +our — ” + +“I didn’t make that noise,” said Harry firmly. + +Aunt Petunia’s thin, horsey face now appeared beside +Uncle Vernon’s wide, purple one. She looked livid. + +“Why were you lurking under our window?” + + + +Page | 7 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes — yes, good point, Petunia! What were you doing +under our window, boy?” + +“Listening to the news,” said Harry in a resigned +voice. + +His aunt and uncle exchanged looks of outrage. + +“Listening to the news! Again?” + +“Well, it changes every day, you see,” said Harry. + +“Don’t you be clever with me, boy! I want to know +what you’re really up to — and don’t give me any +more of this listening to the news tosh! You know +perfectly well that your lot ...” + +“Careful, Vernon!” breathed Aunt Petunia, and Uncle +Vernon lowered his voice so that Harry could barely +hear him, "... that your lot don’t get on our news!” + +“That’s all you know,” said Harry. + +The Dursleys goggled at him for a few seconds, then +Aunt Petunia said, “You’re a nasty little liar. What are +all those — ” she too lowered her voice so that Harry +had to lip-read the next word, “ — owls — doing if +they’re not bringing you news?” + +“Aha!” said Uncle Vernon in a triumphant whisper. +“Get out of that one, boy! As if we didn’t know you get +all your news from those pestilential birds!” + +Harry hesitated for a moment. It cost him something +to tell the truth this time, even though his aunt and +uncle could not possibly know how bad Harry felt at +admitting it. + + + +Page | 8 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The owls ... aren’t bringing me news,” said Harry +tonelessly. + +“I don’t believe it,” said Aunt Petunia at once. + +“No more do I,” said Uncle Vernon forcefully. + +“We know you’re up to something funny,” said Aunt +Petunia. + +“We’re not stupid, you know,” said Uncle Vernon. + +“Well, that’s news to me,” said Harry, his temper +rising, and before the Dursleys could call him back, +he had wheeled about, crossed the front lawn, +stepped over the low garden wall, and was striding off +up the street. + +He was in trouble now and he knew it. He would have +to face his aunt and uncle later and pay the price for +his rudeness, but he did not care very much just at +the moment; he had much more pressing matters on +his mind. + +Harry was sure that the cracking noise had been +made by someone Apparating or Disapparating. It +was exactly the sound Dobby the house-elf made +when he vanished into thin air. Was it possible that +Dobby was here in Privet Drive? Could Dobby be +following him right at this very moment? As this +thought occurred he wheeled around and stared back +down Privet Drive, but it appeared to be completely +deserted again and Harry was sure that Dobby did +not know how to become invisible... + +He walked on, hardly aware of the route he was +taking, for he had pounded these streets so often +lately that his feet carried him to his favorite haunts +automatically. Every few steps he glanced back over + +Page | 9 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +his shoulder. Someone magical had been near him as +he lay among Aunt Petunias dying begonias, he was +sure of it. Why hadn’t they spoken to him, why hadn’t +they made contact, why were they hiding now? + +And then, as his feeling of frustration peaked, his +certainty leaked away. + +Perhaps it hadn’t been a magical sound after all. +Perhaps he was so desperate for the tiniest sign of +contact from the world to which he belonged that he +was simply overreacting to perfectly ordinary noises. +Could he be sure it hadn’t been the sound of +something breaking inside a neighbor’s house? + +Harry felt a dull, sinking sensation in his stomach +and, before he knew it, the feeling of hopelessness +that had plagued him all summer rolled over him +once again... + +Tomorrow morning he would be awoken by the alarm +at five o’clock so that he could pay the owl that +delivered the Daily Prophet — but was there any point +in continuing to take it? Harry merely glanced at the +front page before throwing it aside these days; when +the idiots who ran the paper finally realized that +Voldemort was back it would be headline news, and +that was the only kind Harry cared about. + +If he was lucky, there would also be owls carrying +letters from his best friends, Ron and Hermione, +though any expectation he had had that their letters +would bring him news had long since been dashed. + +“We can’t say much about you-know-what, +obviously...” “We’ve been told not to say anything +important in case our letters go astray...” “We’re quite +busy but I can’t give you details here...” “There’s a fair + + + +Page | 10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +amount going on, we’ll tell you everything when we see +you...” + +But when were they going to see him? Nobody seemed +too bothered with a precise date. Hermione had +scribbled, “I expect we’ll be seeing you quite soon” +inside his birthday card, but how soon was soon? As +far as Harry could tell from the vague hints in their +letters, Hermione and Ron were in the same place, +presumably at Ron’s parents’ house. He could hardly +bear to think of the pair of them having fun at the +Burrow when he was stuck in Privet Drive. In fact, he +was so angry at them that he had thrown both their +birthday presents of Honeydukes chocolates away +unopened, though he had regretted this after eating +the wilting salad Aunt Petunia had provided for +dinner that night. + +And what were Ron and Hermione busy with? Why +wasn’t he, Harry, busy? Hadn’t he proved himself +capable of handling much more than they? Had they +all forgotten what he had done? Hadn’t it been he who +had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being +murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly +killed ... ? + +Don’t think about that, Harry told himself sternly for +the hundredth time that summer. It was bad enough +that he kept revisiting the graveyard in his +nightmares, without dwelling on it in his waking +moments too. + +He turned a corner into Magnolia Crescent; halfway +along he passed the narrow alleyway down the side of +a garage where he had first clapped eyes on his +godfather. Sirius, at least, seemed to understand how +Harry was feeling; admittedly his letters were just as +empty of proper news as Ron and Hermione’s, but at + + + +Page | 11 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +least they contained words of caution and consolation +instead of tantalizing hints: + +“ I know this must be frustrating for you...” “Keep your +nose clean and everything will be okay...” “Be careful +and don’t do anything rash...” + +Well, thought Harry, as he crossed Magnolia +Crescent, turned into Magnolia Road, and headed +toward the darkening play park, he had (by and large) +done as Sirius advised; he had at least resisted the +temptation to tie his trunk to his broomstick and set +off for the Burrow by himself. In fact Harry thought +his behavior had been very good considering how +frustrated and angry he felt at being stuck in Privet +Drive this long, reduced to hiding in flower beds in +the hope of hearing something that might point to +what Lord Voldemort was doing. Nevertheless, it was +quite galling to be told not to be rash by a man who +had served twelve years in the wizard prison, + +Azkaban, escaped, attempted to commit the murder +he had been convicted for in the first place, then gone +on the run with a stolen hippogriff. . . + +Harry vaulted over the locked park gate and set off +across the parched grass. The park was as empty as +the surrounding streets. When he reached the swings +he sank onto the only one that Dudley and his friends +had not yet managed to break, coiled one arm around +the chain, and stared moodily at the ground. He +would not be able to hide in the Dursleys’ flower bed +again. Tomorrow he would have to think of some +fresh way of listening to the news. In the meantime, +he had nothing to look forward to but another +restless, disturbed night, because even when he +escaped nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling +dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in +dead ends and locked doors, which he supposed had +something to do with the trapped feeling he had when +Page | 12 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he was awake. Often the old scar on his forehead +prickled uncomfortably, but he did not fool himself +that Ron or Hermione or Sirius would find that very +interesting anymore... In the past his scar hurting +had warned that Voldemort was getting stronger +again, but now that Voldemort was back they would +probably remind him that its regular irritation was +only to be expected... Nothing to worry about ... old +news ... + +The injustice of it all welled up inside him so that he +wanted to yell with fury. If it hadn’t been for him, +nobody would even have known Voldemort was back! +And his reward was to be stuck in Little Whinging for +four solid weeks, completely cut off from the magical +world, reduced to squatting among dying begonias so +that he could hear about water-skiing budgerigars! +How could Dumbledore have forgotten him so easily? +Why had Ron and Hermione got together without +inviting him along too? How much longer was he +supposed to endure Sirius telling him to sit tight and +be a good boy; or resist the temptation to write to the +stupid Daily Prophet and point out that Voldemort +had returned? These furious thoughts whirled around +in Harry’s head, and his insides writhed with anger as +a sultry, velvety night fell around him, the air full of +the smell of warm, dry grass and the only sound that +of the low grumble of traffic on the road beyond the +park railings. + +He did not know how long he had sat on the swing +before the sound of voices interrupted his musings +and he looked up. The street-lamps from the +surrounding roads were casting a misty glow strong +enough to silhouette a group of people making their +way across the park. One of them was singing a loud, +crude song. The others were laughing. A soft ticking +noise came from several expensive racing bikes that +they were wheeling along. + +Page | 13 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry knew who those people were. The figure in front +was unmistakably his cousin, Dudley Dursley, +wending his way home, accompanied by his faithful +gang. + +Dudley was as vast as ever, but a year’s hard dieting +and the discovery of a new talent had wrought quite a +change in his physique. As Uncle Vernon delightedly +told anyone who would listen, Dudley had recently +become the Junior Heavyweight Inter-School Boxing +Champion of the Southeast. “The noble sport,” as +Uncle Vernon called it, had made Dudley even more +formidable than he had seemed to Harry in the +primary school days when he had served as Dudley’s +first punching bag. Harry was not remotely afraid of +his cousin anymore but he still didn’t think that +Dudley learning to punch harder and more accurately +was cause for celebration. Neighborhood children all +around were terrified of him — even more terrified +than they were of “that Potter boy,” who, they had +been warned, was a hardened hooligan who attended +St. Brutus’s Secure Center for Incurably Criminal +Boys. + +Harry watched the dark figures crossing the grass +and wondered whom they had been beating up +tonight. Look round, Harry found himself thinking as +he watched them. Come on ... look round ... I’m sitting +here all alone... Come and have ago... + +If Dudley’s friends saw him sitting here, they would +be sure to make a beeline for him, and what would +Dudley do then? He wouldn’t want to lose face in +front of the gang, but he’d be terrified of provoking +Harry. . . It would be really fun to watch Dudley’s +dilemma; to taunt him, watch him, with him +powerless to respond . . . and if any of the others tried +hitting Harry, Harry was ready — he had his wand . . . +let them try ... He’d love to vent some of his +Page | 14 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +frustration on the boys who had once made his life +hell — + + + +But they did not turn around, they did not see him, +they were almost at the railings. Harry mastered the +impulse to call after them... Seeking a fight was not a +smart move... He must not use magic... He would be +risking expulsion again... + +Dudley’s gang’s voices died; they were out of sight, +heading along Magnolia Road. + +There you go, Sirius, Harry thought dully. Nothing +rash. Kept my nose clean. Exactly the opposite of what +you’d have done ... + +He got to his feet and stretched. Aunt Petunia and +Uncle Vernon seemed to feel that whenever Dudley +turned up was the right time to be home, and anytime +after that was much too late. Uncle Vernon had +threatened to lock Harry in the shed if he came home +after Dudley again, so, stifling a yawn, still scowling, +Harry set off toward the park gate. + +Magnolia Road, like Privet Drive, was full of large, +square houses with perfectly manicured lawns, all +owned by large, square owners who drove very clean +cars similar to Uncle Vernon’s. Harry preferred Little +Whinging by night, when the curtained windows +made patches of jewel-bright colors in the darkness +and he ran no danger of hearing disapproving +mutters about his “delinquent” appearance when he +passed the householders. He walked quickly, so that +halfway along Magnolia Road Dudley’s gang came into +view again; they were saying their farewells at the +entrance to Magnolia Crescent. Harry stepped into +the shadow of a large lilac tree and waited. + + + +Page | 15 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +"... squealed like a pig, didn’t he?” Malcolm was +saying, to guffaws from the others. + +“Nice right hook, Big D,” said Piers. + +“Same time tomorrow?” said Dudley. + +“Round at my place, my parents are out,” said +Gordon. + +“See you then,” said Dudley. + +“Bye Dud!” + +“See ya, Big D!” + +Harry waited for the rest of the gang to move on +before setting off again. When their voices had faded +once more he headed around the corner into Magnolia +Crescent and by walking very quickly he soon came +within hailing distance of Dudley, who was strolling +along at his ease, humming tunelessly. + +“Hey, Big D!” + +Dudley turned. + +“Oh,” he grunted. “It’s you.” + +“How long have you been ‘Big D’ then?” said Harry. + +“Shut it,” snarled Dudley, turning away again. + +“Cool name,” said Harry, grinning and falling into +step beside his cousin. “But you’ll always be Ickle +Diddykins to me.” + +“I said, SHUT IT!” said Dudley, whose ham-like hands +had curled into fists. + +Page | 16 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Don’t the boys know that’s what your mum calls +you?” + +“Shut your face.” + +“You don’t tell her to shut her face. What about +‘popkin’ and ‘Dinky Diddydums,’ can I use them +then?” + +Dudley said nothing. The effort of keeping himself +from hitting Harry seemed to be demanding all his +self-control. + +“So who’ve you been beating up tonight?” Harry +asked, his grin fading. “Another ten-year-old? I know +you did Mark Evans two nights ago — ” + +“He was asking for it,” snarled Dudley. + +“Oh yeah?” + +“He cheeked me.” + +“Yeah? Did he say you look like a pig that’s been +taught to walk on its hind legs? ’Cause that’s not +cheek, Dud, that’s true ...” + +A muscle was twitching in Dudley’s jaw. It gave Harry +enormous satisfaction to know how furious he was +making Dudley; he felt as though he was siphoning +off his own frustration into his cousin, the only outlet +he had. + +They turned right down the narrow alleyway where +Harry had first seen Sirius and which formed a +shortcut between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria +Walk. It was empty and much darker than the streets +it linked because there were no streetlamps. Their + + + +Page | 17 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +footsteps were muffled between garage walls on one +side and a high fence on the other. + +“Think you’re a big man carrying that thing, don’t +you?” Dudley said after a few seconds. + +“What thing?” + +“That — that thing you’re hiding.” + +Harry grinned again. + +“Not as stupid as you look, are you, Dud? But I s’pose +if you were, you wouldn’t be able to walk and talk at +the same time...” + +Harry pulled out his wand. He saw Dudley look +sideways at it. + +“You’re not allowed,” Dudley said at once. “I know +you’re not. You’d get expelled from that freak school +you go to.” + +“How d’you know they haven’t changed the rules, Big +D?” + +“They haven’t,” said Dudley, though he didn’t sound +completely convinced. Harry laughed softly. + +“You haven’t got the guts to take me on without that +thing, have you?” Dudley snarled. + +“Whereas you just need four mates behind you before +you can beat up a ten-year-old. You know that boxing +title you keep banging on about? How old was your +opponent? Seven? Eight?” + +“He was sixteen for your information,” snarled +Dudley, “and he was out cold for twenty minutes after + +Page | 18 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +I’d finished with him and he was twice as heavy as +you. You just wait till I tell Dad you had that thing +out — ” + +“Running to Daddy now, are you? Is his ickle boxing +champ frightened of nasty Harry’s wand?” + +“Not this brave at night, are you?” sneered Dudley. + +“This is night, Diddykins. That’s what we call it when +it goes all dark like this.” + +“I mean when you’re in bed!” Dudley snarled. + +He had stopped walking. Harry stopped too, staring at +his cousin. From the little he could see of Dudley’s +large face, he was wearing a strangely triumphant +look. + +“What d’you mean, I’m not brave in bed?” said Harry, +completely nonplussed. “What — am I supposed to be +frightened of pillows or something?” + +“I heard you last night,” said Dudley breathlessly. +“Talking in your sleep. Moaning.” + +“What d’you mean?” Harry said again, but there was +a cold, plunging sensation in his stomach. He had +revisited the graveyard last night in his dreams. + +Dudley gave a harsh bark of laughter then adopted a +high-pitched, whimpering voice. “ ‘Don’t kill Cedric! +Don’t kill Cedric!’ Who’s Cedric — your boyfriend?” + +“I — you’re lying — ” said Harry automatically. But his +mouth had gone dry. He knew Dudley wasn’t lying — +how else would he know about Cedric? + + + +Page | 19 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ T)ad! Help me, Dad! He’s going to kill me, Dad! Boo- +hoo!”’ + +“Shut up,” said Harry quietly. “Shut up, Dudley, I’m +warning you!” + +“ ‘Come and help me, Dad! Mum, come and help me! +He’s killed Cedric! Dad, help me! He’s going to — ’ +Don’t you point that thing at me\” + +Dudley backed into the alley wall. Harry was pointing +the wand directly at Dudley’s heart. Harry could feel +fourteen years’ hatred of Dudley pounding in his +veins — what wouldn’t he give to strike now, to jinx +Dudley so thoroughly he’d have to crawl home like an +insect, struck dumb, sprouting feelers — + +“Don’t ever talk about that again,” Harry snarled. +“D’you understand me?” + +“Point that thing somewhere else!” + +“I said, do you understand me?” + +“Point it somewhere else\” + +“DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?” + +“GET THAT THING AWAY FROM — ” + +Dudley gave an odd, shuddering gasp, as though he +had been doused in icy water. + +Something had happened to the night. The star- +strewn indigo sky was suddenly pitch-black and +lightless — the stars, the moon, the misty streetlamps +at either end of the alley had vanished. The distant +grumble of cars and the whisper of trees had gone. + +The balmy evening was suddenly piercingly, bitingly +Page | 20 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +cold. They were surrounded by total, impenetrable, +silent darkness, as though some giant hand had +dropped a thick, icy mantle over the entire alleyway, +blinding them. + +For a split second Harry thought he had done magic +without meaning to, despite the fact that he’d been +resisting as hard as he could — then his reason +caught up with his senses — he didn’t have the power +to turn off the stars. He turned his head this way and +that, trying to see something, but the darkness +pressed on his eyes like a weightless veil. + +Dudley’s terrified voice broke in Harry’s ear. + +“W-what are you d-doing? St-stop it!” + +“I’m not doing anything! Shut up and don’t move!” + +“I c-can’t see! I’ve g-gone blind! I — ” + +“I said shut up!” + +Harry stood stock-still, turning his sightless eyes left +and right. The cold was so intense that he was +shivering all over; goose bumps had erupted up his +arms, and the hairs on the back of his neck were +standing up — he opened his eyes to their fullest +extent, staring blankly around, unseeing . . . + +It was impossible... They couldn’t be here... Not in +Little Whinging ... He strained his ears... He would +hear them before he saw them... + +“I’ll t-tell Dad!” Dudley whimpered. “W-where are you? +What are you d-do — ?” + +“Will you shut up?” Harry hissed, “I’m trying to lis — ” + + + +Page | 21 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But he fell silent. He had heard just the thing he had +been dreading. + + + +There was something in the alleyway apart from +themselves, something that was drawing long, hoarse, +rattling breaths. Harry felt a horrible jolt of dread as +he stood trembling in the freezing air. + +“C-cut it out! Stop doing it! Ill h-hit you, I swear I +will!” + +“Dudley, shut — ” + +WHAM + +A fist made contact with the side of Harry’s head, +lifting Harry off his feet. Small white lights popped in +front of Harry’s eyes; for the second time in an hour +he felt as though his head had been cleaved in two; +next moment he had landed hard on the ground, and +his wand had flown out of his hand. + +“You moron, Dudley!” Harry yelled, his eyes watering +with pain, as he scrambled to his hands and knees, +now feeling around frantically in the blackness. He +heard Dudley blundering away, hitting the alley fence, +stumbling. + +“DUDLEY, COME BACK! YOU’RE RUNNING RIGHT +AT IT!” + +There was a horrible squealing yell, and Dudley’s +footsteps stopped. At the same moment, Harry felt a +creeping chill behind him that could mean only one +thing. There was more than one. + +“DUDLEY, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! WHATEVER +YOU DO, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! Wand!” Harry + +Page | 22 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +muttered frantically, his hands flying over the ground +like spiders. “Where’s — wand — come on — Lumosl” + +He said the spell automatically, desperate for light to +help him in his search — and to his disbelieving +relief, light flared inches from his right hand — the +wand tip had ignited. Harry snatched it up, +scrambled to his feet, and turned around. + +His stomach turned over. + +A towering, hooded figure was gliding smoothly +toward him, hovering over the ground, no feet or face +visible beneath its robes, sucking on the night as it +came. + +Stumbling backward, Harry raised his wand. + +“Expecto Patronurrd” + +A silvery wisp of vapor shot from the tip of the wand +and the dementor slowed, but the spell hadn’t worked +properly; tripping over his feet, Harry retreated +farther as the dementor bore down upon him, panic +fogging his brain — concentrate — + +A pair of gray, slimy, scabbed hands slid from inside +the dementor’s robes, reaching for him. A rushing +noise filled Harry’s ears. + +“Expecto PatronumV’ + +His voice sounded dim and distant... Another wisp of +silver smoke, feebler than the last, drifted from the +wand — he couldn’t do it anymore, he couldn’t work +the spell — + +There was laughter inside his own head, shrill, high- +pitched laughter... He could smell the dementor’s + +Page | 23 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +putrid, death-cold breath, filling his own lungs, +drowning him — Think ... something happy... + +But there was no happiness in him... The dementor’s +icy fingers were closing on his throat — the high- +pitched laughter was growing louder and louder, and +a voice spoke inside his head — “Bow to death, + +Harry. . . It might even be painless. . . I would not +know... I have never died...” + +He was never going to see Ron and Hermione again — + +And their faces burst clearly into his mind as he +fought for breath — + +“EXPECTO PATRONUM” + +An enormous silver stag erupted from the tip of +Harry’s wand; its antlers caught the dementor in the +place where the heart should have been; it was +thrown backward, weightless as darkness, and as the +stag charged, the dementor swooped away, batlike +and defeated. + +“THIS WAY!” Harry shouted at the stag. Wheeling +around, he sprinted down the alleyway, holding the lit +wand aloft. “DUDLEY? DUDLEY!” + +He had run barely a dozen steps when he reached +them: Dudley was curled on the ground, his arms +clamped over his face; a second dementor was +crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its +slimy hands, prizing them slowly, almost lovingly +apart, lowering its hooded head toward Dudley’s face +as though about to kiss him... + +“GET IT!” Harry bellowed, and with a rushing, roaring +sound, the silver stag he had conjured came galloping +back past him. The dementor’s eyeless face was + +Page | 24 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +barely an inch from Dudley’s when the silver antlers +caught it; the thing was thrown up into the air and, +like its fellow, it soared away and was absorbed into +the darkness. The stag cantered to the end of the +alleyway and dissolved into silver mist. + +Moon, stars, and streetlamps burst back into life. A +warm breeze swept the alleyway. Trees rustled in +neighboring gardens and the mundane rumble of cars +in Magnolia Crescent filled the air again. Harry stood +quite still, all his senses vibrating, taking in the +abrupt return to normality. After a moment he +became aware that his T-shirt was sticking to him; he +was drenched in sweat. + +He could not believe what had just happened. +Dementors here, in Little Whinging . . . + +Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering and +shaking. Harry bent down to see whether he was in a +fit state to stand up, but then heard loud, running +footsteps behind him; instinctively raising his wand +again, he spun on his heel to face the newcomer. + +Mrs. Figg, their batty old neighbor, came panting into +sight. Her grizzled gray hair was escaping from its +hairnet, a clanking string shopping bag was swinging +from her wrist, and her feet were halfway out of her +tartan carpet slippers. Harry made to stow his wand +hurriedly out of sight, but — + +“Don’t put it away, idiot boy!” she shrieked. “What if +there are more of them around? Oh, I’m going to kill +Mundungus Fletcher!” + + + +Page | 25 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +A PECK OF OWLS + +“What?” said Harry blankly. + +“He left!” said Mrs. Figg, wringing her hands. “Left to +see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell off +the back of a broom! I told him I’d flay him alive if he +went, and now look! Dementors! It’s just lucky I put +Mr. Tibbies on the case! But we haven’t got time to +stand around! Hurry, now, we’ve got to get you back! +Oh, the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!” + +“But — ” + +The revelation that his batty old cat-obsessed +neighbor knew what dementors were was almost as +big a shock to Harry as meeting two of them down the +alleyway. “You’re — you’re a witch?” + +“I’m a Squib, as Mundungus knows full well, so how +on earth was I supposed to help you fight off +dementors? He left you completely without cover +when I warned him — ” + + + +Page | 26 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“This bloke Mundungus has been following me? Hang +on — it was him). He Disapparated from the front of +my house!” + +“Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I’d stationed Mr. Tibbies +under a car just in case, and Mr. Tibbies came and +warned me, but by the time I got to your house you’d +gone — and now — oh, what’s Dumbledore going to +say? You!” she shrieked at Dudley, still supine on the +alley floor. “Get your fat bottom off the ground, +quick!” + +“You know Dumbledore?” said Harry, staring at her. + +“Of course I know Dumbledore, who doesn’t know +Dumbledore? But come on — I’ll be no help if they +come back, I’ve never so much as Transfigured a +teabag — ” + +She stooped down, seized one of Dudley’s massive +arms in her wizened hands, and tugged. + +“Get up, you useless lump, get up!” + +But Dudley either could not or would not move. He +was still on the ground, trembling and ashen-faced, +his mouth shut very tight. + +“I’ll do it.” Harry took hold of Dudley’s arm and +heaved: With an enormous effort he managed to hoist +Dudley to his feet. Dudley seemed to be on the point +of fainting: His small eyes were rolling in their sockets +and sweat was beading his face; the moment Harry let +go of him he swayed dangerously. + +“Hurry up!” said Mrs. Figg hysterically. + +Harry pulled one of Dudley’s massive arms around +his own shoulders and dragged him toward the road, + +Page | 27 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +sagging slightly under his weight. Mrs. Figg tottered +along in front of them, peering anxiously around the +corner. + +“Keep your wand out,” she told Harry, as they entered +Wisteria Walk. “Never mind the Statute of Secrecy +now, there’s going to be hell to pay anyway, we might +as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg. Talk about +the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery ... +This was exactly what Dumbledore was afraid of — +what’s that at the end of the street? Oh, it’s just Mr. +Prentice... Don’t put your wand away, boy, don’t I +keep telling you I’m no use?” + +It was not easy to hold a wand steady and carry +Dudley along at the same time. Harry gave his cousin +an impatient dig in the ribs, but Dudley seemed to +have lost all desire for independent movement. He +was slumped on Harry’s shoulder, his large feet +dragging along the ground. + +“Why didn’t you tell me you’re a Squib?” Harry asked +Mrs. Figg, panting with the effort to keep walking. “All +those times I came round your house — why didn’t +you say anything?” + +“Dumbledore ’s orders. I was to keep an eye on you +but not say anything, you were too young. I’m sorry I +gave you such a miserable time, but the Dursleys +would never have let you come if they’d thought you +enjoyed it. It wasn’t easy, you know... But oh my +word,” she said tragically, wringing her hands once +more, “when Dumbledore hears about this — how +could Mundungus have left, he was supposed to be +on duty until midnight — where is he? How am I +going to tell Dumbledore what’s happened, I can’t +Apparate — ” + + + +Page | 28 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’ve got an owl, you can borrow her,” Harry groaned, +wondering whether his spine was going to snap under +Dudley’s weight. + +“Harry, you don’t understand! Dumbledore will need +to act as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their +own ways of detecting underage magic, they’ll know +already, you mark my words — ” + +“But I was getting rid of dementors, I had to use +magic — they’re going to be more worried what +dementors were doing floating around Wisteria Walk, +surely?” + +“Oh my dear, I wish it were so but I’m afraid — +MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM GOING TO KILL +YOU!” + +There was a loud crack and a strong smell of mingled +drink and stale tobacco filled the air as a squat, +unshaven man in a tattered overcoat materialized +right in front of them. He had short bandy legs, long +straggly ginger hair, and bloodshot baggy eyes that +gave him the doleful look of a basset hound; he was +also clutching a silvery bundle that Harry recognized +at once as an Invisibility Cloak. + +“ ’S’ up, Figgy?” he said, staring from Mrs. Figg to +Harry and Dudley. “What ’appened to staying +undercover?” + +“I’ll give you undercover!” cried Mrs. Figg. “Dementors, +you useless, skiving sneak thief!” + +“Dementors?” repeated Mundungus, aghast. +“Dementors here?” + + + +Page | 29 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here!” +shrieked Mrs. Figg. “Dementors attacking the boy on +your watch!” + +“Blimey,” said Mundungus weakly, looking from Mrs. +Figg to Harry and back again. “Blimey, I ...” + +“And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn’t I tell you +not to go? Didn’t i?” + +“I — well, I — ” Mundungus looked deeply +uncomfortable. “It ... it was a very good business +opportunity, see ...” + +Mrs. Figg raised the arm from which her string bag +dangled and whacked Mundungus around the face +and neck with it; judging by the clanking noise it +made it was full of cat food. + +“Ouch — gerroff — gerroff, you mad old bat! + +Someone’s gotta tell Dumbledore!” + +“Yes — they — have!” yelled Mrs. Figg, still swinging +the bag of cat food at every bit of Mundungus she +could reach. “And — it — had — better — be — you — +and — you — can — tell — him — why — you — +weren’t — there — to — help!” + +“Keep your ’airnet on!” said Mundungus, his arms +over his head, cowering. “I’m going, I’m going!” + +And with another loud crack, he vanished. + +“I hope Dumbledore murders him!” said Mrs. Figg +furiously. “Now come on, Harry, what are you waiting +for?” + +Harry decided not to waste his remaining breath on +pointing out that he could barely walk under Dudley’s + +Page | 30 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +bulk. He gave the semiconscious Dudley a heave and +staggered onward. + +“I’ll take you to the door,” said Mrs. Figg, as they +turned into Privet Drive. “Just in case there are more +of them around... Oh my word, what a catastrophe ... +and you had to fight them off yourself . . . and +Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing +magic at all costs... Well, it’s no good crying over +spilled potion, I suppose ... but the cat’s among the +pixies now ...” + +“So,” Harry panted, “Dumbledore ’s ... been having ... +me followed?” + +“Of course he has,” said Mrs. Figg impatiently. “Did +you expect him to let you wander around on your own +after what happened in June? Good Lord, boy, they +told me you were intelligent... Right ... get inside and +stay there,” she said as they reached number four. “I +expect someone will be in touch with you soon +enough.” + +“What are you going to do?” asked Harry quickly. + +“I’m going straight home,” said Mrs. Figg, staring +around the dark street and shuddering. “I’ll need to +wait for more instructions. Just stay in the house. +Good night.” + +“Hang on, don’t go yet! I want to know — ” + +But Mrs. Figg had already set off at a trot, carpet +slippers flopping, string bag clanking. + +“Wait!” Harry shouted after her; he had a million +questions to ask anyone who was in contact with +Dumbledore; but within seconds Mrs. Figg was +swallowed by the darkness. Scowling, Harry + +Page | 31 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +readjusted Dudley on his shoulder and made his +slow, painful way up number four’s garden path. + +The hall light was on. Harry stuck his wand back +inside the waistband of his jeans, rang the bell, and +watched Aunt Petunia’s outline grow larger and +larger, oddly distorted by the rippling glass in the +front door. + +“Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite — quite — +Diddy, what’s the matter?” + +Harry looked sideways at Dudley and ducked out +from under his arm just in time. Dudley swayed for a +moment on the spot, his face pale green, then he +opened his mouth at last and vomited all over the +doormat. + +“DIDDY! Diddy, what’s the matter with you? Vernon? +VERNON!” + +Harry’s uncle came galumphing out of the living +room, walrus mustache blowing hither and thither as +it always did when he was agitated. He hurried +forward to help Aunt Petunia negotiate a weak-kneed +Dudley over the threshold while avoiding stepping in +the pool of sick. + +“He’s ill, Vernon!” + +“What is it, son? What’s happened? Did Mrs. Polkiss +give you something foreign for tea?” + +“Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you +been lying on the ground?” + +“Hang on — you haven’t been mugged, have you, +son?” + + + +Page | 32 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Aunt Petunia screamed. + + + +“Phone the police, Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy, +darling, speak to Mummy! What did they do to you?” + +In all the kerfuffle, nobody seemed to have noticed +Harry, which suited him perfectly. He managed to slip +inside just before Uncle Vernon slammed the door +and while the Dursleys made their noisy progress +down the hall toward the kitchen, Harry moved +carefully and quietly toward the stairs. + +“Who did it, son? Give us names. Well get them, don’t +worry.” + +“Shh! He’s trying to say something, Vernon! What is +it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!” + +Harry’s foot was on the bottommost stair when +Dudley found his voice. + +“Him” + +Harry froze, foot on the stair, face screwed up, braced +for the explosion. + +“BOY! COME HERE!” + +With a feeling of mingled dread and anger, Harry +removed his foot slowly from the stair and turned to +follow the Dursleys. + +The scrupulously clean kitchen had an oddly unreal +glitter after the darkness outside. Aunt Petunia was +ushering Dudley into a chair; he was still very green +and clammy looking. Uncle Vernon was standing in +front of the draining board, glaring at Harry through +tiny, narrowed eyes. + + + +Page | 33 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What have you done to my son?” he said in a +menacing growl. + + + +“Nothing,” said Harry, knowing perfectly well that +Uncle Vernon wouldn’t believe him. + +“What did he do to you, Diddy?” Aunt Petunia said in +a quavering voice, now sponging sick from the front of +Dudley’s leather jacket. “Was it — was it you-know- +what, darling? Did he use — his thing?” + +Slowly, tremulously, Dudley nodded. + +“I didn’t!” Harry said sharply, as Aunt Petunia let out +a wail and Uncle Vernon raised his fists. “I didn’t do +anything to him, it wasn’t me, it was — ” + +But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped in +through the kitchen window. Narrowly missing the +top of Uncle Vernon’s head, it soared across the +kitchen, dropped the large parchment envelope it was +carrying in its beak at Harry’s feet, and turned +gracefully, the tips of its wings just brushing the top +of the fridge, then zoomed outside again and off +across the garden. + +“OWLS!” bellowed Uncle Vernon, the well-worn vein in +his temple pulsing angrily as he slammed the kitchen +window shut. “OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY +MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!” + +But Harry was already ripping open the envelope and +pulling out the letter inside, his heart pounding +somewhere in the region of his Adam’s apple. + +Dear Mr. Potter, + +We have received intelligence that you performed the +Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this + +Page | 34 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the +presence of a Muggle. + +The severity of this breach of the Decree for the +Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has +resulted in your expulsion from Hog warts School of +Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will +be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy +your wand. + +As you have already received an official warning for a +previous offense under section 13 of the International +Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy, we regret +to inform you that your presence is required at a +disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a. m. +on August 12th. + +Hoping you are well, + +Yours sincerely, + +Mafalda Hopkirk + +IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE +Ministry of Magic + +Harry read the letter through twice. He was only +vaguely aware of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia +talking in the vicinity. Inside his head, all was icy and +numb. One fact had penetrated his consciousness +like a paralyzing dart. He was expelled from +Hogwarts. It was all over. He was never going back. + +He looked up at the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon was +purple-faced, shouting, his fists still raised; Aunt +Petunia had her arms around Dudley, who was +retching again. + + + +Page | 35 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s temporarily stupefied brain seemed to +reawaken. Ministry representatives will be calling at +your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. +There was only one thing for it. He would have to run +— now. Where he was going to go, Harry didn’t know, +but he was certain of one thing: At Hogwarts or +outside it, he needed his wand. In an almost +dreamlike state, he pulled his wand out and turned to +leave the kitchen. + +“Where d’you think you’re going?” yelled Uncle +Vernon. When Harry didn’t reply, he pounded across +the kitchen to block the doorway into the hall. “I +haven’t finished with you, boy!” + +“Get out of the way,” said Harry quietly. + +“You’re going to stay here and explain how my son — ” + +“If you don’t get out of the way I’m going to jinx you,” +said Harry, raising the wand. + +“You can’t pull that one on me!” snarled Uncle +Vernon. “I know you’re not allowed to use it outside +that madhouse you call a school!” + +“The madhouse has chucked me out,” said Harry. “So +I can do whatever I like. You’ve got three seconds. + +One — two — ” + +A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen; Aunt Petunia +screamed, Uncle Vernon yelled and ducked, but for +the third time that night Harry was staring for the +source of a disturbance he had not made. He spotted +it at once: A dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was +sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided +with the closed window. + + + +Page | 36 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ignoring Uncle Vernon’s anguished yell of “OWLS!” +Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the +window open again. The owl stuck out its leg, to +which a small roll of parchment was tied, shook its +feathers, and took off the moment Harry had pulled +off the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the +second message, which was written very hastily and +blotchily in black ink. + +Harry — + +Dumbledore’s just arrived at the Ministry, and he’s +trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT +AND UNCLE’S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANYMORE +MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND. + +Arthur Weasley + +Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out... What did +that mean? How much power did Dumbledore have to +override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance +that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A +small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry’s chest, +almost immediately strangled by panic — how was he +supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without +doing magic? He’d have to duel with the Ministry +representatives, and if he did that, he’d be lucky to +escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion. + +His mind was racing. . . He could run for it and risk +being captured by the Ministry, or stay put and wait +for them to find him here. He was much more +tempted by the former course, but he knew that Mr. +Weasley had his best interests at heart ... and, after +all, Dumbledore had sorted out much worse than this +before... + +“Right,” Harry said, “I’ve changed my mind, I’m +staying.” + +Page | 37 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +He flung himself down at the kitchen table and faced +Dudley and Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys appeared +taken aback at his abrupt change of mind. Aunt +Petunia glanced despairingly at Uncle Vernon. The +vein in Uncle Vernon’s purple temple was throbbing +worse than ever. + +“Who are all these ruddy owls from?” he growled. + +“The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, +expelling me,” said Harry calmly; he was straining his +ears to catch noises outside in case the Ministry +representatives were approaching, and it was easier +and quieter to answer Uncle Vernon’s questions than +to have him start raging and bellowing. “The second +one was from my friend Ron’s dad, he works at the +Ministry.” + +“Ministry of Magic?” bellowed Uncle Vernon. “People +like you in government? Oh this explains everything, +everything, no wonder the country’s going to the +dogs...” + +When Harry did not respond, Uncle Vernon glared at +him, then spat, “And why have you been expelled?” + +“Because I did magic.” + +“AHA!” roared Uncle Vernon, slamming his fist down +on the top of the fridge, which sprang open; several of +Dudley’s low-fat snacks toppled out and burst on the +floor. “So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley?” + +“Nothing,” said Harry, slightly less calmly. “That +wasn’t me — ” + +“Was,” muttered Dudley unexpectedly, and Uncle +Vernon and Aunt Petunia instantly made flapping + + + +Page | 38 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +gestures at Harry to quiet him while they both bent +low over Dudley. + +“Go on, son,” said Uncle Vernon, “what did he do?” + +“Tell us, darling,” whispered Aunt Petunia. + +“Pointed his wand at me,” Dudley mumbled. + +“Yeah, I did, but I didn’t use — ” Harry began angrily, +but ... + +“SHUT UP!” roared Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia in +unison. “Go on, son,” repeated Uncle Vernon, +mustache blowing about furiously. + +“All dark,” Dudley said hoarsely, shuddering. +“Everything dark. And then I h-heard . . . things. Inside +m-my head ...” + +Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia exchanged looks of +utter horror. If their least favorite thing in the world +was magic, closely followed by neighbors who cheated +more than they did on the hosepipe ban, people who +heard voices were definitely in the bottom ten. They +obviously thought Dudley was losing his mind. + +“What sort of things did you hear, popkin?” breathed +Aunt Petunia, very white-faced and with tears in her +eyes. + +But Dudley seemed incapable of saying. He +shuddered again and shook his large blond head, and +despite the sense of numb dread that had settled on +Harry since the arrival of the first owl, he felt a +certain curiosity. Dementors caused a person to relive +the worst moments of their life... What would spoiled, +pampered, bullying Dudley have been forced to hear? + + + +Page | 39 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How come you fell over, son?” said Uncle Vernon in +an unnaturally quiet voice, the kind of voice he would +adopt at the bedside of a very ill person. + +“T-tripped,” said Dudley shakily. “And then — ” + +He gestured at his massive chest. Harry understood: +Dudley was remembering the clammy cold that filled +the lungs as hope and happiness were sucked out of +you. + +“Horrible,” croaked Dudley. “Cold. Really cold.” + +“Okay,” said Uncle Vernon in a voice of forced calm, +while Aunt Petunia laid an anxious hand on Dudley’s +forehead to feel his temperature. “What happened +then, Dudders?” + +“Felt ... felt ... felt ... as if... as if ...” + +“As if you’d never be happy again,” Harry supplied +tonelessly. + +“Yes,” Dudley whispered, still trembling. + +“So,” said Uncle Vernon, voice restored to full and +considerable volume as he straightened up. “So you +put some crackpot spell on my son so he’d hear +voices and believe he was — was doomed to misery, +or something, did you?” + +“How many times do I have to tell you?” said Harry, +temper and voice rising together. “It wasn’t me\ It was +a couple of dementors!” + +“A couple of — what’s this codswallop?” + +“De — men — tors,” said Harry slowly and clearly. +“Two of them.” + +Page | 40 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And what the ruddy hell are dementors?” + + + +“They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban,” said Aunt +Petunia. + +Two seconds’ ringing silence followed these words and +then Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth +as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. +Uncle Vernon was goggling at her. Harry’s brain +reeled. Mrs. Figg was one thing — but Aunt Petunia? + +“How d’you know that?” he asked her, astonished. + +Aunt Petunia looked quite appalled with herself. She +glanced at Uncle Vernon in fearful apology, then +lowered her hand slightly to reveal her horsey teeth. + +“I heard — that awful boy — telling her about them — +years ago,” she said jerkily. + +“If you mean my mum and dad, why don’t you use +their names?” said Harry loudly, but Aunt Petunia +ignored him. She seemed horribly flustered. + +Harry was stunned. Except for one outburst years +ago, in the course of which Aunt Petunia had +screamed that Harry’s mother had been a freak, he +had never heard her mention her sister. He was +astounded that she had remembered this scrap of +information about the magical world for so long, when +she usually put all her energies into pretending it +didn’t exist. + +Uncle Vernon opened his mouth, closed it again, +opened it once more, shut it, then, apparently +struggling to remember how to talk, opened it for a +third time and croaked, “So — so — they — er — they +— er — they actually exist, do they — er — dementy- +whatsits?” + +Page | 41 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +Aunt Petunia nodded. + + + +Uncle Vernon looked from Aunt Petunia to Dudley to +Harry as if hoping somebody was going to shout +“April Fool!” When nobody did, he opened his mouth +yet again, but was spared the struggle to find more +words by the arrival of the third owl of the evening, +which zoomed through the still-open window like a +feathery cannonball and landed with a clatter on the +kitchen table, causing all three of the Dursleys to +jump with fright. Harry tore a second official-looking +envelope from the owl’s beak and ripped it open as +the owl swooped back out into the night. + +“Enough — effing — owls ...” muttered Uncle Vernon +distractedly, stomping over to the window and +slamming it shut again. + +Dear Mr. Potter, + +Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two +minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its +decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may +retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on +12th August, at which time an official decision will be +taken. + +Following discussions with the Headmaster of +Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the +Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion +will also be decided at that time. You should therefore +consider yourself suspended from school pending +further inquiries. + +With best wishes, + +Yours sincerely, + +Mafalda Hopkirk + +Page | 42 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE + + + +Ministry of Magic + +Harry read this letter through three times in quick +succession. The miserable knot in his chest loosened +slightly at the thought that he was not definitely +expelled, though his fears were by no means +banished. Everything seemed to hang on this hearing +on the twelfth of August. + +“Well?” said Uncle Vernon, recalling Harry to his +surroundings. “What now? Have they sentenced you +to anything? Do your lot have the death penalty?” he +added as a hopeful afterthought. + +“I’ve got to go to a hearing,” said Harry. + +“And they’ll sentence you there?” + +“I suppose so.” + +“I won’t give up hope, then,” said Uncle Vernon +nastily. + +“Well, if that’s all,” said Harry, getting to his feet. He +was desperate to be alone, to think, perhaps to send a +letter to Ron, Hermione, or Sirius. + +“NO, IT RUDDY WELL IS NOT ALL!” bellowed Uncle +Vernon. “SIT BACK DOWN!” + +“What now?” said Harry impatiently. + +“DUDLEY!” roared Uncle Vernon. “I want to know +exactly what happened to my son!” + +“FINE!” yelled Harry, and in his temper, red and gold +sparks shot out of the end of his wand, still clutched + +Page | 43 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +in his hand. All three Dursleys flinched, looking +terrified. + +“Dudley and I were in the alleyway between Magnolia +Crescent and Wisteria Walk,” said Harry, speaking +fast, fighting to control his temper. “Dudley thought +he’d be smart with me, I pulled out my wand but +didn’t use it. Then two dementors turned up — ” + +“But what ARE dementoids?” asked Uncle Vernon +furiously. “What do they DO?” + +“I told you — they suck all the happiness out of you,” +said Harry, “and if they get the chance, they kiss you + + + +“Kiss you?” said Uncle Vernon, his eyes popping +slightly. “Kiss you?” + +“It’s what they call it when they suck the soul out of +your mouth.” + +Aunt Petunia uttered a soft scream. + +“His soul? They didn’t take — he’s still got his — ” + +She seized Dudley by the shoulders and shook him, +as though testing to see whether she could hear his +soul rattling around inside him. + +“Of course they didn’t get his soul, you’d know if they +had,” said Harry, exasperated. + +“Fought ’em off, did you, son?” said Uncle Vernon +loudly, with the appearance of a man struggling to +bring the conversation back onto a plane he +understood. “Gave ’em the old one-two, did you?” + + + +Page | 44 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You can’t give a dementor the old one-two,” said +Harry through clenched teeth. + +“Why’s he all right, then?” blustered Uncle Vernon. +“Why isn’t he all empty, then?” + +“Because I used the Patronus — ” + +WHOOSH. With a clattering, a whirring of wings, and +a soft fall of dust, a fourth owl came shooting out of +the kitchen fireplace. + +“FOR GOD’S SAKE!” roared Uncle Vernon, pulling +great clumps of hair out of his mustache, something +he hadn’t been driven to in a long time. “I WILL NOT +HAVE OWLS HERE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, I +TELL YOU!” + +But Harry was already pulling a roll of parchment +from the owl’s leg. He was so convinced that this +letter had to be from Dumbledore, explaining +everything — the dementors, Mrs. Figg, what the +Ministry was up to, how he, Dumbledore, intended to +sort everything out — that for the first time in his life +he was disappointed to see Sirius’s handwriting. +Ignoring Uncle Vernon’s ongoing rant about owls and +narrowing his eyes against a second cloud of dust as +the most recent owl took off back up the chimney, +Harry read Sirius’s message. + +Arthur’s just told us what’s happened. + +Don’t leave the house again, whatever you do. + +Harry found this such an inadequate response to +everything that had happened tonight that he turned +the piece of parchment over, looking for the rest of the +letter, but there was nothing there. + + + +Page | 45 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +And now his temper was rising again. Wasn’t +anybody going to say “well done” for fighting off two +dementors single-handedly? Both Mr. Weasley and +Sirius were acting as though he’d misbehaved and +they were saving their tellings-off until they could +ascertain how much damage had been done. + +“ — a peck, I mean, pack of owls shooting in and out +of my house and I won’t have it, boy, I won’t — ” + +“I can’t stop the owls coming,” Harry snapped, +crushing Sirius’s letter in his fist. + +“I want the truth about what happened tonight!” +barked Uncle Vernon. “If it was demenders who hurt +Dudley, how come you’ve been expelled? You did you- +know-what, you’ve admitted it!” + +Harry took a deep, steadying breath. His head was +beginning to ache again. He wanted more than +anything to get out of the kitchen, away from the +Dursleys. + +“I did the Patronus Charm to get rid of the +dementors,” he said, forcing himself to remain calm. +“It’s the only thing that works against them.” + +“But what were dementoids doing in Little Whinging?” +said Uncle Vernon in tones of outrage. + +“Couldn’t tell you,” said Harry wearily. “No idea.” + +His head was pounding in the glare of the strip +lighting now. His anger was ebbing away. He felt +drained, exhausted. The Dursleys were all staring at +him. + +“It’s you,” said Uncle Vernon forcefully. “It’s got +something to do with you, boy, I know it. Why else + +Page | 46 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +would they turn up here? Why else would they be +down that alleyway? You’ve got to be the only — the +only — ” Evidently he couldn’t bring himself to say the +word “wizard.” “The only you-know-what for miles.” + +“I don’t know why they were here...” + +But at these words of Uncle Vernon’s, Harry’s +exhausted brain ground back into action. Why had +the dementors come to Little Whinging? How could it +be coincidence that they had arrived in the alleyway +where Harry was? Had they been sent? Had the +Ministry of Magic lost control of the dementors, had +they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as +Dumbledore had predicted they would? + +“These demembers guard some weirdos’ prison?” said +Uncle Vernon, lumbering in the wake of Harry’s train +of thought. + +“Yes,” said Harry. + +If only his head would stop hurting, if only he could +just leave the kitchen and get to his dark bedroom +and think... + +“Oho! They were coming to arrest you!” said Uncle +Vernon, with the triumphant air of a man reaching an +unassailable conclusion. “That’s it, isn’t it, boy? + +You’re on the run from the law!” + +“Of course I’m not,” said Harry, shaking his head as +though to scare off a fly, his mind racing now. + +“Then why — ?” + +“He must have sent them,” said Harry quietly, more to +himself than to Uncle Vernon. + + + +Page | 47 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What’s that? Who must have sent them?” + +“Lord Voldemort,” said Harry. + +He registered dimly how strange it was that the +Dursleys, who flinched, winced, and squawked if they +heard words like “wizard,” “magic,” or “wand,” could +hear the name of the most evil wizard of all time +without the slightest tremor. + +“Lord — hang on,” said Uncle Vernon, his face +screwed up, a look of dawning comprehension in his +piggy eyes. “I’ve heard that name ... that was the one +who ...” + +“Murdered my parents, yes,” Harry said. + +“But he’s gone,” said Uncle Vernon impatiently, +without the slightest sign that the murder of Harry’s +parents might be a painful topic to anybody. “That +giant bloke said so. He’s gone.” + +“He’s back,” said Harry heavily. + +It felt very strange to be standing here in Aunt +Petunia’s surgically clean kitchen, beside the top-of- +the-range fridge and the wide-screen television, and +talking calmly of Lord Voldemort to Uncle Vernon. + +The arrival of the dementors in Little Whinging +seemed to have caused a breach in the great, invisible +wall that divided the relentlessly non-magical world of +Privet Drive and the world beyond. Harry’s two lives +had somehow become fused and everything had been +turned upside down: The Dursleys were asking for +details about the magical world and Mrs. Figg knew +Albus Dumbledore; dementors were soaring around +Little Whinging and he might never go back to +Hogwarts. Harry’s head throbbed more painfully. + + + +Page | 48 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Back?” whispered Aunt Petunia. + +She was looking at Harry as she had never looked at +him before. And all of a sudden, for the very first time +in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia +was his mother’s sister. He could not have said why +this hit him so very powerfully at this moment. All he +knew was that he was not the only person in the +room who had an inkling of what Lord Voldemort +being back might mean. Aunt Petunia had never in +her life looked at him like that before. Her large, pale +eyes (so unlike her sister’s) were not narrowed in +dislike or anger: They were wide and fearful. The +furious pretense that Aunt Petunia had maintained +all Harry’s life — that there was no magic and no +world other than the world she inhabited with Uncle +Vernon — seemed to have fallen away. + +“Yes,” Harry said, talking directly to Aunt Petunia +now. “He came back a month ago. I saw him.” + +Her hands found Dudley’s massive leather-clad +shoulders and clutched them. + +“Hang on,” said Uncle Vernon, looking from his wife +to Harry and back again, apparently dazed and +confused by the unprecedented understanding that +seemed to have sprung up between them. “Hang on. +This Lord Voldything’s back, you say.” + +“Yes.” + +“The one who murdered your parents.” + +“Yes.” + +“And now he’s sending dismembers after you?” + +“Looks like it,” said Harry. + +Page | 49 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I see,” said Uncle Vernon, looking from his white- +faced wife to Harry and hitching up his trousers. He +seemed to be swelling, his great purple face stretching +before Harry’s eyes. “Well, that settles it,” he said, his +shirt front straining as he inflated himself, “you can +get out of this house, boy\” + +“What?” said Harry. + +“You heard me — OUT!” Uncle Vernon bellowed, and +even Aunt Petunia and Dudley jumped. “OUT! OUT! I +should’ve done it years ago! Owls treating the place +like a rest home, puddings exploding, half the lounge +destroyed, Dudley’s tail, Marge bobbing around on +the ceiling, and that flying Ford Anglia — OUT! OUT! +You’ve had it! You’re history! You’re not staying here if +some loony’s after you, you’re not endangering my +wife and son, you’re not bringing trouble down on us, +if you’re going the same way as your useless parents, +I’ve had it! OUT!” + +Harry stood rooted to the spot. The letters from the +Ministry, Mr. Weasley, and Sirius were crushed in his +left hand. Don’t leave the house again, whatever you +do. DO NOT LEA VE YOUR A UNT AND UNCLE’S +HOUSE. + +“You heard me!” said Uncle Vernon, bending forward +now, so that his massive purple face came closer to +Harry’s, so that Harry actually felt flecks of spit hit +his face. “Get going! You were all keen to leave half an +hour ago! I’m right behind you! Get out and never +darken our doorstep again! Why we ever kept you in +the first place I don’t know. Marge was right, it should +have been the orphanage, we were too damn soft for +our own good, thought we could squash it out of you, +thought we could turn you normal, but you’ve been +rotten from the beginning, and I’ve had enough — +OWLS!” + +Page | 50 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +The fifth owl zoomed down the chimney so fast it +actually hit the floor before zooming into the air again +with a loud screech. Harry raised his hand to seize +the letter, which was in a scarlet envelope, but it +soared straight over his head, flying directly at Aunt +Petunia, who let out a scream and ducked, her arms +over her face. The owl dropped the red envelope on +her head, turned, and flew straight up the chimney +again. + +Harry darted forward to pick up the letter, but Aunt +Petunia beat him to it. + +“You can open it if you like,” said Harry, “but I’ll hear +what it says anyway. That’s a Howler.” + +“Let go of it, Petunia!” roared Uncle Vernon. “Don’t +touch it, it could be dangerous!” + +“It’s addressed to me,” said Aunt Petunia in a shaking +voice. “It’s addressed to me, Vernon, look! Mrs. + +Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet +Drive — ” + +She caught her breath, horrified. The red envelope +had begun to smoke. + +“Open it!” Harry urged her. “Get it over with! It’ll +happen anyway — ” + +“No — ” + + + +Aunt Petunia’s hand was trembling. She looked wildly +around the kitchen as though looking for an escape +route, but too late — the envelope burst into flames. +Aunt Petunia screamed and dropped it. + + + +Page | 51 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the +confined space, issuing from the burning letter on the +table. + + + +“REMEMBER MY LAST, PETUNIA.” + +Aunt Petunia looked as though she might faint. She +sank into the chair beside Dudley, her face in her +hands. The remains of the envelope smoldered into +ash in the silence. + +“What is this?” Uncle Vernon said hoarsely. “What — + +I don’t — Petunia?” + +Aunt Petunia said nothing. Dudley was staring +stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open. The +silence spiraled horribly. Harry was watching his +aunt, utterly bewildered, his head throbbing fit to +burst. + +“Petunia, dear?” said Uncle Vernon timidly. “P- +Petunia?” + +She raised her head. She was still trembling. She +swallowed. + +“The boy — the boy will have to stay, Vernon,” she +said weakly. + +“W-what?” + +“He stays,” she said. She was not looking at Harry. + +She got to her feet again. + +“He ... but Petunia ...” + +“If we throw him out, the neighbors will talk,” she +said. She was regaining her usual brisk, snappish +manner rapidly, though she was still very pale. + +Page | 52 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“They’ll ask awkward questions, they’ll want to know +where he’s gone. We’ll have to keep him.” + +Uncle Vernon was deflating like an old tire. + +“But Petunia, dear — ” + +Aunt Petunia ignored him. She turned to Harry. + +“You’re to stay in your room,” she said. “You’re not to +leave the house. Now get to bed.” + +Harry didn’t move. + +“Who was that Howler from?” + +“Don’t ask questions,” Aunt Petunia snapped. + +“Are you in touch with wizards?” + +“I told you to get to bed!” + +“What did it mean? Remember the last what?” + +“Go to bed!” + +“How come — ?” + +“YOU HEARD YOUR AUNT, NOW GET TO BED!” + + + +Page | 53 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE ADVANCED GUARD + +“Fve just been attacked by dementors and I might be +expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what’s going +on and when I’m going to get out of here. ” + +Harry copied these words onto three separate pieces +of parchment the moment he reached the desk in his +dark bedroom. He addressed the first to Sirius, the +second to Ron, and the third to Hermione. His owl, +Hedwig, was off hunting; her cage stood empty on the +desk. Harry paced the bedroom waiting for her to +come back, his head pounding, his brain too busy for +sleep even though his eyes stung and itched with +tiredness. His back ached from carrying Dudley +home, and the two lumps on his head where the +window and Dudley had hit him were throbbing +painfully. + +Up and down he paced, consumed with anger and +frustration, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists, +casting angry looks out at the empty, star-strewn sky +every time he passed the window. Dementors sent to +get him, Mrs. Figg and Mundungus Fletcher tailing +Page | 54 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +him in secret, then suspension from Hogwarts and a +hearing at the Ministry of Magic — and still no one +was telling him what was going on. + +And what, what, had that Howler been about? Whose +voice had echoed so horribly, so menacingly, through +the kitchen? + +Why was he still trapped here without information? +Why was everyone treating him like some naughty +kid? Don’t do any more magic, stay in the house... + +He kicked his school trunk as he passed it, but far +from relieving his anger he felt worse, as he now had +a sharp pain in his toe to deal with in addition to the +pain in the rest of his body. + +Just as he limped past the window, Hedwig soared +through it with a soft rustle of wings like a small +ghost. + +“About time!” Harry snarled, as she landed lightly on +top of her cage. “You can put that down, IVe got work +for you!” + +Hedwig’s large round amber eyes gazed reproachfully +at him over the dead frog clamped in her beak. + +“Come here,” said Harry, picking up the three small +rolls of parchment and a leather thong and tying the +scrolls to her scaly leg. “Take these straight to Sirius, +Ron, and Hermione and don’t come back here without +good long replies. Keep pecking them till they’ve +written decent-length answers if you’ve got to. +Understand?” + +Hedwig gave a muffled hooting noise, beak still full of +frog. + + + +Page | 55 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Get going, then,” said Harry. + +She took off immediately. The moment she’d gone, +Harry threw himself down onto his bed without +undressing and stared at the dark ceiling. In addition +to every other miserable feeling, he now felt guilty +that he’d been irritable with Hedwig; she was the only +friend he had at number four, Privet Drive. But he’d +make it up to her when she came back with Sirius’s, +Ron’s, and Hermione’s answers. + +They were bound to write back quickly; they couldn’t +possibly ignore a dementor attack. He’d probably +wake up tomorrow to three fat letters full of sympathy +and plans for his immediate removal to the Burrow. +And with that comforting idea, sleep rolled over him, +stifling all further thought. + +•k Jc k + + + +But Hedwig didn’t return next morning. Harry spent +the day in his bedroom, leaving it only to go to the +bathroom. Three times that day Aunt Petunia shoved +food into his room through the cat flap Uncle Vernon +had installed three summers ago. Every time Harry +heard her approaching he tried to question her about +the Howler, but he might as well have interrogated +the doorknob for all the answers he got. Otherwise +the Dursleys kept well clear of his bedroom. Harry +couldn’t see the point of forcing his company on +them; another row would achieve nothing except +perhaps making him so angry he’d perform more +illegal magic. + +So it went on for three whole days. Harry was filled +alternately with restless energy that made him unable +to settle to anything, during which he paced his +bedroom again, furious at the whole lot of them for + + + +Page | 56 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +leaving him to stew in this mess, and with a lethargy +so complete that he could lie on his bed for an hour +at a time, staring dazedly into space, aching with +dread at the thought of the Ministry hearing. + +What if they ruled against him? What if he was +expelled and his wand was snapped in half? What +would he do, where would he go? He could not return +to living full-time with the Dursleys, not now that he +knew the other world, the one to which he really +belonged... Was it possible that he might be able to +move into Sirius’s house, as Sirius had suggested a +year ago, before he had been forced to flee from the +Ministry himself? Would he be allowed to live there +alone, given that he was still underage? Or would the +matter of where he went next be decided for him; had +his breach of the International Statute of Secrecy +been severe enough to land him in a cell in Azkaban? +Whenever this thought occurred, Harry invariably slid +off his bed and began pacing again. + +On the fourth night after Hedwig’s departure Harry +was lying in one of his apathetic phases, staring at +the ceiling, his exhausted mind quite blank, when his +uncle entered his bedroom. Harry looked slowly +around at him. Uncle Vernon was wearing his best +suit and an expression of enormous smugness. + +“We’re going out,” he said. + +“Sorry?” + +“We — that is to say, your aunt, Dudley, and I — are +going out.” + +“Fine,” said Harry dully, looking back at the ceiling. + +“You are not to leave your bedroom while we are +away.” + +Page | 57 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Okay.” + + + +“You are not to touch the television, the stereo, or any +of our possessions.” + +“Right.” + +“You are not to steal food from the fridge.” + +“Okay.” + +“I am going to lock your door.” + +“You do that.” + +Uncle Vernon glared at Harry, clearly suspicious of +this lack of argument, then stomped out of the room +and closed the door behind him. Harry heard the key +turn in the lock and Uncle Vernon’s footsteps walking +heavily down the stairs. A few minutes later he heard +the slamming of car doors, the rumble of an engine, +and the unmistakable sound of the car sweeping out +of the drive. + +Harry had no particular feeling about the Dursleys +leaving. It made no difference to him whether they +were in the house or not. He could not even summon +the energy to get up and turn on his bedroom light. +The room grew steadily darker around him as he lay +listening to the night sounds through the window he +kept open all the time, waiting for the blessed +moment when Hedwig returned. + +The empty house creaked around him. The pipes +gurgled. Harry lay there in a kind of stupor, thinking +of nothing, suspended in misery. + +And then, quite distinctly, he heard a crash in the +kitchen below. + +Page | 58 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +He sat bolt upright, listening intently. The Dursleys +couldn’t be back, it was much too soon, and in any +case he hadn’t heard their car. + +There was silence for a few seconds, and then he +heard voices. + +Burglars, he thought, sliding off the bed onto his feet +— but a split second later it occurred to him that +burglars would keep their voices down, and whoever +was moving around in the kitchen was certainly not +troubling to do so. + +He snatched up his wand from his bedside table and +stood facing his bedroom door, listening with all his +might. Next moment he jumped as the lock gave a +loud click and his door swung open. + +Harry stood motionless, staring through the open +door at the dark upstairs landing, straining his ears +for further sounds, but none came. He hesitated for a +moment and then moved swiftly and silently out of +his room to the head of the stairs. + +His heart shot upward into his throat. There were +people standing in the shadowy hall below, +silhouetted against the streetlight glowing through +the glass door; eight or nine of them, all, as far as he +could see, looking up at him. + +“Lower your wand, boy, before you take someone’s eye +out,” said a low, growling voice. + +Harry’s heart was thumping uncontrollably. He knew +that voice, but he did not lower his wand. + +“Professor Moody?” he said uncertainly. + + + +Page | 59 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I don’t know so much about ‘Professor,’ ” growled the +voice, “never got round to much teaching, did I? Get +down here, we want to see you properly.” + +Harry lowered his wand slightly but did not relax his +grip on it, nor did he move. He had very good reason +to be suspicious. He had recently spent nine months +in what he had thought was Mad-Eye Moody’s +company only to find out that it wasn’t Moody at all, +but an impostor; an impostor, moreover, who had +tried to kill Harry before being unmasked. But before +he could make a decision about what to do next, a +second, slightly hoarse voice floated upstairs. + +“It’s all right, Harry. We’ve come to take you away.” + +Harry’s heart leapt. He knew that voice too, though he +hadn’t heard it for more than a year. + +“P-Professor Lupin?” he said disbelievingly. “Is that +you?” + +“Why are we all standing in the dark?” said a third +voice, this one completely unfamiliar, a woman’s. +“Lumos.” + +A wand tip flared, illuminating the hall with magical +light. Harry blinked. The people below were crowded +around the foot of the stairs, gazing intently up at +him, some craning their heads for a better look. + +Remus Lupin stood nearest to him. Though still quite +young, Lupin looked tired and rather ill; he had more +gray hair than when Harry had said good-bye to him, +and his robes were more patched and shabbier than +ever. Nevertheless, he was smiling broadly at Harry, +who tried to smile back through his shock. + + + +Page | 60 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oooh, he looks just like I thought he would,” said the +witch who was holding her lit wand aloft. She looked +the youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, +dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a +violent shade of violet. “Wotcher, Harry!” + +“Yeah, I see what you mean, Remus,” said a bald +black wizard standing farthest back; he had a deep, +slow voice and wore a single gold hoop in his ear. “He +looks exactly like James.” + +“Except the eyes,” said a wheezy-voiced, silver-haired +wizard at the back. “Lily’s eyes.” + +Mad-Eye Moody, who had long grizzled gray hair and +a large chunk missing from his nose, was squinting +suspiciously at Harry through his mismatched eyes. +One of the eyes was small, dark, and beady, the other +large, round, and electric blue — the magical eye that +could see through walls, doors, and the back of +Moody’s own head. + +“Are you quite sure it’s him, Lupin?” he growled. “It’d +be a nice lookout if we bring back some Death Eater +impersonating him. We ought to ask him something +only the real Potter would know. Unless anyone +brought any Veritaserum?” + +“Harry, what form does your Patronus take?” said +Lupin. + +“A stag,” said Harry nervously. + +“That’s him, Mad-Eye,” said Lupin. + +Harry descended the stairs, very conscious of +everybody still staring at him, stowing his wand into +the back pocket of his jeans as he came. + + + +Page | 61 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Don’t put your wand there, boy!” roared Moody. +“What if it ignited? Better wizards than you have lost +buttocks, you know!” + +“Who d’you know who’s lost a buttock?” the violet- +haired woman asked Mad-Eye interestedly. + +“Never you mind, you just keep your wand out of your +back pocket!” growled Mad-Eye. “Elementary wand +safety, nobody bothers about it anymore...” He +stumped off toward the kitchen. “And I saw that,” he +added irritably, as the woman rolled her eyes at the +ceiling. + +Lupin held out his hand and shook Harry’s. + +“How are you?” he asked, looking at Harry closely. +“F-fine ...” + +Harry could hardly believe this was real. Four weeks +with nothing, not the tiniest hint of a plan to remove +him from Privet Drive, and suddenly a whole bunch of +wizards was standing matter-of-factly in the house as +though this were a long-standing arrangement. He +glanced at the people surrounding Lupin; they were +still gazing avidly at him. He felt very conscious of the +fact that he had not combed his hair for four days. + +“I’m — you’re really lucky the Dursleys are out ...” he +mumbled. + +“Lucky, ha!” said the violet-haired woman. “It was me +that lured them out of the way. Sent a letter by +Muggle post telling them they’d been short-listed for +the All-England Best-Kept Suburban Lawn +Competition. They’re heading off to the prize-giving +right now... Or they think they are.” + + + +Page | 62 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry had a fleeting vision of Uncle Vernon’s face +when he realized there was no All-England Best-Kept +Suburban Lawn Competition. + +“We are leaving, aren’t we?” he asked. “Soon?” + +“Almost at once,” said Lupin, “we’re just waiting for +the all-clear.” + +“Where are we going? The Burrow?” Harry asked +hopefully. + +“Not the Burrow, no,” said Lupin, motioning Harry +toward the kitchen; the little knot of wizards followed, +all still eyeing Harry curiously. “Too risky. We’ve set +up headquarters somewhere undetectable. It’s taken +a while...” + +Mad-Eye Moody was now sitting at the kitchen table +swigging from a hip flask, his magical eye spinning in +all directions, taking in the Dursleys’ many labor- +saving appliances. + +“This is Alastor Moody, Harry,” Lupin continued, +pointing toward Moody. + +“Yeah, I know,” said Harry uncomfortably; it felt odd +to be introduced to somebody he’d thought he’d +known for a year. + +“And this is Nymphadora — ” + +“ Don’t call me Nymphadora, Remus,” said the young +witch with a shudder. “It’s Tonks.” + +“ — Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be known by +her surname only,” finished Lupin. + + + +Page | 63 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“So would you if your fool of a mother had called you +‘Nymphadora, ’ ” muttered Tonks. + +“And this is Kingsley Shacklebolt” — he indicated the +tall black wizard, who bowed — “Elphias Doge” — the +wheezy-voiced wizard nodded — “Dedalus Diggle — ” + +“We’ve met before,” squeaked the excitable Diggle, +dropping his top hat. + +“ — Emmeline Vance” — a stately looking witch in an +emerald-green shawl inclined her head — “Sturgis +Podmore” — a square-jawed wizard with thick, straw- +colored hair winked — “and Hestia Jones.” A pink- +cheeked, black-haired witch waved from next to the +toaster. + +Harry inclined his head awkwardly at each of them as +they were introduced. He wished they would look at +something other than him; it was as though he had +suddenly been ushered onstage. He also wondered +why so many of them were there. + +“A surprising number of people volunteered to come +and get you,” said Lupin, as though he had read +Harry’s mind; the corners of his mouth twitched +slightly. + +“Yeah, well, the more the better,” said Moody darkly. +“We’re your guard, Potter.” + +“We’re just waiting for the signal to tell us it’s safe to +set off,” said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen +window. “We’ve got about fifteen minutes.” + +“Very clean, aren’t they, these Muggles?” said the +witch called Tonks, who was looking around the +kitchen with great interest. “My dad’s Muggle-born + + + +Page | 64 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and he’s a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just like +with wizards?” + +“Er — yeah,” said Harry. “Look” — he turned back to +Lupin — “what’s going on, I haven’t heard anything +from anyone, what’s Vol — ?” + +Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing +noises; Dedalus Diggle dropped his hat again, and +Moody growled, “Shut up\” + +“What?” said Harry. + +“We’re not discussing anything here, it’s too risky,” +said Moody, turning his normal eye on Harry; his +magical eye remained pointing up at the ceiling. +“Damn it,” he added angrily, putting a hand up to the +magical eye, “it keeps sticking — ever since that scum +wore it — ” + +And with a nasty squelching sound much like a +plunger being pulled from a sink, he popped out his +eye. + +“Mad-Eye, you do know that’s disgusting, don’t you?” +said Tonks conversationally. + +“Get me a glass of water, would you, Harry?” asked +Moody. + +Harry crossed to the dishwasher, took out a clean +glass, and filled it with water at the sink, still watched +eagerly by the band of wizards. Their relentless +staring was starting to annoy him. + +“Cheers,” said Moody, when Harry handed him the +glass. He dropped the magical eyeball into the water +and prodded it up and down; the eye whizzed around, + + + +Page | 65 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +staring at them all in turn. “I want three-hundred- +and-sixty degrees visibility on the return journey.” + +“How’re we getting — wherever we’re going?” Harry +asked. + +“Brooms,” said Lupin. “Only way. You’re too young to +Apparate, they’ll be watching the Floo Network, and +it’s more than our life’s worth to set up an +unauthorized Portkey.” + +“Remus says you’re a good flier,” said Kingsley +Shacklebolt in his deep voice. + +“He’s excellent,” said Lupin, who was checking his +watch. “Anyway, you’d better go and get packed, +Harry, we want to be ready to go when the signal +comes.” + +“I’ll come and help you,” said Tonks brightly. + +She followed Harry back into the hall and up the +stairs, looking around with much curiosity and +interest. + +“Funny place,” she said, “it’s a bit too clean, d’you +know what I mean? Bit unnatural. Oh, this is better,” +she added, as they entered Harry’s bedroom and he +turned on the light. + +His room was certainly much messier than the rest of +the house. Confined to it for four days in a very bad +mood, Harry had not bothered tidying up after +himself. Most of the books he owned were strewn over +the floor where he’d tried to distract himself with each +in turn and thrown it aside. Hedwig’s cage needed +cleaning out and was starting to smell, and his trunk +lay open, revealing a jumbled mixture of Muggle + + + +Page | 66 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +clothes and wizard’s robes that had spilled onto the +floor around it. + +Harry started picking up books and throwing them +hastily into his trunk. Tonks paused at his open +wardrobe to look critically at her reflection in the +mirror on the inside of the door. + +“You know, I don’t think purple’s really my color,” she +said pensively, tugging at a lock of spiky hair. “D’you +think it makes me look a bit peaky?” + +“Er — ” said Harry, looking up at her over the top of +Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland. + +“Yeah, it does,” said Tonks decisively. She screwed up +her eyes in a strained expression as though she were +struggling to remember something. A second later, +her hair had turned bubble-gum pink. + +“How did you do that?” said Harry, gaping at her as +she opened her eyes again. + +“I’m a Metamorphmagus,” she said, looking back at +her reflection and turning her head so that she could +see her hair from all directions. “It means I can +change my appearance at will,” she added, spotting +Harry’s puzzled expression in the mirror behind her. + +“I was born one. I got top marks in Concealment and +Disguise during Auror training without any study at +all, it was great.” + +“You’re an Auror?” said Harry, impressed. Being a +Dark wizard catcher was the only career he’d ever +considered after Hogwarts. + +“Yeah,” said Tonks, looking proud. “Kingsley is as +well; he’s a bit higher up than I am, though. I only +qualified a year ago. Nearly failed on Stealth and + +Page | 67 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +Tracking, I’m dead clumsy, did you hear me break +that plate when we arrived downstairs?” + + + +“Can you learn how to be a Metamorphmagus?” Harry +asked her, straightening up, completely forgetting +about packing. + +Tonks chuckled. + +“Bet you wouldn’t mind hiding that scar sometimes, +eh?” + +Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s +forehead. + +“No, I wouldn’t mind,” Harry mumbled, turning away. +He did not like people staring at his scar. + +“Well, you 11 have to learn the hard way, I’m afraid,” +said Tonks. “Metamorphmagi are really rare, they’re +born, not made. Most wizards need to use a wand or +potions to change their appearance... But we’ve got to +get going, Harry, we’re supposed to be packing,” she +added guiltily, looking around at all the mess on the +floor. + +“Oh — yeah,” said Harry, grabbing up a few more +books. + +“Don’t be stupid, it’ll be much quicker if I — pack).” +cried Tonks, waving her wand in a long, sweeping +movement over the floor. + +Books, clothes, telescope, and scales all soared into +the air and flew pell-mell into the trunk. + +“It’s not very neat,” said Tonks, walking over to the +trunk and looking down at the jumble inside. “My +mum’s got this knack of getting stuff to fit itself in + +Page | 68 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +neatly — she even gets the socks to fold themselves — +but I’ve never mastered how she does it — it’s a kind +of flick — ” + +She flicked her wand hopefully; one of Harry’s socks +gave a feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of +the mess within. + +“Ah, well,” said Tonks, slamming the trunk’s lid shut, +“at least it’s all in. That could do with a bit of +cleaning, too — Scourgify — ” She pointed her wand at +Hedwig’s cage; a few feathers and droppings +vanished. “Well, that’s a bit better — I’ve never quite +got the hang of these sort of householdy spells. Right +— got everything? Cauldron? Broom? Wow! A +Firebolt?” + +Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in +Harry’s right hand. It was his pride and joy, a gift +from Sirius, an international standard broomstick. + +“And I’m still riding a Comet Two Sixty,” said Tonks +enviously. “Ah well ... wand still in your jeans? Both +buttocks still on? Okay, let’s go. Locomotor Trunk.” + +Harry’s trunk rose a few inches into the air. Holding +her wand like a conductor’s baton, Tonks made it +hover across the room and out of the door ahead of +them, Hedwig’s cage in her left hand. Harry followed +her down the stairs carrying his broomstick. + +Back in the kitchen, Moody had replaced his eye, +which was spinning so fast after its cleaning it made +Harry feel sick. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis +Podmore were examining the microwave and Hestia +Jones was laughing at a potato peeler she had come +across while rummaging in the drawers. Lupin was +sealing a letter addressed to the Dursleys. + + + +Page | 69 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Excellent,” said Lupin, looking up as Tonks and +Harry entered. “We’ve got about a minute, I think. We +should probably get out into the garden so we’re +ready. Harry, I’ve left a letter telling your aunt and +uncle not to worry — ” + +“They won’t,” said Harry. + +“That you’re safe — ” + +“That’ll just depress them.” + +“ — and you’ll see them next summer.” + +“Do I have to?” + +Lupin smiled but made no answer. + +“Come here, boy,” said Moody gruffly, beckoning +Harry toward him with his wand. “I need to +Disillusion you.” + +“You need to what?” said Harry nervously. + +“Disillusionment Charm,” said Moody, raising his +wand. “Lupin says you’ve got an Invisibility Cloak, +but it won’t stay on while we’re flying; this’ll disguise +you better. Here you go — ” + +He rapped Harry hard on the top of the head and +Harry felt a curious sensation as though Moody had +just smashed an egg there; cold trickles seemed to be +running down his body from the point the wand had +struck. + +“Nice one, Mad-Eye,” said Tonks appreciatively, +staring at Harry’s midriff. + + + +Page | 70 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry looked down at his body, or rather, what had +been his body, for it didn’t look anything like his +anymore. It was not invisible; it had simply taken on +the exact color and texture of the kitchen unit behind +him. He seemed to have become a human chameleon. + +“Come on,” said Moody, unlocking the back door with +his wand. + +They all stepped outside onto Uncle Vernon’s +beautifully kept lawn. + +“Clear night,” grunted Moody, his magical eye +scanning the heavens. “Could’ve done with a bit more +cloud cover. Right, you,” he barked at Harry, “we’re +going to be flying in close formation. Tonks’ll be right +in front of you, keep close on her tail. Lupin’ll be +covering you from below. I’m going to be behind you. +The rest’ll be circling us. We don’t break ranks for +anything, got me? If one of us is killed — ” + +“Is that likely?” Harry asked apprehensively, but +Moody ignored him. + +“ — the others keep flying, don’t stop, don’t break +ranks. If they take out all of us and you survive, + +Harry, the rear guard are standing by to take over; +keep flying east and they’ll join you.” + +“Stop being so cheerful, Mad-Eye, he’ll think we’re not +taking this seriously,” said Tonks, as she strapped +Harry’s trunk and Hedwig’s cage into a harness +hanging from her broom. + +“I’m just telling the boy the plan,” growled Moody. +“Our job’s to deliver him safely to headquarters and if +we die in the attempt — ” + + + +Page | 71 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No one’s going to die,” said Kingsley Shacklebolt in +his deep, calming voice. + +“Mount your brooms, that’s the first signal!” said +Lupin sharply, pointing into the sky. + +Far, far above them, a shower of bright red sparks +had flared among the stars. Harry recognized them at +once as wand sparks. He swung his right leg over his +Firebolt, gripped its handle tightly, and felt it +vibrating very slightly, as though it was as keen as he +was to be up in the air once more. + +“Second signal, let’s go!” said Lupin loudly, as more +sparks, green this time, exploded high above them. + +Harry kicked off hard from the ground. The cool night +air rushed through his hair as the neat square +gardens of Privet Drive fell away, shrinking rapidly +into a patchwork of dark greens and blacks, and +every thought of the Ministry hearing was swept from +his mind as though the rush of air had blown it out of +his head. He felt as though his heart was going to +explode with pleasure; he was flying again, flying +away from Privet Drive as he’d been fantasizing about +all summer, he was going home... For a few glorious +moments, all his problems seemed to recede into +nothing, insignificant in the vast, starry sky. + +“Hard left, hard left, there’s a Muggle looking up!” +shouted Moody from behind him. Tonks swerved and +Harry followed her, watching his trunk swinging +wildly beneath her broom. “We need more height... +Give it another quarter of a mile!” + +Harry’s eyes watered in the chill as they soared +upward; he could see nothing below now but tiny +pinpricks of light that were car headlights and +streetlamps. Two of those tiny lights might belong to + +Page | 72 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +Uncle Vernon’s car... The Dursleys would be heading +back to their empty house right now, full of rage +about the nonexistent lawn competition . . . and Harry +laughed aloud at the thought, though his voice was +drowned by the flapping of the others’ robes, the +creaking of the harness holding his trunk and the +cage, the whoosh of the wind in their ears as they +sped through the air. He had not felt this alive in a +month, or this happy... + +“Bearing south!” shouted Mad-Eye. “Town ahead!” + +They soared right, so that they did not pass directly +over the glittering spiderweb of lights below. + +“Bear southeast and keep climbing, there’s some low +cloud ahead we can lose ourselves in!” called Moody. + +“We’re not going through clouds!” shouted Tonks +angrily. “We’ll get soaked, Mad-Eye!” + +Harry was relieved to hear her say this; his hands +were growing numb on the Firebolt’s handle. He +wished he had thought to put on a coat; he was +starting to shiver. + +They altered their course every now and then +according to Mad-Eye ’s instructions. Harry’s eyes +were screwed up against the rush of icy wind that +was starting to make his ears ache. He could +remember being this cold on a broom only once +before, during the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff +in his third year, which had taken place in a storm. +The guard around him was circling continuously like +giant birds of prey. Harry lost track of time. He +wondered how long they had been flying; it felt like an +hour at least. + + + +Page | 73 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Turning southwest!” yelled Moody. “We want to avoid +the motorway!” + +Harry was now so chilled that he thought longingly +for a moment of the snug, dry interiors of the cars +streaming along below, then, even more longingly, of +traveling by Floo powder; it might be uncomfortable to +spin around in fireplaces but it was at least warm in +the flames... Kingsley Shacklebolt swooped around +him, bald pate and earring gleaming slightly in the +moonlight... Now Emmeline Vance was on his right, +her wand out, her head turning left and right . . . then +she too swooped over him, to be replaced by Sturgis +Podmore... + +“We ought to double back for a bit, just to make sure +we’re not being followed!” Moody shouted. + +“ARE YOU MAD, MAD-EYE?” Tonks screamed from +the front. “We’re all frozen to our brooms! If we keep +going off course we’re not going to get there until next +week! We’re nearly there now!” + +“Time to start the descent!” came Lupin’s voice. +“Follow Tonks, Harry!” + +Harry followed Tonks into a dive. They were heading +for the largest collection of lights he had yet seen, a +huge, sprawling, crisscrossing mass, glittering in lines +and grids, interspersed with patches of deepest black. +Lower and lower they flew, until Harry could see +individual headlights and streetlamps, chimneys, and +television aerials. He wanted to reach the ground very +much, though he felt sure that someone would have +to unfreeze him from his broom. + +“Here we go!” called Tonks, and a few seconds later +she had landed. + + + +Page | 74 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry touched down right behind her and +dismounted on a patch of unkempt grass in the +middle of a small square. Tonks was already +unbuckling Harry’s trunk. Shivering, Harry looked +around. The grimy fronts of the surrounding houses +were not welcoming; some of them had broken +windows, glimmering dully in the light from the +street-lamps, paint was peeling from many of the +doors, and heaps of rubbish lay outside several sets +of front steps. + +“Where are we?” Harry asked, but Lupin said quietly, +“In a minute.” + +Moody was rummaging in his cloak, his gnarled +hands clumsy with cold. + +“Got it,” he muttered, raising what looked like a silver +cigarette lighter into the air and clicking it. + +The nearest streetlamp went out with a pop. He +clicked the un-lighter again; the next lamp went out. +He kept clicking until every lamp in the square was +extinguished and the only light in the square came +from curtained windows and the sickle moon +overhead. + +“Borrowed it from Dumbledore,” growled Moody, +pocketing the Put-Outer. “That’ll take care of any +Muggles looking out of the window, see? Now, come +on, quick.” + +He took Harry by the arm and led him from the patch +of grass, across the road, and onto the pavement. +Lupin and Tonks followed, carrying Harry’s trunk +between them, the rest of the guard, all with their +wands out, flanking them. + + + +Page | 75 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The muffled pounding of a stereo was coming from an +upper window in the nearest house. A pungent smell +of rotting rubbish came from the pile of bulging bin- +bags just inside the broken gate. + +“Here,” Moody muttered, thrusting a piece of +parchment toward Harry’s Disillusioned hand and +holding his lit wand close to it, so as to illuminate the +writing. “Read quickly and memorize.” + +Harry looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow +handwriting was vaguely familiar. It said: + +The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may he +found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London. + + + +Page | 76 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +NUMBER TWELVE, GRIMMAULD +PLACE + +“What’s the Order of the — ?” Harry began. + +“Not here, boy!” snarled Moody. “Wait till we’re +inside!” + +He pulled the piece of parchment out of Harry’s hand +and set fire to it with his wand tip. As the message +curled into flames and floated to the ground, Harry +looked around at the houses again. They were +standing outside number eleven; he looked to the left +and saw number ten; to the right, however, was +number thirteen. + +“But where’s — ?” + +“Think about what you’ve just memorized,” said Lupin +quietly. + +Harry thought, and no sooner had he reached the +part about number twelve, Grimmauld Place, than a + + + +Page | 77 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +battered door emerged out of nowhere between +numbers eleven and thirteen, followed swiftly by dirty +walls and grimy windows. It was as though an extra +house had inflated, pushing those on either side out +of its way. Harry gaped at it. The stereo in number +eleven thudded on. Apparently the Muggles inside +hadn’t even felt anything. + +“Come on, hurry,” growled Moody, prodding Harry in +the back. + +Harry walked up the worn stone steps, staring at the +newly materialized door. Its black paint was shabby +and scratched. The silver door knocker was in the +form of a twisted serpent. There was no keyhole or +letterbox. + +Lupin pulled out his wand and tapped the door once. +Harry heard many loud, metallic clicks and what +sounded like the clatter of a chain. The door creaked +open. + +“Get in quick, Harry,” Lupin whispered. “But don’t go +far inside and don’t touch anything.” + +Harry stepped over the threshold into the almost total +darkness of the hall. He could smell damp, dust, and +a sweetish, rotting smell; the place had the feeling of +a derelict building. He looked over his shoulder and +saw the others filing in behind him, Lupin and Tonks +carrying his trunk and Hedwig’s cage. Moody was +standing on the top step and releasing the balls of +light the Put-Outer had stolen from the street-lamps; +they flew back to their bulbs and the square beyond +glowed momentarily with orange light before Moody +limped inside and closed the front door, so that the +darkness in the hall became complete. + +“Here — ” + +Page | 78 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +He rapped Harry hard over the head with his wand; +Harry felt as though something hot was trickling +down his back this time and knew that the +Disillusionment Charm must have lifted. + +“Now stay still, everyone, while I give us a bit of light +in here,” Moody whispered. + +The others’ hushed voices were giving Harry an odd +feeling of foreboding; it was as though they had just +entered the house of a dying person. He heard a soft +hissing noise and then old-fashioned gas lamps +sputtered into life all along the walls, casting a +flickering insubstantial light over the peeling +wallpaper and threadbare carpet of a long, gloomy +hallway, where a cobwebby chandelier glimmered +overhead and age-blackened portraits hung crooked +on the walls. Harry heard something scuttling behind +the baseboard. Both the chandelier and the +candelabra on a rickety table nearby were shaped like +serpents. + +There were hurried footsteps and Ron’s mother, Mrs. +Weasley, emerged from a door at the far end of the +hall. She was beaming in welcome as she hurried +toward them, though Harry noticed that she was +rather thinner and paler than she had been last time +he had seen her. + +“Oh, Harry, it’s lovely to see you!” she whispered, +pulling him into a rib-cracking hug before holding +him at arm’s length and examining him critically. +“You��re looking peaky; you need feeding up, but you’ll +have to wait a bit for dinner, I’m afraid...” + +She turned to the gang of wizards behind him and +whispered urgently, “He’s just arrived, the meeting’s +started...” + + + +Page | 79 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The wizards behind Harry all made noises of interest +and excitement and began filing past Harry toward +the door through which Mrs. Weasley had just come; +Harry made to follow Lupin, but Mrs. Weasley held +him back. + +“No, Harry, the meeting’s only for members of the +Order. Ron and Hermione are upstairs, you can wait +with them until the meeting’s over and then we’ll have +dinner. And keep your voice down in the hall,” she +added in an urgent whisper. + +“Why?” + +“I don’t want to wake anything up.” + +“What d’you — ?” + +“I’ll explain later, I’ve got to hurry, I’m supposed to be +at the meeting — I’ll just show you where you’re +sleeping.” + +Pressing her finger to her lips, she led him on tiptoes +past a pair of long, moth-eaten curtains, behind +which Harry supposed there must be another door, +and after skirting a large umbrella stand that looked +as though it had been made from a severed troll’s leg, +they started up the dark staircase, passing a row of +shrunken heads mounted on plaques on the wall. A +closer look showed Harry that the heads belonged to +house-elves. All of them had the same rather +snoutlike nose. + +Harry’s bewilderment deepened with every step he +took. What on earth were they doing in a house that +looked as though it belonged to the Darkest of +wizards? + +“Mrs. Weasley, why — ?” + +Page | 80 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Ron and Hermione will explain everything, dear, I’ve +really got to dash,” Mrs. Weasley whispered +distractedly. “There” — they had reached the second +landing — “you’re the door on the right. I’ll call you +when it’s over.” + +And she hurried off downstairs again. + +Harry crossed the dingy landing, turned the bedroom +doorknob, which was shaped like a serpent’s head, +and opened the door. + +He caught a brief glimpse of a gloomy high-ceilinged, +twin-bedded room, then there was a loud twittering +noise, followed by an even louder shriek, and his +vision was completely obscured by a large quantity of +very bushy hair — Hermione had thrown herself onto +him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat, while +Ron’s tiny owl, Pigwidgeon, zoomed excitedly round +and round their heads. + +“HARRY! Ron, he’s here, Harry’s here! We didn’t hear +you arrive! Oh, how are you? Are you all right? Have +you been furious with us? I bet you have, I know our +letters were useless — but we couldn’t tell you +anything, Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn’t, +oh, we’ve got so much to tell you, and you’ve got to +tell us — the dementors! When we heard — and that +Ministry hearing — it’s just outrageous, I’ve looked it +all up, they can’t expel you, they just can’t, there’s +provision in the Decree for the Restriction of +Underage Sorcery for the use of magic in life- +threatening situations — ” + +“Let him breathe, Hermione,” said Ron, grinning, +closing the door behind Harry. He seemed to have +grown several more inches during their month apart, +making him taller and more gangly looking than ever, + + + +Page | 81 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +though the long nose, bright red hair, and freckles +were the same. + +Hermione, still beaming, let go of Harry, but before +she could say another word there was a soft +whooshing sound and something white soared from +the top of a dark wardrobe and landed gently on +Harry’s shoulder. + +“Hedwig!” + +The snowy owl clicked her beak and nibbled his ear +affectionately as Harry stroked her feathers. + +“She’s been in a right state,” said Ron. “Pecked us +half to death when she brought your last letters, look +at this — ” + +He showed Harry the index finger of his right hand, +which sported a half-healed but clearly deep cut. + +“Oh yeah,” Harry said. “Sorry about that, but I +wanted answers, you know...” + +“We wanted to give them to you, mate,” said Ron. +“Hermione was going spare, she kept saying you’d do +something stupid if you were stuck all on your own +without news, but Dumbledore made us — ” + +“ — swear not to tell me,” said Harry. “Yeah, +Hermione’s already said.” + +The warm glow that had flared inside him at the sight +of his two best friends was extinguished as something +icy flooded the pit of his stomach. All of a sudden — +after yearning to see them for a solid month — he felt +he would rather Ron and Hermione left him alone. + + + +Page | 82 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was a strained silence in which Harry stroked +Hedwig automatically, not looking at either of the +others. + +“He seemed to think it was best,” said Hermione +rather breathlessly. “Dumbledore, I mean.” + +“Right,” said Harry. He noticed that her hands too +bore the marks of Hedwig’s beak and found that he +was not at all sorry. + +“I think he thought you were safest with the Muggles +— ” Ron began. + +“Yeah?” said Harry, raising his eyebrows. “Have either +of you been attacked by dementors this summer?” + +“Well, no — but that’s why he’s had people from the +Order of the Phoenix tailing you all the time — ” + +Harry felt a great jolt in his guts as though he had +just missed a step going downstairs. So everyone had +known he was being followed except him. + +“Didn’t work that well, though, did it?” said Harry, +doing his utmost to keep his voice even. “Had to look +after myself after all, didn’t I?” + +“He was so angry,” said Hermione in an almost +awestruck voice. “Dumbledore. We saw him. When he +found out Mundungus had left before his shift had +ended. He was scary.” + +“Well, I’m glad he left,” Harry said coldly. “If he +hadn’t, I wouldn’t have done magic and Dumbledore +would probably have left me at Privet Drive all +summer.” + + + +Page | 83 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Aren’t you ... aren’t you worried about the Ministry of +Magic hearing?” said Hermione quietly. + +“No,” Harry lied defiantly. He walked away from them, +looking around, with Hedwig nestled contentedly on +his shoulder, but this room was not likely to raise his +spirits. It was dank and dark. A blank stretch of +canvas in an ornate picture frame was all that +relieved the bareness of the peeling walls and as +Harry passed it he thought he heard someone lurking +out of sight snigger. + +“So why’s Dumbledore been so keen to keep me in the +dark?” Harry asked, still trying hard to keep his voice +casual. “Did you — er — bother to ask him at all?” + +He glanced up just in time to see them exchanging a +look that told him he was behaving just as they had +feared he would. It did nothing to improve his temper. + +“We told Dumbledore we wanted to tell you what was +going on,” said Ron. “We did, mate. But he’s really +busy now, we’ve only seen him twice since we came +here and he didn’t have much time, he just made us +swear not to tell you important stuff when we wrote, +he said the owls might be intercepted — ” + +“He could still’ve kept me informed if he’d wanted to,” +Harry said shortly. “You’re not telling me he doesn’t +know ways to send messages without owls.” + +Hermione glanced at Ron and then said, “I thought +that too. But he didn’t want you to know anything.” + +“Maybe he thinks I can’t be trusted,” said Harry, +watching their expressions. + +“Don’t be thick,” said Ron, looking highly +disconcerted. + +Page | 84 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Or that I can’t take care of myself — ” + + + +“Of course he doesn’t think that!” said Hermione +anxiously. + +“So how come I have to stay at the Dursleys’ while +you two get to join in everything that’s going on +here?” said Harry, the words tumbling over one +another in a rush, his voice growing louder with every +word. “How come you two are allowed to know +everything that’s going on — ?” + +“We’re not!” Ron interrupted. “Mum won’t let us near +the meetings, she says we’re too young — ” + +But before he knew it, Harry was shouting. + +“SO YOU HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, BIG +DEAL! YOUVE STILL BEEN HERE, HAVEN T YOU? +YOUVE STILL BEEN TOGETHER! ME, IVE BEEN +STUCK AT THE DURSLEYS’ FOR A MONTH! AND IVE +HANDLED MORE THAN YOU TWOVE EVER +MANAGED AND DUMBLEDORE KNOWS IT — WHO +SAVED THE SORCERER’S STONE? WHO GOT RID +OF RIDDLE? WHO SAVED BOTH YOUR SKINS FROM +THE DEMENTORS?” + +Every bitter and resentful thought that Harry had had +in the past month was pouring out of him; his +frustration at the lack of news, the hurt that they had +all been together without him, his fury at being +followed and not told about it: All the feelings he was +half-ashamed of finally burst their boundaries. + +Hedwig took fright at the noise and soared off on top +of the wardrobe again; Pigwidgeon twittered in alarm +and zoomed even faster around their heads. + +“WHO HAD TO GET PAST DRAGONS AND SPHINXES +AND EVERY OTHER FOUL THING LAST YEAR? WHO + +Page | 85 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +SAW HIM COME BACK? WHO HAD TO ESCAPE +FROM HIM? ME!” + + + +Ron was standing there with his mouth half-open, +clearly stunned and at a loss for anything to say, +while Hermione looked on the verge of tears. + +“BUT WHY SHOULD I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON? +WHY SHOULD ANYONE BOTHER TO TELL ME +WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?” + + + +“Harry, we wanted to tell you, we really did — ” +Hermione began. + + + +“CANTVE WANTED TO THAT MUCH, CAN YOU, OR +YOU’D HAVE SENT ME AN OWL, BUT DUMBLEDORE +MADE YOU SWEAR — ” + + + +“Well, he did — ” + +“FOUR WEEKS IVE BEEN STUCK IN PRIVET DRIVE, +NICKING PAPERS OUT OF BINS TO TRY AND FIND +OUT WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON — ” + + + +“We wanted to — ” + +“I SUPPOSE YOUVE BEEN HAVING A REAL LAUGH, +HAVENT YOU, ALL HOLED UP HERE TOGETHER — ” + +“No, honest — ” + +“Harry, we’re really sorry!” said Hermione desperately, +her eyes now sparkling with tears. “You’re absolutely +right, Harry — I’d be furious if it was me!” + +Harry glared at her, still breathing deeply, then +turned away from them again, pacing up and down. +Hedwig hooted glumly from the top of the wardrobe. + + + +Page | 86 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was a long pause, broken only by the mournful +creak of the floorboards below Harry’s feet. + +“What is this place anyway?” he shot at Ron and +Hermione. + +“Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix,” said Ron +at once. + +“Is anyone going to bother telling me what the Order +of the Phoenix — ?” + +“It’s a secret society,” said Hermione quickly. +“Dumbledore’s in charge, he founded it. It’s the people +who fought against You-Know-Who last time.” + +“Who’s in it?” said Harry, coming to a halt with his +hands in his pockets. + +“Quite a few people — ” + +“ — we’ve met about twenty of them,” said Ron, “but +we think there are more...” + +Harry glared at them. + +“ Well?” he demanded, looking from one to the other. +“Er,” said Ron. “Well what?” + +“Voldemorti” said Harry furiously, and both Ron and +Hermione winced. “What’s happening? What’s he up +to? Where is he? What are we doing to stop him?” + +“We’ve told you, the Order don’t let us in on their +meetings,” said Hermione nervously. “So we don’t +know the details — but we’ve got a general idea — ” +she added hastily, seeing the look on Harry’s face. + + + +Page | 87 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Fred and George have invented Extendable Ears, +see,” said Ron. “They’re really useful.” + + + +“Extendable — ?” + +“Ears, yeah. Only we’ve had to stop using them lately +because Mum found out and went berserk. Fred and +George had to hide them all to stop Mum binning +them. But we got a good bit of use out of them before +Mum realized what was going on. We know some of +the Order are following known Death Eaters, keeping +tabs on them, you know — ” + +“ — some of them are working on recruiting more +people to the Order — ” said Hermione. + +“ — and some of them are standing guard over +something,” said Ron. “They’re always talking about +guard duty.” + +“Couldn’t have been me, could it?” said Harry +sarcastically. + +“Oh yeah,” said Ron, with a look of dawning +comprehension. + +Harry snorted. He walked around the room again, +looking anywhere but at Ron and Hermione. “So what +have you two been doing, if you’re not allowed in +meetings?” he demanded. “You said you’d been busy.” + +“We have,” said Hermione quickly. “We’ve been +decontaminating this house, it’s been empty for ages +and stuff’s been breeding in here. We’ve managed to +clean out the kitchen, most of the bedrooms, and I +think we’re doing the drawing room tomo — AARGH!” + +With two loud cracks, Fred and George, Ron’s elder +twin brothers, had materialized out of thin air in the + +Page | 88 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +middle of the room. Pigwidgeon twittered more wildly +than ever and zoomed off to join Hedwig on top of the +wardrobe. + +“Stop doing that!” Hermione said weakly to the twins, +who were as vividly red-haired as Ron, though +stockier and slightly shorter. + +“Hello, Harry,” said George, beaming at him. “We +thought we heard your dulcet tones.” + +“You don’t want to bottle up your anger like that, +Harry, let it all out,” said Fred, also beaming. “There +might be a couple of people fifty miles away who +didn’t hear you.” + +“You two passed your Apparation tests, then?” asked +Harry grumpily. + +“With distinction,” said Fred, who was holding what +looked like a piece of very long, flesh-colored string. + +“It would have taken you about thirty seconds longer +to walk down the stairs,” said Ron. + +“Time is Galleons, little brother,” said Fred. “Anyway, +Harry, you’re interfering with reception. Extendable +Ears,” he added in response to Harry’s raised +eyebrows, holding up the string, which Harry now +saw was trailing out onto the landing. “We’re trying to +hear what’s going on downstairs.” + +“You want to be careful,” said Ron, staring at the ear. +“If Mum sees one of them again ...” + +“It’s worth the risk, that’s a major meeting they’re +having,” said Fred. + + + +Page | 89 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The door opened and a long mane of red hair +appeared. + +“Oh hello, Harry!” said Ron’s younger sister, Ginny, +brightly. “I thought I heard your voice.” + +Turning to Fred and George she said, “It’s no go with +the Extendable Ears, she’s gone and put an +Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door.” + +“How d’you know?” said George, looking crestfallen. + +“Tonks told me how to find out,” said Ginny. “You just +chuck stuff at the door and if it can’t make contact +the door’s been Imperturbed. I’ve been flicking +Dungbombs at it from the top of the stairs and they +just soar away from it, so there’s no way the +Extendable Ears will be able to get under the gap.” + +Fred heaved a deep sigh. “Shame. I really fancied +finding out what old Snape’s been up to.” + +“Snape?” said Harry quickly. “Is he here?” + +“Yeah,” said George, carefully closing the door and +sitting down on one of the beds; Fred and Ginny +followed. “Giving a report. Top secret.” + +“Git,” said Fred idly. + +“He’s on our side now,” said Hermione reprovingly. + +Ron snorted. “Doesn’t stop him being a git. The way +he looks at us when he sees us...” + +“Bill doesn’t like him either,” said Ginny, as though +that settled the matter. + + + +Page | 90 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry was not sure his anger had abated yet; but his +thirst for information was now overcoming his urge to +keep shouting. He sank onto the bed opposite the +others. + +“Is Bill here?” he asked. “I thought he was working in +Egypt.” + +“He applied for a desk job so he could come home and +work for the Order,” said Fred. “He says he misses the +tombs, but,” he smirked, “there are compensations...” + +“What d’you mean?” + +“Remember old Fleur Delacour?” said George. “She’s +got a job at Gringotts to eemprove ’er Eeenglish — ” + +“ — and Bill’s been giving her a lot of private lessons,” +sniggered Fred. + +“Charlie’s in the Order too,” said George, “but he’s +still in Romania, Dumbledore wants as many foreign +wizards brought in as possible, so Charlie’s trying to +make contacts on his days off.” + +“Couldn’t Percy do that?” Harry asked. The last he +had heard, the third Weasley brother was working in +the Department of International Magical Cooperation +at the Ministry of Magic. + +At these words all the Weasleys and Hermione +exchanged darkly significant looks. + +“Whatever you do, don’t mention Percy in front of +Mum and Dad,” Ron told Harry in a tense voice. + +“Why not?” + + + +Page | 91 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Because every time Percy’s name’s mentioned, Dad +breaks whatever he’s holding and Mum starts crying,” +Fred said. + +“It’s been awful,” said Ginny sadly. + +“I think we’re well shut of him,” said George with an +uncharacteristically ugly look on his face. + +“What’s happened?” Harry said. + +“Percy and Dad had a row,” said Fred. “I’ve never seen +Dad row with anyone like that. It’s normally Mum +who shouts...” + +“It was the first week back after term ended,” said +Ron. “We were about to come and join the Order. +Percy came home and told us he’d been promoted.” + +“You’re kidding?” said Harry. + +Though he knew perfectly well that Percy was highly +ambitious, Harry’s impression was that Percy had not +made a great success of his first job at the Ministry of +Magic. Percy had committed the fairly large oversight +of failing to notice that his boss was being controlled +by Lord Voldemort (not that the Ministry had believed +that — they all thought that Mr. Crouch had gone +mad). + +“Yeah, we were all surprised,” said George, “because +Percy got into a load of trouble about Crouch, there +was an inquiry and everything. They said Percy ought +to have realized Crouch was off his rocker and +informed a superior. But you know Percy, Crouch left +him in charge, he wasn’t going to complain...” + +“So how come they promoted him?” + + + +Page | 92 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“That’s exactly what we wondered,” said Ron, who +seemed very keen to keep normal conversation going +now that Harry had stopped yelling. “He came home +really pleased with himself — even more pleased than +usual if you can imagine that — and told Dad he’d +been offered a position in Fudge’s own office. A really +good one for someone only a year out of Hogwarts — +Junior Assistant to the Minister. He expected Dad to +be all impressed, I think.” + +“Only Dad wasn’t,” said Fred grimly. + +“Why not?” said Harry. + +“Well, apparently Fudge has been storming round the +Ministry checking that nobody’s having any contact +with Dumbledore,” said George. + +“Dumbledore’s name’s mud with the Ministry these +days, see,” said Fred. “They all think he’s just making +trouble saying You-Know- Who’s back.” + +“Dad says Fudge has made it clear that anyone who’s +in league with Dumbledore can clear out their desks,” +said George. + +“Trouble is, Fudge suspects Dad, he knows he’s +friendly with Dumbledore, and he’s always thought +Dad’s a bit of a weirdo because of his Muggle +obsession — ” + +“But what’s this got to do with Percy?” asked Harry, +confused. + +“I’m coming to that. Dad reckons Fudge only wants +Percy in his office because he wants to use him to spy +on the family — and Dumbledore.” + + + +Harry let out a low whistle. + +Page | 93 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Bet Percy loved that.” + +Ron laughed in a hollow sort of way. + +“He went completely berserk. He said — well, he said +loads of terrible stuff. He said he’s been having to +struggle against Dad’s lousy reputation ever since he +joined the Ministry and that Dad’s got no ambition +and that’s why we’ve always been — you know — not +had a lot of money, I mean — ” + +“ What?” said Harry in disbelief, as Ginny made a +noise like an angry cat. + +“I know,” said Ron in a low voice. “And it got worse. + +He said Dad was an idiot to run around with +Dumbledore, that Dumbledore was heading for big +trouble and Dad was going to go down with him, and +that he — Percy — knew where his loyalty lay and it +was with the Ministry. And if Mum and Dad were +going to become traitors to the Ministry he was going +to make sure everyone knew he didn’t belong to our +family anymore. And he packed his bags the same +night and left. He’s living here in London now.” + +Harry swore under his breath. He had always liked +Percy least of Ron’s brothers, but he had never +imagined he would say such things to Mr. Weasley. + +“Mum’s been in a right state,” said Ron. “You know — +crying and stuff. She came up to London to try and +talk to Percy but he slammed the door in her face. I +dunno what he does if he meets Dad at work — +ignores him, I s’pose.” + +“But Percy must know Voldemort’s back,” said Harry +slowly. “He’s not stupid, he must know your mum +and dad wouldn’t risk everything without proof — ” + + + +Page | 94 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, well, your name got dragged into the row,” said +Ron, shooting Harry a furtive look. “Percy said the +only evidence was your word and ... I dunno ... he +didn’t think it was good enough.” + +“Percy takes the Daily Prophet seriously,” said +Hermione tartly, and the others all nodded. + +“What are you talking about?” Harry asked, looking +around at them all. They were all regarding him +warily. + +“Haven’t — haven’t you been getting the Daily +Prophet?” Hermione asked nervously. + +“Yeah, I have!” said Harry. + +“Have you — er — been reading it thoroughly?” +Hermione asked still more anxiously. + +“Not cover to cover,” said Harry defensively. “If they +were going to report anything about Voldemort it +would be headline news, wouldn’t it!” + +The others flinched at the sound of the name. +Hermione hurried on, “Well, you’d need to read it +cover to cover to pick it up, but they — um — they +mention you a couple of times a week.” + +“But I’d have seen — ” + +“Not if you’ve only been reading the front page, you +wouldn’t,” said Hermione, shaking her head. “I’m not +talking about big articles. They just slip you in, like +you’re a standing joke.” + +“What d’you — ?” + + + +Page | 95 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s quite nasty, actually,” said Hermione in a voice of +forced calm. “They’re just building on Rita’s stuff.” + +“But she’s not writing for them anymore, is she?” + +“Oh no, she’s kept her promise — not that she’s got +any choice,” Hermione added with satisfaction. “But +she laid the foundation for what they’re trying to do +now.” + +“Which is what?” said Harry impatiently. + +“Okay, you know she wrote that you were collapsing +all over the place and saying your scar was hurting +and all that?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, who was not likely to forget Rita +Skeeter’s stories about him in a hurry. + +“Well, they’re writing about you as though you’re this +deluded, attention-seeking person who thinks he’s a +great tragic hero or something,” said Hermione, very +fast, as though it would be less unpleasant for Harry +to hear these facts quickly. “They keep slipping in +snide comments about you. If some far-fetched story +appears they say something like ‘a tale worthy of +Harry Potter’ and if anyone has a funny accident or +anything it’s let’s hope he hasn’t got a scar on his +forehead or we’ll be asked to worship him next ��� ’ ” + +“I don’t want anyone to worship — ” Harry began +hotly. + +“I know you don’t,” said Hermione quickly, looking +frightened. “I know, Harry. But you see what they’re +doing? They want to turn you into someone nobody +will believe. Fudge is behind it, I’ll bet anything. They +want wizards on the street to think you’re just some +stupid boy who’s a bit of a joke, who tells ridiculous +Page | 96 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +tall stories because he loves being famous and wants +to keep it going.” + +“I didn’t ask — I didn’t want — Voldemort killed my +parentsV’ Harry spluttered. “I got famous because he +murdered my family but couldn’t kill me! Who wants +to be famous for that? Don’t they think I’d rather it’d +never — ” + +“We know, Harry,” said Ginny earnestly. + +“And of course, they didn’t report a word about the +dementors attacking you,” said Hermione. “Someone’s +told them to keep that quiet. That should’ve been a +really big story, out-of-control dementors. They +haven’t even reported that you broke the International +Statute of Secrecy — we thought they would, it would +tie in so well with this image of you as some stupid +show-off — we think they’re biding their time until +you’re expelled, then they’re really going to go to town +— I mean, if you’re expelled, obviously,” she went on +hastily, “you really shouldn’t be, not if they abide by +their own laws, there’s no case against you.” + +They were back on the hearing and Harry did not +want to think about it. He cast around for another +change of subject, but was saved the necessity of +finding one by the sound of footsteps coming up the +stairs. + +“Uh-oh.” + +Fred gave the Extendable Ear a hearty tug; there was +another loud crack and he and George vanished. +Seconds later, Mrs. Weasley appeared in the bedroom +doorway. + +“The meeting’s over, you can come down and have +dinner now, everyone’s dying to see you, Harry. And + +Page | 97 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +who’s left all those Dungbombs outside the kitchen +door?” + + + +“Crookshanks,” said Ginny unblushingly. “He loves +playing with them.” + +“Oh,” said Mrs. Weasley, “I thought it might have +been Kreacher, he keeps doing odd things like that. +Now don’t forget to keep your voices down in the hall. +Ginny, your hands are filthy, what have you been +doing? Go and wash them before dinner, please...” + +Ginny grimaced at the others and followed her mother +out of the room, leaving Harry alone with Ron and +Hermione again. Both of them were watching him +apprehensively, as though they feared that he would +start shouting again now that everyone else had gone. +The sight of them looking so nervous made him feel +slightly ashamed. + +“Look ...” he muttered, but Ron shook his head, and +Hermione said quietly, “We knew you’d be angry, +Harry, we really don’t blame you, but you’ve got to +understand, we did try and persuade Dumbledore — ” + +“Yeah, I know,” said Harry grudgingly. + +He cast around for a topic to change the subject from +Dumbledore — the very thought of him made Harry’s +insides burn with anger again. + +“Who’s Kreacher?” he asked. + +“The house-elf who lives here,” said Ron. “Nutter. +Never met one like him.” + +Hermione frowned at Ron. + +“He’s not a nutter, Ron — ” + +Page | 98 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“His life’s ambition is to have his head cut off and +stuck up on a plaque just like his mother,” said Ron +irritably. “Is that normal, Hermione?” + +“Well — well, if he is a bit strange, it’s not his fault — ” + +Ron rolled his eyes at Harry. + +“Hermione still hasn’t given up on spew — ” + +“It’s not ‘spew’!” said Hermione heatedly. “It’s the +Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, and it’s +not just me, Dumbledore says we should be kind to +Kreacher too — ” + +“Yeah, yeah,” said Ron. “C’mon, I’m starving.” + +He led the way out of the door and onto the landing, +but before they could descend the stairs — “Hold it!” +Ron breathed, flinging out an arm to stop Harry and +Hermione walking any farther. “They’re still in the +hall, we might be able to hear something — ” + +The three of them looked cautiously over the +banisters. The gloomy hallway below was packed with +witches and wizards, including all of Harry’s guard. +They were whispering excitedly together. In the very +center of the group Harry saw the dark, greasy-haired +head and prominent nose of his least favorite teacher +at Hogwarts, Professor Snape. Harry leaned farther +over the banisters. He was very interested in what +Snape was doing for the Order of the Phoenix. . . + +A thin piece of flesh-colored string descended in front +of Harry’s eyes. Looking up he saw Fred and George +on the landing above, cautiously lowering the +Extendable Ear toward the dark knot of people below. +A moment later, however, they began to move toward +the front door and out of sight. + +Page | 99 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dammit,” Harry heard Fred whisper, as he hoisted +the Extendable Ear back up again. + +They heard the front door open and then close. + +“Snape never eats here,” Ron told Harry quietly. +“Thank God. C’mon.” + +“And don’t forget to keep your voice down in the hall, +Harry,” Hermione whispered. + +As they passed the row of house-elf heads on the wall +they saw Lupin, Mrs. Weasley, and Tonks at the front +door, magically sealing its many locks and bolts +behind those who had just left. + +“We’re eating down in the kitchen,” Mrs. Weasley +whispered, meeting them at the bottom of the stairs. +“Harry, dear, if youll just tiptoe across the hall, it’s +through this door here — ” + +CRASH. + +“Tonksl” cried Mrs. Weasley exasperatedly, turning to +look behind her. + +“I’m sorry!” wailed Tonks, who was lying flat on the +floor. “It’s that stupid umbrella stand, that’s the +second time I’ve tripped over — ” + +But the rest of her words were drowned by a horrible, +earsplitting, bloodcurdling screech. + +The moth-eaten velvet curtains Harry had passed +earlier had flown apart, but there was no door behind +them. For a split second, Harry thought he was +looking through a window, a window behind which an +old woman in a black cap was screaming and +screaming as though she was being tortured — then +Page | lOOHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he realized it was simply a life-size portrait, but the +most realistic, and the most unpleasant, he had ever +seen in his life. + +The old woman was drooling, her eyes were rolling, +the yellowing skin of her face stretched taut as she +screamed, and all along the hall behind them, the +other portraits awoke and began to yell too, so that +Harry actually screwed up his eyes at the noise and +clapped his hands over his ears. + +Lupin and Mrs. Weasley darted forward and tried to +tug the curtains shut over the old woman, but they +would not close and she screeched louder than ever, +brandishing clawed hands as though trying to tear at +their faces. + +“Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half- +breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How +dare you befoul the house of my fathers — ” + +Tonks apologized over and over again, at the same +time dragging the huge, heavy troll’s leg back off the +floor. Mrs. Weasley abandoned the attempt to close +the curtains and hurried up and down the hall, +Stunning all the other portraits with her wand. Then +a man with long black hair came charging out of a +door facing Harry. + +“Shut up, you horrible old hag, shut UP!” he roared, +seizing the curtain Mrs. Weasley had abandoned. + +The old woman’s face blanched. + +“Yooooul” she howled, her eyes popping at the sight of +the man. “Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my +fleshl” + + + +Page | lOlHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I said — shut — UP!” roared the man, and with a +stupendous effort he and Lupin managed to force the +curtains closed again. + +The old woman’s screeches died and an echoing +silence fell. + +Panting slightly and sweeping his long dark hair out +of his eyes, Harry’s godfather, Sirius, turned to face +him. + +“Hello, Harry,” he said grimly, “I see you’ve met my +mother.” + + + +Page | 102Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +5 + + + + +THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX + +“Your — ?” + +“My dear old mum, yeah,” said Sirius. “We’ve been +trying to get her down for a month but we think she +put a Permanent Sticking Charm on the back of the +canvas. Let’s get downstairs, quick, before they all +wake up again.” + +“But what’s a portrait of your mother doing here?” +Harry asked, bewildered, as they went through the +door from the hall and led the way down a flight of +narrow stone steps, the others just behind them. + +“Hasn’t anyone told you? This was my parents’ +house,” said Sirius. “But I’m the last Black left, so it’s +mine now. I offered it to Dumbledore for headquarters +— about the only useful thing I’ve been able to do.” + +Harry, who had expected a better welcome, noted how +hard and bitter Sirius’s voice sounded. He followed +his godfather to the bottom of the stairs and through +a door leading into the basement kitchen. + +Page | 103Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +It was scarcely less gloomy than the hall above, a +cavernous room with rough stone walls. Most of the +light was coming from a large fire at the far end of the +room. A haze of pipe smoke hung in the air like battle +fumes, through which loomed the menacing shapes of +heavy iron pots and pans hanging from the dark +ceiling. Many chairs had been crammed into the room +for the meeting and a long wooden table stood in the +middle of the room, littered with rolls of parchment, +goblets, empty wine bottles, and a heap of what +appeared to be rags. Mr. Weasley and his eldest son, +Bill, were talking quietly with their heads together at +the end of the table. + +Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat. Her husband, a thin, +balding, red-haired man, who wore horn-rimmed +glasses, looked around and jumped to his feet. + +“Harry!” Mr. Weasley said, hurrying forward to greet +him and shaking his hand vigorously. “Good to see +you!” + +Over his shoulder Harry saw Bill, who still wore his +long hair in a ponytail, hastily rolling up the lengths +of parchment left on the table. + +“Journey all right, Harry?” Bill called, trying to gather +up twelve scrolls at once. “Mad-Eye didn’t make you +come via Greenland, then?” + +“He tried,” said Tonks, striding over to help Bill and +immediately sending a candle toppling onto the last +piece of parchment. “Oh no — sorry — ” + +“Here, dear,” said Mrs. Weasley, sounding +exasperated, and she repaired the parchment with a +wave of her wand: In the flash of light caused by Mrs. +Weasley’s charm, Harry caught a glimpse of what +looked like the plan of a building. + +Page | 104Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Mrs. Weasley had seen him looking. She snatched the +plan off the table and stuffed it into Bill’s heavily +laden arms. + +“This sort of thing ought to be cleared away promptly +at the end of meetings,” she snapped before sweeping +off toward an ancient dresser from which she started +unloading dinner plates. + +Bill took out his wand, muttered “Evanescol” and the +scrolls vanished. + +“Sit down, Harry,” said Sirius. “You’ve met +Mundungus, haven’t you?” + +The thing Harry had taken to be a pile of rags gave a +prolonged, grunting snore and then jerked awake. + +“Some’n say m’ name?” Mundungus mumbled +sleepily. “I ’gree with Sirius...” + +He raised a very grubby hand in the air as though +voting, his droopy, bloodshot eyes unfocused. Ginny +giggled. + +“The meeting’s over, Dung,” said Sirius, as they all sat +down around him at the table. “Harry’s arrived.” + +“Eh?” said Mundungus, peering balefully at Harry +through his matted ginger hair. “Blimey, so ’e ’as. + +Yeah ... you all right, ’arry?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry. + +Mundungus fumbled nervously in his pockets, still +staring at Harry, and pulled out a grimy black pipe. + +He stuck it in his mouth, ignited the end of it with his +wand, and took a deep pull on it. Great billowing +clouds of greenish smoke obscured him in seconds. +Page | 105Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Owe you a ’pology,” grunted a voice from the middle +of the smelly cloud. + +“For the last time, Mundungus,” called Mrs. Weasley, +“will you please not smoke that thing in the kitchen, +especially not when we’re about to eat!” + +“Ah,” said Mundungus. “Right. Sorry, Molly.” + +The cloud of smoke vanished as Mundungus stowed +his pipe back in his pocket, but an acrid smell of +burning socks lingered. + +“And if you want dinner before midnight I’ll need a +hand,” Mrs. Weasley said to the room at large. “No, +you can stay where you are, Harry dear, you’ve had a +long journey — ” + +“What can I do, Molly?” said Tonks enthusiastically, +bounding forward. + +Mrs. Weasley hesitated, looking apprehensive. + +“Er — no, it’s all right, Tonks, you have a rest too, +you’ve done enough today — ” + +“No, no, I want to help!” said Tonks brightly, knocking +over a chair as she hurried toward the dresser from +which Ginny was collecting cutlery. + +Soon a series of heavy knives were chopping meat +and vegetables of their own accord, supervised by Mr. +Weasley, while Mrs. Weasley stirred a cauldron +dangling over the fire and the others took out plates, +more goblets, and food from the pantry. Harry was +left at the table with Sirius and Mundungus, who was +still blinking mournfully at him. + +“Seen old Figgy since?” he asked. + +Page | 106Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry, “I haven’t seen anyone.” + + + +“See, I wouldn’t ’ave left,” said Mundungus, leaning +forward, a pleading note in his voice, “but I ’ad a +business opportunity — ” + +Harry felt something brush against his knees and +started, but it was only Crookshanks, Hermione’s +bandy-legged ginger cat, who wound himself once +around Harry’s legs, purring, then jumped onto +Sirius’s lap and curled up. Sirius scratched him +absentmindedly behind the ears as he turned, still +grim-faced, to Harry. + +“Had a good summer so far?” + +“No, it’s been lousy,” said Harry. + +For the first time, something like a grin flitted across +Sirius’s face. + +“Don’t know what you’re complaining about, myself.” + +“ What?” said Harry incredulously. + +“Personally, I’d have welcomed a dementor attack. A +deadly struggle for my soul would have broken the +monotony nicely. You think you’ve had it bad, at least +you’ve been able to get out and about, stretch your +legs, get into a few fights... I’ve been stuck inside for a +month.” + +“How come?” asked Harry, frowning. + +“Because the Ministry of Magic’s still after me, and +Voldemort will know all about me being an Animagus +by now, Wormtail will have told him, so my big +disguise is useless. There’s not much I can do for the +Order of the Phoenix ... or so Dumbledore feels.” + +Page | 107Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was something about the slightly flattened tone +of voice in which Sirius uttered Dumbledore’s name +that told Harry that Sirius was not very happy with +the headmaster either. Harry felt a sudden upsurge of +affection for his godfather. + +“At least you’ve known what’s been going on,” he said +bracingly. + +“Oh yeah,” said Sirius sarcastically. “Listening to +Snape’s reports, having to take all his snide hints that +he’s out there risking his life while I’m sat on my +backside here having a nice comfortable time . . . +asking me how the cleaning’s going — ” + +“What cleaning?” asked Harry. + +“Trying to make this place fit for human habitation,” +said Sirius, waving a hand around the dismal +kitchen. “No one’s lived here for ten years, not since +my dear mother died, unless you count her old +house-elf, and he’s gone round the twist, hasn’t +cleaned anything in ages — ” + +“Sirius?” said Mundungus, who did not appear to +have paid any attention to this conversation, but had +been minutely examining an empty goblet. “This solid +silver, mate?” + +“Yes,” said Sirius, surveying it with distaste. “Finest +fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed +with the Black family crest.” + +“That’d come off, though,” muttered Mundungus, +polishing it with his cuff. + +“Fred — George — NO, JUST CARRY THEM!” Mrs. +Weasley shrieked. + + + +Page | 108Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry, Sirius, and Mundungus looked around and, a +split second later, dived away from the table. Fred +and George had bewitched a large cauldron of stew, +an iron flagon of butterbeer, and a heavy wooden +breadboard, complete with knife, to hurtle through +the air toward them. The stew skidded the length of +the table and came to a halt just before the end, +leaving a long black burn on the wooden surface, the +flagon of butterbeer fell with a crash, spilling its +contents everywhere, and the bread knife slipped off +the board and landed, point down and quivering +ominously, exactly where Sirius’s right hand had +been seconds before. + +“FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!” screamed Mrs. Weasley. +“THERE WAS NO NEED — IVE HAD ENOUGH OF +THIS — JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE ALLOWED TO USE +MAGIC NOW YOU DONT HAVE TO WHIP YOUR +WANDS OUT FOR EVERY TINY LITTLE THING!” + +“We were just trying to save a bit of time!” said Fred, +hurrying forward and wrenching the bread knife out +of the table. “Sorry Sirius, mate — didn’t mean to — ” + +Harry and Sirius were both laughing. Mundungus, +who had toppled backward off his chair, was swearing +as he got to his feet. Crookshanks had given an angry +hiss and shot off under the dresser, from whence his +large yellow eyes glowed in the darkness. + +“Boys,” Mr. Weasley said, lifting the stew back into +the middle of the table, “your mother’s right, you’re +supposed to show a sense of responsibility now you’ve +come of age — ” + +“ — none of your brothers caused this sort of trouble!” +Mrs. Weasley raged at the twins, slamming a fresh +flagon of butterbeer onto the table and spilling almost +as much again. “Bill didn’t feel the need to Apparate + +Page | 109Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +every few feet! Charlie didn’t Charm everything he +met! Percy — ” + +She stopped dead, catching her breath with a +frightened look at her husband, whose expression +was suddenly wooden. + +“Let’s eat,” said Bill quickly. + +“It looks wonderful, Molly,” said Lupin, ladling stew +onto a plate for her and handing it across the table. + +For a few minutes there was silence but for the chink +of plates and cutlery and the scraping of chairs as +everyone settled down to their food. Then Mrs. + +Weasley turned to Sirius and said, “I’ve been meaning +to tell you, there’s something trapped in that writing +desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling and +shaking. Of course, it could just be a boggart, but I +thought we ought to ask Alastor to have a look at it +before we let it out.” + +“Whatever you like,” said Sirius indifferently. + +“The curtains in there are full of doxies too,” Mrs. +Weasley went on. “I thought we might try and tackle +them tomorrow.” + +“I look forward to it,” said Sirius. Harry heard the +sarcasm in his voice, but he was not sure that anyone +else did. + +Opposite Harry, Tonks was entertaining Hermione +and Ginny by transforming her nose between +mouthfuls. Screwing up her eyes each time with the +same pained expression she had worn back in Harry’s +bedroom, her nose swelled to a beaklike protuberance +like Snape’s, shrank to something resembling a +button mushroom, and then sprouted a great deal of +Page | llOHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hair from each nostril. Apparently this was a regular +mealtime entertainment, because after a while +Hermione and Ginny started requesting their favorite +noses. + +“Do that one like a pig snout, Tonks ...” + +Tonks obliged, and Harry, looking up, had the fleeting +impression that a female Dudley was grinning at him +from across the table. + +Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Lupin were having an intense +discussion about goblins. + +“They’re not giving anything away yet,” said Bill. “I +still can’t work out whether they believe he’s back or +not. ’Course, they might prefer not to take sides at all. +Keep out of it.” + +“I’m sure they’d never go over to You-Know-Who,” +said Mr. Weasley, shaking his head. “They’ve suffered +losses too. Remember that goblin family he murdered +last time, somewhere near Nottingham?” + +“I think it depends what they’re offered,” said Lupin. +“And I’m not talking about gold; if they’re offered +freedoms we’ve been denying them for centuries +they’re going to be tempted. Have you still not had +any luck with Ragnok, Bill?” + +“He’s feeling pretty anti-wizard at the moment,” said +Bill. “He hasn’t stopped raging about the Bagman +business, he reckons the Ministry did a cover-up, +those goblins never got their gold from him, you know + + + +A gale of laughter from the middle of the table +drowned the rest of Bill’s words. Fred, George, Ron, +and Mundungus were rolling around in their seats. + +Page | lllHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +"... and then,” choked Mundungus, tears running +down his face, “and then, if you’ll believe it, ’e says to +me, ’e says, ‘’ere, Dung, where didja get all them toads +from? ’Cos some son of a Bludger’s gone and nicked +all mine!’ And I says, ‘Nicked all your toads, Will, +what next? So you’ll be wanting some more, then?’ +And if you’ll believe me, lads, the gormless gargoyle +buys all ’is own toads back orf me for twice what ’e +paid in the first place — ■” + +“I don’t think we need to hear any more of your +business dealings, thank you very much, +Mundungus,” said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as Ron +slumped forward onto the table, howling with +laughter. + +“Beg pardon, Molly,” said Mundungus at once, wiping +his eyes and winking at Harry. “But, you know, Will +nicked ’em orf Warty Harris in the first place so I +wasn’t really doing nothing wrong — ” + +“I don’t know where you learned about right and +wrong, Mundungus, but you seem to have missed a +few crucial lessons,” said Mrs. Weasley coldly. + +Fred and George buried their faces in their goblets of +butterbeer; George was hiccuping. For some reason, +Mrs. Weasley threw a very nasty look at Sirius before +getting to her feet and going to fetch a large rhubarb +crumble for pudding. Harry looked round at his +godfather. + +“Molly doesn’t approve of Mundungus,” said Sirius in +an undertone. + +“How come he’s in the Order?” Harry said very +quietly. + + + +Page | 112Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“He’s useful,” Sirius muttered. “Knows all the crooks +— well, he would, seeing as he’s one himself. But he’s +also very loyal to Dumbledore, who helped him out of +a tight spot once. It pays to have someone like Dung +around, he hears things we don’t. But Molly thinks +inviting him to stay for dinner is going too far. She +hasn’t forgiven him for slipping off duty when he was +supposed to be tailing you.” + +Three helpings of rhubarb crumble and custard later +and the waistband on Harry’s jeans was feeling +uncomfortably tight (which was saying something, as +the jeans had once been Dudley’s). He lay down his +spoon in a lull in the general conversation. Mr. +Weasley was leaning back in his chair, looking replete +and relaxed, Tonks was yawning widely, her nose now +back to normal, and Ginny, who had lured +Crookshanks out from under the dresser, was sitting +cross-legged on the floor, rolling butterbeer corks for +him to chase. + +“Nearly time for bed, I think,” said Mrs. Weasley on a +yawn. + +“Not just yet, Molly,” said Sirius, pushing away his +empty plate and turning to look at Harry. “You know, +I’m surprised at you. I thought the first thing you’d do +when you got here would be to start asking questions +about Voldemort.” + +The atmosphere in the room changed with the +rapidity Harry associated with the arrival of +dementors. Where seconds before it had been sleepily +relaxed, it was now alert, even tense. A frisson had +gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort’s +name. Lupin, who had been about to take a sip of +wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary. + + + +Page | 113Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I did!” said Harry indignantly. “I asked Ron and +Hermione but they said we’re not allowed in the +Order, so — ” + +“And they’re quite right,” said Mrs. Weasley. “You’re +too young.” + +She was sitting bolt upright in her chair, her fists +clenched upon its arms, every trace of drowsiness +gone. + +“Since when did someone have to be in the Order of +the Phoenix to ask questions?” asked Sirius. “Harry’s +been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He’s +got the right to know what’s been happen — ” + +“Hang on!” interrupted George loudly. + +“How come Harry gets his questions answered?” said +Fred angrily. + +“ We’ve been trying to get stuff out of you for a month +and you haven’t told us a single stinking thing!” said +George. + +“ ‘You’re too young, you’re not in the Order,’ ” said +Fred, in a high-pitched voice that sounded uncannily +like his mother’s. “Harry’s not even of age!” + +“It’s not my fault you haven’t been told what the +Order’s doing,” said Sirius calmly. “That’s your +parents’ decision. Harry, on the other hand — ” + +“It’s not down to you to decide what’s good for Harry!” +said Mrs. Weasley sharply. Her normally kindly face +looked dangerous. “You haven’t forgotten what +Dumbledore said, I suppose?” + + + +Page | 114Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Which bit?” Sirius asked politely, but with an air as +though readying himself for a fight. + +“The bit about not telling Harry more than he needs +to know,” said Mrs. Weasley, placing a heavy +emphasis on the last three words. + +Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George’s heads turned from +Sirius to Mrs. Weasley as though following a tennis +rally. Ginny was kneeling amid a pile of abandoned +butterbeer corks, watching the conversation with her +mouth slightly open. Lupin’s eyes were fixed on +Sirius. + +“I don’t intend to tell him more than he needs to +know, Molly,” said Sirius. “But as he was the one who +saw Voldemort come back” (again, there was a +collective shudder around the table at the name), “he +has more right than most to — ” + +“He’s not a member of the Order of the Phoenix!” said +Mrs. Weasley. “He’s only fifteen and — ” + +“ — and he’s dealt with as much as most in the +Order,” said Sirius, “and more than some — ” + +“No one’s denying what he’s done!” said Mrs. Weasley, +her voice rising, her fists trembling on the arms of her +chair. “But he’s still — ” + +“He’s not a child!” said Sirius impatiently. + +“He’s not an adult either!” said Mrs. Weasley, the +color rising in her cheeks. “He’s not James, Sirius!” + +“I’m perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly,” said +Sirius coldly. + + + +Page | 115Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +‘Tm not sure you are!” said Mrs. Weasley. + +“Sometimes, the way you talk about him, it’s as +though you think you’ve got your best friend back!” + +“What’s wrong with that?” said Harry. + +“What’s wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father, +however much you might look like him!” said Mrs. +Weasley, her eyes still boring into Sirius. “You are still +at school and adults responsible for you should not +forget it!” + +“Meaning I’m an irresponsible godfather?” demanded +Sirius, his voice rising. + +“Meaning you’ve been known to act rashly, Sirius, +which is why Dumbledore keeps reminding you to +stay at home and — ” + +“We’ll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of +this, if you please!” said Sirius loudly. + +“Arthur!” said Mrs. Weasley, rounding on her +husband. “Arthur, back me up!” + +Mr. Weasley did not speak at once. He took off his +glasses and cleaned them slowly on his robes, not +looking at his wife. Only when he had replaced them +carefully on his nose did he say, “Dumbledore knows +the position has changed, Molly. He accepts that +Harry will have to be filled in to a certain extent now +that he is staying at headquarters — ” + +“Yes, but there’s a difference between that and +inviting him to ask whatever he likes!” + +“Personally,” said Lupin quietly, looking away from +Sirius at last, as Mrs. Weasley turned quickly to him, +hopeful that finally she was about to get an ally, “I + +Page | 116Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +think it better that Harry gets the facts — not all the +facts, Molly, but the general picture — from us, rather +than a garbled version from ... others.” + +His expression was mild, but Harry felt sure that +Lupin, at least, knew that some Extendable Ears had +survived Mrs. Weasley’s purge. + +“Well,” said Mrs. Weasley, breathing deeply and +looking around the table for support that did not +come, “well ... I can see I’m going to be overruled. I’ll +just say this: Dumbledore must have had his reasons +for not wanting Harry to know too much, and +speaking as someone who has got Harry’s best +interests at heart — ” + +“He’s not your son,” said Sirius quietly. + +“He’s as good as,” said Mrs. Weasley fiercely. “Who +else has he got?” + +“He’s got me!” + +“Yes,” said Mrs. Weasley, her lip curling. “The thing +is, it’s been rather difficult for you to look after him +while you’ve been locked up in Azkaban, hasn’t it?” + +Sirius started to rise from his chair. + +“Molly, you’re not the only person at this table who +cares about Harry,” said Lupin sharply. “Sirius, sit +down.” + +Mrs. Weasley’s lower lip was trembling. Sirius sank +slowly back into his chair, his face white. + +“I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this,” + +Lupin continued. “He’s old enough to decide for +himself.” + +Page | 117Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I want to know what’s been going on,” Harry said at +once. + +He did not look at Mrs. Weasley. He had been touched +by what she had said about his being as good as a +son, but he was also impatient at her mollycoddling. . . +Sirius was right, he was not a child. + +“Very well,” said Mrs. Weasley, her voice cracking. +“Ginny — Ron — Hermione — Fred — George — I +want you out of this kitchen, now.” + +There was instant uproar. + +“We’re of age!” Fred and George bellowed together. + +“If Harry’s allowed, why can’t I?” shouted Ron. + +“Mum, I want to!” wailed Ginny. + +“NO!” shouted Mrs. Weasley, standing up, her eyes +overbright. “I absolutely forbid — ” + +“Molly, you can’t stop Fred and George,” said Mr. +Weasley wearily. “They are of age — ” + +“They’re still at school — ” + +“But they’re legally adults now,” said Mr. Weasley in +the same tired voice. + +Mrs. Weasley was now scarlet in the face. + +“I — oh, all right then, Fred and George can stay, but +Ron — ” + +“Harry’ll tell me and Hermione everything you say +anyway!” said Ron hotly. “Won’t — won’t you?” he +added uncertainly, meeting Harry’s eyes. + +Page | 118Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +For a split second, Harry considered telling Ron that +he wouldn’t tell him a single word, that he could try a +taste of being kept in the dark and see how he liked +it. But the nasty impulse vanished as they looked at +each other. + +“ ’Course I will,” Harry said. Ron and Hermione +beamed. + +“Fine!” shouted Mrs. Weasley. “Fine! Ginny — BED!” + +Ginny did not go quietly. They could hear her raging +and storming at her mother all the way up the stairs, +and when she reached the hall Mrs. Black’s +earsplitting shrieks were added to the din. Lupin +hurried off to the portrait to restore calm. It was only +after he had returned, closing the kitchen door +behind him and taking his seat at the table again, +that Sirius spoke. + +“Okay, Harry ... what do you want to know?” + +Harry took a deep breath and asked the question that +had been obsessing him for a month. + +“Where’s Voldemort? What’s he doing? I’ve been trying +to watch the Muggle news,” he said, ignoring the +renewed shudders and winces at the name, “and +there hasn’t been anything that looks like him yet, no +funny deaths or anything — ” + +“That’s because there haven’t been any suspicious +deaths yet,” said Sirius, “not as far as we know, +anyway... And we know quite a lot.” + +“More than he thinks we do anyway,” said Lupin. + + + +Page | 119Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How come he’s stopped killing people?” Harry asked. +He knew that Voldemort had murdered more than +once in the last year alone. + +“Because he doesn’t want to draw attention to himself +at the moment,” said Sirius. “It would be dangerous +for him. His comeback didn’t come off quite the way +he wanted it to, you see. He messed it up.” + +“Or rather, you messed it up for him,” said Lupin with +a satisfied smile. + +“How?” Harry asked perplexedly. + +“You weren’t supposed to survive!” said Sirius. +“Nobody apart from his Death Eaters was supposed to +know he’d come back. But you survived to bear +witness.” + +“And the very last person he wanted alerted to his +return the moment he got back was Dumbledore,” +said Lupin. “And you made sure Dumbledore knew at +once.” + +“How has that helped?” Harry asked. + +“Are you kidding?” said Bill incredulously. +“Dumbledore was the only one You-Know-Who was +ever scared of!” + +“Thanks to you, Dumbledore was able to recall the +Order of the Phoenix about an hour after Voldemort +returned,” said Sirius. + +“So what’s the Order been doing?” said Harry, looking +around at them all. + +“Working as hard as we can to make sure Voldemort +can’t carry out his plans,” said Sirius. + +Page | 120Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How d’you know what his plans are?” Harry asked +quickly. + + + +“Dumbledore’s got a shrewd idea,” said Lupin, “and +Dumbledore’s shrewd ideas normally turn out to be +accurate.” + +“So what does Dumbledore reckon he’s planning?” + +“Well, firstly, he wants to build up his army again,” +said Sirius. “In the old days he had huge numbers at +his command; witches and wizards he’d bullied or +bewitched into following him, his faithful Death +Eaters, a great variety of Dark creatures. You heard +him planning to recruit the giants; well, they’ll be just +one group he’s after. He’s certainly not going to try +and take on the Ministry of Magic with only a dozen +Death Eaters.” + +“So you’re trying to stop him getting more followers?” +“We’re doing our best,” said Lupin. + +“How?” + +“Well, the main thing is to try and convince as many +people as possible that You-Know-Who really has +returned, to put them on their guard,” said Bill. “It’s +proving tricky, though.” + +“Why?” + +“Because of the Ministry’s attitude,” said Tonks. “You +saw Cornelius Fudge after You-Know-Who came back, +Harry. Well, he hasn’t shifted his position at all. He’s +absolutely refusing to believe it’s happened.” + +“But why?” said Harry desperately. “Why’s he being +so stupid? If Dumbledore — ” + +Page | 121Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Ah, well, you’ve put your finger on the problem,” said +Mr. Weasley with a wry smile. “Dumbledore.” + +“Fudge is frightened of him, you see,” said Tonks +sadly. + +“Frightened of Dumbledore?” said Harry +incredulously. + +“Frightened of what he’s up to,” said Mr. Weasley. +“You see, Fudge thinks Dumbledore’s plotting to +overthrow him. He thinks Dumbledore wants to be +Minister of Magic.” + +“But Dumbledore doesn’t want — ” + +“Of course he doesn’t,” said Mr. Weasley. “He’s never +wanted the Minister’s job, even though a lot of people +wanted him to take it when Millicent Bagnold retired. +Fudge came to power instead, but he’s never quite +forgotten how much popular support Dumbledore +had, even though Dumbledore never applied for the +job.” + +“Deep down, Fudge knows Dumbledore’s much +cleverer than he is, a much more powerful wizard, +and in the early days of his Ministry he was forever +asking Dumbledore for help and advice,” said Lupin. +“But it seems that he’s become fond of power now, +and much more confident. He loves being Minister of +Magic, and he’s managed to convince himself that +he’s the clever one and Dumbledore’s simply stirring +up trouble for the sake of it.” + +“How can he think that?” said Harry angrily. “How +can he think Dumbledore would just make it all up — +that I’d make it all up?” + + + +Page | 122Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Because accepting that Voldemort’s back would +mean trouble like the Ministry hasn’t had to cope +with for nearly fourteen years,” said Sirius bitterly. +“Fudge just can’t bring himself to face it. It’s so much +more comfortable to convince himself Dumbledore’s +lying to destabilize him.” + +“You see the problem,” said Lupin. “While the +Ministry insists there is nothing to fear from +Voldemort, it’s hard to convince people he’s back, +especially as they really don’t want to believe it in the +first place. What’s more, the Ministry’s leaning heavily +on the Daily Prophet not to report any of what they’re +calling Dumbledore’s rumormongering, so most of the +Wizarding community are completely unaware +anything’s happened, and that makes them easy +targets for the Death Eaters if they’re using the +Imperius Curse.” + +“But you’re telling people, aren’t you?” said Harry, +looking around at Mr. Weasley, Sirius, Bill, +Mundungus, Lupin, and Tonks. “You’re letting people +know he’s back?” + +They all smiled humorlessly. + +“Well, as everyone thinks I’m a mad mass murderer +and the Ministry’s put a ten-thousand-Galleon price +on my head, I can hardly stroll up the street and start +handing out leaflets, can I?” said Sirius restlessly. + +“And I’m not a very popular dinner guest with most of +the community,” said Lupin. “It’s an occupational +hazard of being a werewolf.” + +“Tonks and Arthur would lose their jobs at the +Ministry if they started shooting their mouths off,” +said Sirius, “and it’s very important for us to have + + + +Page | 123Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +spies inside the Ministry, because you can bet +Voldemort will have them.” + +“We’ve managed to convince a couple of people, +though,” said Mr. Weasley. “Tonks here, for one — +she’s too young to have been in the Order of the +Phoenix last time, and having Aurors on our side is a +huge advantage — Kingsley Shacklebolt’s been a real +asset too. He’s in charge of the hunt for Sirius, so he’s +been feeding the Ministry information that Sirius is in +Tibet.” + +“But if none of you’s putting the news out that +Voldemort ’s back — ” Harry began. + +“Who said none of us was putting the news out?” said +Sirius. “Why d’you think Dumbledore’s in such +trouble?” + +“What d’you mean?” Harry asked. + +“They’re trying to discredit him,” said Lupin. “Didn’t +you see the Daily Prophet last week? They reported +that he’d been voted out of the Chairmanship of the +International Confederation of Wizards because he’s +getting old and losing his grip, but it’s not true, he +was voted out by Ministry wizards after he made a +speech announcing Voldemort’s return. They’ve +demoted him from Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot +— that’s the Wizard High Court — and they’re talking +about taking away his Order of Merlin, First Class, +too.” + +“But Dumbledore says he doesn’t care what they do +as long as they don’t take him off the Chocolate Frog +cards,” said Bill, grinning. + +“It’s no laughing matter,” said Mr. Weasley shortly. “If +he carries on defying the Ministry like this, he could + +Page | 124Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +end up in Azkaban and the last thing we want is +Dumbledore locked up. While You-Know-Who knows +Dumbledore’s out there and wise to what he’s up to, +he’s going to go cautiously for a while. If +Dumbledore’s out of the way — well, You-Know-Who +will have a clear field.” + +“But if Voldemort’s trying to recruit more Death +Eaters, it’s bound to get out that he’s come back, isn’t +it?” asked Harry desperately. + +“Voldemort doesn’t march up to people’s houses and +bang on their front doors, Harry,” said Sirius. “He +tricks, jinxes, and blackmails them. He’s well- +practiced at operating in secrecy. In any case, +gathering followers is only one thing he’s interested +in, he’s got other plans too, plans he can put into +operation very quietly indeed, and he’s concentrating +on them at the moment.” + +“What’s he after apart from followers?” Harry asked +swiftly. + +He thought he saw Sirius and Lupin exchange the +most fleeting of looks before Sirius said, “Stuff he can +only get by stealth.” + +When Harry continued to look puzzled, Sirius said, +“Like a weapon. Something he didn’t have last time.” + +“When he was powerful before?” + +“Yes.” + +“Like what kind of weapon?” said Harry. “Something +worse than the Avada Kedavra — ?” + +“That’s enough.” + + + +Page | 125Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Mrs. Weasley spoke from the shadows beside the +door. Harry had not noticed her return from taking +Ginny upstairs. Her arms were crossed and she +looked furious. + +“I want you in bed, now. All of you,” she added, +looking around at Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione. + +“You can’t boss us — ” Fred began. + +“Watch me,” snarled Mrs. Weasley. She was trembling +slightly as she looked at Sirius. “You’ve given Harry +plenty of information. Any more and you might just +as well induct him into the Order straightaway.” + +“Why not?” said Harry quickly. “I’ll join, I want to join, +I want to fight — ” + +“No.” + +It was not Mrs. Weasley who spoke this time, but +Lupin. + +“The Order is comprised only of overage wizards,” he +said. “Wizards who have left school,” he added, as +Fred and George opened their mouths. “There are +dangers involved of which you can have no idea, any +of you ... I think Molly’s right, Sirius. We’ve said +enough.” + +Sirius half-shrugged but did not argue. Mrs. Weasley +beckoned imperiously to her sons and Hermione. One +by one they stood up and Harry, recognizing defeat, +followed suit. + + + +Page | 126Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + + +THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT +HOUSE OF BLACK + +Mrs. Weasley followed them upstairs looking grim. + +“I want you all to go straight to bed, no talking,” she +said as they reached the first landing. “We’ve got a +busy day tomorrow. I expect Ginny’s asleep,” she +added to Hermione, “so try not to wake her up.” + +“Asleep, yeah, right,” said Fred in an undertone, after +Hermione bade them good night and they were +climbing to the next floor. “If Ginny’s not lying awake +waiting for Hermione to tell her everything they said +downstairs, then I’m a flobberworm...” + +“All right, Ron, Harry,” said Mrs. Weasley on the +second landing, pointing them into their bedroom. + +“Off to bed with you.” + +“ ’Night,” Harry and Ron said to the twins. + +“Sleep tight,” said Fred, winking. + +Page | 127Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Mrs. Weasley closed the door behind Harry with a +sharp snap. The bedroom looked, if anything, even +danker and gloomier than it had on first sight. The +blank picture on the wall was now breathing very +slowly and deeply, as though its invisible occupant +was asleep. Harry put on his pajamas, took off his +glasses, and climbed into his chilly bed while Ron +threw Owl Treats up on top of the wardrobe to pacify +Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, who were clattering around +and rustling their wings restlessly. + +“We can’t let them out to hunt every night,” Ron +explained as he pulled on his maroon pajamas. +“Dumbledore doesn’t want too many owls swooping +around the square, thinks it’ll look suspicious. Oh +yeah ... I forgot...” + +He crossed to the door and bolted it. + +“What ’re you doing that for?” + +“Kreacher,” said Ron as he turned off the light. “First +night I was here he came wandering in at three in the +morning. Trust me, you don’t want to wake up and +find him prowling around your room. Anyway ...” He +got into his bed, settled down under the covers, then +turned to look at Harry in the darkness. Harry could +see his outline by the moonlight filtering in through +the grimy window. “What d’you reckon?” + +Harry didn’t need to ask what Ron meant. + +“Well, they didn’t tell us much we couldn’t have +guessed, did they?” he said, thinking of all that had +been said downstairs. “I mean, all they’ve really said +is that the Order’s trying to stop people joining Vol — ” + +There was a sharp intake of breath from Ron. + + + +Page | 128Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ — demort” said Harry firmly. “When are you going to +start using his name? Sirius and Lupin do.” + + + +Ron ignored this last comment. “Yeah, you’re right,” +he said. “We already knew nearly everything they told +us, from using the Extendable Ears. The only new bit +was — ” + +Crack. + +“OUCH!” + +“Keep your voice down, Ron, or Mum’ll be back up +here.” + +“You two just Apparated on my knees!” + +“Yeah, well, it’s harder in the dark — ” + +Harry saw the blurred outlines of Fred and George +leaping down from Ron’s bed. There was a groan of +bedsprings and Harry’s mattress descended a few +inches as George sat down near his feet. + +“So, got there yet?” said George eagerly. + +“The weapon Sirius mentioned?” said Harry. + +“Let slip, more like,” said Fred with relish, now sitting +next to Ron. “We didn’t hear about that on the old +Extendables, did we?” + +“What d’you reckon it is?” said Harry. + +“Could be anything,” said Fred. + +“But there can’t be anything worse than the Avada +Kedavra curse, can there?” said Ron. “What’s worse +than death?” + +Page | 129Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Maybe it’s something that can kill loads of people at +once,” suggested George. + +“Maybe it’s some particularly painful way of killing +people,” said Ron fearfully. + +“He’s got the Cruciatus Curse for causing pain,” said +Harry. “He doesn’t need anything more efficient than +that.” + +There was a pause and Harry knew that the others, +like him, were wondering what horrors this weapon +could perpetrate. + +“So who d’you thinks got it now?” asked George. + +“I hope it’s our side,” said Ron, sounding slightly +nervous. + +“If it is, Dumbledore’s probably keeping it,” said Fred. + +“Where?” said Ron quickly. “Hogwarts?” + +“Bet it is!” said George. “That’s where he hid the +Sorcerer’s Stone!” + +“A weapon’s going to be a lot bigger than the Stone, +though!” said Ron. + +“Not necessarily,” said Fred. + +“Yeah, size is no guarantee of power,” said George. +“Look at Ginny.” + +“What d’you mean?” said Harry. + +“You’ve never been on the receiving end of one of her +Bat-Bogey Hexes, have you?” + + + +Page | 130Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Shhh!” said Fred, half-rising from the bed. “Listen!” + + + +They fell silent. Footsteps were coming up the stairs +again. + +“Mum,” said George, and without further ado there +was a loud crack and Harry felt the weight vanish +from the end of his bed. A few seconds later and they +heard the floorboard creak outside their door; Mrs. +Weasley was plainly listening to see whether they +were talking or not. + +Hedwig and Pigwidgeon hooted dolefully. The +floorboard creaked again and they heard her heading +upstairs to check on Fred and George. + +“She doesn’t trust us at all, you know,” said Ron +regretfully. + +Harry was sure he would not be able to fall asleep; +the evening had been so packed with things to think +about that he fully expected to lie awake for hours +mulling it all over. He wanted to continue talking to +Ron, but Mrs. Weasley was now creaking back +downstairs again, and once she had gone he distinctly +heard others making their way upstairs... In fact, +many-legged creatures were cantering softly up and +down outside the bedroom door, and Hagrid, the Care +of Magical Creatures teacher, was saying, “Beauties, +aren’ they, eh, Harry? We’ll be study in’ weapons this +term...” And Harry saw that the creatures had +cannons for heads and were wheeling to face him... + +He ducked... + +The next thing he knew, he was curled in a warm ball +under his bedclothes, and George’s loud voice was +filling the room. + + + +Page | 131Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Mum says get up, your breakfast is in the kitchen +and then she needs you in the drawing room, there +are loads more doxies than she thought and she’s +found a nest of dead puffskeins under the sofa.” + +Half an hour later, Harry and Ron, who had dressed +and breakfasted quickly, entered the drawing room, a +long, high-ceilinged room on the first floor with olive- +green walls covered in dirty tapestries. The carpet +exhaled little clouds of dust every time someone put +their foot on it and the long, moss-green velvet +curtains were buzzing as though swarming with +invisible bees. It was around these that Mrs. Weasley, +Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George were grouped, all +looking rather peculiar, as they had tied cloths over +their noses and mouths. Each of them was also +holding a large bottle of black liquid with a nozzle at +the end. + +“Cover your faces and take a spray,” Mrs. Weasley +said to Harry and Ron the moment she saw them, +pointing to two more bottles of black liquid standing +on a spindle-legged table. “It’s Doxycide. I’ve never +seen an infestation this bad — what that house-elf’s +been doing for the last ten years — ” + +Hermione ’s face was half concealed by a tea towel but +Harry distinctly saw her throw a reproachful look at +Mrs. Weasley at these words. + +“Kreacher’s really old, he probably couldn’t manage — + + + +“You’d be surprised what Kreacher can manage when +he wants to, Hermione,” said Sirius, who had just +entered the room carrying a bloodstained bag of what +appeared to be dead rats. “I’ve just been feeding +Buckbeak,” he added, in reply to Harry’s inquiring + + + +Page | 132Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +look. “I keep him upstairs in my mother’s bedroom. +Anyway ... this writing desk ...” + +He dropped the bag of rats onto an armchair, then +bent over to examine the locked cabinet which, Harry +now noticed for the first time, was shaking slightly. + +“Well, Molly, I’m pretty sure this is a boggart,” said +Sirius, peering through the keyhole, “but perhaps we +ought to let Mad-Eye have a shifty at it before we let it +out — knowing my mother it could be something +much worse.” + +“Right you are, Sirius,” said Mrs. Weasley. + +They were both speaking in carefully light, polite +voices that told Harry quite plainly that neither had +forgotten their disagreement of the night before. + +A loud, clanging bell sounded from downstairs, +followed at once by the cacophony of screams and +wails that had been triggered the previous night by +Tonks knocking over the umbrella stand. + +“I keep telling them not to ring the doorbell!” said +Sirius exasperatedly, hurrying back out of the room. +They heard him thundering down the stairs as Mrs. +Black’s screeches echoed up through the house once +more: “Stains of dishonor, filthy half-breeds, blood +traitors, children of filth ...” + +“Close the door, please, Harry,” said Mrs. Weasley. + +Harry took as much time as he dared to close the +drawing room door; he wanted to listen to what was +going on downstairs. Sirius had obviously managed to +shut the curtains over his mother’s portrait because +she had stopped screaming. He heard Sirius walking +down the hall, then the clattering of the chain on the +Page | 133Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +front door, and then a deep voice he recognized as +Kingsley Shacklebolt’s saying, “Hestia’s just relieved +me, so she’s got Moody’s cloak now, thought I’d leave +a report for Dumbledore...” + +Feeling Mrs. Weasley’s eyes on the back of his head, +Harry regretfully closed the drawing room door and +rejoined the doxy party. + +Mrs. Weasley was bending over to check the page on +doxies in Gilderoy Lockhart’s Guide to Household +Pests, which was lying open on the sofa. + +“Right, you lot, you need to be careful, because doxies +bite and their teeth are poisonous. I’ve got a bottle of +antidote here, but I’d rather nobody needed it.” + +She straightened up, positioned herself squarely in +front of the curtains, and beckoned them all forward. + +“When I say the word, start spraying immediately,” +she said. “They’ll come flying out at us, I expect, but it +says on the sprays one good squirt will paralyze them. +When they’re immobilized, just throw them in this +bucket.” + +She stepped carefully out of their line of fire and +raised her own spray. “All right — squirti” + +Harry had been spraying only a few seconds when a +fully grown doxy came soaring out of a fold in the +material, shiny beetlelike wings whirring, tiny needle- +sharp teeth bared, its fairylike body covered with +thick black hair and its four tiny fists clenched with +fury. Harry caught it full in the face with a blast of +Doxycide; it froze in midair and fell, with a +surprisingly loud thunk, onto the worn carpet below. +Harry picked it up and threw it in the bucket. + + + +Page | 134Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Fred, what are you doing?” said Mrs. Weasley +sharply. “Spray that at once and throw it away!” + +Harry looked around. Fred was holding a struggling +doxy between his forefinger and thumb. + +“Right-o,” Fred said brightly, spraying the doxy +quickly in the face so that it fainted, but the moment +Mrs. Weasley’s back was turned he pocketed it with a +wink. + +“We want to experiment with doxy venom for our +Skiving Snack-boxes,” George told Harry under his +breath. + +Deftly spraying two doxies at once as they soared +straight for his nose, Harry moved closer to George +and muttered out of the corner of his mouth, “What +are Skiving Snackboxes?” + +“Range of sweets to make you ill,” George whispered, +keeping a wary eye on Mrs. Weasley’s back. “Not +seriously ill, mind, just ill enough to get you out of a +class when you feel like it. Fred and I have been +developing them this summer. They’re double-ended, +color-coded chews. If you eat the orange half of the +Puking Pastilles, you throw up. Moment you’ve been +rushed out of the lesson for the hospital wing, you +swallow the purple half — ” + +“ ‘ — which restores you to full fitness, enabling you to +pursue the leisure activity of your own choice during +an hour that would otherwise have been devoted to +unprofitable boredom.’ That’s what we’re putting in +the adverts, anyway,” whispered Fred, who had edged +over out of Mrs. Weasley’s line of vision and was now +sweeping a few stray doxies from the floor and adding +them to his pocket. “But they still need a bit of work. +At the moment our testers are having a bit of trouble +Page | 135Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +stopping puking long enough to swallow the purple +end.” + + + +“Testers?” + +“Us,” said Fred. “We take it in turns. George did the +Fainting Fancies — we both tried the Nosebleed +Nougat — ” + +“Mum thought we’d been dueling,” said George. + +“Joke shop still on, then?” Harry muttered, +pretending to be adjusting the nozzle on his spray. + +“Well, we haven’t had a chance to get premises yet,” +said Fred, dropping his voice even lower as Mrs. +Weasley mopped her brow with her scarf before +returning to the attack, “so we’re running it as a mail- +order service at the moment. We put advertisements +in the Daily Prophet last week.” + +“All thanks to you, mate,” said George. “But don’t +worry ... Mum hasn’t got a clue. She won’t read the +Daily Prophet anymore, ’cause of it telling lies about +you and Dumbledore.” + +Harry grinned. He had forced the Weasley twins to +take the thousand-Galleon prize money he had won +in the Triwizard Tournament to help them realize +their ambition to open a joke shop, but he was still +glad to know that his part in furthering their plans +was unknown to Mrs. Weasley, who did not think that +running a joke shop was a suitable career for two of +her sons. + +The de-doxying of the curtains took most of the +morning. It was past midday when Mrs. Weasley +finally removed her protective scarf, sank into a +sagging armchair, and sprang up again with a cry of + +Page | 136Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +disgust, having sat on the bag of dead rats. The +curtains were no longer buzzing; they hung limp and +damp from the intensive spraying; unconscious +doxies lay crammed in the bucket at the foot of them +beside a bowl of their black eggs, at which +Crookshanks was now sniffing and Fred and George +were shooting covetous looks. + +“I think well tackle those after lunch.” + +Mrs. Weasley pointed at the dusty glass-fronted +cabinets standing on either side of the mantelpiece. +They were crammed with an odd assortment of +objects: a selection of rusty daggers, claws, a coiled +snakeskin, a number of tarnished silver boxes +inscribed with languages Harry could not understand +and, least pleasant of all, an ornate crystal bottle with +a large opal set into the stopper, full of what Harry +was quite sure was blood. + +The clanging doorbell rang again. Everyone looked at +Mrs. Weasley. + +“Stay here,” she said firmly, snatching up the bag of +rats as Mrs. Blacks screeches started up again from +down below. “I’ll bring up some sandwiches.” + +She left the room, closing the door carefully behind +her. At once, everyone dashed over to the window to +look down onto the doorstep. They could see the top +of an unkempt gingery head and a stack of +precariously balanced cauldrons. + +“Mundungus!” said Hermione. “What’s he brought all +those cauldrons for?” + +“Probably looking for a safe place to keep them,” said +Harry. “Isn’t that what he was doing the night he was + + + +Page | 137Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +supposed to be tailing me? Picking up dodgy +cauldrons?” + + + +“Yeah, you’re right!” said Fred, as the front door +opened; Mundungus heaved his cauldrons through it +and disappeared from view. “Blimey, Mum won’t like +that...” + +He and George crossed to the door and stood beside +it, listening intently. Mrs. Black’s screaming had +stopped again. + +“Mundungus is talking to Sirius and Kingsley,” Fred +muttered, frowning with concentration. “Can’t hear +properly ... d’you reckon we can risk the Extendable +Ears?” + +“Might be worth it,” said George. “I could sneak +upstairs and get a pair — ” + +But at that precise moment there was an explosion of +sound from downstairs that rendered Extendable +Ears quite unnecessary. All of them could hear +exactly what Mrs. Weasley was shouting at the top of +her voice. + +“WE ARE NOT RUNNING A HIDEOUT FOR STOLEN +GOODS!” + +“I love hearing Mum shouting at someone else,” said +Fred, with a satisfied smile on his face as he opened +the door an inch or so to allow Mrs. Weasley ’s voice to +permeate the room better. “It makes such a nice +change.” + +COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE, AS IF WE +HAVENT GOT ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT +WITHOUT YOU DRAGGING STOLEN CAULDRONS +INTO THE HOUSE — ” + +Page | 138Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The idiots are letting her get into her stride,” said +George, shaking his head. “You’ve got to head her off +early, otherwise she builds up a head of steam and +goes on for hours. And she’s been dying to have a go +at Mundungus ever since he sneaked off when he was +supposed to be following you, Harry — and there goes +Sirius’s mum again — ” + +Mrs. Weasley’s voice was lost amid fresh shrieks and +screams from the portraits in the hall. George made +to shut the door to drown the noise, but before he +could do so, a house-elf edged into the room. + +Except for the filthy rag tied like a loincloth around +its middle, it was completely naked. It looked very old. +Its skin seemed to be several times too big for it and +though it was bald like all house-elves, there was a +quantity of white hair growing out of its large, batlike +ears. Its eyes were a bloodshot and watery gray, and +its fleshy nose was large and rather snoutlike. + +The elf took absolutely no notice of Harry and the +rest. Acting as though it could not see them, it +shuffled hunchbacked, slowly and doggedly, toward +the far end of the room, muttering under its breath all +the while in a hoarse, deep voice like a bullfrog’s, "... +Smells like a drain and a criminal to boot, but she’s +no better, nasty old blood traitor with her brats +messing up my Mistress’s house, oh my poor +Mistress, if she knew, if she knew the scum they’ve let +in her house, what would she say to old Kreacher, oh +the shame of it, Mudbloods and werewolves and +traitors and thieves, poor old Kreacher, what can he +do...” + +“Hello, Kreacher,” said Fred very loudly, closing the +door with a snap. + + + +Page | 139Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The house-elf froze in his tracks, stopped muttering, +and then gave a very pronounced and very +unconvincing start of surprise. + +“Kreacher did not see Young Master,” he said, turning +around and bowing to Fred. Still facing the carpet, he +added, perfectly audibly, “Nasty little brat of a blood +traitor it is.” + +“Sorry?” said George. “Didn’t catch that last bit.” + +“Kreacher said nothing,” said the elf, with a second +bow to George, adding in a clear undertone, “and +there’s its twin, unnatural little beasts they are.” + +Harry didn’t know whether to laugh or not. The elf +straightened up, eyeing them all very malevolently, +and apparently convinced that they could not hear +him as he continued to mutter. + +"... and there’s the Mudblood, standing there bold as +brass, oh if my Mistress knew, oh how she’d cry, and +there’s a new boy, Kreacher doesn’t know his name, +what is he doing here, Kreacher doesn’t know ...” + +“This is Harry, Kreacher,” said Hermione tentatively. +“Harry Potter.” + +Kreacher’s pale eyes widened and he muttered faster +and more furiously than ever. + +“The Mudblood is talking to Kreacher as though she +is my friend, if Kreacher’s Mistress saw him in such +company, oh what would she say — ” + +“Don’t call her a Mudblood!” said Ron and Ginny +together, very angrily. + + + +Page | 140Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It doesn’t matter,” Hermione whispered, “he’s not in +his right mind, he doesn’t know what he’s — ” + +“Don’t kid yourself, Hermione, he knows exactly what +he’s saying,” said Fred, eyeing Kreacher with great +dislike. + +Kreacher was still muttering, his eyes on Harry. + +“Is it true? Is it Harry Potter? Kreacher can see the +scar, it must be true, that’s that boy who stopped the +Dark Lord, Kreacher wonders how he did it — ” + +“Don’t we all, Kreacher?” said Fred. + +“What do you want anyway?” George asked. + +Kreacher ’s huge eyes darted onto George. + +“Kreacher is cleaning,” he said evasively. + +“A likely story,” said a voice behind Harry. + +Sirius had come back; he was glowering at the elf +from the doorway. The noise in the hall had abated; +perhaps Mrs. Weasley and Mundungus had moved +their argument down into the kitchen. At the sight of +Sirius, Kreacher flung himself into a ridiculously low +bow that flattened his snoutlike nose on the floor. + +“Stand up straight,” said Sirius impatiently. “Now, +what are you up to?” + +“Kreacher is cleaning,” the elf repeated. “Kreacher +lives to serve the noble house of Black — ” + +“ — and it’s getting blacker every day, it’s filthy,” said +Sirius. + + + +Page | 141Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Master always liked his little joke,” said Kreacher, +bowing again, and continuing in an undertone, +“Master was a nasty ungrateful swine who broke his +mother’s heart — ” + +“My mother didn’t have a heart, Kreacher,” Sirius +snapped. “She kept herself alive out of pure spite.” + +Kreacher bowed again and said, “Whatever Master +says,” then muttered furiously, “Master is not fit to +wipe slime from his mother’s boots, oh my poor +Mistress, what would she say if she saw Kreacher +serving him, how she hated him, what a +disappointment he was — ” + +“I asked you what you were up to,” said Sirius coldly. +“Every time you show up pretending to be cleaning, +you sneak something off to your room so we can’t +throw it out.” + +“Kreacher would never move anything from its proper +place in Master’s house,” said the elf, then muttered +very fast, “Mistress would never forgive Kreacher if +the tapestry was thrown out, seven centuries it’s been +in the family, Kreacher must save it, Kreacher will not +let Master and the blood traitors and the brats +destroy it — ” + +“I thought it might be that,” said Sirius, casting a +disdainful look at the opposite wall. “She’ll have put +another Permanent Sticking Charm on the back of it, + +I don’t doubt, but if I can get rid of it I certainly will. +Now go away, Kreacher.” + +It seemed that Kreacher did not dare disobey a direct +order; nevertheless, the look he gave Sirius as he +shuffled out past him was redolent of deepest loathing +and he muttered all the way out of the room. + + + +Page | 142Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ — comes back from Azkaban ordering Kreacher +around, oh my poor Mistress, what would she say if +she saw the house now, scum living in it, her +treasures thrown out, she swore he was no son of +hers and he’s back, they say he’s a murderer too — ” + +“Keep muttering and I will be a murderer!” said Sirius +irritably, and he slammed the door shut on the elf. + +“Sirius, he’s not right in the head,” said Hermione +pleadingly, “I don’t think he realizes we can hear +him.” + +“He’s been alone too long,” said Sirius, “taking mad +orders from my mother’s portrait and talking to +himself, but he was always a foul little — ” + +“If you just set him free,” said Hermione hopefully, +“maybe — ” + +“We can’t set him free, he knows too much about the +Order,” said Sirius curtly. “And anyway, the shock +would kill him. You suggest to him that he leaves this +house, see how he takes it.” + +Sirius walked across the room, where the tapestry +Kreacher had been trying to protect hung the length +of the wall. Harry and the others followed. + +The tapestry looked immensely old; it was faded and +looked as though doxies had gnawed it in places; +nevertheless, the golden thread with which it was +embroidered still glinted brightly enough to show +them a sprawling family tree dating back (as far as +Harry could tell) to the Middle Ages. Large words at +the very top of the tapestry read: + +THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK + + + +Page | 143Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“TOUJOURS PUR” + + + +“You’re not on here!” said Harry, after scanning the +bottom of the tree. + +“I used to be there,” said Sirius, pointing at a small, +round, charred hole in the tapestry, rather like a +cigarette burn. “My sweet old mother blasted me off +after I ran away from home — Kreacher’s quite fond of +muttering the story under his breath.” + +“You ran away from home?” + +“When I was about sixteen,” said Sirius. “I’d had +enough.” + +“Where did you go?” asked Harry, staring at him. + +“Your dad’s place,” said Sirius. “Your grandparents +were really good about it; they sort of adopted me as a +second son. Yeah, I camped out at your dad’s during +the school holidays, and then when I was seventeen I +got a place of my own, my Uncle Alphard had left me +a decent bit of gold — he’s been wiped off here too, +that’s probably why — anyway, after that I looked +after myself. I was always welcome at Mr. and Mrs. +Potter’s for Sunday lunch, though.” + +“But . . . why did you ... ?” + +“Leave?” Sirius smiled bitterly and ran a hand +through his long, unkempt hair. “Because I hated the +whole lot of them: my parents, with their pure-blood +mania, convinced that to be a Black made you +practically royal . . . my idiot brother, soft enough to +believe them ... that’s him.” + + + +Page | 144Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Sirius jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the tree, +at the name REGULUS BLACK. A date of death (some +fifteen years previously) followed the date of birth. + +“He was younger than me,” said Sirius, “and a much +better son, as I was constantly reminded.” + +“But he died,” said Harry. + +“Yeah,” said Sirius. “Stupid idiot ... he joined the +Death Eaters.” + +“You’re kidding!” + +“Come on, Harry, haven’t you seen enough of this +house to tell what kind of wizards my family were?” +said Sirius testily. + +“Were — were your parents Death Eaters as well?” + +“No, no, but believe me, they thought Voldemort had +the right idea, they were all for the purification of the +Wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns and +having purebloods in charge. They weren’t alone +either, there were quite a few people, before +Voldemort showed his true colors, who thought he +had the right idea about things... They got cold feet +when they saw what he was prepared to do to get +power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus +was a right little hero for joining up at first.” + +“Was he killed by an Auror?” Harry asked tentatively. + +“Oh no,” said Sirius. “No, he was murdered by +Voldemort. Or on Voldemort’s orders, more likely, I +doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed +by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after +he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he +was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you +Page | 145Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +don’t just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It’s +a lifetime of service or death.” + +“Lunch,” said Mrs. Weasley’s voice. + +She was holding her wand high in front of her, +balancing a huge tray loaded with sandwiches and +cake on its tip. She was very red in the face and still +looked angry. The others moved over to her, eager for +some food, but Harry remained with Sirius, who had +bent closer to the tapestry. + +“I haven’t looked at this for years. There’s Phineas +Nigellus ... my great-great-grandfather, see? Least +popular headmaster Hogwarts ever had . . . and +Araminta Meliflua . . . cousin of my mother’s . . . tried to +force through a Ministry Bill to make Muggle-hunting +legal . . . and dear Aunt Elladora . . . she started the +family tradition of beheading house-elves when they +got too old to carry tea trays ... of course, anytime the +family produced someone halfway decent they were +disowned. I see Tonks isn’t on here. Maybe that’s why +Kreacher won’t take orders from her — he’s supposed +to do whatever anyone in the family asks him...” + +“You and Tonks are related?” Harry asked, surprised. + +“Oh yeah, her mother, Andromeda, was my favorite +cousin,” said Sirius, examining the tapestry carefully. +“No, Andromeda’s not on here either, look — ” + +He pointed to another small round burn mark +between two names, Bellatrix and Narcissa. + +“Andromeda’s sisters are still here because they made +lovely, respectable pure-blood marriages, but +Andromeda married a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks, so — ” + + + +Page | 146Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Sirius mimed blasting the tapestry with a wand and +laughed sourly. Harry, however, did not laugh; he was +too busy staring at the names to the right of +Andromeda’s burn mark. A double line of gold +embroidery linked Narcissa Black with Lucius Malfoy, +and a single vertical gold line from their names led to +the name Draco. + +“You’re related to the Malfoys!” + +“The pure-blood families are all interrelated,” said +Sirius. “If you’re only going to let your sons and +daughters marry purebloods your choice is very +limited, there are hardly any of us left. Molly and I are +cousins by marriage and Arthur’s something like my +second cousin once removed. But there’s no point +looking for them on here — if ever a family was a +bunch of blood traitors it’s the Weasleys.” + +But Harry was now looking at the name to the left of +Andromeda’s burn: Bellatrix Black, which was +connected by a double line to Rodolphus Lestrange. + +“Lestrange ...” Harry said aloud. The name had +stirred something in his memory; he knew it from +somewhere, but for a moment he couldn’t think +where, though it gave him an odd, creeping sensation +in the pit of his stomach. + +“They’re in Azkaban,” said Sirius shortly. + +Harry looked at him curiously. + +“Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus came in with +Barty Crouch, Junior,” said Sirius in the same +brusque voice. “Rodolphus ’s brother, Rabastan, was +with them too.” + + + +Page | 147Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And Harry remembered: He had seen Bellatrix +Lestrange inside Dumbledore’s Pensieve, the strange +device in which thoughts and memories could be +stored: a tall dark woman with heavy-lidded eyes, +who had stood at her trial and proclaimed her +continuing allegiance to Lord Voldemort, her pride +that she had tried to find him after his downfall and +her conviction that she would one day be rewarded +for her loyalty. + +“You never said she was your — ” + +“Does it matter if she’s my cousin?” snapped Sirius. +“As far as I’m concerned, they’re not my family. She’s +certainly not my family. I haven’t seen her since I was +your age, unless you count a glimpse of her coming in +to Azkaban. D’you think I’m proud of having relatives +like her?” + +“Sorry,” said Harry quickly, “I didn’t mean — I was +just surprised, that’s all — ” + +“It doesn’t matter, don’t apologize,” Sirius mumbled at +once. He turned away from the tapestry, his hands +deep in his pockets. “I don’t like being back here,” he +said, staring across the drawing room. “I never +thought I’d be stuck in this house again.” + +Harry understood completely. He knew how he would +feel if forced, when he was grown up and thought he +was free of the place forever, to return and live at +number four, Privet Drive. + +“It’s ideal for headquarters, of course,” Sirius said. + +“My father put every security measure known to +Wizard-kind on it when he lived here. It’s Unplottable, +so Muggles could never come and call — as if they’d +have wanted to — and now Dumbledore’s added his +protection, you’d be hard put to find a safer house +Page | 148Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +anywhere. Dumbledore’s Secret-Keeper for the Order, +you know — nobody can find headquarters unless he +tells them personally where it is — that note Moody +showed you last night, that was from Dumbledore...” +Sirius gave a short, barklike laugh. “If my parents +could see the use it was being put to now ... well, my +mother’s portrait should give you some idea...” + +He scowled for a moment, then sighed. + +“I wouldn’t mind if I could just get out occasionally +and do something useful. I’ve asked Dumbledore +whether I can escort you to your hearing — as +Snuffles, obviously — so I can give you a bit of moral +support, what d’you think?” + +Harry felt as though his stomach had sunk through +the dusty carpet. He had not thought about the +hearing once since dinner the previous evening; in the +excitement of being back with the people he liked +best, of hearing everything that was going on, it had +completely flown his mind. At Sirius’s words, +however, the crushing sense of dread returned to +him. He stared at Hermione and the Weasleys, all +tucking into their sandwiches, and thought how he +would feel if they went back to Hogwarts without him. + +“Don’t worry,” Sirius said. Harry looked up and +realized that Sirius had been watching him. “I’m sure +they’re going to clear you, there’s definitely something +in the International Statute of Secrecy about being +allowed to use magic to save your own life.” + +“But if they do expel me,” said Harry, quietly, “can I +come back here and live with you?” + +Sirius smiled sadly. + +“We’ll see.” + +Page | 149Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’d feel a lot better about the hearing if I knew I didn’t +have to go back to the Dursleys,” Harry pressed him. + + + +“They must be bad if you prefer this place,” said +Sirius gloomily. + +“Hurry up, you two, or there won’t be any food left,” +Mrs. Weasley called. + +Sirius heaved another great sigh, cast a dark look at +the tapestry, and he and Harry went to join the +others. + +Harry tried his best not to think about the hearing +while they emptied the glass cabinets that afternoon. +Fortunately for him, it was a job that required a lot of +concentration, as many of the objects in there seemed +very reluctant to leave their dusty shelves. Sirius +sustained a bad bite from a silver snuffbox; within +seconds, his bitten hand had developed an +unpleasant crusty covering like a tough brown glove. + +“It’s okay,” he said, examining the hand with interest +before tapping it lightly with his wand and restoring +its skin to normal, “must be Wartcap powder in +there.” + +He threw the box aside into the sack where they were +depositing the debris from the cabinets; Harry saw +George wrap his own hand carefully in a cloth +moments later and sneak the box into his already +doxy-filled pocket. + +They found an unpleasant-looking silver instrument, +something like a many-legged pair of tweezers, which +scuttled up Harry’s arm like a spider when he picked +it up, and attempted to puncture his skin; Sirius +seized it and smashed it with a heavy book entitled +Nature’s Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. There was a +Page | 150Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +musical box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling +tune when wound, and they all found themselves +becoming curiously weak and sleepy until Ginny had +the sense to slam the lid shut; also a heavy locket +that none of them could open, a number of ancient +seals and, in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First +Class, that had been awarded to Sirius’s grandfather +for “Services to the Ministry.” + +“It means he gave them a load of gold,” said Sirius +contemptuously, throwing the medal into the rubbish +sack. + +Several times, Kreacher sidled into the room and +attempted to smuggle things away under his +loincloth, muttering horrible curses every time they +caught him at it. When Sirius wrested a large golden +ring bearing the Black crest from his grip Kreacher +actually burst into furious tears and left the room +sobbing under his breath and calling Sirius names +Harry had never heard before. + +“It was my father’s,” said Sirius, throwing the ring +into the sack. “Kreacher wasn’t quite as devoted to +him as to my mother, but I still caught him snogging +a pair of my father’s old trousers last week.” + +Mrs. Weasley kept them all working very hard over +the next few days. The drawing room took three days +to decontaminate; finally the only undesirable things +left in it were the tapestry of the Black family tree, +which resisted all their attempts to remove it from the +wall, and the rattling writing desk; Moody had not +dropped by headquarters yet, so they could not be +sure what was inside it. + +They moved from the drawing room to a dining room +on the ground floor where they found spiders large as +saucers lurking in the dresser (Ron left the room + +Page | 151Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hurriedly to make a cup of tea and did not return for +an hour and a half) . The china, which bore the Black +crest and motto, was all thrown unceremoniously into +a sack by Sirius, and the same fate met a set of old +photographs in tarnished silver frames, all of whose +occupants squealed shrilly as the glass covering them +smashed. + +Snape might refer to their work as “cleaning,” but in +Harry’s opinion they were really waging war on the +house, which was putting up a very good fight, aided +and abetted by Kreacher. The house-elf kept +appearing wherever they were congregated, his +muttering becoming more and more offensive as he +attempted to remove anything he could from the +rubbish sacks. Sirius went as far as to threaten him +with clothes, but Kreacher fixed him with a watery +stare and said, “Master must do as Master wishes,” +before turning away and muttering very loudly, “but +Master will not turn Kreacher away, no, because +Kreacher knows what they are up to, oh yes, he is +plotting against the Dark Lord, yes, with these +Mudbloods and traitors and scum...” + +At which Sirius, ignoring Hermione’s protests, seized +Kreacher by the back of his loincloth and threw him +bodily from the room. + +The doorbell rang several times a day, which was the +cue for Sirius’s mother to start shrieking again, and +for Harry and the others to attempt to eavesdrop on +the visitor, though they gleaned very little from the +brief glimpses and snatches of conversation they were +able to sneak before Mrs. Weasley recalled them to +their tasks. Snape flitted in and out of the house +several times more, though to Harry’s relief they never +came face-to-face; he also caught sight of his +Transfiguration teacher, Professor McGonagall, + + + +Page | 152Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +looking very odd in a Muggle dress and coat, though +she also seemed too busy to linger. + +Sometimes, however, the visitors stayed to help; + +Tonks joined them for a memorable afternoon in +which they found a murderous old ghoul lurking in +an upstairs toilet, and Lupin, who was staying in the +house with Sirius but who left it for long periods to do +mysterious work for the Order, helped them repair a +grandfather clock that had developed the unpleasant +habit of shooting heavy bolts at passersby. +Mundungus redeemed himself slightly in Mrs. +Weasley’s eyes by rescuing Ron from an ancient set of +purple robes that had tried to strangle him when he +removed them from their wardrobe. + +Despite the fact that he was still sleeping badly, still +having dreams about corridors and locked doors that +made his scar prickle, Harry was managing to have +fun for the first time all summer. As long as he was +busy he was happy; when the action abated, however, +whenever he dropped his guard, or lay exhausted in +bed watching blurred shadows move across the +ceiling, the thought of the looming Ministry hearing +returned to him. Fear jabbed at his insides like +needles as he wondered what was going to happen to +him if he was expelled. The idea was so terrible that +he did not dare voice it aloud, not even to Ron and +Hermione, who, though he often saw them whispering +together and casting anxious looks in his direction, +followed his lead in not mentioning it. Sometimes he +could not prevent his imagination showing him a +faceless Ministry official who was snapping his wand +in two and ordering him back to the Dursleys’ ... but +he would not go. He was determined on that. He +would come back here to Grimmauld Place and live +with Sirius. + + + +Page | 153Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He felt as though a brick had dropped into his +stomach when Mrs. Weasley turned to him during +dinner on Wednesday evening and said quietly, “I’ve +ironed your best clothes for tomorrow morning, + +Harry, and I want you to wash your hair tonight too. + +A good first impression can work wonders.” + +Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny all stopped +talking and looked over at him. Harry nodded and +tried to keep eating his chops, but his mouth had +become so dry he could not chew. + +“How am I getting there?” he asked Mrs. Weasley, +trying to sound unconcerned. + +“Arthur’s taking you to work with him,” said Mrs. +Weasley gently. + +Mr. Weasley smiled encouragingly at Harry across the +table. + +“You can wait in my office until it’s time for the +hearing,” he said. + +Harry looked over at Sirius, but before he could ask +the question, Mrs. Weasley had answered it. + +“Professor Dumbledore doesn’t think it’s a good idea +for Sirius to go with you, and I must say I — ” + +“ — think he’s quite right,” said Sirius through +clenched teeth. + +Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips. + +“When did Dumbledore tell you that?” Harry said, +staring at Sirius. + + + +Page | 154Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“He came last night, when you were in bed,” said Mr. +Weasley. + +Sirius stabbed moodily at a potato with his fork. +Harry dropped his own eyes to his plate. The thought +that Dumbledore had been in the house on the eve of +his hearing and not asked to see him made him feel, +if that were possible, even worse. + + + +Page | 155Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +7 + + + + +THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC + +Harry awoke at half-past five the next morning as +abruptly and completely as if somebody had yelled in +his ear. For a few moments he lay immobile as the +prospect of the hearing filled every tiny particle of his +brain, then, unable to bear it, he leapt out of bed and +put on his glasses. Mrs. Weasley had laid out his +freshly laundered jeans and T-shirt at the foot of his +bed. Harry scrambled into them. The blank picture on +the wall sniggered again. + +Ron was lying sprawled on his back with his mouth +wide open, fast asleep. He did not stir as Harry +crossed the room, stepped out onto the landing, and +closed the door softly behind him. Trying not to think +of the next time he would see Ron, when they might +no longer be fellow students at Hogwarts, Harry +walked quietly down the stairs, past the heads of +Kreacher’s ancestors, and into the kitchen. + +He had expected it to be empty, but it was not. When +he reached the door he heard the soft rumble of +voices on the other side and when he pushed it open + +Page | 156Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +he saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin, and +Tonks sitting there almost as though they were +waiting for him. All were fully dressed except Mrs. +Weasley, who was wearing a quilted, purple dressing +gown. She leapt to her feet the moment he entered. + +“Breakfast,” she said as she pulled out her wand and +hurried over to the fire. + +“M-m-morning, Harry,” yawned Tonks. Her hair was +blonde and curly this morning. “Sleep all right?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry. + +“I’ve b-b-been up all night,” she said, with another +shuddering yawn. “Come and sit down...” + +She drew out a chair, knocking over the one beside it +in the process. + +“What do you want, Harry?” Mrs. Weasley called. +“Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? + +Toast?” + +“Just — just toast, thanks,” said Harry. + +Lupin glanced at Harry, then said to Tonks, “What +were you saying about Scrimgeour?” + +“Oh ... yeah ... well, we need to be a bit more careful, +he’s been asking Kingsley and me funny questions...” + +Harry felt vaguely grateful that he was not required to +join in the conversation. His insides were squirming. +Mrs. Weasley placed a couple of pieces of toast and +marmalade in front of him; he tried to eat, but it was +like chewing carpet. Mrs. Weasley sat down on his +other side and started fussing with his T-shirt, + + + +Page | 157Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +tucking in the label and smoothing out creases across +the shoulders. He wished she wouldn’t. + +"... and I’ll have to tell Dumbledore I can’t do night +duty tomorrow, I’m just t-t-too tired,” Tonks finished, +yawning hugely again. + +“I’ll cover for you,” said Mr. Weasley. “I’m okay, I’ve +got a report to finish anyway...” + +Mr. Weasley was not wearing wizard’s robes but a +pair of pinstriped trousers and an old bomber jacket. +He turned from Tonks to Harry. + +“How are you feeling?” + +Harry shrugged. + +“It’ll all be over soon,” Mr. Weasley said bracingly. “In +a few hours’ time you’ll be cleared.” + +Harry said nothing. + +“The hearing’s on my floor, in Amelia Bones ’s office. +She’s Head of the Department of Magical Law +Enforcement and she’s the one who’ll be questioning +you.” + +“Amelia Bones is okay, Harry,” said Tonks earnestly. +“She’s fair, she’ll hear you out.” + +Harry nodded, still unable to think of anything to say. + +“Don’t lose your temper,” said Sirius abruptly. “Be +polite and stick to the facts.” + +Harry nodded again. + + + +Page | 158Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The law’s on your side,” said Lupin quietly. “Even +underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life- +threatening situations.” + +Something very cold trickled down the back of Harry’s +neck; for a moment he thought someone was putting +a Disillusionment Charm on him again, then he +realized that Mrs. Weasley was attacking his hair with +a wet comb. She pressed hard on the top of his head. + +“Doesn’t it ever lie flat?” she said desperately. + +Harry shook his head. + +Mr. Weasley checked his watch and looked up at +Harry. + +“I think we’ll go now,” he said. “We’re a bit early, but I +think you’ll be better off there than hanging around +here.” + +“Okay,” said Harry automatically, dropping his toast +and getting to his feet. + +“You’ll be all right, Harry,” said Tonks, patting him on +the arm. + +“Good luck,” said Lupin. “I’m sure it will be fine.” + +“And if it’s not,” said Sirius grimly, “I’ll see to Amelia +Bones for you...” + +Harry smiled weakly. Mrs. Weasley hugged him. + +“We’ve all got our fingers crossed,” she said. + +“Right,” said Harry. “Well ... see you later then.” + + + +Page | 159Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He followed Mr. Weasley upstairs and along the hall. +He could hear Sirius’s mother grunting in her sleep +behind her curtains. Mr. Weasley unbolted the door +and they stepped out into the cold, gray dawn. + +“You don’t normally walk to work, do you?” Harry +asked him, as they set off briskly around the square. + +“No, I usually Apparate,” said Mr. Weasley, “but +obviously you can’t, and I think it’s best we arrive in a +thoroughly non-magical fashion . . . makes a better +impression, given what you’re being disciplined for...” + +Mr. Weasley kept his hand inside his jacket as they +walked. Harry knew it was clenched around his wand. +The run-down streets were almost deserted, but when +they arrived at the miserable little Underground +station they found it already full of early morning +commuters. As ever when he found himself in close +proximity to Muggles going about their daily business, +Mr. Weasley was hard put to contain his enthusiasm. + +“Simply fabulous,” he whispered, indicating the +automatic ticket machines. “Wonderfully ingenious.” + +“They’re out of order,” said Harry, pointing at the +sign. + +“Yes, but even so ...” said Mr. Weasley, beaming +fondly at them. + +They bought their tickets instead from a sleepy- +looking guard (Harry handled the transaction, as Mr. +Weasley was not very good with Muggle money) and +five minutes later they were boarding an Underground +train that rattled them off toward the center of +London. Mr. Weasley kept anxiously checking and +rechecking the Underground map above the windows. + + + +Page | 160Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Four stops, Harry ... three stops left now ... two +stops to go, Harry ...” + +They got off at a station in the very heart of London, +swept from the train in a tide of besuited men and +women carrying briefcases. Up the escalator they +went, through the ticket barrier (Mr. Weasley +delighted with the way the stile swallowed his ticket), +and emerged onto a broad street lined with imposing- +looking buildings, already full of traffic. + +“Where are we?” said Mr. Weasley blankly, and for +one heart-stopping moment Harry thought they had +gotten off at the wrong station despite Mr. Weasley’s +continual references to the map; but a second later he +said, “Ah yes ... this way, Harry,” and led him down a +side road. + +“Sorry,” he said, “but I never come by train and it all +looks rather different from a Muggle perspective. As a +matter of fact I’ve never even used the visitor’s +entrance before.” + +The farther they walked, the smaller and less +imposing the buildings became, until finally they +reached a street that contained several rather +shabby-looking offices, a pub, and an overflowing +dumpster. Harry had expected a rather more +impressive location for the Ministry of Magic. + +“Here we are,” said Mr. Weasley brightly, pointing at +an old red telephone box, which was missing several +panes of glass and stood before a heavily graffittied +wall. “After you, Harry.” + +He opened the telephone box door. + +Harry stepped inside, wondering what on earth this +was about. Mr. Weasley folded himself in beside Harry + +Page | 161Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and closed the door. It was a tight fit; Harry was +jammed against the telephone apparatus, which was +hanging crookedly from the wall as though a vandal +had tried to rip it off. Mr. Weasley reached past Harry +for the receiver. + +“Mr. Weasley, I think this might be out of order too,” +Harry said. + +“No, no, I’m sure it’s fine,” said Mr. Weasley, holding +the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. +“Let’s see ... six ...” he dialed the number, “two ... four +... and another four ... and another two ...” + +As the dial whirred smoothly back into place, a cool +female voice sounded inside the telephone box, not +from the receiver in Mr. Weasley’s hand, but as loudly +and plainly as though an invisible woman were +standing right beside them. + +“Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your +name and business.” + +“Er ...” said Mr. Weasley, clearly uncertain whether he +should talk into the receiver or not; he compromised +by holding the mouthpiece to his ear, “Arthur +Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, here to +escort Harry Potter, who has been asked to attend a +disciplinary hearing...” + +“Thank you,” said the cool female voice. “Visitor, +please take the badge and attach it to the front of +your robes.” + +There was a click and a rattle, and Harry saw +something slide out of the metal chute where +returned coins usually appeared. He picked it up: It +was a square silver badge with Harry Potter, + + + +Page | 162Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Disciplinary Hearing on it. He pinned it to the front of +his T-shirt as the female voice spoke again. + +“Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to +a search and present your wand for registration at the +security desk, which is located at the far end of the +Atrium.” + +The floor of the telephone box shuddered. They were +sinking slowly into the ground. Harry watched +apprehensively as the pavement rose up past the +glass windows of the telephone box until darkness +closed over their heads. Then he could see nothing at +all; he could only hear a dull grinding noise as the +telephone box made its way down through the earth. +After about a minute, though it felt much longer to +Harry, a chink of golden light illuminated his feet +and, widening, rose up his body, until it hit him in +the face and he had to blink to stop his eyes from +watering. + +“The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day,” +said the woman’s voice. + +The door of the telephone box sprang open and Mr. +Weasley stepped out of it, followed by Harry, whose +mouth had fallen open. + +They were standing at one end of a very long and +splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. +The peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming +golden symbols that were continually moving and +changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. +The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark +wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. +Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge +from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft +whoosh ; on the right-hand side, short queues of + + + +Page | 163Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wizards were forming before each fireplace, waiting to +depart. + +Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of +golden statues, larger than life-size, stood in the +middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a +noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight +up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful +witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf. The last +three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and +wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the +ends of the two wands, the point of the centaur’s +arrow, the tip of the goblin’s hat, and each of the +house-elf’s ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling +water was added to the pops and cracks of +Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of +witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing +glum, early-morning looks, strode toward a set of +golden gates at the far end of the hall. + +“This way,” said Mr. Weasley. + +They joined the throng, wending their way between +the Ministry workers, some of whom were carrying +tottering piles of parchment, others battered +briefcases, still others reading the Daily Prophet as +they walked. As they passed the fountain Harry saw +silver Sickles and bronze Knuts glinting up at him +from the bottom of the pool. A small, smudged sign +beside it read: + +All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren will +be given to + +St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries + +If I’m not expelled from Hogwarts, I’ll put in ten +Galleons, Harry found himself thinking desperately. + + + +Page | 164Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Over here, Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, and they +stepped out of the stream of Ministry employees +heading for the golden gates, toward a desk on the +left, over which hung a sign saying SECURITY. A +badly shaven wizard in peacock-blue robes looked up +as they approached and put down his Daily Prophet. + +“I’m escorting a visitor,” said Mr. Weasley, gesturing +toward Harry. + +“Step over here,” said the wizard in a bored voice. + +Harry walked closer to him and the wizard held up a +long golden rod, thin and flexible as a car aerial, and +passed it up and down Harry’s front and back. + +“Wand,” grunted the security wizard at Harry, putting +down the golden instrument and holding out his +hand. + +Harry produced his wand. The wizard dropped it onto +a strange brass instrument, which looked something +like a set of scales with only one dish. It began to +vibrate. A narrow strip of parchment came speeding +out of a slit in the base. The wizard tore this off and +read the writing upon it. + +“Eleven inches, phoenix-feather core, been in use four +years. That correct?” + +“Yes,” said Harry nervously. + +“I keep this,” said the wizard, impaling the slip of +parchment on a small brass spike. “You get this +back,” he added, thrusting the wand at Harry. + +“Thank you.” + +“Hang on...” said the wizard slowly. + +Page | 165Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +His eyes had darted from the silver visitor’s badge on +Harry’s chest to his forehead. + +“Thank you, Eric,” said Mr. Weasley firmly, and +grasping Harry by the shoulder, he steered him away +from the desk and back into the stream of wizards +and witches walking through the golden gates. + +Jostled slightly by the crowd, Harry followed Mr. +Weasley through the gates into the smaller hall +beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind +wrought golden grilles. Harry and Mr. Weasley joined +the crowd around one of them. A big, bearded wizard +holding a large cardboard box stood nearby. The box +was emitting rasping noises. + +“All right, Arthur?” said the wizard, nodding at Mr. +Weasley. + +“What’ve you got there, Bob?” asked Mr. Weasley, +looking at the box. + +“We’re not sure,” said the wizard seriously. “We +thought it was a bog-standard chicken until it started +breathing fire. Looks like a serious breach of the Ban +on Experimental Breeding to me.” + +With a great jangling and clattering a lift descended in +front of them; the golden grille slid back and Harry +and Mr. Weasley moved inside it with the rest of the +crowd. Harry found himself jammed against the back +wall of the lift. Several witches and wizards were +looking at him curiously; he stared at his feet to avoid +catching anyone’s eye, flattening his fringe as he did +so. The grilles slid shut with a crash and the lift +ascended slowly, chains rattling all the while, while +the same cool female voice Harry had heard in the +telephone box rang out again. + + + +Page | 166Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Level seven, Department of Magical Games and +Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch +League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and +Ludicrous Patents Office.” + +The lift doors opened; Harry glimpsed an untidy- +looking corridor, with various posters of Quidditch +teams tacked lopsidedly on the walls; one of the +wizards in the lift, who was carrying an armful of +broomsticks, extricated himself with difficulty and +disappeared down the corridor. The doors closed, the +lift juddered upward again, and the woman’s voice +said, “Level six, Department of Magical Transport, +incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom +Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparation +Test Center.” + +Once again the lift doors opened and four or five +witches and wizards got out; at the same time, several +paper airplanes swooped into the lift. Harry stared up +at them as they flapped idly around above his head; +they were a pale violet color and he could see +MINISTRY OF MAGIC stamped along the edges of +their wings. + +“Just Interdepartmental memos,” Mr. Weasley +muttered to him. “We used to use owls, but the mess +was unbelievable ... droppings all over the desks ...” + +As they clattered upward again, the memos flapped +around the swaying lamp in the lift’s ceiling. + +“Level five, Department of International Magical +Cooperation, incorporating the International Magical +Trading Standards Body, the International Magical +Office of Law, and the International Confederation of +Wizards, British Seats.” + + + +Page | 167Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +When the doors opened, two of the memos zoomed +out with a few more witches and wizards, but several +more memos zoomed in, so that the light from the +lamp in the ceiling flickered and flashed as they +darted around it. + +“Level four, Department for the Regulation and +Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, +Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and +Pest Advisory Bureau.” + +“ ’S’cuse,” said the wizard carrying the fire-breathing +chicken and he left the lift pursued by a little flock of +memos. The doors clanged shut yet again. + +“Level three, Department of Magical Accidents and +Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic +Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters, and +Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee.” + +Everybody left the lift on this floor except Mr. + +Weasley, Harry, and a witch who was reading an +extremely long piece of parchment that was trailing +on the ground. The remaining memos continued to +soar around the lamp as the lift juddered upward +again, and then the doors opened and the voice said, +“Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, +including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror +Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration +Services.” + +“This is us, Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, and they +followed the witch out of the lift into a corridor lined +with doors. “My office is on the other side of the floor.” + +“Mr. Weasley,” said Harry, as they passed a window +through which sunlight was streaming, “aren’t we +underground?” + + + +Page | 168Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, we are,” said Mr. Weasley, “those are enchanted +windows; Magical Maintenance decide what weather +we’re getting every day. We had two months of +hurricanes last time they were angling for a pay +raise... Just round here, Harry.” + +They turned a corner, walked through a pair of heavy +oak doors, and emerged in a cluttered, open area +divided into cubicles, which were buzzing with talk +and laughter. Memos were zooming in and out of +cubicles like miniature rockets. A lopsided sign on the +nearest cubicle read AUROR HEADQUARTERS. + +Harry looked surreptitiously through the doorways as +they passed. The Aurors had covered their cubicle +walls with everything from pictures of wanted wizards +and photographs of their families, to posters of their +favorite Quidditch teams and articles from the Daily +Prophet A scarlet-robed man with a ponytail longer +than Bill’s was sitting with his boots up on his desk, +dictating a report to his quill. A little farther along, a +witch with a patch over her eye was talking over the +top of her cubicle wall to Kingsley Shacklebolt. + +“Morning, Weasley,” said Kingsley carelessly, as they +drew nearer. “I’ve been wanting a word with you, have +you got a second?” + +“Yes, if it really is a second,” said Mr. Weasley, “I’m in +rather a hurry.” + +They were talking to each other as though they hardly +knew each other, and when Harry opened his mouth +to say hello to Kingsley, Mr. Weasley stood on his +foot. They followed Kingsley along the row and into +the very last cubicle. + +Harry received a slight shock; Sirius’s face was +blinking down at him from every direction. Newspaper + +Page | 169Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +cuttings and old photographs — even the one of +Sirius being best man at the Potters’ wedding — +papered the walls. The only Sirius-free space was a +map of the world in which little red pins were glowing +like jewels. + +“Here,” said Kingsley brusquely to Mr. Weasley, +shoving a sheaf of parchment into his hand, “I need +as much information as possible on flying Muggle +vehicles sighted in the last twelve months. We’ve +received information that Black might still be using +his old motorcycle.” + +Kingsley tipped Harry an enormous wink and added, +in a whisper, “Give him the magazine, he might find it +interesting.” Then he said in normal tones, “And don’t +take too long, Weasley, the delay on that firelegs +report held our investigation up for a month.” + +“If you had read my report you would know that the +term is ‘firearms,’ ” said Mr. Weasley coolly. “And I’m +afraid you’ll have to wait for information on +motorcycles, we’re extremely busy at the moment.” He +dropped his voice and said, “If you can get away +before seven, Molly’s making meatballs.” + +He beckoned to Harry and led him out of Kingsley’s +cubicle, through a second set of oak doors, into +another passage, turned left, marched along another +corridor, turned right into a dimly lit and distinctly +shabby corridor, and finally reached a dead end, +where a door on the left stood ajar, revealing a broom +cupboard, and a door on the right bore a tarnished +brass plaque reading MISUSE OF MUGGLE +ARTIFACTS. + +Mr. Weasley’s dingy office seemed to be slightly +smaller than the broom cupboard. Two desks had +been crammed inside it and there was barely room to + +Page | 170Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +move around them because of all the overflowing +filing cabinets lining the walls, on top of which were +tottering piles of files. The little wall space available +bore witness to Mr. Weasley’s obsessions; there were +several posters of cars, including one of a dismantled +engine, two illustrations of postboxes he seemed to +have cut out of Muggle children’s books, and a +diagram showing how to wire a plug. + +Sitting on top of Mr. Weasley’s overflowing in-tray was +an old toaster that was hiccuping in a disconsolate +way and a pair of empty leather gloves that were +twiddling their thumbs. A photograph of the Weasley +family stood beside the in-tray. Harry noticed that +Percy appeared to have walked out of it. + +“We haven’t got a window,” said Mr. Weasley +apologetically, taking off his bomber jacket and +placing it on the back of his chair. “We’ve asked, but +they don’t seem to think we need one. Have a seat, +Harry, doesn’t look as if Perkins is in yet.” + +Harry squeezed himself into the chair behind +Perkins’s desk while Mr. Weasley rifled through the +sheaf of parchment Kingsley Shacklebolt had given +him. + +“Ah,” he said, grinning, as he extracted a copy of a +magazine entitled The Quibbler from its midst, “yes +...” He flicked through it. “Yes, he’s right, I’m sure +Sirius will find that very amusing — oh dear, what’s +this now?” + +A memo had just zoomed in through the open door +and fluttered to rest on top of the hiccuping toaster. +Mr. Weasley unfolded it and read aloud, “ Third +regurgitating public toilet reported in Bethnal Green, +kindly investigate immediately. ’ This is getting +ridiculous...” + +Page | 171Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“A regurgitating toilet?” + + + +“Anti-Muggle pranksters,” said Mr. Weasley, frowning. +“We had two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in +Elephant and Castle. Muggles are pulling the flush +and instead of everything disappearing — well, you +can imagine. The poor things keep calling in those — +those pumbles, I think they’re called — you know, the +ones who mend pipes and things — ” + +“Plumbers?” + +“ — exactly, yes, but of course they’re flummoxed. I +only hope we can catch whoever’s doing it.” + +“Will it be Aurors who catch them?” + +“Oh no, this is too trivial for Aurors, it’ll be the +ordinary Magical Law Enforcement Patrol — ah, + +Harry, this is Perkins.” + +A stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy white +hair had just entered the room, panting. + +“Oh Arthur!” he said desperately, without looking at +Harry. “Thank goodness, I didn’t know what to do for +the best, whether to wait here for you or not, I’ve just +sent an owl to your home but you’ve obviously missed +it — an urgent message came ten minutes ago — ” + +“I know about the regurgitating toilet,” said Mr. +Weasley. + +“No, no, it’s not the toilet, it’s the Potter boy’s hearing +— they’ve changed the time and venue — it starts at +eight o’clock now and it’s down in old Courtroom Ten + + + +“Down in old — but they told me — Merlin’s beard — ” + +Page | 172Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Mr. Weasley looked at his watch, let out a yelp, and +leapt from his chair. + +“Quick, Harry, we should have been there five +minutes ago!” + +Perkins flattened himself against the filing cabinets as +Mr. Weasley left the office at a run, Harry on his +heels. + +“Why have they changed the time?” Harry said +breathlessly as they hurtled past the Auror cubicles; +people poked out their heads and stared as they +streaked past. Harry felt as though he had left all his +insides back at Perkins’s desk. + +“I’ve no idea, but thank goodness we got here so early, +if you’d missed it it would have been catastrophic!” + +Mr. Weasley skidded to a halt beside the lifts and +jabbed impatiently at the down button. + +“Come ON!” + +The lift clattered into view and they hurried inside. +Every time it stopped Mr. Weasley cursed furiously +and pummelled the number nine button. + +“Those courtrooms haven’t been used in years,” said +Mr. Weasley angrily. “I can’t think why they’re doing it +down there — unless — but no ...” + +A plump witch carrying a smoking goblet entered the +lift at that moment, and Mr. Weasley did not +elaborate. + +“The Atrium,” said the cool female voice and the +golden grilles slid open, showing Harry a distant +glimpse of the golden statues in the fountain. The + +Page | 173Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +plump witch got out and a sallow-skinned wizard with +a very mournful face got in. + + + +“Morning, Arthur,” he said in a sepulchral voice as +the lift began to descend. “Don’t often see you down +here...” + +“Urgent business, Bode,” said Mr. Weasley, who was +bouncing on the balls of his feet and throwing +anxious looks over at Harry. + +“Ah, yes,” said Bode, surveying Harry unblinkingly. + +“Of course.” + +Harry barely had emotion to spare for Bode, but his +unfaltering gaze did not make him feel any more +comfortable. + +“Department of Mysteries,” said the cool female voice, +and left it at that. + +“Quick, Harry,” said Mr. Weasley as the lift doors +rattled open, and they sped up a corridor that was +quite different from those above. The walls were bare; +there were no windows and no doors apart from a +plain black one set at the very end of the corridor. +Harry expected them to go through it, but instead Mr. +Weasley seized him by the arm and dragged him to +the left, where there was an opening leading to a flight +of steps. + +“Down here, down here,” panted Mr. Weasley, taking +two steps at a time. “The lift doesn’t even come down +this far ... why they’re doing it there ...” + +They reached the bottom of the steps and ran along +yet another corridor, which bore a great resemblance +to that which led to Snape’s dungeon at Hogwarts, +with rough stone walls and torches in brackets. The + +Page | 174Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +doors they passed here were heavy wooden ones with +iron bolts and keyholes. + +“Courtroom ... ten ... I think ... we’re nearly ... yes.” + +Mr. Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a grimy dark +door with an immense iron lock and slumped against +the wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest. + +“Go on,” he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. +“Get in there.” + +“Aren’t — aren’t you coming with — ?” + +“No, no, I’m not allowed. Good luck!” + +Harry’s heart was beating a violent tattoo against his +Adam’s apple. He swallowed hard, turned the heavy +iron door handle, and stepped inside the courtroom. + + + +Page | 175Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +8 + + + + +THE HEARING + +Harry gasped; he could not help himself. The large +dungeon he had entered was horribly familiar. He had +not only seen it before, he had been here before: This +was the place he had visited inside Dumbledore’s +Pensieve, the place where he had watched the +Lestranges sentenced to life imprisonment in +Azkaban. + +The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by +torches. Empty benches rose on either side of him, +but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were many +shadowy figures. They had been talking in low voices, +but as the heavy door swung closed behind Harry an +ominous silence fell. + +A cold male voice rang across the courtroom. + +“You’re late.” + +“Sorry,” said Harry nervously. “I-I didn’t know the +time had changed.” + + + +Page | 176Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“That is not the Wizengamot’s fault,” said the voice. +“An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your +seat.” + +Harry dropped his gaze to the chair in the center of +the room, the arms of which were covered in chains. +He had seen those chains spring to life and bind +whoever sat between them. His footsteps echoed +loudly as he walked across the stone floor. When he +sat gingerly on the edge of the chair the chains +clinked rather threateningly but did not bind him. +Feeling rather sick he looked up at the people seated +at the bench above. + +There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could +see, wearing plum-colored robes with an elaborately +worked silver W on the left-hand side of the chest and +all staring down their noses at him, some with very +austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity. + +In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius +Fudge, the Minister of Magic. Fudge was a portly man +who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though +today he had dispensed with it; he had dispensed too +with the indulgent smile he had once worn when he +spoke to Harry. A broad, square-jawed witch with +very short gray hair sat on Fudge’s left; she wore a +monocle and looked forbidding. On Fudge’s right was +another witch, but she was sitting so far back on the +bench that her face was in shadow. + +“Very well,” said Fudge. “The accused being present +— finally — let us begin. Are you ready?” he called +down the row. + +“Yes, sir,” said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron’s +brother Percy was sitting at the very end of the front +bench. Harry looked at Percy, expecting some sign of +recognition from him, but none came. Percy’s eyes, + +Page | 177Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +behind his horn-rimmed glasses, were fixed on his +parchment, a quill poised in his hand. + + + +“Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August,” said +Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking +notes at once, “into offenses committed under the +Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage +Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by +Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet +Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. + +“Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of +Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department +of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, +Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, +Percy Ignatius Weasley — ” + +“ — Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric +Brian Dumbledore,” said a quiet voice from behind +Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his +neck. + +Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room +wearing long midnight-blue robes and a perfectly +calm expression. His long silver beard and hair +gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry +and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon +spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked +nose. + +The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All +eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, +others slightly frightened; two elderly witches in the +back row, however, raised their hands and waved in +welcome. + +A powerful emotion had risen in Harry’s chest at the +sight of Dumbledore, a fortified, hopeful feeling rather +like that which phoenix song gave him. He wanted to + +Page | 178Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +catch Dumbledore’s eye, but Dumbledore was not +looking his way; he was continuing to look up at the +obviously flustered Fudge. + +“Ah,” said Fudge, who looked thoroughly +disconcerted. “Dumbledore. Yes. You — er — got our + +— er — message that the time and — er — place of +the hearing had been changed, then?” + +“I must have missed it,” said Dumbledore cheerfully. +“However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the +Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.” + +“Yes — well — I suppose well need another chair — I + +— Weasley, could you — ?” + +“Not to worry, not to worry,” said Dumbledore +pleasantly; he took out his wand, gave it a little flick, +and a squashy chintz armchair appeared out of +nowhere next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, put the +tips of his long fingers together, and looked at Fudge +over them with an expression of polite interest. The +Wizengamot was still muttering and fidgeting +restlessly; only when Fudge spoke again did they +settle down. + +“Yes,” said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. “Well, +then. So. The charges. Yes.” + +He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile +before him, took a deep breath, and read, “The +charges against the accused are as follows: That he +did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of +the illegality of his actions, having received a previous +written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a +similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a +Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, +on August the second at twenty-three minutes past +nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C +Page | 179Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of +Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section +thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards’ +Statute of Secrecy. + +“You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet +Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?” Fudge said, glaring at +Harry over the top of his parchment. + +“Yes,” Harry said. + +“You received an official warning from the Ministry for +using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?” + +“Yes, but — ” + +“And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the +second of August?” said Fudge. + +“Yes,” said Harry, “but — ” + +“Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic +outside school while you are under the age of +seventeen?” + +“Yes, but — ” + +“Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?” +“Yes, but — ” + +“Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a +Muggle at the time? + +“Yes,” said Harry angrily, “but I only used it because +we were — ” + +The witch with the monocle on Fudge’s left cut across +him in a booming voice. + +Page | 180Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You produced a fully fledged Patronus?” + + + +“Yes,” said Harry, “because — ” + +“A corporeal Patronus?” + +“A — what?” said Harry. + +“Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to +say, it was more than vapor or smoke?” + +“Yes,” said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly +desperate, “it’s a stag, it’s always a stag.” + +“Always?” boomed Madam Bones. “You have +produced a Patronus before now?” + +“Yes” said Harry, “I’ve been doing it for over a year — + + + +“And you are fifteen years old?” + +“Yes, and — ” + +“You learned this at school?” + +“Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, +because of the — ” + +“Impressive,” said Madam Bones, staring down at +him, “a true Patronus at that age ... very impressive +indeed.” + +Some of the wizards and witches around her were +muttering again; a few nodded, but others were +frowning and shaking their heads. + +“It’s not a question of how impressive the magic was,” +said Fudge in a testy voice. “In fact, the more + +Page | 181Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given +that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!” + + + +Those who had been frowning now murmured in +agreement, but it was the sight of Percy’s +sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry into +speech. + +“I did it because of the dementors!” he said loudly, +before anyone could interrupt him again. + +He had expected more muttering, but the silence that +fell seemed to be somehow denser than before. + +“Dementors?” said Madam Bones after a moment, +raising her thick eyebrows so that her monocle looked +in danger of falling out. “What do you mean, boy?” + +“I mean there were two dementors down that alleyway +and they went for me and my cousin!” + +“Ah,” said Fudge again, smirking unpleasantly as he +looked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting +them to share the joke. “Yes. Yes, I thought we’d be +hearing something like this.” + +“Dementors in Little Whinging?” Madam Bones said +in tones of great surprise. “I don’t understand — ” + +“Don’t you, Amelia?” said Fudge, still smirking. “Let +me explain. He’s been thinking it through and decided +dementors would make a very nice little cover story, +very nice indeed. Muggles can’t see dementors, can +they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient ... so +it’s just your word and no witnesses...” + +“I’m not lying!” said Harry loudly, over another +outbreak of muttering from the court. “There were two +of them, coming from opposite ends of the alley, + +Page | 182Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt +them and ran for it — ” + +“Enough, enough!” said Fudge with a very +supercilious look on his face. “I’m sorry to interrupt +what I’m sure would have been a very well-rehearsed +story — ” + +Dumbledore cleared his throat. The Wizengamot fell +silent again. + +“We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of +dementors in that alleyway,” he said, “other than +Dudley Dursley, I mean.” + +Fudge’s plump face seemed to slacken, as though +somebody had let air out of it. He stared down at +Dumbledore for a moment or two, then, with the +appearance of a man pulling himself back together, +said, “We haven’t got time to listen to more +taradiddles, I’m afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt +with quickly — ” + +“I may be wrong,” said Dumbledore pleasantly, “but I +am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of +Rights, the accused has the right to present witnesses +for his or her case? Isn’t that the policy of the +Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam +Bones?” he continued, addressing the witch in the +monocle. + +“True,” said Madam Bones. “Perfectly true.” + +“Oh, very well, very well,” snapped Fudge. “Where is +this person?” + +“I brought her with me,” said Dumbledore. “She’s just +outside the door. Should I — ?” + + + +Page | 183Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No — Weasley, you go,” Fudge barked at Percy, who +got up at once, hurried down the stone steps from the +judge’s balcony, and hastened past Dumbledore and +Harry without glancing at them. + +A moment later, Percy returned, followed by Mrs. + +Figg. She looked scared and more batty than ever. +Harry wished she had thought to change out of her +carpet slippers. + +Dumbledore stood up and gave Mrs. Figg his chair, +conjuring a second one for himself. + +“Full name?” said Fudge loudly, when Mrs. Figg had +perched herself nervously on the very edge of her +seat. + +“Arabella Doreen Figg,” said Mrs. Figg in her quavery +voice. + +“And who exactly are you?” said Fudge, in a bored +and lofty voice. + +“I’m a resident of Little Whinging, close to where +Harry Potter lives,” said Mrs. Figg. + +“We have no record of any witch or wizard living in +Little Whinging other than Harry Potter,” said Madam +Bones at once. “That situation has always been +closely monitored, given ... given past events.” + +“I’m a Squib,” said Mrs. Figg. “So you wouldn’t have +me registered, would you?” + +“A Squib, eh?” said Fudge, eyeing her suspiciously. +“We’ll be checking that. You’ll leave details of your +parentage with my assistant, Weasley. Incidentally, +can Squibs see dementors?” he added, looking left +and right along the bench where he sat. + +Page | 184Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, we can!” said Mrs. Figg indignantly. + + + +Fudge looked back down at her, his eyebrows raised. +“Very well,” he said coolly. “What is your story?” + +“I had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop +at the end of Wisteria Walk, shortly after nine on the +evening of the second of August,” gabbled Mrs. Figg at +once, as though she had learned what she was saying +by heart, “when I heard a disturbance down the +alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria +Walk. On approaching the mouth of the alleyway I +saw dementors running — ” + +“Running?” said Madam Bones sharply. “Dementors +don’t run, they glide.” + +“That’s what I meant to say,” said Mrs. Figg quickly, +patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks. +“Gliding along the alley toward what looked like two +boys.” + +“What did they look like?” said Madam Bones, +narrowing her eyes so that the monocle’s edges +disappeared into her flesh. + +“Well, one was very large and the other one rather +skinny — ” + +“No, no,” said Madam Bones impatiently, “the +dementors ... describe them.” + +“Oh,” said Mrs. Figg, the pink flush creeping up her +neck now. “They were big. Big and wearing cloaks.” + +Harry felt a horrible sinking in the pit of his stomach. +Whatever Mrs. Figg said to the contrary, it sounded to +him as though the most she had ever seen was a +picture of a dementor, and a picture could never + +Page | 185Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +convey the truth of what these beings were like: the +eerie way they moved, hovering inches over the +ground, or the rotting smell of them, or that terrible, +rattling noise they made as they sucked on the +surrounding air ... A dumpy wizard with a large black +mustache in the second row leaned close to his +neighbor, a frizzy-haired witch, and whispered +something in her ear. She smirked and nodded. + +“Big and wearing cloaks,” repeated Madam Bones +coolly, while Fudge snorted derisively. “I see. Anything +else?” + +“Yes,” said Mrs. Figg. “I felt them. Everything went +cold, and this was a very warm summer’s night, mark +you. And I felt ... as though all happiness had gone +from the world . . . and I remembered . . . dreadful +things...” + +Her voice shook and died. + +Madam Bones’ eyes widened slightly. Harry could see +red marks under her eyebrow where the monocle had +dug into it. + +“What did the dementors do?” she asked, and Harry +felt a rush of hope. + +“They went for the boys,” said Mrs. Figg, her voice +stronger and more confident now, the pink flush +ebbing away from her face. “One of them had fallen. +The other was backing away, trying to repel the +dementor. That was Harry. He tried twice and +produced silver vapor. On the third attempt, he +produced a Patronus, which charged down the first +dementor and then, with his encouragement, chased +away the second from his cousin. And that ... that +was what happened,” Mrs. Figg finished, somewhat +lamely. + +Page | 186Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Madam Bones looked down at Mrs. Figg in silence; +Fudge was not looking at her at all, but fidgeting with +his papers. Finally he raised his eyes and said, rather +aggressively “That’s what you saw, is it?” + +“That was what happened,” Mrs. Figg repeated. + +“Very well,” said Fudge. “You may go.” + +Mrs. Figg cast a frightened look from Fudge to +Dumbledore, then got up and shuffled off toward the +door again. Harry heard it thud shut behind her. + +“Not a very convincing witness,” said Fudge loftily. + +“Oh, I don’t know,” said Madam Bones in her +booming voice. “She certainly described the effects of +a dementor attack very accurately. And I can’t +imagine why she would say they were there if they +weren’t — ” + +“But dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and +just happening to come across a wizard?” snorted +Fudge. “The odds on that must be very, very long, +even Bagman wouldn’t have bet — ” + +“Oh, I don’t think any of us believe the dementors +were there by coincidence,” said Dumbledore lightly. + +The witch sitting to the right of Fudge with her face in +shadow moved slightly, but everyone else was quite +still and silent. + +“And what is that supposed to mean?” asked Fudge +icily. + +“It means that I think they were ordered there,” said +Dumbledore. + + + +Page | 187Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I think we might have a record of it if someone had +ordered a pair of dementors to go strolling through +Little Whinging!” barked Fudge. + +“Not if the dementors are taking orders from someone +other than the Ministry of Magic these days,” said +Dumbledore calmly. “I have already given you my +views on this matter, Cornelius.” + +“Yes, you have,” said Fudge forcefully, “and I have no +reason to believe that your views are anything other +than bilge, Dumbledore. The dementors remain in +place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask +them to.” + +“Then,” said Dumbledore, quietly but clearly, “we +must ask ourselves why somebody within the +Ministry ordered a pair of dementors into that +alleyway on the second of August.” + +In the complete silence that greeted these words, the +witch to the right of Fudge leaned forward so that +Harry saw her for the first time. + +He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad. She +was rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little +neck as Uncle Vernon, and a very wide, slack mouth. +Her eyes were large, round, and slightly bulging. Even +the little black velvet bow perched on top of her short +curly hair put him in mind of a large fly she was +about to catch on a long sticky tongue. + +“The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior +Undersecretary to the Minister,” said Fudge. + +The witch spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched +voice that took Harry aback; he had been expecting a +croak. + + + +Page | 188Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’m sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor +Dumbledore,” she said with a simper that left her big, +round eyes as cold as ever. “So silly of me. But it +sounded for a teensy moment as though you were +suggesting that the Ministry of Magic had ordered an +attack on this boy!” + +She gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the +back of Harry’s neck stand up. A few other members +of the Wizengamot laughed with her. It could not have +been plainer that not one of them was really amused. + +“If it is true that the dementors are taking orders only +from the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that two +dementors attacked Harry and his cousin a week ago, +then it follows logically that somebody at the Ministry +might have ordered the attacks,” said Dumbledore +politely. “Of course, these particular dementors may +have been outside Ministry control — ” + +“There are no dementors outside Ministry control!” +snapped Fudge, who had turned brick red. + +Dumbledore inclined his head in a little bow. + +“Then undoubtedly the Ministry will be making a full +inquiry into why two dementors were so very far from +Azkaban and why they attacked without +authorization.” + +“It is not for you to decide what the Ministry of Magic +does or does not do, Dumbledore!” snapped Fudge, +now a shade of magenta of which Uncle Vernon would +have been proud. + +“Of course it isn’t,” said Dumbledore mildly. “I was +merely expressing my confidence that this matter will +not go uninvestigated.” + + + +Page | 189Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He glanced at Madam Bones, who readjusted her +monocle and stared back at him, frowning slightly. + +“I would remind everybody that the behavior of these +dementors, if indeed they are not figments of this +boy’s imagination, is not the subject of this hearing!” +said Fudge. “We are here to examine Harry Potter’s +offenses under the Decree for the Reasonable +Restriction of Underage Sorcery!” + +“Of course we are,” said Dumbledore, “but the +presence of dementors in that alleyway is highly +relevant. Clause seven of the Decree states that magic +may be used before Muggles in exceptional +circumstances, and as those exceptional +circumstances include situations that threaten the +life of the wizard or witch himself, or witches, wizards, +or Muggles present at the time of the — ” + +“We are familiar with clause seven, thank you very +much!” snarled Fudge. + +“Of course you are,” said Dumbledore courteously. +“Then we are in agreement that Harry’s use of the +Patronus Charm in these circumstances falls +precisely into the category of exceptional +circumstances it describes?” + +“If there were dementors, which I doubt — ” + +“You have heard from an eyewitness,” Dumbledore +interrupted. “If you still doubt her truthfulness, call +her back, question her again. I am sure she would not +object.” + +“I — that — not — ” blustered Fudge, fiddling with the +papers before him. “It’s — I want this over with today, +Dumbledore!” + + + +Page | 190Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But naturally, you would not care how many times +you heard from a witness, if the alternative was a +serious miscarriage of justice,” said Dumbledore. + +“Serious miscarriage, my hat!” said Fudge at the top +of his voice. “Have you ever bothered to tot up the +number of cock-and-bull stories this boy has come +out with, Dumbledore, while trying to cover up his +flagrant misuse of magic out of school? I suppose +you’ve forgotten the Hover Charm he used three years +ago -” + +“That wasn’t me, it was a house-elf!” said Harry. + +“YOU SEE?” roared Fudge, gesturing flamboyantly in +Harry’s direction. “A house-elf! In a Muggle house! I +ask you — ” + +“The house-elf in question is currently in the employ +of Hogwarts School,” said Dumbledore. “I can +summon him here in an instant to give evidence if +you wish.” + +“I — not — I haven’t got time to listen to house-elves! +Anyway, that’s not the only — he blew up his aunt, +for God’s sake!” Fudge shouted, banging his fist on +the judge’s bench and upsetting a bottle of ink. + +“And you very kindly did not press charges on that +occasion, accepting, I presume, that even the best +wizards cannot always control their emotions,” said +Dumbledore calmly, as Fudge attempted to scrub the +ink off his notes. + +“And I haven’t even started on what he gets up to at +school — ” + +“ — but as the Ministry has no authority to punish +Hogwarts students for misdemeanors at school, + +Page | 191Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s behavior there is not relevant to this inquiry,” +said Dumbledore, politely as ever, but now with a +suggestion of coolness behind his words. + +“Oho!” said Fudge. “Not our business what he does at +school, eh? You think so?” + +“The Ministry does not have the power to expel +Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on +the night of the second of August,” said Dumbledore. +“Nor does it have the right to confiscate wands until +charges have been successfully proven, again, as I +reminded you on the night of the second of August. In +your admirable haste to ensure that the law is +upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have +overlooked a few laws yourself.” + +“Laws can be changed,” said Fudge savagely. + +“Of course they can,” said Dumbledore, inclining his +head. “And you certainly seem to be making many +changes, Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks +since I was asked to leave the Wizengamot, it has +already become the practice to hold a full criminal +trial to deal with a simple matter of underage magic!” + +A few of the wizards above them shifted +uncomfortably in their seats. Fudge turned a slightly +deeper shade of puce. The toadlike witch on his right, +however, merely gazed at Dumbledore, her face quite +expressionless. + +“As far as I am aware, however,” Dumbledore +continued, “there is no law yet in place that says this +court’s job is to punish Harry for every bit of magic he +has ever performed. He has been charged with a +specific offense and he has presented his defense. All +he and I can do now is to await your verdict.” + + + +Page | 192Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dumbledore put his fingertips together again and said +no more. Fudge glared at him, evidently incensed. +Harry glanced sideways at Dumbledore, seeking +reassurance; he was not at all sure that Dumbledore +was right in telling the Wizengamot, in effect, that it +was about time they made a decision. Again, however, +Dumbledore seemed oblivious to Harry’s attempt to +catch his eye. He continued to look up at the benches +where the entire Wizengamot had fallen into urgent, +whispered conversations. + +Harry looked at his feet. His heart, which seemed to +have swollen to an unnatural size, was thumping +loudly under his ribs. He had expected the hearing to +last longer than this. He was not at all sure that he +had made a good impression. He had not really said +very much. He ought to have explained more fully +about the dementors, about how he had fallen over, +about how both he and Dudley had nearly been +kissed... + +Twice he looked up at Fudge and opened his mouth to +speak, but his swollen heart was now constricting his +air passages and both times he merely took a deep +breath and looked back at his shoes. + +Then the whispering stopped. Harry wanted to look +up at the judges, but found that it was really much, +much easier to keep examining his laces. + +“Those in favor of clearing the accused of all +charges?” said Madam Bones ’s booming voice. + +Harry’s head jerked upward. There were hands in the +air, many of them . . . more than half! Breathing very +fast, he tried to count, but before he could finish +Madam Bones had said, “And those in favor of +conviction?” + + + +Page | 193Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Fudge raised his hand; so did half a dozen others, +including the witch on his right and the heavily +mustached wizard and the frizzy-haired witch in the +second row. + +Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as though +there was something large stuck in his throat, then +lowered his own hand. He took two deep breaths and +then said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, +“Very well, very well ... cleared of all charges.” + +“Excellent,” said Dumbledore briskly, springing to his +feet, pulling out his wand, and causing the two chintz +armchairs to vanish. “Well, I must be getting along. +Good day to you all.” + +And without looking once at Harry, he swept from the +dungeon. + + + +Page | 194Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE WOES OF MRS. WEASLEY + +Dumbledore’s abrupt departure took Harry +completely by surprise. He remained sitting where he +was in the chained chair, struggling with his feelings +of shock and relief. The Wizengamot were all getting +to their feet, talking, and gathering up their papers +and packing them away. Harry stood up. Nobody +seemed to be paying him the slightest bit of attention +except the toadlike witch on Fudge’s right, who was +now gazing down at him instead of at Dumbledore. +Ignoring her, he tried to catch Fudge’s eye, or Madam +Bones’s, wanting to ask whether he was free to go, +but Fudge seemed quite determined not to notice +Harry, and Madam Bones was busy with her +briefcase, so he took a few tentative steps toward the +exit and when nobody called him back, broke into a +very fast walk. + +He took the last few steps at a run, wrenched open +the door, and almost collided with Mr. Weasley, who +was standing right outside, looking pale and +apprehensive. + + + +Page | 195Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Dumbledore didn’t say — ” + + + +“Cleared,” Harry said, pulling the door closed behind +him, “of all charges!” + +Beaming, Mr. Weasley seized Harry by the shoulders. + +“Harry, that’s wonderful! Well, of course, they couldn’t +have found you guilty, not on the evidence, but even +so, I can’t pretend I wasn’t — ” + +But Mr. Weasley broke off, because the courtroom +door had just opened again. The Wizengamot were +filing out. + +“Merlin’s beard,” said Mr. Weasley wonderingly, +pulling Harry aside to let them all pass, “you were +tried by the full court?” + +“I think so,” said Harry quietly. + +One or two of the passing wizards nodded to Harry as +they passed and a few, including Madam Bones, said, +“Morning, Arthur,” to Mr. Weasley, but most averted +their eyes. Cornelius Fudge and the toadlike witch +were almost the last to leave the dungeon. Fudge +acted as though Mr. Weasley and Harry were part of +the wall, but again, the witch looked almost +appraisingly at Harry as she passed. Last of all to +pass was Percy. Like Fudge, he completely ignored his +father and Harry; he marched past clutching a large +roll of parchment and a handful of spare quills, his +back rigid and his nose in the air. The lines around +Mr. Weasley’s mouth tightened slightly, but other +than this he gave no sign that he had noticed his +third son. + +“I’m going to take you straight back so you can tell +the others the good news,” he said, beckoning Harry + +Page | 196Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +forward as Percy’s heels disappeared up the stairs to +the ninth level. I’ll drop you off on the way to that +toilet in Bethnal Green. Come on...” + + + +“So what will you have to do about the toilet?” Harry +asked, grinning. Everything suddenly seemed five +times funnier than usual. It was starting to sink in: +He was cleared, he was going hack to Hogwarts. + +“Oh, it’s a simple enough anti-jinx,” said Mr. Weasley +as they mounted the stairs, “but it’s not so much +having to repair the damage, it’s more the attitude +behind the vandalism, Harry. Muggle-baiting might +strike some wizards as funny, but it’s an expression +of something much deeper and nastier, and I for one + + + +Mr. Weasley broke off in mid-sentence. They had just +reached the ninth-level corridor, and Cornelius Fudge +was standing a few feet away from them, talking +quietly to a tall man with sleek blond hair and a +pointed, pale face. + +The second man turned at the sound of their +footsteps. He too broke off in mid-conversation, his +cold gray eyes narrowed and fixed upon Harry’s face. + +“Well, well, well ... Patronus Potter,” said Lucius +Malfoy coolly. + +Harry felt winded, as though he had just walked into +something heavy. He had last seen those cool gray +eyes through slits in a Death Eater’s hood, and last +heard that man’s voice jeering in a dark graveyard +while Lord Voldemort tortured him. He could not +believe that Lucius Malfoy dared look him in the face; +he could not believe that he was here, in the Ministry +of Magic, or that Cornelius Fudge was talking to him, + + + +Page | 197Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +when Harry had told Fudge mere weeks ago that +Malfoy was a Death Eater. + +“The Minister was just telling me about your lucky +escape, Potter,” drawled Mr. Malfoy. “Quite +astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle out of +very tight holes... Snakelike, in fact ...” + +Mr. Weasley gripped Harry’s shoulder in warning. + +“Yeah,” said Harry, “yeah, I’m good at escaping...” + +Lucius Malfoy raised his eyes to Mr. Weasley’s face. + +“And Arthur Weasley too! What are you doing here, +Arthur?” + +“I work here,” said Mr. Weasley shortly. + +“Not here, surely?” said Mr. Malfoy, raising his +eyebrows and glancing toward the door over Mr. +Weasley’s shoulder. “I thought you were up on the +second floor. . . Don’t you do something that involves +sneaking Muggle artifacts home and bewitching +them?” + +“No,” said Mr. Weasley curtly, his fingers now biting +into Harry’s shoulder. + +“What are you doing here anyway?” Harry asked +Lucius Malfoy. + +“I don’t think private matters between myself and the +Minister are any concern of yours, Potter,” said +Malfoy, smoothing the front of his robes; Harry +distinctly heard the gentle clinking of what sounded +like a full pocket of gold. “Really, just because you are +Dumbledore’s favorite boy, you must not expect the + + + +Page | 198Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +same indulgence from the rest of us... Shall we go up +to your office, then, Minister?” + +“Certainly,” said Fudge, turning his back on Harry +and Mr. Weasley. “This way, Lucius.” + +They strode off together, talking in low voices. Mr. +Weasley did not let go of Harry’s shoulder until they +had disappeared into the lift. + +“Why wasn’t he waiting outside Fudge’s office if +they’ve got business to do together?” Harry burst out +furiously. “What was he doing down here?” + +“Trying to sneak down to the courtroom, if you ask +me,” said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely agitated as +he glanced over his shoulder as though making sure +they could not be overheard. “Trying to find out +whether you’d been expelled or not. I’ll leave a note +for Dumbledore when I drop you off, he ought to +know Malfoy’s been talking to Fudge again.” + +“What private business have they got together +anyway?” + +“Gold, I expect,” said Mr. Weasley angrily. “Malfoy’s +been giving generously to all sorts of things for +years... Gets him in with the right people ... then he +can ask favors ... delay laws he doesn’t want passed +... Oh, he’s very well connected, Lucius Malfoy...” + +The lift arrived; it was empty except for a flock of +memos that flapped around Mr. Weasley’s head as he +pressed the button for the Atrium and the doors +clanged shut; he waved them away irritably. + +“Mr. Weasley,” said Harry slowly, “if Fudge is meeting +Death Eaters like Malfoy, if he’s seeing them alone, + + + +Page | 199Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +how do we know they haven’t put the Imperius Curse +on him?” + +“Don’t think it hadn’t occurred to us, Harry,” +muttered Mr. Weasley. “But Dumbledore thinks +Fudge is acting of his own accord at the moment — +which, as Dumbledore says, is not a lot of comfort... +Best not talk about it anymore just now, Harry...” + +The doors slid open and they stepped out into the +now almost-deserted Atrium. Eric the security man +was hidden behind his Daily Prophet again. They had +walked straight past the golden fountain before Harry +remembered. + +“Wait...” he told Mr. Weasley, and pulling his money +bag from his pocket, he turned back to the fountain. + +He looked up into the handsome wizard’s face, but up +close, Harry thought he looked rather weak and +foolish. The witch was wearing a vapid smile like a +beauty contestant, and from what Harry knew of +goblins and centaurs, they were most unlikely to be +caught staring this soppily at humans of any +description. Only the house-elf’s attitude of creeping +servility looked convincing. With a grin at the thought +of what Hermione would say if she could see the +statue of the elf, Harry turned his money bag upside +down and emptied not just ten Galleons, but the +whole contents into the pool at the statues’ feet. + +“I knew it!” yelled Ron, punching the air. “You always +get away with stuff!” + +“They were bound to clear you,” said Hermione, who +had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry +had entered the kitchen and was now holding a +shaking hand over her eyes. “There was no case +against you, none at all...” + +Page | 200Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering +they all knew I’d get off,” said Harry, smiling. + +Mrs. Weasley was wiping her face on her apron, and +Fred, George, and Ginny were doing a kind of war +dance to a chant that went “He got off, he got off he +got off — ” + +“That’s enough, settle down!” shouted Mr. Weasley, +though he too was smiling. “Listen, Sirius, Lucius +Malfoy was at the Ministry — ” + +“What?” said Sirius sharply. + +“He got off he got off he got off — ” + +“Be quiet, you three! Yes, we saw him talking to +Fudge on level nine, then they went up to Fudge’s +office together. Dumbledore ought to know.” + +“Absolutely,” said Sirius. “We’ll tell him, don’t worry.” + +“Well, I’d better get going, there’s a vomiting toilet in +Bethnal Green waiting for me. Molly, I’ll be late, I’m +covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in +for dinner — ” + +“He got off he got off he got off — ” + +“That’s enough — Fred — George — Ginny!” said Mrs. +Weasley, as Mr. Weasley left the kitchen. “Harry dear, +come and sit down, have some lunch, you hardly ate +breakfast...” + +Ron and Hermione sat themselves down opposite him +looking happier than they had done since he had first +arrived at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, and +Harry’s feeling of giddy relief, which had been +somewhat dented by his encounter with Lucius +Page | 201Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Malfoy, swelled again. The gloomy house seemed +warmer and more welcoming all of a sudden; even +Kreacher looked less ugly as he poked his snoutlike +nose into the kitchen to investigate the source of all +the noise. + +“ ’Course, once Dumbledore turned up on your side, +there was no way they were going to convict you,” +said Ron happily, now dishing great mounds of +mashed potatoes onto everyone’s plates. + +“Yeah, he swung it for me,” said Harry. He felt that it +would sound highly ungrateful, not to mention +childish, to say, “I wish he’d talked to me, though. Or +even looked at me.” + +And as he thought this, the scar on his forehead +burned so badly that he clapped his hand to it. + +“What’s up?” said Hermione, looking alarmed. + +“Scar,” Harry mumbled. “But it’s nothing... It happens +all the time now...” + +None of the others had noticed a thing; all of them +were now helping themselves to food while gloating +over Harry’s narrow escape; Fred, George, and Ginny +were still singing. Hermione looked rather anxious, +but before she could say anything, Ron said happily, + +“I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening to celebrate +with us, you know.” + +“I don’t think he’ll be able to, Ron,” said Mrs. Weasley, +setting a huge plate of roast chicken down in front of +Harry. “He’s really very busy at the moment.” + +“HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF—” + +“SHUT UP!” roared Mrs. Weasley. + +Page | 202Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Over the next few days Harry could not help noticing +that there was one person within number twelve, +Grimmauld Place, who did not seem wholly overjoyed +that he would be returning to Hogwarts. Sirius had +put up a very good show of happiness on first hearing +the news, wringing Harry’s hand and beaming just +like the rest of them; soon, however, he was moodier +and surlier than before, talking less to everybody, +even Harry, and spending increasing amounts of time +shut up in his mother’s room with Buckbeak. + +“Don’t you go feeling guilty!” said Hermione sternly, +after Harry had confided some of his feelings to her +and Ron while they scrubbed out a moldy cupboard +on the third floor a few days later. “You belong at +Hogwarts and Sirius knows it. Personally, I think he’s +being selfish.” + +“That’s a bit harsh, Hermione,” said Ron, frowning as +he attempted to prize off a bit of mold that had +attached itself firmly to his finger, “you wouldn’t want +to be stuck inside this house without company.” + +“He’ll have company!” said Hermione. “It’s +headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix, isn’t it? He +just got his hopes up that Harry would be coming to +live here with him.” + +“I don’t think that’s true,” said Harry, wringing out +his cloth. “He wouldn’t give me a straight answer +when I asked him if I could.” + +“He just didn’t want to get his own hopes up even +more,” said Hermione wisely. “And he probably felt a +bit guilty himself, because I think a part of him was +really hoping you’d be expelled. Then you’d both be +outcasts together.” + + + +Page | 203Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Come off it!” said Harry and Ron together, but +Hermione merely shrugged. + +“Suit yourselves. But I sometimes think Ron’s mum’s +right, and Sirius gets confused about whether you’re +you or your father, Harry.” + +“So you think he’s touched in the head?” said Harry +heatedly. + +“No, I just think he’s been very lonely for a long time,” +said Hermione simply. + +At this point Mrs. Weasley entered the bedroom +behind them. + +“Still not finished?” she said, poking her head into the +cupboard. + +“I thought you might be here to tell us to have a +break!” said Ron bitterly. “D’you know how much +mold we’ve got rid of since we arrived here?” + +“You were so keen to help the Order,” said Mrs. +Weasley, “you can do your bit by making +headquarters fit to live in.” + +“I feel like a house-elf,” grumbled Ron. + +“Well, now that you understand what dreadful lives +they lead, perhaps you’ll be a bit more active in +S.P.E.W.!” said Hermione hopefully, as Mrs. Weasley +left them to it again. “You know, maybe it wouldn’t be +a bad idea to show people exactly how horrible it is to +clean all the time — we could do a sponsored scrub of +Gryffindor common room, all proceeds to S.P.E.W., it +would raise awareness as well as funds — ” + + + +Page | 204Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’ll sponsor you to shut up about spew,” Ron +muttered irritably, but only so Harry could hear him. + +Harry found himself daydreaming about Hogwarts +more and more as the end of the holidays +approached; he could not wait to see Hagrid again, to +play Quidditch, even to stroll across the vegetable +patches to the Herbology greenhouses. It would be a +treat just to leave this dusty, musty house, where half +of the cupboards were still bolted shut and Kreacher +wheezed insults out of the shadows as you passed, +though Harry was careful not to say any of this within +earshot of Sirius. + +The fact was that living at the headquarters of the +anti-Voldemort movement was not nearly as +interesting or exciting as Harry would have expected +before he’d experienced it. Though members of the +Order of the Phoenix came and went regularly, +sometimes staying for meals, sometimes only for a few +minutes’ whispered conversation, Mrs. Weasley made +sure that Harry and the others were kept well out of +earshot (whether Extendable or normal) and nobody, +not even Sirius, seemed to feel that Harry needed to +know anything more than he had heard on the night +of his arrival. + +On the very last day of the holidays Harry was +sweeping up Hedwig’s owl droppings from the top of +the wardrobe when Ron entered their bedroom +carrying a couple of envelopes. + +“Booklists have arrived,” he said, throwing one of the +envelopes up to Harry, who was standing on a chair. +“About time, I thought they’d forgotten, they usually +come much earlier than this...” + +Harry swept the last of the droppings into a rubbish +bag and threw the bag over Ron’s head into the + +Page | 205Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wastepaper basket in the corner, which swallowed it +and belched loudly. He then opened his letter: It +contained two pieces of parchment, one the usual +reminder that term started on the first of September, +the other telling him which books he would need for +the coming year. + +“Only two new ones,” he said, reading the list. “The +Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda +Goshawk and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert +Slinkhard.” + +Crack. + +Fred and George Apparated right beside Harry. He +was so used to them doing this by now that he didn’t +even fall off his chair. + +“We were just wondering who assigned the Slinkhard +book,” said Fred conversationally. + +“Because it means Dumbledore’s found a new +Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,” said George. + +“And about time too,” said Fred. + +“What d’you mean?” Harry asked, jumping down +beside them. + +“Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the +Extendable Ears a few weeks back,” Fred told Harry, +“and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was +having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this +year.” + +“Not surprising, is it, when you look at what’s +happened to the last four?” said George. + + + +Page | 206Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“One sacked, one dead, one’s memory removed, and +one locked in a trunk for nine months,” said Harry, +counting them off on his fingers. “Yeah, I see what +you mean.” + +“What’s up with you, Ron?” asked Fred. + +Ron did not answer. Harry looked around. Ron was +standing very still with his mouth slightly open, +gaping at his letter from Hogwarts. + +“What’s the matter?” said Fred impatiently, moving +around Ron to look over his shoulder at the +parchment. + +Fred’s mouth fell open too. + +“Prefect?” he said, staring incredulously at the letter. +“Prefect?” + +George leapt forward, seized the envelope in Ron’s +other hand, and turned it upside down. Harry saw +something scarlet and gold fall into George’s palm. + +“No way,” said George in a hushed voice. + +“There’s been a mistake,” said Fred, snatching the +letter out of Ron’s grasp and holding it up to the light +as though checking for a watermark. “No one in their +right mind would make Ron a prefect...” + +The twins’ heads turned in unison and both of them +stared at Harry. + +“We thought you were a cert!” said Fred in a tone that +suggested Harry had tricked them in some way. + +“We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick you!” +said George indignantly. + +Page | 207Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Winning the Triwizard and everything!” said Fred. + +“I suppose all the mad stuff must’ve counted against +him,” said George to Fred. + +“Yeah,” said Fred slowly. “Yeah, you’ve caused too +much trouble, mate. Well, at least one of you’s got +their priorities right.” + +He strode over to Harry and clapped him on the back +while giving Ron a scathing look. + +“Prefect ... ickle Ronnie the prefect ...” + +“Oh, Mum’s going to be revolting,” groaned George, +thrusting the prefect badge back at Ron as though it +might contaminate him. + +Ron, who still had not said a word, took the badge, +stared at it for a moment, and then held it out to +Harry as though asking mutely for confirmation that +it was genuine. Harry took it. A large P was +superimposed on the Gryffindor lion. He had seen a +badge just like this on Percy’s chest on his very first +day at Hogwarts. + +The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into +the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. +There was an envelope in her hand. + +“Did you — did you get — ?” + +She spotted the badge in Harry’s hand and let out a +shriek. + +“I knew it!” she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. +“Me too, Harry, me too!” + + + +Page | 208Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into +Ron’s hand. “It’s Ron, not me.” + + + +“It — what?” + +“Ron’s prefect, not me,” Harry said. + +“Ron?” said Hermione, her jaw dropping. “But ... are +you sure? I mean — ” + +She turned red as Ron looked around at her with a +defiant expression on his face. + +“It’s my name on the letter,” he said. + +“I ...” said Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. + +“I ... well ... wow! Well done, Ron! That’s really — ” + +“Unexpected,” said George, nodding. + +“No,” said Hermione, blushing harder than ever, “no, +it’s not ... Ron’s done loads of ... he’s really ...” + +The door behind her opened a little wider and Mrs. +Weasley backed into the room carrying a pile of +freshly laundered robes. + +“Ginny said the booklists had come at last,” she said, +glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her +way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into +two piles. “If you give them to me I’ll take them over to +Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while +you’re packing. Ron, I’ll have to get you more +pajamas, these are at least six inches too short, I +can’t believe how fast you’re growing ... what color +would you like?” + +“Get him red and gold to match his badge,” said +George, smirking. + +Page | 209Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Match his what?” said Mrs. Weasley absently, rolling +up a pair of maroon socks and placing them on Ron’s +pile. + +“His badge,” said Fred, with the air of getting the +worst over quickly. “His lovely shiny new prefect’s +badge.” + +Fred’s words took a moment to penetrate Mrs. +Weasley’s preoccupation about pajamas. + +“His ... but ... Ron, you’re not... ?” + +Ron held up his badge. + +Mrs. Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione’s. + +“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! Oh, Ron, how +wonderful! A prefect! That’s everyone in the family!” + +“What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?” said +George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside +and flung her arms around her youngest son. + +“Wait until your father hears! Ron, I’m so proud of +you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head +Boy just like Bill and Percy, it’s the first step! Oh, +what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, +I’m just thrilled, oh Ronnie — ” + +Fred and George were both making loud retching +noises behind her back but Mrs. Weasley did not +notice; arms tight around Ron’s neck, she was kissing +him all over his face, which had turned a brighter +scarlet than his badge. + +“Mum ... don’t ... Mum, get a grip...” he muttered, +trying to push her away. + + + +Page | 210Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She let go of him and said breathlessly, “Well, what +will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you’ve already +got one, of course.” + +“W-what do you mean?” said Ron, looking as though +he did not dare believe his ears. + +“You’ve got to have a reward for this!” said Mrs. +Weasley fondly. “How about a nice new set of dress +robes?” + +“We’ve already bought him some,” said Fred sourly, +who looked as though he sincerely regretted this +generosity. + +“Or a new cauldron, Charlie’s old one’s rusting +through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers — ” + +“Mum,” said Ron hopefully, “can I have a new +broom?” + +Mrs. Weasley’s face fell slightly; broomsticks were +expensive. + +“Not a really good one!” Ron hastened to add. “Just — +just a new one for a change ...” + +Mrs. Weasley hesitated, then smiled. + +“Of course you can... Well, I’d better get going if I’ve +got a broom to buy too. I’ll see you all later... Little +Ronnie, a prefect! And don’t forget to pack your +trunks... A prefect ... Oh, I’m all of a dither!” + +She gave Ron yet another kiss on the cheek, sniffed +loudly, and bustled from the room. + +Fred and George exchanged looks. + + + +Page | 211Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You don’t mind if we don’t kiss you, do you, Ron?” +said Fred in a falsely anxious voice. + +“We could curtsy, if you like,” said George. + +“Oh, shut up,” said Ron, scowling at them. + +“Or what?” said Fred, an evil grin spreading across +his face. “Going to put us in detention?” + +“I’d love to see him try,” sniggered George. + +“He could if you don’t watch out!” said Hermione +angrily, at which Fred and George burst out laughing +and Ron muttered, “Drop it, Hermione.” + +“We’re going to have to watch our step, George,” said +Fred, pretending to tremble, “with these two on our +case...” + +“Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days are finally +over,” said George, shaking his head. + +And with another loud crack, the twins Disapparated. + +“Those two!” said Hermione furiously, staring up at +the ceiling, through which they could now hear Fred +and George roaring with laughter in the room +upstairs. “Don’t pay any attention to them, Ron, +they’re only jealous!” + +“I don’t think they are,” said Ron doubtfully, also +looking up at the ceiling. “They’ve always said only +prats become prefects... Still,” he added on a happier +note, “they’ve never had new brooms! I wish I could go +with Mum and choose... She’ll never be able to afford +a Nimbus, but there’s the new Cleansweep out, that’d +be great... Yeah, I think I’ll go and tell her I like the +Cleansweep, just so she knows...” + +Page | 212Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He dashed from the room, leaving Harry and +Hermione alone. + +For some reason, Harry found that he did not want to +look at Hermione. He turned to his bed, picked up the +pile of clean robes Mrs. Weasley had laid upon it, and +crossed the room to his trunk. + +“Harry?” said Hermione tentatively. + +“Well done,” said Harry, so heartily it did not sound +like his voice at all, and still not looking at her. +“Brilliant. Prefect. Great.” + +“Thanks,” said Hermione. “Erm — Harry — could I +borrow Hedwig so I can tell Mum and Dad? They’ll be +really pleased — I mean, prefect is something they +can understand — ” + +“Yeah, no problem,” said Harry, still in the horrible +hearty voice that did not belong to him. “Take her!” + +He leaned over his trunk, laid the robes on the +bottom of it, and pretended to be rummaging for +something while Hermione crossed to the wardrobe +and called Hedwig down. A few moments passed; +Harry heard the door close but remained bent double, +listening; the only sounds he could hear were the +blank picture on the wall sniggering again and the +wastepaper basket in the corner coughing up the owl +droppings. + +He straightened up and looked behind him. Hermione +and Hedwig had gone. Harry returned slowly to his +bed and sank onto it, gazing unseeingly at the foot of +the wardrobe. + +He had forgotten completely about prefects being +chosen in the fifth year. He had been too anxious + +Page | 213Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +about the possibility of being expelled to spare a +thought for the fact that badges must be winging their +way toward certain people. But if he had remembered +... if he had thought about it . . . what would he have +expected? + +Not this, said a small and truthful voice inside his +head. + +Harry screwed up his face and buried it in his hands. +He could not lie to himself; if he had known the +prefect badge was on its way, he would have expected +it to come to him, not Ron. Did this make him as +arrogant as Draco Malfoy? Did he think himself +superior to everyone else? Did he really believe he was +better than Ron? + +No, said the small voice defiantly. + +Was that true? Harry wondered, anxiously probing +his own feelings. + +I’m better at Quidditch, said the voice. But I’m not +better at anything else. + +That was definitely true, Harry thought; he was no +better than Ron in lessons. But what about outside +lessons? What about those adventures he, Ron, and +Hermione had had together since they had started at +Hogwarts, often risking much worse than expulsion? + +Well, Ron and Hermione were with me most of the +time, said the voice in Harry’s head. + +Not all the time, though, Harry argued with himself. +They didn’t fight Quirrell with me. They didn’t take on +Riddle and the basilisk. They didn’t get rid of all those +dementors the night Sirius escaped. They weren’t in +that graveyard with me, the night Voldemort returned... +Page | 214Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And the same feeling of ill usage that had +overwhelmed him on the night he had arrived rose +again. I’ve definitely done more, Harry thought +indignantly. I’ve done more than either of them\ + +But maybe, said the small voice fairly, maybe +Dumbledore doesn’t choose prefects because they’ve +got themselves into a load of dangerous situations... +Maybe he chooses them for other reasons... Ron must +have something you don’t... + +Harry opened his eyes and stared through his fingers +at the wardrobe’s clawed feet, remembering what Fred +had said. + +“No one in their right mind would make Ron a +prefect...” + +Harry gave a small snort of laughter. A second later +he felt sickened with himself. + +Ron had not asked Dumbledore to give him the +prefect badge. This was not Ron’s fault. Was he, + +Harry, Ron’s best friend in the world, going to sulk +because he didn’t have a badge, laugh with the twins +behind Ron’s back, ruin this for Ron when, for the +first time, he had beaten Harry at something? + +At this point Harry heard Ron’s footsteps on the stairs +again. He stood up, straightened his glasses, and +hitched a grin onto his face as Ron bounded back +through the door. + +“Just caught her!” he said happily. “She says she’ll +get the Cleansweep if she can.” + +“Cool,” Harry said, and he was relieved to hear that +his voice had stopped sounding hearty. “Listen — Ron +— well done, mate.” + +Page | 215Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The smile faded off Ron’s face. + + + +“I never thought it would be me!” he said, shaking his +head, “I thought it would be you!” + +“Nah, I’ve caused too much trouble,” Harry said, +echoing Fred. + +“Yeah,” said Ron, “yeah, I suppose... Well, we’d better +get our trunks packed, hadn’t we?” + +It was odd how widely their possessions seemed to +have scattered themselves since they had arrived. It +took them most of the afternoon to retrieve their +books and belongings from all over the house and +stow them back inside their school trunks. Harry +noticed that Ron kept moving his prefect’s badge +around, first placing it on his bedside table, then +putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and +laying it on his folded robes, as though to see the +effect of the red on the black. Only when Fred and +George dropped in and offered to attach it to his +forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he +wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his +trunk. + +Mrs. Weasley returned from Diagon Alley around six +o’clock, laden with books and carrying a long package +wrapped in thick brown paper that Ron took from her +with a moan of longing. + +“Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving +for dinner, I want you all downstairs,” she said, but +the moment she was out of sight Ron ripped off the +paper in a frenzy and examined every inch of his new +broom, an ecstatic expression on his face. + +Down in the basement Mrs. Weasley had hung a +scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, + +Page | 216Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +which read CONGRATULATIONS RON AND +HERMIONE — NEW PREFECTS. She looked in a +better mood than Harry had seen her all holiday. + +“I thought we’d have a little party, not a sit-down +dinner,” she told Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, +and Ginny as they entered the room. “Your father and +Bill are on their way, Ron, I’ve sent them both owls +and they’re thrilled,” she added, beaming. + +Fred rolled his eyes. + +Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and Kingsley Shacklebolt were +already there and Mad-Eye Moody stumped in shortly +after Harry had got himself a butterbeer. + +“Oh, Alastor, I am glad you’re here,” said Mrs. + +Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his +traveling cloak. “We’ve been wanting to ask you for +ages — could you have a look in the writing desk in +the drawing room and tell us what’s inside it? We +haven’t wanted to open it just in case it’s something +really nasty.” + +“No problem, Molly ...” + +Moody’s electric-blue eye swiveled upward and stared +fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. + +“Drawing room ...” he growled, as the pupil +contracted. “Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it... Yeah, +it’s a boggart... Want me to go up and get rid of it, +Molly?” + +“No, no, I’ll do it myself later,” beamed Mrs. Weasley. +“You have your drink. We’re having a little bit of a +celebration, actually...” She gestured at the scarlet +banner. “Fourth prefect in the family!” she said +fondly, ruffling Ron’s hair. + +Page | 217Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Prefect, eh?” growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron +and his magical eye swiveling around to gaze into the +side of his head. Harry had the very uncomfortable +feeling it was looking at him and moved away toward +Sirius and Lupin. + +“Well, congratulations,” said Moody, still glaring at +Ron with his normal eye, “authority figures always +attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you +can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn’t have +appointed you...” + +Ron looked rather startled at this view of the matter +but was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival +of his father and eldest brother. Mrs. Weasley was in +such a good mood she did not even complain that +they had brought Mundungus with them too; he was +wearing a long overcoat that seemed oddly lumpy in +unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it and +put it with Moody’s traveling cloak. + +“Well, I think a toast is in order,” said Mr. Weasley, +when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. “To +Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!” + +Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to +them and then applauded. + +“I was never a prefect myself,” said Tonks brightly +from behind Harry as everybody moved toward the +table to help themselves to food. Her hair was tomato- +red and waist length today; she looked like Ginny’s +older sister. “My Head of House said I lacked certain +necessary qualities.” + +“Like what?” said Ginny, who was choosing a baked +potato. + +“Like the ability to behave myself,” said Tonks. + +Page | 218Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ginny laughed; Hermione looked as though she did +not know whether to smile or not and compromised +by taking an extra large gulp of butterbeer and +choking on it. + +“What about you, Sirius?” Ginny asked, thumping +Hermione on the back. + +Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual +barklike laugh. + +“No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too +much time in detention with James. Lupin was the +good boy, he got the badge.” + +“I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would +be able to exercise some control over my best friends,” +said Lupin. “I need scarcely say that I failed dismally.” + +Harry’s mood suddenly lifted. His father had not been +a prefect either. All at once the party seemed much +more enjoyable; he loaded up his plate, feeling +unusually fond of everyone in the room. + +Ron was rhapsodizing about his new broom to +anybody who would listen. + +"... naught to seventy in ten seconds, not bad, is it? +When you think the Comet Two Ninety’s only naught +to sixty and that’s with a decent tailwind according to +Which Broomstick?” + +Hermione was talking very earnestly to Lupin about +her view of elf rights. + +“I mean, it’s the same kind of nonsense as werewolf +segregation, isn’t it? It all stems from this horrible +thing wizards have of thinking they’re superior to +other creatures...” + +Page | 219Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Mrs. Weasley and Bill were having their usual +argument about Bill’s hair. + +"... getting really out of hand, and you’re so good- +looking, it would look much better shorter, wouldn’t +it, Harry?” + +“Oh — I dunno — ” said Harry, slightly alarmed at +being asked his opinion; he slid away from them in +the direction of Fred and George, who were huddled +in a corner with Mundungus. + +Mundungus stopped talking when he saw Harry, but +Fred winked and beckoned Harry closer. + +“It’s okay,” he told Mundungus, “we can trust Harry, +he’s our financial backer.” + +“Look what Dung’s gotten us,” said George, holding +out his hand to Harry. It was full of what looked like +shriveled black pods. A faint rattling noise was +coming from them, even though they were completely +stationary. + +“Venomous Tentacula seeds,” said George. “We need +them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they’re a Class +C Non-Tradeable Substance so we’ve been having a +bit of trouble getting hold of them.” + +“Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?” said Fred. + +“Wiv all the trouble I went to to get ’em?” said +Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching +even wider. “I’m sorry, lads, but I’m not taking a Knut +under twenty.” + +“Dung likes his little joke,” Fred said to Harry. + + + +Page | 220Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, his best one so far has been six Sickles for a +bag of knarl quills,” said George. + +“Be careful,” Harry warned them quietly. + +“What?” said Fred. “Mum’s busy cooing over Prefect +Ron, we’re okay.” + +“But Moody could have his eye on you,” Harry pointed +out. + +Mundungus looked nervously over his shoulder. + +“Good point, that,” he grunted. “All right, lads, ten it +is, if you’ll take ’em quick.” + +“Cheers, Harry!” said Fred delightedly, when +Mundungus had emptied his pockets into the twins’ +outstretched hands and scuttled off toward the food. +“We’d better get these upstairs...” + +Harry watched them go, feeling slightly uneasy. It had +just occurred to him that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would +want to know how Fred and George were financing +their joke shop business when, as was inevitable, +they finally found out about it. Giving the twins his +Tri-wizard winnings had seemed a simple thing to do +at the time, but what if it led to another family row +and a Percy-like estrangement? Would Mrs. Weasley +still feel that Harry was as good as her son if she +found out he had made it possible for Fred and +George to start a career she thought quite +unsuitable? + +Standing where the twins had left him with nothing +but a guilty weight in the pit of his stomach for +company, Harry caught the sound of his own name. +Kingsley Shacklebolt’s deep voice was audible even +over the surrounding chatter. + +Page | 221Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +"... why Dumbledore didn’t make Potter a prefect?” +said Kingsley. + +“He’ll have had his reasons,” replied Lupin. + +“But it would’ve shown confidence in him. It’s what +I’d’ve done,” persisted Kingsley, “ ’specially with the +Daily Prophet having a go at him every few days...” + +Harry did not look around; he did not want Lupin or +Kingsley to know he had heard. He followed +Mundungus back toward the table, though not +remotely hungry. His pleasure in the party had +evaporated as quickly as it had come; he wished he +were upstairs in bed. + +Mad-Eye Moody was sniffing at a chicken leg with +what remained of his nose; evidently he could not +detect any trace of poison, because he then tore a +strip off it with his teeth. + +"... the handle’s made of Spanish oak with anti-jinx +varnish and in-built vibration control — ” Ron was +saying to Tonks. + +Mrs. Weasley yawned widely. + +“Well, I think I’ll sort out that boggart before I turn +in... Arthur, I don’t want this lot up too late, all right? +’Night, Harry, dear.” + +She left the kitchen. Harry set down his plate and +wondered whether he could follow her without +attracting attention. + +“You all right, Potter?” grunted Moody. + +“Yeah, fine,” lied Harry. + + + +Page | 222Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Moody took a swig from his hip flask, his electric blue +eye staring sideways at Harry. + +“Come here, I’ve got something that might interest +you,” he said. + +From an inner pocket of his robes Moody pulled a +very tattered old Wizarding photograph. + +“Original Order of the Phoenix,” growled Moody. +“Found it last night when I was looking for my spare +Invisibility Cloak, seeing as Podmore hasn’t had the +manners to return my best one... Thought people +might like to see it.” + +Harry took the photograph. A small crowd of people, +some waving at him, others lifting their glasses, +looked back up at him. + +“There’s me,” said Moody unnecessarily, pointing at +himself. The Moody in the picture was unmistakable, +though his hair was slightly less gray and his nose +was intact. “And there’s Dumbledore beside me, +Dedalus Diggle on the other side ... That’s Marlene +McKinnon, she was killed two weeks after this was +taken, they got her whole family. That’s Frank and +Alice Longbottom — ” + +Harry’s stomach, already uncomfortable, clenched as +he looked at Alice Longbottom; he knew her round, +friendly face very well, even though he had never met +her, because she was the image of her son, Neville. + +“Poor devils,” growled Moody. “Better dead than what +happened to them ... and that’s Emmeline Vance, +you’ve met her, and that there’s Lupin, obviously ... +Benjy Fenwick, he copped it too, we only ever found +bits of him ... shift aside there,” he added, poking the +picture, and the little photographic people edged +Page | 223Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +sideways, so that those who were partially obscured +could move to the front. + + + +“That’s Edgar Bones ... brother of Amelia Bones, they +got him and his family too, he was a great wizard ... +Sturgis Podmore, blimey, he looks young ... Caradoc +Dearborn, vanished six months after this, we never +found his body ... Hagrid, of course, looks exactly the +same as ever ... Elphias Doge, you’ve met him, I’d +forgotten he used to wear that stupid hat . . . Gideon +Prewett, it took five Death Eaters to kill him and his +brother Fabian, they fought like heroes ... budge +along, budge along ...” + +The little people in the photograph jostled among +themselves, and those hidden right at the back +appeared at the forefront of the picture. + +“That’s Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth, only time I +ever met him, strange bloke ... That’s Dorcas +Meadowes, Voldemort killed her personally ... Sirius, +when he still had short hair ... and ... there you go, +thought that would interest you!” + +Harry’s heart turned over. His mother and father were +beaming up at him, sitting on either side of a small, +watery-eyed man Harry recognized at once as +Wormtail: He was the one who had betrayed their +whereabouts to Voldemort and so helped bring about +their deaths. + +“Eh?” said Moody. + +Harry looked up into Moody’s heavily scarred and +pitted face. Evidently Moody was under the +impression he had just given Harry a bit of a treat. + +“Yeah,” said Harry, attempting to grin again. “Er ... +listen, I’ve just remembered, I haven’t packed my ...” + +Page | 224Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He was spared the trouble of inventing an object he +had not packed; Sirius had just said, “What’s that +you’ve got there, Mad-Eye?” and Moody had turned +toward him. Harry crossed the kitchen, slipped +through the door and up the stairs before anyone +could call him back. + +He did not know why he had received such a shock; +he had seen his parents’ pictures before, after all, and +he had met Wormtail ... but to have them sprung on +him like that, when he was least expecting it ... No +one would like that, he thought angrily. . . + +And then, to see them surrounded by all those other +happy faces ... Benjy Fenwick, who had been found in +bits, and Gideon Prewett, who had died like a hero, +and the Longbottoms, who had been tortured into +madness ... all waving happily out of the photograph +forevermore, not knowing that they were doomed... +Well, Moody might find that interesting ... he, Harry, +found it disturbing... + +Harry tiptoed up the stairs in the hall past the stuffed +elf heads, glad to be on his own again, but as he +approached the first landing he heard noises. +Someone was sobbing in the drawing room. + +“Hello?” Harry said. + +There was no answer but the sobbing continued. He +climbed the remaining stairs two at a time, walked +across the landing, and opened the drawing-room +door. + +Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her +wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. +Sprawled on the dusty old carpet in a patch of +moonlight, clearly dead, was Ron. + + + +Page | 225Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +All the air seemed to vanish from Harry’s lungs; he +felt as though he were falling through the floor; his +brain turned icy cold — Ron dead, no, it couldn’t be + + + +But wait a moment, it couldn’t be — Ron was +downstairs — + +“Mrs. Weasley?” Harry croaked. + +“ R-r-riddikulus\” Mrs. Weasley sobbed, pointing her +shaking wand at Ron’s body. + +Crack. + +Ron’s body turned into Bill’s, spread-eagled on his +back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs. Weasley +sobbed harder than ever. + +“ R-riddikulus\” she sobbed again. + +Crack. + +Mr. Weasley’s body replaced Bill’s, his glasses askew, +a trickle of blood running down his face. + +“No!” Mrs. Weasley moaned. “No ... riddikulus\ +Riddikulusl RIDDIKULUSl” + +Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead +Harry ... + +“Mrs. Weasley, just get out of here!” shouted Harry, +staring down at his own dead body on the floor. “Let +someone else — ” + +“What’s going on?” + + + +Page | 226Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Lupin had come running into the room, closely +followed by Sirius, with Moody stumping along behind +them. Lupin looked from Mrs. Weasley to the dead +Harry on the floor and seemed to understand in an +instant. Pulling out his own wand he said, very firmly +and clearly, “ RiddikulusV’ + +Harry’s body vanished. A silvery orb hung in the air +over the spot where it had lain. Lupin waved his wand +once more and the orb vanished in a puff of smoke. + +“Oh — oh — oh!” gulped Mrs. Weasley, and she broke +into a storm of crying, her face in her hands. + +“Molly,” said Lupin bleakly, walking over to her, + +“Molly, don’t ...” + +Next second she was sobbing her heart out on Lupin’s +shoulder. + +“Molly, it was just a boggart,” he said soothingly, +patting her on the head. “Just a stupid boggart ...” + +“I see them d-d-dead all the time!” Mrs. Weasley +moaned into his shoulder. “All the t-t-time! I d-d- +dream about it ...” + +Sirius was staring at the patch of carpet where the +boggart, pretending to be Harry’s body, had lain. +Moody was looking at Harry, who avoided his gaze. He +had a funny feeling Moody’s magical eye had followed +him all the way out of the kitchen. + +“D-d-don’t tell Arthur,” Mrs. Weasley was gulping +now, mopping her eyes frantically with her cuffs. “I d- +d-don’t want him to know... Being silly ...” + +Lupin handed her a handkerchief and she blew her +nose. + +Page | 227Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Harry, I’m so sorry, what must you think of me?” she +said shakily. “Not even able to get rid of a boggart ...” + +“Don’t be stupid,” said Harry, trying to smile. + +“I’m just s-s-so worried,” she said, tears spilling out of +her eyes again. “Half the f-f-family’s in the Order, it’ll +b-b-be a miracle if we all come through this... and P- +P-Percy’s not talking to us... What if something d-d- +dreadful happens and we had never m-m-made up? +And what’s going to happen if Arthur and I get killed, +who’s g-g-going to look after Ron and Ginny?” + +“Molly, that’s enough,” said Lupin firmly. “This isn’t +like last time. The Order is better prepared, we’ve got +a head start, we know what Voldemort’s up to — ” + +Mrs. Weasley gave a little squeak of fright at the +sound of the name. + +“Oh, Molly, come on, it’s about time you got used to +hearing it — look, I can’t promise no one’s going to get +hurt, nobody can promise that, but we’re much better +off than we were last time, you weren’t in the Order +then, you don’t understand, last time we were +outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and +they were picking us off one by one...” + +Harry thought of the photograph again, of his parents’ +beaming faces. He knew Moody was still watching +him. + +“Don’t worry about Percy,” said Sirius abruptly. “He’ll +come round. It’s a matter of time before Voldemort +moves into the open; once he does, the whole +Ministry’s going to be begging us to forgive them. And +I’m not sure I’ll be accepting their apology,” he added +bitterly. + + + +Page | 228Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And as for who’s going to look after Ron and Ginny if +you and Arthur died,” said Lupin, smiling slightly, +“what do you think we’d do, let them starve?” + +Mrs. Weasley smiled tremulously. + +“Being silly,” she muttered again, mopping her eyes. + +But Harry, closing his bedroom door behind him +some ten minutes later, could not think Mrs. Weasley +silly. He could still see his parents beaming up at him +from the tattered old photograph, unaware that their +lives, like so many of those around them, were +drawing to a close. The image of the boggart posing as +the corpse of each member of Mrs. Weasley’s family in +turn kept flashing before his eyes. + +Without warning, the scar on his forehead seared +with pain again and his stomach churned horribly. + +“Cut it out,” he said firmly, rubbing the scar as the +pain receded again. + +“First sign of madness, talking to your own head,” +said a sly voice from the empty picture on the wall. + +Harry ignored it. He felt older than he had ever felt in +his life, and it seemed extraordinary to him that +barely an hour ago he had been worried about a joke +shop and who had gotten a prefect’s badge. + + + +Page | 229Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +10 + + + + +LUNA LOVEGOOD + +Harry had a troubled night’s sleep. His parents wove +in and out of his dreams, never speaking; Mrs. +Weasley sobbed over Kreacher’s dead body watched +by Ron and Hermione, who were wearing crowns, and +yet again Harry found himself walking down a +corridor ending in a locked door. He awoke abruptly +with his scar prickling to find Ron already dressed +and talking to him. + +"... better hurry up, Mum’s going ballistic, she says +we’re going to miss the train...” + +There was a lot of commotion in the house. From +what he heard as he dressed at top speed, Harry +gathered that Fred and George had bewitched their +trunks to fly downstairs to save the bother of carrying +them, with the result that they had hurtled straight +into Ginny and knocked her down two flights of stairs +into the hall; Mrs. Black and Mrs. Weasley were both +screaming at the top of their voices. + + + +Page | 230Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, +YOU IDIOTS — ” + +FILTHY HALF-BREEDS, BESMIRCHING THE +HOUSE OF MY FATHERS — ” + +Hermione came hurrying into the room looking +flustered just as Harry was putting on his trainers; +Hedwig was swaying on her shoulder, and she was +carrying a squirming Crookshanks in her arms. + +“Mum and Dad just sent Hedwig back” — the owl +fluttered obligingly over and perched on top of her +cage — “are you ready yet?” + +“Nearly — Ginny all right?” Harry asked, shoving on +his glasses. + +“Mrs. Weasley’s patched her up,” said Hermione. “But +now Mad-Eye’s complaining that we can’t leave unless +Sturgis Podmore’s here, otherwise the guard will be +one short.” + +“Guard?” said Harry. “We have to go to King’s Cross +with a guard?” + +“ You have to go to King’s Cross with a guard,” +Hermione corrected him. + +“Why?” said Harry irritably. “I thought Voldemort was +supposed to be lying low, or are you telling me he’s +going to jump out from behind a dustbin to try and do +me in?” + +“I don’t know, it’s just what Mad-Eye says,” said +Hermione distractedly, looking at her watch. “But if +we don’t leave soon we’re definitely going to miss the +train...” + + + +Page | 231Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!” +Mrs. Weasley bellowed and Hermione jumped as +though scalded and hurried out of the room. Harry +seized Hedwig, stuffed her unceremoniously into her +cage, and set off downstairs after Hermione, dragging +his trunk. + +Mrs. Black’s portrait was howling with rage but +nobody was bothering to close the curtains over her; +all the noise in the hall was bound to rouse her again +anyway. + +“Harry, you’re to come with me and Tonks,” shouted +Mrs. Weasley over the repeated screeches of +“MUDBLOODSl SCUM CREATURES OF DIRV.” “Leave +your trunk and your owl, Alastor’s going to deal with +the luggage... Oh, for heaven’s sake, Sirius, +Dumbledore said no!” + +A bearlike black dog had appeared at Harry’s side as +Harry clambered over the various trunks cluttering +the hall to get to Mrs. Weasley. + +“Oh honestly ...” said Mrs. Weasley despairingly, +“well, on your own head be it!” + +She wrenched open the front door and stepped out +into the weak September sunlight. Harry and the dog +followed her. The door slammed behind them and +Mrs. Black’s screeches were cut off instantly. + +“Where’s Tonks?” Harry said, looking around as they +went down the stone steps of number twelve, which +vanished the moment they reached the pavement. + +“She’s waiting for us just up here,” said Mrs. Weasley +stiffly, averting her eyes from the lolloping black dog +beside Harry. + + + +Page | 232Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +An old woman greeted them on the corner. She had +tightly curled gray hair and wore a purple hat shaped +like a porkpie. + +“Wotcher, Harry,” she said, winking. “Better hurry up, +hadn’t we, Molly?” she added, checking her watch. + +“I know, I know,” moaned Mrs. Weasley, lengthening +her stride, “but Mad-Eye wanted to wait for Sturgis... +If only Arthur could have got us cars from the +Ministry again ... but Fudge wouldn’t let him borrow +so much as an empty ink bottle these days... How +Muggles can stand traveling without magic ...” + +But the great black dog gave a joyful bark and +gamboled around them, snapping at pigeons, and +chasing its own tail. Harry couldn’t help laughing. +Sirius had been trapped inside for a very long time. +Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips in an almost Aunt +Petunia-ish way. + +It took them twenty minutes to reach King’s Cross by +foot and nothing more eventful happened during that +time than Sirius scaring a couple of cats for Harry’s +entertainment. Once inside the station they lingered +casually beside the barrier between platforms nine +and ten until the coast was clear, then each of them +leaned against it in turn and fell easily through onto +platform nine and three quarters, where the Hogwarts +Express stood belching sooty steam over a platform +packed with departing students and their families. +Harry inhaled the familiar smell and felt his spirits +soar. . . He was really going back. . . + +“I hope the others make it in time,” said Mrs. Weasley +anxiously, staring behind her at the wrought-iron +arch spanning the platform, through which new +arrivals would come. + + + +Page | 233Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Nice dog, Harry!” called a tall boy with dreadlocks. + +“Thanks, Lee,” said Harry, grinning, as Sirius wagged +his tail frantically. + +“Oh good,” said Mrs. Weasley, sounding relieved, +“here’s Alas tor with the luggage, look ...” + +A porter’s cap pulled low over his mismatched eyes, +Moody came limping through the archway pushing a +cart full of their trunks. + +“All okay,” he muttered to Mrs. Weasley and Tonks. +“Don’t think we were followed...” + +Seconds later, Mr. Weasley emerged onto the platform +with Ron and Hermione. They had almost unloaded +Moody’s luggage cart when Fred, George, and Ginny +turned up with Lupin. + +“No trouble?” growled Moody. + +“Nothing,” said Lupin. + +“I’ll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore,” said +Moody. “That’s the second time he’s not turned up in +a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus.” + +“Well, look after yourselves,” said Lupin, shaking +hands all round. He reached Harry last and gave him +a clap on the shoulder. “You too, Harry. Be careful.” + +“Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled,” +said Moody, shaking Harry’s hand too. “And don’t +forget, all of you — careful what you put in writing. If +in doubt, don’t put it in a letter at all.” + + + +Page | 234Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s been great meeting all of you,” said Tonks, +hugging Hermione and Ginny. “We’ll see you soon, I +expect.” + +A warning whistle sounded; the students still on the +platform started hurrying onto the train. + +“Quick, quick,” said Mrs. Weasley distractedly, +hugging them at random and catching Harry twice. +“Write... Be good... If you’ve forgotten anything we’ll +send it on... Onto the train, now, hurry...” + +For one brief moment, the great black dog reared onto +its hind legs and placed its front paws on Harry’s +shoulders, but Mrs. Weasley shoved Harry away +toward the train door hissing, “For heaven’s sake act +more like a dog, Sirius!” + +“See you!” Harry called out of the open window as the +train began to move, while Ron, Hermione, and Ginny +waved beside him. The figures of Tonks, Lupin, + +Moody, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley shrank rapidly but +the black dog was bounding alongside the window, +wagging its tail; blurred people on the platform were +laughing to see it chasing the train, and then they +turned the corner, and Sirius was gone. + +“He shouldn’t have come with us,” said Hermione in a +worried voice. + +“Oh lighten up,” said Ron, “he hasn’t seen daylight for +months, poor bloke.” + +“Well,” said Fred, clapping his hands together, “can’t +stand around chatting all day, we’ve got business to +discuss with Lee. See you later,” and he and George +disappeared down the corridor to the right. + + + +Page | 235Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The train was gathering still more speed, so that the +houses outside the window flashed past and they +swayed where they stood. + +“Shall we go and find a compartment, then?” Harry +asked Ron and Hermione. + +Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. + +“Er,” said Ron. + +“We’re — well — Ron and I are supposed to go into +the prefect carriage,” Hermione said awkwardly. + +Ron wasn’t looking at Harry; he seemed to have +become intensely interested in the fingernails on his +left hand. + +“Oh,” said Harry. “Right. Fine.” + +“I don’t think we’ll have to stay there all journey,” said +Hermione quickly. “Our letters said we just get +instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then +patrol the corridors from time to time.” + +“Fine,” said Harry again. “Well, I-I might see you later, +then.” + +“Yeah, definitely,” said Ron, casting a shifty, anxious +look at Harry. “It’s a pain having to go down there, I’d +rather — but we have to — I mean, I’m not enjoying +it, I’m not Percy,” he finished defiantly. + +“I know you’re not,” said Harry and he grinned. But +as Hermione and Ron dragged their trunks, +Crookshanks, and a caged Pigwidgeon off toward the +engine end of the train, Harry felt an odd sense of +loss. He had never traveled on the Hogwarts Express +without Ron. + +Page | 236Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Come on,” Ginny told him, “if we get a move on we’ll +be able to save them places.” + +“Right,” said Harry, picking up Hedwig’s cage in one +hand and the handle of his trunk in the other. They +struggled off down the corridor, peering through the +glass-paneled doors into the compartments they +passed, which were already full. Harry could not help +noticing that a lot of people stared back at him with +great interest and that several of them nudged their +neighbors and pointed him out. After he had met this +behavior in five consecutive carriages he remembered +that the Daily Prophet had been telling its readers all +summer what a lying show-off he was. He wondered +bleakly whether the people now staring and +whispering believed the stories. + +In the very last carriage they met Neville Longbottom, +Harry’s fellow fifth-year Gryffindor, his round face +shining with the effort of pulling his trunk along and +maintaining a one-handed grip on his struggling toad, +Trevor. + +“Hi, Harry,” he panted. ���Hi, Ginny... Everywhere ’s +full... I can’t find a seat...” + +“What are you talking about?” said Ginny, who had +squeezed past Neville to peer into the compartment +behind him. “There’s room in this one, there’s only +Loony Lovegood in here — ” + +Neville mumbled something about not wanting to +disturb anyone. + +“Don’t be silly,” said Ginny, laughing, “she’s all right.” + +She slid the door open and pulled her trunk inside it. +Harry and Neville followed. + + + +Page | 237Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hi, Luna,” said Ginny. “Is it okay if we take these +seats?” + +The girl beside the window looked up. She had +straggly, waist-length, dirty-blond hair, very pale +eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a +permanently surprised look. Harry knew at once why +Neville had chosen to pass this compartment by. The +girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness. Perhaps it +was the fact that she had stuck her wand behind her +left ear for safekeeping, or that she had chosen to +wear a necklace of butterbeer caps, or that she was +reading a magazine upside down. Her eyes ranged +over Neville and came to rest on Harry. She nodded. + +“Thanks,” said Ginny, smiling at her. + +Harry and Neville stowed the three trunks and +Hedwig’s cage in the luggage rack and sat down. The +girl called Luna watched them over her upside-down +magazine, which was called The Quibbler. She did not +seem to need to blink as much as normal humans. + +She stared and stared at Harry, who had taken the +seat opposite her and now wished he had not. + +“Had a good summer, Luna?” Ginny asked. + +“Yes,” said Luna dreamily, without taking her eyes off +Harry. “Yes, it was quite enjoyable, you know. You’re +Harry Potter,” she added. + +“I know I am,” said Harry. + +Neville chuckled. Luna turned her pale eyes upon him +instead. + +“And I don’t know who you are.” + +“I’m nobody,” said Neville hurriedly. + +Page | 238Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No you’re not,” said Ginny sharply. “Neville +Longbottom — Luna Lovegood. Luna’s in my year, but +in Ravenclaw.” + +“ Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure,” said +Luna in a singsong voice. + +She raised her upside-down magazine high enough to +hide her face and fell silent. Harry and Neville looked +at each other with their eyebrows raised. Ginny +suppressed a giggle. + +The train rattled onward, speeding them out into +open country. It was an odd, unsettled sort of day; +one moment the carriage was full of sunlight and the +next they were passing beneath ominously gray +clouds. + +“Guess what I got for my birthday?” said Neville. + +“Another Remembrall?” said Harry, remembering the +marblelike device Neville’s grandmother had sent him +in an effort to improve his abysmal memory. + +“No,” said Neville, “I could do with one, though, I lost +the old one ages ago... No, look at this...” + +He dug the hand that was not keeping a firm grip on +Trevor into his schoolbag and after a little bit of +rummaging pulled out what appeared to be a small +gray cactus in a pot, except that it was covered with +what looked like boils rather than spines. + +“Mimbulus mimbletonia,” he said proudly. + +Harry stared at the thing. It was pulsating slightly, +giving it the rather sinister look of some diseased +internal organ. + + + +Page | 239Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s really, really rare,” said Neville, beaming. “I don’t +know if there’s one in the greenhouse at Hogwarts, +even. I can’t wait to show it to Professor Sprout. My +great-uncle Algie got it for me in Assyria. I’m going to +see if I can breed from it.” + +Harry knew that Neville’s favorite subject was +Herbology, but for the life of him he could not see +what he would want with this stunted little plant. + +“Does it — er — do anything?” he asked. + +“Loads of stuff!” said Neville proudly. “It’s got an +amazing defensive mechanism — hold Trevor for +me...” + +He dumped the toad into Harry’s lap and took a quill +from his schoolbag. Luna Lovegood’s popping eyes +appeared over the top of her upside-down magazine +again, watching what Neville was doing. Neville held +the Mimbulus mimbletonia up to his eyes, his tongue +between his teeth, chose his spot, and gave the plant +a sharp prod with the tip of his quill. + +Liquid squirted from every boil on the plant, thick, +stinking, dark-green jets of it; they hit the ceiling, the +windows, and spattered Luna Lovegood’s magazine. +Ginny, who had flung her arms up in front of her face +just in time, merely looked as though she was +wearing a slimy green hat, but Harry, whose hands +had been busy preventing the escape of Trevor, +received a face full. It smelled like rancid manure. + +Neville, whose face and torso were also drenched, +shook his head to get the worst out of his eyes. + +“S-sorry,” he gasped. “I haven’t tried that before... +Didn’t realize it would be quite so ... Don’t worry, + + + +Page | 240Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +though, Stinksap’s not poisonous,” he added +nervously, as Harry spat a mouthful onto the floor. + + + +At that precise moment the door of their compartment +slid open. + +“Oh ... hello, Harry,” said a nervous voice. “Um ... bad +time?” + +Harry wiped the lenses of his glasses with his Trevor- +free hand. A very pretty girl with long, shiny black +hair was standing in the doorway smiling at him: Cho +Chang, the Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. + +“Oh ... hi,” said Harry blankly. + +“Um ...” said Cho. “Well ... just thought I’d say hello +... ’bye then.” + +She closed the door again, rather pink in the face, +and departed. Harry slumped back in his seat and +groaned. He would have liked Cho to discover him +sitting with a group of very cool people laughing their +heads off at a joke he had just told; he would not +have chosen to be sitting with Neville and Loony +Lovegood, clutching a toad and dripping in Stinksap. + +“Never mind,” said Ginny bracingly. “Look, we can get +rid of all this easily.” She pulled out her wand. + +“ Scour gif yY’ + +The Stinksap vanished. + +“Sorry,” said Neville again, in a small voice. + +Ron and Hermione did not turn up for nearly an +hour, by which time the food trolley had already gone +by. Harry, Ginny, and Neville had finished their +Pumpkin Pasties and were busy swapping Chocolate + +Page | 241Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Frog cards when the compartment door slid open and +they walked in, accompanied by Crookshanks and a +shrilly hooting Pigwidgeon in his cage. + +“I’m starving,” said Ron, stowing Pigwidgeon next to +Hedwig, grabbing a Chocolate Frog from Harry and +throwing himself into the seat next to him. He ripped +open the wrapper, bit off the Frog’s head, and leaned +back with his eyes closed as though he had had a +very exhausting morning. + +“Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each +House,” said Hermione, looking thoroughly +disgruntled as she took her seat. “Boy and girl from +each.” + +“And guess who’s a Slytherin prefect?” said Ron, still +with his eyes closed. + +“Malfoy,” replied Harry at once, his worst fear +confirmed. + +“ ’Course,” said Ron bitterly, stuffing the rest of the +Frog into his mouth and taking another. + +“And that complete cow Pansy Parkinson,” said +Hermione viciously. “How she got to be a prefect when +she’s thicker than a concussed troll ...” + +“Who’s Hufflepuff?” Harry asked. + +“Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott,” said Ron +thickly. + +“And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for +Ravenclaw,” said Hermione. + +“You went to the Yule Ball with Padma Patil,” said a +vague voice. + +Page | 242Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Everyone turned to look at Luna Lovegood, who was +gazing un-blinkingly at Ron over the top of The +Quibbler. He swallowed his mouthful of Frog. + +“Yeah, I know I did,” he said, looking mildly +surprised. + +“She didn’t enjoy it very much,” Luna informed him. +“She doesn’t think you treated her very well, because +you wouldn’t dance with her. I don’t think I’d have +minded,” she added thoughtfully, “I don’t like dancing +very much.” + +She retreated behind The Quibbler again. Ron stared +at the cover with his mouth hanging open for a few +seconds, then looked around at Ginny for some kind +of explanation, but Ginny had stuffed her knuckles in +her mouth to stop herself giggling. Ron shook his +head, bemused, then checked his watch. + +“We’re supposed to patrol the corridors every so +often,” he told Harry and Neville, “and we can give out +punishments if people are misbehaving. I can’t wait to +get Crabbe and Goyle for something...” + +“You’re not supposed to abuse your position, Ron!” +said Hermione sharply. + +“Yeah, right, because Malfoy won’t abuse it at all,” +said Ron sarcastically. + +“So you’re going to descend to his level?” + +“No, I’m just going to make sure I get his mates before +he gets mine.” + +“For heaven’s sake, Ron — ” + + + +Page | 243Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’ll make Goyle do lines, it’ll kill him, he hates +writing,” said Ron happily. He lowered his voice to +Goyle ’s low grunt and, screwing up his face in a look +of pained concentration, mimed writing in midair. “I +... must ... not ... look ... like ... a ... baboon’s ... +backside...” + +Everyone laughed, but nobody laughed harder than +Luna Lovegood. She let out a scream of mirth that +caused Hedwig to wake up and flap her wings +indignantly and Crookshanks to leap up into the +luggage rack, hissing. She laughed so hard that her +magazine slipped out of her grasp, slid down her legs, +and onto the floor. + +“That was funny\” + +Her prominent eyes swam with tears as she gasped +for breath, staring at Ron. Utterly nonplussed, he +looked around at the others, who were now laughing +at the expression on Ron’s face and at the ludicrously +prolonged laughter of Luna Lovegood, who was +rocking backward and forward, clutching her sides. + +“Are you taking the mickey?” said Ron, frowning at +her. + +“Baboon’s ... backside!” she choked, holding her ribs. + +Everyone else was watching Luna laughing, but +Harry, glancing at the magazine on the floor, noticed +something that made him dive for it. Upside down it +had been hard to tell what the picture on the front +was, but Harry now realized it was a fairly bad +cartoon of Cornelius Fudge; Harry only recognized +him because of the lime-green bowler hat. One of +Fudge’s hands was clenched around a bag of gold; the +other hand was throttling a goblin. The cartoon was +captioned: How Far Will Fudge Go to Gain Gringotts? +Page | 244Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Beneath this were listed the titles of other articles +inside the magazine. + +CORRUPTION IN THE QUIDDITCH LEAGUE: + +How the Tornados Are Taking Control +SECRETS OF THE ANCIENT RUNES REVEALED +SIRIUS BLACK: Villain or Victim? + +“Can I have a look at this?” Harry asked Luna eagerly. + +She nodded, still gazing at Ron, breathless with +laughter. + +Harry opened the magazine and scanned the index; +until this moment he had completely forgotten the +magazine Kingsley had handed Mr. Weasley to give to +Sirius, but it must have been this edition of The +Quibbler. He found the page and turned excitedly to +the article. + +This too was illustrated by a rather bad cartoon; in +fact, Harry would not have known it was supposed to +be Sirius if it hadn’t been captioned. Sirius was +standing on a pile of human bones with his wand out. +The headline on the article read: + +SIRIUS - Black As He’s Painted? + +Notorious Mass Murderer OR Innocent Singing +Sensation? + +Harry had to read this sentence several times before +he was convinced that he had not misunderstood it. +Since when had Sirius been a singing sensation? + + + +Page | 245Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +For fourteen years Sirius Black has been believed +guilty of the mass murder of twelve innocent Muggles +and one wizard. Black’s audacious escape from +Azkaban two years ago has led to the widest manhunt +ever conducted by the Ministry of Magic. None of us +has ever questioned that he deserves to be recaptured +and handed back to the dementors. + +BUT DOES HE? + +Startling new evidence has recently come to light that +Sirius Black may not have committed the crimes for +which he was sent to Azkaban. In fact, says Doris +Purkiss, of 18 Acanthia Way, Little Norton, Black may +not even have been present at the killings. + +“What people don’t realize is that Sirius Black is a +false name, ” says Mrs. Purkiss. “The man people +believe to be Sirius Black is actually Stubby +Boardman, lead singer of the popular singing group +The Hobgoblins, who retired from public life after being +struck in the ear by a turnip at a concert in Little +Norton Church Hall nearly fifteen years ago. I +recognized him the moment I saw his picture in the +paper. Now, Stubby couldn’t possibly have committed +those crimes, because on the day in question he +happened to be enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner +with me. I have written to the Minister of Magic and am +expecting him to give Stubby, alias Sirius, a full pardon +any day now. ” + +Harry finished reading and stared at the page in +disbelief. Perhaps it was a joke, he thought, perhaps +the magazine often printed spoof items. He flicked +back a few pages and found the piece on Fudge. + +Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, denied that +he had any plans to take over the running of the +Wizarding Bank, Gringotts, when he was elected + +Page | 246Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Minister of Magic five years ago. Fudge has always +insisted that he wants nothing more than to +“cooperate peacefully” with the guardians of our gold. + +BUT DOES HE? + +Sources close to the Minister have recently disclosed +that Fudge’s dearest ambition is to seize control of the +goblin gold supplies and that he will not hesitate to +use force if need be. + +“It wouldn’t be the first time, either,” said a Ministry +insider. “Cornelius ‘Goblin-Crusher’ Fudge, that’s what +his friends call him, if you could hear him when he +thinks no one’s listening, oh, he’s always talking about +the goblins he’s had done in; he’s had them drowned, +he’s had them dropped off buildings, he’s had them +poisoned, he’s had them cooked in pies...” + + + +Harry did not read any further. Fudge might have +many faults but Harry found it extremely hard to +imagine him ordering goblins to be cooked in pies. He +flicked through the rest of the magazine. Pausing +every few pages he read an accusation that the +Tutshill Tornados were winning the Quidditch League +by a combination of blackmail, illegal broom- +tampering, and torture; an interview with a wizard +who claimed to have flown to the moon on a +Cleansweep Six and brought back a bag of moon frogs +to prove it; and an article on ancient runes, which at +least explained why Luna had been reading The +Quibbler upside down. According to the magazine, if +you turned the runes on their heads they revealed a +spell to make your enemy’s ears turn into kumquats. +In fact, compared to the rest of the articles in The +Quibbler, the suggestion that Sirius might really be +the lead singer of The Hobgoblins was quite sensible. +Page | 247Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Anything good in there?” asked Ron as Harry closed +the magazine. + +“Of course not,” said Hermione scathingly, before +Harry could answer, “ The Quibbler’s rubbish, +everyone knows that.” + +“Excuse me,” said Luna; her voice had suddenly lost +its dreamy quality. “My father’s the editor.” + +“I — oh,” said Hermione, looking embarrassed. “Well +... it’s got some interesting ... I mean, it’s quite ...” + +“I’ll have it back, thank you,” said Luna coldly, and +leaning forward she snatched it out of Harry’s hands. +Rifling through it to page fifty-seven, she turned it +resolutely upside down again and disappeared behind +it, just as the compartment door opened for the third +time. Harry looked around; he had expected this, but +that did not make the sight of Draco Malfoy smirking +at him from between his cronies Crabbe and Goyle +any more enjoyable. + +“What?” he said aggressively, before Malfoy could +open his mouth. + +“Manners, Potter, or I’ll have to give you a detention,” +drawled Malfoy, whose sleek blond hair and pointed +chin were just like his father’s. “You see, I, unlike +you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, +unlike you, have the power to hand out +punishments.” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, “but you, unlike me, are a git, so +get out and leave us alone.” + +Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville laughed. Malfoy’s +lip curled. + + + +Page | 248Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Tell me, how does it feel being second-best to +Weasley, Potter?” he asked. + +“Shut up, Malfoy,” said Hermione sharply. + +“I seem to have touched a nerve,” said Malfoy, +smirking. “Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because +I’ll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of +line.” + +“Get out!” said Hermione, standing up. + +Sniggering, Malfoy gave Harry a last malicious look +and departed, Crabbe and Goyle lumbering in his +wake. Hermione slammed the compartment door +behind them and turned to look at Harry, who knew +at once that she, like him, had registered what Malfoy +had said and been just as unnerved by it. + +“Chuck us another Frog,” said Ron, who had clearly +noticed nothing. + +Harry could not talk freely in front of Neville and +Luna. He exchanged another nervous look with +Hermione and then stared out of the window. + +He had thought Sirius coming with him to the station +was a bit of a laugh, but suddenly it seemed reckless, +if not downright dangerous... Hermione had been +right... Sirius should not have come. What if Mr. +Malfoy had noticed the black dog and told Draco, +what if he had deduced that the Weasleys, Lupin, +Tonks, and Moody knew where Sirius was hiding? Or +had Malfoy’s use of the word “dogging” been a +coincidence? + +The weather remained undecided as they traveled +farther and farther north. Rain spattered the windows +in a halfhearted way, then the sun put in a feeble + +Page | 249Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +appearance before clouds drifted over it once more. +When darkness fell and lamps came on inside the +carriages, Luna rolled up The Quibbler, put it +carefully away in her bag, and took to staring at +everyone in the compartment instead. + +Harry was sitting with his forehead pressed against +the train window, trying to get a first distant glimpse +of Hogwarts, but it was a moonless night and the +rain-streaked window was grimy. + +“We’d better change,” said Hermione at last. She and +Ron pinned their prefect badges carefully to their +chests. Harry saw Ron checking how it looked in the +black window. + +At last the train began to slow down and they heard +the usual racket up and down it as everybody +scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, +ready for departure. Ron and Hermione were +supposed to supervise all this; they disappeared from +the carriage again, leaving Harry and the others to +look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon. + +“I’ll carry that owl, if you like,” said Luna to Harry, +reaching out for Pigwidgeon as Neville stowed Trevor +carefully in an inside pocket. + +“Oh — er — thanks,” said Harry, handing her the +cage and hoisting Hedwig’s more securely into his +arms. + +They shuffled out of the compartment feeling the first +sting of the night air on their faces as they joined the +crowd in the corridor. Slowly they moved toward the +doors. Harry could smell the pine trees that lined the +path down to the lake. He stepped down onto the +platform and looked around, listening for the familiar +call of “Firs’ years over here ... firs’ years ...” + +Page | 250Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But it did not come. Instead a quite different voice, a +brisk female one, was calling, “First years line up over +here, please! All first years to me!” + +A lantern came swinging toward Harry and by its light +he saw the prominent chin and severe haircut of +Professor Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had taken +over Hagrid ’s Care of Magical Creatures lessons for a +while the previous year. + +“Where’s Hagrid?” he said out loud. + +“I don’t know,” said Ginny, “but we’d better get out of +the way, we’re blocking the door.” + +“Oh yeah ...” + +Harry and Ginny became separated as they moved off +along the platform and out through the station. +Jostled by the crowd, Harry squinted through the +darkness for a glimpse of Hagrid; he had to be here, +Harry had been relying on it — seeing Hagrid again +had been one of the things to which he had been +looking forward most. But there was no sign of him at +all. + +He can’t have left, Harry told himself as he shuffled +slowly through a narrow doorway onto the road +outside with the rest of the crowd. He’s just got a cold +or something... + +He looked around for Ron or Hermione, wanting to +know what they thought about the reappearance of +Professor Grubbly-Plank, but neither of them was +anywhere near him, so he allowed himself to be +shunted forward onto the dark rain-washed road +outside Hogsmeade station. + + + +Page | 251Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Here stood the hundred or so horseless stagecoaches +that always took the students above first year up to +the castle. Harry glanced quickly at them, turned +away to keep a lookout for Ron and Hermione, then +did a double take. + +The coaches were no longer horseless. There were +creatures standing between the carriage shafts; if he +had had to give them a name, he supposed he would +have called them horses, though there was something +reptilian about them, too. They were completely +fleshless, their black coats clinging to their skeletons, +of which every bone was visible. Their heads were +dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and +staring. Wings sprouted from each wither — vast, +black leathery wings that looked as though they +ought to belong to giant bats. Standing still and quiet +in the gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister. +Harry could not understand why the coaches were +being pulled by these horrible horses when they were +quite capable of moving along by themselves. + +“Where’s Pig?” said Ron’s voice, right behind Harry. + +“That Luna girl was carrying him,” said Harry, +turning quickly, eager to consult Ron about Hagrid. +“Where d’you reckon — ” + +“ — Hagrid is? I dunno,” said Ron, sounding worried. +“He’d better be okay...” + +A short distance away, Draco Malfoy, followed by a +small gang of cronies including Crabbe, Goyle, and +Pansy Parkinson, was pushing some timid-looking +second years out of the way so that they could get a +coach to themselves. Seconds later Hermione emerged +panting from the crowd. + + + +Page | 252Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Malfoy was being absolutely foul to a first year back +there, I swear I’m going to report him, he’s only had +his badge three minutes and he’s using it to bully +people worse than ever... Where’s Crookshanks?” + +“Ginny’s got him,” said Harry. “There she is...” + +Ginny had just emerged from the crowd, clutching a +squirming Crookshanks. + +“Thanks,” said Hermione, relieving Ginny of the cat. +“Come on, let’s get a carriage together before they all +fillup...” + +“I haven’t got Pig yet!” Ron said, but Hermione was +already heading off toward the nearest unoccupied +coach. Harry remained behind with Ron. + +“What are those things, d’you reckon?” he asked Ron, +nodding at the horrible horses as the other students +surged past them. + +“What things?” + +“Those horse — ” + +Luna appeared holding Pigwidgeon’s cage in her +arms; the tiny owl was twittering excitedly as usual. + +“Here you are,” she said. “He’s a sweet little owl, isn’t +he?” + +“Er ... yeah ... He’s all right,” said Ron gruffly. “Well, +come on then, let’s get in... what were you saying, +Harry?” + +“I was saying, what are those horse things?” Harry +said, as he, Ron, and Luna made for the carriage in +which Hermione and Ginny were already sitting. + +Page | 253Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What horse things?” + + + +“The horse things pulling the carriages!” said Harry +impatiently; they were, after all, about three feet from +the nearest one; it was watching them with empty +white eyes. Ron, however, gave Harry a perplexed +look. + +“What are you talking about?” + +“I’m talking about — look!” + +Harry grabbed Ron’s arm and wheeled him about so +that he was face-to-face with the winged horse. Ron +stared straight at it for a second, then looked back at +Harry. + +“What am I supposed to be looking at?” + +“At the — there, between the shafts! Harnessed to the +coach! It’s right there in front — ” + +But as Ron continued to look bemused, a strange +thought occurred to Harry. + +“Can’t ... can’t you see them?” + +“See what?” + +“Can’t you see what’s pulling the carriages?” + +Ron looked seriously alarmed now. + +“Are you feeling all right, Harry?” + +“I ... yeah ...” + +Harry felt utterly bewildered. The horse was there in +front of him, gleaming solidly in the dim light issuing + +Page | 254Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +from the station windows behind them, vapor rising +from its nostrils in the chilly night air. Yet unless Ron +was faking — and it was a very feeble joke if he was — +Ron could not see it at all. + +“Shall we get in, then?” said Ron uncertainly, looking +at Harry as though worried about him. + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “Yeah, go on ...” + +“It’s all right,” said a dreamy voice from beside Harry +as Ron vanished into the coach’s dark interior. + +“You’re not going mad or anything. I can see them +too.” + +“Can you?” said Harry desperately, turning to Luna. +He could see the bat-winged horses reflected in her +wide, silvery eyes. + +“Oh yes,” said Luna, “I’ve been able to see them ever +since my first day here. They’ve always pulled the +carriages. Don’t worry. You’re just as sane as I am.” + +Smiling faintly, she climbed into the musty interior of +the carriage after Ron. Not altogether reassured, + +Harry followed her. + + + +Page | 255Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +XX + + + + +THE SORTING HAT’S NEW SONG + +Harry did not want to tell the others that he and Luna +were having the same hallucination, if that was what +it was, so he said nothing about the horses as he sat +down inside the carriage and slammed the door +behind him. Nevertheless, he could not help watching +the silhouettes of the horses moving beyond the +window. + +“Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?” asked +Ginny. “What’s she doing back here? Hagrid can’t +have left, can he?” + +“I’ll be quite glad if he has,” said Luna. “He isn’t a +very good teacher, is he?” + +“Yes, he is!” said Harry, Ron, and Ginny angrily. + +Harry glared at Hermione; she cleared her throat and +quickly said, “Erm ... yes ... he’s very good.” + +“Well, we think he’s a bit of a joke in Ravenclaw,” said +Luna, unfazed. + +Page | 256Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’ve got a rubbish sense of humor then,” Ron +snapped, as the wheels below them creaked into +motion. + +Luna did not seem perturbed by Ron’s rudeness; on +the contrary, she simply watched him for a while as +though he were a mildly interesting television +program. + +Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy +up the road. When they passed between the tall stone +pillars topped with winged boars on either side of the +gates to the school grounds, Harry leaned forward to +try and see whether there were any lights on in +Hagrid’s cabin by the Forbidden Forest, but the +grounds were in complete darkness. Hogwarts Castle, +however, loomed ever closer: a towering mass of +turrets, jet-black against the dark sky, here and there +a window blazing fiery bright above them. + +The carriages jingled to a halt near the stone steps +leading up to the oak front doors and Harry got out of +the carriage first. He turned again to look for lit +windows down by the forest, but there was definitely +no sign of life within Hagrid’s cabin. Unwillingly, +because he had half hoped they would have vanished, +he turned his eyes instead upon the strange, skeletal +creatures standing quietly in the chill night air, their +blank white eyes gleaming. + +Harry had once before had the experience of seeing +something that Ron could not, but that had been a +reflection in a mirror, something much more +insubstantial than a hundred very solid-looking +beasts strong enough to pull a fleet of carriages. If +Luna was to be believed, the beasts had always been +there but invisible; why, then, could Harry suddenly +see them, and why could Ron not? + + + +Page | 257Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Are you coming or what?” said Ron beside him. + + + +“Oh ... yeah,” said Harry quickly, and they joined the +crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. + +The entrance hall was ablaze with torches and +echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the +flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, +leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast. + +The four long House tables in the Great Hall were +filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was +just like the sky they could glimpse through the high +windows. Candles floated in midair all along the +tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were +dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students +talking eagerly to one another, exchanging summer +news, shouting greetings at friends from other +Houses, eyeing one another’s new haircuts and robes. +Again Harry noticed people putting their heads +together to whisper as he passed; he gritted his teeth +and tried to act as though he neither noticed nor +cared. + +Luna drifted away from them at the Ravenclaw table. +The moment they reached Gryffindor’s, Ginny was +hailed by some fellow fourth years and left to sit with +them; Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville found seats +together about halfway down the table between Nearly +Headless Nick, the Gryffindor House ghost, and +Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, the last two of +whom gave Harry airy, overly friendly greetings that +made him quite sure they had stopped talking about +him a split second before. He had more important +things to worry about, however: He was looking over +the students’ heads to the staff table that ran along +the top wall of the Hall. + +“He’s not there.” + +Page | 258Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ron and Hermione scanned the staff table too, though +there was no real need; Hagrid’s size made him +instantly obvious in any lineup. + +“He can’t have left,” said Ron, sounding slightly +anxious. + +“Of course he hasn’t,” said Harry firmly. + +“You don’t think he’s ... hurt, or anything, do you?” +said Hermione uneasily. + +“No,” said Harry at once. + +“But where is he, then?” + +There was a pause, then Harry said very quietly, so +that Neville, Parvati, and Lavender could not hear, +“Maybe he’s not back yet. You know — from his +mission — the thing he was doing over the summer +for Dumbledore.” + +“Yeah ... yeah, that’ll be it,” said Ron, sounding +reassured, but Hermione bit her lip, looking up and +down the staff table as though hoping for some +conclusive explanation of Hagrid’s absence. + +“Who’s that?” she said sharply, pointing toward the +middle of the staff table. + +Harry’s eyes followed hers. They lit first upon +Professor Dumbledore, sitting in his high-backed +golden chair at the center of the long staff table, +wearing deep-purple robes scattered with silvery stars +and a matching hat. Dumbledore’s head was inclined +toward the woman sitting next to him, who was +talking into his ear. She looked, Harry thought, like +somebody’s maiden aunt: squat, with short, curly, +mouse-brown hair in which she had placed a horrible +Page | 259Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +pink Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan +she wore over her robes. Then she turned her face +slightly to take a sip from her goblet and he saw, with +a shock of recognition, a pallid, toadlike face and a +pair of prominent, pouchy eyes. + +“It’s that Umbridge woman!” + +“Who?” said Hermione. + +“She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!” + +“Nice cardigan,” said Ron, smirking. + +“She works for Fudge?” Hermione repeated, frowning. +“What on earth’s she doing here, then?” + +“Dunno ...” + +Hermione scanned the staff table, her eyes narrowed. + +“No,” she muttered, “no, surely not ...” + +Harry did not understand what she was talking about +but did not ask; his attention had just been caught by +Professor Grubbly-Plank who had just appeared +behind the staff table; she worked her way along to +the very end and took the seat that ought to have +been Hagrid’s. That meant that the first years must +have crossed the lake and reached the castle, and +sure enough, a few seconds later, the doors from the +entrance hall opened. A long line of scared-looking +first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who +was carrying a stool on which sat an ancient wizard’s +hat, heavily patched and darned with a wide rip near +the frayed brim. + +The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away. The +first years lined up in front of the staff table facing the + +Page | 260Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed +the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back. + +The first years’ faces glowed palely in the candlelight. +A small boy right in the middle of the row looked as +though he was trembling. Harry recalled, fleetingly, +how terrified he had felt when he had stood there, +waiting for the unknown test that would determine to +which House he belonged. + +The whole school waited with bated breath. Then the +rip near the hat’s brim opened wide like a mouth and +the Sorting Hat burst into song: + +In times of old when I was new +And Hogwarts barely started +The founders of our noble school +Thought never to be parted: + +United by a common goal, + +They had the selfsame yearning, + +To make the world’s best magic school +And pass along their learning. + +“Together we will build and teach!” + +The four good friends decided +And never did they dream that they +Might someday be divided, + +For were there such friends anywhere +As Slytherin and Gryffndor? + +Unless it was the second pair +Of Huffepuff and Ravenclaw? + +So how could it have gone so wrong? + +How could such friendships fail? + +Why, I was there and so can tell +The whole sad, sorry tale. + +Said Slytherin, “We’ll teach just those +Whose ancestry is purest.” + +Said Ravenclaw, “We’ll teach those whose +Intelligence is surest.” + +Said Gryffindor, “We’ll teach all those + +Page | 261Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +With brave deeds to their name,” + +Said Hufflepuff, “111 teach the lot, + +And treat them just the same.” + +These differences caused little strife +When first they came to light, + +For each of the four founders had +A House in which they might +Take only those they wanted, so, + +For instance, Slytherin +Took only pure-blood wizards +Of great cunning, just like him, + +And only those of sharpest mind +Were taught by Ravenclaw +While the bravest and the boldest +Went to daring Gryffindor. + +Good Hufflepuff she took the rest, + +And taught them all she knew, + +Thus the Houses and their founders +Retained friendships firm and true. + +So Hogwarts worked in harmony +For several happy years, + +But then discord crept among us +Feeding on our faults and fears. + +The Houses that, like pillars four, + +Had once held up our school, + +Now turned upon each other and, + +Divided, sought to rule. + +And for a while it seemed the school +Must meet an early end, + +What with dueling and with fighting +And the clash of friend on friend +And at last there came a morning +When old Slytherin departed +And though the fighting then died out +He left us quite downhearted. + +And never since the founders four +Were whittled down to three +Have the Houses been united +As they once were meant to be. + +Page | 262Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And now the Sorting Hat is here +And you all know the score: + +I sort you into Houses +Because that is what I’m for, + +But this year I’ll go further, + +Listen closely to my song: + +Though condemned I am to split you +Still I worry that it’s wrong, + +Though I must fulfill my duty +And must quarter every year +Still I wonder whether sorting +May not bring the end I fear. + +Oh, know the perils, read the signs, + +The warning history shows, + +For our Hogwarts is in danger +From external, deadly foes +And we must unite inside her +Or we’ll crumble from within. + +I have told you, I have warned you... + +Let the Sorting now begin. + +The hat became motionless once more; applause +broke out, though it was punctured, for the first time +in Harry’s memory, with muttering and whispers. All +across the Great Hall students were exchanging +remarks with their neighbors and Harry, clapping +along with everyone else, knew exactly what they were +talking about. + +“Branched out a bit this year, hasn’t it?” said Ron, his +eyebrows raised. + +“Too right it has,” said Harry. + +The Sorting Hat usually confined itself to describing +the different qualities looked for by each of the four +Hogwarts Houses and its own role in sorting them; +Harry could not remember it ever trying to give the +school advice before. + +Page | 263Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I wonder if it’s ever given warnings before?” said +Hermione, sounding slightly anxious. + + + +“Yes, indeed,” said Nearly Headless Nick +knowledgeably, leaning across Neville toward her +(Neville winced, it was very uncomfortable to have a +ghost lean through you). “The hat feels itself honor- +bound to give the school due warning whenever it +feels — ” + +But Professor McGonagall, who was waiting to read +out the list of first years’ names, was giving the +whispering students the sort of look that scorches. +Nearly Headless Nick placed a see-through finger to +his lips and sat primly upright again as the muttering +came to an abrupt end. With a last frowning look that +swept the four House tables, Professor McGonagall +lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment and +called out, + +“Abercrombie, Euan.” + +The terrified-looking boy Harry had noticed earlier +stumbled forward and put the hat on his head; it was +only prevented from falling right down to his +shoulders by his very prominent ears. The hat +considered for a moment, then the rip near the brim +opened again and shouted, “ GR YFFIND OR ! ” + +Harry clapped loudly with the rest of Gryffindor +House as Euan Abercrombie staggered to their table +and sat down, looking as though he would like very +much to sink through the floor and never be looked at +again. + +Slowly the long line of first years thinned; in the +pauses between the names and the Sorting Hat’s +decisions, Harry could hear Ron’s stomach rumbling +loudly. Finally, “Zeller, Rose” was sorted into + +Page | 264Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hufflepuff, and Professor McGonagall picked up the +hat and stool and marched them away as Professor +Dumbledore rose to his feet. + +Harry was somehow soothed to see Dumbledore +standing before them all, whatever his recent bitter +feelings toward his headmaster. Between the absence +of Hagrid and the presence of those dragonish horses, +he had felt that his return to Hogwarts, so long +anticipated, was full of unexpected surprises like +jarring notes in a familiar song. But this, at least, was +how it was supposed to be: their headmaster rising to +greet them all before the start-of-term feast. + +“To our newcomers,” said Dumbledore in a ringing +voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile +on his lips, “welcome! To our old hands — welcome +back! There is a time for speech making, but this is +not it. Tuck in!” + +There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of +applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw +his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of +the way of his plate — for food had appeared out of +nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning +under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread, +sauces, and flagons of pumpkin juice. + +“Excellent,” said Ron, with a kind of groan of longing, +and he seized the nearest plate of chops and began +piling them onto his plate, watched wistfully by +Nearly Headless Nick. + +“What were you saying before the Sorting?” Hermione +asked the ghost. “About the hat giving warnings?” + +“Oh yes,” said Nick, who seemed glad of a reason to +turn away from Ron, who was now eating roast +potatoes with almost indecent enthusiasm. “Yes, I + +Page | 265Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +have heard the hat give several warnings before, +always at times when it detects periods of great +danger for the school. And always, of course, its +advice is the same: Stand together, be strong from +within.” + +“Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?” said Ron. + +His mouth was so full Harry thought it was quite an +achievement for him to make any noise at all. + +“I beg your pardon?” said Nearly Headless Nick +politely, while Hermione looked revolted. Ron gave an +enormous swallow and said, “How can it know if the +school’s in danger if it’s a hat?” + +“I have no idea,” said Nearly Headless Nick. “Of +course, it lives in Dumbledore’s office, so I daresay it +picks things up there.” + +“And it wants all the Houses to be friends?” said +Harry, looking over at the Slytherin table, where +Draco Malfoy was holding court. “Fat chance.” + +“Well, now, you shouldn’t take that attitude,” said +Nick reprovingly. “Peaceful cooperation, that’s the +key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate Houses, +maintain links of friendship. In spite of the +competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I +would never dream of seeking an argument with the +Bloody Baron.” + +“Only because you’re terrified of him,” said Ron. + +Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted. + +“Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy- +Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my +life! The noble blood that runs in my veins — ” + +Page | 266Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What blood?” asked Ron. “Surely you haven’t still got +— ?” + +“It’s a figure of speech!” said Nearly Headless Nick, +now so annoyed his head was trembling ominously on +his partially severed neck. “I assume I am still allowed +to enjoy the use of whichever words I like, even if the +pleasures of eating and drinking are denied me! But I +am quite used to students poking fun at my death, I +assure you!” + +“Nick, he wasn’t really laughing at you!” said +Hermione, throwing a furious look at Ron. + +Unfortunately, Ron’s mouth was packed to exploding +point again and all he could manage was “node +iddum eentup sechew,” which Nick did not seem to +think constituted an adequate apology. Rising into +the air, he straightened his feathered hat and swept +away from them to the other end of the table, coming +to rest between the Creevey brothers, Colin and +Dennis. + +��Well done, Ron,” snapped Hermione. + +“What?” said Ron indignantly, having managed, +finally, to swallow his food. “I’m not allowed to ask a +simple question?” + +“Oh forget it,” said Hermione irritably, and the pair of +them spent the rest of the meal in huffy silence. + +Harry was too used to their bickering to bother trying +to reconcile them; he felt it was a better use of his +time to eat his way steadily through his steak-and- +kidney pie, then a large plateful of his favorite treacle +tart. + + + +Page | 267Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +When all the students had finished eating and the +noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward +again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking +ceased immediately as all turned to face the +headmaster. Harry was feeling pleasantly drowsy +now. His four-poster bed was waiting somewhere +above, wonderfully warm and soft... + +“Well, now that we are all digesting another +magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your +attention for the usual start-of-term notices,” said +Dumbledore. “First years ought to know that the +forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — +and a few of our older students ought to know by now +too.” (Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged smirks.) + +“Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he +tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to +remind you all that magic is not permitted in +corridors between classes, nor are a number of other +things, all of which can be checked on the extensive +list now fastened to Mr. Filch’s office door. + +“We have had two changes in staffing this year. We +are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly- +Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures +lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor +Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts +teacher.” + +There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic +applause during which Harry, Ron, and Hermione +exchanged slightly panicked looks; Dumbledore had +not said for how long Grubbly-Plank would be +teaching. + +Dumbledore continued, “Tryouts for the House +Quidditch teams will take place on the — ” + + + +Page | 268Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor +Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than +sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood +why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then +Professor Umbridge said, “Hem, hem,” and it became +clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to +make a speech. + +Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, +then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at +Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing +better than to listen to her talk. Other members of +staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. +Professor Sprout’s eyebrows had disappeared into her +flyaway hair, and Professor McGonagall’s mouth was +as thin as Harry had ever seen it. No new teacher had +ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Many of the +students were smirking; this woman obviously did not +know how things were done at Hogwarts. + +“Thank you, Headmaster,” Professor Umbridge +simpered, “for those kind words of welcome.” + +Her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and little-girlish +and again, Harry felt a powerful rush of dislike that +he could not explain to himself; all he knew was that +he loathed everything about her, from her stupid +voice to her fluffy pink cardigan. She gave another +little throat-clearing cough (“Hem, hem”) and +continued: “Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I +must say!” She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. +“And to see such happy little faces looking back at +me!” + +Harry glanced around. None of the faces he could see +looked happy; on the contrary, they all looked rather +taken aback at being addressed as though they were +five years old. + + + +Page | 269Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I am very much looking forward to getting to know +you all, and I’m sure well be very good friends!” + +Students exchanged looks at this; some of them were +barely concealing grins. + +“I’ll be her friend as long as I don’t have to borrow +that cardigan,” Parvati whispered to Lavender, and +both of them lapsed into silent giggles. + +Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again (“Hem, +hem”), but when she continued, some of the +breathiness had vanished from her voice. She +sounded much more businesslike and now her words +had a dull learned-by-heart sound to them. + +“The Ministry of Magic has always considered the +education of young witches and wizards to be of vital +importance. The rare gifts with which you were born +may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by +careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the +Wizarding community must be passed down through +the generations lest we lose them forever. The +treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our +ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished +by those who have been called to the noble profession +of teaching.” + +Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little +bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed +back. Professor McGonagall’s dark eyebrows had +contracted so that she looked positively hawklike, and +Harry distinctly saw her exchange a significant glance +with Professor Sprout as Umbridge gave another little +“Hem, hem” and went on with her speech. + +“Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has +brought something new to the weighty task of +governing this historic school, and that is as it should + +Page | 270Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +be, for without progress there will be stagnation and +decay. There again, progress for progress’s sake must +be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions +often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between +old and new, between permanence and change, +between tradition and innovation ...” + +Harry found his attentiveness ebbing, as though his +brain was slipping in and out of tune. The quiet that +always filled the Hall when Dumbledore was speaking +was breaking up as students put their heads +together, whispering and giggling. Over at the +Ravenclaw table, Cho Chang was chatting animatedly +with her friends. A few seats along from Cho, Luna +Lovegood had got out The Quibbler again. Meanwhile +at the Hufflepuff table, Ernie Macmillan was one of +the few still staring at Professor Umbridge, but he was +glassy-eyed and Harry was sure he was only +pretending to listen in an attempt to live up to the +new prefect’s badge gleaming on his chest. + +Professor Umbridge did not seem to notice the +restlessness of her audience. Harry had the +impression that a full-scale riot could have broken +out under her nose and she would have plowed on +with her speech. The teachers, however, were still +listening very attentively, and Hermione seemed to be +drinking in every word Umbridge spoke, though +judging by her expression, they were not at all to her +taste. + +"... because some changes will be for the better, while +others will come, in the fullness of time, to be +recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some +old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas +others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. +Let us move forward, then, into a new era of +openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on +preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting +Page | 271Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we +find practices that ought to be prohibited.” + +She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed +his lead, though Harry noticed that several of them +brought their hands together only once or twice +before stopping. A few students joined in, but most +had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, +not having listened to more than a few words of it, +and before they could start applauding properly, +Dumbledore had stood up again. + +“Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was +most illuminating,” he said, bowing to her. “Now — as +I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held ...” + +“Yes, it certainly was illuminating,” said Hermione in +a low voice. + +“You’re not telling me you enjoyed it?” Ron said +quietly, turning a glazed face upon Hermione. “That +was about the dullest speech I’ve ever heard, and I +grew up with Percy.” + +“I said illuminating, not enjoyable,” said Hermione. “It +explained a lot.” + +“Did it?” said Harry in surprise. “Sounded like a load +of waffle to me.” + +“There was some important stuff hidden in the +waffle,” said Hermione grimly. + +“Was there?” said Ron blankly. + +“How about ‘progress for progress’s sake must be +discouraged’? How about ‘pruning wherever we find +practices that ought to be prohibited’?” + + + +Page | 272Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, what does that mean?” said Ron impatiently. + + + +“Ill tell you what it means,” said Hermione ominously. +“It means the Ministry’s interfering at Hogwarts.” + +There was a great clattering and banging all around +them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the +school, because everyone was standing up ready to +leave the Hall. Hermione jumped up, looking +flustered. + +“Ron, we’re supposed to show the first years where to +go!” + +“Oh yeah,” said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. +“Hey — hey you lot! Midgets!” + +“Ron\” + +“Well, they are, they’re titchy...” + +“I know, but you can’t call them midgets... First +years!” Hermione called commandingly along the +table. “This way, please!” + +A group of new students walked shyly up the gap +between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all of +them trying hard not to lead the group. They did +indeed seem very small; Harry was sure he had not +appeared that young when he had arrived here. He +grinned at them. A blond boy next to Euan +Abercrombie looked petrified, nudged Euan, and +whispered something in his ear. Euan Abercrombie +looked equally frightened and stole a horrified look at +Harry, who felt the grin slide off his face like +Stinksap. + +“See you later,” he said to Ron and Hermione and he +made his way out of the Great Hall alone, doing + +Page | 273Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +everything he could to ignore more whispering, +staring, and pointing as he passed. He kept his eyes +fixed ahead as he wove his way through the crowd in +the entrance hall, then he hurried up the marble +staircase, took a couple of concealed shortcuts, and +had soon left most of the crowds behind. + +He had been stupid not to expect this, he thought +angrily, as he walked through much emptier upstairs +corridors. Of course everyone was staring at him: He +had emerged from the Triwizard maze two months ago +clutching the dead body of a fellow student and +claiming to have seen Lord Voldemort return to +power. There had not been time last term to explain +himself before everyone went home, even if he had felt +up to giving the whole school a detailed account of the +terrible events in that graveyard. + +He had reached the end of the corridor to the +Gryffindor common room and had come to a halt in +front of the portrait of the Fat Lady before he realized +that he did not know the new password. + +“Er ...” he said glumly, staring up at the Fat Lady, +who smoothed the folds of her pink satin dress and +looked sternly back at him. + +“No password, no entrance,” she said loftily. + +“Harry, I know it!” someone panted from behind him, +and he turned to see Neville jogging toward him. +“Guess what it is? I’m actually going to be able to +remember it for once — ” He waved the stunted little +cactus he had shown them on the train. “Mimbulus +mimbletonio 1” + +“Correct,” said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung +open toward them like a door, revealing a circular + + + +Page | 274Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hole in the wall behind, through which Harry and +Neville now climbed. + +The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as +ever, a cozy circular tower room full of dilapidated +squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was +crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were +warming their hands before going up to their +dormitories; on the other side of the room Fred and +George Weasley were pinning something up on the +notice board. Harry waved good night to them and +headed straight for the door to the boys’ dormitories; +he was not in much of a mood for talking at the +moment. Neville followed him. + +Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the +dormitory first and were in the process of covering the +walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. +They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door +but stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. + +Harry wondered whether they had been talking about +him, then whether he was being paranoid. + +“Hi,” he said, moving across to his own trunk and +opening it. + +“Hey, Harry,” said Dean, who was putting on a pair of +pajamas in the West Ham colors. “Good holiday?” + +“Not bad,” muttered Harry, as a true account of his +holiday would have taken most of the night to relate +and he could not face it. “You?” + +“Yeah, it was okay,” chuckled Dean. “Better than +Seamus’s anyway, he was just telling me.” + +“Why, what happened, Seamus?” Neville asked as he +placed his Mimbulus mimbletonia tenderly on his +bedside cabinet. + +Page | 275Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Seamus did not answer immediately; he was making +rather a meal of ensuring that his poster of the +Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team was quite straight. +Then he said, with his back still turned to Harry, “Me +mam didn’t want me to come back.” + +“What?” said Harry, pausing in the act of pulling off +his robes. + +“She didn’t want me to come back to Hogwarts.” + +Seamus turned away from his poster and pulled his +own pajamas out of his trunk, still not looking at +Harry. + +“But — why?” said Harry, astonished. He knew that +Seamus’s mother was a witch and could not +understand, therefore, why she should have come +over so Dursley-ish. + +Seamus did not answer until he had finished +buttoning his pajamas. + +“Well,” he said in a measured voice, “I suppose ... +because of you.” + +“What d’you mean?” said Harry quickly. His heart was +beating rather fast. He felt vaguely as though +something was closing in on him. + +“Well,” said Seamus again, still avoiding Harry’s eyes, +“she ... er ... well, it’s not just you, it’s Dumbledore +too ...” + +“She believes the Daily Prophet?” said Harry. “She +thinks I’m a liar and Dumbledore ’s an old fool?” + +Seamus looked up at him. “Yeah, something like +that.” + +Page | 276Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry said nothing. He threw his wand down onto his +bedside table, pulled off his robes, stuffed them +angrily into his trunk, and pulled on his pajamas. He +was sick of it; sick of being the person who was stared +at and talked about all the time. If any of them knew, +if any of them had the faintest idea what it felt like to +be the one all these things had happened to ... Mrs. +Finnigan had no idea, the stupid woman, he thought +savagely. + +He got into bed and made to pull the hangings closed +around him, but before he could do so, Seamus said, +“Look . . . what did happen that night when . . . you +know, when . . . with Cedric Diggory and all?” + +Seamus sounded nervous and eager at the same time. +Dean, who had been bending over his trunk, trying to +retrieve a slipper, went oddly still and Harry knew he +was listening hard. + +“What are you asking me for?” Harry retorted. “Just +read the Daily Prophet like your mother, why don’t +you? That’ll tell you all you need to know.” + +“Don’t you have a go at my mother,” snapped +Seamus. + +“I’ll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar,” said +Harry. + +“Don’t talk to me like that!” + +“I’ll talk to you how I want,” said Harry, his temper +rising so fast he snatched his wand back from his +bedside table. “If you’ve got a problem sharing a +dormitory with me, go and ask McGonagall if you can +be moved, stop your mummy worrying — ” + +“Leave my mother out of this, Potter!” + +Page | 277Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What’s going on?” + +Ron had appeared in the doorway. His wide eyes +traveled from Harry, who was kneeling on his bed +with his wand pointing at Seamus, to Seamus, who +was standing there with his fists raised. + +“He’s having a go at my mother!” Seamus yelled. + +“What?” said Ron. “Harry wouldn’t do that — we met +your mother, we liked her...” + +“That’s before she started believing every word the +stinking Daily Prophet writes about me!” said Harry at +the top of his voice. + +“Oh,” said Ron, comprehension dawning across his +freckled face. “Oh ... right.” + +“You know what?” said Seamus heatedly, casting +Harry a venomous look. “He’s right, I don’t want to +share a dormitory with him anymore, he’s a +madman.” + +“That’s out of order, Seamus,” said Ron, whose ears +were starting to glow red, always a danger sign. + +“Out of order, am I?” shouted Seamus, who in +contrast with Ron was turning paler. “You believe all +the rubbish he’s come out with about You-Know-Who, +do you, you reckon he’s telling the truth?” + +“Yeah, I do!” said Ron angrily. + +“Then you’re mad too,” said Seamus in disgust. + +“Yeah? Well unfortunately for you, pal, I’m also a +prefect!” said Ron, jabbing himself in the chest with a + + + +Page | 278Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +finger. “So unless you want detention, watch your +mouth!” + +Seamus looked for a few seconds as though detention +would be a reasonable price to pay to say what was +going through his mind; but with a noise of contempt +he turned on his heel, vaulted into bed, and pulled +the hangings shut with such violence that they were +ripped from the bed and fell in a dusty pile to the +floor. Ron glared at Seamus, then looked at Dean and +Neville. + +“Anyone else’s parents got a problem with Harry?” he +said aggressively. + +“My parents are Muggles, mate,” said Dean, +shrugging. “They don’t know nothing about no deaths +at Hogwarts, because I’m not stupid enough to tell +them.” + +“You don’t know my mother, she’ll weasel anything +out of anyone!” Seamus snapped at him. “Anyway, +your parents don’t get the Daily Prophet, they don’t +know our headmaster’s been sacked from the +Wizengamot and the International Confederation of +Wizards because he’s losing his marbles — ” + +“My gran says that’s rubbish,” piped up Neville. “She +says it’s the Daily Prophet that’s going downhill, not +Dumbledore. She’s canceled our subscription. We +believe Harry,” he said simply. He climbed into bed +and pulled the covers up to his chin, looking owlishly +over them at Seamus. “My gran’s always said You- +Know-Who would come back one day. She says if +Dumbledore says he’s back, he’s back.” + +Harry felt a rush of gratitude toward Neville. Nobody +else said anything. Seamus got out his wand, repaired +the bed hangings, and vanished behind them. Dean + +Page | 279Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +got into bed, rolled over, and fell silent. Neville, who +appeared to have nothing more to say either, was +gazing fondly at his moonlit cactus. + +Harry lay back on his pillows while Ron bustled +around the next bed, putting his things away. He felt +shaken by the argument with Seamus, whom he had +always liked very much. How many more people were +going to suggest that he was lying or unhinged? + +Had Dumbledore suffered like this all summer, as +first the Wizengamot, then the International +Confederation of Wizards had thrown him from their +ranks? Was it anger at Harry, perhaps, that had +stopped Dumbledore getting in touch with him for +months? The two of them were in this together, after +all; Dumbledore had believed Harry, announced his +version of events to the whole school and then to the +wider Wizarding community. Anyone who thought +Harry was a liar had to think that Dumbledore was +too or else that Dumbledore had been hoodwinked... + +They’ll know we’re right in the end, thought Harry +miserably, as Ron got into bed and extinguished the +last candle in the dormitory. But he wondered how +many attacks like Seamus’s he would have to endure +before that time came. + + + +Page | 280Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +PROFESSOR UMBRIDGE + +Seamus dressed at top speed next morning and left +the dormitory before Harry had even put on his socks. + +“Does he think hell turn into a nutter if he stays in a +room with me too long?” asked Harry loudly, as the +hem of Seamus’s robes whipped out of sight. + +“Don’t worry about it, Harry,” Dean muttered, +hoisting his school-bag onto his shoulder. “He’s just +...” But apparently he was unable to say exactly what +Seamus was, and after a slightly awkward pause +followed him out of the room. + +Neville and Ron both gave Harry it’s-his-problem-not- +yours looks, but Harry was not much consoled. How +much more of this was he going to have to take? + +“What’s the matter?” asked Hermione five minutes +later, catching up with Harry and Ron halfway across +the common room as they all headed toward + + + +Page | 281Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +breakfast. “You look absolutely — oh for heaven’s +sake.” + + + +She was staring at the common room notice board, +where a large new sign had been put up. + +GALLONS OF GALLEONS! + +Pocket money failing to keep pace with your +outgoings? + +Like to earn a little extra gold? + + + +Contact Fred and George Weasley, + +Gryffindor common room, + +for simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs + +(WE REGRET THAT ALL WORK IS UNDERTAKEN AT +APPLICANT’S OWN RISK) + +“They are the limit,” said Hermione grimly, taking +down the sign, which Fred and George had pinned up +over a poster giving the date of the first Hogsmeade +weekend in October. “We’ll have to talk to them, Ron.” + +Ron looked positively alarmed. + +“Why?” + +“Because we’re prefects!” said Hermione, as they +climbed out through the portrait hole. “It’s up to us to +stop this kind of thing!” + +Ron said nothing; Harry could tell from his glum +expression that the prospect of stopping Fred and + +Page | 282Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +George doing exactly what they liked was not one that +he found inviting. + +“Anyway, what’s up, Harry?” Hermione continued, as +they walked down a flight of stairs lined with portraits +of old witches and wizards, all of whom ignored them, +being engrossed in their own conversation. “You look +really angry about something.” + +“Seamus reckons Harry’s lying about You-Know- +Who,” said Ron succinctly, when Harry did not +respond. + +Hermione, whom Harry had expected to react angrily +on his behalf, sighed. + +“Yes, Lavender thinks so too,” she said gloomily. + +“Been having a nice little chat with her about whether +or not I’m a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?” +Harry said loudly. + +“No,” said Hermione calmly, “I told her to keep her big +fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be +quite nice if you stopped jumping down Ron’s and my +throats, Harry, because if you haven’t noticed, we’re +on your side.” + +There was a short pause. + +“Sorry,” said Harry in a low voice. + +“That’s quite all right,” said Hermione with dignity. +Then she shook her head. “Don’t you remember what +Dumbledore said at the end-of-term feast last year?” + +Harry and Ron both looked at her blankly, and +Hermione sighed again. + + + +Page | 283Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“About You-Know-Who. He said, ‘His gift for spreading +discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only +by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and +trust — ’ ” + +“How do you remember stuff like that?” asked Ron, +looking at her in admiration. + +“I listen, Ron,” said Hermione with a touch of +asperity. + +“So do I, but I still couldn’t tell you exactly what — ” + +“The point,” Hermione pressed on loudly, “is that this +sort of thing is exactly what Dumbledore was talking +about. You-Know- Who’s only been back two months, +and we’ve started fighting among ourselves. And the +Sorting Hat’s warning was the same — stand +together, be united — ” + +“And Harry said it last night,” retorted Ron, “if that +means we’re supposed to get matey with the +Slytherins, fat chance.” + +“Well, I think it’s a pity we’re not trying for a bit of +inter-House unity,” said Hermione crossly. + +They had reached the foot of the marble staircase. A +line of fourth-year Ravenclaws was crossing the +entrance hall; they caught sight of Harry and hurried +to form a tighter group, as though frightened he +might attack stragglers. + +“Yeah, we really ought to be trying to make friends +with people like that,” said Harry sarcastically. + +They followed the Ravenclaws into the Great Hall, +looking instinctively at the staff table as they entered. +Professor Grubbly-Plank was chatting to Professor + +Page | 284Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher, and Hagrid was once +again conspicuous only by his absence. The +enchanted ceiling above them echoed Harry’s mood; it +was a miserable rain-cloud gray. + +“Dumbledore didn’t even mention how long that +Grubbly-Plank woman’s staying,” he said, as they +made their way across to the Gryffindor table. + +“Maybe ...” said Hermione thoughtfully. + +“What?” said both Harry and Ron together. + +“Well ... maybe he didn’t want to draw attention to +Hagrid not being here.” + +“What d’you mean, draw attention to it?” said Ron, +half laughing. “How could we not notice?” + +Before Hermione could answer, a tall black girl with +long, braided hair had marched up to Harry. + +“Hi, Angelina.” + +“Hi,” she said briskly, “good summer?” And without +waiting for an answer, “Listen, I’ve been made +Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.” + +“Nice one,” said Harry, grinning at her; he suspected +Angelina’s pep talks might not be as long-winded as +Oliver Wood’s had been, which could only be an +improvement. + +“Yeah, well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver’s left. +Tryouts are on Friday at five o’clock and I want the +whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the +new person’ll fit in.” + + + +Page | 285Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Okay,” said Harry, and she smiled at him and +departed. + +“I’d forgotten Wood had left,” said Hermione vaguely, +sitting down beside Ron and pulling a plate of toast +toward her. “I suppose that will make quite a +difference to the team?” + +“I s’pose,” said Harry, taking the bench opposite. “He +was a good Keeper...” + +“Still, it won’t hurt to have some new blood, will it?” +said Ron. + +With a whoosh and a clatter, hundreds of owls came +soaring in through the upper windows. They +descended all over the Hall, bringing letters and +packages to their owners and showering the +breakfasters with droplets of water; it was clearly +raining hard outside. Hedwig was nowhere to be seen, +but Harry was hardly surprised; his only +correspondent was Sirius, and he doubted Sirius +would have anything new to tell him after only +twenty-four hours apart. Hermione, however, had to +move her orange juice aside quickly to make way for a +large damp barn owl bearing a sodden Daily Prophet +in its beak. + +“What are you still getting that for?” said Harry +irritably, thinking of Seamus, as Hermione placed a +Knut in the leather pouch on the owl’s leg and it took +off again. “I’m not bothering ... load of rubbish.” + +“It’s best to know what the enemy are saying,” said +Hermione darkly, and she unfurled the newspaper +and disappeared behind it, not emerging until Harry +and Ron had finished eating. + + + +Page | 286Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Nothing,” she said simply, rolling up the newspaper +and laying it down by her plate. “Nothing about you +or Dumbledore or anything.” + +Professor McGonagall was now moving along the table +handing out schedules. + +“Look at today!” groaned Ron. “History of Magic, +double Potions, Divination, and double Defense +Against the Dark Arts ... Binns, Snape, Trelawney, +and that Umbridge woman all in one day! I wish Fred +and George ’d hurry up and get those Skiving +Snackboxes sorted...” + +“Do mine ears deceive me?” said Fred, arriving with +George and squeezing onto the bench beside Harry. +“Hogwarts prefects surely don’t wish to skive off +lessons?” + +“Look what we’ve got today,” said Ron grumpily, +shoving his schedule under Fred’s nose. “That’s the +worst Monday I’ve ever seen.” + +“Fair point, little bro,” said Fred, scanning the +column. “You can have a bit of Nosebleed Nougat +cheap if you like.” + +“Why’s it cheap?” said Ron suspiciously. + +“Because you’ll keep bleeding till you shrivel up, we +haven’t got an antidote yet,” said George, helping +himself to a kipper. + +“Cheers,” said Ron moodily, pocketing his schedule, +“but I think I’ll take the lessons.” + +“And speaking of your Skiving Snackboxes,” said +Hermione, eyeing Fred and George beadily, “you can’t +advertise for testers on the Gryffindor notice board.” + +Page | 287Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Says who?” said George, looking astonished. + +“Says me,” said Hermione. “And Ron.” + +“Leave me out of it,” said Ron hastily. + +Hermione glared at him. Fred and George sniggered. + +“You’ll be singing a different tune soon enough, +Hermione,” said Fred, thickly buttering a crumpet. +“You’re starting your fifth year, you’ll be begging us +for a Snackbox before long.” + +“And why would starting fifth year mean I want a +Skiving Snackbox?” asked Hermione. + +“Fifth year’s O.W.L. year,” said George. + +“So?” + +“So you’ve got your exams coming up, haven’t you? +They’ll be keeping your noses so hard to that +grindstone they’ll be rubbed raw,” said Fred with +satisfaction. + +“Half our year had minor breakdowns coming up to +O.W.L.s,” said George happily. “Tears and tantrums +... Patricia Stimpson kept coming over faint...” + +“Kenneth Towler came out in boils, d’you remember?” +said Fred reminiscently. + +“That’s ’cause you put Bulbadox Powder in his +pajamas,” said George. + +“Oh yeah,” said Fred, grinning. “I’d forgotten... Hard +to keep track sometimes, isn’t it?” + + + +Page | 288Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Anyway, it’s a nightmare of a year, the fifth,” said +George. “If you care about exam results anyway. Fred +and I managed to keep our spirits up somehow.” + +“Yeah ... you got, what was it, three O.W.L.s each?” +said Ron. + +“Yep,” said Fred unconcernedly. “But we feel our +futures lie outside the world of academic +achievement.” + +“We seriously debated whether we were going to +bother coming back for our seventh year,” said +George brightly, “now that we’ve got — ” + +He broke off at a warning look from Harry, who knew +George had been about to mention the Triwizard +winnings he had given them. + +“ — now that we’ve got our O.W.L.s,” George said +hastily. “I mean, do we really need N.E.W.T.s? But we +didn’t think Mum could take us leaving school early, +not on top of Percy turning out to be the world’s +biggest prat.” + +“We’re not going to waste our last year here, though,” +said Fred, looking affectionately around at the Great +Hall. “We’re going to use it to do a bit of market +research, find out exactly what the average Hogwarts +student requires from his joke shop, carefully +evaluate the results of our research, and then +produce the products to fit the demand.” + +“But where are you going to get the gold to start a +joke shop?” asked Hermione skeptically. “You’re going +to need all the ingredients and materials — and +premises too, I suppose...” + + + +Page | 289Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry did not look at the twins. His face felt hot; he +deliberately dropped his fork and dived down to +retrieve it. He heard Fred say overhead, “Ask us no +questions and well tell you no lies, Hermione. C’mon, +George, if we get there early we might be able to sell a +few Extendable Ears before Herbology.” + +Harry emerged from under the table to see Fred and +George walking away, each carrying a stack of toast. + +“What did that mean?” said Hermione, looking from +Harry to Ron. “ ‘Ask us no questions ...’ Does that +mean they’ve already got some gold to start a joke +shop?” + +“You know, I’ve been wondering about that,” said +Ron, his brow furrowed. “They bought me a new set of +dress robes this summer, and I couldn’t understand +where they got the Galleons...” + +Harry decided it was time to steer the conversation +out of these dangerous waters. + +“D’you reckon it’s true this year’s going to be really +tough? Because of the exams?” + +“Oh yeah,” said Ron. “Bound to be, isn’t it? O.W.L.s +are really important, affect the jobs you can apply for +and everything. We get career advice too, later this +year, Bill told me. So you can choose what N.E.W.T.s +you want to do next year.” + +“D’you know what you want to do after Hogwarts?” +Harry asked the other two, as they left the Great Hall +shortly afterward and set off toward their History of +Magic classroom. + +“Not really,” said Ron slowly. “Except ... well ...” + + + +Page | 290Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He looked slightly sheepish. + + + +“What?” Harry urged him. + +“Well, it’d be cool to be an Auror,” said Ron in an +offhand voice. + +“Yeah, it would,” said Harry fervently. + +“But they’re, like, the elite,” said Ron. “You’ve got to +be really good. What about you, Hermione?” + +“I don’t know,” said Hermione. “I think I’d really like +to do something worthwhile.” + +“An Auror’s worthwhile!” said Harry. + +“Yes, it is, but it’s not the only worthwhile thing,” said +Hermione thoughtfully. “I mean, if I could take +S.P.E.W. further ...” + +Harry and Ron carefully avoided looking at each +other. + +History of Magic was by common consent the most +boring subject ever devised by Wizard-kind. Professor +Binns, their ghost teacher, had a wheezy, droning +voice that was almost guaranteed to cause severe +drowsiness within ten minutes, five in warm weather. +He never varied the form of their lessons, but lectured +them without pausing while they took notes, or +rather, gazed sleepily into space. Harry and Ron had +so far managed to scrape passes in this subject only +by copying Hermione’s notes before exams; she alone +seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns ’s +voice. + +Today they suffered through three quarters of an +hour’s droning on the subject of giant wars. Harry + +Page | 291Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +heard just enough within the first ten minutes to +appreciate dimly that in another teacher’s hands this +subject might have been mildly interesting, but then +his brain disengaged, and he spent the remaining +thirty-five minutes playing hangman on a corner of +his parchment with Ron, while Hermione shot them +filthy looks out of the corner of her eye. + +“How would it be,” she asked them coldly as they left +the classroom for break (Binns drifting away through +the blackboard), “if I refused to lend you my notes +this year?” + +“We’d fail our O.W.L.s,” said Ron. “If you want that on +your conscience, Hermione ...” + +“Well, you’d deserve it,” she snapped. “You don’t even +try to listen to him, do you?” + +“We do try,” said Ron. “We just haven’t got your +brains or your memory or your concentration — +you’re just cleverer than we are — is it nice to rub it +in?” + + + +“Oh, don’t give me that rubbish,” said Hermione, but +she looked slightly mollified as she led the way out +into the damp courtyard. + +A fine misty drizzle was falling, so that the people +standing in huddles around the yard looked blurred +at the edges. Harry, Ron, and Hermione chose a +secluded corner under a heavily dripping balcony, +turning up the collars of their robes against the chilly +September air and talking about what Snape was +likely to set them in the first lesson of the year. They +had got as far as agreeing that it was likely to be +something extremely difficult, just to catch them off +guard after a two-month holiday, when someone +walked around the corner toward them. + +Page | 292Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hello, Harry!” + + + +It was Cho Chang and what was more, she was on +her own again. This was most unusual: Cho was +almost always surrounded by a gang of giggling girls; +Harry remembered the agony of trying to get her by +herself to ask her to the Yule Ball. + +“Hi,” said Harry, feeling his face grow hot. At least +you’re not covered in Stinksap this time, he told +himself. Cho seemed to be thinking along the same +lines. + +“You got that stuff off, then?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, trying to grin as though the +memory of their last meeting was funny as opposed to +mortifying. “So did you ... er ... have a good summer?” + +The moment he had said this he wished he hadn’t: +Cedric had been Cho’s boyfriend and the memory of +his death must have affected her holiday almost as +badly as it had affected Harry’s... Something seemed +to tauten in her face, but she said, “Oh, it was all +right, you know...” + +“Is that a Tornados badge?” Ron demanded suddenly, +pointing at the front of Cho’s robes, to which a sky- +blue badge emblazoned with a double gold T was +pinned. “You don’t support them, do you?” + +“Yeah, I do,” said Cho. + +“Have you always supported them, or just since they +started winning the league?” said Ron, in what Harry +considered an unnecessarily accusatory tone of voice. + +“I’ve supported them since I was six,” said Cho coolly. +“Anyway ... see you, Harry.” + +Page | 293Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She walked away. Hermione waited until Cho was +halfway across the courtyard before rounding on Ron. + + + +“You are so tactless!” + +“What? I only asked her if — ” + +“Couldn’t you tell she wanted to talk to Harry on her +own?” + +“So? She could’ve done, I wasn’t stopping — ” + +“What on earth were you attacking her about her +Quidditch team for?” + +“Attacking? I wasn’t attacking her, I was only — ” + +“Who cares if she supports the Tornados?” + +“Oh, come on, half the people you see wearing those +badges only bought them last season — ” + +“But what does it matter?” + +“It means they’re not real fans, they’re just jumping +on the bandwagon — ” + +“That’s the bell,” said Harry listlessly, because Ron +and Hermione were bickering too loudly to hear it. +They did not stop arguing all the way down to Snape’s +dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect +that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever +to have two minutes’ conversation with Cho that he +could look back on without wanting to leave the +country. + +And yet, he thought, as they joined the queue lining +up outside Snape’s classroom door, she had chosen +to come and talk to him, hadn’t she? She had been + +Page | 294Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Cedric’s girlfriend; she could easily have hated Harry +for coming out of the Triwizard maze alive when +Cedric had died, yet she was talking to him in a +perfectly friendly way, not as though she thought him +mad, or a liar, or in some horrible way responsible for +Cedric’s death... Yes, she had definitely chosen to +come and talk to him, and that made the second time +in two days . . . and at this thought, Harry’s spirits +rose. Even the ominous sound of Snape’s dungeon +door creaking open did not puncture the small, +hopeful bubble that seemed to have swelled in his +chest. He filed into the classroom behind Ron and +Hermione and followed them to their usual table at +the back, ignoring the huffy, irritable noises now +issuing from both of them. + +“Settle down,” said Snape coldly, shutting the door +behind him. + +There was no real need for the call to order; the +moment the class had heard the door close, quiet had +fallen and all fidgeting stopped. Snape’s mere +presence was usually enough to ensure a class’s +silence. + +“Before we begin today’s lesson,” said Snape, +sweeping over to his desk and staring around at them +all, “I think it appropriate to remind you that next +June you will be sitting an important examination, +during which you will prove how much you have +learned about the composition and use of magical +potions. Moronic though some of this class +undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an +‘Acceptable’ in your O.W.L., or suffer my ... +displeasure.” + +His gaze lingered this time upon Neville, who gulped. + + + +Page | 295Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“After this year, of course, many of you will cease +studying with me,” Snape went on. “I take only the +very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class, which +means that some of us will certainly be saying good- +bye.” + +His eyes rested on Harry and his lip curled. Harry +glared back, feeling a grim pleasure at the idea that +he would be able to give up Potions after fifth year. + +“But we have another year to go before that happy +moment of farewell,” said Snape softly, “so whether +you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T. or not, I advise +all of you to concentrate your efforts upon +maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect +from my O.W.L. students. + +“Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up +at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a +potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be +warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the +ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and +sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay +close attention to what you are doing.” On Harry’s +left, Hermione sat up a little straighter, her +expression one of the utmost attentiveness. “The +ingredients and method” — Snape flicked his wand — +“are on the blackboard” — (they appeared there) — +“you will find everything you need” — he flicked his +wand again — “in the store cupboard” — (the door of +the said cupboard sprang open) — “you have an hour +and a half... Start.” + +Just as Harry, Ron, and Hermione had predicted, +Snape could hardly have set them a more difficult, +fiddly potion. The ingredients had to be added to the +cauldron in precisely the right order and quantities; +the mixture had to be stirred exactly the right number +of times, firstly in clockwise, then in counterclockwise +Page | 296Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +directions; the heat of the flames on which it was +simmering had to be lowered to exactly the right level +for a specific number of minutes before the final +ingredient was added. + +“A light silver vapor should now be rising from your +potion,” called Snape, with ten minutes left to go. + +Harry, who was sweating profusely, looked +desperately around the dungeon. His own cauldron +was issuing copious amounts of dark gray steam; +Ron’s was spitting green sparks. Seamus was +feverishly prodding the flames at the base of his +cauldron with the tip of his wand, as they had gone +out. The surface of Hermione’s potion, however, was a +shimmering mist of silver vapor, and as Snape swept +by he looked down his hooked nose at it without +comment, which meant that he could find nothing to +criticize. At Harry’s cauldron, however, Snape +stopped, looking down at Harry with a horrible smirk +on his face. + +“Potter, what is this supposed to be?” + +The Slytherins at the front of the class all looked up +eagerly; they loved hearing Snape taunt Harry. + +“The Draught of Peace,” said Harry tensely. + +“Tell me, Potter,” said Snape softly, “can you read?” + +Draco Malfoy laughed. + +“Yes, I can,” said Harry, his fingers clenched tightly +around his wand. + +“Read the third line of the instructions for me, Potter.” + + + +Page | 297Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry squinted at the blackboard; it was not easy to +make out the instructions through the haze of +multicolored steam now filling the dungeon. + +“ ‘Add powdered moonstone, stir three times +counterclockwise, allow to simmer for seven minutes, +then add two drops of syrup of hellebore.’ ” + +His heart sank. He had not added syrup of hellebore, +but had proceeded straight to the fourth line of the +instructions after allowing his potion to simmer for +seven minutes. + +“Did you do everything on the third line, Potter?” + +“No,” said Harry very quietly. + +“I beg your pardon?” + +“No,” said Harry, more loudly. “I forgot the +hellebore...” + +“I know you did, Potter, which means that this mess +is utterly worthless. Evanesco.” + +The contents of Harry’s potion vanished; he was left +standing foolishly beside an empty cauldron. + +“Those of you who have managed to read the +instructions, fill one flagon with a sample of your +potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it up +to my desk for testing,” said Snape. “Homework: +twelve inches of parchment on the properties of +moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be +handed in on Thursday.” + +While everyone around him filled their flagons, Harry +cleared away his things, seething. His potion had +been no worse than Ron’s, which was now giving off a + +Page | 298Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +foul odor of bad eggs, or Neville’s, which had achieved +the consistency of just-mixed cement and which +Neville was now having to gouge out of his cauldron, +yet it was he, Harry, who would be receiving zero +marks for the day’s work. He stuffed his wand back +into his bag and slumped down onto his seat, +watching everyone else march up to Snape’s desk +with filled and corked flagons. When at long last the +bell rang, Harry was first out of the dungeon and had +already started his lunch by the time Ron and +Hermione joined him in the Great Hall. The ceiling +had turned an even murkier gray during the morning. +Rain was lashing the high windows. + +“That was really unfair,” said Hermione consolingly, +sitting down next to Harry and helping herself to +shepherd’s pie. “Your potion wasn’t nearly as bad as +Goyle’s, when he put it in his flagon the whole thing +shattered and set his robes on fire.” + +“Yeah, well,” said Harry, glowering at his plate, “since +when has Snape ever been fair to me?” + +Neither of the others answered; all three of them +knew that Snape and Harry’s mutual enmity had +been absolute from the moment Harry had set foot in +Hogwarts. + +“I did think he might be a bit better this year,” said +Hermione in a disappointed voice. “I mean ... you +know ...” She looked carefully around; there were half +a dozen empty seats on either side of them and +nobody was passing the table. "... Now he’s in the +Order and everything.” + +“Poisonous toadstools don’t change their spots,” said +Ron sagely. “Anyway, I’ve always thought Dumbledore +was cracked trusting Snape, where’s the evidence he +ever really stopped working for You-Know-Who?” + +Page | 299Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I think Dumbledore’s probably got plenty of evidence, +even if he doesn’t share it with you, Ron,” snapped +Hermione. + +“Oh, shut up, the pair of you,” said Harry heavily, as +Ron opened his mouth to argue back. Hermione and +Ron both froze, looking angry and offended. “Can’t +you give it a rest?” he said. “You’re always having a go +at each other, it’s driving me mad.” And abandoning +his shepherd’s pie, he swung his schoolbag back over +his shoulder and left them sitting there. + +He walked up the marble staircase two steps at a +time, past the many students hurrying toward lunch. +The anger that had just flared so unexpectedly still +blazed inside him, and the vision of Ron and +Hermione ’s shocked faces afforded him a sense of +deep satisfaction. Serve them right, he thought. Why +can’t they give it a rest? ... Bickering all the time ... It’s +enough to drive anyone up the wall. . . + +He passed the large picture of Sir Cadogan the knight +on a landing; Sir Cadogan drew his sword and +brandished it fiercely at Harry, who ignored him. + +“Come back, you scurvy dog, stand fast and fight!” +yelled Sir Cadogan in a muffled voice from behind his +visor, but Harry merely walked on, and when Sir +Cadogan attempted to follow him by running into a +neighboring picture, he was rebuffed by its +inhabitant, a large and angry-looking wolfhound. + +Harry spent the rest of the lunch hour sitting alone +underneath the trapdoor at the top of North Tower, +and consequently he was the first to ascend the silver +ladder that led to Sibyll Trelawney’s classroom when +the bell rang. + + + +Page | 300Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Divination was Harry’s least favorite class after +Potions, which was due mainly to Professor +Trelawney’s habit of predicting his premature death +every few lessons. A thin woman, heavily draped in +shawls and glittering with strings of beads, she +always reminded Harry of some kind of insect, with +her glasses hugely magnifying her eyes. She was busy +putting copies of battered, leather-bound books on +each of the spindly little tables with which her room +was littered when Harry entered the room, but so dim +was the light cast by the lamps covered by scarves +and the low-burning, sickly-scented fire that she +appeared not to notice him as he took a seat in the +shadows. The rest of the class arrived over the next +five minutes. Ron emerged from the trapdoor, looked +around carefully, spotted Harry and made directly for +him, or as directly as he could while having to wend +his way between tables, chairs, and overstuffed poufs. + +“Hermione and me have stopped arguing,” he said, +sitting down beside Harry. + +“Good,” grunted Harry. + +“But Hermione says she thinks it would be nice if you +stopped taking out your temper on us,” said Ron. + +“I’m not — ” + +“I’m just passing on the message,” said Ron, talking +over him. “But I reckon she’s right. It’s not our fault +how Seamus and Snape treat you.” + +“I never said it — ” + +“Good day,” said Professor Trelawney in her usual +misty, dreamy voice, and Harry broke off, feeling both +annoyed and slightly ashamed of himself again. “And +welcome back to Divination. I have, of course, been + +Page | 301Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +following your fortunes most carefully over the +holidays, and am delighted to see that you have all +returned to Hogwarts safely — as, of course, I knew +you would. + +“You will find on the tables before you copies of The +Dream Oracle, by Inigo Imago. Dream interpretation is +a most important means of divining the future and +one that may very probably be tested in your O.W.L. +Not, of course, that I believe examination passes or +failures are of the remotest importance when it comes +to the sacred art of divination. If you have the Seeing +Eye, certificates and grades matter very little. + +However, the headmaster likes you to sit the +examination, so ...” + +Her voice trailed away delicately, leaving them all in +no doubt that Professor Trelawney considered her +subject above such sordid matters as examinations. + +“Turn, please, to the introduction and read what +Imago has to say on the matter of dream +interpretation. Then divide into pairs. Use The Dream +Oracle to interpret each other’s most recent dreams. +Carry on.” + +The one good thing to be said for this lesson was that +it was not a double period. By the time they had all +finished reading the introduction of the book, they +had barely ten minutes left for dream interpretation. +At the table next to Harry and Ron, Dean had paired +up with Neville, who immediately embarked on a long- +winded explanation of a nightmare involving a pair of +giant scissors wearing his grandmother’s best hat; +Harry and Ron merely looked at each other glumly. + +“I never remember my dreams,” said Ron. “You say +one.” + + + +Page | 302Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You must remember one of them,” said Harry +impatiently. + +He was not going to share his dreams with anyone. + +He knew perfectly well what his regular nightmare +about a graveyard meant, he did not need Ron or +Professor Trelawney or the stupid Dream Oracle to tell +him that... + +“Well, I had one that I was playing Quidditch the +other night,” said Ron, screwing up his face in an +effort to remember. “What d’you reckon that means?” + +“Probably that you’re going to be eaten by a giant +marshmallow or something,” said Harry, turning the +pages of The Dream Oracle without interest. + +It was very dull work looking up bits of dreams in the +Oracle and Harry was not cheered up when Professor +Trelawney set them the task of keeping a dream diary +for a month as homework. When the bell went, he +and Ron led the way back down the ladder, Ron +grumbling loudly. + +“D’you realize how much homework we’ve got +already? Binns set us a foot-and-a-half-long essay on +giant wars, Snape wants a foot on the use of +moonstones, and now we’ve got a month’s dream +diary from Trelawney! Fred and George weren’t wrong +about O.W.L. year, were they? That Umbridge woman +had better not give us any...” + +When they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts +classroom they found Professor Umbridge already +seated at the teacher’s desk, wearing the fluffy pink +cardigan of the night before and the black velvet bow +on top of her head. Harry was again reminded forcibly +of a large fly perched unwisely on top of an even +larger toad. + +Page | 303Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The class was quiet as it entered the room; Professor +Umbridge was, as yet, an unknown quantity and +nobody knew yet how strict a disciplinarian she was +likely to be. + +“Well, good afternoon!” she said when finally the +whole class had sat down. + +A few people mumbled “Good afternoon,” in reply. + +“Tut, tut,” said Professor Umbridge. “That won’t do, +now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply ‘Good +afternoon, Professor Umbridge.’ One more time, +please. Good afternoon, class!” + +“Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,” they chanted +back at her. + +“There, now,” said Professor Umbridge sweetly. “That +wasn’t too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills +out, please.” + +Many of the class exchanged gloomy looks; the order +“wands away” had never yet been followed by a lesson +they had found interesting. Harry shoved his wand +back inside his bag and pulled out quill, ink, and +parchment. Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, +extracted her own wand, which was an unusually +short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; +words appeared on the board at once: + +Defense Against the Dark Arts + +A Return to Basic Principles. + +“Well now, your teaching in this subject has been +rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn’t it?” stated +Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her +hands clasped neatly in front of her. “The constant + +Page | 304Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to +have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has +unfortunately resulted in your being far below the +standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. + +“You will be pleased to know, however, that these +problems are now to be rectified. We will be following +a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry- +approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy +down the following, please.” + +She rapped the blackboard again; the first message +vanished and was replaced by: + +Course aims: + +1. Understanding the principles underlying +defensive magic. + +2. Learning to recognize situations in which +defensive magic can legally be used. + +3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context +for practical use. + +For a couple of minutes the room was full of the +sound of scratching quills on parchment. When +everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge’s three +course aims she said, “Has everybody got a copy of +Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?” + +There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the +class. + +“I think well try that again,” said Professor Umbridge. +“When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply +‘Yes, Professor Umbridge,’ or ‘No, Professor +Umbridge.’ So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive +Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?” + +Page | 305Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, Professor Umbridge,” rang through the room. + + + +“Good,” said Professor Umbridge. “I should like you to +turn to page five and read chapter one, ‘Basics for +Beginners.’ There will be no need to talk.” + +Professor Umbridge left the blackboard and settled +herself in the chair behind the teacher’s desk, +observing them all with those pouchy toad’s eyes. +Harry turned to page five of his copy of Defensive +Magical Theory and started to read. + +It was desperately dull, quite as bad as listening to +Professor Binns. He felt his concentration sliding +away from him; he had soon read the same line half a +dozen times without taking in more than the first few +words. Several silent minutes passed. Next to him, + +Ron was absent-mindedly turning his quill over and +over in his fingers, staring at the same spot on the +page. Harry looked right and received a surprise to +shake him out of his torpor. Hermione had not even +opened her copy of Defensive Magical Theory. She was +staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand +in the air. + +Harry could not remember Hermione ever neglecting +to read when instructed to, or indeed resisting the +temptation to open any book that came under her +nose. He looked at her questioningly, but she merely +shook her head slightly to indicate that she was not +about to answer questions, and continued to stare at +Professor Umbridge, who was looking just as +resolutely in another direction. + +After several more minutes had passed, however, +Harry was not the only one watching Hermione. The +chapter they had been instructed to read was so +tedious that more and more people were choosing to +watch Hermione’s mute attempt to catch Professor +Page | 306Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Umbridge’s eye than to struggle on with “Basics for +Beginners.” + +When more than half the class were staring at +Hermione rather than at their books, Professor +Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the +situation no longer. + +“Did you want to ask something about the chapter, +dear?” she asked Hermione, as though she had only +just noticed her. + +“Not about the chapter, no,” said Hermione. + +“Well, we’re reading just now,” said Professor +Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. “If you +have other queries we can deal with them at the end +of class.” + +“I’ve got a query about your course aims,” said +Hermione. + +Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows. + +“And your name is — ?” + +“Hermione Granger,” said Hermione. + +“Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are +perfectly clear if you read them through carefully,” +said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined +sweetness. + +“Well, I don’t,” said Hermione bluntly. “There’s +nothing written up there about using defensive +spells.” + + + +Page | 307Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was a short silence in which many members of +the class turned their heads to frown at the three +course aims still written on the blackboard. + +“ Using defensive spells?” Professor Umbridge repeated +with a little laugh. “Why, I can’t imagine any situation +arising in my classroom that would require you to use +a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren’t +expecting to be attacked during class?” + +“We’re not going to use magic?” Ron ejaculated loudly. + +“Students raise their hands when they wish to speak +in my class, Mr. — ?” + +“Weasley,” said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air. + +Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned +her back on him. Harry and Hermione immediately +raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge’s pouchy +eyes lingered on Harry for a moment before she +addressed Hermione. + +“Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something +else?” + +“Yes,” said Hermione. “Surely the whole point of +Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive +spells?” + +“Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss +Granger?” asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely +sweet voice. + +“No, but — ” + +“Well then, I’m afraid you are not qualified to decide +what the Svhole point’ of any class is. Wizards much +older and cleverer than you have devised our new + +Page | 308Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +program of study. You will be learning about +defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way — ” + +“What use is that?” said Harry loudly. “If we’re going +to be attacked it won’t be in a — ” + +“Hand, Mr. Potter!” sang Professor Umbridge. + +Harry thrust his fist in the air. Professor Umbridge +promptly turned away from him again, but now +several other people had their hands up too. + +“And your name is?” Professor Umbridge said to +Dean. + +“Dean Thomas.” + +“Well, Mr. Thomas?” + +“Well, it’s like Harry said, isn’t it?” said Dean. “If we’re +going to be attacked, it won’t be risk-free — ” + +“I repeat,” said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very +irritating fashion at Dean, “do you expect to be +attacked during my classes?” + +“No, but — ” + +Professor Umbridge talked over him. + +“I do not wish to criticize the way things have been +run in this school,” she said, an unconvincing smile +stretching her wide mouth, “but you have been +exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this +class, very irresponsible indeed — not to mention,” +she gave a nasty little laugh, “extremely dangerous +half-breeds.” + + + +Page | 309Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“If you mean Professor Lupin,” piped up Dean +Thomas angrily, “he was the best we ever — ” + +“Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying — you have been +introduced to spells that have been complex, +inappropriate to your age group, and potentially +lethal. You have been frightened into believing that +you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day — + + + +“No we haven’t,” Hermione said, “we just — ” + +“Your hand is not up, Miss Grangeii” + +Hermione put up her hand; Professor Umbridge +turned away from her. + +“It is my understanding that my predecessor not only +performed illegal curses in front of you, he actually +performed them on you — ” + +“Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn’t he?” said +Dean Thomas hotly. “Mind you, we still learned loads + + + +“Your hand is not up, Mr. ThomasY trilled Professor +Umbridge. “Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a +theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to +get you through your examination, which, after all, is +what school is all about. And your name is?” she +added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot +up. + +“Parvati Patil, and isn’t there a practical bit in our +Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren’t we +supposed to show that we can actually do the +countercurses and things?” + + + +Page | 310Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, +there is no reason why you should not be able to +perform the spells under carefully controlled +examination conditions,” said Professor Umbridge +dismissively. + +“Without ever practicing them before?” said Parvati +incredulously. “Are you telling us that the first time +we’ll get to do the spells will be during our exam?” + +“I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard +enough — ” + +“And what good’s theory going to be in the real +world?” said Harry loudly, his fist in the air again. + +Professor Umbridge looked up. + +“This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world,” she +said softly. + +“So we’re not supposed to be prepared for what’s +waiting out there?” + +“There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter.” + +“Oh yeah?” said Harry. His temper, which seemed to +have been bubbling just beneath the surface all day, +was reaching boiling point. + +“Who do you imagine wants to attack children like +yourselves?” inquired Professor Umbridge in a +horribly honeyed voice. + +“Hmm, let’s think ...” said Harry in a mock thoughtful +voice, “maybe Lord Voldemort?” + +Ron gasped; Lavender Brown uttered a little scream; +Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor + +Page | 311Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at +Harry with a grimly satisfied expression on her face. + + + +“Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter.” + +The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was +staring at either Umbridge or Harry. + +“Now, let me make a few things quite plain.” + +Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward +them, her stubby-fingered hands splayed on her desk. + +“You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has +returned from the dead — ” + +“He wasn’t dead,” said Harry angrily, “but yeah, he’s +returned!” + +“Mr.-Potter-you-have-already-lost-your-House-ten- +points-do-not-make-matters-worse-for-yourself,” said +Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at +him. “As I was saying, you have been informed that a +certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a +lie.” + +“It is NOT a lie!” said Harry. “I saw him, I fought him!” + +“Detention, Mr. Potter!” said Professor Umbridge +triumphantly. “Tomorrow evening. Five o’clock. My +office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic +guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark +wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and +see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming +you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like +to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. +And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page +five, ‘Basics for Beginners.’ ” + +Page | 312Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk again. +Harry, however, stood up. Everyone was staring at +him; Seamus looked half-scared, half-fascinated. + +“Harry, no!” Hermione whispered in a warning voice, +tugging at his sleeve, but Harry jerked his arm out of +her reach. + +“So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of +his own accord, did he?” Harry asked, his voice +shaking. + +There was a collective intake of breath from the class, +for none of them, apart from Ron and Hermione, had +ever heard Harry talk about what had happened on +the night that Cedric had died. They stared avidly +from Harry to Professor Umbridge, who had raised +her eyes and was staring at him without a trace of a +fake smile on her face. + +“Cedric Diggory’s death was a tragic accident,” she +said coldly. + +“It was murder,” said Harry. He could feel himself +shaking. He had hardly talked to anyone about this, +least of all thirty eagerly listening classmates. +“Voldemort killed him, and you know it.” + +Professor Umbridge’s face was quite blank. For a +moment he thought she was going to scream at him. +Then she said, in her softest, most sweetly girlish +voice, “Come here, Mr. Potter, dear.” + +He kicked his chair aside, strode around Ron and +Hermione and up to the teacher’s desk. He could feel +the rest of the class holding its breath. He felt so +angry he did not care what happened next. + + + +Page | 313Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink +parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out on the +desk, dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, and started +scribbling, hunched over so that Harry could not see +what she was writing. Nobody spoke. After a minute +or so she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with +her wand; it sealed itself seamlessly so that he could +not open it. + +“Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear,” said +Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to him. + +He took it from her without saying a word and left the +room, not even looking back at Ron and Hermione, +and slamming the classroom door shut behind him. +He walked very fast along the corridor, the note to +McGonagall clutched tight in his hand, and turning a +corner walked slap into Peeves the Poltergeist, a wide- +faced little man floating on his back in midair, +juggling several inkwells. + +“Why, it’s Potty Wee Potter!” cackled Peeves, allowing +two of the inkwells to fall to the ground where they +smashed and spattered the walls with ink; Harry +jumped backward out of the way with a snarl. + +“Get out of it, Peeves.” + +“Oooh, Crackpot’s feeling cranky,” said Peeves, +pursuing Harry along the corridor, leering as he +zoomed along above him. “What is it this time, my +fine Potty friend? Hearing voices? Seeing visions? +Speaking in” — Peeves blew a gigantic raspberry — +“tongues?” + +“I said, leave me ALONE!” Harry shouted, running +down the nearest flight of stairs, but Peeves merely +slid down the banister on his back beside him. + + + +Page | 314Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh, most think he’s barking, the Potty wee lad, + +But some are more kindly and think he’s just sad, + +But Peevesy knows better and says that he’s mad — ” +“SHUT UP!” + +A door to his left flew open and Professor McGonagall +emerged from her office looking grim and slightly +harassed. + +“What on earth are you shouting about, Potter?” she +snapped, as Peeves cackled gleefully and zoomed out +of sight. “Why aren’t you in class?” + +“I’ve been sent to see you,” said Harry stiffly. + +“Sent? What do you mean, sent?” + +He held out the note from Professor Umbridge. +Professor McGonagall took it from him, frowning, slit +it open with a tap of her wand, stretched it out, and +began to read. Her eyes zoomed from side to side +behind their square spectacles as she read what +Umbridge had written, and with each line they +became narrower. + +“Come in here, Potter.” + +He followed her inside her study. The door closed +automatically behind him. + +“Well?” said Professor McGonagall, rounding on him. +“Is this true?” + +“Is what true?” Harry asked, rather more aggressively +than he had intended. “Professor?” he added in an +attempt to sound more polite. + +Page | 315Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?” +“Yes,” said Harry. + +“You called her a liar?” + +“Yes.” + +“You told her He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back?” +“Yes.” + +Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk, +frowning at Harry. Then she said, “Have a biscuit, +Potter.” + +“Have — what?” + +“Have a biscuit,” she repeated impatiently, indicating +a tartan tin of cookies lying on top of one of the piles +of papers on her desk. “And sit down.” + +There had been a previous occasion when Harry, +expecting to be caned by Professor McGonagall, had +instead been appointed by her to the Gryffindor +Quidditch team. He sank into a chair opposite her +and helped himself to a Ginger Newt, feeling just as +confused and wrong-footed as he had done on that +occasion. + +Professor McGonagall set down Professor Umbridge’s +note and looked very seriously at Harry. + +“Potter, you need to be careful.” + +Harry swallowed his mouthful of Ginger Newt and +stared at her. Her tone of voice was not at all what he +was used to; it was not brisk, crisp, and stern; it was + + + +Page | 316Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +low and anxious and somehow much more human +than usual. + +“Misbehavior in Dolores Umbridge’s class could cost +you much more than House points and a detention.” + +“What do you — ?” + +“Potter, use your common sense,” snapped Professor +McGonagall, with an abrupt return to her usual +manner. “You know where she comes from, you must +know to whom she is reporting.” + +The bell rang for the end of the lesson. Overhead and +all around came the elephantine sounds of hundreds +of students on the move. + +“It says here she’s given you detention every evening +this week, starting tomorrow,” Professor McGonagall +said, looking down at Umbridge’s note again. + +“Every evening this week!” Harry repeated, horrified. +“But, Professor, couldn’t you — ?” + +“No, I couldn’t,” said Professor McGonagall flatly. + +“But — ” + +“She is your teacher and has every right to give you +detention. You will go to her room at five o’clock +tomorrow for the first one. Just remember: Tread +carefully around Dolores Umbridge.” + +“But I was telling the truth!” said Harry, outraged. +“Voldemort’s back, you know he is, Professor +Dumbledore knows he is — ” + +“For heaven’s sake, Potter!” said Professor +McGonagall, straightening her glasses angrily (she + +Page | 317Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +had winced horribly when he had used Voldemort’s +name). “Do you really think this is about truth or +lies? It’s about keeping your head down and your +temper under control!” + +She stood up, nostrils wide and mouth very thin, and +he stood too. + +“Have another biscuit,” she said irritably, thrusting +the tin at him. + +“No, thanks,” said Harry coldly. + +“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. + +He took one. + +“Thanks,” he said grudgingly. + +“Didn’t you listen to Dolores Umbridge’s speech at the +start-of-term feast, Potter?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “Yeah ... she said ... progress will +be prohibited or ... well, it meant that ... that the +Ministry of Magic is trying to interfere at Hogwarts.” + +Professor McGonagall eyed him for a moment, then +sniffed, walked around her desk, and held open the +door for him. + +“Well, I’m glad you listen to Hermione Granger at any +rate,” she said, pointing him out of her office. + + + +Page | 318Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +DETENTION WITH DOLORES + +Dinner in the Great Hall that night was not a pleasant +experience for Harry. The news about his shouting +match with Umbridge seemed to have traveled +exceptionally fast even by Hogwarts standards. He +heard whispers all around him as he sat eating +between Ron and Hermione. The funny thing was that +none of the whisperers seemed to mind him +overhearing what they were saying about him — on +the contrary, it was as though they were hoping he +would get angry and start shouting again, so that +they could hear his story firsthand. + +“He says he saw Cedric Diggory murdered...” + +“He reckons he dueled with You-Know-Who...” + +“Come off it...” + +“Who does he think he’s kidding?” + +“Pur - lease ...” + + + +Page | 319Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“What I don’t get,” said Harry in a shaking voice, +laying down his knife and fork (his hands were +trembling too much to hold them steady), “is why they +all believed the story two months ago when +Dumbledore told them...” + +“The thing is, Harry, I’m not sure they did,” said +Hermione grimly. “Oh, let’s get out of here.” + +She slammed down her own knife and fork; Ron +looked sadly at his half-finished apple pie but +followed suit. People stared at them all the way out of +the Hall. + +“What d’you mean, you’re not sure they believed +Dumbledore?” Harry asked Hermione when they +reached the first-floor landing. + +“Look, you don’t understand what it was like after it +happened,” said Hermione quietly. “You arrived back +in the middle of the lawn clutching Cedric’s dead +body... None of us saw what happened in the maze... +We just had Dumbledore’s word for it that You-Know- +Who had come back and killed Cedric and fought +you.” + +“Which is the truth!” said Harry loudly. + +“I know it is, Harry, so will you please stop biting my +head off?” said Hermione wearily. “It’s just that before +the truth could sink in, everyone went home for the +summer, where they spent two months reading about +how you’re a nutcase and Dumbledore’s going senile!” + +Rain pounded on the windowpanes as they strode +along the empty corridors back to Gryffindor Tower. +Harry felt as though his first day had lasted a week, +but he still had a mountain of homework to do before +bed. A dull pounding pain was developing over his +Page | 320Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +right eye. He glanced out of a rain-washed window at +the dark grounds as they turned into the Fat Lady’s +corridor. There was still no light in Hagrid’s cabin. + +“Mimbulus mimbletonia,” said Hermione, before the +Fat Lady could ask. The portrait swung open to reveal +the hole behind and the three of them scrambled +back through it. + +The common room was almost empty; nearly everyone +was still down at dinner. Crookshanks uncoiled +himself from an armchair and trotted to meet them, +purring loudly, and when Harry, Ron, and Hermione +took their three favorite chairs at the fireside he leapt +lightly into Hermione ’s lap and curled up there like a +furry ginger cushion. Harry gazed into the flames, +feeling drained and exhausted. + +“How can Dumbledore have let this happen?” +Hermione cried suddenly, making Harry and Ron +jump; Crookshanks leapt off her, looking affronted. +She pounded the arms of her chair in fury, so that +bits of stuffing leaked out of the holes. “How can he +let that terrible woman teach us? And in our O.W.L. +year too!” + +“Well, we’ve never had great Defense Against the Dark +Arts teachers, have we?” said Harry. “You know what +it’s like, Hagrid told us, nobody wants the job, they +say it’s jinxed.” + +“Yes, but to employ someone who’s actually refusing +to let us do magic! What’s Dumbledore playing at?” + +“And she’s trying to get people to spy for her,” said +Ron darkly. “Remember when she said she wanted us +to come and tell her if we hear anyone saying You- +Know- Who’s back?” + + + +Page | 321Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Of course she’s here to spy on us all, that’s obvious, +why else would Fudge have wanted her to come?” +snapped Hermione. + +“Don’t start arguing again,” said Harry wearily, as +Ron opened his mouth to retaliate. “Can’t we just ... +Let’s just do that homework, get it out of the way...” + +They collected their schoolbags from a corner and +returned to the chairs by the fire. People were coming +back from dinner now. Harry kept his face averted +from the portrait hole, but could still sense the stares +he was attracting. + +“Shall we do Snape’s stuff first?” said Ron, dipping +his quill into his ink. “ ‘The properties ...of moonstone +... and its uses ...in potion-making ...’ ” he muttered, +writing the words across the top of his parchment as +he spoke them. “There.” He underlined the title, then +looked up expectantly at Hermione. + +“So what are the properties of moonstone and its uses +in potion-making?” + +But Hermione was not listening; she was squinting +over into the far corner of the room, where Fred, +George, and Lee Jordan were now sitting at the center +of a knot of innocent-looking first years, all of whom +were chewing something that seemed to have come +out of a large paper bag that Fred was holding. + +“No, I’m sorry, they’ve gone too far,” she said, +standing up and looking positively furious. “Come on, +Ron.” + +“I — what?” said Ron, plainly playing for time. “No — +come on, Hermione — we can’t tell them off for giving +out sweets...” + + + +Page | 322Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You know perfectly well that those are bits of +Nosebleed Nougat or — or Puking Pastilles or — ” + +“Fainting Fancies?” Harry suggested quietly. + +One by one, as though hit over the heads with +invisible mallets, the first years were slumping +unconscious in their seats; some slid right onto the +floor, others merely hung over the arms of their +chairs, their tongues lolling out. Most of the people +watching were laughing; Hermione, however, squared +her shoulders and marched directly over to where +Fred and George now stood with clipboards, closely +observing the unconscious first years. Ron rose +halfway out of his chair, hovered uncertainly for a +moment or two, then muttered to Harry, “She’s got it +under control,” before sinking as low in his chair as +his lanky frame permitted. + +“That’s enough!” Hermione said forcefully to Fred and +George, both of whom looked up in mild surprise. + +“Yeah, you’re right,” said George, nodding, “this +dosage looks strong enough, doesn’t it?” + +“I told you this morning, you can’t test your rubbish +on students!” + +“We’re paying them!” said Fred indignantly. + +“I don’t care, it could be dangerous!” + +“Rubbish,” said Fred. + +“Calm down, Hermione, they’re fine!” said Lee +reassuringly as he walked from first year to first year, +inserting purple sweets into their open mouths. + +“Yeah, look, they’re coming round now,” said George. + +Page | 323Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +A few of the first years were indeed stirring. Several +looked so shocked to find themselves lying on the +floor, or dangling off their chairs, that Harry was sure +Fred and George had not warned them what the +sweets were going to do. + +“Feel all right?” said George kindly to a small dark- +haired girl lying at his feet. + +“I-I think so,” she said shakily. + +“Excellent,” said Fred happily, but the next second +Hermione had snatched both his clipboard and the +paper bag of Fainting Fancies from his hands. + +“It is NOT excellent!” + +“ ’Course it is, they’re alive, aren’t they?” said Fred +angrily. + +“You can’t do this, what if you made one of them +really ill?” + +“We’re not going to make them ill, we’ve already tested +them all on ourselves, this is just to see if everyone +reacts the same — ” + +“If you don’t stop doing it, I’m going to — ” + +“Put us in detention?” said Fred in an I’d-like-to-see- +you-try-it voice. + +“Make us write lines?” said George, smirking. + +Onlookers all over the room were laughing. Hermione +drew herself up to her full height; her eyes were +narrowed and her bushy hair seemed to crackle with +electricity. + + + +Page | 324Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” she said, her voice quivering with anger, “but I +will write to your mother.” + + + +“You wouldn’t,” said George, horrified, taking a step +back from her. + +“Oh, yes, I would,” said Hermione grimly. “I can’t stop +you eating the stupid things yourselves, but you’re +not giving them to first years.” + +Fred and George looked thunderstruck. It was clear +that as far as they were concerned, Hermione ’s threat +was way below the belt. With a last threatening look +at them, she thrust Fred’s clipboard and the bag of +Fancies back into his arms and stalked back to her +chair by the fire. + +Ron was now so low in his seat that his nose was +roughly level with his knees. + +“Thank you for your support, Ron,” Hermione said +acidly. + +“You handled it fine by yourself,” Ron mumbled. + +Hermione stared down at her blank piece of +parchment for a few seconds, then said edgily, “Oh, +it’s no good, I can’t concentrate now. I’m going to +bed.” + +She wrenched her bag open; Harry thought she was +about to put her books away, but instead she pulled +out two misshapen woolly objects, placed them +carefully on a table by the fireplace, covered them +with a few screwed-up bits of parchment and a +broken quill, and stood back to admire the effect. + +“What in the name of Merlin are you doing?” said +Ron, watching her as though fearful for her sanity. + +Page | 325Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“They’re hats for house-elves,” she said briskly, now +stuffing her books back into her bag. “I did them over +the summer. I’m a really slow knitter without magic, +but now I’m back at school I should be able to make +lots more.” + +“You’re leaving out hats for the house-elves?” said +Ron slowly. “And you’re covering them up with +rubbish first?” + +“Yes,” said Hermione defiantly, swinging her bag onto +her back. + +“That’s not on,” said Ron angrily. “You’re trying to +trick them into picking up the hats. You’re setting +them free when they might not want to be free.” + +“Of course they want to be free!” said Hermione at +once, though her face was turning pink. “Don’t you +dare touch those hats, Ron!” + +She left. Ron waited until she had disappeared +through the door to the girls’ dormitories, then +cleared the rubbish off the woolly hats. + +“They should at least see what they’re picking up,” he +said firmly. “Anyway ...” He rolled up the parchment +on which he had written the title of Snape’s essay. +“There’s no point trying to finish this now, I can’t do it +without Hermione, I haven’t got a clue what you’re +supposed to do with moonstones, have you?” + +Harry shook his head, noticing as he did so that the +ache in his right temple was getting worse. He +thought of the long essay on giant wars and the pain +stabbed at him sharply. Knowing perfectly well that +he would regret not finishing his homework tonight +when the morning came, he piled his books back into +his bag. + +Page | 326Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +‘Tm going to bed too.” + +He passed Seamus on the way to the door leading to +the dormitories, but did not look at him. Harry had a +fleeting impression that Seamus had opened his +mouth to speak, but sped up, and reached the +soothing peace of the stone spiral staircase without +having to endure any more provocation. + +The following day dawned just as leaden and rainy as +the previous one. Hagrid was still absent from the +staff table at breakfast. + +“But on the plus side, no Snape today,” said Ron +bracingly. + +Hermione yawned widely and poured herself some +coffee. She looked mildly pleased about something, +and when Ron asked her what she had to be so happy +about, she simply said, “The hats have gone. Seems +the house-elves do want freedom after all.” + +“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Ron told her cuttingly. “They +might not count as clothes. They didn’t look anything +like hats to me, more like woolly bladders.” + +Hermione did not speak to him all morning. + +Double Charms was succeeded by double +Transfiguration. Professor Flitwick and Professor +McGonagall both spent the first fifteen minutes of +their lessons lecturing the class on the importance of +O.W.L.s. + +“What you must remember,” said little Professor +Flitwick squeakily, perched as ever on a pile of books +so that he could see over the top of his desk, “is that +these examinations may influence your futures for +many years to come! If you have not already given +Page | 327Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do +so. And in the meantime, I’m afraid, we shall be +working harder than ever to ensure that you all do +yourselves justice!” + +They then spent more than an hour reviewing +Summoning Charms, which according to Professor +Flitwick were bound to come up in their O.W.L., and +he rounded off the lesson by setting them their largest +amount of Charms homework ever. + +It was the same, if not worse, in Transfiguration. + +“You cannot pass an O.W.L.,” said Professor +McGonagall grimly, “without serious application, +practice, and study. I see no reason why everybody in +this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in +Transfiguration as long as they put in the work.” +Neville made a sad little disbelieving noise. “Yes, you +too, Longbottom,” said Professor McGonagall. “There’s +nothing wrong with your work except lack of +confidence. So ... today we are starting Vanishing +Spells. These are easier than Conjuring Spells, which +you would not usually attempt until N.E.W.T. level, +but they are still among the most difficult magic you +will be tested on in your O.W.L.” + +She was quite right; Harry found the Vanishing Spells +horribly difficult. By the end of a double period, +neither he nor Ron had managed to vanish the snails +on which they were practicing, though Ron said +hopefully that he thought his looked a bit paler. +Hermione, on the other hand, successfully vanished +her snail on the third attempt, earning her a ten-point +bonus for Gryffindor from Professor McGonagall. She +was the only person not given homework; everybody +else was told to practice the spell overnight, ready for +a fresh attempt on their snails the following +afternoon. + +Page | 328Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Now panicking slightly about the amount of +homework they had to do, Harry and Ron spent their +lunch hour in the library looking up the uses of +moonstones in potion-making. Still angry about Ron’s +slur on her woolly hats, Hermione did not join them. +By the time they reached Care of Magical Creatures in +the afternoon, Harry’s head was aching again. + +The day had become cool and breezy, and, as they +walked down the sloping lawn toward Hagrid’s cabin +on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they felt the +occasional drop of rain on their faces. Professor +Grubbly-Plank stood waiting for the class some ten +yards from Hagrid’s front door, a long trestle table in +front of her laden with many twigs. As Harry and Ron +reached her, a loud shout of laughter sounded behind +them; turning, they saw Draco Malfoy striding toward +them, surrounded by his usual gang of Slytherin +cronies. He had clearly just said something highly +amusing, because Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, +and the rest continued to snigger heartily as they +gathered around the trestle table. Judging by the fact +that all of them kept looking over at Harry, he was +able to guess the subject of the joke without too much +difficulty. + +“Everyone here?” barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, +once all the Slytherins and Gryffindors had arrived. +“Let’s crack on then — who can tell me what these +things are called?” + +She indicated the heap of twigs in front of her. +Hermione ’s hand shot into the air. Behind her back, +Malfoy did a buck-toothed imitation of her jumping +up and down in eagerness to answer a question. + +Pansy Parkinson gave a shriek of laughter that turned +almost at once into a scream, as the twigs on the +table leapt into the air and revealed themselves to be +what looked like tiny pixieish creatures made of wood, +Page | 329Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +each with knobbly brown arms and legs, two twiglike +fingers at the end of each hand, and a funny, flat, +barklike face in which a pair of beetle-brown eyes +glittered. + +“Oooooh!” said Parvati and Lavender, thoroughly +irritating Harry: Anyone would have thought that +Hagrid never showed them impressive creatures; +admittedly the flobberworms had been a bit dull, but +the salamanders and hippogriffs had been interesting +enough, and the Blast-Ended Skrewts perhaps too +much so. + +“Kindly keep your voices down, girls!” said Professor +Grubbly-Plank sharply, scattering a handful of what +looked like brown rice among the stick-creatures, who +immediately fell upon the food. “So — anyone know +the names of these creatures? Miss Granger?” + +“Bowtruckles,” said Hermione. “They’re tree- +guardians, usually live in wand-trees.” + +“Five points for Gryffindor,” said Professor Grubbly- +Plank. “Yes, these are bowtruckles and, as Miss +Granger rightly says, they generally live in trees +whose wood is of wand quality. Anybody know what +they eat?” + +“Wood lice,” said Hermione promptly, which explained +why what Harry had taken for grains of brown rice +were moving. “But fairy eggs if they can get them.” + +“Good girl, take another five points. So whenever you +need leaves or wood from a tree in which a +bowtruckle lodges, it is wise to have a gift of wood lice +ready to distract or placate it. They may not look +dangerous, but if angered they will gouge out human +eyes with their fingers, which, as you can see, are +very sharp and not at all desirable near the eyeballs. +Page | 330Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +So if you’d like to gather closer, take a few wood lice +and a bowtruckle — I have enough here for one +between three — you can study them more closely. I +want a sketch from each of you with all body parts +labeled by the end of the lesson.” + +The class surged forward around the trestle table. +Harry deliberately circled around the back so that he +ended up right next to Professor Grubbly-Plank. + +“Where’s Hagrid?” he asked her, while everyone else +was choosing bowtruckles. + +“Never you mind,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank +repressively, which had been her attitude last time +Hagrid had failed to turn up for a class too. Smirking +all over his pointed face, Draco Malfoy leaned across +Harry and seized the largest bowtruckle. + +“Maybe,” said Malfoy in an undertone, so that only +Harry could hear him, “the stupid great oaf’s got +himself badly injured.” + +“Maybe you will if you don’t shut up,” said Harry out +of the side of his mouth. + +“Maybe he’s been messing with stuff that’s too big for +him, if you get my drift.” + +Malfoy walked away, smirking over his shoulder at +Harry, who suddenly felt sick. Did Malfoy know +something? His father was a Death Eater, after all; +what if he had information about Hagrid ’s fate that +had not yet reached the Order’s ears? He hurried +back around the table to Ron and Hermione, who +were squatting on the grass some distance away and +attempting to persuade a bowtruckle to remain still +long enough to draw it. Harry pulled out parchment + + + +Page | 331Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and quill, crouched down beside the others, and +related in a whisper what Malfoy had just said. + +“Dumbledore would know if something had happened +to Hagrid,” said Hermione at once. “It’s just playing +into Malfoy’s hands to look worried, it tells him we +don’t know exactly what’s going on. We’ve got to +ignore him, Harry. Here, hold the bowtruckle for a +moment, just so I can draw its face...” + +“Yes,” came Malfoy’s clear drawl from the group +nearest them, “Father was talking to the Minister just +a couple of days ago, you know, and it sounds as +though the Ministry’s really determined to crack down +on substandard teaching in this place. So even if that +overgrown moron does show up again, he’ll probably +be sent packing straight away.” + +“OUCH!” + +Harry had gripped the bowtruckle so hard that it had +almost snapped; it had just taken a great retaliatory +swipe at his hand with its sharp fingers, leaving two +long deep cuts there. Harry dropped it; Crabbe and +Goyle, who had already been guffawing at the idea of +Hagrid being sacked, laughed still harder as the +bowtruckle set off at full tilt toward the forest, a little, +moving stickman soon swallowed up by the tree roots. +When the bell echoed distantly over the grounds +Harry rolled up his bloodstained bowtruckle picture +and marched off to Herbology with his hand wrapped +in a handkerchief of Hermione ’s and Malfoy’s derisive +laughter still ringing in his ears. + +“If he calls Hagrid a moron one more time ...” snarled +Harry. + + + +Page | 332Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Harry, don’t go picking a row with Malfoy, don’t +forget, he’s a prefect now, he could make life difficult +for you...” + +“Wow, I wonder what it’d be like to have a difficult +life?” said Harry sarcastically. Ron laughed, but +Hermione frowned. Together they traipsed across the +vegetable patch. The sky still appeared unable to +make up its mind whether it wanted to rain or not. + +“I just wish Hagrid would hurry up and get back, +that’s all,” said Harry in a low voice, as they reached +the greenhouses. “And don’t say that Grubbly-Plank +woman’s a better teacher!” he added threateningly. + +“I wasn’t going to,” said Hermione calmly. + +“Because she’ll never be as good as Hagrid,” said +Harry firmly, fully aware that he had just experienced +an exemplary Care of Magical Creatures lesson and +was thoroughly annoyed about it. + +The door of the nearest greenhouse opened and some +fourth years spilled out of it, including Ginny. + +“Hi,” she said brightly as she passed. A few seconds +later, Luna Lovegood emerged, trailing behind the rest +of the class, a smudge of earth on her nose and her +hair tied in a knot on the top of her head. When she +saw Harry, her prominent eyes seemed to bulge +excitedly and she made a beeline straight for him. +Many of his classmates turned curiously to watch. +Luna took a great breath and then said, without so +much as a preliminary hello: “I believe He-Who-Must- +Not-Be-Named is back, and I believe you fought him +and escaped from him.” + +“Er — right,” said Harry awkwardly. Luna was +wearing what looked like a pair of orange radishes for + +Page | 333Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +earrings, a fact that Parvati and Lavender seemed to +have noticed, as they were both giggling and pointing +at her earlobes. + +“You can laugh!” Luna said, her voice rising, +apparently under the impression that Parvati and +Lavender were laughing at what she had said rather +than what she was wearing. “But people used to +believe there were no such things as the Blibbering +Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack!” + +“Well, they were right, weren’t they?” said Hermione +impatiently. “There weren’t any such things as the +Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned +Snorkack.” + +Luna gave her a withering look and flounced away, +radishes swinging madly. Parvati and Lavender were +not the only ones hooting with laughter now. + +“D’you mind not offending the only people who believe +me?” Harry asked Hermione as they made their way +into class. + +“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Harry, you can do better than +her,” said Hermione. “Ginny’s told me all about her, +apparently she’ll only believe in things as long as +there’s no proof at all. Well, I wouldn’t expect +anything else from someone whose father runs The +Quibbler.” + +Harry thought of the sinister winged horses he had +seen on the night he had arrived and how Luna had +said she could see them too. His spirits sank slightly. +Had she been lying? But before he could devote much +more thought to the matter, Ernie Macmillan had +stepped up to him. + + + +Page | 334Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I want you to know, Potter,” he said in a loud, +carrying voice, “that it’s not only weirdos who support +you. I personally believe you one hundred percent. My +family have always stood firm behind Dumbledore, +and so do I.” + +“Er — thanks very much, Ernie,” said Harry, taken +aback but pleased. Ernie might be pompous on +occasions like these, but Harry was in a mood to +deeply appreciate a vote of confidence from somebody +who was not wearing radishes in their ears. Ernie’s +words had certainly wiped the smile from Lavender +Brown’s face and, as he turned to talk to Ron and +Hermione, Harry caught Seamus’s expression, which +looked both confused and defiant. + +To nobody’s surprise, Professor Sprout started their +lesson by lecturing them about the importance of +O.W.L.s. Harry wished all the teachers would stop +doing this; he was starting to get an anxious, twisted +feeling in his stomach every time he remembered how +much homework he had to do, a feeling that +worsened dramatically when Professor Sprout gave +them yet another essay at the end of class. Tired and +smelling strongly of dragon dung, Professor Sprout’s +preferred brand of fertilizer, the Gryffindors trooped +back up to the castle an hour and a half later, none of +them talking very much; it had been another long +day. + +As Harry was starving, and he had his first detention +with Umbridge at five o’clock, he headed straight for +dinner without dropping off his bag in Gryffindor +Tower so that he could bolt something down before +facing whatever she had in store for him. He had +barely reached the entrance of the Great Hall, +however, when a loud and angry voice said, “Oy, +Potter!” + + + +Page | 335Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What now?” he muttered wearily, turning to face +Angelina Johnson, who looked as though she was in a +towering temper. + +“I’ll tell you what now,” she said, marching straight +up to him and poking him hard in the chest with her +finger. “How come you’ve landed yourself in detention +for five o’clock on Friday?” + +“What?” said Harry. “Why ... oh yeah, Keeper tryouts!” + +“Now he remembers!” snarled Angelina. “Didn’t I tell +you I wanted to do a tryout with the whole team, and +find someone who fitted in with everyone? Didn’t I tell +you I’d booked the Quidditch pitch specially? And +now you’ve decided you’re not going to be there!” + +“I didn’t decide not to be there!” said Harry, stung by +the injustice of these words. “I got detention from that +Umbridge woman, just because I told her the truth +about You-Know-Who — ” + +“Well, you can just go straight to her and ask her to +let you off on Friday,” said Angelina fiercely, “and I +don’t care how you do it, tell her You-Know-Who ’s a +figment of your imagination if you like, just make sure +you’re therel” + +She stormed away. + +“You know what?” Harry said to Ron and Hermione as +they entered the Great Hall. “I think we’d better check +with Puddlemere United whether Oliver Wood’s been +killed during a training session, because she seems to +be channeling his spirit.” + +“What d’you reckon are the odds of Umbridge letting +you off on Friday?” said Ron skeptically, as they sat +down at the Gryffindor table. + +Page | 336Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Less than zero,” said Harry glumly, tipping lamb +chops onto his plate and starting to eat. “Better try, +though, hadn’t I? I’ll offer to do two more detentions +or something, I dunno...” He swallowed a mouthful of +potato and added, “I hope she doesn’t keep me too +long this evening. You realize we’ve got to write three +essays, practice Vanishing Spells for McGonagall, +work out a countercharm for Flitwick, finish the +bowtruckle drawing, and start that stupid dream +diary for Trelawney?” + +Ron moaned and for some reason glanced up at the +ceiling. + +“And it looks like it’s going to rain.” + +“What’s that got to do with our homework?” said +Hermione, her eyebrows raised. + +“Nothing,” said Ron at once, his ears reddening. + +At five to five Harry bade the other two good-bye and +set off for Umbridge’s office on the third floor. When +he knocked on the door she said, “Come in,” in a +sugary voice. He entered cautiously, looking around. + +He had known this office under three of its previous +occupants. In the days when Gilderoy Lockhart had +lived here it had been plastered in beaming portraits +of its owner. When Lupin had occupied it, it was likely +you would meet some fascinating Dark creature in a +cage or tank if you came to call. In the impostor +Moody’s days it had been packed with various +instruments and artifacts for the detection of +wrongdoing and concealment. + +Now, however, it looked totally unrecognizable. The +surfaces had all been draped in lacy covers and +cloths. There were several vases full of dried flowers, + +Page | 337Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +each residing on its own doily, and on one of the walls +was a collection of ornamental plates, each decorated +with a large technicolor kitten wearing a different bow +around its neck. These were so foul that Harry stared +at them, transfixed, until Professor Umbridge spoke +again. + +“Good evening, Mr. Potter.” + +Harry started and looked around. He had not noticed +her at first because she was wearing a luridly +flowered set of robes that blended only too well with +the tablecloth on the desk behind her. + +“Evening,” Harry said stiffly. + +“Well, sit down,” she said, pointing toward a small +table draped in lace beside which she had drawn up a +straight-backed chair. A piece of blank parchment lay +on the table, apparently waiting for him. + +“Er,” said Harry, without moving. “Professor +Umbridge? Er — before we start, I-I wanted to ask +you a ... a favor.” + +Her bulging eyes narrowed. + +“Oh yes?” + +“Well I’m ... I’m on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. + +And I was supposed to be at the tryouts for the new +Keeper at five o’clock on Friday and I was — was +wondering whether I could skip detention that night +and do it — do it another night ... instead ...” + +He knew long before he reached the end of his +sentence that it was no good. + + + +Page | 338Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh no,” said Umbridge, smiling so widely that she +looked as though she had just swallowed a +particularly juicy fly. “Oh no, no, no. This is your +punishment for spreading evil, nasty, attention- +seeking stories, Mr. Potter, and punishments +certainly cannot be adjusted to suit the guilty one’s +convenience. No, you will come here at five o’clock +tomorrow, and the next day, and on Friday too, and +you will do your detentions as planned. I think it +rather a good thing that you are missing something +you really want to do. It ought to reinforce the lesson I +am trying to teach you.” + +Harry felt the blood surge to his head and heard a +thumping noise in his ears. So he told evil, nasty, +attention-seeking stories, did he? + +She was watching him with her head slightly to one +side, still smiling widely, as though she knew exactly +what he was thinking and was waiting to see whether +he would start shouting again. With a massive effort +Harry looked away from her, dropped his schoolbag +beside the straight-backed chair, and sat down. + +“There,” said Umbridge sweetly, “we’re getting better +at controlling our temper already, aren’t we? Now, you +are going to be doing some lines for me, Mr. Potter. + +No, not with your quill,” she added, as Harry bent +down to open his bag. “You’re going to be using a +rather special one of mine. Here you are.” + +She handed him a long, thin black quill with an +unusually sharp point. + +“I want you to write ‘ I must not tell lies,’ ” she told him +softly. + +“How many times?” Harry asked, with a creditable +imitation of politeness. + +Page | 339Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in,” +said Umbridge sweetly. “Off you go.” + +She moved over to her desk, sat down, and bent over +a stack of parchment that looked like essays for +marking. Harry raised the sharp black quill and then +realized what was missing. + +“You haven’t given me any ink,” he said. + +“Oh, you won’t need ink,” said Professor Umbridge +with the merest suggestion of a laugh in her voice. + +Harry placed the point of the quill on the paper and +wrote: I must not tell lies. + +He let out a gasp of pain. The words had appeared on +the parchment in what appeared to be shining red +ink. At the same time, the words had appeared on the +back of Harry’s right hand, cut into his skin as +though traced there by a scalpel — yet even as he +stared at the shining cut, the skin healed over again, +leaving the place where it had been slightly redder +than before but quite smooth. + +Harry looked around at Umbridge. She was watching +him, her wide, toadlike mouth stretched in a smile. + +“Yes?” + +“Nothing,” said Harry quietly. + +He looked back at the parchment, placed the quill +upon it once more, wrote I must not tell lies, and felt +the searing pain on the back of his hand for a second +time; once again the words had been cut into his +skin, once again they healed over seconds later. + + + +Page | 340Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And on it went. Again and again Harry wrote the +words on the parchment in what he soon came to +realize was not ink, but his own blood. And again and +again the words were cut into the back of his hand, +healed, and then reappeared the next time he set quill +to parchment. + +Darkness fell outside Umbridge’s window. Harry did +not ask when he would be allowed to stop. He did not +even check his watch. He knew she was watching him +for signs of weakness and he was not going to show +any, not even if he had to sit here all night, cutting +open his own hand with this quill... + +“Come here,” she said, after what seemed hours. + +He stood up. His hand was stinging painfully. When +he looked down at it he saw that the cut had healed, +but that the skin there was red raw. + +“Hand,” she said. + +He extended it. She took it in her own. Harry +repressed a shudder as she touched him with her +thick, stubby fingers on which she wore a number of +ugly old rings. + +“Tut, tut, I don’t seem to have made much of an +impression yet,” she said, smiling. “Well, we’ll just +have to try again tomorrow evening, won’t we? You +may go.” + +Harry left her office without a word. The school was +quite deserted; it was surely past midnight. He +walked slowly up the corridor then, when he had +turned the corner and was sure that she would not +hear him, broke into a run. + + + +Page | 341Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He had not had time to practice Vanishing Spells, had +not written a single dream in his dream diary, and +had not finished the drawing of the bowtruckle, nor +had he written his essays. He skipped breakfast next +morning to scribble down a couple of made-up +dreams for Divination, their first lesson, and was +surprised to find a disheveled Ron keeping him +company. + +“How come you didn’t do it last night?” Harry asked, +as Ron stared wildly around the common room for +inspiration. Ron, who had been fast asleep when +Harry got back to the dormitory, muttered something +about “doing other stuff,” bent low over his +parchment, and scrawled a few words. + +“That’ll have to do,” he said, slamming the diary shut, +“I’ve said I dreamed I was buying a new pair of shoes, +she can’t make anything weird out of that, can she?” + +They hurried off to North Tower together. + +“How was detention with Umbridge, anyway? What +did she make you do?” + +Harry hesitated for a fraction of a second, then said, +“Lines.” + +“That’s not too bad, then, eh?” said Ron. + +“Nope,” said Harry. + +“Hey — I forgot — did she let you off for Friday?” + +“No,” said Harry. + +Ron groaned sympathetically. + + + +Page | 342Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It was another bad day for Harry; he was one of the +worst in Transfiguration, not having practiced +Vanishing Spells at all. He had to give up his lunch +hour to complete the picture of the bowtruckle, and +meanwhile, Professors McGonagall, Grubbly-Plank, +and Sinistra gave them yet more homework, which he +had no prospect of finishing that evening because of +his second detention with Umbridge. To cap it all, +Angelina Johnson tracked him down at dinner again +and, on learning that he would not be able to attend +Friday’s Keeper tryouts, told him she was not at all +impressed by his attitude and that she expected +players who wished to remain on the team to put +training before their other commitments. + +“I’m in detention!” Harry yelled after her as she +stalked away. “D’you think I’d rather be stuck in a +room with that old toad or playing Quidditch?” + +“At least it’s only lines,” said Hermione consolingly, as +Harry sank back onto his bench and looked down at +his steak-and-kidney pie, which he no longer fancied +very much. “It’s not as if it’s a dreadful punishment, +really...” + +Harry opened his mouth, closed it again, and nodded. +He was not really sure why he was not telling Ron +and Hermione exactly what was happening in +Umbridge ’s room: He only knew that he did not want +to see their looks of horror; that would make the +whole thing seem worse and therefore more difficult +to face. He also felt dimly that this was between +himself and Umbridge, a private battle of wills, and he +was not going to give her the satisfaction of hearing +that he had complained about it. + +“I can’t believe how much homework we’ve got,” said +Ron miserably. + + + +Page | 343Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, why didn’t you do any last night?” Hermione +asked him. “Where were you anyway?” + + + +“I was ... I fancied a walk,” said Ron shiftily. + +Harry had the distinct impression that he was not +alone in concealing things at the moment. + +k k k + + + +The second detention was just as bad as the previous +one. The skin on the back of Harry’s hand became +irritated more quickly now, red and inflamed; Harry +thought it unlikely to keep healing as effectively for +long. Soon the cut would remain etched in his hand +and Umbridge would, perhaps, be satisfied. He let no +moan of pain escape him, however, and from the +moment of entering the room to the moment of his +dismissal, again past midnight, he said nothing but +“Good evening” and “Good night.” + +His homework situation, however, was now desperate, +and when he returned to the Gryffindor common +room he did not, though exhausted, go to bed, but +opened his books and began Snape’s moonstone +essay. It was half-past two by the time he had +finished it. He knew he had done a poor job, but there +was no help for it; unless he had something to give in +he would be in detention with Snape next. He then +dashed off answers to the questions Professor +McGonagall had set them, cobbled together +something on the proper handling of bowtruckles for +Professor Grubbly-Plank, and staggered up to bed, +where he fell fully clothed on top of the bed covers +and fell asleep immediately. + +Thursday passed in a haze of tiredness. Ron seemed +very sleepy too, though Harry could not see why he + +Page | 344Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +should be. Harry’s third detention passed in the same +way as the previous two, except that after two hours +the words “I must not tell lies” did not fade from the +back of Harry’s hand, but remained scratched there, +oozing droplets of blood. The pause in the pointed +quill’s scratching made Professor Umbridge look up. + +“Ah,” she said softly, moving around her desk to +examine his hand herself. “Good. That ought to serve +as a reminder to you, oughtn’t it? You may leave for +tonight.” + +“Do I still have to come back tomorrow?” said Harry, +picking up his schoolbag with his left hand rather +than his smarting right. + +“Oh yes,” said Professor Umbridge, smiling widely as +before. “Yes, I think we can etch the message a little +deeper with another evening’s work.” + +He had never before considered the possibility that +there might be another teacher in the world he hated +more than Snape, but as he walked back toward +Gryffindor Tower he had to admit he had found a +contender. She’s evil, he thought, as he climbed a +staircase to the seventh floor, she’s an evil, twisted, +mad, old — + +“Ron?” + +He had reached the top of the stairs, turned right, +and almost walked into Ron, who was lurking behind +a statue of Lachlan the Lanky, clutching his +broomstick. He gave a great leap of surprise when he +saw Harry and attempted to hide his new Cleansweep +Eleven behind his back. + +“What are you doing?” + + + +Page | 345Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Er — nothing. What are you doing?” + +Harry frowned at him. + +“Come on, you can tell me! What are you hiding here +for?” + +“I’m — I’m hiding from Fred and George, if you must +know,” said Ron. “They just went past with a bunch +of first years, I bet they’re testing stuff on them again, + +I mean, they can’t do it in the common room now, can +they, not with Hermione there.” + +He was talking in a very fast, feverish way. + +“But what have you got your broom for, you haven’t +been flying, have you?” Harry asked. + +“I — well — well, okay, I’ll tell you, but don’t laugh, all +right?” Ron said defensively, turning redder with +every second. “I-I thought I’d try out for Gryffindor +Keeper now I’ve got a decent broom. There. Go on. +Laugh.” + +“I’m not laughing,” said Harry. Ron blinked. “It’s a +brilliant idea! It’d be really cool if you got on the team! +I’ve never seen you play Keeper, are you good?” + +“I’m not bad,” said Ron, who looked immensely +relieved at Harry’s reaction. “Charlie, Fred, and +George always made me Keep for them when they +were training during the holidays.” + +“So you’ve been practicing tonight?” + +“Every evening since Tuesday ... just on my own, +though, I’ve been trying to bewitch Quaffles to fly at +me, but it hasn’t been easy and I don’t know how +much use it’ll be.” Ron looked nervous and anxious. + +Page | 346Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Fred and George are going to laugh themselves +stupid when I turn up for the tryouts. They haven’t +stopped taking the mickey out of me since I got made +a prefect.” + +“I wish I was going to be there,” said Harry bitterly, as +they set off together toward the common room. + +“Yeah, so do — Harry, what’s that on the back of your +hand?” + +Harry, who had just scratched his nose with his free +right hand, tried to hide it, but had as much success +as Ron with his Cleans weep. + +“It’s just a cut — it’s nothing — it’s — ” + +But Ron had grabbed Harry’s forearm and pulled the +back of Harry’s hand up level with his eyes. There +was a pause, during which he stared at the words +carved into the skin, then he released Harry, looking +sick. + +“I thought you said she was giving you lines?” + +Harry hesitated, but after all, Ron had been honest +with him, so he told Ron the truth about the hours he +had been spending in Umbridge’s office. + +“The old hag!” Ron said in a revolted whisper as they +came to a halt in front of the Fat Lady, who was +dozing peacefully with her head against her frame. +“She’s sick! Go to McGonagall, say something!” + +“No,” said Harry at once. “I’m not giving her the +satisfaction of knowing she’s got to me.” + +“Got to you? You can’t let her get away with this!” + + + +Page | 347Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I don’t know how much power McGonagall’s got over +her,” said Harry. + +“Dumbledore, then, tell Dumbledore!” + +“No,” said Harry flatly. + +“Why not?” + +“He’s got enough on his mind,” said Harry, but that +was not the true reason. He was not going to go to +Dumbledore for help when Dumbledore had not +spoken to him once since last June. + +“Well, I reckon you should — ” Ron began, but he was +interrupted by the Fat Lady, who had been watching +them sleepily and now burst out, “Are you going to +give me the password or will I have to stay awake all +night waiting for you to finish your conversation?” + +Friday dawned sullen and sodden as the rest of the +week. Though Harry glanced toward the staff table +automatically when he entered the Great Hall, it was +without real hope of seeing Hagrid and he turned his +mind immediately to his more pressing problems, +such as the mountainous pile of homework he had to +do and the prospect of yet another detention with +Umbridge. + +Two things sustained Harry that day. One was the +thought that it was almost the weekend; the other +was that, dreadful though his final detention with +Umbridge was sure to be, he had a distant view of the +Quidditch pitch from her window and might, with +luck, be able to see something of Ron’s tryout. These +were rather feeble rays of light, it was true, but Harry +was grateful for anything that might lighten his +present darkness; he had never had a worse first +week of term at Hogwarts. + +Page | 348Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +At five o’clock that evening he knocked on Professor +Umbridge’s office door for what he sincerely hoped +would be the final time, was told to enter and did so. +The blank parchment lay ready for him on the lace- +covered table, the pointed black quill beside it. + +“You know what to do, Mr. Potter,” said Umbridge, +smiling sweetly over at him. + +Harry picked up the quill and glanced through the +window. If he just shifted his chair an inch or so to +the right . . . On the pretext of shifting himself closer to +the table he managed it. He now had a distant view of +the Gryffindor Quidditch team soaring up and down +the pitch, while half a dozen black figures stood at the +foot of the three high goalposts, apparently awaiting +their turn to Keep. It was impossible to tell which one +was Ron at this distance. + +I must not tell lies, Harry wrote. The cut in the back of +his right hand opened and began to bleed afresh. + +I must not tell lies. The cut dug deeper, stinging and +smarting. + +I must not tell lies. Blood trickled down his wrist. + +He chanced another glance out of the window. +Whoever was defending the goalposts now was doing +a very poor job indeed. Katie Bell scored twice in the +few seconds Harry dared watch. Hoping very much +that the Keeper wasn’t Ron, he dropped his eyes back +to the parchment dotted with blood. + +I must not tell lies. + +I must not tell lies. + + + +Page | 349Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He looked up whenever he thought he could risk it, +when he could hear the scratching of Umbridge’s quill +or the opening of a desk drawer. The third person to +try out was pretty good, the fourth was terrible, the +fifth dodged a Bludger exceptionally well but then +fumbled an easy save. The sky was darkening so that +Harry doubted he would be able to watch the sixth +and seventh people at all. + +I must not tell lies. + +I must not tell lies. + +The parchment was now shining with drops of blood +from the back of his hand, which was searing with +pain. When he next looked up, night had fallen and +the Quidditch pitch was no longer visible. + +“Let’s see if you’ve gotten the message yet, shall we?” +said Umbridge’s soft voice half an hour later. + +She moved toward him, stretching out her short be- +ringed fingers for his arm. And then, as she took hold +of him to examine the words now cut into his skin, +pain seared, not across the back of his hand, but +across the scar on his forehead. At the same time, he +had a most peculiar sensation somewhere around his +midriff. + +He wrenched his arm out of her grip and leapt to his +feet, staring at her. She looked back at him, a smile +stretching her wide, slack mouth. + +“Yes, it hurts, doesn’t it?” she said softly. + +He did not answer. His heart was thumping very hard +and fast. Was she talking about his hand or did she +know what he had just felt in his forehead? + + + +Page | 350Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, I think I’ve made my point, Mr. Potter. You may +go.” + +He caught up his schoolbag and left the room as +quickly as he could. + +Stay calm, he told himself as he sprinted up the +stairs. Stay calm, it doesn’t necessarily mean what +you think it means... + +“ Mimbulus mimbletoniaV ’ he gasped at the Fat Lady, +who swung forward once more. + +A roar of sound greeted him. Ron came running +toward him, beaming all over his face and slopping +butterbeer down his front from the goblet he was +clutching. + +“Harry, I did it, I’m in, I’m Keeper!” + +“What? Oh — brilliant!” said Harry, trying to smile +naturally, while his heart continued to race and his +hand throbbed and bled. + +“Have a butterbeer.” Ron pressed a bottle onto him. “I +can’t believe it — where’s Hermione gone?” + +“She’s there,” said Fred, who was also swigging +butterbeer, and pointed to an armchair by the fire. +Hermione was dozing in it, her drink tipping +precariously in her hand. + +“Well, she said she was pleased when I told her,” said +Ron, looking slightly put out. + +“Let her sleep,” said George hastily. It was a few +moments before Harry noticed that several of the first +years gathered around them bore unmistakable signs +of recent nosebleeds. + +Page | 351Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Come here, Ron, and see if Oliver’s old robes fit you,” +called Katie Bell. “We can take off his name and put +yours on instead...” + +As Ron moved away, Angelina came striding up to +Harry. + +“Sorry I was a bit short with you earlier, Potter,” she +said abruptly. “It’s stressful, this managing lark, you +know, I’m starting to think I was a bit hard on Wood +sometimes.” She was watching Ron over the rim of +her goblet with a slight frown on her face. + +“Look, I know he’s your best mate, but he’s not +fabulous,” she said bluntly. “I think with a bit of +training he’ll be all right, though. He comes from a +family of good Quidditch players. I’m banking on him +turning out to have a bit more talent than he showed +today, to be honest. Vicky Frobisher and Geoffrey +Hooper both flew better this evening, but Hooper’s a +real whiner, he’s always moaning about something or +other, and Vicky’s involved in all sorts of societies, +she admitted herself that if training clashed with her +Charm Club she’d put Charms first. Anyway, we’re +having a practice session at two o’clock tomorrow, so +just make sure you’re there this time. And do me a +favor and help Ron as much as you can, okay?” + +He nodded and Angelina strolled back to Alicia +Spinnet. Harry moved over to sit next to Hermione, +who awoke with a jerk as he put down his bag. + +“Oh, Harry, it’s you... Good about Ron, isn’t it?” she +said blearily. “I’m just so — so — so tired,” she +yawned. “I was up until one o’clock making more +hats. They’re disappearing like mad!” + + + +Page | 352Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And sure enough, now that he looked, Harry saw that +there were woolly hats concealed all around the room +where unwary elves might accidentally pick them up. + +“Great,” said Harry distractedly; if he did not tell +somebody soon, he would burst. “Listen, Hermione, I +was just up in Umbridge’s office and she touched my +arm ...” + +Hermione listened closely. When Harry had finished +she said slowly, “You’re worried that You-Know- Who’s +controlling her like he controlled Quirrell?” + +“Well,” said Harry, dropping his voice, “it’s a +possibility, isn’t it?” + +“I suppose so,” said Hermione, though she sounded +unconvinced. “But I don’t think he can be possessing +her the way he possessed Quirrell, I mean, he’s +properly alive again now, isn’t he, he’s got his own +body, he wouldn’t need to share someone else’s. He +could have her under the Imperius Curse, I +suppose...” + +Harry watched Fred, George, and Lee Jordan juggling +empty butterbeer bottles for a moment. Then +Hermione said, “But last year your scar hurt when +nobody was touching you, and didn’t Dumbledore say +it had to do with what You- Know- Who was feeling at +the time? I mean, maybe this hasn’t got anything to +do with Umbridge at all, maybe it’s just coincidence it +happened while you were with her?” + +“She’s evil,” said Harry flatly. “Twisted.” + +“She’s horrible, yes, but ... Harry, I think you ought to +tell Dumbledore your scar hurt.” + + + +Page | 353Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It was the second time in two days he had been +advised to go to Dumbledore and his answer to +Hermione was just the same as his answer to Ron. + +“I’m not bothering him with this. Like you just said, +it’s not a big deal. It’s been hurting on and off all +summer — it was just a bit worse tonight, that’s all — + + + +“Harry, I’m sure Dumbledore would want to be +bothered by this — ” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, before he could stop himself, +“that’s the only bit of me Dumbledore cares about, +isn’t it, my scar?” + +“Don’t say that, it’s not true!” + +“I think I’ll write and tell Sirius about it, see what he +thinks — ” + +“Harry, you can’t put something like that in a letter!” +said Hermione, looking alarmed. “Don’t you +remember, Moody told us to be careful what we put in +writing! We just can’t guarantee owls aren’t being +intercepted anymore!” + +“All right, all right, I won’t tell him, then!” said Harry +irritably. He got to his feet. “I’m going to bed. Tell Ron +for me, will you?” + +“Oh no,” said Hermione, looking relieved, “if you’re +going that means I can go without being rude too, I’m +absolutely exhausted and I want to make some more +hats tomorrow. Listen, you can help me if you like, +it’s quite fun, I’m getting better, I can do patterns and +bobbles and all sorts of things now.” + + + +Page | 354Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry looked into her face, which was shining with +glee, and tried to look as though he was vaguely +tempted by this offer. + +“Er ... no, I don’t think I will, thanks,” he said. “Er — +not tomorrow. I’ve got loads of homework to do...” + +And he traipsed off to the boys’ stairs, leaving her +looking slightly disappointed behind him. + + + +Page | 355Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +PERCY AND PADFOOT + +Harry was the first to awake in his dormitory next +morning. He lay for a moment watching dust swirl in +the chink of sunlight falling through the gap in his +four-poster’s hangings and savored the thought that +it was Saturday. The first week of term seemed to +have dragged on forever, like one gigantic History of +Magic lesson. + +Judging by the sleepy silence and the freshly minted +look of that beam of sunlight, it was just after +daybreak. He pulled open the curtains around his +bed, got up, and started to dress. The only sound +apart from the distant twittering of birds was the +slow, deep breathing of his fellow Gryffindors. He +opened his schoolbag carefully, pulled out parchment +and quill, and headed out of the dormitory for the +common room. + +Making straight for his favorite squashy old armchair +beside the now extinct fire, Harry settled himself +down comfortably and unrolled his parchment while +looking around the room. The detritus of crumpled-up + +Page | 356Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +bits of parchment, old Gobstones, empty ingredient +jars, and candy wrappers that usually covered the +common room at the end of each day was gone, as +were all Hermione’s elf hats. Wondering vaguely how +many elves had now been set free whether they +wanted to be or not, Harry uncorked his ink bottle, +dipped his quill into it, and then held it suspended an +inch above the smooth yellowish surface of his +parchment, thinking hard... But after a minute or so +he found himself staring into the empty grate, at a +complete loss for what to say. + +He could now appreciate how hard it had been for +Ron and Hermione to write him letters over the +summer. How was he supposed to tell Sirius +everything that had happened over the past week and +pose all the questions he was burning to ask without +giving potential letter-thieves a lot of information he +did not want them to have? + +He sat quite motionless for a while, gazing into the +fireplace, then, finally coming to a decision, he dipped +his quill into the ink bottle once more and set it +resolutely upon the parchment. + +Dear Snuffles, + +Hope you’re okay, the first week back here’s been +terrible, I’m really glad it’s the weekend. + +We’ve got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts +teacher, Professor Umbridge. She’s nearly as nice as +your mum. I’m writing because that thing I wrote to +you about last summer happened again last night +when I was doing a detention with Umbridge. + +We’re all missing our biggest friend, we hope he’ll be +back soon. + + + +Page | 357Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Please write back quickly. + +Best, + +Harry + +Harry reread this letter several times, trying to see it +from the point of view of an outsider. He could not see +how they would know what he was talking about — or +who he was talking to — just from reading this letter. +He did hope Sirius would pick up the hint about +Hagrid and tell them when he might be back: Harry +did not want to ask directly in case it drew too much +attention to what Hagrid might be up to while he was +not at Hogwarts. + +Considering it was a very short letter it had taken a +long time to write; sunlight had crept halfway across +the room while he had been working on it, and he +could now hear distant sounds of movement from the +dormitories above. Sealing the parchment carefully he +climbed through the portrait hole and headed off for +the Owlery. + +“I would not go that way if I were you,” said Nearly +Headless Nick, drifting disconcertingly through a wall +just ahead of him as he walked down the passage. +“Peeves is planning an amusing joke on the next +person to pass the bust of Paracelsus halfway down +the corridor.” + +“Does it involve Paracelsus falling on top of the +person’s head?” asked Harry. + +“Funnily enough, it does,” said Nearly Headless Nick +in a bored voice. “Subtlety has never been Peeves ’s +strong point. I’m off to try and find the Bloody +Baron... He might be able to put a stop to it... See +you, Harry...” + +Page | 358Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, ’bye,” said Harry and instead of turning right, +he turned left, taking a longer but safer route up to +the Owlery. His spirits rose as he walked past window +after window showing brilliantly blue sky; he had +training later, he would be back on the Quidditch +pitch at last — + +Something brushed his ankles. He looked down and +saw the caretaker’s skeletal gray cat, Mrs. Norris, +slinking past him. She turned lamplike yellow eyes +upon him for a moment before disappearing behind a +statue of Wilfred the Wistful. + +“I’m not doing anything wrong,” Harry called after +her. She had the unmistakable air of a cat that was +off to report to her boss, yet Harry could not see why; +he was perfectly entitled to walk up to the Owlery on +a Saturday morning. + +The sun was high in the sky now and when Harry +entered the Owlery the glassless windows dazzled his +eyes; thick silvery beams of sunlight crisscrossed the +circular room in which hundreds of owls nestled on +rafters, a little restless in the early morning light, +some clearly just returned from hunting. The straw- +covered floor crunched a little as he stepped across +tiny animal bones, craning his neck for a sight of +Hedwig. + +“There you are,” he said, spotting her somewhere near +the very top of the vaulted ceiling. “Get down here, + +I’ve got a letter for you.” + +With a low hoot she stretched her great white wings +and soared down onto his shoulder. + +“Right, I know this says ‘Snuffles’ on the outside,” he +told her, giving her the letter to clasp in her beak and, + + + +Page | 359Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +without knowing exactly why, whispering, “but it’s for +Sirius, okay?” + +She blinked her amber eyes once and he took that to +mean that she understood. + +“Safe flight, then,” said Harry and he carried her to +one of the windows; with a moment’s pressure on his +arm Hedwig took off into the blindingly bright sky. He +watched her until she became a tiny black speck and +vanished, then switched his gaze to Hagrid’s hut, +clearly visible from this window, and just as clearly +uninhabited, the chimney smokeless, the curtains +drawn. + +The treetops of the Forbidden Forest swayed in a light +breeze. Harry watched them, savoring the fresh air on +his face, thinking about Quidditch later ... and then +he saw it. A great, reptilian winged horse, just like the +ones pulling the Hogwarts carriages, with leathery +black wings spread wide like a pterodactyl’s, rose up +out of the trees like a grotesque, giant bird. It soared +in a great circle and then plunged once more into the +trees. The whole thing had happened so quickly Harry +could hardly believe what he had seen, except that +his heart was hammering madly. + +The Owlery door opened behind him. He leapt in +shock, and turning quickly, saw Cho Chang holding a +letter and a parcel in her hands. + +“Hi,” said Harry automatically. + +“Oh ... hi,” she said breathlessly. “I didn’t think +anyone would be up here this early. . . I only +remembered five minutes ago, it’s my mum’s +birthday.” + + + +She held up the parcel. + +Page | 360Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Right,” said Harry. His brain seemed to have +jammed. He wanted to say something funny and +interesting, but the memory of that terrible winged +horse was fresh in his mind. + +“Nice day,” he said, gesturing to the windows. His +insides seemed to shrivel with embarrassment. The +weather. He was talking about the weather... + +“Yeah,” said Cho, looking around for a suitable owl. +“Good Quidditch conditions. I haven’t been out all +week, have you?” + +“No,” said Harry. + +Cho had selected one of the school barn owls. She +coaxed it down onto her arm where it held out an +obliging leg so that she could attach the parcel. + +“Hey, has Gryffindor got a new Keeper yet?” she +asked. + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “It’s my friend Ron Weasley, d’you +know him?” + +“The Tornado-hater?” said Cho rather coolly. “Is he +any good?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, “I think so. I didn’t see his tryout, +though, I was in detention.” + +Cho looked up, the parcel only half-attached to the +owl’s legs. + +“That Umbridge woman’s foul,” she said in a low +voice. “Putting you in detention just because you told +the truth about how — how — how he died. Everyone +heard about it, it was all over the school. You were +really brave standing up to her like that.” + +Page | 361Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s insides reinflated so rapidly he felt as though +he might actually float a few inches off the dropping- +strewn floor. Who cared about a stupid flying horse, +Cho thought he had been really brave... For a +moment he considered accidentally-on-purpose +showing her his cut hand as he helped her tie her +parcel onto her owl... But the very instant that this +thrilling thought occurred, the Owlery door opened +again. + +Filch, the caretaker, came wheezing into the room. +There were purple patches on his sunken, veined +cheeks, his jowls were aquiver and his thin gray hair +disheveled; he had obviously run here. Mrs. Norris +came trotting at his heels, gazing up at the owls +overhead and mewing hungrily. There was a restless +shifting of wings from above, and a large brown owl +snapped his beak in a menacing fashion. + +“Aha!” said Filch, taking a flat-footed step toward +Harry, his pouchy cheeks trembling with anger. “I’ve +had a tip-off that you are intending to place a massive +order for Dungbombs!” + +Harry folded his arms and stared at the caretaker. + +“Who told you I was ordering Dungbombs?” + +Cho was looking from Harry to Filch, also frowning; +the barn owl on her arm, tired of standing on one leg, +gave an admonitory hoot but she ignored it. + +“I have my sources,” said Filch in a self-satisfied hiss. +“Now hand over whatever it is you’re sending.” + +Feeling immensely thankful that he had not dawdled +in posting off the letter, Harry said, “I can’t, it’s gone.” + +“Gone?” said Filch, his face contorting with rage. + +Page | 362Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Gone,” said Harry calmly. + + + +Filch opened his mouth furiously, mouthed for a few +seconds, then raked Harry’s robes with his eyes. “How +do I know you haven’t got it in your pocket?” + +“Because — ” + +“I saw him send it,” said Cho angrily. + +Filch rounded on her. + +“You saw him — ?” + +“That’s right, I saw him,” she said fiercely. + +There was a moment’s pause in which Filch glared at +Cho and Cho glared right back, then the caretaker +turned and shuffled back toward the door. He +stopped with his hand on the handle and looked back +at Harry. + +“If I get so much as a whiff of a Dungbomb ...” + +He stumped off down the stairs. Mrs. Norris cast a +last longing look at the owls and followed him. + +Harry and Cho looked at each other. + +“Thanks,” Harry said. + +“No problem,” said Cho, finally fixing the parcel to the +barn owl’s other leg, her face slightly pink. “You +weren’t ordering Dungbombs, were you?” + +“No,” said Harry. + +“I wonder why he thought you were, then?” she said, +as she carried the owl to the window. + +Page | 363Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry shrugged; he was quite as mystified by that as +she was, though, oddly, it was not bothering him very +much at the moment. + +They left the Owlery together. At the entrance of a +corridor that led toward the west wing of the castle, +Cho said, “I’m going this way. Well, I’ll ... I’ll see you +around, Harry.” + +“Yeah ... see you.” + +She smiled at him and departed. He walked on, +feeling quietly elated. He had managed to have an +entire conversation with her and not embarrassed +himself once... You were really brave standing up to +her like that... She had called him brave... She did not +hate him for being alive... + +Of course, she had preferred Cedric, he knew that... +Though if he’d only asked her to the ball before Cedric +had, things might have turned out differently... She +had seemed sincerely sorry that she had to refuse +when Harry had asked her. . . + +“Morning,” Harry said brightly to Ron and Hermione, +joining them at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. + +“What are you looking so pleased about?” said Ron, +eyeing Harry in surprise. + +“Erm ... Quidditch later,” said Harry happily, pulling +a large platter of bacon and eggs toward him. + +“Oh ... yeah ...” said Ron. He put down the bit of toast +he was eating and took a large swig of pumpkin juice. +Then he said, “Listen ... you don’t fancy going out a +bit earlier with me, do you? Just to — er — give me +some practice before training? So I can, you know, get +my eye in a bit ...” + +Page | 364Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, okay,” said Harry. + + + +“Look, I don’t think you should,” said Hermione +seriously, “you’re both really behind on homework as + + + +it — ” + + + +But she broke off; the morning post was arriving and, +as usual, the Daily Prophet was soaring toward her in +the beak of a screech owl, which landed perilously +close to the sugar bowl and held out a leg; Hermione +pushed a Knut into its leather pouch, took the +newspaper, and scanned the front page critically as +the owl took off again. + +“Anything interesting?” said Ron; Harry smiled — he +knew Ron was keen to get her off the subject of +homework. + +“No,” she sighed, “just some guff about the bass +player in the Weird Sisters getting married...” + +She opened the paper and disappeared behind it. +Harry devoted himself to another helping of eggs and +bacon; Ron was staring up at the high windows, +looking slightly preoccupied. + +“Wait a moment,” said Hermione suddenly. “Oh no ... +Sirius!” + +“What’s happened?” said Harry, and he snatched at +the paper so violently that it ripped down the middle +so that he and Hermione were holding half each. + +“ ‘The Ministry of Magic has received a tip-off from a +reliable source that Sirius Black, notorious mass +murderer . . . blah blah blah ...is currently hiding in +London\ ’ ” Hermione read from her half in an +anguished whisper. + + + +Page | 365Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Lucius Malfoy, I’ll bet anything,” said Harry in a low, +furious voice. “He did recognize Sirius on the +platform...” + +“What?” said Ron, looking alarmed. “You didn’t say — + + + +“Shh!” said the other two. + +"... ‘Ministry warns Wizarding community that Black is +very dangerous . . . killed thirteen people . . . broke out of +Azkaban ...’ the usual rubbish,” Hermione concluded, +laying down her half of the paper and looking fearfully +at Harry and Ron. “Well, he just won’t be able to leave +the house again, that’s all,” she whispered. +“Dumbledore did warn him not to.” + +Harry looked down glumly at the bit of the Prophet he +had torn off. Most of the page was devoted to an +advertisement for Madame Malkin’s Robes for All +Occasions, which was apparently having a sale. + +“Hey!” he said, flattening it down so Hermione and +Ron could both see it. “Look at this!” + +“I’ve got all the robes I want,” said Ron. + +“No,” said Harry, “look ... this little piece here ...” + +Ron and Hermione bent closer to read it; the item was +barely an inch long and placed right at the bottom of +a column. It was headlined: + +TRESPASS AT MINISTRY + +Sturgis Podmore, 38, of number two, Laburnum +Gardens, Clapham, has appeared in front of the +Wizengamot charged with trespass and attempted +robbery at the Ministry of Magic on 31st August. + +Page | 366Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Podmore was arrested by Ministry of Magic watch- +wizard Eric Munch, who found him attempting to +force his way through a top-security door at one +o’clock in the morning. Podmore, who refused to +speak in his own defense, was convicted on both +charges and sentenced to six months in Azkaban. + +“Sturgis Podmore?” said Ron slowly, “but he’s that +bloke who looks like his head’s been thatched, isn’t +he? He’s one of the Ord — ” + +“Ron, shh\” said Hermione, casting a terrified look +around them. + +“Six months in Azkaban!” whispered Harry, shocked. +“Just for trying to get through a door!” + +“Don’t be silly, it wasn’t just for trying to get through +a door — what on earth was he doing at the Ministry +of Magic at one o’clock in the morning?” breathed +Hermione. + +“D’you reckon he was doing something for the Order?” +Ron muttered. + +“Wait a moment...” said Harry slowly. “Sturgis was +supposed to come and see us off, remember?” + +The other two looked at him. + +“Yeah, he was supposed to be part of our guard going +to King’s Cross, remember? And Moody was all +annoyed because he didn’t turn up, so that doesn’t +seem like he was supposed to be on a iob for them, +does it?” + +“Well, maybe they didn’t expect him to get caught,” +said Hermione. + + + +Page | 367Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It could be a frame-up!” Ron exclaimed excitedly. “No +— listen!” he went on, dropping his voice dramatically +at the threatening look on Hermione’s face. “The +Ministry suspects he’s one of Dumbledore’s lot so — I +dunno — they lured him to the Ministry, and he +wasn’t trying to get through a door at all! Maybe +they’ve just made something up to get him!” + +There was a pause while Harry and Hermione +considered this. Harry thought it seemed far-fetched; +Hermione, on the other hand, looked rather +impressed and said, “Do you know, I wouldn’t be at +all surprised if that were true.” + +She folded up her half of the newspaper thoughtfully. +When Harry laid down his knife and fork she seemed +to come out of a reverie. + +“Right, well, I think we should tackle that essay for +Sprout on Self-Fertilizing Shrubs first, and if we’re +lucky we’ll be able to start McGonagall’s Inanimatus +Conjurus before lunch...” + +Harry felt a small twinge of guilt at the thought of the +pile of homework awaiting him upstairs, but the sky +was a clear, exhilarating blue, and he had not been +on his Firebolt for a week... + +“I mean, we can do it tonight,” said Ron, as he and +Harry walked down the sloping lawns toward the +Quidditch pitch, their broomsticks over their +shoulders, Hermione’s dire warnings that they would +fail all their O.W.L.s still ringing in their ears. “And +we’ve got tomorrow. She gets too worked up about +work, that’s her trouble...” There was a pause and he +added, in a slightly more anxious tone, “D’you think +she meant it when she said we weren’t copying from +her?” + + + +Page | 368Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, I do,” said Harry. “Still, this is important too, +we’ve got to practice if we want to stay on the +Quidditch team...” + +“Yeah, that’s right,” said Ron in a heartened tone. + +“And we have got plenty of time to do it all...” + +Harry glanced over to his right as they approached +the Quidditch pitch, to where the trees of the +Forbidden Forest were swaying darkly. Nothing flew +out of them; the sky was empty but for a few distant +owls fluttering around the Owlery Tower. He had +enough to worry about; the flying horse wasn’t doing +him any harm: He pushed it out of his mind. + +They collected balls from the cupboard in the +changing room and set to work, Ron guarding the +three tall goalposts, Harry playing Chaser and trying +to get the Quaffle past Ron. Harry thought Ron was +pretty good; he blocked three-quarters of the goals +Harry attempted to put past him and played better +the longer they practiced. After a couple of hours they +returned to the school, where they ate lunch, during +which Hermione made it quite clear that she thought +they were irresponsible, then returned to the +Quidditch pitch for the real training session. All their +teammates but Angelina were already in the changing +room when they entered. + +“All right, Ron?” said George, winking at him. + +“Yeah,” said Ron, who had become quieter and +quieter all the way down to the pitch. + +“Ready to show us all up, Ickle Prefect?” said Fred, +emerging tousle-haired from the neck of his Quidditch +robes, a slightly malicious grin on his face. + + + +Page | 369Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Shut up,” said Ron, stony-faced, pulling on his own +team robes for the first time. They fitted him well +considering they had been Oliver Wood’s, who was +rather broader in the shoulder. + +“Okay everyone,” said Angelina, entering from the +Captain’s office, already changed. “Let’s get to it; + +Alicia and Fred, if you can just bring the ball crate +out for us. Oh, and there are a couple of people out +there watching but I want you to just ignore them, all +right?” + +Something in her would-be casual voice made Harry +think he might know who the uninvited spectators +were, and sure enough, when they left the changing +room for the bright sunlight of the pitch it was to a +storm of catcalls and jeers from the Slytherin +Quidditch team and assorted hangers-on, who were +grouped halfway up the empty stands and whose +voices echoed loudly around the stadium. + +“What’s that Weasley’s riding?” Malfoy called in his +sneering drawl. “Why would anyone put a Flying +Charm on a moldy old log like that?” + +Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson guffawed and +shrieked with laughter. Ron mounted his broom and +kicked off from the ground and Harry followed him, +watching his ears turn red from behind. + +“Ignore them,” he said, accelerating to catch up with +Ron. “We’ll see who’s laughing after we play them...” + +“Exactly the attitude I want, Harry,” said Angelina +approvingly, soaring around them with the Quaffle +under her arm and slowing to hover on the spot in +front of her airborne team. “Okay everyone, we’re +going to start with some passes just to warm up, the +whole team please — ” + +Page | 370Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hey, Johnson, what’s with that hairstyle anyway?” +shrieked Pansy Parkinson from below. “Why would +anyone want to look like they’ve got worms coming +out of their head?” + +Angelina swept her long braided hair out of her face +and said calmly, “Spread out, then, and let’s see what +we can do...” + +Harry reversed away from the others to the far side of +the pitch. Ron fell back toward the opposite goal. +Angelina raised the Quaffle with one hand and threw +it hard to Fred, who passed to George, who passed to +Harry, who passed to Ron, who dropped it. + +The Slytherins, led by Malfoy, roared and screamed +with laughter. Ron, who had pelted toward the +ground to catch the Quaffle before it landed, pulled +out of the dive untidily, so that he slipped sideways +on his broom, and returned to playing height, +blushing. Harry saw Fred and George exchange looks, +but uncharacteristically neither of them said +anything, for which he was grateful. + +“Pass it on, Ron,” called Angelina, as though nothing +had happened. + +Ron threw the Quaffle to Alicia, who passed back to +Harry, who passed to George... + +“Hey, Potter, how’s your scar feeling?” called Malfoy. +“Sure you don’t need a lie-down? It must be, what, a +whole week since you were in the hospital wing, that’s +a record for you, isn’t it?” + +Fred passed to Angelina; she reverse passed to Harry, +who had not been expecting it, but caught it in the +very tips of his fingers and passed it quickly to Ron, +who lunged for it and missed by inches. + +Page | 371Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Come on now, Ron,” said Angelina crossly, as Ron +dived for the ground again, chasing the Quaffle. “Pay +attention.” + +It would have been hard to say whether Ron’s face or +the Quaffle was a deeper scarlet when he returned +again to playing height. Malfoy and the rest of the +Slytherin team were howling with laughter. + +On his third attempt, Ron caught the Quaffle; +perhaps out of relief he passed it on so +enthusiastically that it soared straight through Katie’s +outstretched hands and hit her hard in the face. + +“Sorry!” Ron groaned, zooming forward to see whether +he had done any damage. + +“Get back in position, she’s fine!” barked Angelina. +“But as you’re passing to a teammate, do try not to +knock her off her broom, won’t you? We’ve got +Bludgers for that!” + +Katie’s nose was bleeding. Down below the Slytherins +were stamping their feet and jeering. Fred and George +converged on Katie. + +“Here, take this,” Fred told her, handing her +something small and purple from out of his pocket. +“It’ll clear it up in no time.” + +“All right,” called Angelina, “Fred, George, go and get +your bats and a Bludger; Ron, get up to the goalposts, +Harry, release the Snitch when I say so. We’re going +to aim for Ron’s goal, obviously.” + +Harry zoomed off after the twins to fetch the Snitch. + +“Ron’s making a right pig’s ear of things, isn’t he?” +muttered George, as the three of them landed at the + +Page | 372Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +crate containing the balls and opened it to extract one +of the Bludgers and the Snitch. + +“He’s just nervous,” said Harry. “He was fine when I +was practicing with him this morning.” + +“Yeah, well, I hope he hasn’t peaked too soon,” said +Fred gloomily. + +They returned to the air. When Angelina blew her +whistle, Harry released the Snitch and Fred and +George let fly the Bludger; from that moment on, + +Harry was barely aware of what the others were +doing. It was his job to recapture the tiny fluttering +golden ball that was worth a hundred and fifty points +to the Seeker’s team and doing so required enormous +speed and skill. He accelerated, rolling and swerving +in and out of the Chasers, the warm autumn air +whipping his face and the distant yells of the +Slytherins so much meaningless roaring in his ears... +But too soon, the whistle brought him to a halt again. + +“Stop — stop - STOP!” screamed Angelina. “Ron — +you’re not covering your middle post!” + +Harry looked around at Ron, who was hovering in +front of the left-hand hoop, leaving the other two +completely unprotected. + +“Oh ... sorry ...” + +“You keep shifting around while you’re watching the +Chasers!” said Angelina. “Either stay in center +position until you have to move to defend a hoop, or +else circle the hoops, but don’t drift vaguely off to one +side, that’s how you let in the last three goals!” + +“Sorry ...” Ron repeated, his red face shining like a +beacon against the bright blue sky. + +Page | 373Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And Katie, can’t you do something about that +nosebleed?” + +“It’s just getting worse!” said Katie thickly, attempting +to stem the flow with her sleeve. + +Harry glanced around at Fred, who was looking +anxious and checking his pockets. He saw Fred pull +out something purple, examine it for a second, and +then look around at Katie, evidently horrorstruck. + +“Well, let’s try again,” said Angelina. She was ignoring +the Slytherins, who had now set up a chant of +“ Gryffindor are losers, Gryffindor are losers,” but there +was a certain rigidity about her seat on the broom +nevertheless. + +This time they had been flying for barely three +minutes when Angelina’s whistle sounded. Harry, +who had just sighted the Snitch circling the opposite +goalpost, pulled up feeling distinctly aggrieved. + +“What now?” he said impatiently to Alicia, who was +nearest. + +“Katie,” she said shortly. + +Harry turned and saw Angelina, Fred, and George all +flying as fast as they could toward Katie. Harry and +Alicia sped toward her too. It was plain that Angelina +had stopped training just in time; Katie was now +chalk- white and covered in blood. + +“She needs the hospital wing,” said Angelina. + +“We’ll take her,” said Fred. “She — er — might have +swallowed a Blood Blisterpod by mistake — ” + + + +Page | 374Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, there’s no point continuing with no Beaters and +a Chaser gone,” said Angelina glumly, as Fred and +George zoomed off toward the castle supporting Katie +between them. “Come on, let’s go and get changed.” + +The Slytherins continued to chant as they trailed +back into the changing rooms. + +“How was practice?” asked Hermione rather coolly +half an hour later, as Harry and Ron climbed through +the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room. + +“It was — ” Harry began. + +“Completely lousy,” said Ron in a hollow voice, +sinking into a chair beside Hermione. She looked up +at Ron and her frostiness seemed to melt. + +“Well, it was only your first one,” she said consolingly, +“it’s bound to take time to — ” + +“Who said it was me who made it lousy?” snapped +Ron. + +“No one,” said Hermione, looking taken aback, “I +thought — ” + +“You thought I was bound to be rubbish?” + +“No, of course I didn’t! Look, you said it was lousy so I +just — ” + +“I’m going to get started on some homework,” said +Ron angrily and stomped off to the staircase to the +boys’ dormitories and vanished from sight. Hermione +turned to Harry. + +“ Was he lousy?” + + + +Page | 375Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry loyally. + +Hermione raised her eyebrows. + +“Well, I suppose he could’ve played better,” Harry +muttered, “but it was only the first training session, +like you said...” + +Neither Harry nor Ron seemed to make much +headway with their homework that night. Harry knew +Ron was too preoccupied with how badly he had +performed at Quidditch practice and he himself was +having difficulty in getting the chant of “Gryffindor are +losers” out of his head. + +They spent the whole of Sunday in the common room, +buried in their books while the room around them +filled up, then emptied: It was another clear, fine day +and most of their fellow Gryffindors spent the day out +in the grounds, enjoying what might well be some of +the last sunshine that year. By the evening Harry felt +as though somebody had been beating his brain +against the inside of his skull. + +“You know, we probably should try and get more +homework done during the week,” Harry muttered to +Ron, as they finally laid aside Professor McGonagall’s +long essay on the Inanimatus Conjurus spell and +turned miserably to Professor Sinistra ’s equally long +and difficult essay about Jupiter’s moons. + +“Yeah,” said Ron, rubbing slightly bloodshot eyes and +throwing his fifth spoiled bit of parchment into the +fire beside them. “Listen ... shall we just ask +Hermione if we can have a look at what she’s done?” + +Harry glanced over at her; she was sitting with +Crookshanks on her lap and chatting merrily to +Ginny as a pair of knitting needles flashed in midair + +Page | 376Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +in front of her, now knitting a pair of shapeless elf +socks. + + + +“No,” he said heavily, “you know she won’t let us.” + +And so they worked on while the sky outside the +windows became steadily darker; slowly, the crowd in +the common room began to thin again. At half-past +eleven, Hermione wandered over to them, yawning. + +“Nearly done?” + +“No,” said Ron shortly. + +“Jupiter’s biggest moon is Ganymede, not Callisto,” +she said, pointing over Ron’s shoulder at a line in his +Astronomy essay, “and it’s Io that’s got the volcanos.” + +“Thanks,” snarled Ron, scratching out the offending +sentences. + +“Sorry, I only — ” + +“Yeah, well, if you’ve just come over here to criticize — + + + +“Ron — ” + +“I haven’t got time to listen to a sermon, all right, +Hermione, I’m up to my neck in it here — ” + +“No — look!” + +Hermione was pointing to the nearest window. Harry +and Ron both looked over. A handsome screech owl +was standing on the windowsill, gazing into the room +at Ron. + + + +Page | 377Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Isn’t that Hermes?” said Hermione, sounding +amazed. + +“Blimey, it is!” said Ron quietly, throwing down his +quill and getting to his feet. “What’s Percy writing to +me for?” + +He crossed to the window and opened it; Hermes flew +inside, landed upon Ron’s essay, and held out a leg to +which a letter was attached. Ron took it off and the +owl departed at once, leaving inky footprints across +Ron’s drawing of the moon Io. + +“That’s definitely Percy’s handwriting,” said Ron, +sinking back into his chair and staring at the words +on the outside of the scroll: To Ronald Weasley, +Gryffindor House, Hogwarts. He looked up at the +other two. “What d’you reckon?” + +“Open it!” said Hermione eagerly. Harry nodded. + +Ron unrolled the scroll and began to read. The farther +down the parchment his eyes traveled, the more +pronounced became his scowl. When he had finished +reading, he looked disgusted. He thrust the letter at +Harry and Hermione, who leaned toward each other +to read it together: + +Dear Ron, + +I have only just heard (from no less a person than the +Minister of Magic himself, who has it from your new +teacher, Professor Umbridge) that you have become a +Hogwarts prefect + +I was most pleasantly surprised when I heard this +news and must firstly offer my congratulations. I must +admit that I have always been afraid that you would +take what we might call the “Fred and George ” route, + +Page | 378Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +rather than following in my footsteps, so you can +imagine my feelings on hearing you have stopped +flouting authority and have decided to shoulder some +real responsibility. + +But I want to give you more than congratulations, Ron, + +I want to give you some advice, which is why I am +sending this at night rather than by the usual morning +post Hopefully you will be able to read this away from +prying eyes and avoid awkward questions. + +From something the Minister let slip when telling me +you are now a prefect, I gather that you are still seeing +a lot of Harry Potter. I must tell you, Ron, that nothing +could put you in danger of losing your badge more than +continued fraternization with that boy. Yes, I am sure +you are surprised to hear this — no doubt you will say +that Potter has always been Dumbledore’s favorite — +but I feel bound to tell you that Dumbledore may not be +in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the people who +count have a very different — and probably more +accurate — view of Potters behavior. I shall say no +more here, but if you look at the Daily Prophet +tomorrow you will get a good idea of the way the wind +is blowing — and see if you can spot yours truly! + +Seriously, Ron, you do not want to be tarred with the +same brush as Potter, it could be very damaging to +your future prospects, and I am talking here about life +after school too. As you must be aware, given that our +father escorted him to court, Potter had a disciplinary +hearing this summer in front of the whole Wizengamot +and he did not come out of it looking too good. He got +off on a mere technicality if you ask me and many of +the people I’ve spoken to remain convinced of his guilt. + +It may be that you are afraid to sever ties with Potter +— I know that he can be unbalanced and, for all I +know, violent — but if you have any worries about this, + +Page | 379Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +or have spotted anything else in Potter’s behavior that +is troubling you, I urge you to speak to Dolores +Umbridge, a really delightful woman, who I know will +be only too happy to advise you. + +This leads me to my other bit of advice. As I have +hinted above, Dumbledore’s regime at Hog warts may +soon be over. Your loyalty, Ron, should be not to him, +but to the school and the Ministry. I am very sorry to +hear that so far Professor Umbridge is encountering +very little cooperation from staff as she strives to make +those necessary changes within Hogwarts that the +Ministry so ardently desires (although she should find +this easier from next week — again, see the Prophet +tomorrow!). I shall say only this — a student who +shows himself willing to help Professor Umbridge now +may be very well placed for Head Boy ship in a couple +of years! + +I am sorry that I was unable to see more of you over +the summer. It pains me to criticize our parents, but I +am afraid I can no longer live under their roof while +they remain mixed up with the dangerous crowd +around Dumbledore (if you are writing to Mother at any +point, you might tell her that a certain Sturgis Podmore, +who is a great friend of Dumbledore’s, has recently +been sent to Azkaban for trespass at the Ministry. +Perhaps that will open their eyes to the kind of petty +criminals with whom they are currently rubbing +shoulders). I count myself very lucky to have escaped +the stigma of association with such people — the +Minister really could not be more gracious to me — and +I do hope, Ron, that you will not allow family ties to +blind you to the misguided nature of our parents’ +beliefs and actions either. I sincerely hope that, in time, +they will realize how mistaken they were and I shall, +of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that +day comes. + + + +Page | 380Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Please think over what I have said most carefully, +particularly the bit about Harry Potter, and +congratulations again on becoming prefect. + +Your brother, + +Percy + +Harry looked up at Ron. + +“Well,” he said, trying to sound as though he found +the whole thing a joke, “if you want to — er — what is +it?” (He checked Percy’s letter.) “Oh yeah — ‘sever ties’ +with me, I swear I won’t get violent.” + +“Give it back,” said Ron, holding out his hand. “He is +— ” Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy’s letter in half, “the +world’s” — he tore it into quarters — “biggest” — he +tore it into eighths — “git.” He threw the pieces into +the fire. + +“Come on, we’ve got to get this finished some time +before dawn,” he said briskly to Harry, pulling +Professor Sinistra ’s essay back toward him. + +Hermione was looking at Ron with an odd expression +on her face. + +“Oh, give them here,” she said abruptly. + +“What?” said Ron. + +“Give them to me, I’ll look through them and correct +them,” she said. + +“Are you serious? Ah, Hermione, you’re a lifesaver,” +said Ron, “what can I — ?” + + + +Page | 381Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What you can say is, ‘We promise well never leave +our homework this late again,’ ” she said, holding out +both hands for their essays, but she looked slightly +amused all the same. + +“Thanks a million, Hermione,” said Harry weakly, +passing over his essay and sinking back into his +armchair, rubbing his eyes. + +It was now past midnight and the common room was +deserted but for the three of them and Crookshanks. +The only sound was that of Hermione’s quill +scratching out sentences here and there on their +essays and the ruffle of pages as she checked various +facts in the reference books strewn across the table. +Harry was exhausted. He also felt an odd, sick, empty +feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with +tiredness and everything to do with the letter now +curling blackly in the heart of the fire. + +He knew that half the people inside Hogwarts thought +him strange, even mad; he knew that the Daily +Prophet had been making snide allusions to him for +months, but there was something about seeing it +written down like that in Percy’s writing, about +knowing that Percy was advising Ron to drop him and +even to tell tales on him to Umbridge, that made his +situation real to him as nothing else had. He had +known Percy for four years, had stayed in his house +during the summers, shared a tent with him during +the Quidditch World Cup, had even been awarded full +marks by him in the second task of the Triwizard +Tournament last year, yet now, Percy thought him +unbalanced and possibly violent. + +And with a surge of sympathy for his godfather, Harry +thought that Sirius was probably the only person he +knew who could really understand how he felt at the +moment, because Sirius was in the same situation; + +Page | 382Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +nearly everyone in the Wizarding world thought Sirius +a dangerous murderer and a great Voldemort +supporter and he had had to live with that knowledge +for fourteen years... + +Harry blinked. He had just seen something in the fire +that could not have been there. It had flashed into +sight and vanished immediately. No ... it could not +have been... He had imagined it because he had been +thinking about Sirius... + +“Okay, write that down,” Hermione said to Ron, +pushing his essay and a sheet covered in her own +writing back to Ron, “and then copy out this +conclusion that I’ve written for you.” + +“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful +person I’ve ever met,” said Ron weakly, “and if I’m +ever rude to you again — ” + +“ — I’ll know you’re back to normal,” said Hermione. +“Harry, yours is okay except for this bit at the end, I +think you must have misheard Professor Sinistra, +Europa’s covered in ice, not mice — Harry?” + +Harry had slid off his chair onto his knees and was +now crouching on the singed and threadbare +hearthrug, gazing into the flames. + +“Er — Harry?” said Ron uncertainly. “Why are you +down there?” + +“Because I’ve just seen Sirius’s head in the fire,” said +Harry. + +He spoke quite calmly; after all, he had seen Sirius’s +head in this very fire the previous year and talked to +it too. Nevertheless, he could not be sure that he had +really seen it this time... It had vanished so quickly... + +Page | 383Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Sirius’s head?” Hermione repeated. “You mean like +when he wanted to talk to you during the Triwizard +Tournament? But he wouldn’t do that now, it would +be too — Siriusl” + +She gasped, gazing at the fire; Ron dropped his quill. +There in the middle of the dancing flames sat Sirius’s +head, long dark hair falling around his grinning face. + +“I was starting to think you’d go to bed before +everyone else had disappeared,” he said. “I’ve been +checking every hour.” + +“You’ve been popping into the fire every hour?” Harry +said, half laughing. + +“Just for a few seconds to check if the coast was clear +yet.” + +“But what if you’d been seen?” said Hermione +anxiously. + +“Well, I think a girl — first year by the look of her — +might’ve got a glimpse of me earlier, but don’t worry,” +Sirius said hastily, as Hermione clapped a hand to +her mouth. “I was gone the moment she looked back +at me and I’ll bet she just thought I was an oddly +shaped log or something.” + +“But Sirius, this is taking an awful risk — ” Hermione +began. + +“You sound like Molly,” said Sirius. “This was the only +way I could come up with of answering Harry’s letter +without resorting to a code — and codes are +breakable.” + +At the mention of Harry’s letter, Hermione and Ron +had both turned to stare at him. + +Page | 384Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You didn’t say you’d written to Sirius!” said +Hermione accusingly. + + + +“I forgot,” said Harry, which was perfectly true; his +meeting with Cho in the Owlery had driven everything +before it out of his mind. “Don’t look at me like that, +Hermione, there was no way anyone would have got +secret information out of it, was there, Sirius?” + +“No, it was very good,” said Sirius, smiling. “Anyway, +we’d better be quick, just in case we’re disturbed — +your scar.” + +“What about — ?” Ron began, but Hermione said +quickly, “We’ll tell you afterward, go on, Sirius.” + +“Well, I know it can’t be fun when it hurts, but we +don’t think it’s anything to really worry about. It kept +aching all last year, didn’t it?” + +“Yeah, and Dumbledore said it happened whenever +Voldemort was feeling a powerful emotion,” said +Harry, ignoring, as usual, Ron and Hermione ’s +winces. “So maybe he was just, I dunno, really angry +or something the night I had that detention.” + +“Well, now he’s back it’s bound to hurt more often,” +said Sirius. + +“So you don’t think it had anything to do with +Umbridge touching me when I was in detention with +her?” Harry asked. + +“I doubt it,” said Sirius. “I know her by reputation and +I’m sure she’s no Death Eater — ” + +“She’s foul enough to be one,” said Harry darkly and +Ron and Hermione nodded vigorously in agreement. + +Page | 385Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, but the world isn’t split into good people and +Death Eaters,” said Sirius with a wry smile. “I know +she’s a nasty piece of work, though — you should +hear Remus talk about her.” + +“Does Lupin know her?” asked Harry quickly, +remembering Umbridge’s comments about dangerous +half-breeds during her first lesson. + +“No,” said Sirius, “but she drafted a bit of anti- +werewolf legislation two years ago that makes it +almost impossible for him to get a job.” + +Harry remembered how much shabbier Lupin looked +these days and his dislike of Umbridge deepened even +further. + +“What’s she got against werewolves?” said Hermione +angrily. + +“Scared of them, I expect,” said Sirius, smiling at her +indignation. “Apparently she loathes part-humans; +she campaigned to have mer-people rounded up and +tagged last year too. Imagine wasting your time and +energy persecuting merpeople when there are little +toerags like Kreacher on the loose — ” + +Ron laughed but Hermione looked upset. + +“Sirius!” she said reproachfully. “Honestly, if you +made a bit of an effort with Kreacher I’m sure he’d +respond, after all, you are the only member of his +family he’s got left, and Professor Dumbledore said — ” + +“So what are Umbridge’s lessons like?” Sirius +interrupted. “Is she training you all to kill half- +breeds?” + + + +Page | 386Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry, ignoring Hermione’s affronted look +at being cut off in her defense of Kreacher. “She’s not +letting us use magic at all!” + +“All we do is read the stupid textbook,” said Ron. + +“Ah, well, that figures,” said Sirius. “Our information +from inside the Ministry is that Fudge doesn’t want +you trained in combat.” + +“ Trained in combat?” repeated Harry incredulously. +“What does he think we’re doing here, forming some +sort of wizard army?” + +“That’s exactly what he thinks you’re doing,” said +Sirius, “or rather, that’s exactly what he’s afraid +Dumbledore’s doing — forming his own private army, +with which he will be able to take on the Ministry of +Magic.” + +There was a pause at this, then Ron said, “That’s the +stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, including all the stuff +that Luna Lovegood comes out with.” + +“So we’re being prevented from learning Defense +Against the Dark Arts because Fudge is scared we’ll +use spells against the Ministry?” said Hermione, +looking furious. + +“Yep,” said Sirius. “Fudge thinks Dumbledore will +stop at nothing to seize power. He’s getting more +paranoid about Dumbledore by the day. It’s a matter +of time before he has Dumbledore arrested on some +trumped-up charge.” + +This reminded Harry of Percy’s letter. + + + +Page | 387Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“D’you know if there’s going to be anything about +Dumbledore in the Daily Prophet tomorrow? Only +Ron’s brother Percy reckons there will be — ” + +“I don’t know,” said Sirius, “I haven’t seen anyone +from the Order all weekend, they’re all busy. It’s just +been Kreacher and me here...” + +There was a definite note of bitterness in Sirius’s +voice. + +“So you haven’t had any news about Hagrid, either?” + +“Ah ...” said Sirius, “well, he was supposed to be back +by now, no one’s sure what’s happened to him.” Then, +seeing their stricken faces, he added quickly, “But +Dumbledore’s not worried, so don’t you three get +yourselves in a state; I’m sure Hagrid’s fine.” + +“But if he was supposed to be back by now ...” said +Hermione in a small, worried voice. + +“Madame Maxime was with him, we’ve been in touch +with her and she says they got separated on the +journey home — but there’s nothing to suggest he’s +hurt or — well, nothing to suggest he’s not perfectly +okay.” + +Unconvinced, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged +worried looks. + +“Listen, don’t go asking too many questions about +Hagrid,” said Sirius hastily, “it’ll just draw even more +attention to the fact that he’s not back, and I know +Dumbledore doesn’t want that. Hagrid’s tough, he’ll +be okay.” And when they did not appear cheered by +this, Sirius added, “When’s your next Hogsmeade +weekend anyway? I was thinking, we got away with + + + +Page | 388Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the dog disguise at the station, didn’t we? I thought I +could — ” + + + +“NO!” said Harry and Hermione together, very loudly. + +“Sirius, didn’t you see the Daily Prophet?” said +Hermione anxiously. + +“Oh that,” said Sirius, grinning, “they’re always +guessing where I am, they haven’t really got a clue — ” + +“Yeah, but we think this time they have,” said Harry. +“Something Malfoy said on the train made us think he +knew it was you, and his father was on the platform, +Sirius — you know, Lucius Malfoy — so don’t come +up here, whatever you do, if Malfoy recognizes you +again — ” + +“All right, all right, I’ve got the point,” said Sirius. He +looked most displeased. “Just an idea, thought you +might like to get together — ” + +“I would, I just don’t want you chucked back in +Azkaban!” said Harry. + +There was a pause in which Sirius looked out of the +fire at Harry, a crease between his sunken eyes. + +“You’re less like your father than I thought,” he said +finally, a definite coolness in his voice. “The risk +would’ve been what made it fun for James.” + +“Look — ” + +“Well, I’d better get going, I can hear Kreacher coming +down the stairs,” said Sirius, but Harry was sure he +was lying. “I’ll write to tell you a time I can make it +back into the fire, then, shall I? If you can stand to +risk it?” + +Page | 389Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was a tiny pop, and the place where Sirius’s +head had been was flickering flame once more. + + + +Page | 390Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE HOGWARTS HIGH INQUISITOR + +They had expected to have to comb Hermione’s Daily +Prophet carefully next morning to find the article +Percy had mentioned in his letter. However, the +departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of +the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp and +flattened the newspaper to reveal a large photograph +of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking +slowly at them from beneath the headline: + +MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM + +DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER +“HIGH INQUISITOR” + +“ “High Inquisitor’?” said Harry darkly, his half-eaten +bit of toast slipping from his fingers. “What does that +mean?” + +Hermione read aloud: + +“In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic +passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented + +Page | 391Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and +Wizardry. + +“ ‘The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings- +on at Hogwarts for some time,’ said Junior Assistant to +the Minister, Percy Weasley. ‘He is now responding to +concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the +school may be moving in a direction they do not +approve.’ + +“This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has +used new laws to effect improvements at the +Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th +Educational Decree Twenty -two was passed, to ensure +that, in the event of the current headmaster being +unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the +Ministry should select an appropriate person. + +“ ‘That’s how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed +to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,’ said Weasley last +night. ‘Dumbledore couldn’t find anyone, so the +Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she’s been an +immediate success — ’ ” + +“She’s been a WHAT?” said Harry loudly. + +“Wait, there’s more,” said Hermione grimly. + +“ ‘ — an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the +teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and +providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback +about what’s really happening at Hogwarts.’ + +“It is this last function that the Ministry has now +formalized with the passing of Educational Decree +Twenty-three, which creates the new position of +‘Hogwarts High Inquisitor.’ + + + +Page | 392Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ ‘This is an exciting new phase in the Minister’s plan +to get to grips with what some are calling the “falling +standards” at Hog warts,’ said Weasley. ‘The Inquisitor +will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and +make sure that they are coming up to scratch. + +Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in +addition to her own teaching post, and we are +delighted to say that she has accepted.’ + +“The Ministry’s new moves have received enthusiastic +support from parents of students at Hogwarts. + +“ ‘I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that +Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective +evaluation,’ said Mr. Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from +his Wiltshire mansion last night. ‘Many of us with our +children’s best interests at heart have been concerned +about some of Dumbledore’s eccentric decisions in the +last few years and will be glad to know that the +Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.’ + +“Among those ‘eccentric decisions’ are undoubtedly the +controversial staff appointments previously described +in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of +werewolf Remus Lupin, half giant Rubeus Hagrid, and +delusional ex-Auror ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody. + +“Rumors abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, +once Supreme Mugwump of the International +Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the +Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing +the prestigious school of Hogwarts. + +“ ‘I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step +toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in +whom we can all repose confidence,’ said a Ministry +insider last night. + + + +Page | 393Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Wizengamot elders Gris elda M archbanks and Tiberius +Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of +the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts. + +“ ‘Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius +Fudge’s office,’ said Madam Marchbanks. ‘This is a +further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus +Dumbledore.’ (For a full account of Madam +Marchbanks’ alleged links to subversive goblin groups, +turn to page 17].” + +Hermione finished reading and looked across the +table at the other two. + +“So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! +Fudge passed this ‘Educational Decree’ and forced +her on us! And now he’s given her the power to +inspect other teachers!” Hermione was breathing fast +and her eyes were very bright. “I can’t believe this. It’s +outrageous...” + +“I know it is,” said Harry. He looked down at his right +hand, clenched upon the tabletop, and saw the faint +white outline of the words Umbridge had forced him +to cut into his skin. + +But a grin was unfurling on Ron’s face. + +“What?” said Harry and Hermione together, staring at +him. + +“Oh, I can’t wait to see McGonagall inspected,” said +Ron happily. “Umbridge won’t know what’s hit her.” + +“Well, come on,” said Hermione, jumping up, “we’d +better get going, if she’s inspecting Binns’s class we +don’t want to be late...” + + + +Page | 394Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But Professor Umbridge was not inspecting their +History of Magic lesson, which was just as dull as the +previous Monday, nor was she in Snape’s dungeon +when they arrived for double Potions, where Harry’s +moonstone essay was handed back to him with a +large, spiky black D scrawled in an upper corner. + +“I have awarded you the grades you would have +received if you presented this work in your O.W.L,” +said Snape with a smirk, as he swept among them, +passing back their homework. “This should give you a +realistic idea of what to expect in your examination.” + +Snape reached the front of the class and turned to +face them. + +“The general standard of this homework was abysmal. +Most of you would have failed had this been your +examination. I expect to see a great deal more effort +for this week’s essay on the various varieties of venom +antidotes, or I shall have to start handing out +detentions to those dunces who get D’s.” + +He smirked as Malfoy sniggered and said in a +carrying whisper, “Some people got D’s? Ha!” + +Harry realized that Hermione was looking sideways to +see what grade he had received; he slid his +moonstone essay back into his bag as quickly as +possible, feeling that he would rather keep that +information private. + +Determined not to give Snape an excuse to fail him +this lesson, Harry read and reread every line of the +instructions on the blackboard at least three times +before acting on them. His Strengthening Solution +was not precisely the clear turquoise shade of +Hermione ’s but it was at least blue rather than pink, +like Neville’s, and he delivered a flask of it to Snape’s +Page | 395Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +desk at the end of the lesson with a feeling of mingled +defiance and relief. + +“Well, that wasn’t as bad as last week, was it?” said +Hermione, as they climbed the steps out of the +dungeon and made their way across the entrance hall +toward lunch. “And the homework didn’t go too badly +either, did it?” + +When neither Ron nor Harry answered, she pressed +on, “I mean, all right, I didn’t expect the top grade, +not if he’s marking to O.W.L. standard, but a pass is +quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn’t you say?” + +Harry made a noncommittal noise in his throat. + +“Of course, a lot can happen between now and the +exam, we’ve got plenty of time to improve, but the +grades we’re getting now are a sort of baseline, aren’t +they? Something we can build on ...” + +They sat down together at the Gryffindor table. + +“Obviously, I’d have been thrilled if I’d gotten an O — ” + +“Hermione,” said Ron sharply, “if you want to know +what grades we got, ask.” + +“I don’t — I didn’t mean — well, if you want to tell me + + + +“I got a P,” said Ron, ladling soup into his bowl. +“Happy?” + +“Well, that’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Fred, +who had just arrived at the table with George and Lee +Jordan and was sitting down on Harry’s right. +“Nothing wrong with a good healthy P.” + + + +Page | 396Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But,” said Hermione, “doesn’t P stand for ...” + +“ Boor,’ yeah,” said Lee Jordan. “Still, better than D, +isn’t it? ‘Dreadful’?” + +Harry felt his face grow warm and faked a small +coughing fit over his roll. When he emerged from this +he was sorry to find that Hermione was still in full +flow about O.W.L. grades. + +“So top grade’s O for ‘Outstanding,’ ” she was saying, +“and then there’s A — ” + +“No, E,” George corrected her, “E for ‘Exceeds +Expectations.’ And I’ve always thought Fred and I +should’ve got E in everything, because we exceeded +expectations just by turning up for the exams.” + +They all laughed except Hermione, who plowed on, + +“So after E, it’s A for ‘Acceptable,’ and that’s the last +pass grade, isn’t it?” + +“Yep,” said Fred, dunking an entire roll in his soup, +transferring it to his mouth, and swallowing it whole. + +“Then you get P for ‘Poor’ ” — Ron raised both his +arms in mock celebration — “and D for ‘Dreadful.’ ” + +“And then T,” George reminded him. + +“T?” asked Hermione, looking appalled. “Even lower +than a D? What on earth does that stand for?” + +“ Troll,’ ” said George promptly. + +Harry laughed again, though he was not sure whether +or not George was joking. He imagined trying to +conceal from Hermione that he had received T’s in all + + + +Page | 397Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +his O.W.L.s and immediately resolved to work harder +from now on. + +“You lot had an inspected lesson yet?” Fred asked +them. + +“No,” said Hermione at once, “have you?” + +“Just now, before lunch,” said George. “Charms.” + +“What was it like?” Harry and Hermione asked +together. + +Fred shrugged. + +“Not that bad. Umbridge just lurked in the corner +making notes on a clipboard. You know what +Flitwick’s like, he treated her like a guest, didn’t seem +to bother him at all. She didn’t say much. Asked +Alicia a couple of questions about what the classes +are normally like, Alicia told her they were really +good, that was it.” + +“I can’t see old Flitwick getting marked down,” said +George, “he usually gets everyone through their +exams all right.” + +“Who’ve you got this afternoon?” Fred asked Harry. +“Trelawney — ” + +“A T if ever I saw one — ” + +“ — and Umbridge herself.” + +“Well, be a good boy and keep your temper with +Umbridge today,” said George. “Angelina’ll do her nut +if you miss any more Quidditch practices.” + + + +Page | 398Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But Harry did not have to wait for Defense Against +the Dark Arts to meet Professor Umbridge. He was +pulling out his dream diary in a seat at the very back +of the shadowy Divination room when Ron elbowed +him in the ribs and, looking round, he saw Professor +Umbridge emerging through the trapdoor in the floor. +The class, which had been talking cheerily, fell silent +at once. The abrupt fall in the noise level made +Professor Trelawney, who had been wafting about +handing out Dream Oracles, look round. + +“Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney,” said Professor +Umbridge with her wide smile. “You received my note, + +I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?” + +Professor Trelawney nodded curtly and, looking very +disgruntled, turned her back on Professor Umbridge +and continued to give out books. Still smiling, +Professor Umbridge grasped the back of the nearest +armchair and pulled it to the front of the class so that +it was a few inches behind Professor Trelawney’s seat. +She then sat down, took her clipboard from her +flowery bag, and looked up expectantly, waiting for +the class to begin. + +Professor Trelawney pulled her shawls tight about her +with slightly trembling hands and surveyed the class +through her hugely magnifying lenses. “We shall be +continuing our study of prophetic dreams today,” she +said in a brave attempt at her usual mystic tones, +though her voice shook slightly. “Divide into pairs, +please, and interpret each other’s latest nighttime +visions with the aid of the Oracle.” + +She made as though to sweep back to her seat, saw +Professor Umbridge sitting right beside it, and +immediately veered left toward Parvati and Lavender, +who were already deep in discussion about Parvati’s +most recent dream. + +Page | 399Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry opened his copy of The Dream Oracle, watching +Umbridge covertly. She was making notes on her +clipboard now. After a few minutes she got to her feet +and began to pace the room in Trelawney’s wake, +listening to her conversations with students and +posing questions here and there. Harry bent his head +hurriedly over his book. + +“Think of a dream, quick,” he told Ron, “in case the +old toad comes our way.” + +“I did it last time,” Ron protested, “it’s your turn, you +tell me one.” + +“Oh, I dunno ...” said Harry desperately, who could +not remember dreaming anything at all over the last +few days. “Let’s say I dreamed I was ... drowning +Snape in my cauldron. Yeah, that’ll do...” + +Ron chortled as he opened his Dream Oracle. + +“Okay, we’ve got to add your age to the date you had +the dream, the number of letters in the subject ... +would that be ‘drowning’ or ‘cauldron’ or ‘Snape’?” + +“It doesn’t matter, pick any of them,” said Harry, +chancing a glance behind him. Professor Umbridge +was now standing at Professor Trelawney’s shoulder +making notes while the Divination teacher questioned +Neville about his dream diary. + +“What night did you dream this again?” Ron said, +immersed in calculations. + +“I dunno, last night, whenever you like,” Harry told +him, trying to listen to what Umbridge was saying to +Professor Trelawney. They were only a table away +from him and Ron now. Professor Umbridge was + + + +Page | 400Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +making another note on her clipboard and Professor +Trelawney was looking extremely put out. + +“Now,” said Umbridge, looking up at Trelawney, +“you’ve been in this post how long, exactly?” + +Professor Trelawney scowled at her, arms crossed and +shoulders hunched as though wishing to protect +herself as much as possible from the indignity of the +inspection. After a slight pause in which she seemed +to decide that the question was not so offensive that +she could reasonably ignore it, she said in a deeply +resentful tone, “Nearly sixteen years.” + +“Quite a period,” said Professor Umbridge, making a +note on her clipboard. “So it was Professor +Dumbledore who appointed you?” + +“That’s right,” said Professor Trelawney shortly. + +Professor Umbridge made another note. + +“And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the +celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?” + +“Yes,” said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a +little higher. + +Another note on the clipboard. + +“But I think — correct me if I am mistaken — that +you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be +possessed of second sight?” + +“These things often skip — er — three generations,” +said Professor Trelawney. + +Professor Umbridge’s toadlike smile widened. + + + +Page | 401Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Of course,” she said sweetly, making yet another +note. “Well, if you could just predict something for +me, then?” + +She looked up inquiringly, still smiling. Professor +Trelawney had stiffened as though unable to believe +her ears. + +“I don’t understand you,” said Professor Trelawney, +clutching convulsively at the shawl around her +scrawny neck. + +“I’d like you to make a prediction for me,” said +Professor Umbridge very clearly. + +Harry and Ron were not the only people watching and +listening sneakily from behind their books now; most +of the class were staring transfixed at Professor +Trelawney as she drew herself up to her full height, +her beads and bangles clinking. + +“The Inner Eye does not See upon command!” she +said in scandalized tones. + +“I see,” said Professor Umbridge softly, making yet +another note on her clipboard. + +“I — but — but ... wait\” said Professor Trelawney +suddenly, in an attempt at her usual ethereal voice, +though the mystical effect was ruined somewhat by +the way it was shaking with anger. “I ... I think I do +see something ... something that concerns you... Why, +I sense something . . . something dark . . . some grave +peril ...” + +Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at +Professor Umbridge who continued to smile blandly at +her, eyebrows raised. + + + +Page | 402Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I am afraid ... I am afraid that you are in grave +danger!” Professor Trelawney finished dramatically. + + + +There was a pause. Professor Umbridge’s eyebrows +were still raised. + +“Right,” she said softly, scribbling on her clipboard +once more. “Well, if that’s really the best you can do + + + +She turned away, leaving Professor Trelawney +standing rooted to the spot, her chest heaving. Harry +caught Ron’s eye and knew that Ron was thinking +exactly the same as he was: They both knew that +Professor Trelawney was an old fraud, but on the +other hand, they loathed Umbridge so much that they +felt very much on Trelawney’s side — until she +swooped down on them a few seconds later, that was. + +“Well?” she said, snapping her long fingers under +Harry’s nose, uncharacteristically brisk. “Let me see +the start you’ve made on your dream diary, please.” + +And by the time she had interpreted Harry’s dreams +at the top of her voice (all of which, even the ones that +involved eating porridge, apparently foretold a +gruesome and early death), he was feeling much less +sympathetic toward her. All the while, Professor +Umbridge stood a few feet away, making notes on that +clipboard, and when the bell rang she descended the +silver ladder first so that she was waiting for them all +when they reached their Defense Against the Dark +Arts lesson ten minutes later. + +She was humming and smiling to herself when they +entered the room. Harry and Ron told Hermione, who +had been in Arithmancy, exactly what had happened +in Divination while they all took out their copies of +Defensive Magical Theory, but before Hermione could +Page | 403Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ask any questions Professor Umbridge had called +them all to order and silence fell. + +“Wands away,” she instructed them all smilingly, and +those people who had been hopeful enough to take +them out sadly returned them to their bags. “As we +finished chapter one last lesson, I would like you all +to turn to page nineteen today and commence chapter +two, ‘Common Defensive Theories and Their +Derivation. ’ There will be no need to talk.” + +Still smiling her wide, self-satisfied smile, she sat +down at her desk. The class gave an audible sigh as it +turned, as one, to page nineteen. Harry wondered +dully whether there were enough chapters in the book +to keep them reading through all this year’s lessons +and was on the point of checking the contents when +he noticed that Hermione had her hand in the air +again. + +Professor Umbridge had noticed too, and what was +more, she seemed to have worked out a strategy for +just such an eventuality. Instead of trying to pretend +she had not noticed Hermione, she got to her feet and +walked around the front row of desks until they were +face-to-face, then she bent down and whispered, so +that the rest of the class could not hear, “What is it +this time, Miss Granger?” + +“I’ve already read chapter two,” said Hermione. + +“Well then, proceed to chapter three.” + +“I’ve read that too. I’ve read the whole book.” + +Professor Umbridge blinked but recovered her poise +almost instantly. + + + +Page | 404Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, then, you should be able to tell me what +Slinkhard says about counterjinxes in chapter +fifteen.” + + + +“He says that counterjinxes are improperly named,” +said Hermione promptly. “He says ‘counterjinx’ is just +a name people give their jinxes when they want to +make them sound more acceptable.” + +Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows, and Harry +knew she was impressed against her will. + +“But I disagree,” Hermione continued. + +Professor Umbridge’s eyebrows rose a little higher and +her gaze became distinctly colder. + +“You disagree?” + +“Yes, I do,” said Hermione, who, unlike Umbridge, +was not whispering, but speaking in a clear, carrying +voice that had by now attracted the rest of the class’s +attention. “Mr. Slinkhard doesn’t like jinxes, does he? +But I think they can be very useful when they’re used +defensively.” + +“Oh, you do, do you?” said Professor Umbridge, +forgetting to whisper and straightening up. “Well, I’m +afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard ’s opinion, and not yours, +that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger.” + +“But — ” Hermione began. + +“That is enough,” said Professor Umbridge. She +walked back to the front of the class and stood before +them, all the jauntiness she had shown at the +beginning of the lesson gone. “Miss Granger, I am +going to take five points from Gryffindor House.” + +Page | 405Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was an outbreak of muttering at this. + +“What for?” said Harry angrily. + +“Don’t you get involved!” Hermione whispered +urgently to him. + +“For disrupting my class with pointless +interruptions,” said Professor Umbridge smoothly. “I +am here to teach you using a Ministry-approved +method that does not include inviting students to give +their opinions on matters about which they +understand very little. Your previous teachers in this +subject may have allowed you more license, but as +none of them — with the possible exception of +Professor Quirrell, who did at least appear to have +restricted himself to age-appropriate subjects — +would have passed a Ministry inspection — ” + +“Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher,” said Harry +loudly, “there was just that minor drawback of him +having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his +head.” + +This pronouncement was followed by one of the +loudest silences Harry had ever heard. Then — + +“I think another week’s detentions would do you some +good, Mr. Potter,” said Umbridge sleekly. + +k k k + + + +The cut on the back of Harry’s hand had barely +healed and by the following morning, it was bleeding +again. He did not complain during the evening’s +detention; he was determined not to give Umbridge +the satisfaction; over and over again he wrote I must + + + +Page | 406Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +not tell lies and not a sound escaped his lips, though +the cut deepened with every letter. + +The very worst part of this second week’s worth of +detentions was, just as George had predicted, +Angelina’s reaction. She cornered him just as he +arrived at the Gryffindor table for breakfast on +Tuesday and shouted so loudly that Professor +McGonagall came sweeping down upon the pair of +them from the staff table. + +“Miss Johnson, how dare you make such a racket in +the Great Hall! Five points from Gryffindor!” + +“But Professor — he’s gone and landed himself in +detention again — ” + +“What’s this, Potter?” said Professor McGonagall +sharply, rounding on Harry. “Detention? From +whom?” + +“From Professor Umbridge,” muttered Harry, not +meeting Professor McGonagall’s beady, square-framed +eyes. + +“Are you telling me,” she said, lowering her voice so +that the group of curious Ravenclaws behind them +could not hear, “that after the warning I gave you last +Monday you lost your temper in Professor Umbridge’s +class again?” + +“Yes,” Harry muttered, speaking to the floor. + +“Potter, you must get a grip on yourself! You are +heading for serious trouble! Another five points from +Gryffindor!” + + + +Page | 407Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But — what? Professor, no!” Harry said, furious at +this injustice. “I’m already being punished by her, +why do you have to take points as well?” + +“Because detentions do not appear to have any effect +on you whatsoever!” said Professor McGonagall tartly. +“No, not another word of complaint, Potter! And as for +you, Miss Johnson, you will confine your shouting +matches to the Quidditch pitch in future or risk +losing the team Captaincy!” + +She strode back toward the staff table. Angelina gave +Harry a look of deepest disgust and stalked away, +upon which Harry flung himself onto the bench +beside Ron, fuming. + +“She’s taken points off Gryffindor because I’m having +my hand sliced open every night! How is that fair, +how?” + +“I know, mate,” said Ron sympathetically, tipping +bacon onto Harry’s plate, “she’s bang out of order.” + +Hermione, however, merely rustled the pages of her +Daily Prophet and said nothing. + +“You think McGonagall was right, do you?” said Harry +angrily to the picture of Cornelius Fudge obscuring +Hermione ’s face. + +“I wish she hadn’t taken points from you, but I think +she’s right to warn you not to lose your temper with +Umbridge,” said Hermione’s voice, while Fudge +gesticulated forcefully from the front page, clearly +giving some kind of speech. + +Harry did not speak to Hermione all through Charms, +but when they entered Transfiguration he forgot his +anger; Professor Umbridge and her clipboard were + +Page | 408Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +sitting in a corner and the sight of her drove the +memory of breakfast right out of his head. + +“Excellent,” whispered Ron, as they sat down in their +usual seats. “Let’s see Umbridge get what she +deserves.” + +Professor McGonagall marched into the room without +giving the slightest indication that she knew Professor +Umbridge was there. + +“That will do,” she said and silence fell immediately. +“Mr. Finnigan, kindly come here and hand back the +homework — Miss Brown, please take this box of +mice — don’t be silly, girl, they won’t hurt you — and +hand one to each student — ” + +“Hem, hem,” said Professor Umbridge, employing the +same silly little cough she had used to interrupt +Dumbledore on the first night of term. Professor +McGonagall ignored her. Seamus handed back +Harry’s essay; Harry took it without looking at him +and saw, to his relief, that he had managed an A. + +“Right then, everyone, listen closely — Dean Thomas, +if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in +detention — most of you have now successfully +vanished your snails and even those who were left +with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the +spell. Today we shall be — ” + +“Hem, hem,” said Professor Umbridge. + +“Yes?” said Professor McGonagall, turning round, her +eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one +long, severe line. + + + +Page | 409Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I was just wondering, Professor, whether you +received my note telling you of the date and time of +your inspec — ” + +“Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you +what you are doing in my classroom,” said Professor +McGonagall, turning her back firmly on Professor +Umbridge. Many of the students exchanged looks of +glee. “As I was saying, today we shall be practicing +the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. Now, +the Vanishing Spell — ” + +“Hem, hem.” + +“I wonder,” said Professor McGonagall in cold fury, +turning on Professor Umbridge, “how you expect to +gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you +continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally +permit people to talk when I am talking.” + +Professor Umbridge looked as though she had just +been slapped in the face. She did not speak, but +straightened the parchment on her clipboard and +began scribbling furiously. Looking supremely +unconcerned, Professor McGonagall addressed the +class once more. + +“As I was saying, the Vanishing Spell becomes more +difficult with the complexity of the animal to be +vanished. The snail, as an invertebrate, does not +present much of a challenge; the mouse, as a +mammal, offers a much greater one. This is not, +therefore, magic you can accomplish with your mind +on your dinner. So — you know the incantation, let +me see what you can do...” + +“How she can lecture me about not losing my temper +with Umbridge!” Harry said to Ron under his voice, + + + +Page | 410Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +but he was grinning; his anger with Professor +McGonagall had quite evaporated. + +Professor Umbridge did not follow Professor +McGonagall around the class as she had followed +Professor Trelawney; perhaps she thought that +Professor McGonagall would not permit it. She did, +however, take many more notes while she sat in her +corner, and when Professor McGonagall finally told +them all to pack away, rose with a grim expression on +her face. + +“Well, it’s a start,” said Ron, holding up a long, +wriggling mouse tail and dropping it back into the box +Lavender was passing around. + +As they filed out of the classroom, Harry saw +Professor Umbridge approach the teacher’s desk; he +nudged Ron, who nudged Hermione in turn, and the +three of them deliberately fell back to eavesdrop. + +“How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?” +Professor Umbridge asked. + +“Thirty-nine years this December,” said Professor +McGonagall brusquely, snapping her bag shut. + +Professor Umbridge made a note. + +“Very well,” she said, “you will receive the results of +your inspection in ten days’ time.” + +“I can hardly wait,” said Professor McGonagall in a +coldly indifferent voice, and she strode off toward the +door. “Hurry up, you three,” she added, sweeping +Harry, Ron, and Hermione before her. Harry could not +help giving her a faint smile and could have sworn he +received one in return. + + + +Page | 411Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He had thought that the next time he would see +Umbridge would be in his detention that evening, but +he was wrong. When they walked down the lawns +toward the forest for Care of Magical Creatures, they +found her and her clipboard waiting for them beside +Professor Grubbly-Plank. + +“You do not usually take this class, is that correct?” +Harry heard her ask as they arrived at the trestle +table where the group of captive bowtruckles were +scrabbling around for wood lice like so many living +twigs. + +“Quite correct,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank, hands +behind her back and bouncing on the balls of her +feet. “I am a substitute teacher standing in for +Professor Hagrid.” + +Harry exchanged uneasy looks with Ron and +Hermione. Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and +Goyle; he would surely love this opportunity to tell +tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry. + +“Hmm,” said Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, +though Harry could still hear her quite clearly, “I +wonder — the headmaster seems strangely reluctant +to give me any information on the matter — can you +tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid’s very +extended leave of absence?” + +Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly. + +“ ’Fraid I can’t,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank +breezily. “Don’t know anything more about it than +you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a +couple of weeks teaching work, accepted — that’s as +much as I know. Well ... shall I get started then?” + + + +Page | 412Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, please do,” said Professor Umbridge, scribbling +upon her clipboard. + +Umbridge took a different tack in this class and +wandered among the students, questioning them on +magical creatures. Most people were able to answer +well and Harry’s spirits lifted somewhat; at least the +class was not letting Hagrid down. + +“Overall,” said Professor Umbridge, returning to +Professor Grubbly-Plank’s side after a lengthy +interrogation of Dean Thomas, “how do you, as a +temporary member of staff — an objective outsider, I +suppose you might say — how do you find Hogwarts? +Do you feel you receive enough support from the +school management?” + +“Oh, yes, Dumbledore’s excellent,” said Professor +Grubbly-Plank heartily. “No, I’m very happy with the +way things are run, very happy indeed.” + +Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge made a tiny +note on her clipboard and went on, “And what are you +planning to cover with this class this year — +assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not +return?” + +“Oh, I’ll take them through the creatures that most +often come up in O.W.L.,” said Professor Grubbly- +Plank. “Not much left to do — they’ve studied +unicorns and nifflers, I thought we’d cover porlocks +and kneazles, make sure they can recognize crups +and knarls, you know...” + +“Well, you seem to know what you’re doing, at any +rate,” said Professor Umbridge, making a very obvious +tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis +she put on “you” and liked it even less when she put + + + +Page | 413Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +her next question to Goyle: “Now, I hear there have +been injuries in this class?” + +Goyle gave a stupid grin. Malfoy hastened to answer +the question. + +“That was me,” he said. “I was slashed by a +hippogriff.” + +“A hippogriff?” said Professor Umbridge, now +scribbling frantically. + +“Only because he was too stupid to listen to what +Hagrid told him to do,” said Harry angrily. + +Both Ron and Hermione groaned. Professor Umbridge +turned her head slowly in Harry’s direction. + +“Another night’s detention, I think,” she said softly. +“Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, +I think that’s all I need here. You will be receiving the +results of your inspection within ten days.” + +“Jolly good,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and +Professor Umbridge set off back across the lawn to +the castle. + + + +ie ie ie + + + +It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge’s +office that night, his hand now bleeding so severely +that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around +it. He expected the common room to be empty when +he returned, but Ron and Hermione had sat up +waiting for him. He was pleased to see them, +especially as Hermione was disposed to be +sympathetic rather than critical. + + + +Page | 414Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Here,” she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of +yellow liquid toward him, “soak your hand in that, it’s +a solution of strained and pickled murtlap tentacles, +it should help.” + +Harry placed his bleeding, aching hand into the bowl +and experienced a wonderful feeling of relief. +Crookshanks curled around his legs, purring loudly, +and then leapt into his lap and settled down. + +“Thanks,” he said gratefully, scratching behind +Crookshanks ’s ears with his left hand. + +“I still reckon you should complain about this,” said +Ron in a low voice. + +“No,” said Harry flatly. + +“McGonagall would go nuts if she knew — ” + +“Yeah, she probably would,” said Harry. “And how +long d’you reckon it’d take Umbridge to pass another +Decree saying anyone who complains about the High +Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?” + +Ron opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out +and after a moment he closed it again in a defeated +sort of way. + +“She’s an awful woman,” said Hermione in a small +voice. “Awful. You know, I was just saying to Ron +when you came in ... we’ve got to do something about +her.” " + +“I suggested poison,” said Ron grimly. + +“No ... I mean, something about what a dreadful +teacher she is, and how we’re not going to learn any +defense from her at all,” said Hermione. + +Page | 415Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, what can we do about that?” said Ron, +yawning. “ ’S too late, isn’t it? She got the job, she’s +here to stay, Fudge’ll make sure of that.” + +“Well,” said Hermione tentatively. “You know, I was +thinking today...” She shot a slightly nervous look at +Harry and then plunged on, “I was thinking that — +maybe the time’s come when we should just — just +do it ourselves.” + +“Do what ourselves?” said Harry suspiciously, still +floating his hand in the essence of murtlap tentacles. + +“Well — learn Defense Against the Dark Arts +ourselves,” said Hermione. + +“Come off it,” groaned Ron. “You want us to do extra +work? D’you realize Harry and I are behind on +homework again and it’s only the second week?” + +“But this is much more important than homework!” +said Hermione. + +Harry and Ron goggled at her. + +“I didn’t think there was anything in the universe +more important than homework,” said Ron. + +“Don’t be silly, of course there is!” said Hermione, and +Harry saw, with an ominous feeling, that her face was +suddenly alight with the kind of fervor that S.P.E.W. +usually inspired in her. “It’s about preparing +ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge’s first lesson, +for what’s waiting out there. It’s about making sure +we really can defend ourselves. If we don’t learn +anything for a whole year — ” + +“We can’t do much by ourselves,” said Ron in a +defeated voice. “I mean, all right, we can go and look + +Page | 416Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I +suppose — ” + +“No, I agree, we’ve gone past the stage where we can +just learn things out of books,” said Hermione. “We +need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how +to use the spells and correct us if we’re going wrong.” + +“If you’re talking about Lupin ...” Harry began. + +“No, no, I’m not talking about Lupin,” said Hermione. +“He’s too busy with the Order and anyway, the most +we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and +that’s not nearly often enough.” + +“Who, then?” said Harry, frowning at her. + +Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. + +“Isn’t it obvious?” she said. “I’m talking about you, +Harry.” + +There was a moment’s silence. A light night breeze +rattled the windowpanes behind Ron and the fire +guttered. + +“About me what?” said Harry. + +“I’m talking about you teaching us Defense Against +the Dark Arts.” + +Harry stared at her. Then he turned to Ron, ready to +exchange the exasperated looks they sometimes +shared when Hermione elaborated on far-fetched +schemes like S.P.E.W. To Harry’s consternation, +however, Ron did not look exasperated. He was +frowning slightly, apparently thinking. Then he said, +“That’s an idea.” + + + +Page | 417Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What’s an idea?” said Harry. + +“You,” said Ron. “Teaching us to do it.” + +“But ...” + +Harry was grinning now, sure the pair of them were +pulling his leg. + +“But I’m not a teacher, I can’t — ” + +“Harry, you’re the best in the year at Defense Against +the Dark Arts,” said Hermione. + +“Me?” said Harry, now grinning more broadly than +ever. “No I’m not, you’ve beaten me in every test — ” + +“Actually, I haven’t,” said Hermione coolly. “You beat +me in our third year — the only year we both sat the +test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject +But I’m not talking about test results, Harry. Look +what you’ve done\” + +“How d’you mean?” + +“You know what, I’m not sure I want someone this +stupid teaching me,” Ron said to Hermione, smirking +slightly. He turned to Harry. “Let’s think,” he said, +pulling a face like Goyle concentrating. “Uh . . . first +year — you saved the Stone from You-Know-Who.” + +“But that was luck,” said Harry, “that wasn’t skill — ” + +“Second year,” Ron interrupted, “you killed the +basilisk and destroyed Riddle.” + +“Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn’t turned up I — ” + + + +Page | 418Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Third year,” said Ron, louder still, “you fought off +about a hundred dementors at once — ” + +“You know that was a fluke, if the Time-Turner hadn’t +?? + + + +“Last year,” Ron said, almost shouting now, “you +fought off You-Know-Who again — ” + +“Listen to me!” said Harry, almost angrily, because +Ron and Hermione were both smirking now. “Just +listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you say it +like that, but all that stuff was luck — I didn’t know +what I was doing half the time, I didn’t plan any of it, + +I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly +always had help — ” + +Ron and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt +his temper rise; he wasn’t even sure why he was +feeling so angry. + +“Don’t sit there grinning like you know better than I +do, I was there, wasn’t I?” he said heatedly. “I know +what went on, all right? And I didn’t get through any +of that because I was brilliant at Defense Against the +Dark Arts, I got through it all because — because +help came at the right time, or because I guessed +right — but I just blundered through it all, I didn’t +have a clue what I was doing — STOP LAUGHING!” + +The bowl of murtlap essence fell to the floor and +smashed. He became aware that he was on his feet, +though he couldn’t remember standing up. +Crookshanks streaked away under a sofa; Ron and +Hermione ’s smiles had vanished. + +“ You don’t know what it’s likel You — neither of you +— you’ve never had to face him, have you? You think +it’s just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing + +Page | 419Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +them at him, like you’re in class or something? The +whole time you know there’s nothing between you +and dying except your own — your own brain or guts +or whatever — like you can think straight when you +know you’re about a second from being murdered, or +tortured, or watching your friends die — they’ve never +taught us that in their classes, what it’s like to deal +with things like that — and you two sit there acting +like I’m a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, +like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up — you just +don’t get it, that could just as easily have been me, it +would have been if Voldemort hadn’t needed me — ” + +“We weren’t saying anything like that, mate,” said +Ron, looking aghast. “We weren’t having a go at +Diggory, we didn’t — you’ve got the wrong end of the + + + +He looked helplessly at Hermione, whose face was +stricken. + +“Harry,” she said timidly, “don’t you see? This ... this +is exactly why we need you... We need to know what +it’s r-really like ... facing him ... facing V-Voldemort.” + +It was the first time she had ever said Voldemort’s +name, and it was this, more than anything else, that +calmed Harry. Still breathing hard, he sank back into +his chair, becoming aware as he did so that his hand +was throbbing horribly again. He wished he had not +smashed the bowl of murtlap essence. + +“Well ... think about it,” said Hermione quietly. +“Please?” + +Harry could not think of anything to say. He was +feeling ashamed of his outburst already. He nodded, +hardly aware of what he was agreeing to. + + + +Page | 420Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hermione stood up. + +“Well, I’m off to bed,” she said in a voice that was +clearly as natural as she could make it. “Erm ... +’night.” + +Ron had gotten to his feet too. + +“Coming?” he said awkwardly to Harry. + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “In ... in a minute. I’ll just clear +this up.” + +He indicated the smashed bowl on the floor. Ron +nodded and left. + +“Reparo,” Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the +broken pieces of china. They flew back together, good +as new, but there was no returning the murtlap +essence to the bowl. + +He was suddenly so tired that he was tempted to sink +back into his armchair and sleep there, but instead +he got to his feet and followed Ron upstairs. His +restless night was punctuated once more by dreams +of long corridors and locked doors, and he awoke next +day with his scar prickling again. + + + +Page | 421Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + + +IN THE HOG’S HEAD + +Hermione made no mention of Harry giving Defense +Against the Dark Arts lessons for two whole weeks +after her original suggestion. Harry’s detentions with +Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the +words now etched on the back of his hand would ever +fade entirely); Ron had had four more Quidditch +practices and not been shouted at during the last +two; and all three of them had managed to vanish +their mice in Transfiguration (Hermione had actually +progressed to vanishing kittens), before the subject +was broached again, on a wild, blustery evening at +the end of September, when the three of them were +sitting in the library, looking up potion ingredients for +Snape. + +“I was wondering,” Hermione said suddenly, “whether +you’d thought any more about Defense Against the +Dark Arts, Harry.” + +“ ’Course I have,” said Harry grumpily. “Can’t forget it, +can we, with that hag teaching us — ” + + + +Page | 422Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“I meant the idea Ron and I had” — Ron cast her an +alarmed, threatening kind of look; she frowned at him +— “oh, all right, the idea / had, then — about you +teaching us.” + +Harry did not answer at once. He pretended to be +perusing a page of Asiatic Anti-Venoms, because he +did not want to say what was in his mind. + +The fact was that he had given the matter a great deal +of thought over the past fortnight. Sometimes it +seemed an insane idea, just as it had on the night +Hermione had proposed it, but at others, he had +found himself thinking about the spells that had +served him best in his various encounters with Dark +creatures and Death Eaters — found himself, in fact, +subconsciously planning lessons... + +“Well,” he said slowly, when he could not pretend to +find Asiatic anti-venoms interesting much longer, +“yeah, I — I’ve thought about it a bit.” + +“And?” said Hermione eagerly. + +“I dunno,” said Harry, playing for time. He looked up +at Ron. + +“I thought it was a good idea from the start,” said +Ron, who seemed keener to join in this conversation +now that he was sure that Harry was not going to +start shouting again. + +Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. + +“You did listen to what I said about a load of it being +luck, didn’t you?” + +“Yes, Harry,” said Hermione gently, “but all the same, +there’s no point pretending that you’re not good at + +Page | 423Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Defense Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You +were the only person last year who could throw off the +Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a +Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown +wizards can’t, Viktor always said — ” + +Ron looked around at her so fast he appeared to crick +his neck; rubbing it, he said, “Yeah? What did Vicky +say?” + +“Ho ho,” said Hermione in a bored voice. “He said +Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn’t, and he +was in the final year at Durmstrang.” + +Ron was looking at Hermione suspiciously. + +“You’re not still in contact with him, are you?” + +“So what if I am?” said Hermione coolly, though her +face was a little pink. “I can have a pen pal if I — ” + +“He didn’t only want to be your pen pal,” said Ron +accusingly. + +Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring +Ron, who was continuing to watch her, said to Harry, +“Well, what do you think? Will you teach us?” + +“Just you and Ron, yeah?” + +“Well,” said Hermione, now looking a mite anxious +again. “Well ... now, don’t fly off the handle again, +Harry, please... But I really think you ought to teach +anyone who wants to learn. I mean, we’re talking +about defending ourselves against V-Voldemort — oh, +don’t be pathetic, Ron — it doesn’t seem fair if we +don’t offer the chance to other people.” + + + +Page | 424Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry considered this for a moment, then said, “Yeah, +but I doubt anyone except you two would want to be +taught by me. I’m a nutter, remember?” + +“Well, I think you might be surprised how many +people would be interested in hearing what you’ve got +to say,” said Hermione seriously. “Look,” she leaned +toward him; Ron, who was still watching her with a +frown on his face, leaned forward to listen too, “you +know the first weekend in October’s a Hogsmeade +weekend? How would it be if we tell anyone who’s +interested to meet us in the village and we can talk it +over?” + +“Why do we have to do it outside school?” said Ron. + +“Because,” said Hermione, returning to the diagram of +the Chinese Chomping Cabbage she was copying, “I +don’t think Umbridge would be very happy if she +found out what we were up to.” + +Harry had been looking forward to the weekend trip +into Hogsmeade, but there was one thing worrying +him. Sirius had maintained a stony silence since he +had appeared in the fire at the beginning of +September; Harry knew they had made him angry by +saying that they did not want him to come — but he +still worried from time to time that Sirius might throw +caution to the winds and turn up anyway. What were +they going to do if the great black dog came bounding +up the street toward them in Hogsmeade, perhaps +under the nose of Draco Malfoy? + +“Well, you can’t blame him for wanting to get out and +about,” said Ron, when Harry discussed his fears +with him and Hermione. “I mean, he’s been on the +run for over two years, hasn’t he, and I know that +can’t have been a laugh, but at least he was free, + + + +Page | 425Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wasn’t he? And now he’s just shut up all the time +with that lunatic elf.” + +Hermione scowled at Ron, but otherwise ignored the +slight on Kreacher. + +“The trouble is,” she said to Harry, “until V-Voldemort +— oh for heaven’s sake, Ron — comes out into the +open, Sirius is going to have to stay hidden, isn’t he? I +mean, the stupid Ministry isn’t going to realize Sirius +is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore’s been +telling the truth about him all along. And once the +fools start catching real Death Eaters again it’ll be +obvious Sirius isn’t one ... I mean, he hasn’t got the +Mark, for one thing.” + +“I don’t reckon he’d be stupid enough to turn up,” +said Ron bracingly. “Dumbledore’d go mad if he did +and Sirius listens to Dumbledore even if he doesn’t +like what he hears.” + +When Harry continued to look worried, Hermione +said, “Listen, Ron and I have been sounding out +people who we thought might want to learn some +proper Defense Against the Dark Arts, and there are a +couple who seem interested. We’ve told them to meet +us in Hogsmeade.” + +“Right,” said Harry vaguely, his mind still on Sirius. + +“Don’t worry, Harry,” Hermione said quietly. “You’ve +got enough on your plate without Sirius too.” + +She was quite right, of course; he was barely keeping +up with his homework, though he was doing much +better now that he was no longer spending every +evening in detention with Umbridge. Ron was even +further behind with his work than Harry, because +while they both had Quidditch practices twice a week, +Page | 426Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ron also had prefect duties. However, Hermione, who +was taking more subjects than either of them, had +not only finished all her homework but was also +finding time to knit more elf clothes. Harry had to +admit that she was getting better; it was now almost +always possible to distinguish between the hats and +the socks. + +The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright +but windy. After breakfast they queued up in front of +Filch, who matched their names to the long list of +students who had permission from their parents or +guardian to visit the village. With a slight pang, Harry +remembered that if it hadn’t been for Sirius, he would +not have been going at all. + +When Harry reached Filch, the caretaker gave a great +sniff as though trying to detect a whiff of something +from Harry. Then he gave a curt nod that set his jowls +aquiver again and Harry walked on, out onto the +stone steps and the cold, sunlit day. + +“Er — why was Filch sniffing you?” asked Ron, as he, +Harry, and Hermione set off at a brisk pace down the +wide drive to the gates. + +“I suppose he was checking for the smell of +Dungbombs,” said Harry with a small laugh. “I forgot +to tell you ...” + +And he recounted the story of sending his letter to +Sirius and Filch bursting in seconds later, demanding +to see the letter. To his slight surprise, Hermione +found this story highly interesting, much more, +indeed, than he did himself. + +“He said he was tipped off you were ordering +Dungbombs? But who had tipped him off?” + + + +Page | 427Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I dunno,” said Harry, shrugging. “Maybe Malfoy, he’d +think it was a laugh.” + +They walked between the tall stone pillars topped +with winged boars and turned left onto the road into +the village, the wind whipping their hair into their +eyes. + +“Malfoy?” said Hermione, very skeptically. “Well ... yes +... maybe ...” + +And she remained deep in thought all the way into +the outskirts of Hogsmeade. + +“Where are we going anyway?” Harry asked. “The +Three Broomsticks?” + +“Oh — no,” said Hermione, coming out of her reverie, +“no, it’s always packed and really noisy. I’ve told the +others to meet us in the Hog’s Head, that other pub, +you know the one, it’s not on the main road. I think +it’s a bit ... you know ... dodgy ... but students don’t +normally go in there, so I don’t think we’ll be +overheard.” + +They walked down the main street past Zonko’s Joke +Shop, where they were unsurprised to see Fred, +George, and Lee Jordan, past the post office, from +which owls issued at regular intervals, and turned up +a side street at the top of which stood a small inn. A +battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over +the door, with a picture upon it of a wild boar’s +severed head leaking blood onto the white cloth +around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they +approached. All three of them hesitated outside the +door. + +“Well, come on,” said Hermione slightly nervously. +Harry led the way inside. + +Page | 428Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It was not at all like the Three Broomsticks, whose +large bar gave an impression of gleaming warmth and +cleanliness. The Hog’s Head bar comprised one small, +dingy, and very dirty room that smelled strongly of +something that might have been goats. The bay +windows were so encrusted with grime that very little +daylight could permeate the room, which was lit +instead with the stubs of candles sitting on rough +wooden tables. The floor seemed at first glance to be +earthy, though as Harry stepped onto it he realized +that there was stone beneath what seemed to be the +accumulated filth of centuries. + +Harry remembered Hagrid mentioning this pub in his +first year: “Yeh get a lot o’ funny folk in the Hog’s +Head,” he had said, explaining how he had won a +dragons egg from a hooded stranger there. At the time +Harry had wondered why Hagrid had not found it odd +that the stranger kept his face hidden throughout +their encounter; now he saw that keeping your face +hidden was something of a fashion in the Hog’s Head. +There was a man at the bar whose whole head was +wrapped in dirty gray bandages, though he was still +managing to gulp endless glasses of some smoking, +fiery substance through a slit over his mouth. Two +figures shrouded in hoods sat at a table in one of the +windows; Harry might have thought them dementors +if they had not been talking in strong Yorkshire +accents; in a shadowy corner beside the fireplace sat +a witch with a thick, black veil that fell to her toes. +They could just see the tip of her nose because it +caused the veil to protrude slightly. + +“I don’t know about this, Hermione,” Harry muttered, +as they crossed to the bar. He was looking +particularly at the heavily veiled witch. “Has it +occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?” + +Hermione cast an appraising eye at the veiled figure. + +Page | 429Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Umbridge is shorter than that woman,” she said +quietly. “And anyway, even if Umbridge does come in +here there’s nothing she can do to stop us, Harry, +because I’ve double- and triple-checked the school +rules. We’re not out-of-bounds; I specifically asked +Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed to +come in the Hog’s Head, and he said yes, but he +advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I’ve +looked up everything I can think of about study +groups and homework groups and they’re definitely +allowed. I just don’t think it’s a good idea if we parade +what we’re doing.” + +“No,” said Harry dryly, “especially as it’s not exactly a +homework group you’re planning, is it?” + +The barman sidled toward them out of a back room. +He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of +long gray hair and beard. He was tall and thin and +looked vaguely familiar to Harry. + +“What?” he grunted. + +“Three butterbeers, please,” said Hermione. + +The man reached beneath the counter and pulled up +three very dusty, very dirty bottles, which he +slammed on the bar. + +“Six Sickles,” he said. + +“I’ll get them,” said Harry quickly, passing over the +silver. The barman’s eyes traveled over Harry, resting +for a fraction of a second on his scar. Then he turned +away and deposited Harry’s money in an ancient +wooden till whose drawer slid open automatically to +receive it. Harry, Ron, and Hermione retreated to the +farthest table from the bar and sat down, looking +around, while the man in the dirty gray bandages +Page | 430Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +rapped the counter with his knuckles and received +another smoking drink from the barman. + + + +“You know what?” Ron murmured, looking over at the +bar with enthusiasm. “We could order anything we +liked in here, I bet that bloke would sell us anything, +he wouldn’t care. I’ve always wanted to try firewhisky + + + +“You — are — a — prefect,” snarled Hermione. + +“Oh,” said Ron, the smile fading from his face. “Yeah + + + +“So who did you say is supposed to be meeting us?” +Harry asked, wrenching open the rusty top of his +butterbeer and taking a swig. + +“Just a couple of people,” Hermione repeated, +checking her watch and then looking anxiously +toward the door. “I told them to be here about now +and I’m sure they all know where it is — oh look, this +might be them now — ” + +The door of the pub had opened. A thick band of +dusty sunlight split the room in two for a moment +and then vanished, blocked by the incoming rush of a +crowd of people. + +First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, who were +closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with +(Harry’s stomach did a back flip) Cho and one of her +usually giggling girlfriends, then (on her own and +looking so dreamy that she might have walked in by +accident) Luna Lovegood; then Katie Bell, Alicia +Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis +Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, +Hannah Abbott, and a Hufflepuff girl with a long plait +down her back whose name Harry did not know; + +Page | 431Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +three Ravenclaw boys he was pretty sure were called +Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, and Terry Boot; +Ginny, followed by a tall skinny blond boy with an +upturned nose whom Harry recognized vaguely as +being a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and +bringing up the rear, Fred and George Weasley with +their friend Lee Jordan, all three of whom were +carrying large paper bags crammed with Zonko’s +merchandise. + +“A couple of people?” said Harry hoarsely to +Hermione. “A couple of people ?” + +“Yes, well, the idea seemed quite popular,” said +Hermione happily. “Ron, do you want to pull up some +more chairs?” + +The barman had frozen in the act of wiping out a +glass with a rag so filthy it looked as though it had +never been washed. Possibly he had never seen his +pub so full. + +“Hi,” said Fred, reaching the bar first and counting +his companions quickly. “Could we have . . . twenty- +five butterbeers, please?” + +The barman glared at him for a moment, then, +throwing down his rag irritably as though he had +been interrupted in something very important, he +started passing up dusty butterbeers from under the +bar. + +“Cheers,” said Fred, handing them out. “Cough up, +everyone, I haven’t got enough gold for all of these...” + +Harry watched numbly as the large chattering group +took their beers from Fred and rummaged in their +robes to find coins. He could not imagine what all +these people had turned up for until the horrible + +Page | 432Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +thought occurred to him that they might be expecting +some kind of speech, at which he rounded on +Hermione. + +“What have you been telling people?” he said in a low +voice. “What are they expecting?” + +“I’ve told you, they just want to hear what you’ve got +to say,” said Hermione soothingly; but Harry +continued to look at her so furiously that she added +quickly, “You don’t have to do anything yet, I’ll speak +to them first.” + +“Hi, Harry,” said Neville, beaming and taking a seat +opposite Harry. + +Harry tried to smile back, but did not speak; his +mouth was exceptionally dry. Cho had just smiled at +him and sat down on Ron’s right. Her friend, who had +curly reddish-blonde hair, did not smile, but gave +Harry a thoroughly mistrustful look that told Harry +plainly that, given her way, she would not be here at +all. + +In twos and threes the new arrivals settled around +Harry, Ron, and Hermione, some looking rather +excited, others curious, Luna Lovegood gazing +dreamily into space. When everybody had pulled up a +chair, the chatter died out. Every eye was upon +Harry. + +“Er,” said Hermione, her voice slightly higher than +usual out of nerves. “Well — er — hi.” + +The group focused its attention on her instead, +though eyes continued to dart back regularly to +Harry. + + + +Page | 433Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well ... erm ... well, you know why you’re here. Erm +... well, Harry here had the idea — I mean” — Harry +had thrown her a sharp look — “I had the idea — that +it might be good if people who wanted to study +Defense Against the Dark Arts — and I mean, really +study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is +doing with us” — (Hermione’s voice became suddenly +much stronger and more confident) — “because +nobody could call that Defense Against the Dark Arts” +— “Hear, hear,” said Anthony Goldstein, and +Hermione looked heartened — “well, I thought it +would be good if we, well, took matters into our own +hands.” + +She paused, looked sideways at Harry, and went on, +“And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves +properly, not just theory but the real spells — ” + +“You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts +O.W.L. too though, I bet?” said Michael Corner. + +“Of course I do,” said Hermione at once. “But I want +more than that, I want to be properly trained in +Defense because ... because ...” She took a great +breath and finished, “Because Lord Voldemort’s +back.” + +The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho’s +friend shrieked and slopped butterbeer down herself, +Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch, Padma +Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he +managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, +looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry. + +“Well ... that’s the plan anyway,” said Hermione. “If +you want to join us, we need to decide how we’re +going to — ” + + + +Page | 434Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Where’s the proof You-Know- Who’s back?” said the +blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice. + +“Well, Dumbledore believes it — ” Hermione began. + +“You mean, Dumbledore believes him,” said the blond +boy, nodding at Harry. + +“Who are you?” said Ron rather rudely. + +“Zacharias Smith,” said the boy, “and I think we’ve +got the right to know exactly what makes him say +You-Know-Who’s back.” + +“Look,” said Hermione, intervening swiftly, “that’s +really not what this meeting was supposed to be +about — ” + +“It’s okay, Hermione,” said Harry. + +It had just dawned upon him why there were so many +people there. He felt that Hermione should have seen +this coming. Some of these people — maybe even +most of them — had turned up in the hope of hearing +Harry’s story firsthand. + +“What makes me say You-Know-Who’s back?” he +asked, looking Zacharias straight in the face. “I saw +him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what +happened last year, and if you didn’t believe him, you +don’t believe me, and I’m not wasting an afternoon +trying to convince anyone.” + +The whole group seemed to have held its breath while +Harry spoke. Harry had the impression that even the +barman was listening in. He was wiping the same +glass with the filthy rag; it was becoming steadily +dirtier. + + + +Page | 435Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Zacharias said dismissively, “All Dumbledore told us +last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You- +Know-Who and that you brought Diggory’s body back +to Hogwarts. He didn’t give us details, he didn’t tell us +exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we’d all +like to know — ” + +“If you’ve come to hear exactly what it looks like when +Voldemort murders someone I can’t help you,” Harry +said. His temper, always so close to the surface these +days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from +Zacharias Smith’s aggressive face, determined not to +look at Cho. “I don’t want to talk about Cedric +Diggory, all right? So if that’s what you’re here for, +you might as well clear out.” + +He cast an angry look in Hermione’s direction. This +was, he felt, all her fault; she had decided to display +him like some sort of freak and of course they had all +turned up to see just how wild his story was... But +none of them left their seats, not even Zacharias +Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry. + +“So,” said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched +again. “So ... like I was saying ... if you want to learn +some defense, then we need to work out how we’re +going to do it, how often we’re going to meet, and +where we’re going to — ” + +“Is it true,” interrupted the girl with the long plait +down her back, looking at Harry, “that you can +produce a Patronus?” + +There was a murmur of interest around the group at +this. + +“Yeah,” said Harry slightly defensively. + +“A corporeal Patronus?” + +Page | 436Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The phrase stirred something in Harry’s memory. + + + +“Er — you don’t know Madam Bones, do you?” he +asked. + +The girl smiled. + +“She’s my auntie,” she said. “I’m Susan Bones. She +told me about your hearing. So — is it really true? + +You make a stag Patronus?” + +“Yes,” said Harry. + +“Blimey, Harry!” said Lee, looking deeply impressed. “I +never knew that!” + +“Mum told Ron not to spread it around,” said Fred, +grinning at Harry. “She said you got enough attention +as it was.” + +“She’s not wrong,” mumbled Harry and a couple of +people laughed. The veiled witch sitting alone shifted +very slightly in her seat. + +“And did you kill a basilisk with that sword in +Dumbledore’s office?” demanded Terry Boot. “That’s +what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I +was in there last year...” + +“Er — yeah, I did, yeah,” said Harry. + +Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled, the Creevey brothers +exchanged awestruck looks, and Lavender Brown said +“wow” softly. Harry was feeling slightly hot around the +collar now; he was determinedly looking anywhere +but at Cho. + +“And in our first year,” said Neville to the group at +large, “he saved that Sorcerous Stone — ” + +Page | 437Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Sorcerer’s,” hissed Hermione. + +“Yes, that, from You-Know-Who,” finished Neville. + +Hannah Abbott’s eyes were as round as Galleons. + +“And that’s not to mention,” said Cho (Harry’s eyes +snapped onto her, she was looking at him, smiling; +his stomach did another somersault), “all the tasks he +had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last +year — getting past dragons and merpeople and +acromantulas and things...” + +There was a murmur of impressed agreement around +the table. + +Harry’s insides were squirming. He was trying to +arrange his face so that he did not look too pleased +with himself. The fact that Cho had just praised him +made it much, much harder for him to say the thing +he had sworn to himself he would tell them. + +“Look,” he said and everyone fell silent at once, “I ... I +don’t want to sound like I’m trying to be modest or +anything, but ... I had a lot of help with all that +stuff...” + +“Not with the dragon, you didn’t,” said Michael Corner +at once. “That was a seriously cool bit of flying...” + +“Yeah, well — ” said Harry, feeling it would be churlish +to disagree. + +“And nobody helped you get rid of those dementors +this summer,” said Susan Bones. + +“No,” said Harry, “no, okay, I know I did bits of it +without help, but the point I’m trying to make is — ” + + + +Page | 438Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of +this stuff?” said Zacharias Smith. + +“Here’s an idea,” said Ron loudly, before Harry could +speak, “why don’t you shut your mouth?” + +Perhaps the word “weasel” had affected Ron +particularly strongly; in any case, he was now looking +at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better +than to thump him. Zacharias flushed. + +“Well, we’ve all turned up to learn from him, and now +he’s telling us he can’t really do any of it,” he said. + +“That’s not what he said,” snarled Fred Weasley. + +“Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?” +inquired George, pulling a long and lethal-looking +metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko’s bags. + +“Or any part of your body, really, we’re not fussy +where we stick this,” said Fred. + +“Yes, well,” said Hermione hastily, “moving on ... the +point is, are we agreed we want to take lessons from +Harry?” + +There was a murmur of general agreement. Zacharias +folded his arms and said nothing, though perhaps +this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on +the instrument in George’s hand. + +“Right,” said Hermione, looking relieved that +something had at last been settled. “Well, then, the +next question is how often we do it. I really don’t +think there’s any point in meeting less than once a +week — ” + + + +Page | 439Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hang on,” said Angelina, “we need to make sure this +doesn’t clash with our Quidditch practice.” + +“No,” said Cho, “nor with ours.” + +“Nor ours,” added Zacharias Smith. + +“I’m sure we can find a night that suits everyone,” +said Hermione, slightly impatiently, “but you know, +this is rather important, we’re talking about learning +to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort’s Death +Eaters — ” + +“Well said!” barked Ernie Macmillan, whom Harry had +been expecting to speak long before this. “Personally I +think this is really important, possibly more +important than anything else we’ll do this year, even +with our O.W.L.s coming up!” + +He looked around impressively, as though waiting for +people to cry, “Surely not!” When nobody spoke, he +went on, “I, personally, am at a loss to see why the +Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher upon us +at this critical period. Obviously they are in denial +about the return of You-Know-Who, but to give us a +teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from +using defensive spells — ” + +“We think the reason Umbridge doesn’t want us +trained in Defense Against the Dark Arts,” said +Hermione, “is that she’s got some ... some mad idea +that Dumbledore could use the students in the school +as a kind of private army. She thinks he’d mobilize us +against the Ministry.” + +Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; +everybody except Luna Lovegood, who piped up, + +“Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge +has got his own private army.” + +Page | 440Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What?” said Harry, completely thrown by this +unexpected piece of information. + +“Yes, he’s got an army of heliopaths,” said Luna +solemnly. + +“No, he hasn’t,” snapped Hermione. + +“Yes, he has,” said Luna. + +“What are heliopaths?” asked Neville, looking blank. + +“They’re spirits of fire,” said Luna, her protuberant +eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever. +“Great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the +ground burning everything in front of — ” + +“They don’t exist, Neville,” said Hermione tartly. + +“Oh yes they do!” said Luna angrily. + +“I’m sorry, but where’s the proof of that?” snapped +Hermione. + +“There are plenty of eyewitness accounts, just +because you’re so narrow-minded you need to have +everything shoved under your nose before you — ” + +“Hem, hem,” said Ginny in such a good imitation of +Professor Umbridge that several people looked around +in alarm and then laughed. “Weren’t we trying to +decide how often we’re going to meet and get Defense +lessons?” + +“Yes,” said Hermione at once, “yes, we were, you’re +right...” + +“Well, once a week sounds cool,” said Lee Jordan. + + + +Page | 441Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“As long as — ” began Angelina. + + + +“Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch,” said +Hermione in a tense voice. “Well, the other thing to +decide is where we’re going to meet...” + +This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell +silent. + +“Library?” suggested Katie Bell after a few moments. + +“I can’t see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us +doing jinxes in the library,” said Harry. + +“Maybe an unused classroom?” said Dean. + +“Yeah,” said Ron, “McGonagall might let us have hers, +she did when Harry was practicing for the +Tri wizard...” + +But Harry was pretty certain that McGonagall would +not be so accommodating this time. For all that +Hermione had said about study and homework +groups being allowed, he had the distinct feeling this +one might be considered a lot more rebellious. + +“Right, well, we’ll try to find somewhere,” said +Hermione. “We’ll send a message round to everybody +when we’ve got a time and a place for the first +meeting.” + +She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment +and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was +steeling herself to say something. + +“I-I think everybody should write their name down, +just so we know who was here. But I also think,” she +took a deep breath, “that we all ought to agree not to +shout about what we’re doing. So if you sign, you’re + +Page | 442Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +agreeing not to tell Umbridge — or anybody else +what we’re up to.” + + + +Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully +put down his signature, but Harry noticed at once +that several people looked less than happy at the +prospect of putting their names on the list. + +“Er ...” said Zacharias slowly, not taking the +parchment that George was trying to pass him. “Well +... I’m sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is.” + +But Ernie was looking rather hesitant about signing +too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. + +“I — well, we are prefects,” Ernie burst out. “And if +this list was found ... well, I mean to say ... you said +yourself, if Umbridge finds out ...” + +“You just said this group was the most important +thing you’d do this year,” Harry reminded him. + +“I — yes,” said Ernie, “yes, I do believe that, it’s just + + + +“Ernie, do you really think I’d leave that list lying +around?” said Hermione testily. + +“No. No, of course not,” said Ernie, looking slightly +less anxious. “I — yes, of course I’ll sign.” + +Nobody raised objections after Ernie, though Harry +saw Cho’s friend give her a rather reproachful look +before adding her name. When the last person — +Zacharias — had signed, Hermione took the +parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. +There was an odd feeling in the group now. It was as +though they had just signed some kind of contract. + +Page | 443Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, time’s ticking on,” said Fred briskly, getting to +his feet. “George, Lee, and I have got items of a +sensitive nature to purchase, we’ll be seeing you all +later.” + +In twos and threes the rest of the group took their +leave too. Cho made rather a business of fastening +the catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark +curtain of hair swinging forward to hide her face, but +her friend stood beside her, arms folded, clicking her +tongue, so that Cho had little choice but to leave with +her. As her friend ushered her through the door, Cho +looked back and waved at Harry. + +“Well, I think that went quite well,” said Hermione +happily, as she, Harry, and Ron walked out of the +Hog’s Head into the bright sunlight a few moments +later, Harry and Ron still clutching their bottles of +butterbeer. + +“That Zacharias bloke’s a wart,” said Ron, who was +glowering after the figure of Smith just discernible in +the distance. + +“I don’t like him much either,” admitted Hermione, +“but he overheard me talking to Ernie and Hannah at +the Hufflepuff table and he seemed really interested +in coming, so what could I say? But the more people +the better really — I mean, Michael Corner and his +friends wouldn’t have come if he hadn’t been going +out with Ginny — ” + +Ron, who had been draining the last few drops from +his butterbeer bottle, gagged and sprayed butterbeer +down his front. + +“He’s WHAT?” said Ron, outraged, his ears now +resembling curls of raw beef. “She’s going out with — + + + +Page | 444Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +my sister’s going — what d’you mean, Michael +Corner?” + +“Well, that’s why he and his friends came, I think — +well, they’re obviously interested in learning defense, +but if Ginny hadn’t told Michael what was going on — + + + +“When did this — when did she — ?” + +“They met at the Yule Ball and they got together at +the end of last year,” said Hermione composedly. They +had turned into the High Street and she paused +outside Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop, where there was a +handsome display of pheasant-feather quills in the +window. “Hmm ... I could do with a new quill.” + +She turned into the shop. Harry and Ron followed +her. + +“Which one was Michael Corner?” Ron demanded +furiously. + +“The dark one,” said Hermione. + +“I didn’t like him,” said Ron at once. + +“Big surprise,” said Hermione under her breath. + +“But,” said Ron, following Hermione along a row of +quills in copper pots, “I thought Ginny fancied Harry!” + +Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook +her head. + +“Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him +months ago. Not that she doesn’t like you, of course,” +she added kindly to Harry while she examined a long +black-and-gold quill. + +Page | 445Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry, whose head was still full of Cho’s parting wave, +did not find this subject quite as interesting as Ron, +who was positively quivering with indignation, but it +did bring something home to him that until now he +had not really registered. + +“So that’s why she talks now?” he asked Hermione. +“She never used to talk in front of me.” + +“Exactly,” said Hermione. “Yes, I think I’ll have this +one...” + +She went up to the counter and handed over fifteen +Sickles and two Knuts, Ron still breathing down her +neck. + +“Ron,” she said severely as she turned and trod on his +feet, “this is exactly why Ginny hasn’t told you she’s +seeing Michael, she knew you’d take it badly. So don’t +harp on about it, for heaven’s sake.” + +“What d’you mean, who’s taking anything badly? I’m +not going to harp on about anything ...” + +Ron continued to chunter under his breath all the +way down the street. Hermione rolled her eyes at +Harry and then said in an undertone, while Ron was +muttering imprecations about Michael Corner, “And +talking about Michael and Ginny . . . what about Cho +and you?” + +“What d’you mean?” said Harry quickly. + +It was as though boiling water was rising rapidly +inside him; a burning sensation that was causing his +face to smart in the cold — had he been that obvious? + +“Well,” said Hermione, smiling slightly, “she just +couldn’t keep her eyes off you, could she?” + +Page | 446Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful +the village of Hogsmeade was. + + + +Page | 447Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER +TWENTY-FOUR + +Harry felt happier for the rest of the weekend than he +had done all term. He and Ron spent much of Sunday +catching up with all their homework again, and +although this could hardly be called fun, the last +burst of autumn sunshine persisted, so rather than +sitting hunched over tables in the common room, they +took their work outside and lounged in the shade of a +large beech tree on the edge of the lake. Hermione, +who of course was up to date with all her work, +brought more wool outside with her and bewitched +her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked +in midair beside her, producing more hats and +scarves. + +The knowledge that they were doing something to +resist Umbridge and the Ministry, and that he was a +key part of the rebellion, gave Harry a feeling of +immense satisfaction. He kept reliving Saturday’s +meeting in his mind: all those people, coming to him +to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts . . . and the +looks on their faces as they had heard some of the + + + +Page | 448Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +things he had done . . . and Cho praising his +performance in the Triwizard Tournament... The +knowledge that all those people did not think him a +lying weirdo, but someone to be admired, buoyed him +up so much that he was still cheerful on Monday +morning, despite the imminent prospect of all his +least favorite classes. + +He and Ron headed downstairs from their dormitory +together, discussing Angelina’s idea that they were to +work on a new move called the Sloth Grip Roll during +that night’s Quidditch practice, and not until they +were halfway across the sunlit common room did they +notice the addition to the room that had already +attracted the attention of a small group of people. + +A large sign had been affixed to the Gryffindor notice +board, so large that it covered everything else on there +— the lists of secondhand spellbooks for sale, the +regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, +the Quidditch team training schedule, the offers to +barter certain Chocolate Frog cards for others, the +Weasleys’ new advertisement for testers, the dates of +the Hogsmeade weekends, and the lost-and-found +notices. The new sign was printed in large black +letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at +the bottom beside a neat and curly signature. + + + +— BY ORDER OF — + +THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS + +All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, +and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. + + + +Page | 449Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is +hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more +students. + +Permission to re-form may be sought from the High +Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). + +No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or +Club may exist without the knowledge and approval +of the High Inquisitor. + +Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an +Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has +not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be +expelled. + +The above is in accordance with +Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. + +Signed: + +Dolores Jane Umbridge +HIGH INQUISITOR + +Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of some +anxious-looking second years. + +“Does this mean they’re going to shut down the +Gobstones Club?” one of them asked his friend. + +“I reckon you’ll be okay with Gobstones,” Ron said +darkly, making the second year jump. “I don’t think +we’re going to be as lucky, though, do you?” he asked +Harry as the second years hurried away. + + + +Page | 450Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry was reading the notice through again. The +happiness that had filled him since Saturday was +gone. His insides were pulsing with rage. + +“This isn’t a coincidence,” he said, his hands forming +fists. “She knows.” + +“She can’t,” said Ron at once. + +“There were people listening in that pub. And let’s +face it, we don’t know how many of the people who +turned up we can trust... Any of them could have run +off and told Umbridge...” + +And he had thought they believed him, thought they +even admired him . . . + +“Zacharias Smith!” said Ron at once, punching a fist +into his hand. “Or — I thought that Michael Corner +had a really shifty look too — ” + +“I wonder if Hermione’s seen this yet?” Harry said, +looking around at the door to the girls’ dormitories. + +“Let’s go and tell her,” said Ron. He bounded forward, +pulled open the door, and set off up the spiral +staircase. + +He was on the sixth stair when it happened. There +was a loud, wailing, klaxonlike sound and the steps +melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide. +There was a brief moment when Ron tried to keep +running, arms working madly like windmills, then he +toppled over backward and shot down the newly +created slide, coming to rest on his back at Harry’s +feet. + + + +Page | 451Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Er — I don’t think we’re allowed in the girls’ +dormitories,” said Harry, pulling Ron to his feet and +trying not to laugh. + +Two fourth-year girls came zooming gleefully down +the stone slide. + +“Oooh, who tried to get upstairs?” they giggled +happily, leaping to their feet and ogling Harry and +Ron. + +“Me,” said Ron, who was still rather disheveled. “I +didn’t realize that would happen. It’s not fair!” he +added to Harry, as the girls headed off for the portrait +hole, still giggling madly. “Hermione’s allowed in our +dormitory, how come we’re not allowed — ?” + +“Well, it’s an old-fashioned rule,” said Hermione, who +had just slid neatly onto a rug in front of them and +was now getting to her feet, “but it says in Hogwarts, +A History that the founders thought boys were less +trustworthy than girls. Anyway, why were you trying +to get in there?” + +“To see you — look at this!” said Ron, dragging her +over to the notice board. + +Hermione’s eyes slid rapidly down the notice. Her +expression became stony. + +“Someone must have blabbed to her!” Ron said +angrily. + +“They can’t have done,” said Hermione in a low voice. + +“You’re so naive,” said Ron, “you think just because +you’re all honorable and trustworthy — ” + + + +Page | 452Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No, they can’t have done because I put a jinx on that +piece of parchment we all signed,” said Hermione +grimly. “Believe me, if anyone’s run off and told +Umbridge, well know exactly who they are and they +will really regret it.” + +“What’ll happen to them?” said Ron eagerly. + +“Well, put it this way,” said Hermione, “it’ll make +Eloise Midgen’s acne look like a couple of cute +freckles. Come on, let’s get down to breakfast and see +what the others think. . . I wonder whether this has +been put up in all the Houses?” + +It was immediately apparent on entering the Great +Hall that Umbridge’s sign had not only appeared in +Gryffindor Tower. There was a peculiar intensity +about the chatter and an extra measure of movement +in the Hall as people scurried up and down their +tables conferring on what they had read. Harry, Ron, +and Hermione had barely taken their seats when +Neville, Dean, Fred, George, and Ginny descended +upon them. + +“Did you see it?” + +“D’you reckon she knows?” + +“What are we going to do?” + +They were all looking at Harry. He glanced around to +make sure there were no teachers near them. + +“We’re going to do it anyway, of course,” he said +quietly. + +“Knew you’d say that,” said George, beaming and +thumping Harry on the arm. + + + +Page | 453Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The prefects as well?” said Fred, looking quizzically +at Ron and Hermione. + +“Of course,” said Hermione coolly. + +“Here comes Ernie and Hannah Abbott,” said Ron, +looking over his shoulder. “And those Ravenclaw +blokes and Smith ... and no one looks very spotty.” + +Hermione looked alarmed. + +“Never mind spots, the idiots can’t come over here +now, it’ll look really suspicious — sit down!” she +mouthed to Ernie and Hannah, gesturing frantically +to them to rejoin the Hufflepuff table. “Later! We’ll — +talk — to — you — lateri” + +“I’ll tell Michael,” said Ginny impatiently, swinging +herself off her bench. “The fool, honestly ...” + +She hurried off toward the Ravenclaw table; Harry +watched her go. Cho was sitting not far away, talking +to the curly-haired friend she had brought along to +the Hog’s Head. Would Umbridge’s notice scare her off +meeting them again? + +But the full repercussions of the sign were not felt +until they were leaving the Great Hall for History of +Magic. + +“Harry! Ron\” + +It was Angelina and she was hurrying toward them +looking perfectly desperate. + +“It’s okay,” said Harry quietly, when she was near +enough to hear him. “We’re still going to — ” + + + +Page | 454Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You realize she’s including Quidditch in this?” +Angelina said over him. “We have to go and ask +permission to re-form the Gryffindor team!” + +“What?” said Harry. + +“No way,” said Ron, appalled. + +“You read the sign, it mentions teams too! So listen, +Harry ... I am saying this for the last time... Please, +please don’t lose your temper with Umbridge again or +she might not let us play anymore!” + +“Okay, okay,” said Harry, for Angelina looked as +though she was on the verge of tears. “Don’t worry, I’ll +behave myself...” + +“Bet Umbridge is in History of Magic,” said Ron +grimly, as they set off for Binns’s lesson. “She hasn’t +inspected Binns yet... Bet you anything she’s there...” + +But he was wrong; the only teacher present when +they entered was Professor Binns, floating an inch or +so above his chair as usual and preparing to continue +his monotonous drone on giant wars. Harry did not +even attempt to follow what he was saying today; he +doodled idly on his parchment ignoring Hermione’s +frequent glares and nudges, until a particularly +painful poke in the ribs made him look up angrily. + +“What?” + +She pointed at the window. Harry looked around. +Hedwig was perched on the narrow window ledge, +gazing through the thick glass at him, a letter tied to +her leg. Harry could not understand it; they had just +had breakfast, why on earth hadn’t she delivered the +letter then, as usual? Many of his classmates were +pointing out Hedwig to each other too. + +Page | 455Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh, I’ve always loved that owl, she’s so beautiful,” +Harry heard Lavender sigh to Parvati. + + + +He glanced around at Professor Binns who continued +to read his notes, serenely unaware that the class’s +attention was even less focused upon him than usual. +Harry slipped quietly off his chair, crouched down, +and hurried along the row to the window, where he +slid the catch and opened it very slowly. + +He had expected Hedwig to hold out her leg so that he +could remove the letter and then fly off to the Owlery, +but the moment the window was open wide enough +she hopped inside, hooting dolefully. He closed the +window with an anxious glance at Professor Binns, +crouched low again, and sped back to his seat with +Hedwig on his shoulder. He regained his seat, +transferred Hedwig to his lap, and made to remove +the letter tied to her leg. + +It was only then that he realized that Hedwig’s +feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong +way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd +angle. + +“She’s hurt!” Harry whispered, bending his head low +over her. Hermione and Ron leaned in closer; +Hermione even put down her quill. “Look — there’s +something wrong with her wing — ” + +Hedwig was quivering; when Harry made to touch the +wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as +though she was inflating herself, and gazed at him +reproachfully. + +“Professor Binns,” said Harry loudly, and everyone in +the class turned to look at him. “I’m not feeling well.” + + + +Page | 456Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, +looking amazed, as always, to find the room in front +of him full of people. + +“Not feeling well?” he repeated hazily. + +“Not at all well,” said Harry firmly, getting to his feet +while concealing Hedwig behind his back. “So I think +I’ll need to go to the hospital wing.” + +“Yes,” said Professor Binns, clearly very much wrong- +footed. “Yes ... yes, hospital wing ... well, off you go, +then, Perkins ...” + +Once outside the room Harry returned Hedwig to his +shoulder and hurried off up the corridor, pausing to +think only when he was out of sight of Binns’s door. +His first choice of somebody to cure Hedwig would +have been Hagrid, of course, but as he had no idea +where Hagrid was, his only remaining option was to +find Professor Grubbly-Plank and hope she would +help. + +He peered out of a window at the blustery, overcast +grounds. There was no sign of her anywhere near +Hagrid’s cabin; if she was not teaching, she was +probably in the staffroom. He set off downstairs, +Hedwig hooting feebly as she swayed on his shoulder. + +Two stone gargoyles flanked the staffroom door. As +Harry approached, one of them croaked, “You should +be in class, sunny Jim.” + +“This is urgent,” said Harry curtly. + +“Ooooh, urgent, is it?” said the other gargoyle in a +high-pitched voice. “Well, that’s put us in our place, +hasn’t it?” + + + +Page | 457Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry knocked; he heard footsteps and then the door +opened and he found himself face-to-face with +Professor McGonagall. + +“You haven’t been given another detention!” she said +at once, her square spectacles flashing alarmingly. + +“No, Professor!” said Harry hastily. + +“Well then, why are you out of class?” + +“It’s urgent, apparently,” said the second gargoyle +snidely. + +“I’m looking for Professor Grubbly-Plank,” Harry +explained. “It’s my owl, she’s injured.” + +“Injured owl, did you say?” + +Professor Grubbly-Plank appeared at Professor +McGonagall’s shoulder, smoking a pipe and holding a +copy of the Daily Prophet + +“Yes,” said Harry, lifting Hedwig carefully off his +shoulder, “she turned up after the other post owls +and her wing’s all funny, look — ” + +Professor Grubbly-Plank stuck her pipe firmly +between her teeth and took Hedwig from Harry while +Professor McGonagall watched. + +“Hmm,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank, her pipe +waggling slightly as she talked. “Looks like +something’s attacked her. Can’t think what would +have done it, though... Thestrals will sometimes go for +birds, of course, but Hagrid’s got the Hogwarts +thestrals well trained not to touch owls ...” + + + +Page | 458Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry neither knew nor cared what thestrals were, he +just wanted to know that Hedwig was going to be all +right. Professor McGonagall, however, looked sharply +at Harry and said, “Do you know how far this owl’s +traveled, Potter?” + +“Er,” said Harry. “From London, I think.” + +He met her eyes briefly and knew that she understood +“London” to mean “number twelve, Grimmauld Place” +by the way her eyebrows had joined in the middle. + +Professor Grubbly-Plank pulled a monocle out of the +inside of her robes and screwed it into her eye to +examine Hedwig’s wing closely. “I should be able to +sort this out if you leave her with me, Potter,” she +said. “She shouldn’t be flying long distances for a few +days, in any case.” + +“Er — right — thanks,” said Harry, just as the bell +rang for break. + +“No problem,” said Professor Grubbly-Plank gruffly, +turning back into the staffroom. + +“Just a moment, Wilhelmina!” said Professor +McGonagall. “Potter’s letter!” + +“Oh yeah!” said Harry, who had momentarily +forgotten the scroll tied to Hedwig’s leg. Professor +Grubbly-Plank handed it over and then disappeared +into the staffroom carrying Hedwig, who was staring +at Harry as though unable to believe he would give +her away like this. Feeling slightly guilty, he turned to +go, but Professor McGonagall called him back. + +“Potter!” + +“Yes, Professor?” + +Page | 459Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She glanced up and down the corridor; there were +students coming from both directions. + +“Bear in mind,” she said quickly and quietly, her eyes +on the scroll in his hand, “that channels of +communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being +watched, won’t you?” + +“I — ” said Harry, but the flood of students rolling +along the corridor was almost upon him. Professor +McGonagall gave him a curt nod and retreated into +the staffroom, leaving Harry to be swept out into the +courtyard with the crowd. Here he spotted Ron and +Hermione already standing in a sheltered corner, +their cloak collars turned up against the wind. Harry +slit open the scroll as he hurried toward them and +found five words in Sirius’s handwriting: + +Today, same time, same place. + +“Is Hedwig okay?” asked Hermione anxiously, the +moment he was within earshot. + +“Where did you take her?” asked Ron. + +“To Grubbly-Plank,” said Harry. “And I met +McGonagall... Listen...” + +And he told them what Professor McGonagall had +said. To his surprise, neither of the others looked +shocked; on the contrary, they exchanged significant +looks. + +“What?” said Harry, looking from Ron to Hermione +and back again. + +“Well, I was just saying to Ron ... what if someone +had tried to intercept Hedwig? I mean, she’s never +been hurt on a flight before, has she?” + +Page | 460Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Who’s the letter from anyway?” asked Ron, taking +the note from Harry. + +“Snuffles,” said Harry quietly. + +“ ‘Same time, same place’? Does he mean the fire in +the common room?” + +“Obviously,” said Hermione, also reading the note. + +She looked uneasy. “I just hope nobody else has read +this...” + +“But it was still sealed and everything,” said Harry, +trying to convince himself as much as her. “And +nobody would understand what it meant if they didn’t +know where we’d spoken to him before, would they?” + +“I don’t know,” said Hermione anxiously, hitching her +bag back over her shoulder as the bell rang again. “It +wouldn’t be exactly difficult to reseal the scroll by +magic... And if anyone’s watching the Floo Network ... +but I don’t really see how we can warn him not to +come without that being intercepted too!” + +They trudged down the stone steps to the dungeons +for Potions, all three of them lost in thought, but as +they reached the bottom of the stairs they were +recalled to themselves by the voice of Draco Malfoy, +who was standing just outside Snape’s classroom +door, waving around an official-looking piece of +parchment and talking much louder than was +necessary so that they could hear every word. + +“Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team +permission to continue playing straightaway, I went +to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty +much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really +well, he’s always popping in and out of the Ministry... + + + +Page | 461Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It’ll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are +allowed to keep playing, wont it?” + +“Don’t rise,” Hermione whispered imploringly to Harry +and Ron, who were both watching Malfoy, faces set +and fists clenched. “It’s what he wants...” + +“I mean,” said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, +his gray eyes glittering malevolently in Harry and +Ron’s direction, “if it’s a question of influence with the +Ministry, I don’t think they’ve got much chance... + +From what my father says, they’ve been looking for an +excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years... And as for +Potter ... My father says it’s a matter of time before +the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo’s... +apparently they’ve got a special ward for people whose +brains have been addled by magic...” + +Malfoy made a grotesque face, his mouth sagging +open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle gave +their usual grunts of laughter, Pansy Parkinson +shrieked with glee. + +Something collided hard with Harry’s shoulder, +knocking him sideways. A split second later he +realized that Neville had just charged past him, +heading straight for Malfoy. + +“Neville, no!” + +Harry leapt forward and seized the back of Neville’s +robes; Neville struggled frantically, his fists flailing, +trying desperately to get at Malfoy who looked, for a +moment, extremely shocked. + +“Help me!” Harry flung at Ron, managing to get an +arm around Neville’s neck and dragging him +backward, away from the Slytherins. Crabbe and +Goyle were now flexing their arms, closing in front of + +Page | 462Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Malfoy, ready for the fight. Ron hurried forward and +seized Neville’s arms; together, he and Harry +succeeded in dragging Neville back into the Gryffindor +line. Neville’s face was scarlet; the pressure Harry was +exerting on his throat rendered him quite +incomprehensible, but odd words spluttered from his +mouth. + +“Not... funny ... don’t ... Mungo’s ... show ... him ...” + +The dungeon door opened. Snape appeared there. His +black eyes swept up the Gryffindor line to the point +where Harry and Ron were wrestling with Neville. + +“Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?” Snape said +in his cold, sneering voice. “Ten points from +Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be +detention. Inside, all of you.” + +Harry let go of Neville, who stood panting and glaring +at him. + +“I had to stop you,” Harry gasped, picking up his bag. +“Crabbe and Goyle would’ve torn you apart.” + +Neville said nothing, he merely snatched up his own +bag and stalked off into the dungeon. + +“What in the name of Merlin,” said Ron slowly, as +they followed Neville, “was that about?” + +Harry did not answer. He knew exactly why the +subject of people who were in St. Mungo’s because of +magical damage to their brains was highly distressing +to Neville, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he +would not tell anyone Neville’s secret. Even Neville did +not know that Harry knew. + + + +Page | 463Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their usual seats at +the back of the class and pulled out parchment, +quills, and their copies of One Thousand Magical +Herbs and Fungi. The class around them was +whispering about what Neville had just done, but +when Snape closed the dungeon door with an echoing +bang everybody fell silent immediately. + +“You will notice,” said Snape in his low, sneering +voice, “that we have a guest with us today.” + +He gestured toward the dim corner of the dungeon, +and Harry saw Professor Umbridge sitting there, +clipboard on her knee. He glanced sideways at Ron +and Hermione, his eyebrows raised. Snape and +Umbridge, the two teachers he hated most ... it was +hard to decide which he wanted to triumph over the +other. + +“We are continuing with our Strengthening Solutions +today, you will find your mixtures as you left them +last lesson, if correctly made they should have +matured well over the weekend — instructions” — he +waved his wand again — “on the board. Carry on.” + +Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the +lesson making notes in her corner. Harry was very +interested in hearing her question Snape, so +interested, that he was becoming careless with his +potion again. + +“Salamander blood, Harry!” Hermione moaned, +grabbing his wrist to prevent him adding the wrong +ingredient for the third time. “Not pomegranate juice!” + +“Right,” said Harry vaguely, putting down the bottle +and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge had +just gotten to her feet. “Ha,” he said softly, as she + + + +Page | 464Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +strode between two lines of desks toward Snape, who +was bending over Dean Thomas’s cauldron. + +“Well, the class seems fairly advanced for their level,” +she said briskly to Snape ’s back. “Though I would +question whether it is advisable to teach them a +potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the +Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the +syllabus.” + +Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at +her. + +“Now ... how long have you been teaching at +Hogwarts?” she asked, her quill poised over her +clipboard. + +“Fourteen years,” Snape replied. His expression was +unfathomable. His eyes on Snape, Harry added a few +drops to his potion; it hissed menacingly and turned +from turquoise to orange. + +“You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark +Arts post, I believe?” Professor Umbridge asked +Snape. + +“Yes,” said Snape quietly. + +“But you were unsuccessful?” + +Snape ’s lip curled. + +“Obviously.” + +Professor Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. + +“And you have applied regularly for the Defense +Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the +school, I believe?” + +Page | 465Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes,” said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He +looked very angry. + +“Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has +consistently refused to appoint you?” asked +Umbridge. + +“I suggest you ask him,” said Snape jerkily. + +“Oh I shall,” said Professor Umbridge with a sweet +smile. + +“I suppose this is relevant?” Snape asked, his black +eyes narrowed. + +“Oh yes,” said Professor Umbridge. “Yes, the Ministry +wants a thorough understanding of teachers’ — er — +backgrounds...” + +She turned away, walked over to Pansy Parkinson +and began questioning her about the lessons. Snape +looked around at Harry and their eyes met for a +second. Harry hastily dropped his gaze to his potion, +which was now congealing foully and giving off a +strong smell of burned rubber. + +“No marks again, then, Potter,” said Snape +maliciously, emptying Harry’s cauldron with a wave of +his wand. “You will write me an essay on the correct +composition of this potion, indicating how and why +you went wrong, to be handed in next lesson, do you +understand?” + +“Yes,” said Harry furiously. Snape had already given +them homework, and he had Quidditch practice this +evening; this would mean another couple of sleepless +nights. It did not seem possible that he had awoken +that morning feeling very happy. All he felt now was a +fervent desire for this day to end as soon as possible. +Page | 466Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Maybe I’ll skive off Divination,” he said glumly as +they stood again in the courtyard after lunch, the +wind whipping at the hems of robes and brims of +hats. “I’ll pretend to be ill and do Snape’s essay +instead, then I won’t have to stay up half the night...” + +“You can’t skive off Divination,” said Hermione +severely. + +“Hark who’s talking, you walked out of Divination, +you hate Trelawney!” said Ron indignantly. + +“I don’t hate her,” said Hermione loftily. “I just think +she’s an absolutely appalling teacher and a real old +fraud... But Harry’s already missed History of Magic +and I don’t think he ought to miss anything else +today!” + +There was too much truth in this to ignore, so half an +hour later Harry took his seat in the hot, over- +perfumed atmosphere of the Divination classroom +feeling angry at everybody. Professor Trelawney was +handing out copies of The Dream Oracle yet again; he +would surely be much better employed doing Snape’s +punishment essay than sitting here trying to find +meaning in a lot of made-up dreams. + +It seemed, however, that he was not the only person +in Divination who was in a temper. Professor +Trelawney slammed a copy of the Oracle down on the +table between Harry and Ron and swept away, her +lips pursed; she threw the next copy of the Oracle at +Seamus and Dean, narrowly avoiding Seamus’s head, +and thrust the final one into Neville’s chest with such +force that he slipped off his pouf. + +“Well, carry on!” said Professor Trelawney loudly, her +voice high pitched and somewhat hysterical. “You + + + +Page | 467Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +know what to do! Or am I such a substandard teacher +that you have never learned how to open a book?” + +The class stared perplexedly at her and then at each +other. Harry, however, thought he knew what was the +matter. As Professor Trelawney flounced back to the +high-backed teacher’s chair, her magnified eyes full of +angry tears, he leaned his head closer to Ron’s and +muttered, “I think she’s got the results of her +inspection back.” + +“Professor?” said Parvati Patil in a hushed voice (she +and Lavender had always rather admired Professor +Trelawney). “Professor, is there anything — er — +wrong?” + +“Wrong!” cried Professor Trelawney in a voice +throbbing with emotion. “Certainly not! I have been +insulted, certainly... Insinuations have been made +against me... Unfounded accusations levelled ... but +no, there is nothing wrong, certainly not...” + +She took a great shuddering breath and looked away +from Parvati, angry tears spilling from under her +glasses. + +“I say nothing,” she choked, “of sixteen years’ devoted +service... It has passed, apparently, unnoticed... But I +shall not be insulted, no, I shall not!” + +“But Professor, who’s insulting you?” asked Parvati +timidly. + +“The establishment!” said Professor Trelawney in a +deep, dramatic, wavering voice. “Yes, those with eyes +too clouded by the Mundane to See as I See, to Know +as I Know ... Of course, we Seers have always been +feared, always persecuted... It is — alas — our fate...” + + + +Page | 468Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She gulped, dabbed at her wet cheeks with the end of +her shawl, and then pulled a small, embroidered +handkerchief from her sleeve, into which she blew her +nose very hard with a sound like Peeves blowing a +raspberry. Ron sniggered. Lavender shot him a +disgusted look. + +“Professor,” said Parvati, “do you mean ... is it +something Professor Umbridge ... ?” + +“Do not speak to me about that woman!” cried +Professor Trelawney, leaping to her feet, her beads +rattling and her spectacles flashing. “Kindly continue +with your work!” + +And she spent the rest of the lesson striding among +them, tears still leaking from behind her glasses, +muttering what sounded like threats under her +breath. + +"... may well choose to leave ... the indignity of it ... on +probation ... we shall see ... how she dares ...” + +“You and Umbridge have got something in common,” +Harry told Hermione quietly when they met again in +Defense Against the Dark Arts. “She obviously +reckons Trelawney’s an old fraud too... Looks like +she’s put her on probation.” + +Umbridge entered the room as he spoke, wearing her +black velvet bow and an expression of great +smugness. + +“Good afternoon, class.” + +“Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,” they chanted +drearily. + +“Wands away, please ...” + +Page | 469Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But there was no answering flurry of movement this +time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands. + +“Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical +Theory and read the third chapter, entitled The Case +for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack.’ There +will be — ” + +“ — no need to talk,” Harry, Ron, and Hermione said +together under their breaths. + +“No Quidditch practice,” said Angelina in hollow tones +when Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the common +room that night after dinner. + +“But I kept my temper!” said Harry, horrified. “I didn’t +say anything to her, Angelina, I swear, I — ” + +“I know, I know,” said Angelina miserably. “She just +said she needed a bit of time to consider.” + +“Consider what?” said Ron angrily. “She’s given the +Slytherins permission, why not us?” + +But Harry could imagine how much Umbridge was +enjoying holding the threat of no Gryffindor Quidditch +team over their heads and could easily understand +why she would not want to relinquish that weapon +over them too soon. + +“Well,” said Hermione, “look on the bright side — at +least now you’ll have time to do Snape’s essay!” + +“That’s a bright side, is it?” snapped Harry, while Ron +stared incredulously at Hermione. “No Quidditch +practice and extra Potions?” + +Harry slumped down into a chair, dragged his Potions +essay reluctantly from his bag, and set to work. + +Page | 470Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It was very hard to concentrate; even though he knew +that Sirius was not due in the fire until much later he +could not help glancing into the flames every few +minutes just in case. There was also an incredible +amount of noise in the room: Fred and George +appeared finally to have perfected one type of Skiving +Snackbox, which they were taking turns to +demonstrate to a cheering and whooping crowd. + +First, Fred would take a bite out of the orange end of +a chew, at which he would vomit spectacularly into a +bucket they had placed in front of them. Then he +would force down the purple end of the chew, at +which the vomiting would immediately cease. Lee +Jordan, who was assisting the demonstration, was +lazily vanishing the vomit at regular intervals with the +same Vanishing Spell Snape kept using on Harry’s +potions. + +What with the regular sounds of retching, cheering, +and Fred and George taking advance orders from the +crowd, Harry was finding it exceptionally difficult to +focus on the correct method for Strengthening +Solutions. Hermione was not helping matters; the +cheers and sound of vomit hitting the bottom of Fred +and George’s bucket were punctuated by loud and +disapproving sniffs that Harry found, if anything, +more distracting. + +“Just go and stop them, then!” he said irritably, after +crossing out the wrong weight of powdered griffin +claw for the fourth time. + +“I can’t, they’re not technically doing anything wrong,” +said Hermione through gritted teeth. “They’re quite +within their rights to eat the foul things themselves, +and I can’t find a rule that says the other idiots aren’t +entitled to buy them, not unless they’re proven to be + + + +Page | 471Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +dangerous in some way, and it doesn’t look as though +they are...” + +She, Harry, and Ron watched George projectile-vomit +into the bucket, gulp down the rest of the chew, and +straighten up, beaming with his arms wide to +protracted applause. + +“You know, I don’t get why Fred and George only got +three O.W.L.s each,” said Harry, watching as Fred, +George, and Lee collected gold from the eager crowd. +“They really know their stuff...” + +“Oh, they only know flashy stuff that’s no real use to +anyone,” said Hermione disparagingly. + +“No real use?” said Ron in a strained voice. + +“Hermione, they’ve got about twenty-six Galleons +already...” + +It was a long while before the crowd around the +Weasleys dispersed, and then Fred, Lee, and George +sat up counting their takings even longer, so that it +was well past midnight when Harry, Ron, and +Hermione finally had the common room to themselves +again. At long last, Fred closed the doorway to the +boys’ dormitories behind him, rattling his box of +Galleons ostentatiously so that Hermione scowled. +Harry, who was making very little progress with his +Potions essay, decided to give it up for the night. As +he put his books away, Ron, who was dozing lightly in +an armchair, gave a muffled grunt, awoke, looked +blearily into the fire and said, “Sirius!” + +Harry whipped around; Sirius’s untidy dark head was +sitting in the fire again. + +“Hi,” he said, grinning. + + + +Page | 472Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hi,” chorused Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all three +kneeling down upon the hearthrug. Crookshanks +purred loudly and approached the fire, trying, despite +the heat, to put his face close to Sirius’s. + +“How’re things?” said Sirius. + +“Not that good,” said Harry, as Hermione pulled +Crookshanks back to stop him singeing his whiskers. +“The Ministry’s forced through another decree, which +means we’re not allowed to have Quidditch teams — ” + +“ — or secret Defense Against the Dark Arts groups?” +said Sirius. + +There was a short pause. + +“How did you know about that?” Harry demanded. + +“You want to choose your meeting places more +carefully,” said Sirius, grinning still more broadly. +“The Hog’s Head, I ask you ...” + +“Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!” said +Hermione defensively. “That’s always packed with +people — ” + +“ — which means you’d have been harder to overhear,” +said Sirius. “You’ve got a lot to learn, Hermione.” + +“Who overheard us?” Harry demanded. + +“Mundungus, of course,” said Sirius, and when they +all looked puzzled he laughed. “He was the witch +under the veil.” + +“That was Mundungus?” Harry said, stunned. “What +was he doing in the Hog’s Head?” + + + +Page | 473Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What do you think he was doing?” said Sirius +impatiently. “Keeping an eye on you, of course.” + +“I’m still being followed?” asked Harry angrily. + +“Yeah, you are,” said Sirius, “and just as well, isn’t it, +if the first thing you’re going to do on your weekend +off is organize an illegal defense group.” + +But he looked neither angry nor worried; on the +contrary, he was looking at Harry with distinct pride. + +“Why was Dung hiding from us?” asked Ron, +sounding disappointed. “We’d’ve liked to’ve seen him.” + +“He was banned from the Hog’s Head twenty years +ago,” said Sirius, “and that barman’s got a long +memory. We lost Moody’s spare Invisibility Cloak +when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung’s been dressing +as a witch a lot lately... Anyway ... First of all, Ron — +I’ve sworn to pass on a message from your mother.” + +“Oh yeah?” said Ron, sounding apprehensive. + +“She says on no account whatsoever are you to take +part in an illegal secret Defense Against the Dark Arts +group. She says you’ll be expelled for sure and your +future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of +time to learn how to defend yourself later and that +you are too young to be worrying about that right +now. She also” — Sirius’s eyes turned to the other two +— “advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with +the group, though she accepts that she has no +authority over either of them and simply begs them to +remember that she has their best interests at heart. +She would have written all this to you, but if the owl +had been intercepted you’d all have been in real +trouble, and she can’t say it for herself because she’s +on duty tonight.” + +Page | 474Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“On duty doing what?” said Ron quickly. + +“Never you mind, just stuff for the Order,” said Sirius. +“So it’s fallen to me to be the messenger and make +sure you tell her I passed it all on, because I don’t +think she trusts me to.” + +There was another pause in which Crookshanks, +mewing, attempted to paw Sirius’s head, and Ron +fiddled with a hole in the hearthrug. + +“So you want me to say I’m not going to take part in +the defense group?” he muttered finally. + +“Me? Certainly not!” said Sirius, looking surprised. “I +think it’s an excellent idea!” + +“You do?” said Harry, his heart lifting. + +“Of course I do!” said Sirius. “D’you think your father +and I would’ve lain down and taken orders from an +old hag like Umbridge?” + +“But — last term all you did was tell me to be careful +and not take risks — ” + +“Last year all the evidence was that someone inside +Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!” said Sirius +impatiently. “This year we know that there’s someone +outside Hogwarts who’d like to kill us all, so I think +learning to defend yourselves properly is a very good +idea!” + +“And if we do get expelled?” Hermione asked, a +quizzical look on her face. + +“Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!” said +Harry, staring at her. + + + +Page | 475Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I know it was... I just wondered what Sirius +thought,” she said, shrugging. + +“Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves +than sitting safely in school without a clue,” said +Sirius. + +“Hear, hear,” said Harry and Ron enthusiastically. + +“So,” said Sirius, “how are you organizing this group? +Where are you meeting?” + +“Well, that’s a bit of a problem now,” said Harry. +“Dunno where we’re going to be able to go...” + +“How about the Shrieking Shack?” suggested Sirius. + +“Hey, that’s an idea!” said Ron excitedly, but +Hermione made a skeptical noise and all three of +them looked at her, Sirius’s head turning in the +flames. + +“Well, Sirius, it’s just that there were only four of you +meeting in the Shrieking Shack when you were at +school,” said Hermione, “and all of you could +transform into animals and I suppose you could all +have squeezed under a single Invisibility Cloak if +you’d wanted to. But there are twenty-eight of us and +none of us is an Animagus, so we wouldn’t need so +much an Invisibility Cloak as an Invisibility Marquee + + + +“Fair point,” said Sirius, looking slightly crestfallen. +“Well, I’m sure you’ll come up with somewhere... +There used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway +behind that big mirror on the fourth floor, you might +have enough space to practice jinxes in there — ” + + + +Page | 476Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Fred and George told me it’s blocked,” said Harry, +shaking his head. “Caved in or something.” + +“Oh ...” said Sirius, frowning. “Well, 111 have a think +and get back to — ” + +He broke off. His face was suddenly tense, alarmed. +He turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid +brick wall of the fireplace. + +“Sirius?” said Harry anxiously. + +But he had vanished. Harry gaped at the flames for a +moment, then turned to look at Ron and Hermione. + +“Why did he — ?” + +Hermione gave a horrified gasp and leapt to her feet, +still staring at the fire. + +A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as +though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short- +fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings... + +The three of them ran for it; at the door of the boys’ +dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridge’s hand was +still making snatching movements amongst the +flames, as though she knew exactly where Sirius’s +hair had been moments before and was determined to +seize it. + + + +Page | 477Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY + +“Umbridge has been reading your mail, Harry. There’s +no other explanation.” + +“You think Umbridge attacked Hedwig?” he said, +outraged. + +“I’m almost certain of it,” said Hermione grimly. + +“Watch your frog, it’s escaping.” + +Harry pointed his wand at the bullfrog that had been +hopping hopefully toward the other side of the table +— “Acciol ” — and it zoomed gloomily back into his +hand. + +Charms was always one of the best lessons in which +to enjoy a private chat: There was generally so much +movement and activity that the danger of being +overheard was very slight. Today, with the room full of +croaking bullfrogs and cawing ravens, and with a +heavy downpour of rain clattering and pounding +against the classroom windows, Harry, Ron, and +Hermione ’s whispered discussion about how +Page | 478Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Umbridge had nearly caught Sirius went quite +unnoticed. + +“I’ve been suspecting this ever since Filch accused +you of ordering Dungbombs, because it seemed such +a stupid lie,” Hermione whispered. “I mean, once your +letter had been read, it would have been quite clear +you weren’t ordering them, so you wouldn’t have been +in trouble at all — it’s a bit of a feeble joke, isn’t it? +But then I thought, what if somebody just wanted an +excuse to read your mail? Well then, it would be a +perfect way for Umbridge to manage it — tip off Filch, +let him do the dirty work and confiscate the letter, +then either find a way of stealing it from him or else +demand to see it — I don’t think Filch would object, +when’s he ever stuck up for a student’s rights? Harry, +you’re squashing your frog.” + +Harry looked down; he was indeed squeezing his +bullfrog so tightly its eyes were popping; he replaced +it hastily upon the desk. + +“It was a very, very close call last night,” said +Hermione. “I just wonder if Umbridge knows how +close it was. Silenciol” + +The bullfrog on which she was practicing her +Silencing Charm was struck dumb mid-croak and +glared at her reproachfully. + +“If she’d caught Snuffles ...” + +Harry finished the sentence for her. + +“He’d probably be back in Azkaban this morning.” He +waved his wand without really concentrating; his +bullfrog swelled like a green balloon and emitted a +high-pitched whistle. + + + +Page | 479Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Silenciol” said Hermione hastily, pointing her wand +at Harry’s frog, which deflated silently before them. +“Well, he mustn’t do it again, that’s all. I just don’t +know how we’re going to let him know. We can’t send +him an owl.” + +“I don’t reckon he’ll risk it again,” said Ron. “He’s not +stupid, he knows she nearly got him. Silenciol” + +The large and ugly raven in front of him let out a +derisive caw. + +“ Silenciol SILENCIO” + +The raven cawed more loudly. + +“It’s the way you’re moving your wand,” said +Hermione, watching Ron critically. “You don’t want to +wave it, it’s more a sharp jab.” + +“Ravens are harder than frogs,” said Ron testily. + +“Fine, let’s swap,” said Hermione, seizing Ron’s raven +and replacing it with her own fat bullfrog. “Silencio\” +The raven continued to open and close its sharp beak, +but no sound came out. + +“Very good, Miss Granger!” said Professor Flitwick’s +squeaky little voice and Harry, Ron, and Hermione all +jumped. “Now, let me see you try, Mr. Weasley!” + +“Wha — ? Oh — oh, right,” said Ron, very flustered. +“Er — Silenciol” + +He jabbed at the bullfrog so hard that he poked it in +the eye; the frog gave a deafening croak and leapt off +the desk. + + + +Page | 480Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It came as no surprise to any of them that Harry and +Ron were given additional practice of the Silencing +Charm for homework. + +They were allowed to remain inside over break due to +the downpour outside. They found seats in a noisy +and overcrowded classroom on the first floor in which +Peeves was floating dreamily up near the chandelier, +occasionally blowing an ink pellet at the top of +somebody’s head. They had barely sat down when +Angelina came struggling toward them through the +groups of gossiping students. + +“I’ve got permission!” she said. “To re-form the +Quidditch team!” + +“Excellent.” said Ron and Harry together. + +“Yeah,” said Angelina, beaming. “I went to +McGonagall and I think she might have appealed to +Dumbledore — anyway, Umbridge had to give in. Ha! +So I want you down at the pitch at seven o’clock +tonight, all right, because we’ve got to make up time, +you realize we’re only three weeks away from our first +match?” + +She squeezed away from them, narrowly dodged an +ink pellet from Peeves, which hit a nearby first year +instead, and vanished from sight. + +Ron’s smile slipped slightly as he looked out of the +window, which was now opaque with hammering +rain. + +“Hope this clears up ... What’s up with you, +Hermione?” + + + +Page | 481Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She too was gazing at the window, but not as though +she really saw it. Her eyes were unfocused and there +was a frown on her face. + +“Just thinking ...” she said, still frowning at the rain- +washed window. + +“About Siri . . . Snuffles?” said Harry. + +“No ... not exactly ...” said Hermione slowly. “More ... +wondering ... I suppose we’re doing the right thing ... + +I think ... aren’t we? + +Harry and Ron looked at each other. + +“Well, that clears that up,” said Ron. “It would’ve been +really annoying if you hadn’t explained yourself +properly.” + +Hermione looked at him as though she had only just +realized he was there. + +“I was just wondering,” she said, her voice stronger +now, “whether we’re doing the right thing, starting +this Defense Against the Dark Arts group.” + +“What!” said Harry and Ron together. + +“Hermione, it was your idea in the first place!” said +Ron indignantly. + +“I know,” said Hermione, twisting her fingers together. +“But after talking to Snuffles ...” + +“But he’s all for it!” said Harry. + +“Yes,” said Hermione, staring at the window again. +“Yes, that’s what made me think maybe it wasn’t a +good idea after all...” + +Page | 482Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Peeves floated over them on his stomach, peashooter +at the ready; automatically all three of them lifted +their bags to cover their heads until he had passed. + +“Let’s get this straight,” said Harry angrily, as they +put their bags back on the floor, “Sirius agrees with +us, so you don’t think we should do it anymore?” + +Hermione looked tense and rather miserable. Now +staring at her own hands she said, “Do you honestly +trust his judgment?” + +“Yes, I do!” said Harry at once. “He’s always given us +great advice!” + +An ink pellet whizzed past them, striking Katie Bell +squarely in the ear. Hermione watched Katie leap to +her feet and start throwing things at Peeves; it was a +few moments before Hermione spoke again and it +sounded as though she was choosing her words very +carefully. + +“You don’t think he has become ... sort of ... reckless +... since he’s been cooped up in Grimmauld Place? + +You don’t think he’s ... kind of ... living through us?” + +“What d’you mean, ‘living through us’?” Harry +retorted. + +“I mean ... well, I think he’d love to be forming secret +defense societies right under the nose of someone +from the Ministry... I think he’s really frustrated at +how little he can do where he is ... so I think he’s +keen to kind of ... egg us on.” + +Ron looked utterly perplexed. + +“Sirius is right,” he said, “you do sound just like my +mother.” + +Page | 483Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hermione bit her lip and did not answer. The bell +rang just as Peeves swooped down upon Katie and +emptied an entire ink bottle over her head. + +The weather did not improve as the day wore on, so +that at seven o’clock that evening, when Harry and +Ron went down to the Quidditch pitch for practice, +they were soaked through within minutes, their feet +slipping and sliding on the sodden grass. The sky was +a deep, thundery gray and it was a relief to gain the +warmth and light of the changing rooms, even if they +knew the respite was only temporary. They found +Fred and George debating whether to use one of their +own Skiving Snackboxes to get out of flying. + +“ — but I bet she’d know what we’d done,” Fred said +out of the corner of his mouth. “If only I hadn’t offered +to sell her some Puking Pastilles yesterday — ” + +“We could try the Fever Fudge,” George muttered, “no +one’s seen that yet — ” + +“Does it work?” inquired Ron hopefully, as the +hammering of rain on the roof intensified and wind +howled around the building. + +“Well, yeah,” said Fred, “your temperature’ll go right +up — ” + + + +“ — but you get these massive pus-filled boils too,” +said George, “and we haven’t worked out how to get +rid of them yet.” + +“I can’t see any boils,” said Ron, staring at the twins. + +“No, well, you wouldn’t,” said Fred darkly, “they’re not +in a place we generally display to the public — ” + + + +Page | 484Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ — but they make sitting on a broom a right pain in +the — ” + + + +“All right, everyone, listen up,” said Angelina loudly, +emerging from the Captain’s office. “I know it’s not +ideal weather, but there’s a good chance we’ll be +playing Slytherin in conditions like this so it’s a good +idea to work out how we’re going to cope with them. +Harry, didn’t you do something to your glasses to stop +the rain fogging them up when we played Hufflepuff +in that storm?” + +“Hermione did it,” said Harry. He pulled out his wand, +tapped his glasses and said, “Imperviusl” + +“I think we all ought to try that,” said Angelina. “If we +could just keep the rain off our faces it would really +help visibility — all together, come on — Imperviusl +Okay. Let’s go.” + +They all stowed their wands back in the inside +pockets of their robes, shouldered their brooms, and +followed Angelina out of the changing rooms. + +They squelched through the deepening mud to the +middle of the pitch; visibility was still very poor even +with the Impervius Charm; light was fading fast and +curtains of rain were sweeping the grounds. + +“All right, on my whistle,” shouted Angelina. + +Harry kicked off from the ground, spraying mud in all +directions, and shot upward, the wind pulling him +slightly off course. He had no idea how he was going +to see the Snitch in this weather; he was having +enough difficulty seeing the one Bludger with which +they were practicing; a minute into the practice it +almost unseated him and he had to use the Sloth +Grip Roll to avoid it. Unfortunately Angelina did not +Page | 485Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +see this; in fact, she did not appear to be able to see +anything; none of them had a clue what the others +were doing. The wind was picking up; even at a +distance Harry could hear the swishing, pounding +sounds of the rain pummeling the surface of the lake. + +Angelina kept them at it for nearly an hour before +conceding defeat. She led her sodden and disgruntled +team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the +practice had not been a waste of time, though without +any real conviction in her voice. Fred and George were +looking particularly annoyed; both were bandy-legged +and winced with every movement. Harry could hear +them complaining in low voices as he toweled his hair +dry. + +“I think a few of mine have ruptured,” said Fred in a +hollow voice. + +“Mine haven’t,” said George, wincing. “They’re +throbbing like mad ... feel bigger if anything ...” + +“OUCH!” said Harry. + +He pressed the towel to his face, his eyes screwed +tight with pain. The scar on his forehead had seared +again, more painfully than in months. + +“What’s up?” said several voices. + +Harry emerged from behind his towel; the changing +room was blurred because he was not wearing his +glasses; but he could still tell that everyone’s face was +turned toward him. + +“Nothing,” he muttered, “I — poked myself in the eye, +that’s all...” + + + +Page | 486Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But he gave Ron a significant look and the two of +them hung back as the rest of the team filed back +outside, muffled in their cloaks, their hats pulled low +over their ears. + +“What happened?” said Ron, the moment that Alicia +had disappeared through the door. “Was it your +scar?” + +Harry nodded. + +“But ...” Looking scared, Ron strode across to the +window and stared out into the rain, “He — he can’t +be near us now, can he?” + +“No,” Harry muttered, sinking onto a bench and +rubbing his forehead. “He’s probably miles away. It +hurt because ... he’s ... angry.” + +Harry had not meant to say that at all, and heard the +words as though a stranger had spoken them — yet +he knew at once that they were true. He did not know +how he knew it, but he did; Voldemort, wherever he +was, whatever he was doing, was in a towering +temper. + +“Did you see him?” said Ron, looking horrified. “Did +you . . . get a vision, or something?” + +Harry sat quite still, staring at his feet, allowing his +mind and his memory to relax in the aftermath of the +pain... + +A confused tangle of shapes, a howling rush of voices + + + +“He wants something done, and it’s not happening +fast enough,” he said. + + + +Page | 487Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Again, he felt surprised to hear the words coming out +of his mouth, and yet quite certain that they were +true. + +“But ... how do you know?” said Ron. + +Harry shook his head and covered his eyes with his +hands, pressing down upon them with his palms. +Little stars erupted in them. He felt Ron sit down on +the bench beside him and knew Ron was staring at +him. + +“Is this what it was about last time?” said Ron in a +hushed voice. “When your scar hurt in Umbridge’s +office? You-Know-Who was angry?” + +Harry shook his head. + +“What is it, then?” + +Harry was thinking himself back. He had been +looking into Umbridge’s face... His scar had hurt ... +and he had had that odd feeling in his stomach ... a +strange, leaping feeling ... a happy feeling... But, of +course, he had not recognized it for what it was, as he +had been feeling so miserable himself. . . + +“Last time, it was because he was pleased,” he said. +“Really pleased. + +“He thought ... something good was going to happen. +And the night before we came back to Hogwarts ...” + +He thought back to the moment when his scar had +hurt so badly in his and Ron’s bedroom in +Grimmauld Place. “He was furious...” + +He looked around at Ron, who was gaping at him. + + + +Page | 488Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You could take over from Trelawney, mate,” he said +in an awed voice. + +“I’m not making prophecies,” said Harry. + +“No, you know what you’re doing?” Ron said, +sounding both scared and impressed. “Harry, you’re +reading You-Know-Who’s mind...” + +“No,” said Harry, shaking his head. “It’s more like ... +his mood, I suppose. I’m just getting flashes of what +mood he’s in... Dumbledore said something like this +was happening last year. . . He said that when +Voldemort was near me, or when he was feeling +hatred, I could tell. Well, now I’m feeling it when he’s +pleased too...” + +There was a pause. The wind and rain lashed at the +building. + +“You’ve got to tell someone,” said Ron. + +“I told Sirius last time.” + +“Well, tell him about this time!” + +“Can’t, can I?” said Harry grimly. “Umbridge is +watching the owls and the fires, remember?” + +“Well then, Dumbledore — ” + +“I’ve just told you, he already knows,” said Harry +shortly, getting to his feet, taking his cloak off his peg, +and swinging it around himself. “There’s no point +telling him again.” + +Ron did up the fastening of his own cloak, watching +Harry thoughtfully. + + + +Page | 489Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dumbledore’d want to know,” he said. + + + +Harry shrugged. + +“C’mon ... we’ve still got Silencing Charms to practice + + + +They hurried back through the dark grounds, sliding +and stumbling up the muddy lawns, not talking. + +Harry was thinking hard. What was it that Voldemort +wanted done that was not happening quickly enough? + +“He’s got other plans ... plans he can put into operation +very quietly indeed . . . stuff he can only get by stealth +... like a weapon. Something he didn’t have last time.” + +He had not thought about those words in weeks; he +had been too absorbed in what was going on at +Hogwarts, too busy dwelling on the ongoing battles +with Umbridge, the injustice of all the Ministry +interference... But now they came back to him and +made him wonder... Voldemort’s anger would make +sense if he was no nearer laying hands on the +weapon, whatever it was... Had the Order thwarted +him, stopped him from seizing it? Where was it kept? +Who had it now? + +“Mimbulus mimbletonia,” said Ron’s voice and Harry +came back to his senses just in time to clamber +through the portrait hole into the common room. + +It appeared that Hermione had gone to bed early, +leaving Crookshanks curled in a nearby chair and an +assortment of knobbly, knitted elf hats lying on a +table by the fire. Harry was rather grateful that she +was not around because he did not much want to +discuss his scar hurting and have her urge him to go +to Dumbledore too. Ron kept throwing him anxious +glances, but Harry pulled out his Potions book and +Page | 490Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +set to work to finish his essay, though he was only +pretending to concentrate and, by the time that Ron +said he was going to bed too, had written hardly +anything. + +Midnight came and went while Harry was reading and +rereading a passage about the uses of scurvy-grass, +lovage, and sneezewort and not taking in a word of +it... + +These plantes are moste efficacious in the inflaming +of the braine, and are therefore much used in +Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the +wizard is desirous of producing hot-headedness and +recklessness... + +... Hermione said Sirius was becoming reckless +cooped up in Grimmauld Place... + +. . . moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and +are therefore much used . . . + +. . . the Daily Prophet would think his brain was +inflamed if they found out that he knew what +Voldemort was feeling ... + +. . . therefore much used in Confusing and +Befuddlement Draughts . . . + +. . . confusing was the word, all right; why did he know +what Voldemort was feeling? What was this weird +connection between them, which Dumbledore had +never been able to explain satisfactorily? + +. . . where the wizard is desirous . . . + +. . . how he would like to sleep . . . + +...of producing hot-headedness . . . + +Page | 491Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +... It was warm and comfortable in his armchair +before the fire, with the rain still beating heavily on +the windowpanes and Crookshanks purring and the +crackling of the flames... + +The book slipped from Harry’s slack grip and landed +with a dull thud on the hearthrug. His head fell +sideways... + +He was walking once more along a windowless +corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence. As the +door at the end of the passage loomed larger his heart +beat fast with excitement... If he could only open it ... +enter beyond . . . + +He stretched out his hand... His fingertips were +inches from it... + +“Harry Potter, sir!” + +He awoke with a start. The candles had all been +extinguished in the common room, but there was +something moving close by. + +“Whozair?” said Harry, sitting upright in his chair. + +The fire was almost extinguished, the room very dark. + +“Dobby has your owl, sir!” said a squeaky voice. + +“Dobby?” said Harry thickly, peering through the +gloom toward the source of the voice. + +Dobby the house-elf was standing beside the table on +which Hermione had left her half a dozen knitted +hats. His large, pointed ears were now sticking out +from beneath what looked like all the hats that +Hermione had ever knitted; he was wearing one on +top of the other, so that his head seemed elongated by + + + +Page | 492Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +two or three feet, and on the very topmost bobble sat +Hedwig, hooting serenely and obviously cured. + + + +“Dobby volunteered to return Harry Potter’s owl!” said +the elf squeakily, with a look of positive adoration on +his face. “Professor Grubbly-Plank says she is all well +now, sir!” + +He sank into a deep bow so that his pencil-like nose +brushed the threadbare surface of the hearthrug and +Hedwig gave an indignant hoot and fluttered onto the +arm of Harry’s chair. + +“Thanks, Dobby!” said Harry, stroking Hedwig’s head +and blinking hard, trying to rid himself of the image +of the door in his dream... It had been very vivid... +Looking back at Dobby, he noticed that the elf was +also wearing several scarves and innumerable socks, +so that his feet looked far too big for his body. + +“Er . . . have you been taking all the clothes +Hermione’s been leaving out?” + +“Oh no, sir,” said Dobby happily, “Dobby has been +taking some for Winky too, sir.” + +“Yeah, how is Winky?” asked Harry. + +Dobby’s ears drooped slightly. + +“Winky is still drinking lots, sir,” he said sadly, his +enormous round green eyes, large as tennis balls, +downcast. “She still does not care for clothes, Harry +Potter. Nor do the other house-elves. None of them +will clean Gryffindor Tower anymore, not with the +hats and socks hidden everywhere, they finds them +insulting, sir. Dobby does it all himself, sir, but +Dobby does not mind, sir, for he always hopes to meet +Harry Potter and tonight, sir, he has got his wish!” +Page | 493Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dobby sank into a deep bow again. “But Harry Potter +does not seem happy,” Dobby went on, straightening +up again and looking timidly at Harry. “Dobby heard +him muttering in his sleep. Was Harry Potter having +bad dreams?” + +“Not really bad,” said Harry, yawning and rubbing his +eyes. “I’ve had worse.” + +The elf surveyed Harry out of his vast, orblike eyes. +Then he said very seriously, his ears drooping, + +“Dobby wishes he could help Harry Potter, for Harry +Potter set Dobby free and Dobby is much, much +happier now...” + +Harry smiled. + +“You can’t help me, Dobby, but thanks for the offer...” + +He bent and picked up his Potions book. He’d have to +try and finish the essay tomorrow. He closed the book +and as he did so the firelight illuminated the thin +white scars on the back of his hand — the result of +his detention with Umbridge. + +“Wait a moment — there is something you can do for +me, Dobby,” said Harry slowly. + +The elf looked around, beaming. + +“Name it, Harry Potter, sir!” + +“I need to find a place where twenty-eight people can +practice Defense Against the Dark Arts without being +discovered by any of the teachers. Especially,” Harry +clenched his hand on the book, so that the scars +shone pearly white, “Professor Umbridge.” + + + +Page | 494Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He expected the elf’s smile to vanish, his ears to +droop; he expected him to say that this was +impossible, or else that he would try, but his hopes +were not high... What he had not expected was for +Dobby to give a little skip, his ears waggling happily, +and clap his hands together. + +“Dobby knows the perfect place, sir!” he said happily. +“Dobby heard tell of it from the other house-elves +when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as +the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of +Requirement!” + +“Why?” said Harry curiously. + +“Because it is a room that a person can only enter,” +said Dobby seriously, “when they have real need of it. +Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but +when it appears, it is always equipped for the seeker’s +needs. Dobby has used it, sir,” said the elf, dropping +his voice and looking guilty, “when Winky has been +very drunk. He has hidden her in the Room of +Requirement and he has found antidotes to +butterbeer there, and a nice elf-sized bed to settle her +on while she sleeps it off, sir... And Dobby knows Mr. +Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when +he has run short, sir, and — ” + +“ — and if you really needed a bathroom,” said Harry, +suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had +said at the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, “would +it fill itself with chamber pots?” + +“Dobby expects so, sir,” said Dobby, nodding +earnestly. “It is a most amazing room, sir.” + +“How many people know about it?” said Harry, sitting +up straighter in his chair. + + + +Page | 495Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Very few, sir. Mostly people stumbles across it when +they needs it, sir, but often they never finds it again, +for they do not know that it is always there waiting to +be called into service, sir.” + +“It sounds brilliant,” said Harry, his heart racing. “It +sounds perfect, Dobby. When can you show me where +it is?” + + + +“Anytime, Harry Potter, sir,” said Dobby, looking +delighted at Harry’s enthusiasm. “We could go now, if +you like!” + +For a moment Harry was tempted to go now; he was +halfway out of his seat, intending to hurry upstairs +for his Invisibility Cloak when, not for the first time, a +voice very much like Hermione’s whispered in his ear: +reckless. It was, after all, very late, he was exhausted +and had Snape’s essay to finish. + +“Not tonight, Dobby,” said Harry reluctantly, sinking +back into his chair. “This is really important... I don’t +want to blow it, it’ll need proper planning... Listen, +can you just tell me exactly where this Room of +Requirement is and how to get in there?” + +Their robes billowed and swirled around them as they +splashed across the flooded vegetable patch to double +Herbology, where they could hardly hear what +Professor Sprout was saying over the hammering of +raindrops hard as hailstones on the greenhouse roof. +The afternoon’s Care of Magical Creatures lesson was +to be relocated from the storm-swept grounds to a +free classroom on the ground floor and, to their +intense relief, Angelina sought out her team at lunch +to tell them that Quidditch practice was canceled. + +“Good,” said Harry quietly, when she told him, +“because we’ve found somewhere to have our first + +Page | 496Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Defense meeting. Tonight, eight o’clock, seventh floor +opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being +clubbed by those trolls. Can you tell Katie and +Alicia?” + +She looked slightly taken aback but promised to tell +the others; Harry returned hungrily to his sausages +and mash. When he looked up to take a drink of +pumpkin juice, he found Hermione watching him. + +“What?” he said thickly. + +“Well ... it’s just that Dobby’s plans aren’t always that +safe. Don’t you remember when he lost you all the +bones in your arm?” + +“This room isn’t just some mad idea of Dobby’s; +Dumbledore knows about it too, he mentioned it to +me at the Yule Ball.” + +Hermione’s expression cleared. + +“Dumbledore told you about it?” + +“Just in passing,” said Harry, shrugging. + +“Oh well, that’s all right then,” said Hermione briskly +and she raised no more objections. + +Together with Ron they had spent most of the day +seeking out those people who had signed their names +to the list in the Hog’s Head and telling them where to +meet that evening. Somewhat to Harry’s +disappointment, it was Ginny who managed to find +Cho Chang and her friend first; however, by the end +of dinner he was confident that the news had been +passed to every one of the twenty-five people who had +turned up in the Hog’s Head. + + + +Page | 497Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +At half-past seven Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the +Gryffindor common room, Harry clutching a certain +piece of aged parchment in his hand. Fifth years were +allowed to be out in the corridors until nine o’clock, +but all three of them kept looking around nervously +as they made their way up to the seventh floor. + +“Hold it,” said Harry warningly, unfolding the piece of +parchment at the top of the last staircase, tapping it +with his wand, and muttering, “I solemnly swear that +I am up to no good.” + +A map of Hogwarts appeared upon the blank surface +of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labeled +with names, showed where various people were. + +“Filch is on the second floor,” said Harry, holding the +map close to his eyes and scanning it closely, “and +Mrs. Norris is on the fourth.” + +“And Umbridge?” said Hermione anxiously. + +“In her office,” said Harry, pointing. “Okay, let’s go.” + +They hurried along the corridor to the place Dobby +had described to Harry, a stretch of blank wall +opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas +the Barmy’s foolish attempt to train trolls for the +ballet. + +“Okay,” said Harry quietly, while a moth-eaten troll +paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be +ballet teacher to watch. “Dobby said to walk past this +bit of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we +need.” + +They did so, turning sharply at the window just +beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-size +vase on its other side. Ron had screwed up his eyes in + +Page | 498Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +concentration, Hermione was whispering something +under her breath, Harry’s fists were clenched as he +stared ahead of him. + +We need somewhere to learn to fight... he thought. + +Just give us a place to practice ... somewhere they +can’t find us ... + +“Harry,” said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled +around after their third walk past. + +A highly polished door had appeared in the wall. Ron +was staring at it, looking slightly wary. Harry reached +out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door, +and led the way into a spacious room lit with +flickering torches like those that illuminated the +dungeons eight floors below. + +The walls were lined with wooden bookcases, and +instead of chairs there were large silk cushions on the +floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room +carried a range of instruments such as Sneakoscopes, +Secrecy Sensors, and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that +Harry was sure had hung, the previous year, in the +fake Moody’s office. + +“These will be good when we’re practicing Stunning,” +said Ron enthusiastically, prodding one of the +cushions with his foot. + +“And just look at these books!” said Hermione +excitedly, running a finger along the spines of the +large leather-bound tomes. “A Compendium of +Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions ... The +Dark Arts Outsmarted ... Self-Defensive Spellwork ... +wow ...” She looked around at Harry, her face +glowing, and he saw that the presence of hundreds of +books had finally convinced Hermione that what they + + + +Page | 499Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +were doing was right. “Harry, this is wonderful, +there’s everything we need here!” + +And without further ado she slid Jinxes for the Jinxed +from its shelf, sank onto the nearest cushion, and +began to read. + +There was a gentle knock on the door. Harry looked +around; Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvati, and Dean +had arrived. + +“Whoa,” said Dean, staring around, impressed. “What +is this place?” + +Harry began to explain, but before he had finished +more people had arrived, and he had to start all over +again. By the time eight o’clock arrived, every cushion +was occupied. Harry moved across to the door and +turned the key protruding from the lock; it clicked in +a satisfyingly loud way and everybody fell silent, +looking at him. Hermione carefully marked her page +of Jinxes for the Jinxed and set the book aside. + +“Well,” said Harry, slightly nervously. “This is the +place we’ve found for practices, and you’ve — er — +obviously found it okay — ” + +“It’s fantastic!” said Cho, and several people +murmured their agreement. + +“It’s bizarre,” said Fred, frowning around at it. “We +once hid from Filch in here, remember, George? But it +was just a broom cupboard then...” + +“Hey, Harry, what’s this stuff?” asked Dean from the +rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the +Foe-Glass. + + + +Page | 500Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dark Detectors,” said Harry, stepping between the +cushions to reach them. “Basically they all show +when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you +don’t want to rely on them too much, they can be +fooled...” + +He gazed for a moment into the cracked Foe-Glass; +shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though +none was recognizable. He turned his back on it. + +“Well, I’ve been thinking about the sort of stuff we +ought to do first and — er — ” He noticed a raised +hand. “What, Hermione?” + +“I think we ought to elect a leader,” said Hermione. + +“Harry’s leader,” said Cho at once, looking at +Hermione as though she were mad, and Harry’s +stomach did yet another back flip. + +“Yes, but I think we ought to vote on it properly,” said +Hermione, unperturbed. “It makes it formal and it +gives him authority. So — everyone who thinks Harry +ought to be our leader?” + +Everybody put up their hands, even Zacharias Smith, +though he did it very halfheartedly. + +“Er — right, thanks,” said Harry, who could feel his +face burning. “And — what, Hermione?” + +“I also think we ought to have a name,” she said +brightly, her hand still in the air. “It would promote a +feeling of team spirit and unity, don’t you think?” + +“Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?” said Angelina +hopefully. + + + +Page | 501Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Or the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group?” +suggested Fred. + +“I was thinking,” said Hermione, frowning at Fred, +“more of a name that didn’t tell everyone what we +were up to, so we can refer to it safely outside +meetings.” + +“The Defense Association?” said Cho. “The D.A. for +short, so nobody knows what we’re talking about?” + +“Yeah, the D.A.’s good,” said Ginny. “Only let’s make +it stand for Dumbledore’s Army because that’s the +Ministry’s worst fear, isn’t it?” + +There was a good deal of appreciative murmuring and +laughter at this. + +“All in favor of the D.A.?” said Hermione bossily, +kneeling up on her cushion to count. “That’s a +majority — motion passed!” + +She pinned the piece of paper with all of their names +on it on the wall and wrote DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY +across the top in large letters. + +“Right,” said Harry, when she had sat down again, +“shall we get practicing then? I was thinking, the first +thing we should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the +Disarming Charm. I know it’s pretty basic but I’ve +found it really useful — ” + +“Oh please,” said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes +and folding his arms. “I don’t think Expelliarmus is +exactly going to help us against You-Know-Who, do +you?” + +“I’ve used it against him,” said Harry quietly. “It saved +my life last June.” + +Page | 502Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Smith opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the +room was very quiet. + +“But if you think it’s beneath you, you can leave,” +Harry said. + +Smith did not move. Nor did anybody else. + +“Okay,” said Harry, his mouth slightly drier than +usual with all those eyes upon him, “I reckon we +should all divide into pairs and practice.” + +It felt very odd to be issuing instructions, but not +nearly as odd as seeing them followed. Everybody got +to their feet at once and divided up. Predictably, +Neville was left partnerless. + +“You can practice with me,” Harry told him. “Right — +on the count of three, then — one, two, three — ” + +The room was suddenly full of shouts of +“Expelliarmusl”: Wands flew in all directions, missed +spells hit books on shelves and sent them flying into +the air. Harry was too quick for Neville, whose wand +went spinning out of his hand, hit the ceiling in a +shower of sparks, and landed with a clatter on top of +a bookshelf, from which Harry retrieved it with a +Summoning Charm. Glancing around he thought he +had been right to suggest that they practice the +basics first; there was a lot of shoddy spellwork going +on; many people were not succeeding in disarming +their opponents at all, but merely causing them to +jump backward a few paces or wince as the feeble +spell whooshed over them. + +“Expelliarmusl” said Neville, and Harry, caught +unawares, felt his wand fly out of his hand. + + + +Page | 503Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I DID IT!” said Neville gleefully. “I’ve never done it +before — I DID IT!” + + + +“Good one!” said Harry encouragingly, deciding not to +point out that in a real duel situation Neville’s +opponent was unlikely to be staring in the opposite +direction with his wand held loosely at his side. +“Listen, Neville, can you take it in turns to practice +with Ron and Hermione for a couple of minutes so I +can walk around and see how the rest are doing?” + +Harry moved off into the middle of the room. +Something very odd was happening to Zacharias +Smith; every time he opened his mouth to disarm +Anthony Goldstein, his own wand would fly out of his +hand, yet Anthony did not seem to be making a +sound. Harry did not have to look far for the solution +of the mystery, however; Fred and George were +several feet from Smith and taking it in turns to point +their wands at his back. + +“Sorry, Harry,” said George hastily, when Harry +caught his eye. “Couldn’t resist ...” + +Harry walked around the other pairs, trying to correct +those who were doing the spell wrong. Ginny was +teamed with Michael Corner; she was doing very well, +whereas Michael was either very bad or unwilling to +jinx her. Ernie Macmillan was flourishing his wand +unnecessarily, giving his partner time to get in under +his guard; the Creevey brothers were enthusiastic but +erratic and mainly responsible for all the books +leaping off the shelves around them. Luna Lovegood +was similarly patchy, occasionally sending Justin +Finch-Fletchley’s wand spinning out of his hand, at +other times merely causing his hair to stand on end. + +“Okay, stop!” Harry shouted. “Stop\ STOP.” + +Page | 504Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +I need a whistle, he thought, and immediately spotted +one lying on top of the nearest row of books. He +caught it up and blew hard. Everyone lowered their +wands. + +“That wasn’t bad,” said Harry, “but there’s definite +room for improvement.” Zacharias Smith glared at +him. “Let’s try again...” + +He moved off around the room again, stopping here +and there to make suggestions. Slowly the general +performance improved. He avoided going near Cho +and her friend for a while, but after walking twice +around every other pair in the room felt he could not +ignore them any longer. + +“Oh no,” said Cho rather wildly as he approached. + +“ Expelliarmiousl I mean, Exnellimellius\ I — oh, sorry, +Marietta!” + +Her curly-haired friend’s sleeve had caught fire; +Marietta extinguished it with her own wand and +glared at Harry as though it was his fault. + +“You made me nervous, I was doing all right before +then!” Cho told Harry ruefully. + +“That was quite good,” Harry lied, but when she +raised her eyebrows he said, “Well, no, it was lousy, +but I know you can do it properly, I was watching +from over there...” + +She laughed. Her friend Marietta looked at them +rather sourly and turned away. + +“Don’t mind her,” Cho muttered. “She doesn’t really +want to be here but I made her come with me. Her +parents have forbidden her to do anything that might + + + +Page | 505Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +upset Umbridge, you see — her mum works for the +Ministry.” + +“What about your parents?” asked Harry. + +“Well, they’ve forbidden me to get on the wrong side of +Umbridge too,” said Cho, drawing herself up proudly. +“But if they think I’m not going to fight You-Know- +Who after what happened to Cedric — ” + +She broke off, looking rather confused, and an +awkward silence fell between them; Terry Boot’s wand +went whizzing past Harry’s ear and hit Alicia Spinnet +hard on the nose. + +“Well, my father is very supportive of any anti- +Ministry action!” said Luna Lovegood proudly from +just behind Harry; evidently she had been +eavesdropping on his conversation while Justin +Finch-Fletchley attempted to disentangle himself from +the robes that had flown up over his head. “He’s +always saying he’d believe anything of Fudge, I mean, +the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! +And of course he uses the Department of Mysteries to +develop terrible poisons, which he feeds secretly to +anybody who disagrees with him. And then there’s his +Umgubular Slashkilter — ” + +“Don’t ask,” Harry muttered to Cho as she opened her +mouth, looking puzzled. She giggled. + +“Hey, Harry,” Hermione called from the other end of +the room, “have you checked the time?” + +He looked down at his watch and received a shock — +it was already ten past nine, which meant they +needed to get back to their common rooms +immediately or risk being caught and punished by +Filch for being out-of-bounds. He blew his whistle; +Page | 506Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +everybody stopped shouting, “ Expelliarmusl” and the +last couple of wands clattered to the floor. + +“Well, that was pretty good,” said Harry, “but we’ve +overrun, we’d better leave it here. Same time, same +place next week?” + +“Sooner!” said Dean Thomas eagerly and many people +nodded in agreement. + +Angelina, however, said quickly, “The Quidditch +season’s about to start, we need team practices too!” + +“Let’s say next Wednesday night, then,” said Harry, +“and we can decide on additional meetings then... +Come on, we’d better get going...” + +He pulled out the Marauder’s Map again and checked +it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh floor. +He let them all leave in threes and fours, watching +their tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned +safely to their dormitories: the Hufflepuffs to the +basement corridor that also led to the kitchens, the +Ravenclaws to a tower on the west side of the castle, +and the Gryffindors along the corridor to the seventh +floor and the Fat Lady’s portrait. + +“That was really, really good, Harry,” said Hermione, +when finally it was just her, Harry, and Ron left. + +“Yeah, it was!” said Ron enthusiastically, as they +slipped out of the door and watched it melt back into +stone behind them. “Did you see me disarm +Hermione, Harry?” + +“Only once,” said Hermione, stung. “I got you loads +more than you got me — ” + + + +Page | 507Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I did not only get you once, I got you at least three +times — ” + +“Well, if you’re counting the one where you tripped +over your own feet and knocked the wand out of my +hand — ” + +They argued all the way back to the common room, +but Harry was not listening to them. He had one eye +on the Marauder’s Map, but he was also thinking of +how Cho had said he made her nervous... + + + +Page | 508Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE LION AND THE SERPENT + +Harry felt as though he were carrying some kind of +talisman inside his chest over the following two +weeks, a glowing secret that supported him through +Umbridge’s classes and even made it possible for him +to smile blandly as he looked into her horrible bulging +eyes. He and the D.A. were resisting her under her +very nose, doing the very thing that she and the +Ministry most feared, and whenever he was supposed +to be reading Wilbert Slinkhard’s book during her +lessons he dwelled instead on satisfying memories of +their most recent meetings, remembering how Neville +had successfully disarmed Hermione, how Colin +Creevey had mastered the Impediment Jinx after +three meetings’ hard effort, how Parvati Patil had +produced such a good Reductor Curse that she had +reduced the table carrying all the Sneakoscopes to +dust. + +He was finding it almost impossible to fix a regular +night of the week for D.A. meetings, as they had to +accommodate three separate Quidditch teams’ +practices, which were often rearranged depending on + +Page | 509Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +the weather conditions; but Harry was not sorry +about this, he had a feeling that it was probably +better to keep the timing of their meetings +unpredictable. If anyone was watching them, it would +be hard to make out a pattern. + +Hermione soon devised a very clever method of +communicating the time and date of the next meeting +to all the members in case they needed to change it at +short notice, because it would look so suspicious if +people from different Houses were seen crossing the +Great Hall to talk to each other too often. She gave +each of the members of the D.A. a fake Galleon (Ron +became very excited when he saw the basket at first, +convinced that she was actually giving out gold). + +“You see the numerals around the edge of the coins?” +Hermione said, holding one up for examination at the +end of their fourth meeting. The coin gleamed fat and +yellow in the light from the torches. “On real Galleons +that’s just a serial number referring to the goblin who +cast the coin. On these fake coins, though, the +numbers will change to reflect the time and date of +the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the +date changes, so if you’re carrying them in a pocket +you’ll be able to feel them. We take one each, and +when Harry sets the date of the next meeting he’ll +change the numbers on his coin, and because I’ve put +a Protean Charm on them, they’ll all change to mimic +his.” + +A blank silence greeted Hermione ’s words. She looked +around at all the faces upturned to her, rather +disconcerted. + +“Well — I thought it was a good idea,” she said +uncertainly, “I mean, even if Umbridge asked us to +turn out our pockets, there’s nothing fishy about + + + +Page | 510Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +carrying a Galleon, is there? But ... well, if you don’t +want to use them ...” + +“You can do a Protean Charm?” said Terry Boot. + +“Yes,” said Hermione. + +“But that’s ... that’s N.E.W.T. standard, that is,” he +said weakly. + +“Oh,” said Hermione, trying to look modest. “Oh ... +well ... yes, I suppose it is...” + +“How come you’re not in Ravenclaw?” he demanded, +staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. +“With brains like yours?” + +“Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting +me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting,” said Hermione +brightly, “but it decided on Gryffindor in the end. So +does that mean we’re using the Galleons?” + +There was a murmur of assent and everybody moved +forward to collect one from the basket. Harry looked +sideways at Hermione. + +“You know what these remind me of?” + +“No, what’s that?” + +“The Death Eaters’ scars. Voldemort touches one of +them, and all their scars burn, and they know they’ve +got to join him.” + +“Well ... yes,” said Hermione quietly. “That is where I +got the idea ... but you’ll notice I decided to engrave +the date on bits of metal rather than on our members’ +skin...” + + + +Page | 511Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah ... I prefer your way,” said Harry, grinning, as +he slipped his Galleon into his pocket. “I suppose the +only danger with these is that we might accidentally +spend them.” + +“Fat chance,” said Ron, who was examining his own +fake Galleon with a slightly mournful air. “I haven’t +got any real Galleons to confuse it with.” + +As the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor +versus Slytherin, drew nearer, their D.A. meetings +were put on hold because Angelina insisted on almost +daily practices. The fact that the Quidditch Cup had +not been held for so long added considerably to the +interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming +game. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were taking a +lively interest in the outcome, for they, of course, +would be playing both teams over the coming year; +and the Heads of House of the competing teams, +though they attempted to disguise it under a decent +pretense of sportsmanship, were determined to see +their side’s victory. Harry realized how much +Professor McGonagall cared about beating Slytherin +when she abstained from giving them homework in +the week leading up to the match. + +“I think you’ve got enough to be getting on with at the +moment,” she said loftily. Nobody could quite believe +their ears until she looked directly at Harry and Ron +and said grimly, “I’ve become accustomed to seeing +the Quidditch Cup in my study, boys, and I really +don’t want to have to hand it over to Professor Snape, +so use the extra time to practice, won’t you?” + +Snape was no less obviously partisan: He had booked +the Quidditch pitch for Slytherin practice so often +that the Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to +play. He was also turning a deaf ear to the many +reports of Slytherin attempts to hex Gryffindor +Page | 512Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +players in the corridors. When Alicia Spinnet turned +up in the hospital wing with her eyebrows growing so +thick and fast that they obscured her vision and +obstructed her mouth, Snape insisted that she must +have attempted a Hair-Thickening Charm on herself +and refused to listen to the fourteen eyewitnesses who +insisted that they had seen the Slytherin Keeper, + +Miles Bletchley, hit her from behind with a jinx while +she worked in the library. + +Harry felt optimistic about Gryffindor’s chances; they +had, after all, never lost to Malfoy’s team. Admittedly +Ron was still not performing to Wood’s standard, but +he was working extremely hard to improve. His +greatest weakness was a tendency to lose confidence +when he made a blunder; if he let in one goal he +became flustered and was therefore likely to miss +more. On the other hand, Harry had seen Ron make +some truly spectacular saves when he was on form: +During one memorable practice, he had hung one- +handed from his broom and kicked the Quaffle so +hard away from the goal hoop that it soared the +length of the pitch and through the center hoop at the +other end. The rest of the team felt this save +compared favorably with one made recently by Barry +Ryan, the Irish International Keeper, against Poland’s +top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski. Even Fred had said +that Ron might yet make him and George proud, and +that they were seriously considering admitting that he +was related to them, something he assured Ron they +had been trying to deny for four years. + +The only thing really worrying Harry was how much +Ron was allowing the tactics of the Slytherin team to +upset him before they even got onto the pitch. Harry, +of course, had endured their snide comments for +more than four years, so whispers of, “Hey, Potty, I +heard Warrington’s sworn to knock you off your +broom on Saturday,” far from chilling his blood, made +Page | 513Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +him laugh. “Warrington’s aim’s so pathetic I’d be +more worried if he was aiming for the person next to +me,” he retorted, which made Ron and Hermione +laugh and wiped the smirk off Pansy Parkinson’s face. + +But Ron had never endured a relentless campaign of +insults, jeers, and intimidation. When Slytherins, +some of them seventh years and considerably larger +than he was, muttered as they passed in the +corridors, “Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, +Weasley?” he did not laugh, but turned a delicate +shade of green. When Draco Malfoy imitated Ron +dropping the Quaffle (which he did whenever they +were within sight of each other), Ron’s ears glowed +red and his hands shook so badly that he was likely +to drop whatever he was holding at the time too. + +October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds +and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen +iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts +that bit at exposed hands and faces. The skies and +the ceiling of the Great Hall turned a pale, pearly +gray, the mountains around Hogwarts became +snowcapped, and the temperature in the castle +dropped so far that many students wore their thick +protective dragon skin gloves in the corridors between +lessons. + +The morning of the match dawned bright and cold. +When Harry awoke he looked around at Ron’s bed +and saw him sitting bolt upright, his arms around his +knees, staring fixedly into space. + +“You all right?” said Harry. + +Ron nodded but did not speak. Harry was reminded +forcibly of the time that Ron had accidentally put a +slug- vomiting charm on himself. He looked just as + + + +Page | 514Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +pale and sweaty as he had done then, not to mention +as reluctant to open his mouth. + + + +“You just need some breakfast,” Harry said bracingly. +“C’mon.” + +The Great Hall was filling up fast when they arrived, +the talk louder and the mood more exuberant than +usual. As they passed the Slytherin table there was +an upsurge of noise; Harry looked around and saw +that nearly everyone there was wearing, in addition to +the usual green-and-silver scarves and hats, silver +badges in the shape of what seemed to be crowns. For +some reason many of them waved at Ron, laughing +uproariously. Harry tried to see what was written on +the badges as he walked by, but he was too +concerned to get Ron past their table quickly to linger +long enough to read them. + +They received a rousing welcome at the Gryffindor +table, where everyone was wearing red and gold, but +far from raising Ron’s spirits the cheers seemed to +sap the last of his morale; he collapsed onto the +nearest bench looking as though he were facing his +final meal. + +“I must’ve been mental to do this,” he said in a croaky +whisper. “Mental.” + +“Don’t be thick,” said Harry firmly, passing him a +choice of cereals. “You’re going to be fine. It’s normal +to be nervous.” + +“I’m rubbish,” croaked Ron. “I’m lousy. I can’t play to +save my life. What was I thinking?” + +“Get a grip,” said Harry sternly. “Look at that save +you made with your foot the other day, even Fred and +George said it was brilliant — ” + +Page | 515Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ron turned a tortured face to Harry. + + + +“That was an accident,” he whispered miserably. “I +didn’t mean to do it — I slipped off my broom when +none of you were looking and I was trying to get back +on and I kicked the Quaffle by accident.” + +“Well,” said Harry, recovering quickly from this +unpleasant surprise, “a few more accidents like that +and the game’s in the bag, isn’t it?” + +Hermione and Ginny sat down opposite them wearing +red-and-gold scarves, gloves, and rosettes. + +“How’re you feeling?” Ginny asked Ron, who was now +staring into the dregs of milk at the bottom of his +empty cereal bowl as though seriously considering +attempting to drown himself in them. + +“He’s just nervous,” said Harry. + +“Well, that’s a good sign, I never feel you perform as +well in exams if you’re not a bit nervous,” said +Hermione heartily. + +“Hello,” said a vague and dreamy voice from behind +them. Harry looked up: Luna Lovegood had drifted +over from the Ravenclaw table. Many people were +staring at her and a few openly laughing and +pointing; she had managed to procure a hat shaped +like a life-size lion’s head, which was perched +precariously on her head. + +“I’m supporting Gryffindor,” said Luna, pointing +unnecessarily at her hat. “Look what it does...” + +She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It +opened its mouth wide and gave an extremely realistic +roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump. + +Page | 516Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s good, isn’t it?” said Luna happily. “I wanted to +have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, +you know, but there wasn’t time. Anyway ... good +luck, Ronald!” + +She drifted away. They had not quite recovered from +the shock of Luna’s hat before Angelina came +hurrying toward them, accompanied by Katie and +Alicia, whose eyebrows had mercifully been returned +to normal by Madam Pomfrey. + +“When you’re ready,” she said, “we’re going to go +straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and +change.” + +“We’ll be there in a bit,” Harry assured her. “Ron’s +just got to have some breakfast.” + +It became clear after ten minutes, however, that Ron +was not capable of eating anything more and Harry +thought it best to get him down to the changing +rooms. As they rose from the table, Hermione got up +too, and taking Harry’s arm, she drew him to one +side. + +“Don’t let Ron see what’s on those Slytherins’ +badges,” she whispered urgently. + +Harry looked questioningly at her, but she shook her +head warningly; Ron had just ambled over to them, +looking lost and desperate. + +“Good luck, Ron,” said Hermione, standing on tiptoe +and kissing him on the cheek. “And you, Harry — ” + +Ron seemed to come to himself slightly as they +walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the +spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, +looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure + +Page | 517Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to +notice much around him, but Harry cast a curious +glance at the crown-shaped badges as they passed +the Slytherin table, and this time he made out the +words etched onto them: + +WEASLEY + +IS OUR KING + +With an unpleasant feeling that this could mean +nothing good, he hurried Ron across the entrance +hall, down the stone steps, and out into the icy air. + +The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they +hurried down the sloping lawns toward the stadium. +There was no wind at all and the sky was a uniform +pearly white, which meant that visibility would be +good without the drawback of direct sunlight in the +eyes. Harry pointed out these encouraging factors to +Ron as they walked, but he was not sure that Ron +was listening. + +Angelina had changed already and was talking to the +rest of the team when they entered. Harry and Ron +pulled on their robes (Ron attempted to do his up +back-to-front for several minutes before Alicia took +pity on him and went to help) and then sat down to +listen to the pre-match talk while the babble of voices +outside grew steadily louder as the crowd came +pouring out of the castle toward the pitch. + +“Okay, Eve only just found out the final lineup for +Slytherin,” said Angelina, consulting a piece of +parchment. “Last year’s Beaters, Derrick and Bole, +have left now, but it looks as though Montague’s +replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than +anyone who can fly particularly well. They’re two + + + +Page | 518Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don’t know much +about them — ” + +“We do,” said Harry and Ron together. + +“Well, they don’t look bright enough to tell one end of +a broom from another,” said Angelina, pocketing her +parchment, “but then I was always surprised Derrick +and Bole managed to find their way onto the pitch +without signposts.” + +“Crabbe and Goyle are in the same mold,” Harry +assured her. + +They could hear hundreds of footsteps mounting the +banked benches of the spectators’ stands now. Some +people were singing, though Harry could not make +out the words. He was starting to feel nervous, but he +knew his butterflies were as nothing to Ron’s, who +was clutching his stomach and staring straight ahead +again, his jaw set and his complexion pale gray. + +“It’s time,” said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at +her watch. “C’mon everyone ... good luck.” + +The team rose, shouldered their brooms, and +marched in single file out of the changing room and +into the dazzling sunlight. A roar of sound greeted +them in which Harry could still hear singing, though +it was muffled by the cheers and whistles. + +The Slytherin team were standing waiting for them. +They too were wearing those silver crown-shaped +badges. The new captain, Montague, was built along +the same lines as Dudley, with massive forearms like +hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe and Goyle, +almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, +swinging their new Beaters’ bats. Malfoy stood to one +side, the sunlight gleaming on his white-blond head. +Page | 519Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He caught Harry’s eye and smirked, tapping the +crown-shaped badge on his chest. + +“Captains shake hands,” ordered the umpire, Madam +Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each +other. Harry could tell that Montague was trying to +crush Angelina’s fingers, though she did not wince. +“Mount your brooms...” + +Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and +blew. + +The balls were released and the fourteen players shot +upward; out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Ron +streak off toward the goal hoops. He zoomed higher, +dodging a Bludger, and set off on a wide lap of the +pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold; on the other +side of the stadium, Draco Malfoy was doing exactly +the same. + +“And it’s Johnson, Johnson with the Quaffle, what a +player that girl is, I’ve been saying it for years but she +still won’t go out with me — ” + +“JORDAN!” yelled Professor McGonagall. + +“Just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest — +and she’s ducked Warrington, she’s passed +Montague, she’s — ouch — been hit from behind by a +Bludger from Crabbe... Montague catches the Quaffle, +Montague heading back up the pitch and — nice +Bludger there from George Weasley, that’s a Bludger +to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, +caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse +passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet’s away — ” + +Lee Jordan’s commentary rang through the stadium +and Harry listened as hard as he could through the + + + +Page | 520Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wind whistling in his ears and the din of the crowd, +all yelling and booing and singing — + +“ — dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger — close call, +Alicia — and the crowd are loving this, just listen to +them, what’s that they’re singing?” + +And as Lee paused to listen the song rose loud and +clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin +section of the stands: + +Weasley cannot save a thing, + +He cannot block a single ring, + +That’s why Slytherins all sing: + +Weasley is our King. + +Weasley was born in a bin, + +He always lets the Quaffle in, + +Weasley will make sure we win, + +Weasley is our King. + +“ — and Alicia passes back to Angelina!” Lee shouted, +and as Harry swerved, his insides boiling at what he +had just heard, he knew Lee was trying to drown out +the sound of the singing. “Come on now, Angelina — +looks like she’s got just the Keeper to beat! — SHE +SHOOTS — SHE — aaaah ...” + +Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal; +he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off with +it, zigzagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing +from below grew louder and louder as he drew nearer +and nearer Ron — + +Weasley is our King, + +Weasley is our King, + +He always lets the Quaffle in, + +Weasley is our King. + + + +Page | 521Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry could not help himself: Abandoning his search +for the Snitch, he turned his Firebolt toward Ron, a +lone figure at the far end of the pitch, hovering before +the three goal hoops while the massive Warrington +pelted toward him ... + +“ — and it’s Warrington with the Quaffle, Warrington +heading for goal, he’s out of Bludger range with just +the Keeper ahead — ” + +A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands +below: + +Weasley cannot save a thing, + +He cannot block a single ring . . . + +“ — so it’s the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper, +Weasley, brother of Beaters, Fred and George, and a +promising new talent on the team — come on, Ron!” + +But the scream of delight came from the Slytherin +end: Ron had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the +Quaffle had soared between them, straight through +Ron’s central hoop. + +“Slytherin score!” came Lee’s voice amid the cheering +and booing from the crowds below. “So that’s ten-nil +to Slytherin — bad luck, Ron ...” + +The Slytherins sang even louder: + +WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN, + +HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN ... + +“ — and Gryffindor back in possession and it’s Katie +Bell tanking up the pitch — ” cried Lee valiantly, +though the singing was now so deafening that he +could hardly make himself heard above it. + + + +Page | 522Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN, + +WEASLEY IS OUR KING . . . + +“Harry, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” screamed Angelina, +soaring past him to keep up with Katie. “GET +GOING!” + +Harry realized that he had been stationary in midair +for more than a minute, watching the progress of the +match without sparing a thought for the whereabouts +of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and +started circling the pitch again, staring around, trying +to ignore the chorus now thundering through the +stadium: + +WEASLEY IS OUR KING, + +WEASLEY IS OUR KING . . . + +There was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; +Malfoy was still circling the stadium just like Harry. +They passed midway around the pitch going in +opposite directions and Harry heard Malfoy singing +loudly, + +WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN . . . + +“ — and it’s Warrington again,” bellowed Lee, “who +passes to Pucey, Pucey’s off past Spinnet, come on +now Angelina, you can take him — turns out you +can’t — but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley, I mean, +George Weasley, oh who cares, one of them anyway, +and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell — er +— drops it too — so that’s Montague with the Quaffle, +Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle, and +he’s off up the pitch, come on now Gryffindor, block +him!” + +Harry zoomed around the end of the stadium behind +the Slytherin goal hoops, willing himself not to look at + +Page | 523Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +what was going on at Ron’s end; as he sped past the +Slytherin Keeper, he heard Bletchley singing along +with the crowd below, + +WEASLEY CANNOT SAVE A THING . . . + +“ — and Pucey’s dodged Alicia again, and he’s heading +straight for goal, stop it, Ron!” + +Harry did not have to look to see what had happened: +There was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, +coupled with fresh screams and applause from the +Slytherins. Looking down, Harry saw the pug-faced +Pansy Parkinson right at the front of the stands, her +back to the pitch as she conducted the Slytherin +supporters who were roaring: + +THAT’S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SING: + +WEASLEY IS OUR KING. + +But twenty-nil was nothing, there was still time for +Gryffindor to catch up or catch the Snitch, a few goals +and they would be in the lead as usual, Harry +assured himself, bobbing and weaving through the +other players in pursuit of something shiny that +turned out to be Montague’s watch strap... + +But Ron let in two more goals. There was an edge of +panic in Harry’s desire to find the Snitch now. If he +could just get it soon and finish the game quickly ... + +“ — and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks +Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to +Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she’s +past Warrington, she’s heading for goal, come on now +Angelina — GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It’s forty-ten, forty- +ten to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle...” + + + +Page | 524Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry could hear Luna’s ludicrous lion hat roaring +amidst the Gryffindor cheers and felt heartened; only +thirty points in it, that was nothing, they could pull +back easily. Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had +sent rocketing in his direction and resumed his +frantic scouring of the pitch for the Snitch, keeping +one eye on Malfoy in case he showed signs of having +spotted it, but Malfoy, like him, was continuing to +soar around the stadium, searching fruitlessly . . . + +“ — Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to +Montague, Montague back to Pucey — Johnson +intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to +Bell, this looks good — I mean bad — Bell’s hit by a +Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it’s Pucey in +possession again ...” + +WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN, + +HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN, + +WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN — + +But Harry had seen it at last: The tiny fluttering +Golden Snitch was hovering feet from the ground at +the Slytherin end of the pitch. + +He dived... + +In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of +the sky on Harry’s left, a green-and-silver blur lying +flat on his broom... + +The Snitch skirted the foot of one of the goal hoops +and scooted off toward the other side of the stands; +its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer. +Harry pulled his Firebolt around, he and Malfoy were +now neck and neck . . . + + + +Page | 525Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Feet from the ground, Harry lifted his right hand from +his broom, stretching toward the Snitch ... to his +right, Malfoy’s arm extended too, reaching, groping ... + +It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept +seconds — Harry’s fingers closed around the tiny, +struggling ball — Malfoy’s fingernails scrabbled the +back of Harry’s hand hopelessly — Harry pulled his +broom upward, holding the struggling ball in his +hand and the Gryffindor spectators screamed their +approval... + +They were saved, it did not matter that Ron had let in +those goals, nobody would remember as long as +Gryffindor had won — + +WHAM + +A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of the back +and he flew forward off his broom; luckily he was only +five or six feet above the ground, having dived so low +to catch the Snitch, but he was winded all the same +as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch. He +heard Madam Hooch’s shrill whistle, an uproar in the +stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and +jeering, a thud, then Angelina’s frantic voice. + +“Are you all right?” + +“ ’Course I am,” said Harry grimly, taking her hand +and allowing her to pull him to his feet. Madam +Hooch was zooming toward one of the Slytherin +players above him, though he could not see who it +was at this angle. + +“It was that thug, Crabbe,” said Angelina angrily. “He +whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you’d +got the Snitch — but we won, Harry, we won!” + + + +Page | 526Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry heard a snort from behind him and turned +around, still holding the Snitch tightly in his hand: +Draco Malfoy had landed close by; white-faced with +fury, he was still managing to sneer. + +“Saved Weasley’s neck, haven’t you?” he said to +Harry. “I’ve never seen a worse Keeper ... but then he +was born in a bin... Did you like my lyrics, Potter?” + +Harry did not answer; he turned away to meet the +rest of the team who were now landing one by one, +yelling and punching the air in triumph, all except +Ron, who had dismounted from his broom over by the +goalposts and was making his way slowly back to the +changing rooms alone. + +“We wanted to write another couple of verses!” Malfoy +called, as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. “But we +couldn’t find rhymes for fat and ugly — we wanted to +sing about his mother, see — ” + +“Talk about sour grapes,” said Angelina, casting +Malfoy a disgusted look. + +“ — we couldn’t fit in useless loser either — for his +father, you know — ” + +Fred and George had realized what Malfoy was talking +about. Halfway through shaking Harry’s hand they +stiffened, looking around at Malfoy. + +“Leave it,” said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the +arm. “Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he’s just sore he +lost, the jumped-up little — ” + +“ — but you like the Weasleys, don’t you, Potter?” said +Malfoy, sneering. “Spend holidays there and +everything, don���t you? Can’t see how you stand the + + + +Page | 527Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +stink, but I suppose when you’ve been dragged up by +Muggles even the Weasleys’ hovel smells okay — ” + +Harry grabbed hold of George; meanwhile it was +taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia, and +Katie to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was +laughing openly. Harry looked around for Madam +Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal +Bludger attack. + +“Or perhaps,” said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, +“you can remember what your mother’s house stank +like, Potter, and Weasley’s pigsty reminds you of it — ” + +Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew +was that a second later both of them were sprinting at +Malfoy. He had completely forgotten the fact that all +the teachers were watching: All he wanted to do was +cause Malfoy as much pain as possible. With no time +to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist +clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could +into Malfoy’s stomach — + +“Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! 1VO!” + +He could hear girls’ voices screaming, Malfoy yelling, +George swearing, a whistle blowing, and the bellowing +of the crowd around him, but he did not care, not +until somebody in the vicinity yelled “ IMPEDIMENTA !” +and only when he was knocked over backward by the +force of the spell did he abandon the attempt to +punch every inch of Malfoy he could reach... + +“What do you think you’re doing?” screamed Madam +Hooch, as Harry leapt to his feet again; it was she +who had hit him with the Impediment Jinx. She was +holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the +other, her broom lay abandoned several feet away. +Malfoy was curled up on the ground, whimpering and +Page | 528Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +moaning, his nose bloody; George was sporting a +swollen lip; Fred was still being forcibly restrained by +the three Chasers, and Crabbe was cackling in the +background. “I’ve never seen behavior like it — back +up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your +Head of House’s office! Go! Now\” + +Harry and George marched off the pitch, both +panting, neither saying a word to each other. The +howling and jeering of the crowd grew fainter and +fainter until they reached the entrance hall, where +they could hear nothing except the sound of their own +footsteps. Harry became aware that something was +still struggling in his right hand, the knuckles of +which he had bruised against Malfoy’s jaw; looking +down he saw the Snitch’s silver wings protruding +from between his fingers, struggling for release. + +They had barely reached the door of Professor +McGonagall’s office when she came marching along +the corridor behind them. She was wearing a +Gryffindor scarf, but tore it from her throat with +shaking hands as she strode toward them, looking +livid. + +“In!” she said furiously, pointing to the door. Harry +and George entered. She strode around behind her +desk and faced them, quivering with rage as she +threw the Gryffindor scarf aside onto the floor. + +“Well?” she said. “I have never seen such a disgraceful +exhibition. Two onto one! Explain yourselves!” + +“Malfoy provoked us,” said Harry stiffly. + +“Provoked you?” shouted Professor McGonagall, +slamming a fist onto her desk so that her tartan +biscuit tin slid sideways off it and burst open, littering +the floor with Ginger Newts. “He’d just lost, hadn’t he, + +Page | 529Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +of course he wanted to provoke you! But what on +earth he can have said that justified what you two — ” + +“He insulted my parents,” snarled George. “And +Harry’s mother.” + +“But instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, +you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle +dueling, did you?” bellowed Professor McGonagall. +“Have you any idea what you’ve — ?” + +“Hem, hem.” + +George and Harry both spun around. Dolores +Umbridge was standing in the doorway wrapped in a +green tweed cloak that greatly enhanced her +resemblance to a giant toad, and smiling in the +horribly sickly, ominous way that Harry had come to +associate with imminent misery. + +“May I help, Professor McGonagall?” asked Professor +Umbridge in her most poisonously sweet voice. + +Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall’s face. + +“Help?” she repeated in a constricted voice. “What do +you mean, ‘help’?” + +Professor Umbridge moved forward into the office, still +smiling her sickly smile. + +“Why, I thought you might be grateful for a little extra +authority.” + +Harry would not have been surprised to see sparks fly +from Professor McGonagall’s nostrils. + +“You thought wrong,” she said, turning her back on +Umbridge. “Now, you two had better listen closely. I + +Page | 530Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I do +not care if he insulted every family member you +possess, your behavior was disgusting and I am +giving each of you a week’s worth of detention! Do not +look at me like that, Potter, you deserve it! And if +either of you ever — ” + +“Hem, hem.” + +Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as though +praying for patience as she turned her face toward +Professor Umbridge again. + +“ Yes?” + +“I think they deserve rather more than detentions,” +said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly. + +Professor McGonagall’s eyes flew open. “But +unfortunately,” she said, with an attempt at a +reciprocal smile that made her look as though she +had lockjaw, “it is what I think that counts, as they +are in my House, Dolores.” + +“Well, actually, Minerva,” simpered Umbridge, “I think +you’ll find that what I think does count. Now, where +is it? Cornelius just sent it... I mean,” she gave a little +false laugh as she rummaged in her handbag, “the +Minister just sent it... Ah yes ...” + +She had pulled out a piece of parchment that she now +unfurled, clearing her throat fussily before starting to +read what it said. + +“Hem, hem ... ‘Educational Decree Number Twenty- +five ...’” + +“Not another one!” exclaimed Professor McGonagall +violently. + +Page | 531Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, yes,” said Umbridge, still smiling. “As a matter +of fact, Minerva, it was you who made me see that we +needed a further amendment... You remember how +you overrode me, when I was unwilling to allow the +Gryffindor Quidditch team to re-form? How you took +the case to Dumbledore, who insisted that the team +be allowed to play? Well, now, I couldn’t have that. I +contacted the Minister at once, and he quite agreed +with me that the High Inquisitor has to have the +power to strip pupils of privileges, or she — that is to +say, I — would have less authority than common +teachers! And you see now, don’t you, Minerva, how +right I was in attempting to stop the Gryffindor team +re-forming? Dreadful tempers . . . Anyway, I was +reading out our amendment ... hem, hem ... The High +Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority +over all punishments, sanctions, and removal of +privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and +the power to alter such punishments, sanctions, and +removals of privileges as may have been ordered by +other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, +Minister of Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., +etc...’” + +She rolled up the parchment and put it back into her +handbag, still smiling. + +“So ... I really think I will have to ban these two from +playing Quidditch ever again,” she said, looking from +Harry to George and back again. + +Harry felt the Snitch fluttering madly in his hand. + +“Ban us?” he said, and his voice sounded strangely +distant. “From playing ... ever again?” + +“Yes, Mr. Potter, I think a lifelong ban ought to do the +trick,” said Umbridge, her smile widening still further +as she watched him struggle to comprehend what she + +Page | 532Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +had said. “You and Mr. Weasley here. And I think, to +be safe, this young man’s twin ought to be stopped +too — if his teammates had not restrained him, I feel +sure he would have attacked young Mr. Malfoy as +well. I will want their broomsticks confiscated, of +course; I shall keep them safely in my office, to make +sure there is no infringement of my ban. But I am not +unreasonable, Professor McGonagall,” she continued, +turning back to Professor McGonagall who was now +standing as still as though carved from ice, staring at +her. “The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw +no signs of violence from any of them. Well ... good +afternoon to you.” And with a look of the utmost +satisfaction Umbridge left the room, leaving a +horrified silence in her wake. + +“Banned,” said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that +evening in the common room. “ Banned . No Seeker +and no Beaters . . . What on earth are we going to do?” + +It did not feel as though they had won the match at +all. Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate +and angry faces; the team themselves were slumped +around the fire, all apart from Ron, who had not been +seen since the end of the match. + +“It’s just so unfair,” said Alicia numbly. “I mean, what +about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the +whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?” + +“No,” said Ginny miserably; she and Hermione were +sitting on either side of Harry. “He just got lines, I +heard Montague laughing about it at dinner.” + +“And banning Fred when he didn’t even do anything!” +said Alicia furiously, pummeling her knee with her +fist. + + + +Page | 533Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s not my fault I didn’t,” said Fred, with a very ugly +look on his face. “I would’ve pounded the little +scumbag to a pulp if you three hadn’t been holding +me back.” + +Harry stared miserably at the dark window. Snow was +falling. The Snitch he had caught earlier was now +zooming around and around the common room; +people were watching its progress as though +hypnotized and Crookshanks was leaping from chair +to chair, trying to catch it. + +“I’m going to bed,” said Angelina, getting slowly to her +feet. + +“Maybe this will all turn out to have been a bad +dream... Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and find we +haven’t played yet...” + +She was soon followed by Alicia and Katie. Fred and +George sloped off to bed some time later, glowering at +everyone they passed, and Ginny went not long after +that. Only Harry and Hermione were left beside the +fire. + +“Have you seen Ron?” Hermione asked in a low voice. +Harry shook his head. + +“I think he’s avoiding us,” said Hermione. “Where do +you think he — ?” + +But at that precise moment, there was a creaking +sound behind them as the Fat Lady swung forward +and Ron came clambering through the portrait hole. +He was very pale indeed and there was snow in his +hair. When he saw Harry and Hermione he stopped +dead in his tracks. + + + +Page | 534Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Where have you been?” said Hermione anxiously, +springing up. + + + +“Walking,” Ron mumbled. He was still wearing his +Quidditch things. + +“You look frozen,” said Hermione. “Come and sit +down!” + +Ron walked to the fireside and sank into the chair +farthest from Harry’s, not looking at him. The stolen +Snitch zoomed over their heads. + +“I’m sorry,” Ron mumbled, looking at his feet. + +“What for?” said Harry. + +“For thinking I can play Quidditch,” said Ron. “I’m +going to resign first thing tomorrow.” + +“If you resign,” said Harry testily, “there’ll only be +three players left on the team.” And when Ron looked +puzzled, he said, “I’ve been given a lifetime ban. So’ve +Fred and George.” + +“What?” Ron yelped. + +Hermione told him the full story; Harry could not bear +to tell it again. When she had finished, Ron looked +more anguished than ever. + +“This is all my fault — ” + +“You didn’t make me punch Malfoy,” said Harry +angrily. + +“ — if I wasn’t so lousy at Quidditch — ” + +“ — it’s got nothing to do with that — ” + +Page | 535Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ — it was that song that wound me up — ” + +“ — it would’ve wound anyone up — ” + +Hermione got up and walked to the window, away +from the argument, watching the snow swirling down +against the pane. + +“Look, drop it, will you!” Harry burst out. “It’s bad +enough without you blaming yourself for everything!” + +Ron said nothing but sat gazing miserably at the +damp hem of his robes. After a while he said in a dull +voice, “This is the worst I’ve ever felt in my life.” + +“Join the club,” said Harry bitterly. + +“Well,” said Hermione, her voice trembling slightly. “I +can think of one thing that might cheer you both up.” + +“Oh yeah?” said Harry skeptically. + +“Yeah,” said Hermione, turning away from the pitch- +black, snow-flecked window, a broad smile spreading +across her face. “Hagrid’s back.” + + + +Page | 536Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +HAGRID’S TALE + +Harry sprinted up to the boys’ dormitory to fetch the +Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder’s Map from his +trunk; he was so quick that he and Ron were ready to +leave at least five minutes before Hermione hurried +back down from the girls’ dormitories, wearing scarf, +gloves, and one of her own knobbly elf hats. + +“Well, it’s cold out there!” she said defensively, as Ron +clicked his tongue impatiently. + +They crept through the portrait hole and covered +themselves hastily in the cloak — Ron had grown so +much he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet +showing — then, moving slowly and cautiously, they +proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at +intervals to check the map for signs of Filch or Mrs. +Norris. They were lucky; they saw nobody but Nearly +Headless Nick, who was gliding along absentmindedly +humming something that sounded horribly like +“Weasley Is Our King.” They crept across the entrance +hall and then out into the silent, snowy grounds. + +With a great leap of his heart, Harry saw little golden +squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from + +Page | 537Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Hagrid’s chimney. He set off at a quick march, the +other two jostling and bumping along behind him, +and they crunched excitedly through the thickening +snow until at last they reached the wooden front door; +when Harry raised his fist and knocked three times, a +dog started barking frantically inside. + +“Hagrid, it’s us!” Harry called through the keyhole. + +“Shoulda known!” said a gruff voice. + +They beamed at one another under the cloak; they +could tell that Hagrid’s voice was pleased. “Bin home +three seconds ... Out the way, Fang ... Out the way, +yeh dozy dog ...” + +The bolt was drawn back, the door creaked open, and +Hagrid’s head appeared in the gap. + +Hermione screamed. + +“Merlin’s beard, keep it down!” said Hagrid hastily, +staring wildly over their heads. “Under that cloak, are +yeh? Well, get in, get in!” + +“I’m sorry!” Hermione gasped, as the three of them +squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the +cloak off themselves so he could see them. “I just — +oh, Hagrid).” + +“It’s nuthin’, it’s nuthin’!” said Hagrid hastily, +shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close +all the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up +at him in horror. + +Hagrid’s hair was matted with congealed blood, and +his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a +mass of purple-and-black bruises. There were many +cuts on his face and hands, some of them still + +Page | 538Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +bleeding, and he was moving gingerly, which made +Harry suspect broken ribs. It was obvious that he had +only just got home; a thick black traveling cloak lay +over the back of a chair and a haversack large enough +to carry several small children leaned against the wall +inside the door. Hagrid himself, twice the size of a +normal man and three times as broad, was now +limping over to the fire and placing a copper kettle +over it. + +“What happened to you?” Harry demanded, while +Fang danced around them all, trying to lick their +faces. + +“Told yeh, nuthin said Hagrid firmly. “Want a +cuppa?” + +“Come off it,” said Ron, “you’re in a right state!” + +“I’m tellin’yeh, I’m fine,” said Hagrid, straightening +up and turning to beam at them all, but wincing. +“Blimey, it’s good ter see you three again — had good +summers, did yeh?” + +“Hagrid, you’ve been attacked!” said Ron. + +“Fer the las’ time, it’s nuthin’!” said Hagrid firmly. + +“Would you say it was nothing if one of us turned up +with a pound of mince instead of a face?” Ron +demanded. + +“You ought to go and see Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid,” +said Hermione anxiously. “Some of those cuts look +nasty.” + +“I’m dealin’ with it, all righ’?” said Hagrid repressively. + + + +Page | 539Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He walked across to the enormous wooden table that +stood in the middle of his cabin and twitched aside a +tea towel that had been lying on it. Underneath was a +raw, bloody, green-tinged steak slightly larger than +the average car tire. + +“You’re not going to eat that, are you, Hagrid?” said +Ron, leaning in for a closer look. “It looks poisonous.” + +“It’s s ’posed ter look like that, it’s dragon meat,” +Hagrid said. “An’ I didn’ get it ter eat.” + +He picked up the steak and slapped it over the left +side of his face. Greenish blood trickled down into his +beard as he gave a soft moan of satisfaction. + +“Tha’s better. It helps with the stingin’, yeh know.” + +“So are you going to tell us what’s happened to you?” +Harry asked. + +“Can’, Harry. Top secret. More’n me job’s worth ter +tell yeh that.” + +“Did the giants beat you up, Hagrid?” asked Hermione +quietly. + +Hagrid’s fingers slipped on the dragon steak, and it +slid squelchily onto his chest. + +“Giants?” said Hagrid, catching the steak before it +reached his belt and slapping it back over his face. +“Who said anythin’ abou’ giants? Who yeh bin talkin’ +to? Who’s told yeh what I’ve — who’s said I’ve bin — +eh?” + +“We guessed,” said Hermione apologetically. + + + +Page | 540Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh, yeh did, did yeh?” said Hagrid, fixing her sternly +with the eye that was not hidden by the steak. + +“It was kind of ... obvious,” said Ron. Harry nodded. + +Hagrid glared at them, then snorted, threw the steak +onto the table again and strode back to the kettle, +which was now whistling. + +“Never known kids like you three fer knowin’ more’n +yeh oughta,” he muttered, splashing boiling water +into three of his bucket-shaped mugs. “An’ I’m not +complimentin’ yeh, neither. Nosy, some’d call it. +Interferin’.” + +But his beard twitched. + +“So you have been to look for giants?” said Harry, +grinning as he sat down at the table. + +Hagrid set tea in front of each of them, sat down, +picked up his steak again, and slapped it back over +his face. + +“Yeah, all righ’,” he grunted, “I have.” + +“And you found them?” said Hermione in a hushed +voice. + +“Well, they��re not that difficult ter find, ter be honest,” +said Hagrid. “Pretty big, see.” + +“Where are they?” said Ron. + +“Mountains,” said Hagrid unhelpfully. + +“So why don’t Muggles — ?” + + + +Page | 541Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“They do,” said Hagrid darkly. “O’ny their deaths are +always put down ter mountaineerin’ accidents, aren’ +they?” + +He adjusted the steak a little so that it covered the +worst of the bruising. + +“Come on, Hagrid, tell us what you’ve been up to!” +said Ron. “Tell us about being attacked by the giants +and Harry can tell you about being attacked by the +dementors — ” + +Hagrid choked in his mug and dropped his steak at +the same time; a large quantity of spit, tea, and +dragon blood was sprayed over the table as Hagrid +coughed and spluttered and the steak slid, with a soft +splat, onto the floor. + +“Whadda yeh mean, attacked by dementors?” growled +Hagrid. + +“Didn’t you know?” Hermione asked him, wide-eyed. + +“I don’ know anything that’s been happenin’ since I +left. I was on a secret mission, wasn’ I, didn’ wan’ +owls followin’ me all over the place — ruddy +dementors! Yeh’re not serious?” + +“Yeah, I am, they turned up in Little Whinging and +attacked my cousin and me, and then the Ministry of +Magic expelled me — ” + +“WHAT?” + +“ — and I had to go to a hearing and everything, but +tell us about the giants first.” + +“You were expelled?” + + + +Page | 542Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Tell us about your summer and I’ll tell you about +mine.” + +Hagrid glared at him through his one open eye. Harry +looked right back, an expression of innocent +determination on his face. + +“Oh, all righ’,” Hagrid said in a resigned voice. + +He bent down and tugged the dragon steak out of +Fang’s mouth. + +“Oh, Hagrid, don’t, it’s not hygien — ” Hermione +began, but Hagrid had already slapped the meat back +over his swollen eye. He took another fortifying gulp of +tea and then said, “Well, we set off righ’ after term +ended — ” + +“Madame Maxime went with you, then?” Hermione +interjected. + +“Yeah, tha’s right,” said Hagrid, and a softened +expression appeared on the few inches of face that +were not obscured by beard or green steak. “Yeah, it +was jus’ the pair of us. An’ I’ll tell yeh this, she’s not +afraid of roughin’ it, Olympe. Yeh know, she’s a fine, +well-dressed woman, an’ knowin’ where we was goin’ I +wondered ’ow she’d feel abou’ clamberin’ over +boulders an’ sleepin’ in caves an’ tha’, bu’ she never +complained once.” + +“You knew where you were going?” Harry asked. “You +knew where the giants were?” + +“Well, Dumbledore knew, an’ he told us,” said Hagrid. + +“Are they hidden?” asked Ron. “Is it a secret, where +they are?” + + + +Page | 543Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Not really,” said Hagrid, shaking his shaggy head. + +“It’s jus’ that mos’ wizards aren’ bothered where they +are, s’ long as it’s a good long way away. But where +they are’s very difficult ter get ter, fer humans +anyway, so we needed Dumbledore’s instructions. +Took us abou’ a month ter get there — ” + +“A month?” said Ron, as though he had never heard of +a journey lasting such a ridiculously long time. “But +— why couldn’t you just grab a Portkey or +something?” + +There was an odd expression in Hagrid’s unobscured +eye as he squinted at Ron; it was almost pitying. + +“We’re bein’ watched, Ron,” he said gruffly. + +“What d’you mean?” + +“Yeh don’ understand,” said Hagrid. “The Ministry’s +keepin’ an eye on Dumbledore an’ anyone they +reckon’s in league with him, an’ — ” + +“We know about that,” said Harry quickly, keen to +hear the rest of Hagrid’s story. “We know about the +Ministry watching Dumbledore — ” + +“So you couldn’t use magic to get there?” asked Ron, +looking thunderstruck. “You had to act like Muggles +all the way?” + +“Well, not exactly all the way,” said Hagrid cagily. “We +jus’ had ter be careful, ’cause Olympe an’ me, we +stick out a bit — ” + +Ron made a stifled noise somewhere between a snort +and a sniff and hastily took a gulp of tea. + + + +Page | 544Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ — so we’re not hard ter follow. We was pretendin’ we +was goin’ on holiday together, so we got inter France +an’ we made like we was headin’ fer where Olympe’s +school is, ’cause we knew we was bein’ tailed by +someone from the Ministry. We had to go slow, ’cause +I’m not really s ’posed ter use magic an’ we knew the +Ministry’d be lookin’ fer a reason ter run us in. But +we managed ter give the berk tailin’ us the slip round +abou’ Dee-John — ” + +“Ooooh, Dijon?” said Hermione excitedly. “I’ve been +there on holiday, did you see — ?” + +She fell silent at the look on Ron’s face. + +“We chanced a bit o’ magic after that, and it wasn’ a +bad journey. Ran inter a couple o’ mad trolls on the +Polish border, an’ I had a sligh’ disagreement with a +vampire in a pub in Minsk, but apart from tha’, +couldn’t’a bin smoother. + +“An’ then we reached the place, an’ we started +trekkin’ up through the mountains, lookin’ fer signs +of ’em . . . + +“We had ter lay off the magic once we got near ’em. +Partly ’cause they don’ like wizards an’ we didn’ want +ter put their backs up too soon, and partly ’cause +Dumbledore had warned us You-Know-Who was +bound ter be after the giants an’ all. Said it was odds +on he’d sent a messenger off ter them already. Told us +ter be very careful of drawin’ attention ter ourselves +as we got nearer in case there was Death Eaters +around.” + +Hagrid paused for a long draft of tea. + +“Go on!” said Harry urgently. + + + +Page | 545Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Found ’em,” said Hagrid baldly. “Went over a ridge +one nigh’ an’ there they was, spread ou’ underneath +us. Little fires burnin’ below an’ huge shadows ... It +was like watchin’ bits o’ the mountain movin’.” + +“How big are they?” asked Ron in a hushed voice. + +“ T3out twenty feet,” said Hagrid casually. “Some o’ +the bigger ones mighta bin twenty-five.” + +“And how many were there?” asked Harry. + +“I reckon abou’ seventy or eighty,” said Hagrid. + +“Is that all?” said Hermione. + +“Yep,” said Hagrid sadly, “eighty left, an’ there was +loads once, musta bin a hundred diff’rent tribes from +all over the world. But they’ve bin dyin’ out fer ages. +Wizards killed a few, o’ course, but mostly they killed +each other, an’ now they’re dyin’ out faster than ever. +They’re not made ter live bunched up together like +tha’. Dumbledore says it’s our fault, it was the +wizards who forced ’em to go an’ made ’em live a good +long way from us an’ they had no choice but ter stick +together fer their own protection.” + +“So,” said Harry, “you saw them and then what?” + +“Well, we waited till morning, didn’ want ter go +sneakin’ up on ’em in the dark, fer our own safety,” +said Hagrid. “ ’Bout three in the mornin’ they fell +asleep jus’ where they was sittin’. We didn’ dare sleep. +Fer one thing, we wanted ter make sure none of ’em +woke up an’ came up where we were, an’ fer another, +the snorin’ was unbelievable. Caused an avalanche +near mornin’. + +“Anyway, once it was light we wen’ down ter see ’em.” + +Page | 546Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Just like that?” said Ron, looking awestruck. “You +just walked right into a giant camp?” + +“Well, Dumbledore’d told us how ter do it,” said +Hagrid. “Give the Gurg gifts, show some respect, yeh +know.” + +“Give the what gifts?” asked Harry. + +“Oh, the Gurg — means the chief.” + +“How could you tell which one was the Gurg?” asked +Ron. + +Hagrid grunted in amusement. + +“No problem,” he said. “He was the biggest, the +ugliest, an’ the laziest. Sittin’ there waitin’ ter be +brought food by the others. Dead goats an’ such like. +Name o’ Karkus. I’d put him at twenty-two, twenty- +three feet, an’ the weight of a couple o’ bull elephants. +Skin like rhino hide an’ all.” + +“And you just walked up to him?” said Hermione +breathlessly. + +“Well ... down ter him, where he was lyin’ in the +valley. They was in this dip between four pretty high +mountains, see, beside a mountain lake, an’ Karkus +was lyin’ by the lake roarin’ at the others ter feed him +an’ his wife. Olympe an’ I went down the +mountainside — ” + +“But didn’t they try and kill you when they saw you?” +asked Ron incredulously. + +“It was def’nitely on some of their minds,” said +Hagrid, shrugging, “but we did what Dumbledore told +us ter do, which was ter hold our gift up high an’ + +Page | 547Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +keep our eyes on the Gurg an’ ignore the others. So +tha’s what we did. An’ the rest of ’em went quiet an’ +watched us pass an’ we got right up ter Karkus’s feet +an’ we bowed an’ put our present down in front o’ +him.” + +“What do you give a giant?” asked Ron eagerly. + +“Food?” + +“Nah, he can get food all righ’ fer himself,” said +Hagrid. “We took him magic. Giants like magic, jus’ +don’t like us usin’ it against ’em. Anyway, that firs’ +day we gave him a branch o’ Gubraithian fire.” + +Hermione said “wow” softly, but Harry and Ron both +frowned in puzzlement. + +“A branch of — ?” + +“Everlasting fire,��� said Hermione irritably, “you ought +to know that by now, Professor Flitwick’s mentioned it +at least twice in class!” + +“Well anyway,” said Hagrid quickly, intervening before +Ron could answer back, “Dumbledore’d bewitched +this branch to burn evermore, which isn’ somethin’ +any wizard could do, an’ so I lies it down in the snow +by Karkus’s feet and says, ‘A gift to the Gurg of the +giants from Albus Dumbledore, who sends his +respectful greetings.’ ” + +“And what did Karkus say?” asked Harry eagerly. +“Nothin’,” said Hagrid. “Didn’ speak English.” + +“You’re kidding!” + +“Didn’ matter,” said Hagrid imperturbably, +“Dumbledore had warned us tha’ migh’ happen. + +Page | 548Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Karkus knew enough to yell fer a couple o’ giants who +knew our lingo an’ they translated fer us.” + + + +“And did he like the present?” asked Ron. + +“Oh yeah, it went down a storm once they understood +what it was,” said Hagrid, turning his dragon steak +over to press the cooler side to his swollen eye. “Very +pleased. So then I said, Altars Dumbledore asks the +Gurg to speak with his messenger when he returns +tomorrow with another gift.’ ” + +“Why couldn’t you speak to them that day?” asked +Hermione. + +“Dumbledore wanted us ter take it very slow,” said +Hagrid. “Let ’em see we kept our promises. We’ll come +back tomorrow with another present, an’ then we do +come back with another present — gives a good +impression, see? An’ gives them time ter test out the +firs’ present an’ find out it’s a good one, an’ get ’em +eager fer more. In any case, giants like Karkus — +overload ’em with information an’ they’ll kill yeh jus’ +to simplify things. So we bowed outta the way an’ +went off an’ found ourselves a nice little cave ter +spend that night in, an’ the followin’ mornin’ we went +back an’ this time we found Karkus sittin’ up waitin’ +fer us lookin’ all eager.” + +“And you talked to him?” + +“Oh yeah. Firs’ we presented him with a nice battle +helmet — goblin-made an’ indestructible, yeh know — +an’ then we sat down an’ we talked.” + +“What did he say?” + +“Not much,” said Hagrid. “Listened mostly. But there +were good signs. He’d heard o’ Dumbledore, heard + +Page | 549Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he’d argued against the killin’ of the last giants in +Britain. Karkus seemed ter be quite int’rested in what +Dumbledore had ter say. An’ a few o’ the others, +’specially the ones who had some English, they +gathered round an’ listened too. We were hopeful +when we left that day. Promised ter come back next +day with another present. + +“But that night it all wen’ wrong.” + +“What d’you mean?” said Ron quickly. + +“Well, like I say, they’re not meant ter live together, +giants,” said Hagrid sadly. “Not in big groups like +that. They can’ help themselves, they half kill each +other every few weeks. The men fight each other an’ +the women fight each other, the remnants of the old +tribes fight each other, an’ that’s even without +squabbles over food an’ the best fires an’ sleepin’ +spots. Yeh’d think, seein’ as how their whole race is +abou’ finished, they’d lay off each other, but ...” + +Hagrid sighed deeply + +“That night a fight broke out, we saw it from the +mouth of our cave, lookin’ down on the valley. Went +on fer hours, yeh wouldn’ believe the noise. An’ when +the sun came up the snow was scarlet an’ his head +was lyin’ at the bottom o’ the lake.” + +“Whose head?” gasped Hermione. + +“Karkus’s,” said Hagrid heavily. “There was a new +Gurg, Golgomath.” He sighed deeply. “Well, we hadn’ +bargained on a new Gurg two days after we’d made +friendly contact with the firs’ one, an’ we had a funny +feelin’ Golgomath wouldn’ be so keen ter listen to us, +but we had ter try.” + + + +Page | 550Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You went to speak to him?” asked Ron incredulously. +“After you’d watched him rip off another giant’s +head?” + +“ ’Course we did,” said Hagrid, “we hadn’ gone all that +way ter give up after two days! We wen’ down with the +next present we’d meant ter give ter Karkus. + +“I knew it was no go before I’d opened me mouth. He +was sitting there wearin’ Karkus ’s helmet, leerin’ at +us as we got nearer. He’s massive, one o’ the biggest +ones there. Black hair an’ matchin’ teeth an’ a +necklace o’ bones. Human-lookin’ bones, some of ’em. +Well, I gave it a go — held out a great roll o’ dragon +skin — an’ said A gift fer the Gurg of the giants — ’ +Nex’ thing I knew, I was hangin’ upside down in the +air by me feet, two of his mates had grabbed me.” + +Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth. + +“How did you get out of that?” asked Harry. + +“Wouldn’ta done if Olympe hadn’ bin there,” said +Hagrid. “She pulled out her wand an’ did some o’ the +fastes’ spellwork I’ve ever seen. Ruddy marvelous. Hit +the two holdin’ me right in the eyes with +Conjunctivitus Curses an’ they dropped me +straightaway — bu’ we were in trouble then, ’cause +we’d used magic against ’em, an’ that’s what giants +hate abou’ wizards. We had ter leg it an’ we knew +there was no way we was going ter be able ter march +inter camp again.” + +“Blimey, Hagrid,” said Ron quietly. + +“So how come it’s taken you so long to get home if you +were only there for three days?” asked Hermione. + + + +Page | 551Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“We didn’ leave after three days!” said Hagrid, looking +outraged. “Dumbledore was relyin’ on us!” + + + +“But you’ve just said there was no way you could go +back!” + +“Not by daylight, we couldn’, no. We just had ter +rethink a bit. Spent a couple o’ days lyin’ low up in +the cave an’ watchin’. An’ wha’ we saw wasn’ good.” + +“Did he rip off more heads?” asked Hermione, +sounding squeamish. + +“No,” said Hagrid. “I wish he had.” + +“What d’you mean?” + +“I mean we soon found out he didn’ object ter all +wizards — just us.” + +“Death Eaters?” said Harry quickly. + +“Yep,” said Hagrid darkly. “Couple of ’em were visitin’ +him ev’ry day, bringin’ gifts ter the Gurg, an’ he wasn’ +dangling them upside down.” + +“How d’you know they were Death Eaters?” said Ron. + +“Because I recognized one of ’em,” Hagrid growled. +“Macnair, remember him? Bloke they sent ter kill +Buckbeak? Maniac, he is. Likes killin’ as much as +Golgomath, no wonder they were gettin’ on so well.” + +“So Macnair’s persuaded the giants to join You-Know- +Who?” said Hermione desperately. + +“Hold yer hippogriffs, I haven’ finished me story yet!” +said Hagrid indignantly, who, considering he had not +wanted to tell them anything in the first place, now + +Page | 552Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +seemed to be rather enjoying himself. “Me an’ Olympe +talked it over an’ we agreed, jus’ ’cause the Gurg +looked like favorin’ You-Know-Who didn’ mean all of +’em would. We had ter try an’ persuade some o’ the +others, the ones who hadn’ wanted Golgomath as +Gurg.” + +“How could you tell which ones they were?” asked +Ron. + +“Well, they were the ones bein’ beaten to a pulp, +weren’ they?” said Hagrid patiently. “The ones with +any sense were keepin’ outta Golgomath ’s way, hidin’ +out in caves roun’ the gully jus’ like we were. So we +decided we’d go pokin’ round the caves by night an’ +see if we couldn’ persuade a few o’ them.” + +“You went poking around dark caves looking for +giants?” said Ron with awed respect in his voice. + +“Well, it wasn’ the giants who worried us most,” said +Hagrid. “We were more concerned abou’ the Death +Eaters. Dumbledore had told us before we wen’ not +ter tangle with ’em if we could avoid it, an’ the trouble +was they knew we was around — ’spect Golgomath +told him abou’ us. At night when the giants were +sleepin’ an’ we wanted ter be creepin’ inter the caves, +Macnair an’ the other one were sneakin’ round the +mountains lookin’ fer us. I was hard put to stop +Olympe jumpin’ out at them,” said Hagrid, the +corners of his mouth lifting his wild beard. “She was +rarin’ ter attack ’em... she’s somethin’ when she’s +roused, Olympe... Fiery, yeh know ... ’spect it’s the +French in her ...” + +Hagrid gazed misty-eyed into the fire. Harry allowed +him thirty seconds’ reminiscence before clearing his +throat loudly. + + + +Page | 553Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“So what happened? Did you ever get near any of the +other giants?” + +“What? Oh ... oh yeah, we did. Yeah, on the third +night after Karkus was killed, we crept outta the cave +we’d bin hidin’ in and headed back down inter the +gully, keepin’ our eyes skinned fer the Death Eaters. +Got inside a few o’ the caves, no go — then, in abou’ +the sixth one, we found three giants hidin’.” + +“Cave must’ve been cramped,” said Ron. + +“Wasn’ room ter swing a kneazle,” said Hagrid. + +“Didn’t they attack you when they saw you?” asked +Hermione. + +“Probably woulda done if they’d bin in any condition,” +said Hagrid, “but they was badly hurt, all three o’ +them. Golgomath’s lot had beaten ’em unconscious; +they’d woken up an’ crawled inter the nearest shelter +they could find. Anyway, one o’ them had a bit of +English an’ ’e translated fer the others, an’ what we +had ter say didn’ seem ter go down too badly. So we +kep’ goin’ back, visitin’ the wounded... I reckon we +had abou’ six or seven o’ them convinced at one +poin’.” + +“Six or seven?” said Ron eagerly. “Well that’s not bad +— are they going to come over here and start fighting +You-Know-Who with us?” + +But Hermione said, “What do you mean ‘at one point,’ +Hagrid?” + +Hagrid looked at her sadly. + + + +Page | 554Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Golgomath’s lot raided the caves. The ones tha’ +survived didn’ wan’ no more ter to do with us after +that.” + +“So ... so there aren’t any giants coming?” said Ron, +looking disappointed. + +“Nope,” said Hagrid, heaving a deep sigh as he turned +over his steak again and applied the cooler side to his +face, “but we did wha’ we meant ter do, we gave ’em +Dumbledore’s message an’ some o’ them heard it an’ I +’spect some o’ them’ll remember it. Jus’ maybe, them +that don’ want ter stay around Golgomath’ll move +outta the mountains, an’ there’s gotta be a chance +they’ll remember Dumbledore’s friendly to ’em... + +Could be they’ll come ...” + +Snow was filling up the window now. Harry became +aware that the knees of his robes were soaked +through; Fang was drooling with his head in Harry’s +lap. + +“Hagrid?” said Hermione quietly after a while. + +“Mmm?” + +“Did you ... was there any sign of ... did you hear +anything about your . . . your . . . mother while you were +there?” + +Hagrid’s unobscured eye rested upon her, and +Hermione looked rather scared. + +“I’m sorry ... I ... forget it — ” + +“Dead,” Hagrid grunted. “Died years ago. They told +me.” + + + +Page | 555Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh ... I’m ... I’m really sorry,” said Hermione in a +very small voice. + + + +Hagrid shrugged his massive shoulders. “No need,” he +said shortly. “Can’ remember her much. Wasn’ a great +mother.” + +They were silent again. Hermione glanced nervously +at Harry and Ron, plainly wanting them to speak. + +“But you still haven’t explained how you got in this +state, Hagrid,” Ron said, gesturing toward Hagrid’s +bloodstained face. + +“Or why you’re back so late,” said Harry. “Sirius says +Madame Maxime got back ages ago — ” + +“Who attacked you?” said Ron. + +“I haven’ bin attacked!” said Hagrid emphatically. “I — + + + +But the rest of his words were drowned in a sudden +outbreak of rapping on the door. Hermione gasped; +her mug slipped through her fingers and smashed on +the floor; Fang yelped. All four of them stared at the +window beside the doorway. The shadow of somebody +small and squat rippled across the thin curtain. + +“It’s her\” Ron whispered. + +“Get under here!” Harry said quickly; seizing the +Invisibility Cloak he whirled it over himself and +Hermione while Ron tore around the table and dived +beneath the cloak as well. Huddled together they +backed away into a corner. Fang was barking madly +at the door. Hagrid looked thoroughly confused. + +“Hagrid, hide our mugs!” + +Page | 556Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hagrid seized Harry’s and Ron’s mugs and shoved +them under the cushion in Fang’s basket. Fang was +now leaping up at the door; Hagrid pushed him out of +the way with his foot and pulled it open. + +Professor Umbridge was standing in the doorway +wearing her green tweed cloak and a matching hat +with earflaps. Lips pursed, she leaned back so as to +see Hagrid’s face; she barely reached his navel. + +“So,” she said slowly and loudly, as though speaking +to somebody deaf. “You’re Hagrid, are you?” + +Without waiting for an answer she strolled into the +room, her bulging eyes rolling in every direction. + +“Get away,” she snapped, waving her handbag at +Fang, who had bounded up to her and was +attempting to lick her face. + +“Er — I don’ want ter be rude,” said Hagrid, staring at +her, “but who the ruddy hell are you?” + +“My name is Dolores Umbridge.” + +Her eyes were sweeping the cabin. Twice they stared +directly into the corner where Harry stood, +sandwiched between Ron and Hermione. + +“Dolores Umbridge?” Hagrid said, sounding +thoroughly confused. “I thought you were one o’ them +Ministry — don’ you work with Fudge?” + +“I was Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, yes,” +said Umbridge, now pacing around the cabin, taking +in every tiny detail within, from the haversack against +the wall to the abandoned traveling cloak. “I am now +the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher — ” + + + +Page | 557Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Tha’s brave of yeh,” said Hagrid, “there’s not many’d +take tha’ job anymore — ” + +“ — and Hogwarts High Inquisitor,” said Umbridge, +giving no sign that she had heard him. + +“Wha’s that?” said Hagrid, frowning. + +“Precisely what I was going to ask,” said Umbridge, +pointing at the broken shards of china on the floor +that had been Hermione’s mug. + +“Oh,” said Hagrid, with a most unhelpful glance +toward the corner where Harry, Ron, and Hermione +stood hidden, “oh, tha’ was ... was Fang. He broke a +mug. So I had ter use this one instead.” + +Hagrid pointed to the mug from which he had been +drinking, one hand still clamped over the dragon +steak pressed to his eye. Umbridge stood facing him +now, taking in every detail of his appearance instead +of the cabin’s. + +“I heard voices,” she said quietly. + +“I was talkin’ ter Fang,” said Hagrid stoutly. + +“And was he talking back to you?” + +“Well ... in a manner o’ speakin’,” said Hagrid, looking +uncomfortable. “I sometimes say Fang’s near enough +human — ” + +“There are three sets of footprints in the snow leading +from the castle doors to your cabin,” said Umbridge +sleekly. + +Hermione gasped; Harry clapped a hand over her +mouth. Luckily, Fang was sniffing loudly around the + +Page | 558Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hem of Professor Umbridge’s robes, and she did not +appear to have heard. + +“Well, I on’y jus’ got back,” said Hagrid, waving an +enormous hand at the haversack. “Maybe someone +came ter call earlier an’ I missed em. + +“There are no footsteps leading away from your cabin +door.” + +“Well I ... I don’ know why that’d be...” said Hagrid, +tugging nervously at his beard and again glancing +toward the corner where Harry, Ron, and Hermione +stood, as though asking for help. “Erm ...” + +Umbridge wheeled around and strode the length of +the cabin, looking around carefully. She bent and +peered under the bed. She opened Hagrid ’s +cupboards. She passed within two inches of where +Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood pressed against the +wall; Harry actually pulled in his stomach as she +walked by. After looking carefully inside the +enormous cauldron Hagrid used for cooking she +wheeled around again and said, “What has happened +to you? How did you sustain those injuries?” + +Hagrid hastily removed the dragon steak from his +face, which in Harry’s opinion was a mistake, because +the black-and-purple bruising all around his eye was +now clearly visible, not to mention the large amount +of fresh and congealed blood on his face. “Oh, I ... had +a bit of an accident,” he said lamely. + +“What sort of accident?” + +“I-I tripped.” + +“You tripped,” she repeated coolly. + + + +Page | 559Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, tha’s right. Over ... over a friends broomstick. I +don’ fly, meself. Well, look at the size o’ me, I don’ +reckon there’s a broomstick that’d hold me. Friend o’ +mine breeds Abraxan horses, I dunno if you’ve ever +seen ’em, big beasts, winged, yeh know, I’ve had a bit +of a ride on one o’ them an’ it was — ” + +“Where have you been?” asked Umbridge, cutting +coolly through Hagrid’s babbling. + +“Where ’ve I ... ?” + +“Been, yes,” she said. “Term started more than two +months ago. Another teacher has had to cover your +classes. None of your colleagues has been able to give +me any information as to your whereabouts. You left +no address. Where have you been?” + +There was a pause in which Hagrid stared at her with +his newly uncovered eye. Harry could almost hear his +brain working furiously. + +“I — I’ve been away for me health,” he said. + +“For your health,” said Umbridge. Her eyes traveled +over Hagrid’s discolored and swollen face; dragon +blood dripped gently onto his waistcoat in the silence. +“I see.” + +“Yeah,” said Hagrid, “bit o’ — o’ fresh air, yeh know — + + + +“Yes, as gamekeeper fresh air must be so difficult to +come by,” said Umbridge sweetly. The small patch of +Hagrid’s face that was not black or purple flushed. + +“Well — change o’ scene, yeh know — ” + +“Mountain scenery?” said Umbridge swiftly. + +Page | 560Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She knows, Harry thought desperately. + +“Mountains?” Hagrid repeated, clearly thinking fast. +“Nope, South of France fer me. Bit o’ sun an’ ... an’ +sea.” + +“Really?” said Umbridge. “You don’t have much of a +tan.” + +“Yeah ... well ... sensitive skin,” said Hagrid, +attempting an ingratiating smile. Harry noticed that +two of his teeth had been knocked out. Umbridge +looked at him coldly; his smile faltered. Then she +hoisted her handbag a little higher into the crook of +her arm and said, “I shall, of course, be informing the +Minister of your late return.” + +“Righ’,” said Hagrid, nodding. + +“You ought to know too that as High Inquisitor it is +my unfortunate but necessary duty to inspect my +fellow teachers. So I daresay we shall meet again soon +enough.” + +She turned sharply and marched back to the door. + +“You’re inspectin’ us?” Hagrid echoed blankly, looking +after her. + +“Oh yes,” said Umbridge softly, looking back at him +with her hand on the door handle. “The Ministry is +determined to weed out unsatisfactory teachers, +Hagrid. Good night.” + +She left, closing the door behind her with a snap. +Harry made to pull off the Invisibility Cloak but +Hermione seized his wrist. + + + +Page | 561Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Not yet,” she breathed in his ear. “She might not be +gone yet.” + +Hagrid seemed to be thinking the same way; he +stumped across the room and pulled back the curtain +an inch or so. + +“She’s goin’ back ter the castle,” he said in a low +voice. “Blimey ... inspectin’ people, is she?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, pulling the cloak off. “Trelawney’s +on probation already...” + +“Um ... what sort of thing are you planning to do with +us in class, Hagrid?” asked Hermione. + +“Oh, don’ you worry abou’ that, I’ve got a great load o’ +lessons planned,” said Hagrid enthusiastically, +scooping up his dragon steak from the table and +slapping it over his eye again. “I’ve bin keepin’ a +couple o’ creatures saved fer yer O.W.L. year, you +wait, they’re somethin’ really special.” + +“Erm . . . special in what way?” asked Hermione +tentatively. + +“I’m not sayin’,” said Hagrid happily. “I don’ want ter +spoil the surprise.” + +“Look, Hagrid,” said Hermione urgently, dropping all +pretense, “Professor Umbridge won’t be at all happy if +you bring anything to class that’s too dangerous — ” + +“Dangerous?” said Hagrid, looking genially bemused. +“Don’ be silly, I wouldn’ give yeh anythin’ dangerous! I +mean, all righ’, they can look after themselves — ” + +“Hagrid, you’ve got to pass Umbridge’s inspection, +and to do that it would really be better if she saw you + +Page | 562Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +teaching us how to look after porlocks, how to tell the +difference between knarls and hedgehogs, stuff like +that!” said Hermione earnestly. + +“But tha’s not very interestin’, Hermione,” said +Hagrid. “The stuff I’ve got’s much more impressive, + +I’ve bin bringin’ ’em on fer years, I reckon I’ve got the +on’y domestic herd in Britain — ” + +“Hagrid ... please ...” said Hermione, a note of real +desperation in her voice. “Umbridge is looking for any +excuse to get rid of teachers she thinks are too close +to Dumbledore. Please, Hagrid, teach us something +dull that’s bound to come up in our O.W.L...” + +But Hagrid merely yawned widely and cast a one-eyed +look of longing toward the vast bed in the corner. + +“Lis’en, it’s bin a long day an’ it’s late,” he said, +patting Hermione gently on the shoulder, so that her +knees gave way and hit the floor with a thud. “Oh — +sorry — ” He pulled her back up by the neck of her +robes. “Look, don’ you go worryin’ abou’ me, I promise +yeh I’ve got really good stuff planned fer yer lessons +now I’m back... Now you lot had better get back up to +the castle, an’ don’ forget ter wipe yer footprints out +behind yeh!” + +“I dunno if you got through to him,” said Ron a short +while later when, having checked that the coast was +clear, they walked back up to the castle through the +thickening snow, leaving no trace behind them due to +the Obliteration Charm Hermione was performing as +they went. + +“Then I’ll go back again tomorrow,” said Hermione +determinedly. “I’ll plan his lessons for him if I have to. +I don’t care if she throws out Trelawney but she’s not +taking Hagrid!” + +Page | 563Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE EYE OF THE SNAKE + +Hermione plowed her way back to Hagrid’s cabin +through two feet of snow on Sunday morning. Harry +and Ron wanted to go with her, but their mountain of +homework had reached an alarming height again, so +they grudgingly remained in the common room, trying +to ignore the gleeful shouts drifting up from the +grounds outside, where students were enjoying +themselves skating on the frozen lake, tobogganing, +and worst of all, bewitching snowballs to zoom up to +Gryffindor Tower and rap hard on the windows. + +“Oy!” bellowed Ron, finally losing patience and +sticking his head out of the window, “I am a prefect +and if one more snowball hits this window — OUCH!” + +He withdrew his head sharply, his face covered in +snow. + +“It’s Fred and George,” he said bitterly, slamming the +window behind him. “Gits ...” + + + +Page | 564Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Hermione returned from Hagrid’s just before lunch, +shivering slightly, her robes damp to the knees. + + + +“So?” said Ron, looking up when she entered. “Got all +his lessons planned for him?” + +“Well, I tried,” she said dully, sinking into a chair +beside Harry. She pulled out her wand and gave it a +complicated little wave so that hot air streamed out of +the tip; she then pointed this at her robes, which +began to steam as they dried out. “He wasn’t even +there when I arrived, I was knocking for at least half +an hour. And then he came stumping out of the forest + + + +Harry groaned. The Forbidden Forest was teeming +with the kind of creatures most likely to get Hagrid +the sack. “What’s he keeping in there? Did he say?” +asked Harry. + +“No,” said Hermione miserably. “He says he wants +them to be a surprise. I tried to explain about +Umbridge, but he just doesn’t get it. He kept saying +nobody in their right mind would rather study knarls +than chimaeras — oh I don’t think he’s got a +chimaera,” she added at the appalled look on Harry +and Ron’s faces, “but that’s not for lack of trying from +what he said about how hard it is to get eggs... I don’t +know how many times I told him he’d be better off +following Grubbly-Plank’s plan, I honestly don’t think +he listened to half of what I said. He’s in a bit of a +funny mood, you know. He still won’t say how he got +all those injuries...” + +Hagrid’s reappearance at the staff table at breakfast +next day was not greeted by enthusiasm from all +students. Some, like Fred, George, and Lee, roared +with delight and sprinted up the aisle between the +Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables to wring Hagrid’s +Page | 565Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +enormous hand; others, like Parvati and Lavender, +exchanged gloomy looks and shook their heads. Harry +knew that many of them preferred Professor Grubbly- +Plank’s lessons, and the worst of it was that a very +small, unbiased part of him knew that they had good +reason: Grubbly-Plank’s idea of an interesting class +was not one where there was a risk that somebody +might have their head ripped off. + +It was with a certain amount of apprehension that +Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed down to Hagrid’s +on Tuesday, heavily muffled against the cold. Harry +was worried, not only about what Hagrid might have +decided to teach them, but also about how the rest of +the class, particularly Malfoy and his cronies, would +behave if Umbridge was watching them. + +However, the High Inquisitor was nowhere to be seen +as they struggled through the snow toward Hagrid, +who stood waiting for them on the edge of the forest. +He did not present a reassuring sight; the bruises +that had been purple on Saturday night were now +tinged with green and yellow and some of his cuts still +seemed to be bleeding. Harry could not understand +this: Had Hagrid perhaps been attacked by some +creature whose venom prevented the wounds it +inflicted from healing? As though to complete the +ominous picture, Hagrid was carrying what looked +like half a dead cow over his shoulder. + +“We’re workin’ in here today!” Hagrid called happily to +the approaching students, jerking his head back at +the dark trees behind him. “Bit more sheltered! +Anyway, they prefer the dark...” + +“What prefers the dark?” Harry heard Malfoy say +sharply to Crabbe and Goyle, a trace of panic in his +voice. “What did he say prefers the dark — did you +hear?” + +Page | 566Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry remembered the only occasion on which Malfoy +had entered the forest before now; he had not been +very brave then either. He smiled to himself; after the +Quidditch match anything that caused Malfoy +discomfort was all right with him. + +“Ready?” said Hagrid happily, looking around at the +class. “Right, well, I’ve bin savin’ a trip inter the forest +fer yer fifth year. Thought we’d go an’ see these +creatures in their natural habitat. Now, what we’re +studyin’ today is pretty rare, I reckon I’m probably the +on’y person in Britain who’s managed ter train ’em — ” + +“And you’re sure they’re trained, are you?” said +Malfoy, the panic in his voice even more pronounced +now. “Only it wouldn’t be the first time you’d brought +wild stuff to class, would it?” + +The Slytherins murmured agreement and a few +Gryffindors looked as though they thought Malfoy had +a fair point too. + +“ ’Course they’re trained,” said Hagrid, scowling and +hoisting the dead cow a little higher on his shoulder. + +“So what happened to your face, then?” demanded +Malfoy. + +“Mind yer own business!” said Hagrid, angrily. “Now if +yeh’ve finished askin’ stupid questions, follow me!” + +He turned and strode straight into the forest. Nobody +seemed much disposed to follow. Harry glanced at +Ron and Hermione, who sighed but nodded, and the +three of them set off after Hagrid, leading the rest of +the class. + +They walked for about ten minutes until they reached +a place where the trees stood so closely together that + +Page | 567Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +it was as dark as twilight and there was no snow on +the ground at all. Hagrid deposited his half a cow with +a grunt on the ground, stepped back, and turned to +face his class again, most of whom were creeping +toward him from tree to tree, peering around +nervously as though expecting to be set upon at any +moment. + +“Gather roun’, gather roun’,” said Hagrid +encouragingly. “Now, they’ll be attracted by the smell +o’ the meat but I’m goin’ ter give ’em a call anyway, +’cause they’ll like ter know it’s me...” + +He turned, shook his shaggy head to get the hair out +of his face, and gave an odd, shrieking cry that +echoed through the dark trees like the call of some +monstrous bird. Nobody laughed; most of them +looked too scared to make a sound. + +Hagrid gave the shrieking cry again. A minute passed +in which the class continued to peer nervously over +their shoulders and around trees for a first glimpse of +whatever it was that was coming. And then, as Hagrid +shook his hair back for a third time and expanded his +enormous chest, Harry nudged Ron and pointed into +the black space between two gnarled yew trees. + +A pair of blank, white, shining eyes were growing +larger through the gloom and a moment later the +dragonish face, neck, and then skeletal body of a +great, black, winged horse emerged from the +darkness. It looked around at the class for a few +seconds, swishing its long black tail, then bowed its +head and began to tear flesh from the dead cow with +its pointed fangs. + +A great wave of relief broke over Harry. Here at last +was proof that he had not imagined these creatures, +that they were real: Hagrid knew about them too. He + +Page | 568Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +looked eagerly at Ron, but Ron was still staring +around into the trees and after a few seconds he +whispered, “Why doesn’t Hagrid call again?” + +Most of the rest of the class were wearing expressions +as confused and nervously expectant as Ron’s and +were still gazing everywhere but at the horse standing +feet from them. There were only two other people who +seemed to be able to see them: a stringy Slytherin boy +standing just behind Goyle was watching the horse +eating with an expression of great distaste on his face, +and Neville, whose eyes were following the swishing +progress of the long black tail. + +“Oh, an’ here comes another one!” said Hagrid +proudly, as a second black horse appeared out of the +dark trees, folded its leathery wings closer to its body, +and dipped its head to gorge on the meat. “Now ... put +yer hands up, who can see ’em?” + +Immensely pleased to feel that he was at last going to +understand the mystery of these horses, Harry raised +his hand. Hagrid nodded at him. + +“Yeah ... yeah, I knew you’d be able ter, Harry,” he +said seriously. “An’ you too, Neville, eh? An’ — ” + +“Excuse me,” said Malfoy in a sneering voice, “but +what exactly are we supposed to be seeing?” + +For answer, Hagrid pointed at the cow carcass on the +ground. The whole class stared at it for a few seconds, +then several people gasped and Parvati squealed. +Harry understood why: Bits of flesh stripping +themselves away from the bones and vanishing into +thin air had to look very odd indeed. + + + +Page | 569Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What’s doing it?” Parvati demanded in a terrified +voice, retreating behind the nearest tree. “What’s +eating it?” + +“Thestrals,” said Hagrid proudly and Hermione gave a +soft “oh!” of comprehension at Harry’s shoulder. +“Hogwarts has got a whole herd of ’em in here. Now, +who knows — ?” + +“But they’re really, really unlucky!” interrupted +Parvati, looking alarmed. “They’re supposed to bring +all sorts of horrible misfortune on people who see +them. Professor Trelawney told me once — ” + +“No, no, no,” said Hagrid, chuckling, “tha’s jus’ +superstition, that is, they aren’ unlucky, they’re dead +clever an’ useful! ’Course, this lot don’ get a lot o’ +work, it’s mainly jus’ pullin’ the school carriages +unless Dumbledore’s takin’ a long journey an’ don’ +want ter Apparate — an’ here’s another couple, look + + + +Two more horses came quietly out of the trees, one of +them passing very close to Parvati, who shivered and +pressed herself closer to the tree, saying, “I think I felt +something, I think it’s near me!” + +“Don’ worry, it won’ hurt yeh,” said Hagrid patiently. +“Righ’, now, who can tell me why some o’ you can see +them an’ some can’t?” + +Hermione raised her hand. + +“Go on then,” said Hagrid, beaming at her. + +“The only people who can see thestrals,” she said, + +“are people who have seen death.” + + + +Page | 570Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Tha’s exactly right,” said Hagrid solemnly, “ten +points ter Gryffindor. Now, thestrals — ” + +“Hem, hem.” + +Professor Umbridge had arrived. She was standing a +few feet away from Harry, wearing her green hat and +cloak again, her clipboard at the ready. Hagrid, who +had never heard Umbridge ’s fake cough before, was +gazing in some concern at the closest thestral, +evidently under the impression that it had made the +sound. + +“Hem, hem.” + +“Oh hello!” Hagrid said, smiling, having located the +source of the noise. + +“You received the note I sent to your cabin this +morning?” said Umbridge, in the same loud, slow +voice she had used with him earlier, as though she +was addressing somebody both foreign and very slow. +“Telling you that I would be inspecting your lesson?” + +“Oh yeah,” said Hagrid brightly. “Glad yeh found the +place all righ’! Well, as you can see — or, I dunno — +can you? We’re doin’ thestrals today — ” + +“I’m sorry?” said Umbridge loudly, cupping her hand +around her ear and frowning. “What did you say?” + +Hagrid looked a little confused. + +“Er — thestralsl” he said loudly. “Big — er — winged +horses, yeh know!” + +He flapped his gigantic arms hopefully. Professor +Umbridge raised her eyebrows at him and muttered + + + +Page | 571Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +as she made a note on her clipboard, “ ‘has ... to ... +resort ... to ... crude . . . sign . . . language ” + +“Well ... anyway ...” said Hagrid, turning back to the +class and looking slightly flustered. “Erm ... what was +I sayin’?” + +“ ‘Appears ... to ... have . . . poor . . . short . . . term . . . +memory ” muttered Umbridge, loudly enough for +everyone to hear her. Draco Malfoy looked as though +Christmas had come a month early; Hermione, on the +other hand, had turned scarlet with suppressed rage. + +“Oh yeah,” said Hagrid, throwing an uneasy glance at +Umbridge’s clipboard, but plowing on valiantly. “Yeah, +I was gonna tell yeh how come we got a herd. Yeah, +so, we started off with a male an’ five females. This +one,” he patted the first horse to have appeared, + +“name o’ Tenebrus, he’s my special favorite, firs’ one +born here in the forest — ” + +“Are you aware,” Umbridge said loudly, interrupting +him, “that the Ministry of Magic has classified +thestrals as ‘dangerous’?” + +Harry’s heart sank like a stone, but Hagrid merely +chuckled. + +“Thestrals aren’ dangerous! All righ, they might take a +bite outta you if yeh really annoy them — ” + +“ ‘Shows . . . signs ... of ... pleasure ... at ... idea ...of +... violence ... ‘ ” muttered Umbridge, scribbling on her +clipboard again. + +“No — come on!” said Hagrid, looking a little anxious +now. “I mean, a dog’ll bite if yeh bait it, won’ it — but +thestrals have jus’ got a bad reputation because o’ the + + + +Page | 572Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +death thing — people used ter think they were bad +omens, didn’ they? Jus’ didn’ understand, did they?” + + + +Umbridge did not answer; she finished writing her +last note, then looked up at Hagrid and said, again +very loudly and slowly, “Please continue teaching as +usual. I am going to walk” — she mimed walking — +Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were having silent fits of +laughter — “among the students” — she pointed +around at individual members of the class — “and +ask them questions.” She pointed at her mouth to +indicate talking. + +Hagrid stared at her, clearly at a complete loss to +understand why she was acting as though he did not +understand normal English. Hermione had tears of +fury in her eyes now. + +“You hag, you evil hag!” she whispered, as Umbridge +walked toward Pansy Parkinson. “I know what you’re +doing, you awful, twisted, vicious — ” + +“Erm ... anyway,” said Hagrid, clearly struggling to +regain the flow of his lesson, “so — thestrals. Yeah. +Well, there’s loads o’ good stuff abou’ them...” + +“Do you find,” said Professor Umbridge in a ringing +voice to Pansy Parkinson, “that you are able to +understand Professor Hagrid when he talks?” + +Just like Hermione, Pansy had tears in her eyes, but +these were tears of laughter; indeed, her answer was +almost incoherent because she was trying to suppress +her giggles. “No ... because ... well ... it sounds ... like +grunting a lot of the time...” + +Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard. The few +unbruised bits of Hagrid ’s face flushed, but he tried +to act as though he had not heard Pansy’s answer. + +Page | 573Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Er ... yeah ... good stuff abou’ thestrals. Well, once +they’re tamed, like this lot, yehll never be lost again. +‘Mazin’ senses o’ direction, jus’ tell ’em where yeh +want ter go — ” + +“Assuming they can understand you, of course,” said +Malfoy loudly, and Pansy Parkinson collapsed in a fit +of renewed giggles. Professor Umbridge smiled +indulgently at them and then turned to Neville. + +“You can see the thestrals, Longbottom, can you?” +she said. + +Neville nodded. + +“Whom did you see die?” she asked, her tone +indifferent. + +“My ... my grandad,” said Neville. + +“And what do you think of them?” she said, waving +her stubby hand at the horses, who by now had +stripped a great deal of the carcass down to bone. + +“Erm,” said Neville nervously, with a glance at Hagrid. +“Well, they’re ... er ... okay...” + +“ ‘Students ... are ... too ... intimidated ... to ... admit +... they ... are ... frightened...’ ” muttered Umbridge, +making another note on her clipboard. + +“No!” said Neville, looking upset, “no, I’m not scared of +them — !” + +“It’s quite all right,” said Umbridge, patting Neville on +the shoulder with what she evidently intended to be +an understanding smile, though it looked more like a +leer to Harry. “Well, Hagrid,” she turned to look up at +him again, speaking once more in that loud, slow +Page | 574Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +voice, “I think I’ve got enough to be getting along +with... You will receive” — she mimed taking +something from the air in front of her — “the results +of your inspection” — she pointed at the clipboard — +“in ten days’ time.” She held up ten stubby little +fingers, then, her smile wider and more toadlike than +ever before beneath her green hat, she bustled from +their midst, leaving Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson in +fits of laughter, Hermione actually shaking with fury, +and Neville looking confused and upset. + +“That foul, lying, twisting old gargoyle!” stormed +Hermione half an hour later, as they made their way +back up to the castle through the channels they had +made earlier in the snow. “You see what she’s up to? +It’s her thing about half-breeds all over again — she’s +trying to make out Hagrid’s some kind of dim-witted +troll, just because he had a giantess for a mother — +and oh, it’s not fair, that really wasn’t a bad lesson at +all — I mean, all right, if it had been Blast-Ended +Skrewts again, but thestrals are fine — in fact, for +Hagrid, they’re really good!” + +“Umbridge said they’re dangerous,” said Ron. + +“Well, it’s like Hagrid said, they can look after +themselves,” said Hermione impatiently, “and I +suppose a teacher like Grubbly-Plank wouldn’t +usually show them to us before N.E.W.T. level, but, +well, they are very interesting, aren’t they? The way +some people can see them and some can’t! I wish I +could.” + +“Do you?” Harry asked her quietly. + +She looked horrorstruck. + +“Oh Harry — I’m sorry — no, of course I don’t — that +was a really stupid thing to say — ” + +Page | 575Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s okay,” he said quickly, “don’t worry...” + + + +“I’m surprised so many people could see them,” said +Ron. “Three in a class — ” + +“Yeah, Weasley, we were just wondering,” said a +malicious voice nearby. Unheard by any of them in +the muffling snow, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were +walking along right behind them. “D’you reckon if you +saw someone snuff it you’d be able to see the Quaffle +better?” + +He, Crabbe, and Goyle roared with laughter as they +pushed past on their way to the castle and then broke +into a chorus of “Weasley Is Our King.” Ron’s ears +turned scarlet. + +“Ignore them, just ignore them,” intoned Hermione, +pulling out her wand and performing the charm to +produce hot air again, so that she could melt them an +easier path through the untouched snow between +them and the greenhouses. + +December arrived, bringing with it more snow and a +positive avalanche of homework for the fifth years. + +Ron and Hermione ’s prefect duties also became more +and more onerous as Christmas approached. They +were called upon to supervise the decoration of the +castle (“You try putting up tinsel when Peeves has got +the other end and is trying to strangle you with it,” +said Ron), to watch over first and second years +spending their break times inside because of the +bitter cold (“And they’re cheeky little snotrags, you +know, we definitely weren’t that rude when we were in +first year,” said Ron), and to patrol the corridors in +shifts with Argus Filch, who suspected that the +holiday spirit might show itself in an outbreak of +wizard duels (“He’s got dung for brains, that one,” +said Ron furiously). They were so busy that Hermione +Page | 576Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +had stopped knitting elf hats and was fretting that +she was down to her last three. + +“All those poor elves I haven’t set free yet, having to +stay over during Christmas because there aren’t +enough hats!” + +Harry, who had not had the heart to tell her that +Dobby was taking everything she made, bent lower +over his History of Magic essay. In any case, he did +not want to think about Christmas. For the first time +in his school career, he very much wanted to spend +the holidays away from Hogwarts. Between his +Quidditch ban and worry about whether or not +Hagrid was going to be put on probation, he felt +highly resentful toward the place at the moment. The +only thing he really looked forward to were the D.A. +meetings, and they would have to stop over the +holidays, as nearly everybody in the D.A. would be +spending the time with their families. Hermione was +going skiing with her parents, something that greatly +amused Ron, who had never before heard of Muggles +strapping narrow strips of wood to their feet to slide +down mountains. Ron, meanwhile, was going home to +the Burrow. Harry endured several days of jealousy +before Ron said, in response to Harry asking how Ron +was going to get home for Christmas, “But you’re +coming too! Didn’t I say? Mum wrote and told me to +invite you weeks ago!” + +Hermione rolled her eyes, but Harry’s spirits soared: +The thought of Christmas at the Burrow was truly +wonderful, only slightly marred by Harry’s guilty +feeling that he would not be able to spend the holiday +with Sirius. He wondered whether he could possibly +persuade Mrs. Weasley to invite his godfather for the +festivities too, but apart from the fact that he doubted +whether Dumbledore would permit Sirius to leave +Grimmauld Place, he could not help but feel that Mrs. +Page | 577Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Weasley might not want him; they were so often at +loggerheads. Sirius had not contacted Harry at all +since his last appearance in the fire, and although +Harry knew that with Umbridge on the constant +watch it would be unwise to attempt to contact him, +he did not like to think of Sirius alone in his mother’s +old house, perhaps pulling a lonely cracker with +Kreacher. + +Harry arrived early in the Room of Requirement for +the last D.A. meeting before the holidays and was +very glad he had, because when the lamps burst into +light he saw that Dobby had taken it upon himself to +decorate the place for Christmas. He could tell the elf +had done it, because nobody else would have strung a +hundred golden baubles from the ceiling, each +showing a picture of Harry’s face and bearing the +legend HAVE A VERY HARRY CHRISTMAS! + +Harry had only just managed to get the last of them +down before the door creaked open and Luna +Lovegood entered, looking dreamy as always. + +“Hello,” she said vaguely, looking around at what +remained of the decorations. “These are nice, did you +put them up?” + +“No,” said Harry, “it was Dobby the house-elf.” + +“Mistletoe,” said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large +clump of white berries placed almost over Harry’s +head. He jumped out from under it. “Good thinking,” +said Luna very seriously. “It’s often infested with +nargles.” + +Harry was saved the necessity of asking what nargles +were by the arrival of Angelina, Katie, and Alicia. All +three of them were breathless and looked very cold. + + + +Page | 578Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well,” said Angelina dully, pulling off her cloak and +throwing it into a corner, “we’ve replaced you.” + + + +“Replaced me?” said Harry blankly. + +“You and Fred and George,” she said impatiently. +“We’ve got another Seeker!” + +“Who?” said Harry quickly. + +“Ginny Weasley,” said Katie. + +Harry gaped at her. + +“Yeah, I know,” said Angelina, pulling out her wand +and flexing her arm. “But she’s pretty good, actually. +Nothing on you, of course,” she said, throwing him a +very dirty look, “but as we can’t have you ...” + +Harry bit back the retort he was longing to utter: Did +she imagine for a second that he did not regret his +expulsion from the team a hundred times more than +she did? + +“And what about the Beaters?” he asked, trying to +keep his voice even. + +“Andrew Kirke,” said Alicia without enthusiasm, “and +Jack Sloper. Neither of them are brilliant, but +compared with the rest of the idiots who turned up + + + +The arrival of Ron, Hermione, and Neville brought this +depressing discussion to an end and within five +minutes, the room was full enough to prevent him +seeing Angelina’s burning, reproachful looks. + +“Okay,” he said, calling them all to order. “I thought +this evening we should just go over the things we’ve + +Page | 579Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +done so far, because it’s the last meeting before the +holidays and there’s no point starting anything new +right before a three-week break — ” + +“We’re not doing anything new?” said Zacharias +Smith, in a disgruntled whisper loud enough to carry +through the room. “If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have +come...” + +“We’re all really sorry Harry didn’t tell you, then,” said +Fred loudly. + +Several people sniggered. Harry saw Cho laughing +and felt the familiar swooping sensation in his +stomach, as though he had missed a step going +downstairs. + +“We can practice in pairs,” said Harry. “Well start +with the Impediment Jinx, just for ten minutes, then +we can get out the cushions and try Stunning again.” + +They all divided up obediently; Harry partnered +Neville as usual. The room was soon full of +intermittent cries of “ Impedimental ” People froze for a +minute or so, during which their partners would stare +aimlessly around the room watching other pairs at +work, then would unfreeze and take their turn at the +jinx. + +Neville had improved beyond all recognition. After a +while, when Harry had unfrozen three times in a row, +he had Neville join Ron and Hermione again so that +he could walk around the room and watch the others. +When he passed Cho she beamed at him; he resisted +the temptation to walk past her several more times. + +After ten minutes on the Impediment Jinx, they laid +out cushions all over the floor and started practicing +Stunning again. Space was really too confined to + +Page | 580Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +allow them all to work this spell at once; half the +group observed the others for a while, then swapped +over. Harry felt himself positively swelling with pride +as he watched them all. True, Neville did Stun Padma +Patil rather than Dean, at whom he had been aiming, +but it was a much closer miss than usual, and +everybody else had made enormous progress. + +At the end of an hour, Harry called a halt. + +“You’re getting really good,” he said, beaming around +at them. “When we get back from the holidays we can +start doing some of the big stuff — maybe even +Patronuses.” + +There was a murmur of excitement. The room began +to clear in the usual twos and threes; most people +wished Harry a Happy Christmas as they went. + +Feeling cheerful, he collected up the cushions with +Ron and Hermione and stacked them neatly away. + +Ron and Hermione left before he did; he hung back a +little, because Cho was still there and he was hoping +to receive a Merry Christmas from her. + +“No, you go on,” he heard her say to her friend +Marietta, and his heart gave a jolt that seemed to take +it into the region of his Adam’s apple. + +He pretended to be straightening the cushion pile. He +was quite sure they were alone now and waited for +her to speak. Instead, he heard a hearty sniff. + +He turned and saw Cho standing in the middle of the +room, tears pouring down her face. + +“Wha — ?” + + + +He didn’t know what to do. She was simply standing +there, crying silently. + +Page | 581Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What’s up?” he said feebly. + + + +She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. +“I’m — sorry,” she said thickly. “I suppose ... it’s just +... learning all this stuff... It just makes me ... wonder +whether ... if he’d known it all ... he’d still be alive...” + +Harry’s heart sank right back past its usual spot and +settled somewhere around his navel. He ought to have +known. She wanted to talk about Cedric. + +“He did know this stuff,” Harry said heavily. “He was +really good at it, or he could never have got to the +middle of that maze. But if Voldemort really wants to +kill you, you don’t stand a chance.” + +She hiccuped at the sound of Voldemort’s name, but +stared at Harry without flinching. + +“ You survived when you were just a baby,” she said +quietly. + +“Yeah, well,” said Harry wearily, moving toward the +door, “I dunno why, nor does anyone else, so it’s +nothing to be proud of.” + +“Oh don’t go!” said Cho, sounding tearful again. “I’m +really sorry to get all upset like this... I didn’t mean +to...” + +She hiccuped again. She was very pretty even when +her eyes were red and puffy. Harry felt thoroughly +miserable. He’d have been so pleased just with a +Merry Christmas... + +“I know it must be horrible for you,” she said, +mopping her eyes on her sleeve again. “Me +mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die... I suppose +you just want to forget about it...” + +Page | 582Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite true, +but he felt heartless saying it. + +“You’re a r-really good teacher, you know,” said Cho, +with a watery smile. “I’ve never been able to Stun +anything before.” + +“Thanks,” said Harry awkwardly. + +They looked at each other for a long moment. Harry +felt a burning desire to run from the room and, at the +same time, a complete inability to move his feet. + +“Mistletoe,” said Cho quietly, pointing at the ceiling +over his head. + +“Yeah,” said Harry. His mouth was very dry. “It’s +probably full of nargles, though.” + +“What are nargles?” + +“No idea,” said Harry. She had moved closer. His +brain seemed to have been Stunned. “You’d have to +ask Loony. Luna, I mean.” + +Cho made a funny noise halfway between a sob and a +laugh. She was even nearer him now. He could have +counted the freckles on her nose. + +“I really like you, Harry.” + +He could not think. A tingling sensation was +spreading throughout him, paralyzing his arms, legs, +and brain. + +She was much too close. He could see every tear +clinging to her eyelashes... + + + +Page | 583Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He returned to the common room half an hour later to +find Hermione and Ron in the best seats by the fire; +nearly everybody else had gone to bed. Hermione was +writing a very long letter; she had already filled half a +roll of parchment, which was dangling from the edge +of the table. Ron was lying on the hearthrug, trying to +finish his Transfiguration homework. + +“What kept you?” he asked, as Harry sank into the +armchair next to Hermione ’s. + +Harry did not answer. He was in a state of shock. Half +of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had +just happened, but the other half wanted to take the +secret with him to the grave. + +“Are you all right, Harry?” Hermione asked, peering at +him over the tip of her quill. + +Harry gave a halfhearted shrug. In truth, he didn’t +know whether he was all right or not. “What’s up?” +said Ron, hoisting himself up on his elbow to get a +clearer view of Harry. “What’s happened?” + +Harry didn’t quite know how to set about telling them, +and still wasn’t sure whether he wanted to. Just as he +had decided not to say anything, Hermione took +matters out of his hands. + +“Is it Cho?” she asked in a businesslike way. “Did she +corner you after the meeting?” + +Numbly surprised, Harry nodded. Ron sniggered, +breaking off when Hermione caught his eye. + +“So — er — what did she want?” he asked in a mock +casual voice. + + + +Page | 584Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“She — ” Harry began, rather hoarsely; he cleared his +throat and tried again. “She — er — ” + + + +“Did you kiss?” asked Hermione briskly. + +Ron sat up so fast that he sent his ink bottle flying all +over the rug. Disregarding this completely he stared +avidly at Harry. + +“Well?” he demanded. + +Harry looked from Ron’s expression of mingled +curiosity and hilarity to Hermione’s slight frown, and +nodded. + +“HA!” + +Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and +went into a raucous peal of laughter that made +several timid-looking second years over beside the +window jump. A reluctant grin spread over Harry’s +face as he watched Ron rolling around on the +hearthrug. Hermione gave Ron a look of deep disgust +and returned to her letter. + +“Well?” Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. “How +was it?” + +Harry considered for a moment. + +“Wet,” he said truthfully. + +Ron made a noise that might have indicated +jubilation or disgust, it was hard to tell. + +“Because she was crying,” Harry continued heavily. + +“Oh,” said Ron, his smile fading slightly. “Are you that +bad at kissing?” + +Page | 585Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dunno,” said Harry, who hadn’t considered this, and +immediately felt rather worried. “Maybe I am.” + + + +“Of course you’re not,” said Hermione absently, still +scribbling away at her letter. + +“How do you know?” said Ron in a sharp voice. + +“Because Cho spends half her time crying these +days,” said Hermione vaguely. “She does it at +mealtimes, in the loos, all over the place.” + +“You’d think a bit of kissing would cheer her up,” said +Ron, grinning. + +“Ron,” said Hermione in a dignified voice, dipping the +point of her quill into her ink pot, “you are the most +insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to +meet.” + +“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Ron +indignantly. “What sort of person cries while +someone’s kissing them?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, slightly desperately, “who does?” + +Hermione looked at the pair of them with an almost +pitying expression on her face. + +“Don’t you understand how Cho’s feeling at the +moment?” she asked. + +“No,” said Harry and Ron together. + +Hermione sighed and laid down her quill. + +“Well, obviously, she’s feeling very sad, because of +Cedric dying. Then I expect she’s feeling confused +because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, + +Page | 586Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and she can’t work out who she likes best. Then she’ll +be feeling guilty, thinking it’s an insult to Cedric’s +memory to be kissing Harry at all, and she’ll be +worrying about what everyone else might say about +her if she starts going out with Harry. And she +probably can’t work out what her feelings toward +Harry are anyway, because he was the one who was +with Cedric when Cedric died, so that’s all very mixed +up and painful. Oh, and she’s afraid she’s going to be +thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because +she’s been flying so badly.” + +A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this +speech, then Ron said, “One person can’t feel all that +at once, they’d explode.” + +“Just because you’ve got the emotional range of a +teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have,” said Hermione +nastily, picking up her quill again. + +“She was the one who started it,” said Harry. “I +wouldn’t’ve — she just sort of came at me — and next +thing she’s crying all over me — I didn’t know what to +do — ” + + + +“Don’t blame you, mate,” said Ron, looking alarmed at +the very thought. + +“You just had to be nice to her,” said Hermione, +looking up anxiously. “You were, weren’t you?” + +“Well,” said Harry, an unpleasant heat creeping up +his face, “I sort of — patted her on the back a bit.” + +Hermione looked as though she was restraining +herself from rolling her eyes with extreme difficulty. + +“Well, I suppose it could have been worse,” she said. +“Are you going to see her again?” + +Page | 587Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’ll have to, won’t I?” said Harry. “We’ve got D.A. +meetings, haven’t we?” + + + +“You know what I mean,” said Hermione impatiently. + +Harry said nothing. Hermione ’s words opened up a +whole new vista of frightening possibilities. He tried to +imagine going somewhere with Cho — Hogsmeade, +perhaps — and being alone with her for hours at a +time. Of course, she would have been expecting him +to ask her out after what had just happened... The +thought made his stomach clench painfully. + +“Oh well,” said Hermione distantly, buried in her +letter once more, “you’ll have plenty of opportunities +to ask her...” + +“What if he doesn’t want to ask her?” said Ron, who +had been watching Harry with an unusually shrewd +expression on his face. + +“Don’t be silly,” said Hermione vaguely, “Harry’s liked +her for ages, haven’t you, Harry?” + +He did not answer. Yes, he had liked Cho for ages, +but whenever he had imagined a scene involving the +two of them it had always featured a Cho who was +enjoying herself, as opposed to a Cho who was +sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder. + +“Who ’re you writing the novel to anyway?” Ron asked +Hermione, trying to read the bit of parchment now +trailing on the floor. Hermione hitched it up out of +sight. + +“Viktor.” + +“Krum?” + +Page | 588Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How many other Viktors do we know?” + + + +Ron said nothing, but looked disgruntled. They sat in +silence for another twenty minutes, Ron finishing his +Transfiguration essay with many snorts of impatience +and crossings-out, Hermione writing steadily to the +very end of the parchment, rolling it up carefully and +sealing it, and Harry staring into the fire, wishing +more than anything that Sirius’s head would appear +there and give him some advice about girls. But the +fire merely crackled lower and lower, until the red-hot +embers crumbled into ash and, looking around, Harry +saw that they were, yet again, the last in the common +room. + +“Well, ’night,” said Hermione, yawning widely, and +she set off up the girls’ staircase. + +“What does she see in Krum?” Ron demanded as he +and Harry climbed the boys’ stairs. + +“Well,” said Harry, considering the matter, “I s’pose +he’s older, isn’t he ... and he’s an international +Quidditch player...” + +“Yeah, but apart from that,” said Ron, sounding +aggravated. “I mean he’s a grouchy git, isn’t he?” + +“Bit grouchy, yeah,” said Harry, whose thoughts were +still on Cho. + +They pulled off their robes and put on pajamas in +silence; Dean, Seamus, and Neville were already +asleep. Harry put his glasses on his bedside table and +got into bed but did not pull the hangings closed +around his four-poster; instead he stared at the patch +of starry sky visible through the window next to +Neville’s bed. If he had known, this time last night, + +Page | 589Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +that in twenty-four hours’ time he would have kissed +Cho Chang ... + + + +“ ’Night,” grunted Ron, from somewhere to his right. + +“ ’Night,” said Harry. + +Maybe next time ... if there was a next time ... she’d +be a bit happier. He ought to have asked her out; she +had probably been expecting it and was now really +angry with him ... or was she lying in bed, still crying +about Cedric? He did not know what to think. +Hermione’s explanation had made it all seem more +complicated rather than easier to understand. + +That’s what they should teach us here, he thought, +turning over onto his side, how girls’ brains work ... +it’d be more useful than Divination anyway... + +Neville snuffled in his sleep. An owl hooted +somewhere out in the night. + +Harry dreamed he was back in the D.A. room. Cho +was accusing him of luring her there under false +pretenses; she said that he had promised her a +hundred and fifty Chocolate Frog cards if she showed +up. Harry protested... Cho shouted, “ Cedric gave me +loads of Chocolate Frog cards, look\” And she pulled +out fistfuls of cards from inside her robes and threw +them into the air, and then turned into Hermione, +who said, “You did promise her, you know, Harry... I +think you’d better give her something else instead... +How about your Firebolt?” And Harry was protesting +that he could not give Cho his Firebolt because +Umbridge had it, and anyway the whole thing was +ridiculous, he’d only come to the D.A. room to put up +some Christmas baubles shaped like Dobby’s head... + +The dream changed... + +Page | 590Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +His body felt smooth, powerful, and flexible. He was +gliding between shining metal bars, across dark, cold +stone... He was flat against the floor, sliding along on +his belly... It was dark, yet he could see objects +around him shimmering in strange, vibrant colors... +He was turning his head... At first glance, the corridor +was empty . . . but no ... a man was sitting on the floor +ahead, his chin drooping onto his chest, his outline +gleaming in the dark. . . + +Harry put out his tongue... He tasted the man’s scent +on the air. . . He was alive but drowsing . . . sitting in +front of a door at the end of the corridor . . . + +Harry longed to bite the man . . . but he must master +the impulse... He had more important work to do... + +But the man was stirring ... a silvery cloak fell from +his legs as he jumped to his feet; and Harry saw his +vibrant, blurred outline towering above him, saw a +wand withdrawn from a belt... He had no choice... He +reared high from the floor and struck once, twice, +three times, plunging his fangs deeply into the man’s +flesh, feeling his ribs splinter beneath his jaws, feeling +the warm gush of blood... + +The man was yelling in pain ... then he fell silent... He +slumped backward against the wall... Blood was +splattering onto the floor... + +His forehead hurt terribly. . . It was aching fit to +burst... + +“Harry! HARRY!” + +He opened his eyes. Every inch of his body was +covered in icy sweat; his bedcovers were twisted all +around him like a straitjacket; he felt as though a +white-hot poker was being applied to his forehead. + +Page | 591Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Harryl” + + + +Ron was standing over him looking extremely +frightened. There were more figures at the foot of +Harry’s bed. He clutched his head in his hands; the +pain was blinding him... He rolled right over and +vomited over the edge of the mattress. + +“He’s really ill,” said a scared voice. “Should we call +someone?” + +“Harry! Harryl” + +He had to tell Ron, it was very important that he tell +him... Taking great gulps of air, Harry pushed himself +up in bed, willing himself not to throw up again, the +pain half-blinding him. + +“Your dad,” he panted, his chest heaving. “Your dad’s +... been attacked...” + +“What?” said Ron uncomprehendingly. + +“Your dad! He’s been bitten, it’s serious, there was +blood everywhere...” + +“I’m going for help,” said the same scared voice, and +Harry heard footsteps running out of the dormitory. + +“Harry, mate,” said Ron uncertainly, “you ... you were +just dreaming...” + +“No!” said Harry furiously; it was crucial that Ron +understand. “It wasn’t a dream ... not an ordinary +dream... I was there, I saw it... I did it...” + +He could hear Seamus and Dean muttering but did +not care. The pain in his forehead was subsiding +slightly, though he was still sweating and shivering + +Page | 592Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +feverishly. He retched again and Ron leapt backward +out of the way. + +“Harry, you’re not well,” he said shakily. “Neville’s +gone for help...” + +“I’m fine!” Harry choked, wiping his mouth on his +pajamas and shaking uncontrollably. “There’s nothing +wrong with me, it’s your dad you’ve got to worry +about — we need to find out where he is — he’s +bleeding like mad — I was — it was a huge snake...” + +He tried to get out of bed but Ron pushed him back +into it; Dean and Seamus were still whispering +somewhere nearby. Whether one minute passed or +ten, Harry did not know; he simply sat there shaking, +feeling the pain recede very slowly from his scar. . . +Then there were hurried footsteps coming up the +stairs, and he heard Neville’s voice again. + +“Over here, Professor ...” + +Professor McGonagall came hurrying into the +dormitory in her tartan dressing gown, her glasses +perched lopsidedly on the bridge of her bony nose. + +“What is it, Potter? Where does it hurt?” + +He had never been so pleased to see her; it was a +member of the Order of the Phoenix he needed now, +not someone fussing over him and prescribing useless +potions. + +“It’s Ron’s dad,” he said, sitting up again. “He’s been +attacked by a snake and it’s serious, I saw it happen.” + +“What do you mean, you saw it happen?” said +Professor McGonagall, her dark eyebrows contracting. + + + +Page | 593Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I don’t know... I was asleep and then I was there...” + +“You mean you dreamed this?” + +“No!” said Harry angrily. Would none of them +understand? “I was having a dream at first about +something completely different, something stupid . . . +and then this interrupted it. It was real, I didn’t +imagine it, Mr. Weasley was asleep on the floor and +he was attacked by a gigantic snake, there was a load +of blood, he collapsed, someone’s got to find out +where he is...” + +Professor McGonagall was gazing at him through her +lopsided spectacles as though horrified at what she +was seeing. + +“I’m not lying, and I’m not mad!” Harry told her, his +voice rising to a shout. “I tell you, I saw it happen!” + +“I believe you, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall +curtly. “Put on your dressing-gown — we’re going to +see the headmaster.” + + + +Page | 594Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +& + + + +ST. MUNGO’S HOSPITAL FOR +MAGICAL MALADIES AND INJURIES + +Harry was so relieved that she was taking him +seriously that he did not hesitate, but jumped out of +bed at once, pulled on his dressing gown, and pushed +his glasses back onto his nose. + +“Weasley, you ought to come too,” said Professor +McGonagall. + +They followed Professor McGonagall past the silent +figures of Neville, Dean, and Seamus, out of the +dormitory, down the spiral stairs into the common +room, through the portrait hole, and off along the Fat +Lady’s moonlit corridor. Harry felt as though the +panic inside him might spill over at any moment; he +wanted to run, to yell for Dumbledore. Mr. Weasley +was bleeding as they walked along so sedately, and +what if those fangs (Harry tried hard not to think “my +fangs”) had been poisonous? They passed Mrs. Norris, +who turned her lamplike eyes upon them and hissed +faintly, but Professor McGonagall said, “Shoo!” Mrs. + + + +Page | 595Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Norris slunk away into the shadows, and in a few +minutes they had reached the stone gargoyle +guarding the entrance to Dumbledore’s office. + +“Fizzing Whizbee,” said Professor McGonagall. + +The gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside; the wall +behind it split in two to reveal a stone staircase that +was moving continuously upward like a spiral +escalator. The three of them stepped onto the moving +stairs; the wall closed behind them with a thud, and +they were moving upward in tight circles until they +reached the highly polished oak door with the brass +knocker shaped like a griffin. + +Though it was now well past midnight, there were +voices coming from inside the room, a positive babble +of them. It sounded as though Dumbledore was +entertaining at least a dozen people. + +Professor McGonagall rapped three times with the +griffin knocker, and the voices ceased abruptly as +though someone had switched them all off. The door +opened of its own accord and Professor McGonagall +led Harry and Ron inside. + +The room was in half darkness; the strange silver +instruments standing on tables were silent and still +rather than whirring and emitting puffs of smoke as +they usually did. The portraits of old headmasters +and headmistresses covering the walls were all +snoozing in their frames. Behind the door, a +magnificent red-and-gold bird the size of a swan +dozed on its perch with its head under its wing. + +“Oh, it’s you, Professor McGonagall ... and ... ah.” + +Dumbledore was sitting in a high-backed chair +behind his desk; he leaned forward into the pool of + +Page | 596Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +candlelight illuminating the papers laid out before +him. He was wearing a magnificently embroidered +purple-and-gold dressing gown over a snowy-white +nightshirt, but seemed wide awake, his penetrating +light-blue eyes fixed intently upon Professor +McGonagall. + +“Professor Dumbledore, Potter has had a ... well, a +nightmare,” said Professor McGonagall. “He says ...” + +“It wasn’t a nightmare,” said Harry quickly. + +Professor McGonagall looked around at Harry, +frowning slightly. + +“Very well, then, Potter, you tell the headmaster about +it.” ~ + +“I ... well, I was asleep...” said Harry and even in his +terror and his desperation to make Dumbledore +understand he felt slightly irritated that the +headmaster was not looking at him, but examining +his own interlocked fingers. “But it wasn’t an ordinary +dream ... it was real... I saw it happen...” He took a +deep breath, “Ron’s dad — Mr. Weasley — has been +attacked by a giant snake.” + +The words seemed to reverberate in the air after he +had said them, slightly ridiculous, even comic. There +was a pause in which Dumbledore leaned back and +stared meditatively at the ceiling. Ron looked from +Harry to Dumbledore, white-faced and shocked. + +“How did you see this?” Dumbledore asked quietly, +still not looking at Harry. + +“Well ... I don’t know,” said Harry, rather angrily — +what did it matter? “Inside my head, I suppose — ” + + + +Page | 597Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You misunderstand me,” said Dumbledore, still in +the same calm tone. “I mean ... can you remember — +er — where you were positioned as you watched this +attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside +the victim, or else looking down on the scene from +above?” + +This was such a curious question that Harry gaped at +Dumbledore; it was almost as though he knew ... + +“I was the snake,” he said. “I saw it all from the +snake’s point of view...” + +Nobody else spoke for a moment, then Dumbledore, +now looking at Ron, who was still whey-faced, said in +a new and sharper voice, “Is Arthur seriously +injured?” + +“ Yes” said Harry emphatically — why were they all so +slow on the uptake, did they not realize how much a +person bled when fangs that long pierced their side? +And why could Dumbledore not do him the courtesy +of looking at him? + +But Dumbledore stood up so quickly that Harry +jumped, and addressed one of the old portraits +hanging very near the ceiling. + +“Everard?” he said sharply. “And you too, Dilys!” + +A sallow-faced wizard with short, black bangs and an +elderly witch with long silver ringlets in the frame +beside him, both of whom seemed to have been in the +deepest of sleeps, opened their eyes immediately. + +“You were listening?” said Dumbledore. + +The wizard nodded, the witch said, “Naturally.” + + + +Page | 598Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The man has red hair and glasses,” said +Dumbledore. “Everard, you will need to raise the +alarm, make sure he is found by the right people — ” + +Both nodded and moved sideways out of their frames, +but instead of emerging in neighboring pictures (as +usually happened at Hogwarts), neither reappeared; +one frame now contained nothing but a backdrop of +dark curtain, the other a handsome leather armchair. +Harry noticed that many of the other headmasters +and mistresses on the walls, though snoring and +drooling most convincingly, kept sneaking peeks at +him under their eyelids, and he suddenly understood +who had been talking when they had knocked. + +“Everard and Dilys were two of Hogwarts ’s most +celebrated Heads,” Dumbledore said, now sweeping +around Harry, Ron, and Professor McGonagall and +approaching the magnificent sleeping bird on his +perch beside the door. “Their renown is such that +both have portraits hanging in other important +Wizarding institutions. As they are free to move +between their own portraits they can tell us what may +be happening elsewhere...” + +“But Mr. Weasley could be anywhere!” said Harry. + +“Please sit down, all three of you,” said Dumbledore, +as though Harry had not spoken. “Everard and Dilys +may not be back for several minutes... Professor +McGonagall, if you could draw up extra chairs ...” + +Professor McGonagall pulled her wand from the +pocket of her dressing gown and waved it; three +chairs appeared out of thin air, straight-backed and +wooden, quite unlike the comfortable chintz +armchairs that Dumbledore had conjured back at +Harry’s hearing. Harry sat down, watching +Dumbledore over his shoulder. Dumbledore was now +Page | 599Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +stroking Fawkes’s plumed golden head with one +finger. The phoenix awoke immediately. He stretched +his beautiful head high and observed Dumbledore +through bright, dark eyes. + +“We will need,” said Dumbledore very quietly to the +bird, “a warning.” + +There was a flash of fire and the phoenix had gone. + +Dumbledore now swooped down upon one of the +fragile silver instruments whose function Harry had +never known, carried it over to his desk, sat down +facing them again, and tapped it gently with the tip of +his wand. + +The instrument tinkled into life at once with rhythmic +clinking noises. Tiny puffs of pale green smoke issued +from the minuscule silver tube at the top. + +Dumbledore watched the smoke closely, his brow +furrowed, and after a few seconds, the tiny puffs +became a steady stream of smoke that thickened and +coiled in the air... A serpent’s head grew out of the +end of it, opening its mouth wide. Harry wondered +whether the instrument was confirming his story: He +looked eagerly at Dumbledore for a sign that he was +right, but Dumbledore did not look up. + +“Naturally, naturally,” murmured Dumbledore +apparently to himself, still observing the stream of +smoke without the slightest sign of surprise. “But in +essence divided?” + +Harry could make neither head nor tail of this +question. The smoke serpent, however, split itself +instantly into two snakes, both coiling and +undulating in the dark air. With a look of grim +satisfaction Dumbledore gave the instrument another +gentle tap with his wand: The clinking noise slowed +Page | 600Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and died, and the smoke serpents grew faint, became +a formless haze, and vanished. + +Dumbledore replaced the instrument upon its spindly +little table; Harry saw many of the old headmasters in +the portraits follow him with their eyes, then, realizing +that Harry was watching them, hastily pretend to be +sleeping again. Harry wanted to ask what the strange +silver instrument was for, but before he could do so, +there was a shout from the top of the wall to their +right; the wizard called Everard had reappeared in his +portrait, panting slightly. + +“Dumbledore!” + +“What news?” said Dumbledore at once. + +“I yelled until someone came running,” said the +wizard, who was mopping his brow on the curtain +behind him, “said I’d heard something moving +downstairs — they weren’t sure whether to believe me +but went down to check — you know there are no +portraits down there to watch from. Anyway, they +carried him up a few minutes later. He doesn’t look +good, he’s covered in blood, I ran along to Elfrida +Cragg’s portrait to get a good view as they left — ” + +“Good,” said Dumbledore as Ron made a convulsive +movement, “I take it Dilys will have seen him arrive, +then — ” + +And moments later, the silver-ringletted witch had +reappeared in her picture too; she sank, coughing, +into her armchair and said, “Yes, they’ve taken him to +St. Mungo’s, Dumbledore... They carried him past +under my portrait... He looks bad...” + +“Thank you,” said Dumbledore. He looked around at +Professor McGonagall. + +Page | 601Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Minerva, I need you to go and wake the other +Weasley children.” + +“Of course...” + +Professor McGonagall got up and moved swiftly to the +door; Harry cast a sideways glance at Ron, who was +now looking terrified. + +“And Dumbledore — what about Molly?” said +Professor McGonagall, pausing at the door. + +“That will be a job for Fawkes when he has finished +keeping a lookout for anybody approaching,” said +Dumbledore. “But she may already know ... that +excellent clock of hers ...” + +Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the clock +that told, not the time, but the whereabouts and +conditions of the various Weasley family members, +and with a pang he thought that Mr. Weasley’s hand +must, even now, be pointing at “mortal peril.” But it +was very late... Mrs. Weasley was probably asleep, not +watching the clock. . . And he felt cold as he +remembered Mrs. Weasley’s boggart turning into Mr. +Weasley’s lifeless body, his glasses askew, blood +running down his face... But Mr. Weasley wasn’t +going to die... He couldn’t... + +Dumbledore was now rummaging in a cupboard +behind Harry and Ron. He emerged from it carrying a +blackened old kettle, which he placed carefully upon +his desk. He raised his wand and murmured “Portus”; +for a moment the kettle trembled, glowing with an odd +blue light, then it quivered to a rest, as solidly black +as ever. + +Dumbledore marched over to another portrait, this +time of a clever-looking wizard with a pointed beard, + +Page | 602Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +who had been painted wearing the Slytherin colors of +green and silver and was apparently sleeping so +deeply that he could not hear Dumbledore ’s voice +when he attempted to rouse him. + +“Phineas. Phineas.” + +And now the subjects of the portraits lining the room +were no longer pretending to be asleep; they were +shifting around in their frames, the better to watch +what was happening. When the clever-looking wizard +continued to feign sleep, some of them shouted his +name too. + +“Phineas! Phineas ! PHINEAS!” + +He could not pretend any longer; he gave a theatrical +jerk and opened his eyes wide. + +“Did someone call?” + +“I need you to visit your other portrait again, +Phineas,” said Dumbledore. “IVe got another +message.” + +“Visit my other portrait?” said Phineas in a reedy +voice, giving a long, fake yawn (his eyes traveling +around the room and focusing upon Harry). “Oh no, +Dumbledore, I am too tired tonight...” + +Something about Phineas ’s voice was familiar to +Harry. Where had he heard it before? But before he +could think, the portraits on the surrounding walls +broke into a storm of protest. + +“Insubordination, sir!” roared a corpulent, red-nosed +wizard, brandishing his fists. “Dereliction of duty!” + + + +Page | 603Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“We are honor-bound to give service to the present +Headmaster of Hogwarts!” cried a frail-looking old +wizard whom Harry recognized as Dumbledore’s +predecessor, Armando Dippet. “Shame on you, +Phineas!” + +“Shall I persuade him, Dumbledore?” called a gimlet- +eyed witch, raising an unusually thick wand that +looked not unlike a birch rod. + +“Oh, very well,” said the wizard called Phineas, eyeing +this wand slightly apprehensively, “though he may +well have destroyed my picture by now, he’s done +most of the family — ” + +“Sirius knows not to destroy your portrait,” said +Dumbledore, and Harry realized immediately where +he had heard Phineas ’s voice before: issuing from the +apparently empty frame in his bedroom in Grimmauld +Place. “You are to give him the message that Arthur +Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife, +children, and Harry Potter will be arriving at his +house shortly. Do you understand?” + +“Arthur Weasley, injured, wife and children and Harry +Potter coming to stay,” recited Phineas in a bored +voice. “Yes, yes ... very well...” + +He sloped away into the frame of the portrait and +disappeared from view at the very moment that the +study door opened again. Fred, George, and Ginny +were ushered inside by Professor McGonagall, all +three of them looking disheveled and shocked, still in +their night things. + +“Harry — what’s going on?” asked Ginny, who looked +frightened. “Professor McGonagall says you saw Dad +hurt — ” + + + +Page | 604Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Your father has been injured in the course of his +work for the Order of the Phoenix,” said Dumbledore +before Harry could speak. “He has been taken to St. +Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I +am sending you back to Sirius’s house, which is +much more convenient for the hospital than the +Burrow. You will meet your mother there.” + +“How’re we going?” asked Fred, looking shaken. “Floo +powder?” + +“No,” said Dumbledore, “Floo powder is not safe at the +moment, the Network is being watched. You will be +taking a Portkey.” He indicated the old kettle lying +innocently on his desk. “We are just waiting for +Phineas Nigellus to report back... I wish to be sure +that the coast is clear before sending you — ” + +There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the +office, leaving behind a single golden feather that +floated gently to the floor. + +“It is Fawkes’s warning,” said Dumbledore, catching +the feather as it fell. “She must know you’re out of +your beds... Minerva, go and head her off — tell her +any story — ” + +Professor McGonagall was gone in a swish of tartan. + +“He says he’ll be delighted,” said a bored voice behind +Dumbledore; the wizard called Phineas had +reappeared in front of his Slytherin banner. “My +great-great-grandson has always had odd taste in +houseguests...” + +“Come here, then,” Dumbledore said to Harry and the +Weasleys. “And quickly, before anyone else joins us + + + +Page | 605Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry and the others gathered around Dumbledore’s +desk. + +“You have all used a Portkey before?” asked +Dumbledore, and they nodded, each reaching out to +touch some part of the blackened kettle. “Good. On +the count of three then ... one ... two ...” + +It happened in a fraction of a second: In the +infinitesimal pause before Dumbledore said “three,” +Harry looked up at him — they were very close +together — and Dumbledore’s clear blue gaze moved +from the Portkey to Harry’s face. + +At once, Harry’s scar burned white-hot, as though the +old wound had burst open again — and unbidden, +unwanted, but terrifyingly strong, there rose within +Harry a hatred so powerful he felt, for that instant, +that he would like nothing better than to strike — to +bite — to sink his fangs into the man before him — + +“... three.” + +He felt a powerful jerk behind his navel, the ground +vanished from beneath his feet, his hand was glued to +the kettle; he was banging into the others as all sped +forward in a swirl of colors and a rush of wind, the +kettle pulling them onward and then — + +His feet hit the ground so hard that his knees +buckled, the kettle clattered to the ground and +somewhere close at hand a voice said, “Back again, +the blood traitor brats, is it true their father’s dying ... +?” + +“OUT!” roared a second voice. + +Harry scrambled to his feet and looked around; they +had arrived in the gloomy basement kitchen of + +Page | 606Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +number twelve, Grimmauld Place. The only sources of +light were the fire and one guttering candle, which +illuminated the remains of a solitary supper. Kreacher +was disappearing through the door to the hall, +looking back at them malevolently as he hitched up +his loincloth; Sirius was hurrying toward them all, +looking anxious. He was unshaven and still in his day +clothes; there was also a slightly Mundungus-like +whiff of stale drink about him. + +“What’s going on?” he said, stretching out a hand to +help Ginny up. “Phineas Nigellus said Arthur’s been +badly injured — ” + +“Ask Harry,” said Fred. + +“Yeah, I want to hear this for myself,” said George. + +The twins and Ginny were staring at him. Kreacher’s +footsteps had stopped on the stairs outside. + +“It was — ” Harry began; this was even worse than +telling McGonagall and Dumbledore. “I had a — a +kind of — vision...” + +And he told them all that he had seen, though he +altered the story so that it sounded as though he had +watched from the sidelines as the snake attacked, +rather than from behind the snake’s own eyes... Ron, +who was still very white, gave him a fleeting look, but +did not speak. When Harry had finished, Fred, + +George, and Ginny continued to stare at him for a +moment. Harry did not know whether he was +imagining it or not, but he fancied there was +something accusatory in their looks. Well, if they were +going to blame him for just seeing the attack, he was +glad he had not told them that he had been inside the +snake at the time... + + + +Page | 607Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Is Mum here?” said Fred, turning to Sirius. + + + +“She probably doesn’t even know what’s happened +yet,” said Sirius. “The important thing was to get you +away before Umbridge could interfere. I expect +Dumbledore’s letting Molly know now.” + +“We’ve got to go to St. Mungo’s,” said Ginny urgently. +She looked around at her brothers; they were of +course still in their pajamas. “Sirius, can you lend us +cloaks or anything — ?” + +“Hang on, you can’t go tearing off to St. Mungo’s!” +said Sirius. + +“ ’Course we can go to St. Mungo’s if we want,” said +Fred, with a mulish expression, “he’s our dad!” + +“And how are you going to explain how you knew +Arthur was attacked before the hospital even let his +wife know?” + +“What does that matter?” said George hotly. + +“It matters because we don’t want to draw attention +to the fact that Harry is having visions of things that +are happening hundreds of miles away!” said Sirius +angrily. “Have you any idea what the Ministry would +make of that information?” + +Fred and George looked as though they could not care +less what the Ministry made of anything. Ron was still +white-faced and silent. Ginny said, “Somebody else +could have told us... We could have heard it +somewhere other than Harry...” + +“Like who?” said Sirius impatiently. “Listen, your +dad’s been hurt while on duty for the Order and the +circumstances are fishy enough without his children + +Page | 608Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +knowing about it seconds after it happened, you +could seriously damage the Order’s — ” + +“We don’t care about the dumb Order!” shouted Fred. + +“It’s our dad dying we’re talking about!” yelled George. + +“Your father knew what he was getting into, and he +won’t thank you for messing things up for the Order!” +said Sirius angrily in his turn. “This is how it is — +this is why you’re not in the Order — you don’t +understand — there are things worth dying for!” + +“Easy for you to say, stuck here!” bellowed Fred. “I +don’t see you risking your neck!” + +The little color remaining in Sirius’s face drained from +it. He looked for a moment as though he would quite +like to hit Fred, but when he spoke, it was in a voice +of determined calm. “I know it’s hard, but we’ve all got +to act as though we don’t know anything yet. We’ve +got to stay put, at least until we hear from your +mother, all right?” + +Fred and George still looked mutinous. Ginny, +however, took a few steps over to the nearest chair +and sank into it. Harry looked at Ron, who made a +funny movement somewhere between a nod and +shrug, and they sat down too. The twins glared at +Sirius for another minute, then took seats on either +side of Ginny. + +“That’s right,” said Sirius encouragingly, “come on, +let’s all ... let’s all have a drink while we’re waiting. +Accio Butterbeeri” + +He raised his wand as he spoke and half a dozen +bottles came flying toward them out of the pantry, +skidded along the table, scattering the debris of + +Page | 609Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Sirius’s meal, and stopped neatly in front of the six of +them. They all drank, and for a while the only sounds +were those of the crackling of the kitchen fire and the +soft thud of their bottles on the table. + +Harry was only drinking to have something to do with +his hands. His stomach was full of horrible hot, +bubbling guilt. They would not be here if it were not +for him; they would all still be asleep in bed. And it +was no good telling himself that by raising the alarm +he had ensured that Mr. Weasley was found, because +there was also the inescapable business of it being he +who had attacked Mr. Weasley in the first place... + +Don’t be stupid, you haven’t got fangs, he told himself, +trying to keep calm, though the hand on his +butterbeer bottle was shaking. You were lying in bed, +you weren’t attacking anyone... + +But then, what just happened in Dumbledore’s office ? +he asked himself. I felt like I wanted to attack +Dumbledore too... + +He put the bottle down on the table a little harder +than he meant to, so that it slopped over onto the +table. No one took any notice. Then a burst of fire in +midair illuminated the dirty plates in front of them +and as they gave cries of shock, a scroll of parchment +fell with a thud onto the table, accompanied by a +single golden phoenix tail feather. + +“Fawkes!” said Sirius at once, snatching up the +parchment. “That’s not Dumbledore’s writing — it +must be a message from your mother — here — ” + +He thrust the letter into George’s hand, who ripped it +open and read aloud, “ Dad is still alive. I am setting +out for St. Mungo’s now. Stay where you are. I will +send news as soon as I can. Mum.” + +Page | 610Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +George looked around the table. + + + +“Still alive ...” he said slowly. “But that makes it +sound ...” + +He did not need to finish the sentence. It sounded to +Harry too as though Mr. Weasley was hovering +somewhere between life and death. Still exceptionally +pale, Ron stared at the back of his mother’s letter as +though it might speak words of comfort to him. Fred +pulled the parchment out of George’s hands and read +it for himself, then looked up at Harry, who felt his +hand shaking on his butterbeer bottle again and +clenched it more tightly to stop the trembling. + +If Harry had ever sat through a longer night than this +one he could not remember it. Sirius suggested once +that they all go to bed, but without any real +conviction, and the Weasleys’ looks of disgust were +answer enough. They mostly sat in silence around the +table, watching the candle wick sinking lower and +lower into liquid wax, now and then raising bottles to +their lips, speaking only to check the time, to wonder +aloud what was happening, and to reassure one +another that if there was bad news, they would know +straightaway, for Mrs. Weasley must long since have +arrived at St. Mungo’s. + +Fred fell into a doze, his head sagging sideways onto +his shoulder. Ginny was curled like a cat on her +chair, but her eyes were open; Harry could see them +reflecting the firelight. Ron was sitting with his head +in his hands, whether awake or asleep it was +impossible to tell. And he and Sirius looked at each +other every so often, intruders upon the family grief, +waiting ... waiting ... + +And then, at ten past five in the morning by Ron’s +watch, the kitchen door swung open and Mrs. + +Page | 611Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Weasley entered the kitchen. She was extremely pale, +but when they all turned to look at her, Fred, Ron, +and Harry half-rising from their chairs, she gave a +wan smile. + +“He’s going to be all right,” she said, her voice weak +with tiredness. “He’s sleeping. We can all go and see +him later. Bill’s sitting with him now, he’s going to +take the morning off work.” + +Fred fell back into his chair with his hands over his +face. George and Ginny got up, walked swiftly over to +their mother, and hugged her. Ron gave a very shaky +laugh and downed the rest of his butterbeer in one. + +“Breakfast!” said Sirius loudly and joyfully, jumping +to his feet. “Where’s that accursed house-elf? + +Kreacher! KREACHER!” + +But Kreacher did not answer the summons. + +“Oh, forget it, then,” muttered Sirius, counting the +people in front of him. “So it’s breakfast for — let’s see +— seven ... Bacon and eggs, I think, and some tea, +and toast — ” + +Harry hurried over to the stove to help. He did not +want to intrude upon the Weasleys’ happiness, and +he dreaded the moment when Mrs. Weasley would +ask him to recount his vision. However, he had barely +taken plates from the dresser when Mrs. Weasley +lifted them out of his hands and pulled him into a +hug. + +“I don’t know what would have happened if it hadn’t +been for you, Harry,” she said in a muffled voice. + +“They might not have found Arthur for hours, and +then it would have been too late, but thanks to you +he’s alive and Dumbledore’s been able to think up a +Page | 612Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +good cover story for Arthur being where he was, +you’ve no idea what trouble he would have been in +otherwise, look at poor Sturgis...” + +Harry could hardly stand her gratitude, but +fortunately she soon released him to turn to Sirius +and thank him for looking after her children through +the night. Sirius said that he was very pleased to have +been able to help, and hoped they would all stay with +him as long as Mr. Weasley was in hospital. + +“Oh, Sirius, I’m so grateful... They think hell be there +a little while and it would be wonderful to be nearer +...Of course, that might mean we’re here for +Christmas...” + +“The more the merrier!” said Sirius with such obvious +sincerity that Mrs. Weasley beamed at him, threw on +an apron, and began to help with breakfast. + +“Sirius,” Harry muttered, unable to stand it a moment +longer. “Can I have a quick word? Er — now?” + +He walked into the dark pantry and Sirius followed. +Without preamble Harry told his godfather every +detail of the vision he had had, including the fact that +he himself had been the snake who had attacked Mr. +Weasley. + +When he paused for breath, Sirius said, “Did you tell +Dumbledore this?” + +“Yes,” said Harry impatiently, “but he didn’t tell me +what it meant. Well, he doesn’t tell me anything +anymore...” + +“I’m sure he would have told you if it was anything to +worry about,” said Sirius steadily. + + + +Page | 613Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But that’s not all,” said Harry in a voice only a little +above a whisper. “Sirius, I ... I think I’m going mad... +Back in Dumbledore’s office, just before we took the +Portkey . . . for a couple of seconds there I thought I +was a snake, I felt like one — my scar really hurt +when I was looking at Dumbledore — Sirius, I wanted +to attack him — ” + +He could only see a sliver of Sirius’s face; the rest was +in darkness. + +“It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that’s +all,” said Sirius. “You were still thinking of the dream +or whatever it was and — ” + +“It wasn’t that,” said Harry, shaking his head. “It was +like something rose up inside me, like there’s a snake +inside me — ” + +“You need to sleep,” said Sirius firmly. “You’re going +to have breakfast and then go upstairs to bed, and +then you can go and see Arthur after lunch with the +others. You’re in shock, Harry; you’re blaming +yourself for something you only witnessed, and it’s +lucky you did witness it or Arthur might have died. +Just stop worrying...” + +He clapped Harry on the shoulder and left the pantry, +leaving Harry standing alone in the dark. + +Everyone but Harry spent the rest of the morning +sleeping. He went up to the bedroom he had shared +with Ron over the summer, but while Ron crawled +into bed and was asleep within minutes, Harry sat +fully clothed, hunched against the cold metal bars of +the bedstead, keeping himself deliberately +uncomfortable, determined not to fall into a doze, +terrified that he might become the serpent again in +his sleep and awake to find that he had attacked Ron, +Page | 614Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +or else slithered through the house after one of the +others... + +When Ron woke up, Harry pretended to have enjoyed +a refreshing nap too. Their trunks arrived from +Hogwarts while they were eating lunch, so that they +could dress as Muggles for the trip to St. Mungo’s. +Everybody except Harry was riotously happy and +talkative as they changed out of their robes into jeans +and sweatshirts, and they greeted Tonks and Mad- +Eye, who had turned up to escort them across +London, gleefully laughing at the bowler hat Mad-Eye +was wearing at an angle to conceal his magical eye +and assuring him, truthfully, that Tonks, whose hair +was short and bright pink again, would attract far +less attention on the underground. + +Tonks was very interested in Harry’s vision of the +attack on Mr. Weasley, something he was not +remotely interested in discussing. + +“There isn’t any Seer blood in your family, is there?” +she inquired curiously, as they sat side by side on a +train rattling toward the heart of the city. + +“No,” said Harry, thinking of Professor Trelawney and +feeling insulted. + +“No,” said Tonks musingly, “no, I suppose it’s not +really prophecy you’re doing, is it? I mean, you’re not +seeing the future, you’re seeing the present... It’s odd, +isn’t it? Useful, though ...” + +Harry did not answer; fortunately they got out at the +next stop, a station in the very heart of London, and +in the bustle of leaving the train he was able to allow +Fred and George to get between himself and Tonks, +who was leading the way. They all followed her up the +escalator, Moody clunking along at the back of the +Page | 615Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +group, his bowler tilted low and one gnarled hand +stuck in between the buttons of his coat, clutching +his wand. Harry thought he sensed the concealed eye +staring hard at him; trying to deflect more questions +about his dream he asked Mad-Eye where St. + +Mungo’s was hidden. + +“Not far from here,” grunted Moody as they stepped +out into the wintry air on a broad store-lined street +packed with Christmas shoppers. He pushed Harry a +little ahead of him and stumped along just behind; +Harry knew the eye was rolling in all directions under +the tilted hat. “Wasn’t easy to find a good location for +a hospital. Nowhere in Diagon Alley was big enough +and we couldn’t have it underground like the Ministry +— unhealthy. In the end they managed to get hold of +a building up here. Theory was sick wizards could +come and go and just blend in with the crowd...” + +He seized Harry’s shoulder to prevent them being +separated by a gaggle of shoppers plainly intent on +nothing but making it into a nearby shop full of +electrical gadgets. + +“Here we go,” said Moody a moment later. + +They had arrived outside a large, old-fashioned, red +brick department store called Purge and Dowse Ltd. +The place had a shabby, miserable air; the window +displays consisted of a few chipped dummies with +their wigs askew, standing at random and modeling +fashions at least ten years out of date. Large signs on +all the dusty doors read CLOSED FOR +REFURBISHMENT. Harry distinctly heard a large +woman laden with plastic shopping bags say to her +friend as they passed, “It’s never open, that place...” + +“Right,” said Tonks, beckoning them forward to a +window displaying nothing but a particularly ugly + +Page | 616Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +female dummy whose false eyelashes were hanging off +and who was modeling a green nylon pinafore dress. +“Everybody ready?” + +They nodded, clustering around her; Moody gave +Harry another shove between the shoulder blades to +urge him forward and Tonks leaned close to the glass, +looking up at the very ugly dummy and said, her +breath steaming up the glass, “Wotcher ... We’re here +to see Arthur Weasley.” + +For a split second, Harry thought how absurd it was +for Tonks to expect the dummy to hear her talking +that quietly through a sheet of glass, when there were +buses rumbling along behind her and all the racket of +a street full of shoppers. Then he reminded himself +that dummies could not hear anyway. Next second +his mouth opened in shock as the dummy gave a tiny +nod, beckoned its jointed finger, and Tonks had +seized Ginny and Mrs. Weasley by the elbows, +stepped right through the glass and vanished. + +Fred, George, and Ron stepped after them; Harry +glanced around at the jostling crowd; not one of them +seemed to have a glance to spare for window displays +as ugly as Purge and Dowse Ltd.’s, nor did any of +them seem to have noticed that six people had just +melted into thin air in front of them. + +“C’mon,” growled Moody, giving Harry yet another +poke in the back and together they stepped forward +through what felt like a sheet of cool water, emerging +quite warm and dry on the other side. + +There was no sign of the ugly dummy or the space +where she had stood. They had arrived in what +seemed to be a crowded reception area where rows of +witches and wizards sat upon rickety wooden chairs, +some looking perfectly normal and perusing out-of- +P a g e | 617Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +date copies of Witch Weekly, others sporting gruesome +disfigurements such as elephant trunks or extra +hands sticking out of their chests. The room was +scarcely less quiet than the street outside, for many of +the patients were making very peculiar noises. A +sweaty-faced witch in the center of the front row, who +was fanning herself vigorously with a copy of the +Daily Prophet, kept letting off a high-pitched whistle +as steam came pouring out of her mouth, and a +grubby-looking warlock in the corner clanged like a +bell every time he moved, and with each clang his +head vibrated horribly, so that he had to seize himself +by the ears and hold it steady. + +Witches and wizards in lime-green robes were walking +up and down the rows, asking questions and making +notes on clipboards like Umbridge’s. Harry noticed +the emblem embroidered on their chests: a wand and +bone, crossed. + +“Are they doctors?” he asked Ron quietly. + +“Doctors?” said Ron, looking startled. “Those Muggle +nutters that cut people up? Nah, they’re Healers.” + +“Over here!” called Mrs. Weasley over the renewed +clanging of the warlock in the corner, and they +followed her to the queue in front of a plump blonde +witch seated at a desk marked inquiries. The wall +behind her was covered in notices and posters saying +things like A CLEAN CAULDRON KEEPS POTIONS +FROM BECOMING POISONS and ANTIDOTES ARE +ANTI-DONTS UNLESS APPROVED BY A QUALIFIED +HEALER. + +There was also a large portrait of a witch with long +silver ringlets that was labelled + +DILYS DERWENT + +Page | 618Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ST. MUNGO’S HEALER 1722-1741 + + + +HEADMISTRESS OF HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF + +WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, I74I-I768 + +Dilys was eyeing the Weasley party as though +counting them; when Harry caught her eye she gave a +tiny wink, walked sideways out of her portrait, and +vanished. + +Meanwhile, at the front of the queue, a young wizard +was performing an odd on-the-spot jig and trying, in +between yelps of pain, to explain his predicament to +the witch behind the desk. + +“It’s these — ouch — shoes my brother gave me — ow +— they’re eating my — OUCH — feet — look at them, +there must be some kind of — AARGH — jinx on them +and I can’t — AAAAARGH — get them off — ” + +He hopped from one foot to the other as though +dancing on hot coals. + +“The shoes don’t prevent you reading, do they?” said +the blonde witch irritably, pointing at a large sign to +the left of her desk. “You want Spell Damage, fourth +floor. Just like it says on the floor guide. Next!” + +The wizard hobbled and pranced sideways out of the +way, the Weasley party moved forward a few steps +and Harry read the floor guide: + +ARTIFACT ACCIDENTS Ground Floor + +(Cauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes, +etc.) + + + +Page | 619Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +CREATURE-INDUCED INJURIES + + + +First Floor + + + +(Bites, stings, burns, embedded spines, etc.) + +MAGICAL BUGS Second Floor + +(Contagious maladies, e.g., dragon pox, vanishing +sickness, scrofungulus) + +POTION AND PLANT POISONING .... Third Floor + +(Rashes, regurgitation, uncontrollable giggling, etc.) + +SPELL DAMAGE Fourth Floor + +(Unliftable jinxes, hexes, and incorrectly applied +charms, etc.) + +VISITORS’ TEAROOM AND HOSPITAL SHOP... .Fifth +Floor + +If you are unsure where to go, incapable, of normal +speech, or unable to remember why you are here, our +Welcome Witch will be pleased to help. + +A very old, stooped wizard with a hearing trumpet +had shuffled to the front of the queue now. + +“I’m here to see Broderick Bode!” he wheezed. + +“Ward forty-nine, but I’m afraid you’re wasting your +time,” said the witch dismissively “He’s completely +addled, you know, still thinks he’s a teapot... Next!” + +A harassed-looking wizard was holding his small +daughter tightly by the ankle while she flapped +around his head using the immensely large, feathery +wings that had sprouted right out the back of her +romper suit. + +Page | 620Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Fourth floor,” said the witch in a bored voice, without +asking, and the man disappeared through the double +doors beside the desk, holding his daughter like an +oddly shaped balloon. “Next!” + +Mrs. Weasley moved forward to the desk. + +“Hello,” she said. “My husband, Arthur Weasley, was +supposed to be moved to a different ward this +morning, could you tell us — ?” + +“Arthur Weasley?” said the witch, running her finger +down a long list in front of her. “Yes, first floor, +second door on the right, Dai Llewellyn ward.” + +“Thank you,” said Mrs. Weasley. “Come on, you lot.” + +They followed through the double doors and along the +narrow corridor beyond, which was lined with more +portraits of famous Healers and lit by crystal bubbles +full of candles that floated up on the ceiling, looking +like giant soapsuds. More witches and wizards in +lime-green robes walked in and out of the doors they +passed; a foul-smelling yellow gas wafted into the +passageway as they passed one door, and every now +and then they heard distant wailing. They climbed a +flight of stairs and entered the “Creature-Induced +Injuries” corridor, where the second door on the right +bore the words “DANGEROUS” DAI LLEWELLYN +WARD: SERIOUS BITES. Underneath this was a card +in a brass holder on which had been handwritten +Healer-in-Charge: Hippocrates Smethwyck, Trainee +Healer: Augustus Pye. + +“Well wait outside, Molly,” Tonks said. “Arthur won’t +want too many visitors at once... It ought to be just +the family first.” + + + +Page | 621Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Mad-Eye growled his approval of this idea and set +himself with his back against the corridor wall, his +magical eye spinning in all directions. Harry drew +back too, but Mrs. Weasley reached out a hand and +pushed him through the door, saying, “Don’t be silly, +Harry, Arthur wants to thank you...” + +The ward was small and rather dingy as the only +window was narrow and set high in the wall facing +the door. Most of the light came from more shining +crystal bubbles clustered in the middle of the ceiling. +The walls were of panelled oak and there was a +portrait of a rather vicious-looking wizard on the wall, +captioned URQUHART RACKHARROW, 1612-1697, +INVENTOR OF THE ENTRAIL- EXPELLING CURSE. + +There were only three patients. Mr. Weasley was +occupying the bed at the far end of the ward beside +the tiny window. Harry was pleased and relieved to +see that he was propped up on several pillows and +reading the Daily Prophet by the solitary ray of +sunlight falling onto his bed. He looked around as +they walked toward him and, seeing whom it was, +beamed. + +“Hello!” he called, throwing the Prophet aside. “Bill +just left, Molly, had to get back to work, but he says +he’ll drop in on you later...” + +“How are you, Arthur?” asked Mrs. Weasley, bending +down to kiss his cheek and looking anxiously into his +face. “You’re still looking a bit peaky...” + +“I feel absolutely fine,” said Mr. Weasley brightly, +holding out his good arm to give Ginny a hug. “If they +could only take the bandages off, I’d be fit to go +home.” + +“Why can’t they take them off, Dad?” asked Fred. + +Page | 622Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, I start bleeding like mad every time they try,” +said Mr. Weasley cheerfully, reaching across for his +wand, which lay on his bedside cabinet, and waving it +so that six extra chairs appeared at his bedside to +seat them all. “It seems there was some rather +unusual kind of poison in that snake’s fangs that +keeps wounds open... They’re sure they’ll find an +antidote, though, they say they’ve had much worse +cases than mine, and in the meantime I just have to +keep taking a Blood-Replenishing Potion every hour. +But that fellow over there,” he said, dropping his voice +and nodding toward the bed opposite in which a man +lay looking green and sickly and staring at the ceiling. +“Bitten by a werewolf, poor chap. No cure at all.” + +“A werewolf?” whispered Mrs. Weasley, looking +alarmed. “Is he safe in a public ward? Shouldn’t he be +in a private room?” + +“It’s two weeks till full moon,” Mr. Weasley reminded +her quietly. “They’ve been talking to him this +morning, the Healers, you know, trying to persuade +him he’ll be able to lead an almost normal life. I said +to him — didn’t mention names, of course — but I +said I knew a werewolf personally, very nice man, who +finds the condition quite easy to manage...” + +“What did he say?” asked George. + +“Said he’d give me another bite if I didn’t shut up,” +said Mr. Weasley sadly. “And that woman over there,” +he indicated the only other occupied bed, which was +right beside the door, “won’t tell the Healers what bit +her, which makes us all think it must have been +something she was handling illegally. Whatever it was +took a real chunk out of her leg, very nasty smell +when they take off the dressings.” + + + +Page | 623Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“So, you going to tell us what happened, Dad?” asked +Fred, pulling his chair closer to the bed. + +“Well, you already know, don’t you?” said Mr. + +Weasley, with a significant smile at Harry. “It’s very +simple — I’d had a very long day, dozed off, got +sneaked up on, and bitten.” + +“Is it in the Prophet, you being attacked?” asked Fred, +indicating the newspaper Mr. Weasley had cast aside. + +“No, of course not,” said Mr. Weasley, with a slightly +bitter smile, “the Ministry wouldn’t want everyone to +know a dirty great serpent got — ” + +“Arthur!” said Mrs. Weasley warningly. + +“ — got — er — me,” Mr. Weasley said hastily, though +Harry was quite sure that was not what he had meant +to say. + +“So where were you when it happened, Dad?” asked +George. + +“That’s my business,” said Mr. Weasley, though with +a small smile. He snatched up the Daily Prophet, +shook it open again and said, “I was just reading +about Willy Widdershins’s arrest when you arrived. +You know Willy turned out to be behind those +regurgitating toilets last summer? One of his jinxes +backfired, the toilet exploded, and they found him +lying unconscious in the wreckage covered from head +to foot in — ” + +“When you say you were ‘on duty,’ ” Fred interrupted +in a low voice, “what were you doing?” + + + +Page | 624Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You heard your father,” whispered Mrs. Weasley, “we +are not discussing this here! Go on about Willy +Widdershins, Arthur — ” + +“Well, don’t ask me how, but he actually got off on the +toilet charge,” said Mr. Weasley grimly. “I can only +suppose gold changed hands — ” + +“You were guarding it, weren’t you?” said George +quietly. “The weapon? The thing You-Know- Who’s +after?” + +“George, be quiet!” snapped Mrs. Weasley. + +“Anyway,” said Mr. Weasley in a raised voice, “this +time Willy’s been caught selling biting doorknobs to +Muggles, and I don’t think he’ll be able to worm his +way out of it because according to this article, two +Muggles have lost fingers and are now in St. Mungo’s +for emergency bone regrowth and memory +modification. Just think of it, Muggles in St. Mungo’s! +I wonder which ward they’re in?” + +And he looked eagerly around as though hoping to +see a signpost. + +“Didn’t you say You-Know- Who’s got a snake, Harry?” +asked Fred, looking at his father for a reaction. “A +massive one? You saw it the night he returned, didn’t +you?” + +“That’s enough,” said Mrs. Weasley crossly. “Mad-Eye +and Tonks are outside, Arthur, they want to come +and see you. And you lot can wait outside,” she added +to her children and Harry. “You can come and say +good-bye afterward. Go on...” + + + +Page | 625Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +They trooped back into the corridor. Mad-Eye and +Tonks went in and closed the door of the ward behind +them. Fred raised his eyebrows. + +“Fine,” he said coolly, rummaging in his pockets, “be +like that. Don’t tell us anything.” + +“Looking for these?” said George, holding out what +looked like a tangle of flesh-colored string. + +“You read my mind,” said Fred, grinning. “Let’s see if +St. Mungo’s puts Imperturbable Charms on its ward +doors, shall we?” + +He and George disentangled the string and separated +five Extendable Ears from each other. Fred and +George handed them around. Harry hesitated to take +one. + +“Go on, Harry, take it! You saved Dad’s life, if +anyone’s got the right to eavesdrop on him it’s you...” + +Grinning in spite of himself, Harry took the end of the +string and inserted it into his ear as the twins had +done. + +“Okay, go!” Fred whispered. + +The flesh-colored strings wriggled like long skinny +worms, then snaked under the door. For a few +seconds Harry could hear nothing, then he heard +Tonks whispering as clearly as though she were +standing right beside him. + +"... they searched the whole area but they couldn’t +find the snake anywhere, it just seems to have +vanished after it attacked you, Arthur... But You- +Know-Who can’t have expected a snake to get in, can +he?” + +Page | 626Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I reckon he sent it as a lookout,” growled Moody, “ +’cause he’s not had any luck so far, has he? No, I +reckon he’s trying to get a clearer picture of what he’s +facing and if Arthur hadn’t been there the beast +would’ve had much more time to look around. So +Potter says he saw it all happen?” + +“Yes,” said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded rather uneasy. +“You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been +waiting for Harry to see something like this...” + +“Yeah, well,” said Moody, “there’s something funny +about the Potter kid, we all know that.” + +“Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I +spoke to him this morning,” whispered Mrs. Weasley. + +“ ’Course he’s worried,” growled Moody. “The boy’s +seeing things from inside You-Know- Who’s snake... +Obviously, Potter doesn’t realize what that means, but +if You- Know- Who’s possessing him — ” + +Harry pulled the Extendable Ear out of his own, his +heart hammering very fast and heat rushing up his +face. He looked around at the others. They were all +staring at him, the strings still trailing from their +ears, looking suddenly fearful. + + + +Page | 627Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSED WARD + +Was this why Dumbledore would no longer meet +Harry’s eyes? Did he expect to see Voldemort staring +out of them, afraid, perhaps, that their vivid green +might turn suddenly to scarlet, with catlike slits for +pupils? Harry remembered how the snakelike face of +Voldemort had once forced itself out of the back of +Professor Quirrell’s head, and he ran his hand over +the back of his own, wondering what it would feel like +if Voldemort burst out of his skull... + +He felt dirty, contaminated, as though he were +carrying some deadly germ, unworthy to sit on the +underground train back from the hospital with +innocent, clean people whose minds and bodies were +free of the taint of Voldemort... He had not merely +seen the snake, he had been the snake, he knew it +now. . . + +And then a truly terrible thought occurred to him, a +memory bobbing to the surface of his mind, one that +made his insides writhe and squirm like serpents... + + + +Page | 628Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“What’s he after apart from followers?” + +“Stuff he can only get by stealth ... like a weapon. +Something he didn’t have last time.” + +I’m the weapon, Harry thought, and it was as though +poison were pumping through his veins, chilling him, +bringing him out in a sweat as he swayed with the +train through the dark tunnel. I’m the one Voldemort’s +trying to use, that’s why they’ve got guards around me +everywhere I go, it’s not for my protection, it’s for other +people’s, only it’s not working, they can’t have +someone on me all the time at Hogwarts... I did attack +Mr. Weasley last night, it was me, Voldemort made me +do it and he could be inside me, listening to my +thoughts right now... + +“Are you all right, Harry, dear?” whispered Mrs. +Weasley, leaning across Ginny to speak to him as the +train rattled along through its dark tunnel. “You don’t +look very well. Are you feeling sick?” + +They were all watching him. He shook his head +violently and stared up at an advertisement for home +insurance. + +“Harry, dear, are you sure you’re all right?” said Mrs. +Weasley in a worried voice, as they walked around the +unkempt patch of grass in the middle of Grimmauld +Place. “You look ever so pale... Are you sure you slept +this morning? You go upstairs to bed right now, and +you can have a couple of hours’ sleep before dinner, +all right?” + +He nodded; here was a ready-made excuse not to talk +to any of the others, which was precisely what he +wanted, so when she opened the front door he +proceeded straight past the troll’s leg umbrella stand + + + +Page | 629Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and up the stairs and hurried into his and Ron’s +bedroom. + +Here he began to pace up and down, past the two +beds and Phineas Nigellus’s empty portrait, his brain +teeming and seething with questions and ever more +dreadful ideas... + +How had he become a snake? Perhaps he was an +Animagus... No, he couldn’t be, he would know... +perhaps Voldemort was an Animagus... Yes, thought +Harry, that would fit, he would turn into a snake of +course ... and when he’s possessing me, then we both +transform... That still doesn’t explain how come I got to +London and back to my bed in the space of about five +minutes, though... But then Voldemort’ s about the most +powerful wizard in the world, apart from Dumbledore, +it’s probably no problem at all to him to transport +people like that... + +And then, with a terrible stab of panic he thought, but +this is insane — if Voldemort’s possessing me, I’m +giving him a clear view into the headquarters of the +Order of the Phoenix right now! He’ll know who’s in the +Order and where Sirius is ... and I’ve heard loads of +stuff I shouldn’t have, everything Sirius told me the +first night I was here... + +There was only one thing for it: He would have to +leave Grimmauld Place straightaway. He would spend +Christmas at Hogwarts without the others, which +would keep them safe over the holidays at least... But +no, that wouldn’t do, there were still plenty of people +at Hogwarts to maim and injure, what if it was +Seamus, Dean, or Neville next time? He stopped his +pacing and stood staring at Phineas Nigellus’s empty +frame. A leaden sensation was settling in the pit of his +stomach. He had no alternative: He was going to have + + + +Page | 630Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to return to Privet Drive, cut himself off from other +wizards entirely... + + + +Well, if he had to do it, he thought, there was no point +hanging around. Trying with all his might not to think +how the Dursleys were going to react when they found +him on their doorstep six months earlier than they +had expected, he strode over to his trunk, slammed +the lid shut and locked it, then glanced around +automatically for Hedwig before remembering that she +was still at Hogwarts — well, her cage would be one +less thing to carry — he seized one end of his trunk +and had dragged it halfway toward the door when a +sneaky voice said, “Running away, are we?” + +He looked around. Phineas Nigellus had appeared +upon the canvas of his portrait and was leaning +against the frame, watching Harry with an amused +expression on his face. + +“Not running away, no,” said Harry shortly, dragging +his trunk a few more feet across the room. + +“I thought,” said Phineas Nigellus, stroking his +pointed beard, “that to belong in Gryffindor House +you were supposed to be brave? It looks to me as +though you would have been better off in my own +house. We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. +For instance, given the choice, we will always choose +to save our own necks.” + +“It’s not my own neck I’m saving,” said Harry tersely, +tugging the trunk over a patch of particularly uneven, +moth-eaten carpet right in front of the door. + +“Oh I see,��� said Phineas Nigellus, still stroking his +beard. “This is no cowardly flight — you are being +noble.” + +Page | 631Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry ignored him. His hand was on the doorknob +when Phineas Nigellus said lazily, “I have a message +for you from Albus Dumbledore.” + +Harry spun around. + +“What is it?” + +“Stay where you are.” + +“I haven’t moved!” said Harry, his hand still upon the +doorknob. “So what’s the message?” + +“I have just given it to you, dolt,” said Phineas +Nigellus smoothly. “Dumbledore says, ‘Stay where +you are. ’ ” + +“Why?” said Harry eagerly, dropping the end of his +trunk. “Why does he want me to stay? What else did +he say?” + +“Nothing whatsoever,” said Phineas Nigellus, raising a +thin black eyebrow as though he found Harry +impertinent. + +Harry’s temper rose to the surface like a snake +rearing from long grass. He was exhausted, he was +confused beyond measure, he had experienced terror, +relief, and then terror again in the last twelve hours, +and still Dumbledore did not want to talk to him! + +“So that’s it, is it?” he said loudly. “Stay there? That’s +all anyone could tell me after I got attacked by those +dementors too! Just stay put while the grown-ups +sort it out, Harry! We won’t bother telling you +anything, though, because your tiny little brain might +not be able to cope with it!” + + + +Page | 632Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You know,” said Phineas Nigellus, even more loudly +than Harry, “this is precisely why I loathed being a +teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that +they are absolutely right about everything. Has it not +occurred to you, my poor puffed-up popinjay, that +there might be an excellent reason why the +headmaster of Hogwarts is not confiding every tiny +detail of his plans to you? Have you never paused, +while feeling hard-done-by, to note that following +Dumbledore ’s orders has never yet led you into harm? +No. No, like all young people, you are quite sure that +you alone feel and think, you alone recognize danger, +you alone are the only one clever enough to realize +what the Dark Lord may be planning...” + +“He is planning something to do with me, then?” said +Harry swiftly. + +“Did I say that?” said Phineas Nigellus, idly examining +his silk gloves. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have +better things to do than to listen to adolescent +agonizing... Good day to you...” + +And he strolled into his frame and out of sight. + +“Fine, go then!” Harry bellowed at the empty frame. +“And tell Dumbledore thanks for nothing!” + +The empty canvas remained silent. Fuming, Harry +dragged his trunk back to the foot of his bed, then +threw himself facedown upon the moth-eaten covers, +his eyes shut, his body heavy and aching. . . + +He felt he had journeyed miles and miles... It seemed +impossible that less than twenty-four hours ago Cho +Chang had been approaching him under the +mistletoe... He was so tired... He was scared to sleep +... yet he did not know how long he could fight it... +Dumbledore had told him to stay... That must mean +Page | 633Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he was allowed to sleep... But he was scared... What if +it happened again ... ? + +He was sinking into shadows... + +It was as though a film in his head had been waiting +to start. He was walking down a deserted corridor +toward a plain black door, past rough stone walls, +torches, and an open doorway onto a flight of stone +steps leading downstairs on the left... + +He reached the black door but could not open it... He +stood gazing at it, desperate for entry. . . Something he +wanted with all his heart lay beyond... A prize beyond +his dreams... If only his scar would stop prickling ... +then he would be able to think more clearly. . . + +“Harry,” said Ron’s voice, from far, far away, “Mum +says dinner’s ready, but she’ll save you something if +you want to stay in bed...” + +Harry opened his eyes, but Ron had already left the +room. + +He doesn’t want to be on his own with me, Harry +thought. Not after what he heard Moody say ... + +He supposed none of them would want him there +anymore now that they knew what was inside him... + +He would not go down to dinner; he would not inflict +his company upon them. He turned over onto his +other side and after a while dropped back off to sleep, +waking much later in the early hours of the morning, +with his insides aching with hunger, and Ron snoring +in the next bed. Squinting around the room he saw +the dark outline of Phineas Nigellus standing again in +his portrait and it occurred to Harry that Dumbledore + + + +Page | 634Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +had probably set Phineas Nigellus to watch over him, +in case he attacked somebody else. + +The feeling of being unclean intensified. He half +wished he had not obeyed Dumbledore and stayed... + +If this was how life was going to be in Grimmauld +Place from now on, maybe he would be better off in +Privet Drive after all. + +Everybody else spent the following morning putting +up Christmas decorations. Harry could not remember +Sirius ever being in such a good mood; he was +actually singing carols, apparently delighted that he +was to have company over Christmas. Harry could +hear his voice echoing up through the floor in the cold +and empty drawing room where he was sitting alone, +watching the sky outside the windows growing whiter, +threatening snow, all the time feeling a savage +pleasure that he was giving the others the +opportunity to keep talking about him, as they were +bound to be doing. When he heard Mrs. Weasley +calling his name softly up the stairs around +lunchtime he retreated farther upstairs and ignored +her. + +It was around six o’clock in the evening that the +doorbell rang and Mrs. Black started screaming +again. Assuming that Mundungus or some other +Order member had come to call, Harry merely settled +himself more comfortably against the wall of +Buckbeak the hippogriff’s room where he was hiding, +trying to ignore how hungry he felt as he fed +Buckbeak dead rats. It came as a slight shock when +somebody hammered hard on the door a few minutes +later. + +“I know you’re in there,” said Hermione’s voice. “Will +you please come out? I want to talk to you.” + + + +Page | 635Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What are you doing here?” Harry asked her, pulling +open the door, as Buckbeak resumed his scratching +at the straw-strewn floor for any fragments of rat he +might have dropped. “I thought you were skiing with +your mum and dad.” + +“Well, to tell the truth, skiing’s not really my thing,” +said Hermione. “So I’ve come for Christmas.” There +was snow in her hair and her face was pink with cold. +“But don’t tell Ron that, I told him it’s really good +because he kept laughing so much. Anyway, Mum +and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I’ve told them +that everyone who’s serious about the exams is +staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do +well, they’ll understand. Anyway,” she said briskly, +“let’s go to your bedroom, Ron’s mum’s lit a fire in +there and she’s sent up sandwiches.” + +Harry followed her back to the second floor. When he +entered the bedroom he was rather surprised to see +both Ron and Ginny waiting for them, sitting on Ron’s +bed. + +“I came on the Knight Bus,” said Hermione airily, +pulling off her jacket before Harry had time to speak. +“Dumbledore told me what had happened first thing +this morning, but I had to wait for term to end +officially before setting off. Umbridge is already livid +that you lot disappeared right under her nose, even +though Dumbledore told her Mr. Weasley was in St. +Mungo’s, and he’d given you all permission to visit. So + + + +She sat down next to Ginny, and the two girls and +Ron looked up at Harry. + +“How’re you feeling?” asked Hermione. + +“Fine,” said Harry stiffly. + +Page | 636Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh, don’t lie, Harry,” she said impatiently. “Ron and +Ginny say you’ve been hiding from everyone since you +got back from St. Mungo’s.” + +“They do, do they?” said Harry, glaring at Ron and +Ginny. Ron looked down at his feet but Ginny seemed +quite unabashed. + +“Well, you have!” she said. “And you won’t look at any +of us!” + +“It’s you lot who won’t look at me!” said Harry angrily. + +“Maybe you’re taking it in turns to look and keep +missing each other,” suggested Hermione, the corners +of her mouth twitching. + +“Very funny,” snapped Harry, turning away. + +“Oh, stop feeling all misunderstood,” said Hermione +sharply. “Look, the others have told me what you +overheard last night on the Extendable Ears — ” + +“Yeah?” growled Harry, his hands deep in his pockets +as he watched the snow now 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.” + + + +Page | 637Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry remained quite still as the impact of these +words hit him. Then he turned on the spot to face +her. + + + +“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 believe her, yet his heart was +lightening almost in spite of himself. + +“That dream I had about your dad and the snake, +though — ” + +“Harry, you’ve had these dreams before,” Hermione +said. “You had flashes of what Voldemort was up to +last year.” + +“This was different,” said Harry, shaking his head. “I +was inside that snake. It was like I was the snake... +What if Voldemort somehow transported me to +London — ?” + +Page | 638Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“One day,” said Hermione, sounding thoroughly +exasperated, “you’ll read Hogwarts, A History, and +perhaps that will remind you that you can’t Apparate +or Disapparate inside Hogwarts. Even Voldemort +couldn’t just make you fly out of your dormitory, +Harry.” + +“You didn’t leave your bed, mate,” said Ron. “I saw +you thrashing around in your sleep about a minute +before we could wake you up...” + +Harry started pacing up and down the room again, +thinking. What they were all saying was not only +comforting, it made sense... Without really thinking +he took a sandwich from the plate on the bed and +crammed it hungrily into his mouth... + +I’m not the weapon after all, thought Harry. His heart +swelled with happiness and relief, and he felt like +joining in as they heard Sirius tramping past their +door toward Buckbeak’s room, singing “God Rest Ye +Merry, Hippogriffs” at the top of his voice. + +How could he have dreamed of returning to Privet +Drive for Christmas? Sirius’s delight at having the +house full again, and especially at having Harry back, +was infectious. He was no longer their sullen host of +the summer; now he seemed determined that +everyone should enjoy themselves as much, if not +more, than they would have done at Hogwarts, and he +worked tirelessly in the run-up to Christmas Day, +cleaning and decorating with their help, so that by +the time they all went to bed on Christmas Eve the +house was barely recognizable. The tarnished +chandeliers were no longer hung with cobwebs but +with garlands of holly and gold and silver streamers; +magical snow glittered in heaps over the threadbare +carpets; a great Christmas tree, obtained by +Mundungus and decorated with live fairies, blocked +Page | 639Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Sirius’s family tree from view; and even the stuffed elf +heads on the hall wall wore Father Christmas hats +and beards. + +Harry awoke on Christmas morning to find a stack of +presents at the foot of his bed and Ron already +halfway through opening his own, rather larger, pile. + +“Good haul this year,” he informed Harry through a +cloud of paper. “Thanks for the Broom Compass, it’s +excellent, beats Hermione’s — she’s got me a +homework planner — ” + +Harry sorted through his presents and found one with +Hermione’s handwriting on it. She had given him too +a book that resembled a diary, except that it said +things like “Do it today or later you’ll pay\” every time +he opened a page. + +Sirius and Lupin had given Harry a set of excellent +books entitled Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use +Against the Dark Arts, which had superb, moving +color illustrations of all the counterjinxes and hexes it +described. Harry flicked through the first volume +eagerly; he could see it was going to be highly useful +in his plans for the D.A. Hagrid had sent a furry +brown wallet that had fangs, which were presumably +supposed to be an antitheft device, but unfortunately +prevented Harry putting any money in without getting +his fingers ripped off. Tonks’s present was a small, +working model of a Firebolt, which Harry watched fly +around the room, wishing he still had his full-size +version; Ron had given him an enormous box of +Every-Flavor Beans; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley the usual +hand-knitted jumper and some mince pies; and +Dobby, a truly dreadful painting that Harry suspected +had been done by the elf himself. He had just turned +it upside down to see whether it looked better that + + + +Page | 640Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +way when, with a loud crack, Fred and George +Apparated at the foot of his bed. + + + +“Merry Christmas,” said George. “Don’t go downstairs +for a bit.” + +“Why not?” said Ron. + +“Mum’s crying again,” said Fred heavily. “Percy sent +back his Christmas jumper.” + +“Without a note,” added George. “Hasn’t asked how +Dad is or visited him or anything...��� + +“We tried to comfort her,” said Fred, moving around +the bed to look at Harry’s portrait. “Told her Percy’s +nothing more than a humongous pile of rat droppings + + + +“ — didn’t work,” said George, helping himself to a +Chocolate Frog. “So Lupin took over. Best let him +cheer her up before we go down for breakfast, I +reckon.” + +“What’s that supposed to be anyway?” asked Fred, +squinting at Dobby’s painting. “Looks like a gibbon +with two black eyes.” + +“It’s Harry!” said George, pointing at the back of the +picture. “Says so on the back!” + +“Good likeness,” said Fred, grinning. Harry threw his +new homework diary at him; it hit the wall opposite +and fell to the floor where it said happily, “If you’ve +dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s then you may do +whatever you pleasel” + +They got up and dressed; they could hear various +inhabitants of the house calling “Merry Christmas” to + +Page | 641Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +each other. On their way downstairs they met +Hermione. “Thanks for the book, Harry!” she said +happily. “I’ve been wanting that New Theory of +Numerology for ages! And that perfume is really +unusual, Ron.” + +“No problem,” said Ron. “Who’s that for anyway?” he +added, nodding at the neatly wrapped present she +was carrying. + +“Kreacher,” said Hermione brightly. + +“It had better not be clothes!” said Ron warningly. +“You know what Sirius said, Kreacher knows too +much, we can’t set him free!” + +“It isn’t clothes,” said Hermione, “although if I had my +way I’d certainly give him something to wear other +than that filthy old rag. No, it’s a patchwork quilt, I +thought it would brighten up his bedroom.” + +“What bedroom?” said Harry, dropping his voice to a +whisper as they were passing the portrait of Sirius’s +mother. + +“Well, Sirius says it’s not so much a bedroom, more a +kind of — den,” said Hermione. “Apparently he sleeps +under the boiler in that cupboard off the kitchen.” + +Mrs. Weasley was the only person in the basement +when they arrived there. She was standing at the +stove and sounded as though she had a bad head +cold when she wished them Merry Christmas, and +they all averted their eyes. + +“So, this is Kreacher’s bedroom?” said Ron, strolling +over to a dingy door in the corner opposite the pantry +which Harry had never seen open. + + + +Page | 642Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes,” said Hermione, now sounding a little nervous. +“Er ... I think we’d better knock ...” + +Ron rapped the door with his knuckles but there was +no reply. + +“He must be sneaking around upstairs,” he said, and +without further ado pulled open the door. “Urgh.” + +Harry peered inside. Most of the cupboard was taken +up with a very large and old-fashioned boiler, but in +the foot’s space underneath the pipes Kreacher had +made himself something that looked like a nest. A +jumble of assorted rags and smelly old blankets were +piled on the floor and the small dent in the middle of +it showed where Kreacher curled up to sleep every +night. Here and there among the material were stale +bread crusts and moldy old bits of cheese. In a far +corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry +guessed Kreacher had saved, magpielike, from +Sirius’s purge of the house, and he had also managed +to retrieve the silver-framed family photographs that +Sirius had thrown away over the summer. Their glass +might be shattered, but still the little black-and-white +people inside them peered haughtily up at him, +including — he felt a little jolt in his stomach — the +dark, heavy-lidded woman whose trial he had +witnessed in Dumbledore’s Pensieve: Bellatrix +Lestrange. By the looks of it, hers was Kreacher ’s +favorite photograph; he had placed it to the fore of all +the others and had mended the glass clumsily with +Spellotape. + +“I think I’ll just leave his present here,” said +Hermione, laying the package neatly in the middle of +the depression in the rags and blankets and closing +the door quietly. “He’ll find it later, that’ll be fine...” + + + +Page | 643Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Come to think of it,” said Sirius, emerging from the +pantry carrying a large turkey as they closed the +cupboard door, “has anyone actually seen Kreacher +lately?” + +“I haven’t seen him since the night we came back +here,” said Harry. “You were ordering him out of the +kitchen.” + +“Yeah ...” said Sirius, frowning. “You know, I think +that’s the last time I saw him, too... He must be +hiding upstairs somewhere...” + +“He couldn’t have left, could he?” said Harry. “I mean, +when you said ‘out,’ maybe he thought you meant, get +out of the house?” + +“No, no, house-elves can’t leave unless they’re given +clothes, they’re tied to their family’s house,” said +Sirius. + +“They can leave the house if they really want to,” + +Harry contradicted him. “Dobby did, he left the +Malfoys’ to give me warnings two years ago. He had to +punish himself afterward, but he still managed it.” + +Sirius looked slightly disconcerted for a moment, then +said, “I’ll look for him later, I expect I’ll find him +upstairs crying his eyes out over my mother’s old +bloomers or something... Of course, he might have +crawled into the airing cupboard and died... But I +mustn’t get my hopes up...” + +Fred, George, and Ron laughed; Hermione, however, +looked reproachful. + +Once they had had their Christmas lunch, the +Weasleys and Harry and Hermione were planning to +pay Mr. Weasley another visit, escorted by Mad-Eye + +Page | 644Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and Lupin. Mundungus turned up in time for +Christmas pudding and trifle, having managed to +“borrow” a car for the occasion, as the Underground +did not run on Christmas Day. The car, which Harry +doubted very much had been taken with the +knowledge or consent of its owner, had had a similar +Enlarging Spell put upon it as the Weasleys’ old Ford +Anglia; although normally proportioned outside, ten +people with Mundungus driving were able to fit into it +quite comfortably. Mrs. Weasley hesitated at the point +of getting inside; Harry knew that her disapproval of +Mundungus was battling with her dislike of traveling +without magic; finally the cold outside and her +children’s pleading triumphed, and she settled herself +into the backseat between Fred and Bill with good +grace. + +The journey to St. Mungo’s was quite quick, as there +was very little traffic on the roads. A small trickle of +witches and wizards were creeping furtively up the +otherwise deserted street to visit the hospital. Harry +and the others got out of the car, and Mundungus +drove off around the corner to wait for them; they +strolled casually toward the window where the +dummy in green nylon stood, then, one by one, +stepped through the glass. + +The reception area looked pleasantly festive: The +crystal orbs that illuminated St. Mungo’s had been +turned to red and gold so that they became gigantic, +glowing Christmas baubles; holly hung around every +doorway, and shining white Christmas trees covered +in magical snow and icicles glittered in every corner, +each topped with a gleaming gold star. It was less +crowded than the last time they had been there, +although halfway across the room Harry found +himself shunted aside by a witch with a walnut +jammed up her left nostril. + + + +Page | 645Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Family argument, eh?” smirked the blonde witch +behind the desk. “You’re the third I’ve seen today ... +Spell Damage, fourth floor ...” + +They found Mr. Weasley propped up in bed with the +remains of his turkey dinner on a tray in his lap and +a rather sheepish expression on his face. + +“Everything all right, Arthur?” asked Mrs. Weasley, +after they had all greeted Mr. Weasley and handed +over their presents. + +“Fine, fine,” said Mr. Weasley, a little too heartily. + +“You — er — haven’t seen Healer Smethwyck, have +you?” + +“No,” said Mrs. Weasley suspiciously, “why?” + +“Nothing, nothing,” said Mr. Weasley airily, starting to +unwrap his pile of gifts. “Well, everyone had a good +day? What did you all get for Christmas? Oh, Harry — +this is absolutely wonderful — ” + +For he had just opened Harry’s gift of fuse-wire and +screwdrivers. Mrs. Weasley did not seem entirely +satisfied with Mr. Weasley’s answer. As her husband +leaned over to shake Harry’s hand, she peered at the +bandaging under his nightshirt. + +“Arthur,” she said, with a snap in her voice like a +mousetrap, “you’ve had your bandages changed. Why +have you had your bandages changed a day early, +Arthur? They told me they wouldn’t need doing until +tomorrow.” + +“What?” said Mr. Weasley, looking rather frightened +and pulling the bed covers higher up his chest. “No, +no — it’s nothing — it’s — I — ” + + + +Page | 646Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He seemed to deflate under Mrs. Weasley’s piercing +gaze. + +“Well — now don’t get upset, Molly, but Augustus Pye +had an idea... He’s the Trainee Healer, you know, +lovely young chap and very interested in . . . um . . . +complementary medicine... I mean, some of these old +Muggle remedies ... well, they’re called stitches, Molly, +and they work very well on — on Muggle wounds — ” + +Mrs. Weasley let out an ominous noise somewhere +between a shriek and a snarl. Lupin strolled away +from the bed and over to the werewolf, who had no +visitors and was looking rather wistfully at the crowd +around Mr. Weasley; Bill muttered something about +getting himself a cup of tea and Fred and George leapt +up to accompany him, grinning. + +“Do you mean to tell me,” said Mrs. Weasley, her +voice growing louder with every word and apparently +unaware that her fellow visitors were scurrying for +cover, “that you have been messing about with +Muggle remedies?” + +“Not messing about, Molly, dear,” said Mr. Weasley +imploringly. “It was just — just something Pye and I +thought we’d try — only, most unfortunately — well, +with these particular kinds of wounds — it doesn’t +seem to work as well as we’d hoped — ” + +“Meaning?” + +“Well ... well, I don’t know whether you know what — +what stitches are?” + +“It sounds as though you’ve been trying to sew your +skin back together,” said Mrs. Weasley with a snort of +mirthless laughter, “but even you, Arthur, wouldn’t +be that stupid — ” + +Page | 647Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I fancy a cup of tea too,” said Harry, jumping to his +feet. + + + +Hermione, Ron, and Ginny almost sprinted to the +door with him. As it swung closed behind them, they +heard Mrs. Weasley shriek, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN, +THAT’S THE GENERAL IDEA?” + +“Typical Dad,” said Ginny, shaking her head as they +set off up the corridor. “Stitches ... I ask you ...” + +“Well, you know, they do work well on non-magical +wounds,” said Hermione fairly. “I suppose something +in that snake’s venom dissolves them or something... +I wonder where the tearoom is?” + +“Fifth floor,” said Harry, remembering the sign over +the Welcome Witch’s desk. + +They walked along the corridor through a set of +double doors and found a rickety staircase lined with +more portraits of brutal-looking Healers. As they +climbed it, the various Healers called out to them, +diagnosing odd complaints and suggesting horrible +remedies. Ron was seriously affronted when a +medieval wizard called out that he clearly had a bad +case of spattergroit. + +“And what’s that supposed to be?” he asked angrily, +as the Healer pursued him through six more +portraits, shoving the occupants out of the way. + +“ Tis a most grievous affliction of the skin, young +master, that will leave you pockmarked and more +gruesome even than you are now — ” + +“Watch who you’re calling gruesome!” said Ron, his +ears turning red. + + + +Page | 648Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The only remedy is to take the liver of a toad, bind it +tight about your throat, stand naked by the full moon +in a barrel of eels’ eyes — ” + +“I have not got spattergroit!” + +“But the unsightly blemishes upon your visage, young +master — ” + +“They’re freckles!” said Ron furiously. “Now get back +in your own picture and leave me alone!” + +He rounded on the others, who were all keeping +determinedly straight faces. + +“What floor’s this?” + +“I think it’s the fifth,” said Hermione. + +“Nah, it’s the fourth,” said Harry, “one more — ” + +But as he stepped onto the landing he came to an +abrupt halt, staring at the small window set into the +double doors that marked the start of a corridor +signposted SPELL DAMAGE. A man was peering out +at them all with his nose pressed against the glass. + +He had wavy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a +broad vacant smile that revealed dazzlingly white +teeth. + +“Blimey!” said Ron, also staring at the man. + +“Oh my goodness,” said Hermione suddenly, sounding +breathless. “Professor Lockhart!” + +Their ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher +pushed open the doors and moved toward them, +wearing a long lilac dressing gown. + + + +Page | 649Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, hello there!” he said. “I expect you’d like my +autograph, would you?” + +“Hasn’t changed much, has he?” Harry muttered to +Ginny, who grinned. + +“Er — how are you, Professor?” said Ron, sounding +slightly guilty. It had been Ron’s malfunctioning wand +that had damaged Professor Lockhart’s memory so +badly that he had landed here in the first place, +though, as Lockhart had been attempting to +permanently wipe Harry and Ron’s memories at the +time, Harry’s sympathy was limited. + +“I’m very well indeed, thank you!” said Lockhart +exuberantly, pulling a rather battered peacock-feather +quill from his pocket. “Now, how many autographs +would you like? I can do joined-up writing now, you +know!” + +“Er — we don’t want any at the moment, thanks,” +said Ron, raising his eyebrows at Harry, who asked, +“Professor, should you be wandering around the +corridors? Shouldn’t you be in a ward?” + +The smile faded slowly from Lockhart’s face. For a few +moments he gazed intently at Harry, then he said, +“Haven’t we met?” + +“Er ... yeah, we have,” said Harry. “You used to teach +us at Hogwarts, remember?” + +“Teach?” repeated Lockhart, looking faintly unsettled. +“Me? Did I?” + +And then the smile reappeared upon his face so +suddenly it was rather alarming. “Taught you +everything you know, I expect, did I? Well, how about +those autographs, then? Shall we say a round dozen, + +Page | 650Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +you can give them to all your little friends then and +nobody will be left out!” + + + +But just then a head poked out of a door at the far +end of the corridor and a voice said, “Gilderoy, you +naughty boy, where have you wandered off to?” + +A motherly looking Healer wearing a tinsel wreath in +her hair came bustling up the corridor, smiling +warmly at Harry and the others. + +“Oh Gilderoy, you’ve got visitors! How lovely, and on +Christmas Day too! Do you know, he never gets +visitors, poor lamb, and I can’t think why, he’s such a +sweetie, aren’t you?” + +“We’re doing autographs!” Gilderoy told the Healer +with another glittering smile. “They want loads of +them, won’t take no for an answer! I just hope we’ve +got enough photographs!” + +“Listen to him,” said the Healer, taking Lockhart’s +arm and beaming fondly at him as though he were a +precocious two-year-old. “He was rather well known a +few years ago; we very much hope that this liking for +giving autographs is a sign that his memory might be +coming back a little bit. Will you step this way? He’s +in a closed ward, you know, he must have slipped out +while I was bringing in the Christmas presents, the +door’s usually kept locked ... not that he’s dangerous! +But,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “bit of a +danger to himself, bless him... Doesn’t know who he +is, you see, wanders off and can’t remember how to +get back. . . It is nice of you to have come to see him — + + + +“Er,” said Ron, gesturing uselessly at the floor above, +“actually, we were just — er — ” + +Page | 651Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But the Healer was smiling expectantly at them, and +Ron’s feeble mutter of “going to have a cup of tea” +trailed away into nothingness. They looked at one +another rather hopelessly and then followed Lockhart +and his Healer along the corridor. + +“Let’s not stay long,” Ron said quietly. + +The Healer pointed her wand at the door of the Janus +Thickey ward and muttered “Alohomora.” The door +swung open and she led the way inside, keeping a +firm grasp on Gilderoy’s arm until she had settled +him into an armchair beside his bed. + +“This is our long-term resident ward,” she informed +Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny in a low voice. “For +permanent spell damage, you know. Of course, with +intensive remedial potions and charms and a bit of +luck, we can produce some improvement... Gilderoy +does seem to be getting back some sense of himself, +and we’ve seen a real improvement in Mr. Bode, he +seems to be regaining the power of speech very well, +though he isn’t speaking any language we recognize +yet... Well, I must finish giving out the Christmas +presents, I’ll leave you all to chat...” + +Harry looked around; this ward bore unmistakable +signs of being a permanent home to its residents. + +They had many more personal effects around their +beds than in Mr. Weasley’s ward; the wall around +Gilderoy’s headboard, for instance, was papered with +pictures of himself, all beaming toothily and waving at +the new arrivals. He had autographed many of them +to himself in disjointed, childish writing. The moment +he had been deposited in his chair by the Healer, +Gilderoy pulled a fresh stack of photographs toward +him, seized a quill, and started signing them all +feverishly. + + + +Page | 652Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You can put them in envelopes,” he said to Ginny, +throwing the signed pictures into her lap one by one +as he finished them. “I am not forgotten, you know, +no, I still receive a very great deal of fan mail... Gladys +Gudgeon writes weekly... I just wish I knew why...” + +He paused, looking faintly puzzled, then beamed +again and returned to his signing with renewed vigor. +“I suspect it is simply my good looks...” + +A sallow-skinned, mournful-looking wizard lay in the +bed opposite, staring at the ceiling; he was mumbling +to himself and seemed quite unaware of anything +around him. Two beds along was a woman whose +entire head was covered in fur; Harry remembered +something similar happening to Hermione during +their second year, although fortunately the damage, +in her case, had not been permanent. At the far end +of the ward flowery curtains had been drawn around +two beds to give the occupants and their visitors some +privacy. + +“Here you are, Agnes,” said the Healer brightly to the +furry-faced woman, handing her a small pile of +Christmas presents. “See, not forgotten, are you? And +your son’s sent an owl to say he’s visiting tonight, so +that’s nice, isn’t it?” + +Agnes gave several loud barks. + +“And look, Broderick, you’ve been sent a potted plant +and a lovely calendar with a different fancy hippogriff +for each month, they’ll brighten things up, won’t +they?” said the Healer, bustling along to the +mumbling man, setting a rather ugly plant with long, +swaying tentacles on the bedside cabinet and fixing +the calendar to the wall with her wand. “And — oh, +Mrs. Longbottom, are you leaving already?” + + + +Page | 653Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s head spun round. The curtains had been +drawn back from the two beds at the end of the ward +and two visitors were walking back down the aisle +between the beds: a formidable-looking old witch +wearing a long green dress, a moth-eaten fox fur, and +a pointed hat decorated with what was unmistakably +a stuffed vulture and, trailing behind her looking +thoroughly depressed — Neville. + +With a sudden rush of understanding, Harry realized +who the people in the end beds must be. He cast +around wildly for some means of distracting the +others so that Neville could leave the ward unnoticed +and unquestioned, but Ron had looked up at the +sound of the name “Longbottom” too, and before +Harry could stop him had called, “Neville\” + +Neville jumped and cowered as though a bullet had +narrowly missed him. + +“It’s us, Neville!” said Ron brightly, getting to his feet. +“Have you seen? Lockhart’s here! Who’ve you been +visiting?” + +“Friends of yours, Neville, dear?” said Neville’s +grandmother graciously, bearing down upon them all. + +Neville looked as though he would rather be anywhere +in the world but here. A dull purple flush was +creeping up his plump face and he was not making +eye contact with any of them. + +“Ah, yes,” said his grandmother, looking closely at +Harry and sticking out a shriveled, clawlike hand for +him to shake. “Yes, yes, I know who you are, of +course. Neville speaks most highly of you.” + + + +Page | 654Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Er — thanks,” said Harry, shaking hands. Neville did +not look at him, but stared at his own feet, the color +deepening in his face all the while. + +“And you two are clearly Weasleys,” Mrs. Longbottom +continued, proffering her hand regally to Ron and +Ginny in turn. “Yes, I know your parents — not well, +of course — but fine people, fine people ... and you +must be Hermione Granger?” + +Hermione looked rather startled that Mrs. + +Longbottom knew her name, but shook hands all the +same. + +“Yes, Neville’s told me all about you. Helped him out +of a few sticky spots, haven’t you? He’s a good boy,” +she said, casting a sternly appraising look down her +rather bony nose at Neville, “but he hasn’t got his +father’s talent, I’m afraid to say...” And she jerked her +head in the direction of the two beds at the end of the +ward, so that the stuffed vulture on her hat trembled +alarmingly. + +“What?” said Ron, looking amazed (Harry wanted to +stamp on Ron’s foot, but that sort of thing was much +harder to bring off unnoticed when you were wearing +jeans rather than robes). “Is that your dad down the +end, Neville?” + +“What’s this?” said Mrs. Longbottom sharply. “Haven’t +you told your friends about your parents, Neville?” + +Neville took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling, +and shook his head. Harry could not remember ever +feeling sorrier for anyone, but he could not think of +any way of helping Neville out of the situation. + +“Well, it’s nothing to be ashamed of!” said Mrs. +Longbottom angrily. “You should be proud, Neville, + +Page | 655Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +proud). They didn’t give their health and their sanity +so their only son would be ashamed of them, you +know!” + +“I’m not ashamed,” said Neville very faintly, still +looking anywhere but at Harry and the others. Ron +was now standing on tiptoe to look over at the +inhabitants of the two beds. + +“Well, you’ve got a funny way of showing it!” said Mrs. +Longbottom. “My son and his wife,” she said, turning +haughtily to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, “were +tortured into insanity by You-Know- Who’s followers.” + +Hermione and Ginny both clapped their hands over +their mouths. Ron stopped craning his neck to catch +a glimpse of Neville’s parents and looked mortified. + +“They were Aurors, you know, and very well respected +within the Wizarding community,” Mrs. Longbottom +went on. “Highly gifted, the pair of them. I — yes, + +Alice dear, what is it?” + +Neville’s mother had come edging down the ward in +her nightdress. She no longer had the plump, happy- +looking face Harry had seen in Moody’s old +photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix. Her +face was thin and worn now, her eyes seemed +overlarge, and her hair, which had turned white, was +wispy and dead-looking. She did not seem to want to +speak, or perhaps she was not able to, but she made +timid motions toward Neville, holding something in +her outstretched hand. + +“Again?” said Mrs. Longbottom, sounding slightly +weary. “Very well, Alice dear, very well — Neville, take +it, whatever it is...” + + + +Page | 656Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into +which his mother dropped an empty Droobles +Blowing Gum wrapper. + +“Very nice, dear,” said Neville’s grandmother in a +falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the +shoulder. But Neville said quietly, “Thanks Mum.” + +His mother tottered away, back up the ward, +humming to herself. Neville looked around at the +others, his expression defiant, as though daring them +to laugh, but Harry did not think he’d ever found +anything less funny in his life. + +“Well, we’d better get back,” sighed Mrs. Longbottom, +drawing on long green gloves. “Very nice to have met +you all. Neville, put that wrapper in the bin, she must +have given you enough of them to paper your +bedroom by now...” + +But as they left, Harry was sure he saw Neville slip +the wrapper into his pocket. + +The door closed behind them. + +“I never knew,” said Hermione, who looked tearful. +“Nor did I,” said Ron rather hoarsely. + +“Nor me,” whispered Ginny. + +They all looked at Harry. + +“I did,” he said glumly. “Dumbledore told me but I +promised I wouldn’t mention it ... that’s what +Bellatrix Lestrange got sent to Azkaban for, using the +Cruciatus Curse on Neville’s parents until they lost +their minds.” + + + +Page | 657Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Bellatrix Lestrange did that?” whispered Hermione, +horrified. “That woman Kreacher’s got a photo of in +his den?” + + + +There was a long silence, broken by Lockhart’s angry +voice. “Look, I didn’t learn joined-up writing for +nothing, you know!” + + + +Page | 658Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +OCCLUMENCY + +Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. +Sirius said he had found him up there, covered in +dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black +family to hide in his cupboard. Though Sirius seemed +satisfied with this story, it made Harry uneasy. +Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood on his +reappearance, his bitter muttering had subsided +somewhat, and he submitted to orders more docilely +than usual, though once or twice Harry caught the +house-elf staring avidly at him, always looking quickly +away when he saw that Harry had noticed. + +Harry did not mention his vague suspicions to Sirius, +whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that +Christmas was over. As the date of their departure +back to Hogwarts drew nearer, he became more and +more prone to what Mrs. Weasley called “fits of the +sullens,” in which he would become taciturn and +grumpy, often withdrawing to Buckbeak’s room for +hours at a time. His gloom seeped through the house, +oozing under doorways like some noxious gas, so that +all of them became infected by it. + +Page | 659Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Harry did not want to leave Sirius all alone again with +only Kreacher for company. In fact, for the first time +in his life, he was not looking forward to returning to +Hogwarts. Going back to school would mean placing +himself once again under the tyranny of Dolores +Umbridge, who had no doubt managed to force +through another dozen decrees in their absence. Then +there was no Quidditch to look forward to now that he +had been banned; there was every likelihood that +their burden of homework would increase as the +exams drew even nearer; Dumbledore remained as +remote as ever; in fact, if it had not been for the D.A., +Harry felt he might have gone to Sirius and begged +him to let him leave Hogwarts and remain in +Grimmauld Place. + +Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something +happened that made Harry positively dread his return +to school. + +“Harry dear,” said Mrs. Weasley, poking her head into +his and Ron’s bedroom, where the pair of them were +playing wizard chess watched by Hermione, Ginny, +and Crookshanks, “could you come down to the +kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with +you.” + +Harry did not immediately register what she had said; +one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with +a pawn of Ron’s, and he was egging it on +enthusiastically. + +“Squash him — squash him, he’s only a pawn, you +idiot — sorry, Mrs. Weasley, what did you say?” + +“Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen. He’d like a +word.” + + + +Page | 660Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s mouth fell open in horror. He looked around +at Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, all of whom were +gaping back at him. Crookshanks, whom Hermione +had been restraining with difficulty for the past +quarter of an hour, leapt gleefully upon the board and +set the pieces running for cover, squealing at the top +of their voices. + +“Snape?” said Harry blankly. + +“Professor Snape, dear,” said Mrs. Weasley +reprovingly. “Now come on, quickly, he says he can’t +stay long.” + +“What’s he want with you?” said Ron, looking +unnerved as Mrs. Weasley withdrew from the room. + +“You haven’t done anything, have you?” + +“No!” said Harry indignantly, racking his brains to +think what he could have done that would make +Snape pursue him to Grimmauld Place. Had his last +piece of homework perhaps earned a T? + +He pushed open the kitchen door a minute or two +later to find Sirius and Snape both seated at the long +kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions. The +silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. + +A letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius. + +“Er,” said Harry to announce his presence. + +Snape looked around at him, his face framed between +curtains of greasy black hair. + +“Sit down, Potter.” + +“You know,” said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his +rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, “I think I’d + +Page | 661Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +prefer it if you didn’t give orders here, Snape. It’s my +house, you see.” + +An ugly flush suffused Snape ’s pallid face. Harry sat +down in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the +table. + +“I was supposed to see you alone, Potter,” said Snape, +the familiar sneer curling his mouth, “but Black — ” + +“I’m his godfather,” said Sirius, louder than ever. + +“I am here on Dumbledore’s orders,” said Snape, +whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and +more quietly waspish, “but by all means stay, Black, I +know you like to feel ... involved.” + +“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Sirius, letting +his chair fall back onto all four legs with a loud bang. + +“Merely that I am sure you must feel — ah — +frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful,” +Snape laid a delicate stress on the word, “for the +Order.” + +It was Sirius’s turn to flush. Snape ’s lip curled in +triumph as he turned to Harry. + +“The headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that +it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term.” + +“Study what?” said Harry blankly. + +Snape’s sneer became more pronounced. + +“Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind +against external penetration. An obscure branch of +magic, but a highly useful one.” + + + +Page | 662Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s heart began to pump very fast indeed. + +Defense against external penetration? But he was not +being possessed, they had all agreed on that... + +“Why do I have to study Occlu — thing?” he blurted +out. + +“Because the headmaster thinks it a good idea,” said +Snape smoothly. “You will receive private lessons +once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you +are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You +understand?” + +“Yes,” said Harry. “Who’s going to be teaching me?” +Snape raised an eyebrow. + +“I am,” he said. + +Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were +melting. Extra lessons with Snape — what on earth +had he done to deserve this? He looked quickly +around at Sirius for support. + +“Why can’t Dumbledore teach Harry?” asked Sirius +aggressively. “Why you?” + +“I suppose because it is a headmaster’s privilege to +delegate less enjoyable tasks,” said Snape silkily. “I +assure you I did not beg for the job.” He got to his +feet. “I will expect you at six o’clock on Monday +evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are +taking Remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in +my classes could deny you need them.” + +He turned to leave, his black traveling cloak billowing +behind him. + + + +Page | 663Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Wait a moment,” said Sirius, sitting up straighter in +his chair. + +Snape turned back to face them, sneering. + +“I am in rather a hurry, Black ... unlike you, I do not +have unlimited leisure time...” + +“I’ll get to the point, then,” said Sirius, standing up. + +He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed, +had balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what +Harry was sure was the handle of his wand. “If I hear +you’re using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry +a hard time, you’ll have me to answer to.” + +“How touching,” Snape sneered. “But surely you have +noticed that Potter is very like his father?” + +“Yes, I have,” said Sirius proudly. + +“Well then, you’ll know he’s so arrogant that criticism +simply bounces off him,” Snape said sleekly. + +Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode +around the table toward Snape, pulling out his wand +as he went; Snape whipped out his own. They were +squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape +calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius’s wand tip to +his face. + +“Sirius!” said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to +hear him. + +“I’ve warned you, Snivellus,” said Sirius, his face +barely a foot from Snape ’s, “I don’t care if Dumbledore +thinks you’ve reformed, I know better — ” + +“Oh, but why don’t you tell him so?” whispered +Snape. “Or are you afraid he might not take the + +Page | 664Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +advice of a man who has been hiding inside his +mother’s house for six months very seriously?” + +“Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect +he’s delighted his lapdog’s working at Hogwarts, isn’t +he?” + +“Speaking of dogs,” said Snape softly, “did you know +that Lucius Malfoy recognized you last time you +risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, +getting yourself seen on a safe station platform . . . +gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey- +hole in future, didn’t it?” + +Sirius raised his wand. + +“NO!” Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying +to get in between them, “Sirius, don’t — ” + +“Are you calling me a coward?” roared Sirius, trying to +push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not +budge. + +“Why, yes, I suppose I am,” said Snape. + +“Harry — get — out — of — it!” snarled Sirius, +pushing him out of the way with his free hand. + +The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley +family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very +happy, with Mr. Weasley walking proudly in their +midst dressed in a pair of striped pajamas covered by +a mackintosh. + +“Cured!” he announced brightly to the kitchen at +large. “Completely cured!” + +He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, +gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also + +Page | 665Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape +looking toward the door with their wands pointing +into each other’s faces and Harry immobile between +them, a hand stretched out to each of them, trying to +force them apart. + +“Merlin’s beard,” said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding +off his face, “what’s going on here?” + +Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry +looked from one to the other. Each wore an +expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected +entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have +brought them to their senses. Snape pocketed his +wand and swept back across the kitchen, passing the +Weasleys without comment. At the door he looked +back. + +“Six o’clock Monday evening, Potter.” + +He was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his +side. + +“But what’s been going on?” asked Mr. Weasley again. + +“Nothing, Arthur,” said Sirius, who was breathing +heavily as though he had just run a long distance. +“Just a friendly little chat between two old school +friends...” With what looked like an enormous effort, +he smiled. “So ... you’re cured? That’s great news, +really great...” + +“Yes, isn’t it?” said Mrs. Weasley, leading her +husband forward into a chair. “Healer Smethwyck +worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to +whatever that snake’s got in its fangs, and Arthur’s +learned his lesson about dabbling in Muggle +medicine, haven’t you, dear?” she added, rather +menacingly. + +Page | 666Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, Molly dear,” said Mr. Weasley meekly. + +That night’s meal should have been a cheerful one +with Mr. Weasley back amongst them; Harry could +tell Sirius was trying to make it so, yet when his +godfather was not forcing himself to laugh loudly at +Fred and George’s jokes or offering everyone more +food, his face fell back into a moody, brooding +expression. Harry was separated from him by +Mundungus and Mad-Eye, who had dropped in to +offer Mr. Weasley their congratulations; he wanted to +talk to Sirius, to tell him that he should not listen to a +word Snape said, that Snape was goading him +deliberately and that the rest of them did not think +Sirius was a coward for doing as Dumbledore told +him and remaining in Grimmauld Place, but he had +no opportunity to do so, and wondered occasionally, +eyeing the ugly look on Sirius’s face, whether he +would have dared to even if he had the chance. + +Instead he told Ron and Hermione under his voice +about having to take Occlumency lessons with Snape. + +“Dumbledore wants to stop you having those dreams +about Voldemort,” said Hermione at once. “Well, you +won’t be sorry not to have them anymore, will you?” + +“Extra lessons with Snape?” said Ron, sounding +aghast. “I’d rather have the nightmares!” + +They were to return to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus +the following day, escorted once again by Tonks and +Lupin, both of whom were eating breakfast in the +kitchen when Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived there +next morning. The adults seemed to have been +midway through a whispered conversation when the +door opened; all of them looked around hastily and +fell silent. + + + +Page | 667Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +After a hurried breakfast they pulled on jackets and +scarves against the chilly gray January morning. + +Harry had an unpleasant constricted sensation in his +chest; he did not want to say good-bye to Sirius. He +had a bad feeling about this parting; he did not know +when they would next see each other and felt that it +was incumbent upon him to say something to Sirius +to stop him doing anything stupid — Harry was +worried that Snape’s accusation of cowardice had +stung Sirius so badly he might even now be planning +some foolhardy trip beyond Grimmauld Place. Before +he could think of what to say, however, Sirius had +beckoned him to his side. + +“I want you to take this,” he said quietly, thrusting a +badly wrapped package roughly the size of a +paperback book into Harry’s hands. + +“What is it?” Harry asked. + +“A way of letting me know if Snape’s giving you a hard +time. No, don’t open it in here!” said Sirius, with a +wary look at Mrs. Weasley, who was trying to +persuade the twins to wear hand-knitted mittens. “I +doubt Molly would approve — but I want you to use it +if you need me, all right?” + +“Okay,” said Harry, stowing the package away in the +inside pocket of his jacket, but he knew he would +never use whatever it was. It would not be he, Harry, +who lured Sirius from his place of safety, no matter +how foully Snape treated him in their forthcoming +Occlumency classes. + +“Let’s go, then,” said Sirius, clapping Harry on the +shoulder and smiling grimly, and before Harry could +say anything else, they were heading upstairs, +stopping before the heavily chained and bolted front +door, surrounded by Weasleys. + +Page | 668Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Good-bye, Harry, take care,” said Mrs. Weasley, +hugging him. + +“See you Harry, and keep an eye out for snakes for +me!” said Mr. Weasley genially, shaking his hand. + +“Right — yeah,” said Harry distractedly. It was his +last chance to tell Sirius to be careful; he turned, +looked into his godfather’s face and opened his mouth +to speak, but before he could do so Sirius was giving +him a brief, one-armed hug. He said gruffly, “Look +after yourself, Harry,” and next moment Harry found +himself being shunted out into the icy winter air, with +Tonks (today heavily disguised as a tall, tweedy +woman with iron-gray hair) chivvying him down the +steps. + +The door of number twelve slammed shut behind +them. They followed Lupin down the front steps. As +he reached the pavement, Harry looked around. +Number twelve was shrinking rapidly as those on +either side of it stretched sideways, squeezing it out of +sight; one blink later, it had gone. + +“Come on, the quicker we get on the bus the better,” +said Tonks, and Harry thought there was +nervousness in the glance she threw around the +square. Lupin flung out his right arm. + +BANG. + +A violently purple, triple-decker bus had appeared out +of thin air in front of them, narrowly avoiding the +nearest lamppost, which jumped backward out of its +way. + +A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth in a purple uniform +leapt down onto the pavement and said, “Welcome to +the — ” + +Page | 669Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, yes, we know, thank you,” said Tonks swiftly. +“On, on, get on — + +And she shoved Harry forward toward the steps, past +the conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed. + +“ ’Ere — it’s ’Arry — !” + + + +“If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion,” +muttered Tonks menacingly, now shunting Ginny and +Hermione forward. + +“I’ve always wanted to go on this thing,” said Ron +happily, joining Harry on board and looking around. + +It had been evening the last time Harry had traveled +by Knight Bus and its three decks had been full of +brass bedsteads. Now, in the early morning, it was +crammed with an assortment of mismatched chairs +grouped haphazardly around windows. Some of these +appeared to have fallen over when the bus stopped +abruptly in Grimmauld Place; a few witches and +wizards were still getting to their feet, grumbling, and +somebody’s shopping bag had slid the length of the +bus; an unpleasant mixture of frog spawn, +cockroaches, and custard creams was scattered all +over the floor. + +“Looks like we’ll have to split up,” said Tonics briskly, +looking around for empty chairs. “Fred, George, and +Ginny, if you just take those seats at the back ... +Remus can stay with you...” + +She, Harry, Ron, and Hermione proceeded up to the +very top deck, where there were two chairs at the very +front of the bus and two at the back. Stan Shunpike, +the conductor, followed Harry and Ron eagerly to the +back. Heads turned as Harry passed and when he sat + + + +Page | 670Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +down, he saw all the faces flick back to the front +again. + +As Harry and Ron handed Stan eleven Sickles each, +the bus set off again, swaying ominously. It rumbled +around Grimmauld Square, weaving on and off the +pavement, then, with another tremendous BANG, +they were all flung backward; Ron’s chair toppled +right over and Pigwidgeon, who had been on his lap, +burst out of his cage and flew twittering wildly up to +the front of the bus where he fluttered down upon +Hermione’s shoulder instead. Harry, who had +narrowly avoided falling by seizing a candle bracket, +looked out of the window: they were now speeding +down what appeared to be a motorway. + +“Just outside Birmingham,” said Stan happily, +answering Harry’s unasked question as Ron struggled +up from the floor. “You keepin’ well, then, ’Arry? I +seen your name in the paper loads over the summer, +but it weren’t never nuffink very nice... I said to Ern, I +said, ‘’e didn’t seem like a nutter when we met ’im, +just goes to show, dunnit?’ ” + +He handed over their tickets and continued to gaze, +enthralled, at Harry; apparently Stan did not care +how nutty somebody was if they were famous enough +to be in the paper. The Knight Bus swayed +alarmingly, overtaking a line of cars on the inside. +Looking toward the front of the bus Harry saw +Hermione cover her eyes with her hands, Pigwidgeon +still swaying happily on her shoulder. + +BANG. + +Chairs slid backward again as the Knight Bus jumped +from the Birmingham motorway to a quiet country +lane full of hairpin bends. Hedgerows on either side of +the road were leaping out of their way as they + +Page | 671Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +mounted the verges. From here they moved to a main +street in the middle of a busy town, then to a viaduct +surrounded by tall hills, then to a windswept road +between high-rise flats, each time with a loud BANG. + +“I’ve changed my mind,” muttered Ron, picking +himself up from the floor for the sixth time, “I never +want to ride on here again.” + +“Listen, it’s ’Ogwarts stop after this,” said Stan +brightly, swaying toward them. “That bossy woman +up front ’oo got on with you, she’s given us a little tip +to move you up the queue. We’re just gonna let +Madam Marsh off first, though — ” There was more +retching from downstairs, followed by a horrible +spattering sound. “She’s not feeling ’er best.” + +A few minutes later the Knight Bus screeched to a +halt outside a small pub, which squeezed itself out of +the way to avoid a collision. They could hear Stan +ushering the unfortunate Madam Marsh out of the +bus and the relieved murmurings of her fellow +passengers on the second deck. The bus moved on +again, gathering speed, until — + +BANG. + +They were rolling through a snowy Hogsmeade. Harry +caught a glimpse of the Hog’s Head down its side +street, the severed boar’s head sign creaking in the +wintry wind. Flecks of snow hit the large window at +the front of the bus. At last they rolled to a halt +outside the gates to Hogwarts. + +Lupin and Tonks helped them off the bus with their +luggage and then got off to say good-bye. Harry +glanced up at the three decks of the Knight Bus and +saw all the passengers staring down at them, noses +flat against the windows. + +Page | 672Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’ll be safe once you’re in the grounds,” said +Tonks, casting a careful eye around at the deserted +road. “Have a good term, okay?” + +“Look after yourselves,” said Lupin, shaking hands all +round and reaching Harry last. “And listen ...” He +lowered his voice while the rest of them exchanged +last-minute good-byes with Tonks, “Harry, I know you +don’t like Snape, but he is a superb Occlumens and +we all — Sirius included — want you to learn to +protect yourself, so work hard, all right?” + +“Yeah, all right,” said Harry heavily, looking up into +Lupin’s prematurely lined face. “See you, then ...” + +The six of them struggled up the slippery drive toward +the castle dragging their trunks. Hermione was +already talking about knitting a few elf hats before +bedtime. Harry glanced back when they reached the +oak front doors; the Knight Bus had already gone, +and he half-wished, given what was coming the +following day, that he was still on board. + +Harry spent most of the next day dreading the +evening. His morning Potions lesson did nothing to +dispel his trepidation, as Snape was as unpleasant as +ever, and Harry’s mood was further lowered by the +fact that members of the D.A. were continually +approaching him in the corridors between classes, +asking hopefully whether there would be a meeting +that night. + +“I’ll let you know when the next one is,” Harry said +over and over again, “but I can’t do it tonight, I’ve got +to go to — er — Remedial Potions...” + +“You take Remedial Potions?” asked Zacharias Smith +superciliously, having cornered Harry in the entrance + + + +Page | 673Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hall after lunch. “Good Lord, you must be terrible, +Snape doesn’t usually give extra lessons, does he?” + +As Smith strode away in an annoyingly buoyant +fashion, Ron glared after him. + +“Shall I jinx him? I can still get him from here,” he +said, raising his wand and taking aim between +Smith’s shoulder blades. + +“Forget it,” said Harry dismally. “It’s what everyone’s +going to think, isn’t it? That I’m really stup — ” + +“Hi, Harry,” said a voice behind him. He turned +around and found Cho standing there. + +“Oh,” said Harry as his stomach leapt uncomfortably. +“Hi.” + +“We’ll be in the library, Harry,” said Hermione firmly, +and she seized Ron above the elbow and dragged him +off toward the marble staircase. + +“Had a good Christmas?” asked Cho. + +“Yeah, not bad,” said Harry. + +“Mine was pretty quiet,” said Cho. For some reason, +she was looking rather embarrassed. “Erm ... there’s +another Hogsmeade trip next month, did you see the +notice?” + +“What? Oh no, I haven’t checked the notice board +since I got back...” + +“Yes, it’s on Valentine’s Day...” + +“Right,” said Harry, wondering why she was telling +him this. “Well, I suppose you want to — ?” + +Page | 674Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Only if you do,” she said eagerly. + +Harry stared. He had been about to say “I suppose +you want to know when the next D.A. meeting is?” +but her response did not seem to fit. + +“I — er — ” he said. + +“Oh, it’s okay if you don’t,” she said, looking +mortified. “Don’t worry. I-I’ll see you around.” + +She walked away. Harry stood staring after her, his +brain working frantically. Then something clunked +into place. + +“Cho! Hey — CHO!” + +He ran after her, catching her halfway up the marble +staircase. + +“Er — d’you want to come into Hogsmeade with me on +Valentine’s Day?” + +“Oooh, yes!” she said, blushing crimson and beaming +at him. + +“Right ... well ... that’s settled then,” said Harry, and +feeling that the day was not going to be a complete +loss after all, he headed off to the library to pick up +Ron and Hermione before their afternoon lessons, +walking in a rather bouncy way himself. + +By six o’clock that evening, however, even the glow of +having successfully asked out Cho Chang was +insufficient to lighten the ominous feelings that +intensified with every step Harry took toward Snape’s +office. + + + +Page | 675Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He paused outside the door when he reached it, +wishing he were almost anywhere else, then, taking a +deep breath, knocked, and entered. + +It was a shadowy room lined with shelves bearing +hundreds of glass jars in which floated slimy bits of +animals and plants, suspended in variously colored +potions. In a corner stood the cupboard full of +ingredients that Snape had once accused Harry — not +without reason — of robbing. Harry’s attention was +drawn toward the desk, however, where a shallow +stone basin engraved with runes and symbols lay in a +pool of candlelight. Harry recognized it at once — +Dumbledore’s Pensieve. Wondering what on earth it +was doing here, he jumped when Snape’s cold voice +came out of the corner. + +“Shut the door behind you, Potter.” + +Harry did as he was told with the horrible feeling that +he was imprisoning himself as he did so. When he +turned back to face the room Snape had moved into +the light and was pointing silently at the chair +opposite his desk. Harry sat down and so did Snape, +his cold black eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Harry, +dislike etched in every line of his face. + +“Well, Potter, you know why you are here,” he said. +“The headmaster has asked me to teach you +Occlumency. I can only hope that you prove more +adept at it than Potions.” + +“Right,” said Harry tersely. + +“This may not be an ordinary class, Potter,” said +Snape, his eyes narrowed malevolently, “but I am still +your teacher and you will therefore call me ‘sir’ or +‘Professor’ at all times.” + + + +Page | 676Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes ... sir,” said Harry. + + + +“Now, Occlumency. As I told you back in your dear +godfather’s kitchen, this branch of magic seals the +mind against magical intrusion and influence.” + +“And why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it, +sir?” said Harry, looking directly into Snape’s dark, +cold eyes and wondering whether he would answer. + +Snape looked back at him for a moment and then +said contemptuously, “Surely even you could have +worked that out by now, Potter? The Dark Lord is +highly skilled at Legilimency — ” + +“What’s that? Sir?” + +“It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from +another person’s mind — ” + +“He can read minds?” said Harry quickly, his worst +fears confirmed. + +“You have no subtlety, Potter,” said Snape, his dark +eyes glittering. “You do not understand fine +distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes +you such a lamentable potion-maker.” + +Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savor the +pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing, “Only +Muggles talk of ‘mind reading. ’ The mind is not a +book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. +Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be +perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and +many-layered thing, Potter ... or at least, most minds +are...” He smirked. “It is true, however, that those +who have mastered Legilimency are able, under +certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their +victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The +Page | 677Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when +somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at +Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and +memories that contradict the lie, and so utter +falsehoods in his presence without detection.” + +Whatever Snape said, Legilimency sounded like mind +reading to Harry and he did not like the sound of it at +all. + +“So he could know what we’re thinking right now? +Sir?” + +“The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance and the +walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many +ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and +mental safety of those who dwell within them,” said +Snape. “Time and space matter in magic, Potter. Eye +contact is often essential to Legilimency.” + +“Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency?” + +Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long, +thin finger as he did so. + +“The usual rules do not seem to apply with you, +Potter. The curse that failed to kill you seems to have +forged some kind of connection between you and the +Dark Lord. The evidence suggests that at times, when +your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable — when +you are asleep, for instance — you are sharing the +Dark Lord’s thoughts and emotions. The headmaster +thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes +me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark +Lord.” + +Harry’s heart was pumping fast again. None of this +added up. + + + +Page | 678Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But why does Professor Dumbledore want to stop it?” +he asked abruptly. “I don’t like it much, but it’s been +useful, hasn’t it? I mean ... I saw that snake attack +Mr. Weasley and if I hadn’t, Professor Dumbledore +wouldn’t have been able to save him, would he? Sir?” + +Snape stared at Harry for a few moments, still tracing +his mouth with his finger. When he spoke again, it +was slowly and deliberately, as though he weighed +every word. + +“It appears that the Dark Lord has been unaware of +the connection between you and himself until very +recently. Up till now it seems that you have been +experiencing his emotions and sharing his thoughts +without his being any the wiser. However, the vision +you had shortly before Christmas — ” + +“The one with the snake and Mr. Weasley?” + +“Do not interrupt me, Potter,” said Snape in a +dangerous voice. “As I was saying ... the vision you +had shortly before Christmas represented such a +powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord’s thoughts — ” + +“I saw inside the snake’s head, not his!” + +“I thought I just told you not to interrupt me, Potter?” + +But Harry did not care if Snape was angry; at last he +seemed to be getting to the bottom of this business. + +He had moved forward in his chair so that, without +realizing it, he was perched on the very edge, tense as +though poised for flight. + +“How come I saw through the snake’s eyes if it’s +Voldemort’s thoughts I’m sharing?” + +“Do not say the Dark Lord’s name\” spat Snape. + +Page | 679Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There was a nasty silence. They glared at each other +across the Pensieve. + +“Professor Dumbledore says his name,” said Harry +quietly. + +“Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard,” Snape +muttered. “While he may feel secure enough to use +the name ... the rest of us ...” He rubbed his left +forearm, apparently unconsciously, on the spot where +Harry knew the Dark Mark was burned into his skin. + +“I just wanted to know,” Harry began again, forcing +his voice back to politeness, “why — ” + +“You seem to have visited the snake’s mind because +that was where the Dark Lord was at that particular +moment,” snarled Snape. “He was possessing the +snake at the time and so you dreamed you were +inside it too...” + +“And Vol — he — realized I was there?” + +“It seems so,” said Snape coolly. + +“How do you know?” said Harry urgently. “Is this just +Professor Dumbledore guessing, or — ?” + +“I told you,” said Snape, rigid in his chair, his eyes +slits, “to call me ‘sir.’ ” + +“Yes, sir,” said Harry impatiently, “but how do you +know — ?” + +“It is enough that we know,” said Snape repressively. +“The important point is that the Dark Lord is now +aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and +feelings. He has also deduced that the process is +likely to work in reverse; that is to say, he has +Page | 680Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +realized that he might be able to access your thoughts +and feelings in return — ” + +“And he might try and make me do things?” asked +Harry. “Sir?” he added hurriedly. + +“He might,” said Snape, sounding cold and +unconcerned. “Which brings us back to Occlumency.” + +Snape pulled out his wand from an inside pocket of +his robes and Harry tensed in his chair, but Snape +merely raised the wand to his temple and placed its +tip into the greasy roots of his hair. When he +withdrew it, some silvery substance came away, +stretching from temple to wand like a thick gossamer +strand, which broke as he pulled the wand away from +it and fell gracefully into the Pensieve, where it +swirled silvery white, neither gas nor liquid. Twice +more Snape raised the wand to his temple and +deposited the silvery substance into the stone basin, +then, without offering any explanation of his behavior, +he picked up the Pensieve carefully, removed it to a +shelf out of their way and returned to face Harry with +his wand held at the ready. + +“Stand up and take out your wand, Potter.” + +Harry got to his feet feeling nervous. They faced each +other with the desk between them. + +“You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or +defend yourself in any other way you can think of,” +said Snape. + +“And what are you going to do?” Harry asked, eyeing +Snape ’s wand apprehensively. + +“I am about to attempt to break into your mind,” said +Snape softly. “We are going to see how well you resist. + +Page | 681Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +I have been told that you have already shown +aptitude at resisting the Imperius Curse... You will +find that similar powers are needed for this... Brace +yourself, now... LegilimensV’ + +Snape had struck before Harry was ready, before +Harry had even begun to summon any force of +resistance: the office swam in front of his eyes and +vanished, image after image was racing through his +mind like a flickering film so vivid it blinded him to +his surroundings... + +He was five, watching Dudley riding a new red bicycle, +and his heart was bursting with jealousy... He was +nine, and Ripper the bulldog was chasing him up a +tree and the Dursleys were laughing below on the +lawn. . . He was sitting under the Sorting Hat, and it +was telling him he would do well in Slytherin... +Hermione was lying in the hospital wing, her face +covered with thick black hair. . . A hundred dementors +were closing in on him beside the dark lake... Cho +Chang was drawing nearer to him under the +mistletoe... + +No, said a voice in Harry’s head, as the memory of +Cho drew nearer, you’re not watching that, you’re not +watching it, it’s private — + +He felt a sharp pain in his knee. Snape ’s office had +come back into view and he realized that he had +fallen to the floor; one of his knees had collided +painfully with the leg of Snape ’s desk. He looked up at +Snape, who had lowered his wand and was rubbing +his wrist. There was an angry weal there, like a +scorch mark. + +“Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?” asked +Snape coolly. + + + +Page | 682Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry bitterly, getting up from the floor. + +“I thought not,” said Snape contemptuously. “You let +me get in too far. You lost control.” + +“Did you see everything I saw?” Harry asked, unsure +whether he wanted to hear the answer. + +“Flashes of it,” said Snape, his lip curling. “To whom +did the dog belong?” + +“My Aunt Marge,” Harry muttered, hating Snape. + +“Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it +might have been,” said Snape, raising his wand once +more. “You managed to stop me eventually, though +you wasted time and energy shouting. You must +remain focused. Repel me with your brain and you +will not need to resort to your wand.” + +“I’m trying,” said Harry angrily, “but you’re not telling +me how!” + +“Manners, Potter,” said Snape dangerously. “Now, I +want you to close your eyes.” + +Harry threw him a filthy look before doing as he was +told. He did not like the idea of standing there with +his eyes shut while Snape faced him, carrying a +wand. + +“Clear your mind, Potter,” said Snape ’s cold voice. +“Let go of all emotion...” + +But Harry’s anger at Snape continued to pound +through his veins like venom. Let go of his anger? He +could as easily detach his legs... + + + +Page | 683Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’re not doing it, Potter... You will need more +discipline than this... Focus, now...” + +Harry tried to empty his mind, tried not to think, or +remember, or feel... + +“Let’s go again ... on the count of three ... one — two +— three — Legilimensl” + +A great black dragon was rearing in front of him... His +father and mother were waving at him out of an +enchanted mirror. . . Cedric Diggory was lying on the +ground with blank eyes staring at him... + +“NOOOOOOO!” + +He was on his knees again, his face buried in his +hands, his brain aching as though someone had been +trying to pull it from his skull. + +“Get up!” said Snape sharply. “Get up! You are not +trying, you are making no effort, you are allowing me +access to memories you fear, handing me weapons!” + +Harry stood up again, his heart thumping wildly as +though he had really just seen Cedric dead in the +graveyard. Snape looked paler than usual, and +angrier, though not nearly as angry as Harry was. + +“I — am — making — an — effort,” he said through +clenched teeth. + +“I told you to empty yourself of emotion!” + +“Yeah? Well, I’m finding that hard at the moment,” +Harry snarled. + +“Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark +Lord!” said Snape savagely. “Fools who wear their + +Page | 684Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control +their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and +allow themselves to be provoked this easily — weak +people, in other words — they stand no chance +against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with +absurd ease, Potter!” + +“I am not weak,” said Harry in a low voice, fury now +pumping through him so that he thought he might +attack Snape in a moment. + +“Then prove it! Master yourself!” spat Snape. “Control +your anger, discipline your mind! We shall try again! +Get ready, now! Legilimens\” + +He was watching Uncle Vernon hammering the letter +box shut... A hundred dementors were drifting across +the lake in the grounds toward him... He was running +along a windowless passage with Mr. Weasley... They +were drawing nearer to the plain black door at the +end of the corridor. . . Harry expected to go through it +. . . but Mr. Weasley led him off to the left, down a +flight of stone steps... + +“I KNOW! I KNOW!” + +He was on all fours again on Snape’s office floor, his +scar was prickling unpleasantly, but the voice that +had just issued from his mouth was triumphant. He +pushed himself up again to find Snape staring at him, +his wand raised. It looked as though, this time, Snape +had lifted the spell before Harry had even tried to +fight back. + +“What happened then, Potter?” he asked, eyeing +Harry intently. + +“I saw — I remembered,” Harry panted. “I’ve just +realized ...” + +Page | 685Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Realized what?” asked Snape sharply. + +Harry did not answer at once; he was still savoring +the moment of blinding realization as he rubbed his +forehead... + +He had been dreaming about a windowless corridor +ending in a locked door for months, without once +realizing that it was a real place. Now, seeing the +memory again, he knew that all along he had been +dreaming about the corridor down which he had run +with Mr. Weasley on the twelfth of August as they +hurried to the courtrooms in the Ministry. It was the +corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries, and +Mr. Weasley had been there the night that he had +been attacked by Voldemort’s snake... + +He looked up at Snape. + +“What’s in the Department of Mysteries?” + +“What did you say?” Snape asked quietly and Harry +saw, with deep satisfaction, that Snape was +unnerved. + +“I said, what’s in the Department of Mysteries, sir?” +Harry said. + +“And why,” said Snape slowly, “would you ask such a +thing?” + +“Because,” said Harry, watching Snape closely for a +reaction, “that corridor I’ve just seen — I’ve been +dreaming about it for months — I’ve just recognized it +— it leads to the Department of Mysteries . . . and I +think Voldemort wants something from — ” + +“I have told you not to say the Dark Lord’s name\” + + + +Page | 686Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +They glared at each other. Harry’s scar seared again, +but he did not care. Snape looked agitated. When he +spoke again he sounded as though he was trying to +appear cool and unconcerned. + +“There are many things in the Department of +Mysteries, Potter, few of which you would understand +and none of which concern you, do I make myself +plain?” + +“Yes,” Harry said, still rubbing his prickling scar, +which was becoming more painful. + +“I want you back here same time on Wednesday, and +we will continue work then.” + +“Fine,” said Harry. He was desperate to get out of +Snape ’s office and find Ron and Hermione. + +“You are to rid your mind of all emotion every night +before sleep — empty it, make it blank and calm, you +understand?” + +“Yes,” said Harry, who was barely listening. + +“And be warned, Potter ... I shall know if you have not +practiced ...” + +“Right,” Harry mumbled. He picked up his schoolbag, +swung it over his shoulder, and hurried toward the +office door. As he opened it he glanced back at Snape, +who had his back to Harry and was scooping his own +thoughts out of the Pensieve with the tip of his wand +and replacing them carefully inside his own head. +Harry left without another word, closing the door +carefully behind him, his scar still throbbing +painfully. + + + +Page | 687Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry found Ron and Hermione in the library, where +they were working on Umbridge’s most recent ream of +homework. Other students, nearly all of them fifth +years, sat at lamp-lit tables nearby, noses close to +books, quills scratching feverishly, while the sky +outside the mullioned windows grew steadily blacker. +The only other sound was the slight squeaking of one +of Madam Pince’s shoes as the librarian prowled the +aisles menacingly, breathing down the necks of those +touching her precious books. + +Harry felt shivery; his scar was still aching, he felt +almost feverish. When he sat down opposite Ron and +Hermione he caught sight of himself in the window +opposite. He was very white, and his scar seemed to +be showing up more clearly than usual. + +“How did it go?” Hermione whispered, and then, +looking concerned, “Are you all right, Harry?” + +“Yeah ... fine ... I dunno,” said Harry impatiently, +wincing as pain shot through his scar again. “Listen +... I’ve just realized something...” + +And he told them what he had just seen and deduced. + +“So ... so, are you saying ...” whispered Ron, as +Madam Pince swept past, squeaking slightly, “that the +weapon — the thing You-Know- Who’s after — is in +the Ministry of Magic?” + +“In the Department of Mysteries, it’s got to be,” Harry +whispered. “I saw that door when your dad took me +down to the courtrooms for my hearing and it’s +definitely the same one he was guarding when the +snake bit him.” + +Hermione let out a long, slow sigh. “Of course,” she +breathed. + +Page | 688Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Of course what?” said Ron rather impatiently. + +“Ron, think about it... Sturgis Podmore was trying to +get through a door at the Ministry of Magic... It must +have been that one, it’s too much of a coincidence!” + +“How come Sturgis was trying to break in when he’s +on our side?” said Ron. + +“Well, I don’t know,” Hermione admitted. “That is a bit +odd...” + +“So what’s in the Department of Mysteries?” Harry +asked Ron. “Has your dad ever mentioned anything +about it?” + +“I know they call the people who work in there +‘Unspeakables,’ ” said Ron, frowning. “Because no one +really seems to know what they do in there... Weird +place to have a weapon ...” + +“It’s not weird at all, it makes perfect sense,” said +Hermione. “It will be something top secret that the +Ministry has been developing, I expect... Harry, are +you sure you’re all right?” + +For Harry had just run both his hands hard over his +forehead as though trying to iron it. + +“Yeah ... fine ...” he said, lowering his hands, which +were trembling. “I just feel a bit ... I don’t like +Occlumency much...” + +“I expect anyone would feel shaky if they’d had their +mind attacked over and over again,” said Hermione +sympathetically. “Look, let’s get back to the common +room, well be a bit more comfortable there...” + + + +Page | 689Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But the common room was packed and full of shrieks +of laughter and excitement; Fred and George were +demonstrating their latest bit of joke shop +merchandise. + +“Headless Hats!” shouted George, as Fred waved a +pointed hat decorated with a fluffy pink feather at the +watching students. “Two Galleons each — watch +Fred, now!” + +Fred swept the hat onto his head, beaming. For a +second he merely looked rather stupid, then both hat +and head vanished. + +Several girls screamed, but everyone else was roaring +with laughter. + +“And off again!” shouted George, and Fred’s hand +groped for a moment in what seemed to be thin air +over his shoulder; then his head reappeared as he +swept the pink-feathered hat from it again. + +“How do those hats work, then?” said Hermione, +distracted from her homework and watching Fred and +George. “I mean, obviously it’s some kind of +Invisibility Spell, but it’s rather clever to have +extended the field of invisibility beyond the +boundaries of the charmed object... I’d imagine the +charm wouldn’t have a very long life though...” + +Harry did not answer; he was still feeling ill. + +“I’m going to have to do this tomorrow,” he muttered, +pushing the books he had just taken out of his bag +back inside it. + +“Well, write it in your homework planner then!” said +Hermione encouragingly. “So you don’t forget!” + + + +Page | 690Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry and Ron exchanged looks as he reached into +his bag, withdrew the planner and opened it +tentatively. + +“ Don’t leave it till later, you big second-rateri” chided +the book as Harry scribbled down Umbridge’s +homework. Hermione beamed at it. + +“I think 111 go to bed,” said Harry, stuffing the +homework planner back into his bag and making a +mental note to drop it in the fire the first opportunity +he got. + +He walked across the common room, dodging George, +who tried to put a Headless Hat on him, and reached +the peace and cool of the stone staircase to the boys’ +dormitories. He was feeling sick again, just as he had +the night he had had the vision of the snake, but +thought that if he could just lie down for a while he +would be all right. + +He opened the door of his dormitory and was one step +inside it when he experienced pain so severe he +thought that someone must have sliced into the top of +his head. He did not know where he was, whether he +was standing or lying down, he did not even know his +own name... + +Maniacal laughter was ringing in his ears... He was +happier than he had been in a very long time... +Jubilant, ecstatic, triumphant ... A wonderful, +wonderful thing had happened... + +“Harry? HARRY!” + +Someone had hit him around the face. The insane +laughter was punctuated with a cry of pain. The +happiness was draining out of him, but the laughter +continued... + +Page | 691Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He opened his eyes and as he did so, he became +aware that the wild laughter was coming out of his +own mouth. The moment he realized this, it died +away; Harry lay panting on the floor, staring up at the +ceiling, the scar on his forehead throbbing horribly. +Ron was bending over him, looking very worried. + +“What happened?” he said. + +“I ... dunno ...” Harry gasped, sitting up again. “He’s +really happy ... really happy ...” + +“You-Know-Who is?” + +“Something good’s happened,” mumbled Harry. He +was shaking as badly as he had done after seeing the +snake attack Mr. Weasley and felt very sick. +“Something he’s been hoping for.” + +The words came, just as they had back in the +Gryffindor changing room, as though a stranger was +speaking them through Harry’s mouth, yet he knew +they were true. He took deep breaths, willing himself +not to vomit all over Ron. He was very glad that Dean +and Seamus were not here to watch this time. + +“Hermione told me to come and check on you,” said +Ron in a low voice, helping Harry to his feet. “She +says your defenses will be low at the moment, after +Snape’s been fiddling around with your mind... Still, I +suppose it’ll help in the long run, won’t it?” + +He looked doubtfully at Harry as he helped him +toward bed. Harry nodded without any conviction and +slumped back on his pillows, aching all over from +having fallen to the floor so often that evening, his +scar still prickling painfully. He could not help feeling +that his first foray into Occlumency had weakened his +mind’s resistance rather than strengthening it, and +Page | 692Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he wondered, with a feeling of great trepidation, what +had happened to make Lord Voldemort the happiest +he had been in fourteen years. + + + +Page | 693Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE BEETLE AT BAY + +Harry’s question was answered the very next +morning. When Hermione’s Daily Prophet arrived she +smoothed it out, gazed for a moment at the front +page, and then gave a yelp that caused everyone in +the vicinity to stare at her. + +“What?” said Harry and Ron together. + +For an answer she spread the newspaper on the table +in front of them and pointed at ten black-and-white +photographs that filled the whole of the front page, +nine showing wizards’ faces and the tenth, a witch’s. +Some of the people in the photographs were silently +jeering; others were tapping their fingers on the frame +of their pictures, looking insolent. Each picture was +captioned with a name and the crime for which the +person had been sent to Azkaban. + +Antonin Dolohov, read the legend beneath a wizard +with a long, pale, twisted face who was sneering up at +Harry, convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and +Fabian Prewett. + +Page | 694Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +Augustus Rookwood, said the caption beneath a +pockmarked man with greasy hair who was leaning +against the edge of his picture, looking bored, +convicted of leaking Ministry of Magic Secrets to He- +Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. + +But Harry’s eyes were drawn to the picture of the +witch. Her face had leapt out at him the moment he +had seen the page. She had long, dark hair that +looked unkempt and straggly in the picture, though +he had seen it sleek, thick, and shining. She glared +up at him through heavily lidded eyes, an arrogant, +disdainful smile playing around her thin mouth. Like +Sirius, she retained vestiges of great good looks, but +something — perhaps Azkaban — had taken most of +her beauty. + +Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted of the torture and +permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice +Longbottom. + +Hermione nudged Harry and pointed at the headline +over the pictures, which Harry, concentrating on +Bellatrix, had not yet read. + +MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN + +MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS “RALLYING POINT” + +FOR OLD DEATH EATERS + +“Black?” said Harry loudly. “Not — ?” + +“ Shhh\ ” whispered Hermione desperately. “Not so loud +— just read it!” + +The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that +there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. + + + +Page | 695Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius +Fudge, Minister of Magic, confirmed that ten high- +security prisoners escaped in the early hours of +yesterday evening, and that he has already informed +the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of +these individuals. + +“We find ourselves, most unfortunately, in the same +position we were two and a half years ago when the +murderer Sirius Black escaped, ” said Fudge last night. +“Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An +escape of this magnitude suggests outside help, and +we must remember that Black, as the first person ever +to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally placed to +help others follow in his footsteps. We think it likely +that these individuals, who include Black’s cousin, +Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their +leader. We are, however, doing all we can to round up +the criminals and beg the magical community to remain +alert and cautious. On no account should any of these +individuals be approached. ” + +“There you are, Harry,” said Ron, looking awestruck. +“That’s why he was happy last night...” + +“I don’t believe this,” snarled Harry, “Fudge is blaming +the breakout on Sirius?” + +“What other options does he have?” said Hermione +bitterly. “He can hardly say, ‘Sorry everyone, +Dumbledore warned me this might happen, the +Azkaban guards have joined Lord Voldemort’ — stop +whimpering, Ron — ‘and now Voldemort’s worst +supporters have broken out too.’ I mean, he’s spent a +good six months telling everyone you and Dumbledore +are liars, hasn’t he?” + +Hermione ripped open the newspaper and began to +read the report inside while Harry looked around the + +Page | 696Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Great Hall. He could not understand why his fellow +students were not looking scared or at least +discussing the terrible piece of news on the front +page, but very few of them took the newspaper every +day like Hermione. There they all were, talking about +homework and Quidditch and who knew what other +rubbish, and outside these walls ten more Death +Eaters had swollen Voldemort’s ranks... + +He glanced up at the staff table. It was a different +story here: Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall +were deep in conversation, both looking extremely +grave. Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped +against a bottle of ketchup and was reading the front +page with such concentration that she was not +noticing the gentle drip of egg yolk falling into her lap +from her stationary spoon. Meanwhile, at the far end +of the table, Professor Umbridge was tucking into a +bowl of porridge. For once her pouchy toad’s eyes +were not sweeping the Great Hall looking for +misbehaving students. She scowled as she gulped +down her food and every now and then she shot a +malevolent glance up the table to where Dumbledore +and McGonagall were talking so intently. + +“Oh my — ” said Hermione wonderingly, still staring at +the newspaper. + +“What now?” said Harry quickly; he was feeling +jumpy. + +“It’s ... horrible,” said Hermione, looking shaken. She +folded back page ten of the newspaper and handed it +back to Harry and Ron. + +TRAGIC DEMISE OF + +MINISTRY OF MAGIC WORKER + + + +Page | 697Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +St. Mungo’s Hospital promised a full inquiry last +night after Ministry of Magic worker Broderick Bode, +49, was discovered dead in his bed, strangled by a +potted-plant. Healers called to the scene were unable +to revive Mr. Bode, who had been injured in a +workplace accident some weeks prior to his death. + +Healer Miriam Strout, who was in charge of Mr. + +Bode’s ward at the time of the incident, has been +suspended on full pay and was unavailable for +comment yesterday, but a spokeswizard for the +hospital said in a statement, “St. Mungo’s deeply +regrets the death of Mr. Bode, whose health was +improving steadily prior to this tragic accident. + +“We have strict guidelines on the decorations +permitted on our wards but it appears that Healer +Strout, busy over the Christmas period, overlooked +the dangers of the plant on Mr. Bode’s bedside table. +As his speech and mobility improved, Healer Strout +encouraged Mr. Bode to look after the plant himself, +unaware that it was not an innocent Flitterbloom, but +a cutting of Devil’s Snare, which, when touched by +the convalescent Mr. Bode, throttled him instantly. + +“St. Mungo’s is as yet unable to account for the +presence of the plant on the ward and asks any witch +or wizard with information to come forward.” + +“Bode ...” said Ron. “Bode. It rings a bell...” + +“We saw him,” Hermione whispered. “In St. Mungo’s, +remember? He was in the bed opposite Lockhart’s, +just lying there, staring at the ceiling. And we saw the +Devil’s Snare arrive. She — the Healer — said it was a +Christmas present...” + +Harry looked back at the story. A feeling of horror was +rising like bile in his throat. + +Page | 698Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How come we didn’t recognize Devil’s Snare ... ? +We’ve seen it before ... we could’ve stopped this from +happening ...” + +“Who expects Devil’s Snare to turn up in a hospital +disguised as a potted plant?” said Ron sharply. “It’s +not our fault, whoever sent it to the bloke is to blame! +They must be a real prat, why didn’t they check what +they were buying?” + +“Oh come on, Ron!” said Hermione shakily, “I don’t +think anyone could put Devil’s Snare in a pot and not +realize it tries to kill whoever touches it? This — this +was murder... A clever murder, as well... If the plant +was sent anonymously, how’s anyone ever going to +find out who did it?” + +Harry was not thinking about Devil’s Snare. He was +remembering taking the lift down to the ninth level of +the Ministry on the day of his hearing, and the +sallow-faced man who had got in on the Atrium level. + +“I met Bode,” he said slowly. “I saw him at the +Ministry with your dad ...” + +Ron’s mouth fell open. + +“I’ve heard Dad talk about him at home! He was an +Unspeakable — he worked in the Department of +Mysteries!” + +They looked at one another for a moment, then +Hermione pulled the newspaper back toward her, +closed it, glared for a moment at the pictures of the +ten escaped Death Eaters on the front, then leapt to +her feet. + +“Where are you going?” said Ron, startled. + + + +Page | 699Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“To send a letter,” said Hermione, swinging her bag +onto her shoulder. “It ... well, I don’t know whether ... +but it’s worth trying ... and I’m the only one who can + + + +“I hate it when she does that,” grumbled Ron as he +and Harry got up from the table and made their own, +slower way out of the Great Hall. “Would it kill her to +tell us what she’s up to for once? It’d take her about +ten more seconds — hey, Hagrid!” + +Hagrid was standing beside the doors into the +entrance hall, waiting for a crowd of Ravenclaws to +pass. He was still as heavily bruised as he had been +on the day he had come back from his mission to the +giants and there was a new cut right across the +bridge of his nose. + +“All righ’, you two?” he said, trying to muster a smile +but managing only a kind of pained grimace. + +“Are you okay, Hagrid?” asked Harry, following him as +he lumbered after the Ravenclaws. + +“Fine, fine,” said Hagrid with a feeble assumption of +airiness; he waved a hand and narrowly missed +concussing a frightened-looking Professor Vector, who +was passing. “Jus’ busy, yeh know, usual stuff — +lessons ter prepare — couple o’ salamanders got scale +rot — an’ I’m on probation,” he mumbled. + +“ You’re on probation?” said Ron very loudly, so that +many students passing looked around curiously. +“Sorry — I mean — you’re on probation?” he +whispered. + +“Yeah,” said Hagrid. “ ’S’no more’n I expected, ter tell +yeh the truth. Yeh migh’ not���ve picked up on it, bu’ +that inspection didn’ go too well, yeh know ... + +Page | 700Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +anyway,” he sighed deeply. “Bes’ go an mb a bit more +chili powder on them salamanders or their tails’ll be +hangin’ off ’em next. See yeh, Harry ... Ron ...” + +He trudged away, out the front doors and down the +stone steps into the damp grounds. Harry watched +him go, wondering how much more bad news he +could stand. + +The fact that Hagrid was now on probation became +common knowledge within the school over the next +few days, but to Harry’s indignation, hardly anybody +appeared to be upset about it; indeed, some people, +Draco Malfoy prominent among them, seemed +positively gleeful. As for the freakish death of an +obscure Department of Mysteries employee in St. +Mungo’s, Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to be the +only people who knew or cared. There was only one +topic of conversation in the corridors now: the ten +escaped Death Eaters, whose story had finally filtered +through the school from those few people who read +the newspapers. Rumors were flying that some of the +convicts had been spotted in Hogsmeade, that they +were supposed to be hiding out in the Shrieking +Shack and that they were going to break into +Hogwarts, just as Sirius Black had done. + +Those who came from Wizarding families had grown +up hearing the names of these Death Eaters spoken +with almost as much fear as Voldemort’s; the crimes +they had committed during the days of Voldemort’s +reign of terror were legendary. There were relatives of +their victims among the Hogwarts students, who now +found themselves the unwilling objects of a gruesome +sort of reflected fame as they walked the corridors: +Susan Bones, who had an uncle, aunt, and cousins +who had all died at the hands of one of the ten, said +miserably during Herbology that she now had a good +idea what it felt like to be Harry. + +Page | 701Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And I don’t know how you stand it, it’s horrible,” she +said bluntly, dumping far too much dragon manure +on her tray of Screechsnap seedlings, causing them to +wriggle and squeak in discomfort. + +It was true that Harry was the subject of much +renewed muttering and pointing in the corridors these +days, yet he thought he detected a slight difference in +the tone of the whisperers’ voices. They sounded +curious rather than hostile now, and once or twice he +was sure he overheard snatches of conversation that +suggested that the speakers were not satisfied with +the Prophet’s version of how and why ten Death +Eaters had managed to break out of Azkaban fortress. +In their confusion and fear, these doubters now +seemed to be turning to the only other explanation +available to them, the one that Harry and +Dumbledore had been expounding since the previous +year. + +It was not only the students’ mood that had changed. +It was now quite common to come across two or three +teachers conversing in low, urgent whispers in the +corridors, breaking off their conversations the +moment they saw students approaching. + +“They obviously can’t talk freely in the staffroom +anymore,” said Hermione in a low voice, as she, + +Harry, and Ron passed Professors McGonagall, +Flitwick, and Sprout huddled together outside the +Charms classroom one day. “Not with Umbridge +there.” + +“Reckon they know anything new?” said Ron, gazing +back over his shoulder at the three teachers. + +“If they do, we’re not going to hear about it, are we?” +said Harry angrily. “Not after Decree ... What number +are we on now?” + +Page | 702Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +For new signs had appeared on the house notice +boards the morning after news of the Azkaban +breakout: + +— BY ORDER OF — + +THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS + +Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any +information that is not strictly related to the subjects +they are paid to teach. + +The above is in accordance with + +Educational Decree Number Twenty-six. + +Signed: + +Dolores Jane Umbridge +HIGH INQUISITOR + +This latest decree had been the subject of a great +number of jokes among the students. Lee Jordan had +pointed out to Umbridge that by the terms of the new +rule she was not allowed to tell Fred and George off +for playing Exploding Snap in the back of the class. + +“Exploding Snap’s got nothing to do with Defense +Against the Dark Arts, Professor! That’s not +information relating to your subject!” + +When Harry next saw Lee, the back of his hand was +bleeding rather badly. Harry recommended essence of +murtlap. + +Harry had thought that the breakout from Azkaban +might have humbled Umbridge a little, that she might + + + +Page | 703Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +have been abashed at the catastrophe that had +occurred right under her beloved Fudge���s nose. It +seemed, however, to have only intensified her furious +desire to bring every aspect of life at Hogwarts under +her personal control. She seemed determined at the +very least to achieve a sacking before long, and the +only question was whether it would be Professor +Trelawney or Hagrid who went first. + +Every single Divination and Care of Magical Creatures +lesson was now conducted in the presence of +Umbridge and her clipboard. She lurked by the fire in +the heavily perfumed tower room, interrupting +Professor Trelawney’s increasingly hysterical talks +with difficult questions about Ornithomancy and +Heptomology, insisting that she predict students’ +answers before they gave them and demanding that +she demonstrate her skill at the crystal ball, the tea +leaves, and the rune stones in turn. Harry thought +that Professor Trelawney might soon crack under the +strain; several times he passed her in the corridors (in +itself a very unusual occurrence as she generally +remained in her tower room), muttering wildly to +herself, wringing her hands, and shooting terrified +glances over her shoulder, all the time giving off a +powerful smell of cooking sherry. If he had not been +so worried about Hagrid, he would have felt sorry for +her — but if one of them was to be ousted out of a +job, there could be only one choice for Harry as to +who should remain. + +Unfortunately, Harry could not see that Hagrid was +putting up a better show than Trelawney. Though he +seemed to be following Hermione’s advice and had +shown them nothing more frightening than a crup, a +creature indistinguishable from a Jack Russell terrier +except for its forked tail, since before Christmas, he +also seemed to have lost his nerve. He was oddly +distracted and jumpy in lessons, losing the thread of +Page | 704Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +what he was saying while talking to the class, +answering questions wrongly and glancing anxiously +at Umbridge all the time. He was also more distant +with Harry, Ron, and Hermione than he had ever +been before, expressly forbidding them to visit him +after dark. + +“If she catches yeh, it’ll be all of our necks on the +line,” he told them flatly, and with no desire to do +anything that jeopardized his job further, they +abstained from walking down to his hut in the +evenings. It seemed to Harry that Umbridge was +steadily depriving him of everything that made his life +at Hogwarts worth living: visits to Hagrid’s house, +letters from Sirius, his Firebolt, and Quidditch. He +took his revenge the only way he had: redoubling his +efforts for the D.A. + +Harry was pleased to see that all of them, even +Zacharias Smith, had been spurred to work harder +than ever by the news that ten more Death Eaters +were now on the loose, but in nobody was this +improvement more pronounced than in Neville. The +news of his parents’ attacker’s escape had wrought a +strange and even slightly alarming change in him. He +had not once mentioned his meeting with Harry, Ron, +and Hermione on the closed ward in St. Mungo’s, and +taking their lead from him, they had kept quiet about +it too. Nor had he said anything on the subject of +Bellatrix and her fellow torturers’ escape; in fact, he +barely spoke during D.A. meetings anymore, but +worked relentlessly on every new jinx and +countercurse Harry taught them, his plump face +screwed up in concentration, apparently indifferent to +injuries or accidents, working harder than anyone +else in the room. He was improving so fast it was +quite unnerving and when Harry taught them the +Shield Charm, a means of deflecting minor jinxes so + + + +Page | 705Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +that they rebounded upon the attacker, only +Hermione mastered the charm faster than Neville. + +In fact Harry would have given a great deal to be +making as much progress at Occlumency as Neville +was making during D.A. meetings. Harry’s sessions +with Snape, which had started badly enough, were +not improving; on the contrary, Harry felt he was +getting worse with every lesson. + +Before he had started studying Occlumency, his scar +had prickled occasionally, usually during the night, or +else following one of those strange flashes of +Voldemort’s thoughts or moods that he experienced +every now and then. Nowadays, however, his scar +hardly ever stopped prickling, and he often felt +lurches of annoyance or cheerfulness that were +unrelated to what was happening to him at the time, +which were always accompanied by a particularly +painful twinge from his scar. He had the horrible +impression that he was slowly turning into a kind of +aerial that was tuned in to tiny fluctuations in +Voldemort’s mood, and he was sure he could date this +increased sensitivity firmly from his first Occlumency +lesson with Snape. What was more, he was now +dreaming about walking down the corridor toward the +entrance to the Department of Mysteries almost every +night, dreams that always culminated in him +standing longingly in front of the plain black door. + +“Maybe it’s a bit like an illness,” said Hermione, +looking concerned when Harry confided in her and +Ron. “A fever or something. It has to get worse before +it gets better.” + +“It’s lessons with Snape that are making it worse,” +said Harry flatly. “I’m getting sick of my scar hurting, +and I’m getting bored walking down that corridor +every night.” He rubbed his forehead angrily. “I just + +Page | 706Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wish the door would open, I’m sick of standing staring +at it — ” + +“That’s not funny,” said Hermione sharply. +“Dumbledore doesn’t want you to have dreams about +that corridor at all, or he wouldn’t have asked Snape +to teach you Occlumency. You’re just going to have to +work a bit harder in your lessons.” + +“I am working!” said Harry, nettled. “You try it +sometime, Snape trying to get inside your head, it’s +not a bundle of laughs, you know!” + +“Maybe ...” said Ron slowly. + +“Maybe what?” said Hermione rather snappishly. + +“Maybe it’s not Harry’s fault he can’t close his mind,” +said Ron darkly. + +“What do you mean?” said Hermione. + +“Well, maybe Snape isn’t really trying to help Harry...” + +Harry and Hermione stared at him. Ron looked darkly +and meaningfully from one to the other. + +“Maybe,” he said again in a lower voice, “he’s actually +trying to open Harry’s mind a bit wider . . . make it +easier for You-Know — ” + +“Shut up, Ron,” said Hermione angrily. “How many +times have you suspected Snape, and when have you +ever been right? Dumbledore trusts him, he works for +the Order, that ought to be enough.” + +“He used to be a Death Eater,” said Ron stubbornly. +“And we’ve never seen proof that he really swapped +sides...” + +Page | 707Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dumbledore trusts him,” Hermione repeated. “And if +we can’t trust Dumbledore, we can’t trust anyone.” + +With so much to worry about and so much to do — +startling amounts of homework that frequently kept +the fifth years working until past midnight, secret +D.A. meetings, and regular classes with Snape — +January seemed to be passing alarmingly fast. Before +Harry knew it, February had arrived, bringing with it +wetter and warmer weather and the prospect of the +second Hogsmeade visit of the year. Harry had had +very little time to spare on conversations with Cho +since they had agreed to visit the village together, but +suddenly found himself facing a Valentine’s Day +spent entirely in her company. + +On the morning of the fourteenth he dressed +particularly carefully. He and Ron arrived at breakfast +just in time for the arrival of the post owls. Hedwig +was not there — not that he had expected her — but +Hermione was tugging a letter from the beak of an +unfamiliar brown owl as they sat down. + +“And about time! If it hadn’t come today ...” she said +eagerly, tearing open the envelope and pulling out a +small piece of parchment. Her eyes sped from left to +right as she read through the message and a grimly +pleased expression spread across her face. + +“Listen, Harry,” she said, looking up at him. “This is +really important... Do you think you could meet me in +the Three Broomsticks around midday?” + +“Well ... I dunno,” said Harry dubiously. “Cho might +be expecting me to spend the whole day with her. We +never said what we were going to do.” + +“Well, bring her along if you must,” said Hermione +urgently. “But will you come?” + +Page | 708Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well ... all right, but why?” + + + +“I haven’t got time to tell you now, I’ve got to answer +this quickly — ” + +And she hurried out of the Great Hall, the letter +clutched in one hand and a piece of uneaten toast in +the other. + +“Are you coming?” Harry asked Ron, but he shook his +head, looking glum. + +“I can’t come into Hogsmeade at all, Angelina wants a +full day’s training. Like it’s going to help — we’re the +worst team I’ve ever seen. You should see Sloper and +Kirke, they’re pathetic, even worse than I am.” He +heaved a great sigh. “I dunno why Angelina won’t just +let me resign...” + +“It’s because you’re good when you’re on form, that’s +why,” said Harry irritably. + +He found it very hard to be sympathetic to Ron’s +plight when he himself would have given almost +anything to be playing in the forthcoming match +against Hufflepuff. Ron seemed to notice Harry’s tone, +because he did not mention Quidditch again during +breakfast, and there was a slight frostiness in the way +they said good-bye to each other shortly afterward. +Ron departed for the Quidditch pitch and Harry, after +attempting to flatten his hair while staring at his +reflection in the back of a teaspoon, proceeded alone +to the entrance hall to meet Cho, feeling very +apprehensive and wondering what on earth they were +going to talk about. + +She was waiting for him a little to the side of the oak +front doors, looking very pretty with her hair tied +back in a long ponytail. Harry’s feet seemed to be too + +Page | 709Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +big for his body as he walked toward her, and he was +suddenly horribly aware of his arms and how stupid +they looked swinging at his sides. + +“Hi,” said Cho slightly breathlessly. + +“Hi,” said Harry. + +They stared at each other for a moment, then Harry +said, “Well — er — shall we go, then?” + +“Oh — yes ...” + +They joined the queue of people being signed out by +Filch, occasionally catching each other’s eye and +grinning shiftily, but not talking to each other. Harry +was relieved when they reached the fresh air, finding +it easier to walk along in silence than just stand there +looking awkward. It was a fresh, breezy sort of day +and as they passed the Quidditch stadium, Harry +glimpsed Ron and Ginny skimming over the stands +and felt a horrible pang that he was not up there with +them... + +“You really miss it, don’t you?” said Cho. + +He looked around and saw her watching him. + +“Yeah,” sighed Harry. “I do.” + +“Remember the first time we played against each +other, in the third year?” she asked him. + +“Yeah,” said Harry, grinning. “You kept blocking me.” + +“And Wood told you not to be a gentleman and knock +me off my broom if you had to,” said Cho, smiling +reminiscently. “I heard he got taken on by Pride of +Portree, is that right?” + +Page | 710Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Nah, it was Puddlemere United, I saw him at the +World Cup last year.” + +“Oh, I saw you there too, remember? We were on the +same campsite. It was really good, wasn’t it?” + +The subject of the Quidditch World Cup carried them +all the way down the drive and out through the gates. +Harry could hardly believe how easy it was to talk to +her, no more difficult, in fact, than talking to Ron and +Hermione, and he was just starting to feel confident +and cheerful when a large gang of Slytherin girls +passed them, including Pansy Parkinson. + +“Potter and Chang!” screeched Pansy to a chorus of +snide giggles. “Urgh, Chang, I don’t think much of +your taste... At least Diggory was good-looking!” + +They sped up, talking and shrieking in a pointed +fashion with many exaggerated glances back at Harry +and Cho, leaving an embarrassed silence in their +wake. Harry could think of nothing else to say about +Quidditch, and Cho, slightly flushed, was watching +her feet. + +“So ... where d’you want to go?” Harry asked as they +entered Hogsmeade. The High Street was full of +students ambling up and down, peering into the shop +windows and messing about together on the +pavements. + +“Oh ... I don’t mind,” said Cho, shrugging. “Um ... +shall we just have a look in the shops or something?” + +They wandered toward Dervish and Banges. A large +poster had been stuck up in the window and a few +Hogsmeaders were looking at it. They moved aside +when Harry and Cho approached and Harry found +himself staring once more at the ten pictures of the +Page | 711Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +escaped Death Eaters. The poster (“By Order of the +Ministry of Magic”) offered a thousand-Galleon reward +to any witch or wizard with information relating to the +recapture of any of the convicts pictured. + +“It’s funny, isn’t it,” said Cho in a low voice, also +gazing up at the pictures of the Death Eaters. +“Remember when that Sirius Black escaped, and +there were dementors all over Hogsmeade looking for +him? And now ten Death Eaters are on the loose and +there aren’t dementors anywhere...” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, tearing his eyes away from +Bellatrix Lestrange’s face to glance up and down the +High Street. “Yeah, it is weird...” + +He was not sorry that there were no dementors +nearby, but now he came to think of it, their absence +was highly significant. They had not only let the +Death Eaters escape, they were not bothering to look +for them... It looked as though they really were +outside Ministry control now. + +The ten escaped Death Eaters were staring out of +every shop window he and Cho passed. It started to +rain as they passed Scrivenshaft’s; cold, heavy drops +of water kept hitting Harry’s face and the back of his +neck. + +“Um ... d’you want to get a coffee?” said Cho +tentatively, as the rain began to fall more heavily. + +“Yeah, all right,” said Harry, looking around. “Where +— ?” + +“Oh, there’s a really nice place just up here, haven’t +you ever been to Madam Puddifoot’s?” she said +brightly, and she led him up a side road and into a +small tea shop that Harry had never noticed before. It + +Page | 712Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +was a cramped, steamy little place where everything +seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows. +Harry was reminded unpleasantly of Umbridge’s +office. + +“Cute, isn’t it?” said Cho happily. + +“Er ... yeah,” said Harry untruthfully. + +“Look, she’s decorated it for Valentine’s Day!” said +Cho, indicating a number of golden cherubs that were +hovering over each of the small, circular tables, +occasionally throwing pink confetti over the +occupants. + +“Aaah ...” + +They sat down at the last remaining table, which was +situated in the steamy window. Roger Davies, the +Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, was sitting about a +foot and a half away with a pretty blonde girl. They +were holding hands. The sight made Harry feel +uncomfortable, particularly when, looking around the +tea shop, he saw that it was full of nothing but +couples, all of them holding hands. Perhaps Cho +would expect him to hold her hand. + +“What can I get you, m’dears?” said Madam +Puddifoot, a very stout woman with a shiny black +bun, squeezing between their table and Roger +Davies’s with great difficulty. + +“Two coffees, please,” said Cho. + +In the time it took for their coffees to arrive, Roger +Davies and his girlfriend started kissing over their +sugar bowl. Harry wished they wouldn’t; he felt that +Davies was setting a standard with which Cho would +soon expect him to compete. He felt his face growing +Page | 713Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hot and tried staring out of the window, but it was so +steamed up he could not see the street outside. To +postpone the moment when he had to look at Cho he +stared up at the ceiling as though examining the +paintwork and received a handful of confetti in the +face from their hovering cherub. + +After a few more painful minutes Cho mentioned +Umbridge; Harry seized on the subject with relief and +they passed a few happy moments abusing her, but +the subject had already been so thoroughly canvassed +during D.A. meetings it did not last very long. Silence +fell again. Harry was very conscious of the slurping +noises coming from the table next door and cast +wildly around for something else to say. + +“Er ... listen, d’you want to come with me to the Three +Broomsticks at lunchtime? I’m meeting Hermione +Granger there.” + +Cho raised her eyebrows. + +“You’re meeting Hermione Granger? Today?” + +“Yeah. Well, she asked me to, so I thought I would. +D’you want to come with me? She said it wouldn’t +matter if you did.” + +“Oh ... well ... that was nice of her.” + +But Cho did not sound as though she thought it was +nice at all; on the contrary, her tone was cold and all +of a sudden she looked rather forbidding. + +A few more minutes passed in total silence, Harry +drinking his coffee so fast that he would soon need a +fresh cup. Next door, Roger Davies and his girlfriend +seemed glued together by the lips. + + + +Page | 714Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Cho’s hand was lying on the table beside her coffee, +and Harry was feeling a mounting pressure to take +hold of it. Just do it, he told himself, as a fount of +mingled panic and excitement surged up inside his +chest. Just reach out and grab it... Amazing how much +more difficult it was to extend his arm twelve inches +and touch her hand than to snatch a speeding Snitch +from midair ... + +But just as he moved his hand forward, Cho took +hers off the table. She was now watching Roger +Davies kissing his girlfriend with a mildly interested +expression. + +“He asked me out, you know,” she said in a quiet +voice. “A couple of weeks ago. Roger. I turned him +down, though.” + +Harry, who had grabbed the sugar bowl to excuse his +sudden lunging movement across the table, could not +think why she was telling him this. If she wished she +were sitting at the table next door being heartily +kissed by Roger Davies, why had she agreed to come +out with him? + +He said nothing. Their cherub threw another handful +of confetti over them; some of it landed in the last +cold dregs of coffee Harry had been about to drink. + +“I came in here with Cedric last year,” said Cho. + +In the second or so it took for him to take in what she +had said, Harry’s insides had become glacial. He +could not believe she wanted to talk about Cedric +now, while kissing couples surrounded them and a +cherub floated over their heads. + +Cho’s voice was rather higher when she spoke again. + + + +Page | 715Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I’ve been meaning to ask you for ages... Did Cedric — +did he m-m-mention me at all before he died?” + +This was the very last subject on earth Harry wanted +to discuss, and least of all with Cho. + +“Well — no — ” he said quietly. “There — there wasn’t +time for him to say anything. Erm ... so ... d’you ... +d’you get to see a lot of Quidditch in the holidays? + +You support the Tornados, right?” + +His voice sounded falsely bright and cheery. To his +horror, he saw that her eyes were swimming with +tears again, just as they had been after the last D.A. +meeting before Christmas. + +“Look,” he said desperately, leaning in so that nobody +else could overhear, “let’s not talk about Cedric right +now... Let’s talk about something else...” + +But this, apparently, was quite the wrong thing to +say. + +“I thought,” she said, tears spattering down onto the +table. “I thought you’d u-u-understand! I need to talk +about it! Surely you n-need to talk about it t-too! I +mean, you saw it happen, d-didn’t you?” + +Everything was going nightmarishly wrong; Roger +Davies’ girlfriend had even unglued herself to look +around at Cho crying. + +“Well — I have talked about it,” Harry said in a +whisper, “to Ron and Hermione, but — ” + +“Oh, you’ll talk to Hermione Granger!” she said +shrilly, her face now shining with tears, and several +more kissing couples broke apart to stare. “But you +won’t talk to me! P-perhaps it would be best if we just + +Page | 716Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +... just p-paid and you went and met up with +Hermione G-Granger, like you obviously want to!” + +Harry stared at her, utterly bewildered, as she seized +a frilly napkin and dabbed at her shining face with it. + +“Cho?” he said weakly, wishing Roger would seize his +girlfriend and start kissing her again to stop her +goggling at him and Cho. + +“Go on, leave!” she said, now crying into the napkin. + +“I don’t know why you asked me out in the first place +if you’re going to make arrangements to meet other +girls right after me... How many are you meeting after +Hermione?” + +“It’s not like that!” said Harry, and he was so relieved +at finally understanding what she was annoyed about +that he laughed, which he realized a split second too +late was a mistake. + +Cho sprang to her feet. The whole tearoom was quiet, +and everybody was watching them now. + +“I’ll see you around, Harry,” she said dramatically, +and hiccuping slightly she dashed to the door, +wrenched it open, and hurried off into the pouring +rain. + +“Cho!” Harry called after her, but the door had +already swung shut behind her with a tuneful tinkle. + +There was total silence within the tea shop. Every eye +was upon Harry. He threw a Galleon down onto the +table, shook pink confetti out of his eyes, and +followed Cho out of the door. + +It was raining hard now, and she was nowhere to be +seen. He simply did not understand what had + +Page | 717Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +happened; half an hour ago they had been getting +along fine. + +“Women!” he muttered angrily, sloshing down the +rain-washed street with his hands in his pockets. +“What did she want to talk about Cedric for anyway? +Why does she always want to drag up a subject that +makes her act like a human hosepipe?” + +He turned right and broke into a splashy run, and +within minutes he was turning into the doorway of +the Three Broomsticks. He knew he was too early to +meet Hermione, but he thought it likely there would +be someone in here with whom he could spend the +intervening time. He shook his wet hair out of his +eyes and looked around. Hagrid was sitting alone in a +corner, looking morose. + +“Hi, Hagrid!” he said, when he had squeezed through +the crammed tables and pulled up a chair beside him. + +Hagrid jumped and looked down at Harry as though +he barely recognized him. Harry saw that he had two +fresh cuts on his face and several new bruises. + +“Oh, it’s you, Harry,” said Hagrid. “You all righ’?” + +“Yeah, I’m fine,” lied Harry; in fact, next to this +battered and mournful-looking Hagrid, he felt he did +not have much to complain about. “Er — are you +okay?” + +“Me?” said Hagrid. “Oh yeah, I’m grand, Harry, +grand...” + +He gazed into the depths of his pewter tankard, which +was the size of a large bucket, and sighed. Harry did +not know what to say to him. They sat side by side in + + + +Page | 718Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +silence for a moment. Then Hagrid said abruptly, “In +the same boat, you an’ me, aren’ we, Harry?” + +“Er — ” said Harry. + +“Yeah ... I’ve said it before... Both outsiders, like,” +said Hagrid, nodding wisely. “An’ both orphans. Yeah +... both orphans.” + +He took a great swig from his tankard. + +“Makes a diff’rence, havin’ a decent family,” he said. +“Me dad was decent. An’ your mum an’ dad were +decent. If they’d lived, life woulda bin diff’rent, eh?” + +“Yeah ... I s’pose,” said Harry cautiously. Hagrid +seemed to be in a very strange mood. + +“Family,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Whatever yeh say, +blood’s important...” + +And he wiped a trickle of it out of his eye. + +“Hagrid,” said Harry, unable to stop himself, “where +are you getting all these injuries?” + +“Eh?” said Hagrid, looking startled. “Wha’ injuries?” + +“All those!” said Harry, pointing at Hagrid ’s face. + +“Oh ... tha’s jus’ normal bumps an’ bruises, Harry,” +said Hagrid dismissively. “I got a rough job.” + +He drained his tankard, set it back upon the table, +and got to his feet. + +“I’ll be seein’yeh, Harry... Take care now...” + + + +Page | 719Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And he lumbered out of the pub looking wretched and +then disappeared into the torrential rain. Harry +watched him go, feeling miserable. Hagrid was +unhappy and he was hiding something, but he +seemed determined not to accept help. What was +going on? But before Harry could think about the +matter any further, he heard a voice calling his name. + +“Harry! Harry, over here!” + +Hermione was waving at him from the other side of +the room. He got up and made his way toward her +through the crowded pub. He was still a few tables +away when he realized that Hermione was not alone; +she was sitting at a table with the unlikeliest pair of +drinking mates he could ever have imagined: Luna +Lovegood and none other than Rita Skeeter, ex- +journalist on the Daily Prophet and one of Hermione’s +least favorite people in the world. + +“You’re early!” said Hermione, moving along to give +him room to sit down. “I thought you were with Cho, I +wasn’t expecting you for another hour at least!” + +“Cho?” said Rita at once, twisting around in her seat +to stare avidly at Harry. “A girl?” + +She snatched up her crocodile-skin handbag and +groped within it. + +“It’s none of your business if Harry’s been with a +hundred girls,” Hermione told Rita coolly. “So you can +put that away right now.” + +Rita had been on the point of withdrawing an acid- +green quill from her bag. Looking as though she had +been forced to swallow Stinksap, she snapped her bag +shut again. + + + +Page | 720Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What are you up to?” Harry asked, sitting down and +staring from Rita to Luna to Hermione. + + + +“Little Miss Perfect was just about to tell me when you +arrived,” said Rita, taking a large slurp of her drink. “I +suppose I’m allowed to talk to him, am I?” she shot at +Hermione. + +“Yes, I suppose you are,” said Hermione coldly. + +Unemployment did not suit Rita. The hair that had +once been set in elaborate curls now hung lank and +unkempt around her face. The scarlet paint on her +two-inch talons was chipped and there were a couple +of false jewels missing from her winged glasses. She +took another great gulp of her drink and said out of +the corner of her mouth, “Pretty girl, is she, Harry?” + +“One more word about Harry’s love life and the deal’s +off and that’s a promise,” said Hermione irritably. + +“What deal?” said Rita, wiping her mouth on the back +of her hand. “You haven’t mentioned a deal yet, Miss +Prissy, you just told me to turn up. Oh, one of these +days ...” She took a deep shuddering breath. + +“Yes, yes, one of these days you’ll write more horrible +stories about Harry and me,” said Hermione +indifferently. “Find someone who cares, why don’t +you?” + +“They’ve run plenty of horrible stories about Harry +this year without my help,” said Rita, shooting a +sideways look at him over the top of her glass and +adding in a rough whisper, “How has that made you +feel, Harry? Betrayed? Distraught? Misunderstood?” + +“He feels angry, of course,” said Hermione in a hard, +clear voice. “Because he’s told the Minister of Magic + +Page | 721Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the truth and the Minister’s too much of an idiot to +believe him.” + +“So you actually stick to it, do you, that He-Who- +Must-Not-Be-Named is back?” said Rita, lowering her +glass and subjecting Harry to a piercing stare while +her finger strayed longingly to the clasp of the +crocodile bag. “You stand by all this garbage +Dumbledore’s been telling everybody about You- +Know-Who returning and you being the sole witness +— ?” + +“I wasn’t the sole witness,” snarled Harry. “There were +a dozen-odd Death Eaters there as well. Want their +names?” + +“I’d love them,” breathed Rita, now fumbling in her +bag once more and gazing at him as though he was +the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. “A great +bold headline: ‘Potter Accuses ...’A subheading: + +‘Harry Potter Names Death Eaters Still Among Us.’ And +then, beneath a nice big photograph of you: + +‘Disturbed teenage survivor of You-Know-Who’s attack, +Harry Potter, 1 5, caused outrage yesterday by +accusing respectable and prominent members of the +Wizarding community of being Death Eaters...’ ” + +The Quick-Quotes Quill was actually in her hand and +halfway to her mouth when the rapturous expression +died out of her face. + +“But of course,” she said, lowering the quill and +looking daggers at Hermione, “Little Miss Perfect +wouldn’t want that story out there, would she?” + +“As a matter of fact,” said Hermione sweetly, “that’s +exactly what Little Miss Perfect does want.” + + + +Page | 722Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Rita stared at her. So did Harry. Luna, on the other +hand, sang, “Weasley Is Our King” dreamily under her +breath and stirred her drink with a cocktail onion on +a stick. + +“You want me to report what he says about He-Who- +Must-Not-Be-Named?” Rita asked Hermione in a +hushed voice. + +“Yes, I do,” said Hermione. “The true story. All the +facts. Exactly as Harry reports them. Hell give you all +the details, hell tell you the names of the +undiscovered Death Eaters he saw there, hell tell you +what Voldemort looks like now — oh, get a grip on +yourself,” she added contemptuously, throwing a +napkin across the table, for at the sound of +Voldemort’s name, Rita had jumped so badly that she +had slopped half her glass of firewhisky down herself. + +Rita blotted the front of her grubby raincoat, still +staring at Hermione. Then she said baldly, “The +Prophet wouldn’t print it. In case you haven’t noticed, +nobody believes his cock-and-bull story. Everyone +thinks he’s delusional. Now, if you let me write the +story from that angle — ” + +“We don’t need another story about how Harry’s lost +his marbles!” said Hermione angrily. “We’ve had +plenty of those already, thank you! I want him given +the opportunity to tell the truth!” + +“There’s no market for a story like that,” said Rita +coldly. + +“You mean the Prophet won’t print it because Fudge +won’t let them,” said Hermione irritably. + +Rita gave Hermione a long, hard look. Then, leaning +forward across the table toward her, she said in a + +Page | 723Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +businesslike tone, “All right, Fudge is leaning on the +Prophet, but it comes to the same thing. They won’t +print a story that shows Harry in a good light. Nobody +wants to read it. It’s against the public mood. This +last Azkaban breakout has got people quite worried +enough. People just don’t want to believe You-Know- +Who’s back.” + +“So the Daily Prophet exists to tell people what they +want to hear, does it?” said Hermione scathingly. + +Rita sat up straight again, her eyebrows raised, and +drained her glass of firewhisky. + +“The Prophet exists to sell itself, you silly girl,” she +said coldly. + +“My dad thinks it’s an awful paper,” said Luna, +chipping into the conversation unexpectedly. Sucking +on her cocktail onion, she gazed at Rita with her +enormous, protuberant, slightly mad eyes. “He +publishes important stories that he thinks the public +needs to know. He doesn’t care about making money.” + +Rita looked disparagingly at Luna. + +“I’m guessing your father runs some stupid little +village newsletter?” she said. “ Twenty-five Ways to +Mingle with Muggles’ and the dates of the next Bring- +and-Fly Sale?” + +“No,” said Luna, dipping her onion back into her +gillywater, “he’s the editor of The Quibbler.” + +Rita snorted so loudly that people at a nearby table +looked around in alarm. + + + +Page | 724Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ ‘Important stories he thinks the public needs to +know’?” she said witheringly. “I could manure my +garden with the contents of that rag.” + +“Well, this is your chance to raise the tone of it a bit, +isn’t it?” said Hermione pleasantly. “Luna says her +father’s quite happy to take Harry’s interview. That’s +who’ll be publishing it.” + +Rita stared at them both for a moment and then let +out a great whoop of laughter. + +“ The Quibbleii” she said, cackling. “You think people +will take him seriously if he’s published in The +Quibbler?” + +“Some people won’t,” said Hermione in a level voice. +“But the Daily Prophet’s version of the Azkaban +breakout had some gaping holes in it. I think a lot of +people will be wondering whether there isn’t a better +explanation of what happened, and if there’s an +alternative story available, even if it is published in a” +— she glanced sideways at Luna, “in a — well, an +unusual magazine — I think they might be rather +keen to read it.” + +Rita did not say anything for a while, but eyed +Hermione shrewdly, her head a little to one side. + +“All right, let’s say for a moment I’ll do it,” she said +abruptly. “What kind of fee am I going to get?” + +“I don’t think Daddy exactly pays people to write for +the magazine,” said Luna dreamily. “They do it +because it’s an honor, and, of course, to see their +names in print.” + + + +Page | 725Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Rita Skeeter looked as though the taste of Stinksap +was strong in her mouth again as she rounded on +Hermione. “I’m supposed to do this for free?” + +“Well, yes,” said Hermione calmly, taking a sip of her +drink. “Otherwise, as you very well know, I will inform +the authorities that you are an unregistered +Animagus. Of course, the Prophet might give you +rather a lot for an insider’s account of life in +Azkaban...” + +Rita looked as though she would have liked nothing +better than to seize the paper umbrella sticking out of +Hermione ’s drink and thrust it up her nose. + +“I don’t suppose I’ve got any choice, have I?” said Rita, +her voice shaking slightly. She opened her crocodile +bag once more, withdrew a piece of parchment, and +raised her Quick-Quotes Quill. + +“Daddy will be pleased,” said Luna brightly. A muscle +twitched in Rita’s jaw. + +“Okay, Harry?” said Hermione, turning to him. “Ready +to tell the public the truth?” + +“I suppose,” said Harry, watching Rita balancing the +Quick-Quotes Quill at the ready on the parchment +between them. + +“Fire away, then, Rita,” said Hermione serenely, +fishing a cherry out of the bottom of her glass. + + + +Page | 726Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + + +SEEN AND UNFORESEEN + +Luna said vaguely that she did not know how soon +Rita’s interview with Harry would appear in The +Quibbler, that her father was expecting a lovely long +article on recent sightings of Crumple-Horned +Snorkacks. “And, of course, that’ll be a very +important story, so Harry’s might have to wait for the +following issue,” said Luna. + +Harry had not found it an easy experience to talk +about the night when Voldemort had returned. Rita +had pressed him for every little detail, and he had +given her everything he could remember, knowing +that this was his one big opportunity to tell the world +the truth. He wondered how people would react to the +story. He guessed that it would confirm a lot of people +in the view that he was completely insane, not least +because his story would be appearing alongside utter +rubbish about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But the +breakout of Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow Death +Eaters had given Harry a burning desire to do +something, whether it worked or not... + + + +Page | 727Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Can’t wait to see what Umbridge thinks of you going +public,” said Dean, sounding awestruck at dinner on +Monday night. Seamus was shoveling down large +amounts of chicken-and-ham pie on Dean’s other +side, but Harry knew he was listening. + +“It’s the right thing to do, Harry,” said Neville, who +was sitting opposite him. He was rather pale, but +went on in a low voice, “It must have been ... tough ... +talking about it... Was it?” + +“Yeah,” mumbled Harry, “but people have got to know +what Voldemort’s capable of, haven’t they?” + +“That’s right,” said Neville, nodding, “and his Death +Eaters too ... People should know...” + +Neville left his sentence hanging and returned to his +baked potato. Seamus looked up, but when he caught +Harry’s eye he looked quickly back at his plate again. +After a while Dean, Seamus, and Neville departed for +the common room, leaving Harry and Hermione at the +table waiting for Ron, who had not yet had dinner +because of Quidditch practice. + +Cho Chang walked into the hall with her friend +Marietta. Harry’s stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, +but she did not look over at the Gryffindor table and +sat down with her back to him. + +“Oh, I forgot to ask you,” said Hermione brightly, +glancing over at the Ravenclaw table, “what happened +on your date with Cho? How come you were back so +early?” + +“Er ... well, it was ...” said Harry, pulling a dish of +rhubarb crumble toward him and helping himself to +seconds, “a complete fiasco, now that you mention it.” + + + +Page | 728Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And he told her what had happened in Madam +Puddifoot’s Tea Shop. + + + +"... so then,” he finished several minutes later, as the +final bit of crumble disappeared, “she jumps up, +right, and says ‘111 see you around, Harry,’ and runs +out of the place!” He put down his spoon and looked +at Hermione. “I mean, what was all that about? What +was going on?” + +Hermione glanced over at the back of Cho’s head and +sighed. “Oh, Harry,” she said sadly. “Well, I’m sorry, +but you were a bit tactless.” + +“Me, tactless?” said Harry, outraged. “One minute we +were getting on fine, next minute she was telling me +that Roger Davies asked her out, and how she used to +go and snog Cedric in that stupid tea shop — how +was I supposed to feel about that?” + +“Well, you see,” said Hermione, with the patient air of +one explaining that one plus one equals two to an +overemotional toddler, “you shouldn’t have told her +that you wanted to meet me halfway through your +date.” + +“But, but,” spluttered Harry, “but — you told me to +meet you at twelve and to bring her along, how was I +supposed to do that without telling her — ?” + +“You should have told her differently” said Hermione, +still with that maddeningly patient air. “You should +have said it was really annoying, but I’d made you +promise to come along to the Three Broomsticks, and +you really didn’t want to go, you’d much rather spend +the whole day with her, but unfortunately you +thought you really ought to meet me and would she +please, please come along with you, and hopefully +you’d be able to get away more quickly? And it might +Page | 729Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +have been a good idea to mention how ugly you think +I am too,” Hermione added as an afterthought. + +“But I don’t think you’re ugly,” said Harry, bemused. + +Hermione laughed. + +“Harry, you’re worse than Ron... Well, no, you’re not,” +she sighed, as Ron himself came stumping into the +Hall splattered with mud and looking grumpy. “Look +— you upset Cho when you said you were going to +meet me, so she tried to make you jealous. It was her +way of trying to find out how much you liked her.” + +“Is that what she was doing?” said Harry as Ron +dropped onto the bench opposite them and pulled +every dish within reach toward himself. “Well, +wouldn’t it have been easier if she’d just asked me +whether I liked her better than you?” + +“Girls don’t often ask questions like that,” said +Hermione. + +“Well, they should!” said Harry forcefully. “Then I +could’ve just told her I fancy her, and she wouldn’t +have had to get herself all worked up again about +Cedric dying!” + +“I’m not saying what she did was sensible,” said +Hermione, as Ginny joined them, just as muddy as +Ron and looking equally disgruntled. “I’m just trying +to make you see how she was feeling at the time.” + +“You should write a book,” Ron told Hermione as he +cut up his potatoes, “translating mad things girls do +so boys can understand them.” + +“Yeah,” said Harry fervently, looking over at the +Ravenclaw table. Cho had just got up; still not looking + +Page | 730Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +at him, she left the Great Hall. Feeling rather +depressed, he looked back at Ron and Ginny. “So, +how was Quidditch practice?” + +“It was a nightmare,” said Ron in a surly voice. + +“Oh come on,” said Hermione, looking at Ginny, “I’m +sure it wasn’t that — ” + +“Yes, it was,” said Ginny. “It was appalling. Angelina +was nearly in tears by the end of it.” + +Ron and Ginny went off for baths after dinner; Harry +and Hermione returned to the busy Gryffindor +common room and their usual pile of homework. +Harry had been struggling with a new star chart for +Astronomy for half an hour when Fred and George +turned up. + +“Ron and Ginny not here?” asked Fred, looking +around as he pulled up a chair and, when Harry +shook his head, he said, “Good. We were watching +their practice. They’re going to be slaughtered. They’re +complete rubbish without us.” + +“Come on, Ginny’s not bad,” said George fairly, sitting +down next to Fred. “Actually, I dunno how she got so +good, seeing how we never let her play with us...” + +“She’s been breaking into your broom shed in the +garden since the age of six and taking each of your +brooms out in turn when you weren’t looking,” said +Hermione from behind her tottering pile of Ancient +Rune books. + +“Oh,” said George, looking mildly impressed. “Well — +that’d explain it.” + + + +Page | 731Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Has Ron saved a goal yet?” asked Hermione, peering +over the top of Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms. + +“Well, he can do it if he doesn’t think anyone’s +watching him,” said Fred, rolling his eyes. “So all we +have to do is ask the crowd to turn their backs and +talk among themselves every time the Quaffle goes up +his end on Saturday.” + +He got up again and moved restlessly to the window, +staring out across the dark grounds. + +“You know, Quidditch was about the only thing in +this place worth staying for.” + +Hermione cast him a stern look. + +“You’ve got exams coming!” + +“Told you already, we’re not fussed about N.E.W.T.s,” +said Fred. “The Snackboxes are ready to roll, we +found out how to get rid of those boils, just a couple +of drops of murtlap essence sorts them, Lee put us +onto it...” + +George yawned widely and looked out disconsolately +at the cloudy night sky. + +“I dunno if I even want to watch this match. If +Zacharias Smith beats us I might have to kill myself.” + +“Kill him, more like,” said Fred firmly. + +“That’s the trouble with Quidditch,” said Hermione +absentmindedly, once again bent over her Rune +translation, “it creates all this bad feeling and tension +between the Houses.” + + + +Page | 732Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She looked up to find her copy of Spellman’s +Syllabary and caught Fred, George, and Harry looking +at her with expressions of mingled disgust and +incredulity on their faces. + +“Well, it does!” she said impatiently. “It’s only a game, +isn’t it?” + +“Hermione,” said Harry, shaking his head, “you’re +good on feelings and stuff, but you just don’t +understand about Quidditch.” + +“Maybe not,” she said darkly, returning to her +translation again, “but at least my happiness doesn’t +depend on Ron’s goalkeeping ability.” + +And though Harry would rather have jumped off the +Astronomy Tower than admit it to her, by the time he +had watched the game the following Saturday he +would have given any number of Galleons not to care +about Quidditch either. + +The very best thing you could say about the match +was that it was short; the Gryffindor spectators had +to endure only twenty-two minutes of agony. It was +hard to say what the worst thing was: Harry thought +it was a close-run contest between Ron’s fourteenth +failed save, Sloper missing the Bludger but hitting +Angelina in the mouth with his bat, and Kirke +shrieking and falling backward off his broom as +Zacharias Smith zoomed at him carrying the Quaffle. +The miracle was that Gryffindor only lost by ten +points: Ginny managed to snatch the Snitch from +right under Hufflepuff Seeker Summerby’s nose, so +that the final score was two hundred and forty versus +two hundred and thirty. + + + +Page | 733Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Good catch,” Harry told Ginny back in the common +room, where the atmosphere closely resembled that of +a particularly dismal funeral. + +“I was lucky,” she shrugged. “It wasn’t a very fast +Snitch and Summerby’s got a cold, he sneezed and +closed his eyes at exactly the wrong moment. Anyway, +once you’re back on the team — ” + +“Ginny, I’ve got a lifelong ban.” + +“You’re banned as long as Umbridge is in the school,” +Ginny corrected him. “There’s a difference. Anyway, +once you’re back, I think I’ll try out for Chaser. +Angelina and Alicia are both leaving next year and I +prefer goal-scoring to Seeking anyway.” + +Harry looked over at Ron, who was hunched in a +corner, staring at his knees, a bottle of butterbeer +clutched in his hand. + +“Angelina still won’t let him resign,” Ginny said, as +though reading Harry’s mind. “She says she knows +he’s got it in him.” + +Harry liked Angelina for the faith she was showing in +Ron, but at the same time thought it would really be +kinder to let him leave the team. Ron had left the +pitch to another booming chorus of “Weasley Is Our +King” sung with great gusto by the Slytherins, who +were now favorites to win the Quidditch Cup. + +Fred and George wandered over. + +“I haven’t got the heart to take the mickey out of him, +even,” said Fred, looking over at Ron’s crumpled +figure. “Mind you ... when he missed the fourteenth + + + +Page | 734Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He made wild motions with his arms as though doing +an upright doggy-paddle. + + + +“Well, I’ll save it for parties, eh?” + +Ron dragged himself up to bed shortly after this. Out +of respect for his feelings, Harry waited a while before +going up to the dormitory himself, so that Ron could +pretend to be asleep if he wanted to. Sure enough, +when Harry finally entered the room Ron was snoring +a little too loudly to be entirely plausible. + +Harry got into bed, thinking about the match. It had +been immensely frustrating watching from the +sidelines. He was quite impressed by Ginny’s +performance but he felt that if he had been playing he +could have caught the Snitch sooner... There had +been a moment when it had been fluttering near +Kirke’s ankle; if she hadn’t hesitated, she might have +been able to scrape a win for Gryffindor. . . + +Umbridge had been sitting a few rows below Harry +and Hermione. Once or twice she had turned squatly +in her seat to look at him, her wide toad’s mouth +stretched in what he thought had been a gloating +smile. The memory of it made him feel hot with anger +as he lay there in the dark. After a few minutes, +however, he remembered that he was supposed to be +emptying his mind of all emotion before he slept, as +Snape kept instructing him at the end of every +Occlumency lesson. + +He tried for a moment or two, but the thought of +Snape on top of memories of Umbridge merely +increased his sense of grumbling resentment, and he +found himself focusing instead on how much he +loathed the pair of them. Slowly, Ron’s snores died +away, replaced by the sound of deep, slow breathing. + +It took Harry much longer to get to sleep; his body +Page | 735Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +was tired, but it took his brain a long time to close +down. + + + +He dreamed that Neville and Professor Sprout were +waltzing around the Room of Requirement while +Professor McGonagall played the bagpipes. He +watched them happily for a while, then decided to go +and find the other members of the D.A... + +But when he left the room he found himself facing, +not the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, but a torch +burning in its bracket on a stone wall. He turned his +head slowly to the left. There, at the far end of the +windowless passage, was a plain, black door. + +He walked toward it with a sense of mounting +excitement. He had the strangest feeling that this +time he was going to get lucky at last, and find the +way to open it... He was feet from it and saw with a +leap of excitement that there was a glowing strip of +faint blue light down the right-hand side... The door +was ajar... He stretched out his hand to push it wide +and — + +Ron gave a loud, rasping, genuine snore, and Harry +awoke abruptly with his right hand stretched in front +of him in the darkness, to open a door that was +hundreds of miles away. He let it fall with a feeling of +mingled disappointment and guilt. He knew he +should not have seen the door, but at the same time, +felt so consumed with curiosity about what was +behind it that he could not help feeling annoyed with +Ron... If he could have saved his snore for just +another minute . . . + + + +k k k + + + +Page | 736Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +They entered the Great Hall for breakfast at exactly +the same moment as the post owls on Monday +morning. Hermione was not the only person eagerly +awaiting her Daily Prophet: Nearly everyone was eager +for more news about the escaped Death Eaters, who, +despite many reported sightings, had still not been +caught. She gave the delivery owl a Knut and +unfolded the newspaper eagerly while Harry helped +himself to orange juice; as he had only received one +note during the entire year he was sure, when the +first owl landed with a thud in front of him, that it +had made a mistake. + +“Who ’re you after?” he asked it, languidly removing +his orange juice from underneath its beak and +leaning forward to see the recipient’s name and +address: + +Harry Potter + +Great Hall + +Hogwarts School + +Frowning, he made to take the letter from the owl, but +before he could do so, three, four, five more owls had +fluttered down beside it and were jockeying for +position, treading in the butter, knocking over the +salt, and each attempting to give him their letters +first. + +“What’s going on?” Ron asked in amazement, as the +whole of Gryffindor table leaned forward to watch as +another seven owls landed amongst the first ones, +screeching, hooting, and flapping their wings. + +“Harry!” said Hermione breathlessly, plunging her +hands into the feathery mass and pulling out a + + + +Page | 737Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +screech owl bearing a long, cylindrical package. “I +think I know what this means — open this one first!” + + + +Harry ripped off the brown packaging. Out rolled a +tightly furled copy of March’s edition of The Quibbler. +He unrolled it to see his own face grinning sheepishly +at him from the front cover. In large red letters across +his picture were the words: + +HARRY POTTER SPEAKS OUT AT LAST: + +THE TRUTH ABOUT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE- +NAMED + +AND THE NIGHT I SAW HIM RETURN + +“It’s good, isn’t it?” said Luna, who had drifted over to +the Gryffindor table and now squeezed herself onto +the bench between Fred and Ron. “It came out +yesterday, I asked Dad to send you a free copy. I +expect all these,” she waved a hand at the assembled +owls still scrabbling around on the table in front of +Harry, “are letters from readers.” + +“That’s what I thought,” said Hermione eagerly, +“Harry, d’you mind if we — ?” + +“Help yourself,” said Harry, feeling slightly bemused. + +Ron and Hermione both started ripping open +envelopes. + +“This one’s from a bloke who thinks you’re off your +rocker,” said Ron, glancing down his letter. “Ah well + + + +“This woman recommends you try a good course of +Shock Spells at St. Mungo’s,” said Hermione, looking +disappointed and crumpling up a second. + +Page | 738Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“This one looks okay, though,” said Harry slowly, +scanning a long letter from a witch in Paisley. “Hey, +she says she believes me!” + +“This one’s in two minds,” said Fred, who had joined +in the letter-opening with enthusiasm. “Says you +don’t come across as a mad person, but he really +doesn’t want to believe You-Know- Who’s back so he +doesn’t know what to think now... Blimey, what a +waste of parchment ...” + +“Here’s another one you’ve convinced, Harry!” said +Hermione excitedly. “ ‘Having read your side of the +story I am forced to the conclusion that the Daily +Prophet has treated you very unfairly. . . Little though I +want to think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has +returned, I am forced to accept that you are telling +the truth...’ Oh this is wonderful!” + +“Another one who thinks you’re barking,” said Ron, +throwing a crumpled letter over his shoulder, “but +this one says you’ve got her converted, and she now +thinks you’re a real hero — she’s put in a photograph +too — wow — ” + +“What is going on here?” said a falsely sweet, girlish +voice. + +Harry looked up with his hands full of envelopes. +Professor Umbridge was standing behind Fred and +Luna, her bulging toad’s eyes scanning the mess of +owls and letters on the table in front of Harry. Behind +her he saw many of the students watching them +avidly. + +“Why have you got all these letters, Mr. Potter?” she +asked slowly. + + + +Page | 739Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Is that a crime now?” said Fred loudly. “Getting +mail?” + +“Be careful, Mr. Weasley, or I shall have to put you in +detention,” said Umbridge. “Well, Mr. Potter?” + +Harry hesitated, but he did not see how he could keep +what he had done quiet; it was surely only a matter of +time before a copy of The Quibbler came to Umbridge’s +attention. + +“People have written to me because I gave an +interview,” said Harry. “About what happened to me +last June.” + +For some reason he glanced up at the staff table as he +said this. He had the strangest feeling that +Dumbledore had been watching him a second before, +but when he looked, Dumbledore seemed to be +absorbed in conversation with Professor Flitwick. + +“An interview?” repeated Umbridge, her voice thinner +and higher than ever. “What do you mean?” + +“I mean a reporter asked me questions and I +answered them,” said Harry. “Here — ” + +And he threw the copy of The Quibbler at her. She +caught it and stared down at the cover. Her pale, +doughy face turned an ugly, patchy violet. + +“When did you do this?” she asked, her voice +trembling slightly. + +“Last Hogsmeade weekend,” said Harry. + +She looked up at him, incandescent with rage, the +magazine shaking in her stubby fingers. + + + +Page | 740Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr. +Potter,” she whispered. “How you dare ... how you +could ...” She took a deep breath. “I have tried again +and again to teach you not to tell lies. The message, +apparently, has still not sunk in. Fifty points from +Gryffindor and another week’s worth of detentions.” + +She stalked away, clutching The Quibbler to her +chest, the eyes of many students following her. + +By mid-morning enormous signs had been put up all +over the school, not just on House notice boards, but +in the corridors and classrooms too. + +— BY ORDER OF — + +THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS + +Any student found in possession of the magazine The +Quibbler will be expelled. + +The above is in accordance with + +Educational Decree Number Twenty-seven. + +Signed: + +Dolores Jane Umbridge +HIGH INQUISITOR + +For some reason, every time Hermione caught sight of +one of these signs she beamed with pleasure. + +“What exactly are you so happy about?” Harry asked +her. + + + +Page | 741Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh Harry, don’t you see?” Hermione breathed. “If she +could have done one thing to make absolutely sure +that every single person in this school will read your +interview, it was banning it!” + +And it seemed that Hermione was quite right. By the +end of that day, though Harry had not seen so much +as a corner of The Quibbler anywhere in the school, +the whole place seemed to be quoting the interview at +each other; Harry heard them whispering about it as +they queued up outside classes, discussing it over +lunch and in the back of lessons, while Hermione +even reported that every occupant of the cubicles in +the girls’ toilets had been talking about it when she +nipped in there before Ancient Runes. + +“And then they spotted me, and obviously they know I +know you, so they were bombarding me with +questions,” Hermione told Harry, her eyes shining, +“and Harry, I think they believe you, I really do, I +think you’ve finally got them convinced!” + +Meanwhile Professor Umbridge was stalking the +school, stopping students at random and demanding +that they turn out their books and pockets. Harry +knew she was looking for copies of The Quibbler, but +the students were several steps ahead of her. The +pages carrying Harry’s interview had been bewitched +to resemble extracts from textbooks if anyone but +themselves read it, or else wiped magically blank until +they wanted to peruse it again. Soon it seemed that +every single person in the school had read it. + +The teachers were, of course, forbidden from +mentioning the interview by Educational Decree +Number Twenty-six, but they found ways to express +their feelings about it all the same. Professor Sprout +awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed +her a watering can; a beaming Professor Flitwick +Page | 742Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +pressed a box of squeaking sugar mice on him at the +end of Charms, said “Shh\” and hurried away; and +Professor Trelawney broke into hysterical sobs during +Divination and announced to the startled class, and a +very disapproving Umbridge, that Harry was not going +to suffer an early death after all, but would live to a +ripe old age, become Minister of Magic, and have +twelve children. + +But what made Harry happiest was Cho catching up +with him as he was hurrying along to Transfiguration +the next day. Before he knew what had happened her +hand was in his and she was breathing in his ear, + +“I’m really, really sorry. That interview was so brave +...it made me cry.” + +He was sorry to hear she had shed even more tears +over it, but very glad they were on speaking terms +again, and even more pleased when she gave him a +swift kiss on the cheek and hurried off again. And +unbelievably, no sooner had he arrived outside +Transfiguration than something just as good +happened: Seamus stepped out of the queue to face +him. + +“I just wanted to say,” he mumbled, squinting at +Harry’s left knee, “I believe you. And I’ve sent a copy +of that magazine to me mam.” + +If anything more was needed to complete Harry’s +happiness, it was Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle’s +reactions. He saw them with their heads together +later that afternoon in the library, together with a +weedy-looking boy Hermione whispered was called +Theodore Nott. They looked around at Harry as he +browsed the shelves for the book he needed on Partial +Vanishment, and Goyle cracked his knuckles +threateningly and Malfoy whispered something +undoubtedly malevolent to Crabbe. Harry knew +Page | 743Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +perfectly well why they were acting like this: He had +named all of their fathers as Death Eaters. + +“And the best bit is,” whispered Hermione gleefully as +they left the library, “they can’t contradict you, +because they can’t admit they’ve read the article!” + +To cap it all, Luna told him over dinner that no copy +of The Quibbler had ever sold out faster. + +“Dad’s reprinting!” she told Harry, her eyes popping +excitedly. “He can’t believe it, he says people seem +even more interested in this than the Crumple- +Horned Snorkacks!” + +Harry was a hero in the Gryffindor common room that +night; daringly, Fred and George had put an +Enlargement Charm on the front cover of The +Quibbler and hung it on the wall, so that Harry’s giant +head gazed down upon the proceedings, occasionally +saying things like “The Ministry are morons” and “Eat +dung, Umbridge” in a booming voice. Hermione did +not find this very amusing; she said it interfered with +her concentration, and ended up going to bed early +out of irritation. Harry had to admit that the poster +was not quite as funny after an hour or two, +especially when the talking spell had started to wear +off, so that it merely shouted disconnected words like +“Dung” and “Umbridge” at more and more frequent +intervals in a progressively higher voice. In fact it +started to make his head ache and his scar began +prickling uncomfortably again. To disappointed +moans from the many people who were sitting around +him, asking him to relive his interview for the +umpteenth time, he announced that he too needed an +early night. + +The dormitory was empty when he reached it. He +rested his forehead for a moment against the cool + +Page | 744Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +glass of the window beside his bed; it felt soothing +against his scar. Then he undressed and got into bed, +wishing his headache would go away. He also felt +slightly sick. He rolled over onto his side, closed his +eyes, and fell asleep almost at once... + +He was standing in a dark, curtained room lit by a +single branch of candles. His hands were clenched on +the back of a chair in front of him. They were long- +fingered and white as though they had not seen +sunlight for years and looked like large, pale spiders +against the dark velvet of the chair. + +Beyond the chair, in a pool of light cast upon the floor +by the candles, knelt a man in black robes. + +“I have been badly advised, it seems,” said Harry, in a +high, cold voice that pulsed with anger. + +“Master, I crave your pardon...” croaked the man +kneeling on the floor. The back of his head glimmered +in the candlelight. He seemed to be trembling. + +“I do not blame you, Rookwood,” said Harry in that +cold, cruel voice. + +He relinquished his grip upon the chair and walked +around it, closer to the man cowering upon the floor, +until he stood directly over him in the darkness, +looking down from a far greater height than usual. + +“You are sure of your facts, Rookwood?” asked Harry. + +“Yes, My Lord, yes ... I used to work in the +department after — after all...” + +“Avery told me Bode would be able to remove it.” + + + +Page | 745Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Bode could never have taken it, Master. . . Bode would +have known he could not... Undoubtedly that is why +he fought so hard against Malfoy’s Imperius Curse...” + +“Stand up, Rookwood,” whispered Harry. + +The kneeling man almost fell over in his haste to +obey. His face was pockmarked; the scars were +thrown into relief by the candlelight. He remained a +little stooped when standing, as though halfway +through a bow, and he darted terrified looks up at +Harry’s face. + +“You have done well to tell me this,” said Harry. “Very +well ... I have wasted months on fruitless schemes, it +seems... But no matter ... We begin again, from now. +You have Lord Voldemort’s gratitude, Rookwood...” + +“My Lord ... yes, My Lord,” gasped Rookwood, his +voice hoarse with relief. + +“I shall need your help. I shall need all the +information you can give me.” + +“Of course, My Lord, of course ... anything ...” + +“Very well ... you may go. Send Avery to me.” + +Rookwood scurried backward, bowing, and +disappeared through a door. + +Left alone in the dark room, Harry turned toward the +wall. A cracked, age-spotted mirror hung on the wall +in the shadows. Harry moved toward it. His reflection +grew larger and clearer in the darkness... A face +whiter than a skull . . . red eyes with slits for pupils . . . + +“NOOOOOOOOO!” + + + +Page | 746Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What?” yelled a voice nearby. + + + +Harry flailed around madly, became entangled in the +hangings, and fell out of his bed. For a few seconds +he did not know where he was; he was convinced that +he was about to see the white, skull-like face looming +at him out of the dark again, then Ron’s voice spoke +very near to him. + +“Will you stop acting like a maniac, and I can get you +out of here!” + +Ron wrenched the hangings apart, and Harry stared +up at him in the moonlight, as he lay flat on his back, +his scar searing with pain. Ron looked as though he +had just been getting ready for bed; one arm was out +of his robes. + +“Has someone been attacked again?” asked Ron, +pulling Harry roughly to his feet. “Is it Dad? Is it that +snake?” + +“No — everyone’s fine — ” gasped Harry, whose +forehead felt as though it was on fire again. “Well ... +Avery isn’t... He’s in trouble... He gave him the wrong +information... He’s really angry...” + +Harry groaned and sank, shaking, onto his bed, +rubbing his scar. + +“But Rookwood’s going to help him now... He’s on the +right track again...” + +“What are you talking about?” said Ron, sounding +scared. “D’you mean ... did you just see You-Know- +Who?” + +“I was You-Know-Who,” said Harry, and he stretched +out his hands in the darkness and held them up to + +Page | 747Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +his face to check that they were no longer deathly +white and long-fingered. “He was with Rookwood, he’s +one of the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban, +remember? Rookwood’s just told him Bode couldn’t +have done it...” + +“Done what?” + +“Remove something. . . He said Bode would have +known he couldn’t have done it... Bode was under the +Imperius Curse... I think he said Malfoy’s dad put it +on him...” + +“Bode was bewitched to remove something?” Ron +said. “But — Harry, that’s got to be — ” + +“The weapon,” Harry finished the sentence for him. “I +know.” + +The dormitory door opened; Dean and Seamus came +in. Harry swung his legs back into bed. He did not +want to look as though anything odd had just +happened, seeing as Seamus had only just stopped +thinking Harry was a nutter. + +“Did you say,” murmured Ron, putting his head close +to Harry’s on the pretense of helping himself to water +from the jug on his bedside table, “that you were You- +Know-Who?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry quietly. + +Ron took an unnecessarily large gulp of water. Harry +saw it spill over his chin onto his chest. + +“Harry,” he said, as Dean and Seamus clattered +around noisily, pulling off their robes, and talking, +“you’ve got to tell — ” + + + +Page | 748Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I haven’t got to tell anyone,” said Harry shortly. “I +wouldn’t have seen it at all if I could do Occlumency. +I’m supposed to have learned to shut this stuff out. +That’s what they want.” + +By “they” he meant Dumbledore. He got back into bed +and rolled over onto his side with his back to Ron and +after a while he heard Ron’s mattress creak as he lay +back down too. His scar began to burn; he bit hard on +his pillow to stop himself making a noise. Somewhere, +he knew, Avery was being punished... + +Harry and Ron waited until break next morning to tell +Hermione exactly what had happened. They wanted +to be absolutely sure they could not be overheard. +Standing in their usual corner of the cool and breezy +courtyard, Harry told her every detail of the dream he +could remember. When he had finished, she said +nothing at all for a few moments, but stared with a +kind of painful intensity at Fred and George, who +were both headless and selling their magical hats +from under their cloaks on the other side of the yard. + +“So that’s why they killed him,” she said quietly, +withdrawing her gaze from Fred and George at last. +“When Bode tried to steal this weapon, something +funny happened to him. I think there must be +defensive spells on it, or around it, to stop people +from touching it. That’s why he was in St. Mungo’s, +his brain had gone all funny and he couldn’t talk. But +remember what the Healer told us? He was +recovering. And they couldn’t risk him getting better, +could they? I mean, the shock of whatever happened +when he touched that weapon probably made the +Imperius Curse lift. Once he’d got his voice back, he’d +explain what he’d been doing, wouldn’t he? They +would have known he’d been sent to steal the +weapon. Of course, it would have been easy for + + + +Page | 749Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Lucius Malfoy to put the curse on him. Never out of +the Ministry, is he?” + +“He was even hanging around that day I had my +hearing,” said Harry. “In the — hang on ...” he said +slowly. “He was in the Department of Mysteries +corridor that day! Your dad said he was probably +trying to sneak down and find out what happened in +my hearing, but what if — ” + +“Sturgis,” gasped Hermione, looking thunderstruck. + +“Sorry?” said Ron, looking bewildered. + +“Sturgis Podmore,” said Hermione, breathlessly. +“Arrested for trying to get through a door. Lucius +Malfoy got him too. I bet he did it the day you saw +him there, Harry. Sturgis had Moody’s Invisibility +Cloak, right? So what if he was standing guard by the +door, invisible, and Malfoy heard him move, or +guessed he was there, or just did the Imperius Curse +on the off chance that a guard was there? So when +Sturgis next had an opportunity — probably when it +was his turn on guard duty again — he tried to get +into the department to steal the weapon for Voldemort +— Ron, be quiet — but he got caught and sent to +Azkaban...” + +She gazed at Harry. + +“And now Rookwood’s told Voldemort how to get the +weapon?” + +“I didn’t hear all the conversation, but that’s what it +sounded like,” said Harry. “Rookwood used to work +there... Maybe Voldemort’ll send Rookwood to do it?” + + + +Page | 750Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hermione nodded, apparently still lost in thought. +Then, quite abruptly, she said, “But you shouldn’t +have seen this at all, Harry.” + +“What?” he said, taken aback. + +“You’re supposed to be learning how to close your +mind to this sort of thing,” said Hermione, suddenly +stern. + +“I know I am,” said Harry. “But — ” + +“Well, I think we should just try and forget what you +saw,” said Hermione firmly. “And you ought to put in +a bit more effort on your Occlumency from now on.” + +Harry was so angry with her that he did not talk to +her for the rest of the day, which proved to be another +bad one. When people were not discussing the +escaped Death Eaters in the corridors today, they +were laughing at Gryffindor’s abysmal performance in +their match against Hufflepuff; the Slytherins were +singing “Weasley Is Our King” so loudly and +frequently that by sundown Filch had banned it from +the corridors out of sheer irritation. + +The week did not improve as it progressed: Harry +received two more D’s in Potions, was still on +tenterhooks that Hagrid might get the sack, and +could not stop himself from dwelling on the dream in +which he had seen Voldemort, though he did not +bring it up with Ron and Hermione again because he +did not want another telling-off from Hermione. He +wished very much that he could have talked to Sirius +about it, but that was out of the question, so he tried +to push the matter to the back of his mind. + +Unfortunately, the back of his mind was no longer the +secure place it had once been. + +Page | 751Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Get up, Potter.” + + + +A couple of weeks after his dream of Rookwood, Harry +was to be found, yet again, kneeling on the floor of +Snape’s office, trying to clear his head. He had just +been forced, yet again, to relive a stream of very early +memories he had not even realized he still had, most +of them concerning humiliations Dudley and his gang +had inflicted upon him in primary school. + +“That last memory,” said Snape. “What was it?” + +“I don’t know,” said Harry, getting wearily to his feet. +He was finding it increasingly difficult to disentangle +separate memories from the rush of images and +sound that Snape kept calling forth. “You mean the +one where my cousin tried to make me stand in the +toilet?” + +“No,” said Snape softly. “I mean the one concerning a +man kneeling in the middle of a darkened room...” + +“It’s ... nothing,” said Harry. + +Snape’s dark eyes bored into Harry’s. Remembering +what Snape had said about eye contact being crucial +to Legilimency, Harry blinked and looked away. + +“How do that man and that room come to be inside +your head, Potter?” said Snape. + +“It — ” said Harry, looking everywhere but at Snape, + +“it was — just a dream I had.” + +“A dream,” repeated Snape. + +There was a pause during which Harry stared fixedly +at a large dead frog suspended in a purple liquid in +its jar. + +Page | 752Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You do know why we are here, don’t you, Potter?” +said Snape in a low, dangerous voice. “You do know +why I am giving up my evenings to this tedious job?” + +“Yes,” said Harry stiffly. + +“Remind me why we are here, Potter.” + +“So I can learn Occlumency,” said Harry, now glaring +at a dead eel. + +“Correct, Potter. And dim though you may be” — +Harry looked back at Snape, hating him — “I would +have thought that after two months’ worth of lessons +you might have made some progress. How many other +dreams about the Dark Lord have you had?” + +“Just that one,” lied Harry. + +“Perhaps,” said Snape, his dark, cold eyes narrowing +slightly, “perhaps you actually enjoy having these +visions and dreams, Potter. Maybe they make you feel +special — important?” + +“No, they don’t,” said Harry, his jaw set and his +fingers clenched tightly around the handle of his +wand. + +“That is just as well, Potter,” said Snape coldly, +“because you are neither special nor important, and it +is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is +saying to his Death Eaters.” + +“No — that’s your job, isn’t it?” Harry shot at him. + +He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in +temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, +Harry convinced he had gone too far. But there was a + + + +Page | 753Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape’s face +when he answered. + + + +“Yes, Potter,” he said, his eyes glinting. “That is my +job. Now, if you are ready, we will start again...” + +He raised his wand. “One — two — three — +LegilimensV’ + +A hundred dementors were swooping toward Harry +across the lake in the grounds... He screwed up his +face in concentration... They were coming closer... He +could see the dark holes beneath their hoods . . . yet +he could also see Snape standing in front of him, his +eyes fixed upon Harry’s face, muttering under his +breath... And somehow, Snape was growing clearer, +and the dementors were growing fainter . . . + +Harry raised his own wand. + +“Protegol” + +Snape staggered; his wand flew upward, away from +Harry — and suddenly Harry’s mind was teeming +with memories that were not his — a hook-nosed man +was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small +dark-haired boy cried in a corner. . . A greasy-haired +teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his +wand at the ceiling, shooting down flies... A girl was +laughing as a scrawny boy tried to mount a bucking +broomstick — + +“ENOUGH!” + +Harry felt as though he had been pushed hard in the +chest; he took several staggering steps backward, hit +some of the shelves covering Snape’s walls and heard +something crack. Snape was shaking slightly, very +white in the face. + +Page | 754Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The back of Harry’s robes were damp. One of the jars +behind him had broken when he fell against it; the +pickled slimy thing within was swirling in its draining +potion. + +“Reparo\” hissed Snape, and the jar sealed itself once +more. “Well, Potter ... that was certainly an +improvement...” Panting slightly, Snape straightened +the Pensieve in which he had again stored some of his +thoughts before starting the lesson, almost as though +checking that they were still there. “I don’t remember +telling you to use a Shield Charm . . . but there is no +doubt that it was effective...” + +Harry did not speak; he felt that to say anything +might be dangerous. He was sure he had just broken +into Snape’s memories, that he had just seen scenes +from Snape’s childhood, and it was unnerving to +think that the crying little boy who had watched his +parents shouting was actually standing in front of +him with such loathing in his eyes... + +“Let’s try again, shall we?” said Snape. + +Harry felt a thrill of dread: He was about to pay for +what had just happened, he was sure of it. They +moved back into position with the desk between +them, Harry feeling he was going to find it much +harder to empty his mind this time... + +“On the count of three, then,” said Snape, raising his +wand once more. “One — two — ” + +Harry did not have time to gather himself together +and attempt to clear his mind, for Snape had already +cried “ Legilimens\” + +He was hurtling along the corridor toward the +Department of Mysteries, past the blank stone walls, + +Page | 755Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +past the torches — the plain black door was growing +ever larger; he was moving so fast he was going to +collide with it, he was feet from it and he could see +that chink of faint blue light again — + +The door had flown open! He was through it at last, +inside a black-walled, black-floored circular room lit +with blue-flamed candles, and there were more doors +all around him — he needed to go on — but which +door ought he to take — ? + +“POTTER!” + +Harry opened his eyes. He was flat on his back again +with no memory of having gotten there; he was also +panting as though he really had run the length of the +Department of Mysteries corridor, really had sprinted +through the black door and found the circular room... + +“Explain yourself!” said Snape, who was standing over +him, looking furious. + +“I ... dunno what happened,” said Harry truthfully, +standing up. There was a lump on the back of his +head from where he had hit the ground and he felt +feverish. “I’ve never seen that before. I mean, I told +you, I’ve dreamed about the door ... but it’s never +opened before...” + +“You are not working hard enough!” + +For some reason, Snape seemed even angrier than he +had done two minutes before, when Harry had seen +into his own memories. + +“You are lazy and sloppy, Potter, it is small wonder +that the Dark Lord — ” + + + +Page | 756Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Can you tell me something, sir?” said Harry, firing up +again. “Why do you call Voldemort the Dark Lord, I’ve +only ever heard Death Eaters call him that — ” + +Snape opened his mouth in a snarl — and a woman +screamed from somewhere outside the room. + +Snape’s head jerked upward; he was gazing at the +ceiling. + +“What the — ?” he muttered. + +Harry could hear a muffled commotion coming from +what he thought might be the entrance hall. Snape +looked around at him, frowning. + +“Did you see anything unusual on your way down +here, Potter?” + +Harry shook his head. Somewhere above them, the +woman screamed again. Snape strode to his office +door, his wand still held at the ready, and swept out +of sight. Harry hesitated for a moment, then followed. + +The screams were indeed coming from the entrance +hall; they grew louder as Harry ran toward the stone +steps leading up from the dungeons. When he +reached the top he found the entrance hall packed. +Students had come flooding out of the Great Hall, +where dinner was still in progress, to see what was +going on. Others had crammed themselves onto the +marble staircase. Harry pushed forward through a +knot of tall Slytherins and saw that the onlookers had +formed a great ring, some of them looking shocked, +others even frightened. Professor McGonagall was +directly opposite Harry on the other side of the hall; +she looked as though what she was watching made +her feel faintly sick. + + + +Page | 757Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Trelawney was standing in the middle of the +entrance hall with her wand in one hand and an +empty sherry bottle in the other, looking utterly mad. +Her hair was sticking up on end, her glasses were +lopsided so that one eye was magnified more than the +other; her innumerable shawls and scarves were +trailing haphazardly from her shoulders, giving the +impression that she was falling apart at the seams. +Two large trunks lay on the floor beside her, one of +them upside down; it looked very much as though it +had been thrown down the stairs after her. Professor +Trelawney was staring, apparently terrified, at +something Harry could not see but that seemed to be +standing at the foot of the stairs. + +“No!” she shrieked. “NO! This cannot be happening... + +It cannot ... I refuse to accept it!” + +“You didn’t realize this was coming?” said a high +girlish voice, sounding callously amused, and Harry, +moving slightly to his right, saw that Trelawney’s +terrifying vision was nothing other than Professor +Umbridge. “Incapable though you are of predicting +even tomorrow’s weather, you must surely have +realized that your pitiful performance during my +inspections, and lack of any improvement, would +make it inevitable you would be sacked?” + +“You c-can’t!” howled Professor Trelawney, tears +streaming down her face from behind her enormous +lenses, “you c-can’t sack me! I’ve b-been here sixteen +years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!” + +“It was your home,” said Professor Umbridge, and +Harry was revolted to see the enjoyment stretching +her toadlike face as she watched Professor Trelawney +sink, sobbing uncontrollably, onto one of her trunks, +“until an hour ago, when the Minister of Magic +countersigned the order for your dismissal. Now +Page | 758Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +kindly remove yourself from this hall. You are +embarrassing us.” + +But she stood and watched, with an expression of +gloating enjoyment, as Professor Trelawney +shuddered and moaned, rocking backward and +forward on her trunk in paroxysms of grief. Harry +heard a sob to his left and looked around. Lavender +and Parvati were both crying silently, their arms +around each other. Then he heard footsteps. + +Professor McGonagall had broken away from the +spectators, marched straight up to Professor +Trelawney and was patting her firmly on the back +while withdrawing a large handkerchief from within +her robes. + +“There, there, Sibyll ... Calm down... Blow your nose +on this... It’s not as bad as you think, now... You are +not going to have to leave Hogwarts...” + +“Oh really, Professor McGonagall?” said Umbridge in +a deadly voice, taking a few steps forward. “And your +authority for that statement is . . . ?” + +“That would be mine,” said a deep voice. + +The oak front doors had swung open. Students beside +them scuttled out of the way as Dumbledore appeared +in the entrance. What he had been doing out in the +grounds Harry could not imagine, but there was +something impressive about the sight of him framed +in the doorway against an oddly misty night. Leaving +the doors wide behind him, he strode forward through +the circle of onlookers toward the place where +Professor Trelawney sat, tearstained and trembling, +upon her trunk, Professor McGonagall alongside her. + +“Yours, Professor Dumbledore?” said Umbridge with a +singularly unpleasant little laugh. “I’m afraid you do + +Page | 759Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +not understand the position. I have here” — she +pulled a parchment scroll from within her robes — + +“an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the +Minister of Magic. Under the terms of Educational +Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of +Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon +probation, and sack any teacher she — that is to say, + +I — feel is not performing up to the standard required +by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor +Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her.” + +To Harry’s very great surprise, Dumbledore continued +to smile. He looked down at Professor Trelawney, who +was still sobbing and choking on her trunk, and said, +“You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. + +As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my +teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to +send them away from the castle. I am afraid,” he went +on, with a courteous little bow, “that the power to do +that still resides with the headmaster, and it is my +wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at +Hogwarts.” + +At this, Professor Trelawney gave a wild little laugh in +which a hiccup was barely hidden. + +“No — no, I’ll g-go, Dumbledore! I sh-shall 1-leave +Hogwarts and s-seek my fortune elsewhere — ” + +“No,” said Dumbledore sharply. “It is my wish that +you remain, Sibyll.” + +He turned to Professor McGonagall. + +“Might I ask you to escort Sibyll back upstairs, +Professor McGonagall?” + +“Of course,” said McGonagall. “Up you get, Sibyll...” + + + +Page | 760Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Sprout came hurrying forward out of the +crowd and grabbed Professor Trelawney’s other arm. +Together they guided her past Umbridge and up the +marble stairs. Professor Flitwick went scurrying after +them, his wand held out before him; he squeaked, +“Locomotor trunksl” and Professor Trelawney’s luggage +rose into the air and proceeded up the staircase after +her, Professor Flitwick bringing up the rear. + +Professor Umbridge was standing stock-still, staring +at Dumbledore, who continued to smile benignly. + +“And what,” she said in a whisper that nevertheless +carried all around the entrance hall, “are you going to +do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher +who needs her lodgings?” + +“Oh, that won’t be a problem,” said Dumbledore +pleasantly. “You see, I have already found us a new +Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the +ground floor.” + +“You’ve found — ?” said Umbridge shrilly. “You’ve +found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under +Educational Decree Twenty-two — ” + +“ — the Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable +candidate if — and only if — the headmaster is +unable to find one,” said Dumbledore. “And I am +happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. +May I introduce you?” + +He turned to face the open front doors, through which +night mist was now drifting. Harry heard hooves. +There was a shocked murmur around the hall and +those nearest the doors hastily moved even farther +backward, some of them tripping over in their haste +to clear a path for the newcomer. + + + +Page | 761Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Through the mist came a face Harry had seen once +before on a dark, dangerous night in the Forbidden +Forest: white-blond hair and astonishingly blue eyes, +the head and torso of a man joined to the palomino +body of a horse. + +“This is Firenze,” said Dumbledore happily to a +thunderstruck Umbridge. “I think you 11 find him +suitable.” + + + +Page | 762Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +THE CENTAUR AND THE SNEAK + +“I’ll bet you wish you hadn’t given up Divination now, +don’t you, Hermione?” asked Parvati, smirking. + +It was breakfast time a few days after the sacking of +Professor Trelawney, and Parvati was curling her +eyelashes around her wand and examining the effect +in the back of her spoon. They were to have their first +lesson with Firenze that morning. + +“Not really,” said Hermione indifferently, who was +reading the Daily Prophet “I’ve never really liked +horses.” + +She turned a page of the newspaper, scanning its +columns. + +“He’s not a horse, he’s a centaur!” said Lavender, +sounding shocked. + +“A gorgeous centaur ...” sighed Parvati. + + + +Page | 763Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Either way, he’s still got four legs,” said Hermione +coolly. “Anyway, I thought you two were all upset that +Trelawney had gone?” + +“We are!” Lavender assured her. “We went up to her +office to see her, we took her some daffodils — not the +honking ones that Sprout’s got, nice ones...” + +“How is she?” asked Harry. + +“Not very good, poor thing,” said Lavender +sympathetically. “She was crying and saying she’d +rather leave the castle forever than stay here if +Umbridge is still here, and I don’t blame her. + +Umbridge was horrible to her, wasn’t she?” + +“I’ve got a feeling Umbridge has only just started +being horrible,” said Hermione darkly. + +“Impossible,” said Ron, who was tucking into a large +plate of eggs and bacon. “She can’t get any worse +than she’s been already.” + +“You mark my words, she’s going to want revenge on +Dumbledore for appointing a new teacher without +consulting her,” said Hermione, closing the +newspaper. “Especially another part-human. You saw +the look on her face when she saw Firenze...” + +After breakfast Hermione departed for her Arithmancy +class and Harry and Ron followed Parvati and +Lavender into the entrance hall, heading for +Divination. + +“Aren’t we going up to North Tower?” asked Ron, +looking puzzled, as Parvati bypassed the marble +staircase. + +Parvati looked scornfully over her shoulder at him. + +Page | 764Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“How d’you expect Firenze to climb that ladder? We’re +in classroom eleven now, it was on the notice board +yesterday.” + +Classroom eleven was situated in the ground-floor +corridor leading off the entrance hall on the opposite +side to the Great Hall. Harry knew it to be one of +those classrooms that were never used regularly, and +that it therefore had the slightly neglected feeling of a +cupboard or storeroom. When he entered it right +behind Ron, and found himself right in the middle of +a forest clearing, he was therefore momentarily +stunned. + +“What the — ?” + +The classroom floor had become springily mossy and +trees were growing out of it; their leafy branches +fanned across the ceiling and windows, so that the +room was full of slanting shafts of soft, dappled, green +light. The students who had already arrived were +sitting on the earthy floor with their backs resting +against tree trunks or boulders, arms wrapped +around their knees or folded tightly across their +chests, looking rather nervous. In the middle of the +room, where there were no trees, stood Firenze. + +“Harry Potter,” he said, holding out a hand when +Harry entered. + +“Er — hi,” said Harry, shaking hands with the +centaur, who surveyed him unblinkingly through +those astonishingly blue eyes but did not smile. “Er — +good to see you ...” + +“And you,” said the centaur, inclining his white-blond +head. “It was foretold that we would meet again.” + + + +Page | 765Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry noticed that there was the shadow of a hoof- +shaped bruise on Firenze’s chest. As he turned to join +the rest of the class upon the floor, he saw that they +were all looking at him with awe, apparently deeply +impressed that he was on speaking terms with +Firenze, whom they seemed to find intimidating. + +When the door was closed and the last student had +sat down upon a tree stump beside the wastepaper +basket, Firenze gestured around the room. + +“Professor Dumbledore has kindly arranged this +classroom for us,” said Firenze, when everyone had +settled down, “in imitation of my natural habitat. I +would have preferred to teach you in the Forbidden +Forest, which was — until Monday — my home ... but +this is not possible.” + +“Please — er — sir — ” said Parvati breathlessly, +raising her hand, “why not? We’ve been in there with +Hagrid, we’re not frightened!” + +“It is not a question of your bravery,” said Firenze, +“but of my position. I can no longer return to the +forest. My herd has banished me.” + +“Herd?” said Lavender in a confused voice, and Harry +knew she was thinking of cows. “What — oh!” +Comprehension dawned on her face. “There are more +of you?” she said, stunned. + +“Did Hagrid breed you, like the thestrals?” asked +Dean eagerly. + +Firenze turned his head very slowly to face Dean, who +seemed to realize at once that he had said something +very offensive. + + + +Page | 766Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I didn’t — I meant — sorry,” he finished in a hushed +voice. + +“Centaurs are not the servants or playthings of +humans,” said Firenze quietly. There was a pause, +then Parvati raised her hand again. + +“Please, sir ... why have the other centaurs banished +you?” + +“Because I have agreed to work for Professor +Dumbledore,” said Firenze. “They see this as a +betrayal of our kind.” + +Harry remembered how, nearly four years ago, the +centaur Bane had shouted at Firenze for allowing +Harry to ride to safety upon his back, calling him a +“common mule.” He wondered whether it had been +Bane who had kicked Firenze in the chest. + +“Let us begin,” said Firenze. He swished his long +palomino tail, raised his hand toward the leafy +canopy overhead then lowered it slowly, and as he did +so, the light in the room dimmed, so that they now +seemed to be sitting in a forest clearing by twilight, +and stars emerged upon the ceiling. There were oohs +and gasps, and Ron said audibly, “Blimey!” + +“Lie back upon the floor,” said Firenze in his calm +voice, “and observe the heavens. Here is written, for +those who can see, the fortune of our races.” + +Harry stretched out on his back and gazed upward at +the ceiling. A twinkling red star winked at him from +overhead. + +“I know that you have learned the names of the +planets and their moons in Astronomy,” said Firenze’s +calm voice, “and that you have mapped the stars’ + +Page | 767Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +progress through the heavens. Centaurs have +unraveled the mysteries of these movements over +centuries. Our findings teach us that the future may +be glimpsed in the sky above us...” + +“Professor Trelawney did Astrology with us!” said +Parvati excitedly, raising her hand in front of her so +that it stuck up in the air as she lay on her back. +“Mars causes accidents and burns and things like +that, and when it makes an angle to Saturn, like now” +— she drew a right angle in the air above her — “that +means that people need to be extra careful when +handling hot things — ” + +“That,” said Firenze calmly, “is human nonsense.” + +Parvati’s hand fell limply to her side. + +“Trivial hurts, tiny human accidents,” said Firenze, as +his hooves thudded over the mossy floor. “These are +of no more significance than the scurryings of ants to +the wide universe, and are unaffected by planetary +movements.” + +“Professor Trelawney — ” began Parvati, in a hurt and +indignant voice. + +“ — is a human,” said Firenze simply. “And is +therefore blinkered and fettered by the limitations of +your kind.” + +Harry turned his head very slightly to look at Parvati. +She looked very offended, as did several of the people +surrounding her. + +“Sibyll Trelawney may have Seen, I do not know,” +continued Firenze, and Harry heard the swishing of +his tail again as he walked up and down before them, +“but she wastes her time, in the main, on the self- + +P a g e | 768Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +flattering nonsense humans call fortune-telling. I, +however, am here to explain the wisdom of centaurs, +which is impersonal and impartial. We watch the +skies for the great tides of evil or change that are +sometimes marked there. It may take ten years to be +sure of what we are seeing.” + +Firenze pointed to the red star directly above Harry. + +“In the past decade, the indications have been that +Wizard-kind is living through nothing more than a +brief calm between two wars. Mars, bringer of battle, +shines brightly above us, suggesting that the fight +must break out again soon. How soon, centaurs may +attempt to divine by the burning of certain herbs and +leaves, by the observation of fume and flame...” + +It was the most unusual lesson Harry had ever +attended. They did indeed burn sage and mallowsweet +there on the classroom floor, and Firenze told them to +look for certain shapes and symbols in the pungent +fumes, but he seemed perfectly unconcerned that not +one of them could see any of the signs he described, +telling them that humans were hardly ever good at +this, that it took centaurs years and years to become +competent, and finished by telling them that it was +foolish to put too much faith in such things anyway, +because even centaurs sometimes read them wrongly. +He was nothing like any human teacher Harry had +ever had. His priority did not seem to be to teach +them what he knew, but rather to impress upon them +that nothing, not even centaurs’ knowledge, was +foolproof. + +“He’s not very definite on anything, is he?” said Ron +in a low voice, as they put out their mallowsweet fire. +“I mean, I could do with a few more details about this +war we’re about to have, couldn’t you?” + + + +Page | 769Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The bell rang right outside the classroom door and +everyone jumped; Harry had completely forgotten that +they were still inside the castle, quite convinced that +he was really in the forest. The class filed out, looking +slightly perplexed; Harry and Ron were on the point of +following them when Firenze called, “Harry Potter, a +word, please.” + +Harry turned. The centaur advanced a little toward +him. Ron hesitated. + +“You may stay,” Firenze told him. “But close the door, +please.” + +Ron hastened to obey. + +“Harry Potter, you are a friend of Hagrid’s, are you +not?” said the centaur. + +“Yes,” said Harry. + +“Then give him a warning from me. His attempt is not +working. He would do better to abandon it.” + +“His attempt is not working?” Harry repeated blankly. + +“And he would do better to abandon it,” said Firenze, +nodding. “I would warn Hagrid myself, but I am +banished — it would be unwise for me to go too near +the forest now — Hagrid has troubles enough, +without a centaurs’ battle.” + +“But — what’s Hagrid attempting to do?” said Harry +nervously. + +Firenze looked at Harry impassively. + +“Hagrid has recently rendered me a great service,” +said Firenze, “and he has long since earned my + +Page | 770Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +respect for the care he shows all living creatures. I +shall not betray his secret. But he must be brought to +his senses. The attempt is not working. Tell him, +Harry Potter. Good day to you.” + + + +The happiness Harry had felt in the aftermath of The +Quibbler interview had long since evaporated. As a +dull March blurred into a squally April, his life +seemed to have become one long series of worries and +problems again. + +Umbridge had continued attending all Care of Magical +Creatures lessons, so it had been very difficult to +deliver Firenze’s warning to Hagrid. At last Harry had +managed it by pretending he had lost his copy of +Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and +doubling back after class one day. When he passed on +Firenze’s message, Hagrid gazed at him for a moment +through his puffy, blackened eyes, apparently taken +aback. Then he seemed to pull himself together. + +“Nice bloke, Firenze,” he said gruffly, “but he don’ +know what he’s talkin’ abou’ on this. The attemp’s +cornin’ on fine.” + +“Hagrid, what’re you up to?” asked Harry seriously. +“Because you’ve got to be careful, Umbridge has +already sacked Trelawney and if you ask me, she’s on +a roll. If you’re doing anything you shouldn’t be — ” + +“There’s things more importan’ than keepin’ a job,” +said Hagrid, though his hands shook slightly as he +said this and a basin full of knarl droppings crashed +to the floor. “Don’ worry abou’ me, Harry, jus’ get +along now, there’s a good lad...” + + + +Page | 771Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry had no choice but to leave Hagrid mopping up +the dung all over his floor, but he felt thoroughly +dispirited as he trudged back up to the castle. + +Meanwhile, as the teachers and Hermione persisted +in reminding them, the O.W.L.s were drawing ever +nearer. All the fifth years were suffering from stress to +some degree, but Hannah Abbott became the first to +receive a Calming Draught from Madam Pomfrey after +she burst into tears during Herbology and sobbed +that she was too stupid to take exams and wanted to +leave school now. + +If it had not been for the D.A. lessons, Harry thought +he would have been extremely unhappy. He +sometimes felt that he was living for the hours he +spent in the Room of Requirement, working hard but +thoroughly enjoying himself at the same time, +swelling with pride as he looked around at his fellow +D.A. members and saw how far they had come. + +Indeed, Harry sometimes wondered how Umbridge +was going to react when all the members of the D.A. +received “Outstanding” in their Defense Against the +Dark Arts O.W.L.s. + +They had finally started work on Patronuses, which +everybody had been very keen to practice, though as +Harry kept reminding them, producing a Patronus in +the middle of a brightly lit classroom when they were +not under threat was very different to producing it +when confronted by something like a dementor. + +“Oh, don’t be such a killjoy,” said Cho brightly, +watching her silvery swan-shaped Patronus soar +around the Room of Requirement during their last +lesson before Easter. “They’re so pretty!” + +“They’re not supposed to be pretty, they’re supposed +to protect you,” said Harry patiently. “What we really + +Page | 772Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +need is a boggart or something; that’s how I learned, I +had to conjure a Patronus while the boggart was +pretending to be a dementor — ” + +“But that would be really scary!” said Lavender, who +was shooting puffs of silver vapor out of the end of +her wand. “And I still — can’t — do it!” she added +angrily. + +Neville was having trouble too. His face was screwed +up in concentration, but only feeble wisps of silver +smoke issued from his wand tip. + +“You’ve got to think of something happy,” Harry +reminded him. + +“I’m trying,” said Neville miserably, who was trying so +hard his round face was actually shining with sweat. + +“Harry, I think I’m doing it!” yelled Seamus, who had +been brought along to his first ever D.A. meeting by +Dean. “Look — ah — it’s gone... But it was definitely +something hairy, Harry!” + +Hermione’s Patronus, a shining silver otter, was +gamboling around her. + +“They are sort of nice, aren’t they?” she said, looking +at it fondly. + +The door of the Room of Requirement opened and +then closed again; Harry looked around to see who +had entered, but there did not seem to be anybody +there. It was a few moments before he realized that +the people close to the door had fallen silent. Next +thing he knew, something was tugging at his robes +somewhere near the knee. He looked down and saw, +to his very great astonishment, Dobby the house-elf +peering up at him from beneath his usual eight hats. +Page | 773Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Hi, Dobby!” he said. “What are you — what’s wrong?” + +For the elf’s eyes were wide with terror and he was +shaking. The members of the D.A. closest to Harry +had fallen silent now: Everybody in the room was +watching Dobby. The few Patronuses people had +managed to conjure faded away into silver mist, +leaving the room looking much darker than before. + +“Harry Potter, sir ...” squeaked the elf, trembling from +head to foot, “Harry Potter, sir ... Dobby has come to +warn you . . . but the house-elves have been warned +not to tell ...” + +He ran headfirst at the wall: Harry, who had some +experience of Dobby’s habits of self-punishment, +made to seize him, but Dobby merely bounced off the +stone, cushioned by his eight hats. Hermione and a +few of the other girls let out squeaks of fear and +sympathy. + +“What’s happened, Dobby?” Harry asked, grabbing +the elf’s tiny arm and holding him away from +anything with which he might seek to hurt himself. + +“Harry Potter ... she ... she ...” + +Dobby hit himself hard on the nose with his free fist: +Harry seized that too. + +“Who’s ‘she,’ Dobby?” + +But he thought he knew — surely only one “she” +could induce such fear in Dobby? The elf looked up at +him, slightly cross-eyed, and mouthed wordlessly. + +“Umbridge?” asked Harry, horrified. + + + +Page | 774Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dobby nodded, then tried to bang his head off Harry’s +knees; Harry held him at bay. + + + +“What about her? Dobby — she hasn’t found out +about this — about us — about the D.A.?” + +He read the answer in the elf’s stricken face. His +hands held fast by Harry, the elf tried to kick himself +and fell to the floor. + +“Is she coming?” Harry asked quietly. + +Dobby let out a howl, and began beating his bare feet +hard on the floor. “Yes, Harry Potter, yes!” + +Harry straightened up and looked around at the +motionless, terrified people gazing at the thrashing +elf. + +“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” Harry bellowed. +“RUN!” + +They all pelted toward the exit at once, forming a +scrum at the door, then people burst through; Harry +could hear them sprinting along the corridors and +hoped they had the sense not to try and make it all +the way to their dormitories. It was only ten to nine, if +they just took refuge in the library or the Owlery, +which were both nearer — + +“Harry, come on!” shrieked Hermione from the center +of the knot of people now fighting to get out. + +He scooped up Dobby, who was still attempting to do +himself serious injury, and ran with the elf in his +arms to join the back of the queue. + +“Dobby — this is an order — get back down to the +kitchen with the other elves, and if she asks you + +Page | 775Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +whether you warned me, lie and say no!” said Harry. +“And I forbid you to hurt yourself!” he added, +dropping the elf as he made it over the threshold at +last and slamming the door behind him. + +“Thank you, Harry Potter!” squeaked Dobby, and he +streaked off. Harry glanced left and right, the others +were all moving so fast that he caught only glimpses +of flying heels at either end of the corridor before they +vanished. He started to run right; there was a boys’ +bathroom up ahead, he could pretend he’d been in +there all the time if he could just reach it — + +“AAARGH!” + +Something caught him around the ankles and he fell +spectacularly, skidding along on his front for six feet +before coming to a halt. Someone behind him was +laughing. He rolled over onto his back and saw Malfoy +concealed in a niche beneath an ugly dragon-shaped +vase. + +“Trip Jinx, Potter!” he said. “Hey, Professor — +PROFESSOR! I’ve got one!” + +Umbridge came bustling around the far corner, +breathless but wearing a delighted smile. + +“It’s him!” she said jubilantly at the sight of Harry on +the floor. “Excellent, Draco, excellent, oh, very good — +fifty points to Slytherin! I’ll take him from here... + +Stand up, Potter!” + +Harry got to his feet, glaring at the pair of them. He +had never seen Umbridge looking so happy. She +seized his arm in a vicelike grip and turned, beaming +broadly, to Malfoy. “You hop along and see if you can +round up anymore of them, Draco,” she said. “Tell the +others to look in the library — anybody out of breath +Page | 776Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +— check the bathrooms, Miss Parkinson can do the +girls’ ones — off you go — and you,” she added in her +softest, most dangerous voice, as Malfoy walked away. +“You can come with me to the headmaster’s office, +Potter.” + +They were at the stone gargoyle within minutes. Harry +wondered how many of the others had been caught. + +He thought of Ron — Mrs. Weasley would kill him — +and of how Hermione would feel if she was expelled +before she could take her O.W.L.s. And it had been +Seamus’s very first meeting ... and Neville had been +getting so good... + +“Fizzing Whizbee,” sang Umbridge, and the stone +gargoyle jumped aside, the wall behind split open, +and they ascended the moving stone staircase. They +reached the polished door with the griffin knocker, +but Umbridge did not bother to knock, she strode +straight inside, still holding tight to Harry. + +The office was full of people. Dumbledore was sitting +behind his desk, his expression serene, the tips of his +long fingers together. Professor McGonagall stood +rigidly beside him, her face extremely tense. Cornelius +Fudge, Minister of Magic, was rocking backward and +forward on his toes beside the fire, apparently +immensely pleased with the situation. Kingsley +Shacklebolt and a tough-looking wizard Harry did not +recognize with very short, wiry hair were positioned +on either side of the door like guards, and the +freckled, bespectacled form of Percy Weasley hovered +excitedly beside the wall, a quill and a heavy scroll of +parchment in his hands, apparently poised to take +notes. + +The portraits of old headmasters and mistresses were +not shamming sleep tonight. All of them were +watching what was happening below, alert and + +Page | 777Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +serious. As Harry entered, a few flitted into +neighboring frames and whispered urgently into their +neighbors’ ears. + +Harry pulled himself free of Umbridge’s grasp as the +door swung shut behind them. Cornelius Fudge was +glaring at him with a kind of vicious satisfaction upon +his face. + +“Well,” he said. “Well, well, well ...” + +Harry replied with the dirtiest look he could muster. +His heart drummed madly inside him, but his brain +was oddly cool and clear. + +“He was heading back to Gryffindor Tower,” said +Umbridge. There was an indecent excitement in her +voice, the same callous pleasure Harry had heard as +she watched Professor Trelawney dissolving with +misery in the entrance hall. “The Malfoy boy cornered +him.” + +“Did he, did he?” said Fudge appreciatively. “I must +remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter ... I expect you +know why you are here?” + +Harry fully intended to respond with a defiant “yes”: +His mouth had opened and the word was half formed +when he caught sight of Dumbledore’s face. +Dumbledore was not looking directly at Harry; his +eyes were fixed upon a point just over his shoulder, +but as Harry stared at him, he shook his head a +fraction of an inch to each side. + +Harry changed direction mid- word. + +“Yeh — no.” + +“I beg your pardon?” said Fudge. + +Page | 778Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No,” said Harry, firmly. + +“You don’t know why you are here?” + +“No, I don’t,” said Harry. + +Fudge looked incredulously from Harry to Professor +Umbridge; Harry took advantage of his momentary +inattention to steal another quick look at +Dumbledore, who gave the carpet the tiniest of nods +and the shadow of a wink. + +“So you have no idea,” said Fudge in a voice positively +sagging with sarcasm, “why Professor Umbridge has +brought you to this office? You are not aware that you +have broken any school rules?” + +“School rules?” said Harry. “No.” + +“Or Ministry decrees?” amended Fudge angrily. + +“Not that I’m aware of,” said Harry blandly. + +His heart was still hammering very fast. It was almost +worth telling these lies to watch Fudge’s blood +pressure rising, but he could not see how on earth he +would get away with them. If somebody had tipped off +Umbridge about the D.A. then he, the leader, might +as well be packing his trunk right now. + +“So it’s news to you, is it,” said Fudge, his voice now +thick with anger, “that an illegal student organization +has been discovered within this school?” + +“Yes, it is,” said Harry, hoisting an unconvincing look +of innocent surprise onto his face. + + + +Page | 779Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I think, Minister,” said Umbridge silkily from beside +him, “we might make better progress if I fetch our +informant.” + +“Yes, yes, do,” said Fudge, nodding, and he glanced +maliciously at Dumbledore as Umbridge left the room. +“There’s nothing like a good witness, is there, +Dumbledore?” + +“Nothing at all, Cornelius,” said Dumbledore gravely, +inclining his head. + +There was a wait of several minutes, in which nobody +looked at each other, then Harry heard the door open +behind him. Umbridge moved past him into the room, +gripping by the shoulder Cho’s curly-haired friend +Marietta, who was hiding her face in her hands. + +“Don’t be scared, dear, don’t be frightened,” said +Professor Umbridge softly, patting her on the back, +“it’s quite all right, now. You have done the right +thing. The minister is very pleased with you. He’ll be +telling your mother what a good girl you’ve been. +Marietta’s mother, Minister,” she added, looking up at +Fudge, “is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of +Magical Transportation. Floo Network office — she’s +been helping us police the Hogwarts fires, you know.” + +“Jolly good, jolly good!” said Fudge heartily. “Like +mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, +look up, don’t be shy, let’s hear what you’ve got to — +galloping gargoyles!” + +As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backward in +shock, nearly landing himself in the fire. He cursed +and stamped on the hem of his cloak, which had +started to smoke, and Marietta gave a wail and pulled +the neck of her robes right up to her eyes, but not +before the whole room had seen that her face was +Page | 780Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +horribly disfigured by a series of close- set purple +pustules that had spread across her nose and cheeks +to form the word “SNEAK.” + + + +“Never mind the spots now, dear,” said Umbridge +impatiently, “just take your robes away from your +mouth and tell the Minister — ” + +But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her +head frantically. + +“Oh, very well, you silly girl, I’ll tell him,” snapped +Umbridge. She hitched her sickly smile back onto her +face and said, “Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here +came to my office shortly after dinner this evening +and told me she had something she wanted to tell me. +She said that if I proceeded to a secret room on the +seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of +Requirement, I would find out something to my +advantage. I questioned her a little further and she +admitted that there was to be some kind of meeting +there. Unfortunately at that point this hex,” she +waved impatiently at Marietta’s concealed face, “came +into operation and upon catching sight of her face in +my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell me +any more.” + +“Well, now,” said Fudge, fixing Marietta with what he +evidently imagined was a kind and fatherly look. “It is +very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor +Umbridge, you did exactly the right thing. Now, will +you tell me what happened at this meeting? What was +its purpose? Who was there?” + +But Marietta would not speak. She merely shook her +head again, her eyes wide and fearful. + + + +Page | 781Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Haven’t we got a counterjinx for this?” Fudge asked +Umbridge impatiently, gesturing at Marietta’s face. + +“So she can speak freely?” + +“I have not yet managed to find one,” Umbridge +admitted grudgingly, and Harry felt a surge of pride in +Hermione’s jinxing ability. “But it doesn’t matter if +she won’t speak, I can take up the story from here. + +“You will remember, Minister, that I sent you a report +back in October that Potter had met a number of +fellow students in the Hog’s Head in Hogsmeade — ” + +“And what is your evidence for that?” cut in Professor +McGonagall. + +“I have testimony from Willy Widdershins, Minerva, +who happened to be in the bar at the time. He was +heavily bandaged, it is true, but his hearing was quite +unimpaired,” said Umbridge smugly. “He heard every +word Potter said and hastened straight to the school +to report to me — ” + +“Oh, so that’s why he wasn’t prosecuted for setting up +all those regurgitating toilets!” said Professor +McGonagall, raising her eyebrows. “What an +interesting insight into our justice system!” + +“Blatant corruption!” roared the portrait of the +corpulent, red-nosed wizard on the wall behind +Dumbledore’s desk. “The Ministry did not cut deals +with petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!” + +“Thank you, Fortescue, that will do,” said +Dumbledore softly. + +“The purpose of Potter’s meeting with these students,” +continued Professor Umbridge, “was to persuade +them to join an illegal society, whose aim was to learn + +Page | 782Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +spells and curses the Ministry has decided are +inappropriate for school-age — ” + +“I think you 11 find you’re wrong there, Dolores,” said +Dumbledore quietly, peering at her over the half- +moon spectacles perched halfway down his crooked +nose. + +Harry stared at him. He could not see how +Dumbledore was going to talk him out of this one; if +Willy Widdershins had indeed heard every word he +said in the Hog’s Head there was simply no escaping +it. + +“Oho!” said Fudge, bouncing up and down on the +balls of his feet again. “Yes, do let’s hear the latest +cock-and-bull story designed to pull Potter out of +trouble! Go on, then, Dumbledore, go on — Willy +Widdershins was lying, was he? Or was it Potter’s +identical twin in the Hog’s Head that day? Or is there +the usual simple explanation involving a reversal of +time, a dead man coming back to life, and a couple of +invisible dementors?” + +Percy Weasley let out a hearty laugh. + +“Oh, very good, Minister, very good!” + +Harry could have kicked him. Then he saw, to his +astonishment, that Dumbledore was smiling gently +too. + +“Cornelius, I do not deny — and nor, I am sure, does +Harry — that he was in the Hog’s Head that day, nor +that he was trying to recruit students to a Defense +Against the Dark Arts group. I am merely pointing out +that Dolores is quite wrong to suggest that such a +group was, at that time, illegal. If you remember, the +Ministry decree banning all student societies was not +Page | 783Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +put into effect until two days after Harry’s Hogsmeade +meeting, so he was not breaking any rules in the +Hog’s Head at all.” + +Percy looked as though he had been struck in the +face by something very heavy. Fudge remained +motionless in mid-bounce, his mouth hanging open. + +Umbridge recovered first. + +“That’s all very fine, Headmaster,” she said, smiling +sweetly. “But we are now nearly six months on from +the introduction of Educational Decree Number +Twenty-four. If the first meeting was not illegal, all +those that have happened since most certainly are.” + +“Well,” said Dumbledore, surveying her with polite +interest over the top of his interlocked fingers, “they +certainly would be, if they had continued after the +decree came into effect. Do you have any evidence +that these meetings continued?” + +As Dumbledore spoke, Harry heard a rustle behind +him and rather thought Kingsley whispered +something. He could have sworn too that he felt +something brush against his side, a gentle something +like a draft or bird wings, but looking down he saw +nothing there. + +“Evidence?” repeated Umbridge with that horrible +wide toadlike smile. “Have you not been listening, +Dumbledore? Why do you think Miss Edgecombe is +here?” + +“Oh, can she tell us about six months’ worth of +meetings?” said Dumbledore, raising his eyebrows. “I +was under the impression that she was merely +reporting a meeting tonight.” + + + +Page | 784Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Miss Edgecombe,” said Umbridge at once, “tell us +how long these meetings have been going on, dear. +You can simply nod or shake your head, I’m sure that +won’t make the spots worse. Have they been +happening regularly over the last six months?” + +Harry felt a horrible plummeting in his stomach. This +was it, they had hit a dead end of solid evidence that +not even Dumbledore would be able to shift aside... + +“Just nod or shake your head, dear,” Umbridge said +coaxingly to Marietta. “Come on, now, that won’t +activate the jinx further...” + +Everyone in the room was gazing at the top of +Marietta’s face. Only her eyes were visible between +the pulled up robes and her curly fringe. Perhaps it +was a trick of the firelight, but her eyes looked oddly +blank. And then — to Harry’s utter amazement — +Marietta shook her head. + +Umbridge looked quickly at Fudge and then back at +Marietta. + +“I don’t think you understood the question, did you, +dear? I’m asking whether you’ve been going to these +meetings for the past six months? You have, haven’t +you?” + +Again, Marietta shook her head. + +“What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?” +said Umbridge in a testy voice. + +“I would have thought her meaning was quite clear,” +said Professor McGonagall harshly. “There have been +no secret meetings for the past six months. Is that +correct, Miss Edgecombe?” + + + +Page | 785Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Marietta nodded. + + + +“But there was a meeting tonight!” said Umbridge +furiously. “There was a meeting, Miss Edgecombe, +you told me about it, in the Room of Requirement! + +And Potter was the leader, was he not, Potter +organized it, Potter — why are you shaking your head, +girl?” + +“Well, usually when a person shakes their head,” said +McGonagall coldly, “they mean ‘no.’ So unless Miss +Edgecombe is using a form of sign language as yet +unknown to humans — ” + +Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her +around to face her, and began shaking her very hard. +A split second later Dumbledore was on his feet, his +wand raised. Kingsley started forward and Umbridge +leapt back from Marietta, waving her hands in the air +as though they had been burned. + +“I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, +Dolores,” said Dumbledore, and for the first time, he +looked angry. + +“You want to calm yourself, Madam Umbridge,” said +Kingsley in his deep, slow voice. “You don’t want to +get yourself into trouble now.” + +“No,” said Umbridge breathlessly, glancing up at the +towering figure of Kingsley. “I mean, yes — you’re +right, Shacklebolt — I — I forgot myself.” + +Marietta was standing exactly where Umbridge had +released her. She seemed neither perturbed by +Umbridge’s sudden attack, nor relieved by her +release. She was still clutching her robe up to her +oddly blank eyes, staring straight ahead of her. A +sudden suspicion connected to Kingsley’s whisper +Page | 786Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and the thing he had felt shoot past him sprang into +Harry’s mind. + + + +“Dolores,” said Fudge, with the air of trying to settle +something once and for all, “the meeting tonight — +the one we know definitely happened — ” + +“Yes,” said Umbridge, pulling herself together, “yes ... +well, Miss Edgecombe tipped me off and I proceeded +at once to the seventh floor, accompanied by certain +trustworthy students, so as to catch those in the +meeting red-handed. It appears that they were +forewarned of my arrival, however, because when we +reached the seventh floor they were running in every +direction. It does not matter, however. I have all their +names here, Miss Parkinson ran into the Room of +Requirement for me to see if they had left anything +behind... We needed evidence and the room provided + + + +And to Harry’s horror, she withdrew from her pocket +the list of names that had been pinned upon the +Room of Requirement’s wall and handed it to Fudge. + +“The moment I saw Potter’s name on the list, I knew +what we were dealing with,” she said softly. + +“Excellent,” said Fudge, a smile spreading across his +face. “Excellent, Dolores. And ... by thunder ...” + +He looked up at Dumbledore, who was still standing +beside Marietta, his wand held loosely in his hand. + +“See what they’ve named themselves?” said Fudge +quietly. “Dumbledore’sArmy.” + +Dumbledore reached out and took the piece of +parchment from Fudge. He gazed at the heading +scribbled by Hermione months before and for a + +Page | 787Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +moment seemed unable to speak. Then he looked up, +smiling. + + + +“Well, the game is up,” he said simply. “Would you +like a written confession from me, Cornelius — or will +a statement before these witnesses suffice?” + +Harry saw McGonagall and Kingsley look at each +other. There was fear in both faces. He did not +understand what was going on, and neither, +apparently, did Fudge. + +“Statement?” said Fudge slowly. “What — I don’t — ?” + +“Dumbledore’s Army, Cornelius,” said Dumbledore, +still smiling as he waved the list of names before +Fudge’s face. “Not Potter’s Army. Dumbledore’s Army.” + +“But — but — ” + +Understanding blazed suddenly in Fudge’s face. He +took a horrified step backward, yelped, and jumped +out of the fire again. + +“You?” he whispered, stamping again on his +smoldering cloak. + +“That’s right,” said Dumbledore pleasantly. + +“You organized this?” + +“I did,” said Dumbledore. + +“You recruited these students for — for your army?” + +“Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting,” said +Dumbledore, nodding. “Merely to see whether they +would be interested in joining me. I see now that it +was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course.” + +Page | 788Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Marietta nodded. Fudge looked from her to +Dumbledore, his chest swelling. + + + +“Then you have been plotting against me!” he yelled. +“That’s right,” said Dumbledore cheerfully. + +“NO!” shouted Harry. + +Kingsley flashed a look of warning at him, + +McGonagall widened her eyes threateningly, but it +had suddenly dawned upon Harry what Dumbledore +was about to do, and he could not let it happen. + +“No — Professor Dumbledore!” + +“Be quiet, Harry, or I am afraid you will have to leave +my office,” said Dumbledore calmly. + +“Yes, shut up, Potter!” barked Fudge, who was still +ogling Dumbledore with a kind of horrified delight. +“Well, well, well — I came here tonight expecting to +expel Potter and instead — ” + +“Instead you get to arrest me,” said Dumbledore, +smiling. “It’s like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, +isn’t it?” + +“Weasley!” cried Fudge, now positively quivering with +delight, “Weasley, have you written it all down, +everything he’s said, his confession, have you got it?” + +“Yes, sir, I think so, sir!” said Percy eagerly, whose +nose was splattered with ink from the speed of his +note-taking. + +“The bit about how he’s been trying to build up an +army against the Ministry, how he’s been working to +destabilize me?” + +Page | 789Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes, sir, I’ve got it, yes!” said Percy, scanning his +notes joyfully. + +“Very well, then,” said Fudge, now radiant with glee. +“Duplicate your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to +the Daily Prophet at once. If we send a fast owl we +should make the morning edition!” Percy dashed from +the room, slamming the door behind him, and Fudge +turned back to Dumbledore. “You will now be +escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be +formally charged and then sent to Azkaban to await +trial!” + +“Ah,” said Dumbledore gently, “yes. Yes, I thought we +might hit that little snag.” + +“Snag?” said Fudge, his voice still vibrating with joy. + +“I see no snag, Dumbledore!” + +“Well,” said Dumbledore apologetically, “I’m afraid I +do.” + +“Oh really?” + +“Well — it’s just that you seem to be laboring under +the delusion that I am going to — what is the phrase? +‘Come quietly. ’ I am afraid I am not going to come +quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no +intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, +of course — but what a waste of time, and frankly, I +can think of a whole host of things I would rather be +doing.” + +Umbridge’s face was growing steadily redder, she +looked as though she was being filled with boiling +water. Fudge stared at Dumbledore with a very silly +expression on his face, as though he had just been +stunned by a sudden blow and could not quite believe +it had happened. He made a small choking noise and +Page | 790Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +then looked around at Kingsley and the man with +short gray hair, who alone of everyone in the room +had remained entirely silent so far. The latter gave +Fudge a reassuring nod and moved forward a little, +away from the wall. Harry saw his hand drift, almost +casually, toward his pocket. + +“Don’t be silly, Dawlish,” said Dumbledore kindly. + +“I’m sure you are an excellent Auror, I seem to +remember that you achieved ‘Outstanding’ in all your +N.E.W.T.s, but if you attempt to — er — ‘bring me in’ +by force, I will have to hurt you.” + +The man called Dawlish blinked, looking rather +foolish. He looked toward Fudge again, but this time +seemed to be hoping for a clue as to what to do next. + +“So,” sneered Fudge, recovering himself, “you intend +to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores, and myself +single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?” + +“Merlin’s beard, no,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “Not +unless you are foolish enough to force me to.” + +“He will not be single-handed!” said Professor +McGonagall loudly, plunging her hand inside her +robes. + +“Oh yes he will, Minerva!” said Dumbledore sharply. +“Hogwarts needs you!” + +“Enough of this rubbish!” said Fudge, pulling out his +own wand. “Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him ). ” + +A streak of silver light flashed around the room. There +was a bang like a gunshot, and the floor trembled. A +hand grabbed the scruff of Harry’s neck and forced +him down on the floor as a second silver flash went +off — several of the portraits yelled, Fawkes +Page | 791Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +screeched, and a cloud of dust filled the air. Coughing +in the dust, Harry saw a dark figure fall to the ground +with a crash in front of him. There was a shriek and a +thud and somebody cried, “No!” Then the sound of +breaking glass, frantically scuffling footsteps, a groan + +— and silence. + +Harry struggled around to see who was half- +strangling him and saw Professor McGonagall +crouched beside him. She had forced both him and +Marietta out of harm’s way. Dust was still floating +gently down through the air onto them. Panting +slightly, Harry saw a very tall figure moving toward +them. + +“Are you all right?” said Dumbledore. + +“Yes!” said Professor McGonagall, getting up and +dragging Harry and Marietta with her. + +The dust was clearing. The wreckage of the office +loomed into view: Dumbledore’s desk had been +overturned, all of the spindly tables had been +knocked to the floor, their silver instruments in +pieces. Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley, and Dawlish lay +motionless on the floor. Fawkes the phoenix soared in +wide circles above them, singing softly. + +“Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would +have looked very suspicious,” said Dumbledore in a +low voice. “He was remarkably quick on the uptake, +modifying Miss Edgecombe’s memory like that while +everyone was looking the other way — thank him for +me, won’t you, Minerva? + +“Now, they will all awake very soon and it will be best +if they do not know that we had time to communicate + +— you must act as though no time has passed, as + + + +Page | 792Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +though they were merely knocked to the ground, they +will not remember — ” + +“Where will you go, Dumbledore?” whispered +Professor McGonagall. “Grimmauld Place?” + +“Oh no,” said Dumbledore with a grim smile. “I am +not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish +he’d never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise +you...” + +“Professor Dumbledore ...” Harry began. + +He did not know what to say first: how sorry he was +that he had started the D.A. in the first place and +caused all this trouble, or how terrible he felt that +Dumbledore was leaving to save him from expulsion? +But Dumbledore cut him off before he could say +another word. + +“Listen to me, Harry,” he said urgently, “you must +study Occlumency as hard as you can, do you +understand me? Do everything Professor Snape tells +you and practice it particularly every night before +sleeping so that you can close your mind to bad +dreams — you will understand why soon enough, but +you must promise me — ” + +The man called Dawlish was stirring. Dumbledore +seized Harry’s wrist. + +“Remember — close your mind — ” + +But as Dumbledore ’s fingers closed over Harry’s skin, +a pain shot through the scar on his forehead, and he +felt again that terrible, snakelike longing to strike +Dumbledore, to bite him, to hurt him — + +“ — you will understand,” whispered Dumbledore. + +Page | 793Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Fawkes circled the office and swooped low over him. +Dumbledore released Harry, raised his hand, and +grasped the phoenix’s long golden tail. There was a +flash of fire and the pair of them had gone. + +“Where is he?” yelled Fudge, pushing himself up from +the ground. “Where is he?” + +“I don’t know!” shouted Kingsley, also leaping to his +feet. + +“Well, he can’t have Disapparated!” cried Umbridge. +“You can’t inside this school — ” + +“The stairs!” cried Dawlish, and he flung himself upon +the door, wrenched it open, and disappeared, followed +closely by Kingsley and Umbridge. Fudge hesitated, +then got to his feet slowly, brushing dust from his +front. There was a long and painful silence. + +“Well, Minerva,” said Fudge nastily, straightening his +torn shirtsleeve, “I’m afraid this is the end of your +friend Dumbledore.” + +“You think so, do you?” said Professor McGonagall +scornfully. + +Fudge seemed not to hear her. He was looking around +at the wrecked office. A few of the portraits hissed at +him; one or two even made rude hand gestures. + +“You’d better get those two off to bed,” said Fudge, +looking back at Professor McGonagall with a +dismissive nod toward Harry and Marietta. + +She said nothing, but marched Harry and Marietta to +the door. As it swung closed behind them, Harry +heard Phineas Nigellus’s voice. + + + +Page | 794Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on +many counts ... but you cannot deny he’s got style...” + + + +Page | 795Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +SNAPE’S WORST MEMORY + +— BY ORDER OF — + +THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC + +Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced +Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of +Witchcraft and Wizardry. + +The above is in accordance with + +Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight. + +Signed: + +Cornelius Oswald Fudge +MINISTER OF MAGIC + +The notices had gone up all over the school overnight, +but they did not explain how every single person +within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore + + + +Page | 796Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the +Minister of Magic, and his Junior Assistant to escape. +No matter where Harry went within the castle next +day, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore’s +flight, and though some of the details might have +gone awry in the retelling (Harry overheard one +second-year girl assuring another that Fudge was +now lying in St. Mungo’s with a pumpkin for a head), +it was surprising how accurate the rest of their +information was. Everybody seemed aware, for +instance, that Harry and Marietta were the only +students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore’s +office, and as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, +Harry found himself besieged with requests to give a +firsthand account wherever he went. + +“Dumbledore will be back before long,” said Ernie +Macmillan confidently on the way back from +Herbology after listening intently to Harry’s story. +“They couldn’t keep him away in our second year and +they won’t be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me +...” He dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that +Harry, Ron, and Hermione had to lean closer to him +to hear, "... that Umbridge tried to get back into his +office last night after they’d searched the castle and +grounds for him. Couldn’t get past the gargoyle. The +Head’s office has sealed itself against her.” Ernie +smirked. “Apparently she had a right little tantrum...” + +“Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up +there in the Head’s office,” said Hermione viciously, as +they walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall. +“Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid +puffed-up, power-crazy old — ” + +“Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, +Granger?” + + + +Page | 797Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Draco Malfoy had slid out from behind the door, +followed by Crabbe and Goyle. His pale, pointed face +was alight with malice. + +“Afraid I’m going to have to dock a few points from +Gryffindor and Hufflepuff,” he drawled. + +“It’s only teachers that can dock points from Houses, +Malfoy,” said Ernie at once. + +“Yeah, we’re prefects too, remember?” snarled Ron. + +“I know prefects can’t dock points, Weasel King,” +sneered Malfoy; Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. “But +members of the Inquisitorial Squad — ” + +“The what?” said Hermione sharply. + +“The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger,” said Malfoy, +pointing toward a tiny silver I upon his robes just +beneath his prefect’s badge. “A select group of +students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, +hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, +members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power +to dock points... So, Granger, I’ll have five from you +for being rude about our new headmistress... +Macmillan, five for contradicting me... Five because I +don’t like you, Potter ... Weasley, your shirt’s +untucked, so I’ll have another five for that... Oh yeah, + +I forgot, you’re a Mudblood, Granger, so ten for +that...” + +Ron pulled out his wand, but Hermione pushed it +away, whispering, “Don’t!” + +“Wise move, Granger,” breathed Malfoy. “New Head, +new times ... Be good now, Potty ... Weasel King ...” + + + +Page | 798Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He strode away, laughing heartily with Crabbe and +Goyle. + +“He was bluffing,” said Ernie, looking appalled. “He +can’t be allowed to dock points ... that would be +ridiculous... It would completely undermine the +prefect system...” + +But Harry, Ron, and Hermione had turned +automatically toward the giant hourglasses set in +niches along the wall behind them, which recorded +the House points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been +neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they +watched, stones flew upward, reducing the amounts +in the lower bulbs. In fact, the only glass that seemed +unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin. + +“Noticed, have you?” said Fred’s voice. + +He and George had just come down the marble +staircase and joined Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ernie +in front of the hourglasses. + +“Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points,” said +Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones +fly upward from the Gryffindor hourglass. + +“Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break,” said +George. + +“What do you mean, ‘tried’?” said Ron quickly. + +“He never managed to get all the words out,” said +Fred, “due to the fact that we forced him headfirst +into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.” + +Hermione looked very shocked. + +“But you’ll get into terrible trouble!” + +Page | 799Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Not until Montague reappears, and that could take +weeks, I dunno where we sent him,” said Fred coolly. +“Anyway ... we’ve decided we don’t care about getting +into trouble anymore.” + +“Have you ever?” asked Hermione. + +“ ’Course we have,” said George. “Never been expelled, +have we?” + +“We’ve always known where to draw the line,” said +Fred. + +“We might have put a toe across it occasionally,” said +George. + +“But we’ve always stopped short of causing real +mayhem,” said Fred. + +“But now?” said Ron tentatively. + +“Well, now — ” said George. + +“ — what with Dumbledore gone — ” said Fred. + +“ — we reckon a bit of mayhem — ” said George. + +“ — is exactly what our dear new Head deserves,” said +Fred. + +“You mustn’t!” whispered Hermione. “You really +mustn’t! She’d love a reason to expel you!” + +“You don’t get it, Hermione, do you?” said Fred, +smiling at her. “We don’t care about staying anymore. +We’d walk out right now if we weren’t determined to +do our bit for Dumbledore first. So anyway,” he +checked his watch, “phase one is about to begin. I’d +get in the Great Hall for lunch if I were you, that way + +Page | 800Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the teachers will see you can’t have had anything to +do with it.” + +“Anything to do with what?” said Hermione anxiously. + +“You’ll see,” said George. “Run along, now.” + +Fred and George turned away and disappeared in the +swelling crowd descending the stairs toward lunch. +Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered +something about unfinished Transfiguration +homework and scurried away. + +“I think we should get out of here, you know,” said +Hermione nervously. “Just in case ...” + +“Yeah, all right,” said Ron, and the three of them +moved toward the doors to the Great Hall, but Harry +had barely glimpsed today’s ceiling of scudding white +clouds when somebody tapped him on the shoulder +and, turning, he found himself almost nose to nose +with Filch, the caretaker. He took several hasty steps +backward; Filch was best viewed at a distance. + +“The headmistress would like to see you, Potter,” he +leered. + +“I didn’t do it,” said Harry stupidly, thinking of +whatever Fred and George were planning. Filch’s +jowls wobbled with silent laughter. + +“Guilty conscience, eh?” he wheezed. “Follow me...” + +Harry glanced back at Ron and Hermione, who were +both looking worried. He shrugged and followed Filch +back into the entrance hall, against the tide of hungry +students. + + + +Page | 801Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Filch seemed to be in an extremely good mood; he +hummed creakily under his breath as they climbed +the marble staircase. As they reached the first landing +he said, “Things are changing around here, Potter.” + +“I’ve noticed,” said Harry coldly. + +“Yerse ... I’ve been telling Dumbledore for years and +years he’s too soft with you all,” said Filch, chuckling +nastily. “You filthy little beasts would never have +dropped Stinkpellets if you’d known I had it in my +power to whip you raw, would you, now? Nobody +would have thought of throwing Fanged Frisbees +down the corridors if I could’ve strung you up by the +ankles in my office, would they? But when +Educational Decree Twenty-nine comes in, Potter, I’ll +be allowed to do them things... And she’s asked the +Minister to sign an order for the expulsion of Peeves... +Oh, things are going to be very different around here +with her in charge...” + +Umbridge had obviously gone to some lengths to get +Filch on her side, Harry thought, and the worst of it +was that he would probably prove an important +weapon; his knowledge of the school’s secret +passageways and hiding places was probably second +only to the Weasley twins. + +“Here we are,” he said, leering down at Harry as he +rapped three times upon Professor Umbridge’s door +and pushed it open. “The Potter boy to see you, +ma’am.” + +Umbridge’s office, so very familiar to Harry from his +many detentions, was the same as usual except for +the large wooden block lying across the front of her +desk on which golden letters spelled the word +HEADMISTRESS; also his Firebolt, and Fred’s and +George’s Clean-sweeps, which he saw with a pang +Page | 802Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +were now chained and padlocked to a stout iron peg +in the wall behind the desk. Umbridge was sitting +behind the desk, busily scribbling upon some of her +pink parchment, but looked up and smiled widely at +their entrance. + +“Thank you, Argus,” she said sweetly. + +“Not at all, ma’am, not at all,” said Filch, bowing as +low as his rheumatism would permit, and exiting +backward. + +“Sit,” said Umbridge curtly, pointing toward a chair, +and Harry sat. She continued to scribble for a few +moments. He watched some of the foul kittens +gamboling around the plates over her head, +wondering what fresh horror she had in store for him. + +“Well now,” she said finally, setting down her quill +and looking like a toad about to swallow a +particularly juicy fly. “What would you like to drink?” + +“What?” said Harry, quite sure he had misheard her. + +“To drink, Mr. Potter,” she said, smiling still more +widely. “Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?” + +As she named each drink, she gave her short wand a +wave, and a cup or glass of it appeared upon her +desk. + +“Nothing, thank you,” said Harry. + +“I wish you to have a drink with me,” she said, her +voice becoming more dangerously sweet. “Choose +one.” + +“Fine ... tea then,” said Harry, shrugging. + + + +Page | 803Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She got up and made quite a performance of adding +milk with her back to him. She then bustled around +the desk with it, smiling in sinisterly sweet fashion. + +“There,” she said, handing it to him. “Drink it before it +gets cold, won’t you? Well, now, Mr. Potter ... I +thought we ought to have a little chat, after the +distressing events of last night.” + +He said nothing. She settled herself back into her seat +and waited. When several long moments had passed +in silence, she said gaily, “You’re not drinking up!” + +He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as +suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted +kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes +just like Mad-Eye Moody’s magical one, and it had +just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he +ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by +a known enemy. + +“What’s the matter?” said Umbridge, who was still +watching him. “Do you want sugar?” + +“No,” said Harry. + +He raised the cup to his lips again and pretended to +take a sip, though keeping his mouth tightly closed. +Umbridge’s smile widened. + +“Good,” she whispered. “Very good. Now then ...” She +leaned forward a little. “Where is Albus Dumbledore?” + +“No idea,” said Harry promptly. + +“Drink up, drink up,” she said, still smiling. “Now, + +Mr. Potter, let us not play childish games. I know that +you know where he has gone. You and Dumbledore + + + +Page | 804Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +have been in this together from the beginning. +Consider your position, Mr. Potter...” + +“I don’t know where he is.” + +Harry pretended to drink again. + +“Very well,” said Umbridge, looking displeased. “In +that case, you will kindly tell me the whereabouts of +Sirius Black.” + +Harry’s stomach turned over and his hand holding +the teacup shook so that the cup rattled in its saucer. +He tilted the cup to his mouth with his lips pressed +together, so that some of the hot liquid trickled down +onto his robes. + +“I don’t know,” he said a little too quickly. + +“Mr. Potter,” said Umbridge, “let me remind you that +it was I who almost caught the criminal Black in the +Gryffindor fire in October. I know perfectly well it was +you he was meeting and if I had had any proof neither +of you would be at large today, I promise you. I +repeat, Mr. Potter ... Where is Sirius Black?” + +“No idea,” said Harry loudly. “Haven’t got a clue.” + +They stared at each other so long that Harry felt his +eyes watering. Then she stood up. + +“Very well, Potter, I will take your word for it this +time, but be warned: The might of the Ministry stands +behind me. All channels of communication in and out +of this school are being monitored. A Floo Network +Regulator is keeping watch over every fire in Hogwarts +— except my own, of course. My Inquisitorial Squad +is opening and reading all owl post entering and +leaving the castle. And Mr. Filch is observing all +Page | 805Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +secret passages in and out of the castle. If I find a +shred of evidence ...” + + + +BOOM! + +The very floor of the office shook; Umbridge slipped +sideways, clutching her desk for support, looking +shocked. + +“What was — ?” + +She was gazing toward the door; Harry took the +opportunity to empty his almost full cup of tea into +the nearest vase of dried flowers. He could hear +people running and screaming several floors below. + +“Back to lunch with you, Potter!” cried Umbridge, +raising her wand and dashing out of the office. Harry +gave her a few seconds’ start then hurried after her to +see what the source of all the uproar was. + +It was not difficult to find. One floor down, +pandemonium reigned. Somebody (and Harry had a +very shrewd idea who) had set off what seemed to be +an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. + +Dragons comprised entirely of green-and-gold sparks +were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting +loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went. Shocking- +pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were +whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying +saucers. Rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars +were ricocheting off the walls. Sparklers were writing +swearwords in midair of their own accord. + +Firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere +Harry looked, and instead of burning themselves out, +fading from sight, or fizzling to a halt, these +pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy +and momentum the longer he watched. + +Page | 806Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently +transfixed with horror, halfway down the stairs. As +Harry watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels +seemed to decide that what it needed was more room +to maneuver; it whirled toward Umbridge and Filch +with a sinister voheeeeeeeeee. Both adults yelled with +fright and ducked and it soared straight out of the +window behind them and off across the grounds. +Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple +bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of +the open door at the end of the corridor to escape +toward the second floor. + +“Hurry, Filch, hurry!” shrieked Umbridge. “They’ll be +all over the school unless we do something — + +Stupefy]” + +A jet of red light shot out of the end of her wand and +hit one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it +exploded with such force that it blasted a hole in a +painting of a soppy-looking witch in the middle of a +meadow — she ran for it just in time, reappearing +seconds later squashed into the painting next door, +where a couple of wizards playing cards stood up +hastily to make room for her. + +“Don’t Stun them, Filch!” shouted Umbridge angrily, +for all the world as though it had been his suggestion. + +“Right you are, Headmistress!” wheezed Filch, who +was a Squib and could no more have Stunned the +fireworks than swallowed them. He dashed to a +nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom, and began +swatting at the fireworks in midair; within seconds +the head of the broom was ablaze. + +Harry had seen enough. Laughing, he ducked down +low, ran to a door he knew was concealed behind a +tapestry a little way along the corridor and slipped + +Page | 807Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +through it to find Fred and George hiding just behind +it, listening to Umbridge’s and Filch’s yells and +quaking with suppressed mirth. + +“Impressive,” Harry said quietly, grinning. “Very +impressive ... You’ll put Dr. Filibuster out of business, +no problem...” + +“Cheers,” whispered George, wiping tears of laughter +from his face. “Oh, I hope she tries Vanishing them +next... They multiply by ten every time you try...” + +The fireworks continued to burn and to spread all +over the school that afternoon. Though they caused +plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the +other teachers did not seem to mind them very much. + +“Dear, dear,” said Professor McGonagall sardonically, +as one of the dragons soared around her classroom, +emitting loud bangs and exhaling flame. “Miss Brown, +would you mind running along to the headmistress +and informing her that we have an escaped firework +in our classroom?” + +The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge +spent her first afternoon as headmistress running all +over the school answering the summonses of the +other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their +rooms of the fireworks without her. When the final +bell rang and the students were heading back to +Gryffindor Tower with their bags, Harry saw, with +immense satisfaction, a disheveled and soot- +blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty-faced from +Professor Flitwick’s classroom. + +“Thank you so much, Professor!” said Professor +Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. “I could have got +rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn’t +sure whether I had the authority...” + +Page | 808Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Beaming, he closed his classroom door in her snarling +face. + +Fred and George were heroes that night in the +Gryffindor common room. Even Hermione fought her +way through the excited crowd around them to +congratulate them. + +“They were wonderful fireworks,” she said admiringly. + +“Thanks,” said George, looking both surprised and +pleased. “Weasleys’ Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. Only thing +is, we used our whole stock, we’re going to have to +start again from scratch now...” + +“It was worth it, though,” said Fred, who was taking +orders from clamoring Gryffindors. “If you want to +add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it’s five +Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for the +Deflagration Deluxe...” + +Hermione returned to the table where Harry and Ron +were sitting staring at their schoolbags as though +hoping their homework might spring out of it and +start doing itself. + +“Oh, why don’t we have a night off?” said Hermione +brightly, as a silver-tailed Weasley rocket zoomed past +the window. “After all, the Easter holidays start on +Friday, we’ll have plenty of time then...” + +“Are you feeling all right?” Ron asked, staring at her +in disbelief. + +“Now you mention it,” said Hermione happily, “d’you +know ... I think I’m feeling a bit ... rebellious.” + +Harry could still hear the distant bangs of escaped +firecrackers when he and Ron went up to bed an hour + +Page | 809Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +later, and as he got undressed a sparkler floated past +the tower, still resolutely spelling out the word POO. + +He got into bed, yawning. With his glasses off, the +occasional fire-work still passing the window became +blurred, looking like sparkling clouds, beautiful and +mysterious against the black sky. He turned onto his +side, wondering how Umbridge was feeling about her +first day in Dumbledore’s job, and how Fudge would +react when he heard that the school had spent most +of the day in a state of advanced disruption... Smiling +to himself, he closed his eyes... + +The whizzes and bangs of escaped fireworks in the +grounds seemed to be growing more distant ... or +perhaps he, Harry, was simply speeding away from +them... + +He had fallen right into the corridor leading to the +Department of Mysteries. He was speeding toward the +plain black door... Let it open... Let it open... + +It did. He was inside the circular room lined with +doors... He crossed it, placed his hand upon an +identical door, and it swung inward... + +Now he was in a long, rectangular room full of an odd, +mechanical clicking. There were dancing flecks of +light on the walls but he did not pause to +investigate... He had to go on... + +There was a door at the far end... It too opened at his +touch... + +And now he was in a dimly lit room as high and wide +as a church, full of nothing but rows and rows of +towering shelves, each laden with small, dusty, spun- +glass spheres... Now Harry’s heart was beating fast +with excitement... He knew where to go... He ran +Page | 810Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +forward, but his footsteps made no noise in the +enormous, deserted room... + +There was something in this room he wanted very, +very much... + +Something he wanted... or somebody else wanted... + +His scar was hurting. . . + +BANG! Harry awoke instantly, confused and angry. +The dark dormitory was full of the sound of laughter. + +“Cool!” said Seamus, who was silhouetted against the +window. + +“I think one of those Catherine wheels hit a rocket +and it’s like they mated, come and see!” + +Harry heard Ron and Dean scramble out of bed for a +better look. He lay quite still and silent while the pain +in his scar subsided and disappointment washed over +him. He felt as though a wonderful treat had been +snatched from him at the very last moment... He had +got so close that time... + +Glittering, pink-and-silver winged piglets were now +soaring past the windows of Gryffindor Tower. Harry +lay and listened to the appreciative whoops of +Gryffindors in the dormitories below them. His +stomach gave a sickening jolt as he remembered that +he had Occlumency the following evening. . . + +Harry spent the whole of the next day dreading what +Snape was going to say if he found out how much +farther into the Department of Mysteries he had +penetrated during his last dream. With a surge of +guilt he realized that he had not practiced +Occlumency once since their last lesson: There had +Page | 811Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +been too much going on since Dumbledore had left. + +He was sure he would not have been able to empty +his mind even if he had tried. He doubted, however, +whether Snape would accept that excuse... + +He attempted a little last-minute practice during +classes that day, but it was no good, Hermione kept +asking him what was wrong whenever he fell silent +trying to rid himself of all thought and emotion and, +after all, the best moment to empty his brain was not +while teachers were firing review questions at the +class. + +Resigned to the worst, he set off for Snape ’s office +after dinner. Halfway across the entrance hall, +however, Cho came hurrying up to him. + +“Over here,” said Harry, glad of a reason to postpone +his meeting with Snape and beckoning her across to +the corner of the entrance hall where the giant +hourglasses stood. Gryffindor’s was now almost +empty. “Are you okay? Umbridge hasn’t been asking +you about the D.A., has she?” + +“Oh no,” said Cho hurriedly. “No, it was only ... Well, I +just wanted to say ... Harry, I never dreamed Marietta +would tell...” + +“Yeah, well,” said Harry moodily. He did feel Cho +might have chosen her friends a bit more carefully. It +was small consolation that the last he had heard, +Marietta was still up in the hospital wing and Madam +Pomfrey had not been able to make the slightest +improvement to her pimples. + +“She’s a lovely person really,” said Cho. “She just +made a mistake — ” + + + +Harry looked at her incredulously. + +Page | 812Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“A lovely person who made a mistake? She sold us all +out, including you!” + +“Well ... we all got away, didn’t we?” said Cho +pleadingly. “You know, her mum works for the +Ministry, it’s really difficult for her — ” + +“Ron’s dad works for the Ministry too!” Harry said +furiously. “And in case you hadn’t noticed, he hasn’t +got ‘sneak’ written across his face — ” + +“That was a really horrible trick of Hermione +Granger’s,” said Cho fiercely. “She should have told +us she’d jinxed that list — ” + +“I think it was a brilliant idea,” said Harry coldly. Cho +flushed and her eyes grew brighter. + +“Oh yes, I forgot — of course, if it was darling +Hermione’s idea — ” + +“Don’t start crying again,” said Harry warningly. + +“I wasn’t going to!” she shouted. + +“Yeah ... well ... good,” he said. “I’ve got enough to +cope with at the moment.” + +“Go and cope with it then!” she said furiously, turning +on her heel and stalking off. + +Fuming, Harry descended the stairs to Snape’s +dungeon, and though he knew from experience how +much easier it would be for Snape to penetrate his +mind if he arrived angry and resentful, he succeeded +in nothing but thinking of a few more good things he +should have said to Cho about Marietta before +reaching the dungeon door. + + + +Page | 813Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’re late, Potter,” said Snape coldly, as Harry +closed the door behind him. + +Snape was standing with his back to Harry, removing, +as usual, certain of his thoughts and placing them +carefully in Dumbledore’s Pensieve. He dropped the +last silvery strand into the stone basin and turned to +face Harry. + +“So,” he said. “Have you been practicing?” + +“Yes,” Harry lied, looking carefully at one of the legs of +Snape’s desk. + +“Well, we’ll soon find out, won’t we?” said Snape +smoothly. “Wand out, Potter.” + +Harry moved into his usual position, facing Snape +with the desk between them. His heart was pumping +fast with anger at Cho and anxiety about how much +Snape was about to extract from his mind. + +“On the count of three then,” said Snape lazily. “One +— two — ” + +Snape’s office door banged open and Draco Malfoy +sped in. + +“Professor Snape, sir — oh — sorry — ” + +Malfoy was looking at Snape and Harry in some +surprise. + +“It’s all right, Draco,” said Snape, lowering his wand. +“Potter is here for a little Remedial Potions.” + +Harry had not seen Malfoy look so gleeful since +Umbridge had turned up to inspect Hagrid. + + + +Page | 814Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I didn’t know,” he said, leering at Harry, who knew +his face was burning. He would have given a great +deal to be able to shout the truth at Malfoy — or, even +better, to hit him with a good curse. + +“Well, Draco, what is it?” asked Snape. + +“It’s Professor Umbridge, sir — she needs your help,” +said Malfoy. “They’ve found Montague, sir. He’s +turned up jammed inside a toilet on the fourth floor.” + +“How did he get in there?” demanded Snape. + +“I don’t know, sir, he’s a bit confused...” + +“Very well, very well — Potter,” said Snape, “we shall +resume this lesson tomorrow evening instead.” + +He turned and swept from his office. Malfoy mouthed +“Remedial Potions?” at Harry behind Snape ’s back +before following him. + +Seething, Harry replaced his wand inside his robes +and made to leave the room. At least he had twenty- +four more hours in which to practice; he knew he +ought to feel grateful for the narrow escape, though it +was hard that it came at the expense of Malfoy telling +the whole school that he needed Remedial Potions... + +He was at the office door when he saw it: a patch of +shivering light dancing on the door frame. He +stopped, looking at it, reminded of something... Then +he remembered: It was a little like the lights he had +seen in his dream last night, the lights in the second +room he had walked through on his journey through +the Department of Mysteries. + +He turned around. The light was coming from the +Pensieve sitting on Snape ’s desk. The silver- white + +Page | 815Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape’s +thoughts . . . things he did not want Harry to see if he +broke through Snape’s defenses accidentally... + +Harry gazed at the Pensieve, curiosity welling inside +him... What was it that Snape was so keen to hide +from Harry? + +The silvery lights shivered on the wall... Harry took +two steps toward the desk, thinking hard. Could it +possibly be information about the Department of +Mysteries that Snape was determined to keep from +him? + +Harry looked over his shoulder, his heart now +pumping harder and faster than ever. How long would +it take Snape to release Montague from the toilet? +Would he come straight back to his office afterward, +or accompany Montague to the hospital wing? Surely +the latter . . . Montague was Captain of the Slytherin +Quidditch team, Snape would want to make sure he +was all right... + +Harry walked the remaining few feet to the Pensieve +and stood over it, gazing into its depths. He hesitated, +listening, then pulled out his wand again. The office +and the corridor beyond were completely silent. He +gave the contents of the Pensieve a small prod with +the end of his wand. + +The silvery stuff within began to swirl very fast. Harry +leaned forward over it and saw that it had become +transparent. He was, once again, looking down into a +room as though through a circular window in the +ceiling... In fact, unless he was much mistaken, he +was looking down upon the Great Hall... + +His breath was actually fogging the surface of Snape’s +thoughts... His brain seemed to be in limbo... It would + +Page | 816Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +be insane to do the thing that he was so strongly +tempted to do... He was trembling... Snape could be +back at any moment ... but Harry thought of Cho’s +anger, of Malfoy’s jeering face, and a reckless daring +seized him. + +He took a great gulp of breath and plunged his face +into the surface of Snape’s thoughts. At once, the +floor of the office lurched, tipping Harry headfirst into +the Pensieve... + +He was falling through cold blackness, spinning +furiously as he went, and then — + +He was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, but +the four House tables were gone. Instead there were +more than a hundred smaller tables, all facing the +same way, at each of which sat a student, head bent +low, scribbling on a roll of parchment. The only sound +was the scratching of quills and the occasional rustle +as somebody adjusted their parchment. It was clearly +exam time. + +Sunshine was streaming through the high windows +onto the bent heads, which shone chestnut and +copper and gold in the bright light. Harry looked +around carefully. Snape had to be here somewhere... +This was his memory. . . + +And there he was, at a table right behind Harry. + +Harry stared. Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid +look about him, like a plant kept in the dark. His hair +was lank and greasy and was flopping onto the table, +his hooked nose barely half an inch from the surface +of the parchment as he scribbled. Harry moved +around behind Snape and read the heading of the +examination paper: + +DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS — + +Page | 817Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL + + + +So Snape had to be fifteen or sixteen, around Harry’s +own age. His hand was flying across the parchment; +he had written at least a foot more than his closest +neighbors, and yet his writing was minuscule and +cramped. + +“Five more minutes!” + +The voice made Harry jump; turning, he saw the top +of Professor Flitwick’s head moving between the desks +a short distance away. Professor Flitwick was walking +past a boy with untidy black hair . . . very untidy black +hair. . . + +Harry moved so quickly that, had he been solid, he +would have knocked desks flying. Instead he seemed +to slide, dreamlike, across two aisles and up a third. +The back of the black-haired boy’s head drew nearer +and nearer. . . He was straightening up now, putting +down his quill, pulling his roll of parchment toward +him so as to reread what he had written... + +Harry stopped in front of the desk and gazed down at +his fifteen-year- old father. + +Excitement exploded in the pit of his stomach: It was +as though he was looking at himself but with +deliberate mistakes. James’s eyes were hazel, his +nose was slightly longer than Harry’s, and there was +no scar on his forehead, but they had the same thin +face, same mouth, same eyebrows. James’s hair +stuck up at the back exactly as Harry’s did, his hands +could have been Harry’s, and Harry could tell that +when James stood up, they would be within an inch +of each other’s heights. + + + +Page | 818Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +James yawned hugely and rumpled up his hair, +making it even messier than it had been. Then, with a +glance toward Professor Flitwick, he turned in his +seat and grinned at a boy sitting four seats behind +him. + +With another shock of excitement, Harry saw Sirius +give James the thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his +chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. He was +very good-looking; his dark hair fell into his eyes with +a sort of casual elegance neither James’s nor Harry’s +could ever have achieved, and a girl sitting behind +him was eyeing him hopefully, though he didn’t seem +to have noticed. And two seats along from this girl — +Harry’s stomach gave another pleasurable squirm — +was Remus Lupin. He looked rather pale and peaky +(was the full moon approaching?) and was absorbed +in the exam: As he reread his answers he scratched +his chin with the end of his quill, frowning slightly. + +So that meant Wormtail had to be around here +somewhere too . . . and sure enough, Harry spotted +him within seconds: a small, mousy-haired boy with a +pointed nose. Wormtail looked anxious; he was +chewing his fingernails, staring down at his paper, +scuffing the ground with his toes. Every now and then +he glanced hopefully at his neighbor’s paper. Harry +stared at Wormtail for a moment, then back at +James, who was now doodling on a bit of scrap +parchment. He had drawn a Snitch and was now +tracing the letters L. E. What did they stand for? + +“Quills down, please!” squeaked Professor Flitwick. +“That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated +while I collect your parchment! Acciol” + +More than a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into +the air and into Professor Flitwick’s outstretched +arms, knocking him backward off his feet. Several + +Page | 819Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +people laughed. A couple of students at the front +desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath +the elbows, and lifted him onto his feet again. + +“Thank you ... thank you,” panted Professor Flitwick. +“Very well, everybody, you’re free to go!” + +Harry looked down at his father, who had hastily +crossed out the L. E. he had been embellishing, +jumped to his feet, stuffed his quill and the exam +question paper into his bag, which he slung over his +back, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him. + +Harry looked around and glimpsed Snape a short way +away, moving between the tables toward the doors +into the entrance hall, still absorbed in his own +examination paper. Round-shouldered yet angular, he +walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, his +oily hair swinging about his face. + +A gang of chattering girls separated Snape from +James and Sirius, and by planting himself in the +midst of this group, Harry managed to keep Snape in +sight while straining his ears to catch the voices of +James and his friends. + +“Did you like question ten, Moony?” asked Sirius as +they emerged into the entrance hall. + +“Loved it,” said Lupin briskly. “ ‘Give five signs that +identify the werewolf.’ Excellent question.” + +“D’you think you managed to get all the signs?” said +James in tones of mock concern. + +“Think I did,” said Lupin seriously, as they joined the +crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get +out into the sunlit grounds. “One: He’s sitting on my + + + +Page | 820Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +chair. Two: He’s wearing my clothes. Three: His +name’s Remus Lupin ...” + + + +Wormtail was the only one who didn’t laugh. + +“I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes, and the +tufted tail,” he said anxiously, “but I couldn’t think +what else — ” + +“How thick are you, Wormtail?” said James +impatiently. “You run round with a werewolf once a +month — ” + +“Keep your voice down,” implored Lupin. + +Harry looked anxiously behind him again. Snape +remained close by, still buried in his examination +questions; but this was Snape’s memory, and Harry +was sure that if Snape chose to wander off in a +different direction once outside in the grounds, he, +Harry, would not be able to follow James any farther. +To his intense relief, however, when James and his +three friends strode off down the lawn toward the +lake, Snape followed, still poring over the paper and +apparently with no fixed idea of where he was going. +By jogging a little ahead of him, Harry managed to +maintain a close watch on James and the others. + +“Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake,” he +heard Sirius say. “I’ll be surprised if I don’t get +Outstanding on it at least.” + +“Me too,” said James. He put his hand in his pocket +and took out a struggling Golden Snitch. + +“Where ’d you get that?” + +“Nicked it,” said James casually. He started playing +with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot + +Page | 821Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +away and seizing it again; his reflexes were excellent. +Wormtail watched him in awe. + +They stopped in the shade of the very same beech tree +on the edge of the lake where Harry, Ron, and +Hermione had spent a Sunday finishing their +homework, and threw themselves down on the grass. + +Harry looked over his shoulder yet again and saw, to +his delight, that Snape had settled himself on the +grass in the dense shadows of a clump of bushes. He +was as deeply immersed in the O.W.L. paper as ever, +which left Harry free to sit down on the grass between +the beech and the bushes and watch the foursome +under the tree. + +The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of +the lake, on the bank of which the group of laughing +girls who had just left the Great Hall were sitting with +shoes and socks off, cooling their feet in the water. + +Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading. Sirius +stared around at the students milling over the grass, +looking rather haughty and bored, but very +handsomely so. James was still playing with the +Snitch, letting it zoom farther and farther away, +almost escaping but always grabbed at the last +second. Wormtail was watching him with his mouth +open. Every time James made a particularly difficult +catch, Wormtail gasped and applauded. After five +minutes of this, Harry wondered why James didn’t +tell Wormtail to get a grip on himself, but James +seemed to be enjoying the attention. Harry noticed his +father had a habit of rumpling up his hair as though +to make sure it did not get too tidy, and also that he +kept looking over at the girls by the water’s edge. + +“Put that away, will you?” said Sirius finally, as +James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out a + +Page | 822Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +cheer. “Before Wormtail wets himself from +excitement.” + +Wormtail turned slightly pink but James grinned. + +“If it bothers you,” he said, stuffing the Snitch back in +his pocket. Harry had the distinct impression that +Sirius was the only one for whom James would have +stopped showing off. + +“I’m bored,” said Sirius. “Wish it was full moon.” + +“You might,” said Lupin darkly from behind his book. +“We’ve still got Transfiguration, if you’re bored you +could test me... Here.” He held out his book. + +Sirius snorted. “I don’t need to look at that rubbish, I +know it all.” + +“This’ll liven you up, Padfoot,” said James quietly. +“Look who it is...” + +Sirius’s head turned. He had become very still, like a +dog that has scented a rabbit. + +“Excellent,” he said softly. “ Snivellus.” + +Harry turned to see what Sirius was looking at. + +Snape was on his feet again, and was stowing the +O.W.L. paper in his bag. As he emerged from the +shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass, +Sirius and James stood up. Lupin and Wormtail +remained sitting: Lupin was still staring down at his +book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint +frown line had appeared between his eyebrows. +Wormtail was looking from Sirius and James to +Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his face. + + + +Page | 823Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“All right, Snivellus?” said James loudly. + + + +Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been +expecting an attack: Dropping his bag, he plunged his +hand inside his robes, and his wand was halfway into +the air when James shouted, “ ExpelliarmusV’ + +Snape ’s wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with +a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a +bark of laughter. + +“ Impedimental ” he said, pointing his wand at Snape, +who was knocked off his feet, halfway through a dive +toward his own fallen wand. + +Students all around had turned to watch. Some of +them had gotten to their feet and were edging nearer +to watch. Some looked apprehensive, others +entertained. + +Snape lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius +advanced on him, wands up, James glancing over his +shoulder at the girls at the water’s edge as he went. +Wormtail was on his feet now, watching hungrily, +edging around Lupin to get a clearer view. + +“How’d the exam go, Snivelly?” said James. + +“I was watching him, his nose was touching the +parchment,” said Sirius viciously. “There’ll be great +grease marks all over it, they won’t be able to read a +word.” + +Several people watching laughed; Snape was clearly +unpopular. Wormtail sniggered shrilly. Snape was +trying to get up, but the jinx was still operating on +him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible +ropes. + +Page | 824Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You — wait,” he panted, staring up at James with an +expression of purest loathing. “You — wait...” + +“Wait for what?” said Sirius coolly. “What’re you going +to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?” + +Snape let out a stream of mixed swearwords and +hexes, but his wand being ten feet away nothing +happened. + +“Wash out your mouth,” said James coldly. + +“ Scourgifyl” + +Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape’s mouth at +once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, +choking him — + +“Leave him ALONE!” + +James and Sirius looked around. James’s free hand +jumped to his hair again. + +It was one of the girls from the lake edge. She had +thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders and +startlingly green almond-shaped eyes — Harry’s eyes. + +Harry’s mother ... + +“All right, Evans?” said James, and the tone of his +voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature. + +“Leave him alone,” Lily repeated. She was looking at +James with every sign of great dislike. “What’s he +done to you?” + +“Well,” said James, appearing to deliberate the point, +“it’s more the fact that he exists, if you know what I +mean...” + + + +Page | 825Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Many of the surrounding watchers laughed, Sirius +and Wormtail included, but Lupin, still apparently +intent on his book, didn’t, and neither did Lily. + +“You think you’re funny,” she said coldly. “But you’re +just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him +alone.” + +“I will if you go out with me, Evans,” said James +quickly. “Go on ... Go out with me, and I’ll never lay a +wand on old Snivelly again.” + +Behind him, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. +Snape was beginning to inch toward his fallen wand, +spitting out soapsuds as he crawled. + +“I wouldn’t go out with you if it was a choice between +you and the giant squid,” said Lily. + +“Bad luck, Prongs,” said Sirius briskly, turning back +to Snape. “OY!” + +But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at +James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared +on the side of James’s face, spattering his robes with +blood. James whirled about; a second flash of light +later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his +robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs +and a pair of graying underpants. + +Many people in the small crowd watching cheered. +Sirius, James, and Wormtail roared with laughter. + +Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an +instant as though she was going to smile, said, “Let +him down!” + +“Certainly,” said James and he jerked his wand +upward. Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the + +Page | 826Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ground. Disentangling himself from his robes, he got +quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, + +“Petrificus Totalusl” and Snape keeled over again at +once, rigid as a board. + +“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Lily shouted. She had her own +wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily. + +“Ah, Evans, don’t make me hex you,” said James +earnestly. + +“Take the curse off him, then!” + +James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and +muttered the countercurse. + +“There you go,” he said, as Snape struggled to his feet +again, “you’re lucky Evans was here, Snivellus — ” + +“I don’t need help from filthy little Mudbloods like +her!” + +Lily blinked. “Fine,” she said coolly. “I won’t bother in +future. And I’d wash your pants if I were you, +Snivellus.” + +“Apologize to Evans!” James roared at Snape, his +wand pointed threateningly at him. + +“I don’t want you to make him apologize,” Lily +shouted, rounding on James. “You’re as bad as he +is...” + +“What?” yelped James. “I’d NEVER call you a — you- +know-what!” + +“Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool +to look like you’ve just got off your broomstick, +showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down + +Page | 827Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just +because you can — I’m surprised your broomstick +can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You +make me SICK.” + +She turned on her heel and hurried away. + +“Evans!” James shouted after her, “Hey, EVANS!” + +But she didn’t look back. + +“What is it with her?” said James, trying and failing to +look as though this was a throwaway question of no +real importance to him. + +“Reading between the lines, I’d say she thinks you’re +a bit conceited, mate,” said Sirius. + +“Right,” said James, who looked furious now, “right — + + + +There was another flash of light, and Snape was once +again hanging upside down in the air. + +“Who wants to see me take off Snivelly’s pants?” + +But whether James really did take off Snape’s pants, +Harry never found out. A hand had closed tight over +his upper arm, closed with a pincerlike grip. Wincing, +Harry looked around to see who had hold of him, and +saw, with a thrill of horror, a fully grown, adult-sized +Snape standing right beside him, white with rage. + +“Having fun?” + +Harry felt himself rising into the air. The summer’s +day evaporated around him, he was floating upward +through icy blackness, Snape’s hand still tight upon +his upper arm. Then, with a swooping feeling as + +Page | 828Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +though he had turned head over heels in midair, his +feet hit the stone floor of Snape’s dungeon, and he +was standing again beside the Pensieve on Snape’s +desk in the shadowy, present-day Potions master’s +study. + +“So,” said Snape, gripping Harry’s arm so tightly +Harry’s hand was starting to feel numb. “So ... been +enjoying yourself, Potter?” + +“N-no ...” said Harry, trying to free his arm. + +It was scary: Snape’s lips were shaking, his face was +white, his teeth were bared. + +“Amusing man, your father, wasn’t he?” said Snape, +shaking Harry so hard that his glasses slipped down +his nose. + +“I — didn’t — ” + +Snape threw Harry from him with all his might. Harry +fell hard onto the dungeon floor. + +“You will not tell anybody what you saw!” Snape +bellowed. + +“No,” said Harry, getting to his feet as far from Snape +as he could. “No, of course I w — ” + +“Get out, get out, I don’t want to see you in this office +ever again!” + +And as Harry hurtled toward the door, ajar of dead +cockroaches exploded over his head. He wrenched the +door open and flew away up the corridor, stopping +only when he had put three floors between himself +and Snape. There he leaned against the wall, panting, +and rubbing his bruised arm. + +Page | 829Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He had no desire at all to return to Gryffindor Tower +so early, nor to tell Ron and Hermione what he had +just seen. What was making Harry feel so horrified +and unhappy was not being shouted at or having jars +thrown at him — it was that he knew how it felt to be +humiliated in the middle of a circle of onlookers, knew +exactly how Snape had felt as his father had taunted +him, and that judging from what he had just seen, his +father had been every bit as arrogant as Snape had +always told him. + + + +Page | 830Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +CAREER ADVICE + +“But why haven’t you got Occlumency lessons +anymore?” said Hermione, frowning. + +“I’ve told you,” Harry muttered. “Snape reckons I can +carry on by myself now I’ve got the basics...” + +“So you’ve stopped having funny dreams?” said +Hermione skeptically. + +“Pretty much,” said Harry, not looking at her. + +“Well, I don’t think Snape should stop until you’re +absolutely sure you can control them!” said Hermione +indignantly. “Harry, I think you should go back to +him and ask — ” + +“No,” said Harry forcefully. “Just drop it, Hermione, +okay?” + +It was the first day of the Easter holidays and +Hermione, as was her custom, had spent a large part +of the day drawing up study schedules for the three of + +Page | 831Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +them. Harry and Ron had let her do it — it was easier +than arguing with her and, in any case, they might +come in useful. + +Ron had been startled to discover that there were only +six weeks left until their exams. + +“How can that come as a shock?” Hermione +demanded, as she tapped each little square on Ron’s +schedule with her wand so that it flashed a different +color according to its subject. + +“I dunno ...” said Ron, “there’s been a lot going on...” + +“Well, there you are,” she said, handing him his +schedule, “if you follow that you should do fine.” + +Ron looked down it gloomily, but then brightened. + +“You’ve given me an evening off every week!” + +“That’s for Quidditch practice,” said Hermione. + +The smile faded from Ron’s face. + +“What’s the point?” he said. “We’ve got about as much +chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year as +Dad���s got of becoming Minister of Magic...” + +Hermione said nothing. She was looking at Harry, +who was staring blankly at the opposite wall of the +common room while Crookshanks pawed at his hand, +trying to get his ears scratched. + +“What’s wrong, Harry?” + +“What?” he said quickly. “Nothing ...” + + + +Page | 832Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He seized his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and +pretended to be looking something up in the index. +Crookshanks gave him up as a bad job and slunk +away under Hermione’s chair. + +“I saw Cho earlier,” said Hermione tentatively, “and +she looked really miserable too... Have you two had a +row again?” + +“Wha — oh yeah, we have,” said Harry, seizing +gratefully on the excuse. + +“What about?” + +“That sneak friend of hers, Marietta,” said Harry. + +“Yeah, well, I don’t blame you!” said Ron angrily, +setting down his study schedule. “If it hadn’t been for +her ...” + +Ron went into a rant about Marietta Edgecombe, +which Harry found helpful. All he had to do was look +angry, nod, and say “yeah” and “that’s right” +whenever Ron drew breath, leaving his mind free to +dwell, ever more miserably, on what he had seen in +the Pensieve. + +He felt as though the memory of it was eating him +from inside. He had been so sure that his parents had +been wonderful people that he never had the slightest +difficulty in disbelieving Snape’s aspersions on his +father’s character. Hadn’t people like Hagrid and +Sirius told Harry how wonderful his father had been? + +( Yeah, well, look what Sirius was like himself, said a +nagging voice inside Harry’s head... He was as bad, +wasn’t he?) Yes, he had once overheard Professor +McGonagall saying that his father and Sirius had +been troublemakers at school, but she had described +them as forerunners of the Weasley twins, and Harry +Page | 833Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +could not imagine Fred and George dangling someone +upside down for the fun of it ... not unless they really +loathed them . . . Perhaps Malfoy, or somebody who +really deserved it . . . + +Harry tried to make a case for Snape having deserved +what he had suffered at James’s hands — but hadn’t +Lily asked, “What’s he done to you?” And hadn’t +James replied, “It’s more the fact that he exists, if you +know what I mean?” Hadn’t James started it all +simply because Sirius said he was bored? Harry +remembered Lupin saying back in Grimmauld Place +that Dumbledore had made him prefect in the hope +that he would be able to exercise some control over +James and Sirius... But in the Pensieve, he had sat +there and let it all happen... + +Harry reminded himself that Lily had intervened; his +mother had been decent, yet the memory of the look +on her face as she had shouted at James disturbed +him quite as much as anything else. She had clearly +loathed James and Harry simply could not +understand how they could have ended up married. +Once or twice he even wondered whether James had +forced her into it... + +For nearly five years the thought of his father had +been a source of comfort, of inspiration. Whenever +someone had told him he was like James he had +glowed with pride inside. And now ... now he felt cold +and miserable at the thought of him. + +The weather grew breezier, brighter, and warmer as +the holidays passed, but Harry was stuck with the +rest of the fifth and seventh years, who were all +trapped inside, traipsing back and forth to the library. +Harry pretended that his bad mood had no other +cause but the approaching exams, and as his fellow + + + +Page | 834Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Gryffindors were sick of studying themselves, his +excuse went unchallenged. + +“Harry, I’m talking to you, can you hear me?” + +“Huh?” + +He looked around. Ginny Weasley, looking very +windswept, had joined him at the library table where +he had been sitting alone. It was late on Sunday +evening; Hermione had gone back to Gryffindor Tower +to review Ancient Runes; Ron had Quidditch practice. + +“Oh hi,” said Harry, pulling his books back toward +him. “How come you’re not at practice?” + +“It’s over,” said Ginny. “Ron had to take Jack Sloper +up to the hospital wing.” + +“Why?” + +“Well, we’re not sure, but we think he knocked himself +out with his own bat.” She sighed heavily. “Anyway ... +a package just arrived, it’s only just got through +Umbridge’s new screening process...” + +She hoisted a box wrapped in brown paper onto the +table; it had clearly been unwrapped and carelessly +rewrapped, and there was a scribbled note across it in +red ink, reading INSPECTED AND PASSED BY THE +HOGWARTS HIGH INQUISITOR. + +“It’s Easter eggs from Mum,” said Ginny. “There’s one +for you... There you go...” + +She handed him a handsome chocolate egg decorated +with small, iced Snitches and, according to the +packaging, containing a bag of Fizzing Whizbees. + + + +Page | 835Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry looked at it for a moment, then, to his horror, +felt a hard lump rise in his throat. + + + +“Are you okay, Harry?” asked Ginny quietly. + +“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Harry gruffly. The lump in his +throat was painful. He did not understand why an +Easter egg should have made him feel like this. + +“You seem really down lately,” Ginny persisted. “You +know, I’m sure if you just talked to Cho ...” + +“It’s not Cho I want to talk to,” said Harry brusquely. + +“Who is it, then?” asked Ginny. + + + +He glanced around to make quite sure that nobody +was listening; Madam Pince was several shelves away, +stamping out a pile of books for a frantic-looking +Hannah Abbott. + +“I wish I could talk to Sirius,” he muttered. “But I +know I can’t.” + +More to give himself something to do than because he +really wanted any, Harry unwrapped his Easter egg, +broke off a large bit, and put it into his mouth. + +“Well,” said Ginny slowly, helping herself to a bit of +egg too, “if you really want to talk to Sirius, I expect +we could think of a way to do it...” + +“Come on,” said Harry hopelessly. “With Umbridge +policing the fires and reading all our mail?” + +“The thing about growing up with Fred and George,” +said Ginny thoughtfully, “is that you sort of start + +Page | 836Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough +nerve.” + +Harry looked at her. Perhaps it was the effect of the +chocolate — Lupin had always advised eating some +after encounters with dementors — or simply because +he had finally spoken aloud the wish that had been +burning inside him for a week, but he felt a bit more +hopeful... + +“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?” + +“Oh damn,” whispered Ginny, jumping to her feet. “I +forgot—” + +Madam Pince was swooping down upon them, her +shriveled face contorted with rage. + +“ Chocolate in the library\” she screamed. “Out — out +— OUT!” + +And whipping out her wand, she caused Harry’s +books, bag, and ink bottle to chase him and Ginny +from the library, whacking them repeatedly over the +head as they ran. + +As though to underline the importance of their +upcoming examinations, a batch of pamphlets, +leaflets, and notices concerning various Wizarding +careers appeared on the tables in Gryffindor Tower +shortly before the end of the holidays, along with yet +another notice on the board, which read: + +CAREER ADVICE + +All fifth years will be required to attend a short +meeting with their Head of House during the first +week of the Summer term, in which they will be given + + + +Page | 837Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times +of individual appointments are listed below. + + + +Harry looked down the list and found that he was +expected in Professor McGonagall’s office at half-past +two on Monday, which would mean missing most of +Divination. He and the other fifth years spent a +considerable part of the final weekend of the Easter +break reading all the career information that had +been left there for their perusal. + +“Well, I don’t fancy Healing,” said Ron on the last +evening of the holidays. He was immersed in a leaflet +that carried the crossed bone-and-wand emblem of +St. Mungo’s on its front. “It says here you need at +least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, +Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the +Dark Arts. I mean ... blimey... Don’t want much, do +they?” + +“Well, it’s a very responsible job, isn’t it?” said +Hermione absently. She was poring over a bright +pink-and-orange leaflet that was headed SO YOU +THINK YOU’D LIKE TO WORK IN MUGGLE +RELATIONS? “You don’t seem to need many +qualifications to liaise with Muggles... All they want is +an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies... ‘Much more important +is your enthusiasm, patience, and a good sense offunV + + + +“You’d need more than a good sense of fun to liaise +with my uncle,” said Harry darkly. “Good sense of +when to duck, more like ...” He was halfway through +a pamphlet on Wizard banking. “Listen to this: + +“ ‘Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, +adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure +bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts +Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse- + +P a g e | 838Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad...’ They +want Arithmancy, though... You could do it, +Hermione!” + +“I don’t much fancy banking,” said Hermione vaguely, +now immersed in HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES +TO TRAIN SECURITY TROLLS? + +“Hey,” said a voice in Harry’s ear. He looked around; +Fred and George had come to join them. “Ginny’s had +a word with us about you,” said Fred, stretching out +his legs on the table in front of them and causing +several booklets on careers with the Ministry of Magic +to slide off onto the floor. “She says you need to talk +to Sirius?” + +“What?” said Hermione sharply, freezing with her +hand halfway toward picking up MAKE A BANG AT +THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL ACCIDENTS AND +CATASTROPHES. + +“Yeah ...” said Harry, trying to sound casual, “yeah, I +thought I’d like — ” + +“Don’t be so ridiculous,” said Hermione, straightening +up and looking at him as though she could not +believe her eyes. “With Umbridge groping around in +the fires and frisking all the owls?” + +“Well, we think we can find a way around that,” said +George, stretching and smiling. “It’s a simple matter +of causing a diversion. Now, you might have noticed +that we have been rather quiet on the mayhem front +during the Easter holidays?” + +“What was the point, we asked ourselves, of +disrupting leisure time?” continued Fred. “No point at +all, we answered ourselves. And of course, we’d have + + + +Page | 839Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +messed up people’s studying too, which would be the +very last thing we’d want to do.” + +He gave Hermione a sanctimonious little nod. She +looked rather taken aback by this thoughtfulness. + +“But it’s business as usual from tomorrow,” Fred +continued briskly. “And if we’re going to be causing a +bit of uproar, why not do it so that Harry can have his +chat with Sirius?” + +“Yes, but still,” said Hermione with an air of +explaining something very simple to somebody very +obtuse, “even if you do cause a diversion, how is +Harry supposed to talk to him?” + +“Umbridge’s office,” said Harry quietly. + +He had been thinking about it for a fortnight and +could think of no alternative; Umbridge herself had +told him that the only fire that was not being watched +was her own. + +“Are — you — insane?” said Hermione in a hushed +voice. + +Ron had lowered his leaflet on jobs in the cultivated +fungus trade and was watching the conversation +warily. + +“I don’t think so,” said Harry, shrugging. + +“And how are you going to get in there in the first +place?” + +Harry was ready for this question. + +“Sirius’s knife,” he said. + + + +Page | 840Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Excuse me?” + + + +“Christmas before last Sirius gave me a knife that’ll +open any lock,” said Harry. “So even if she’s +bewitched the door so Alohomora won’t work, which I +bet she has — ” + +“What do you think about this?” Hermione demanded +of Ron, and Harry was reminded irresistibly of Mrs. +Weasley appealing to her husband during Harry’s first +dinner in Grimmauld Place. + +“I dunno,” said Ron, looking alarmed at being asked +to give an opinion. “If Harry wants to do it, it’s up to +him, isn’t it?” + +“Spoken like a true friend and Weasley,” said Fred, +clapping Ron hard on the back. “Right, then. We’re +thinking of doing it tomorrow, just after lessons, +because it should cause maximum impact if +everybody’s in the corridors — Harry, we’ll set it off in +the east wing somewhere, draw her right away from +her own office — I reckon we should be able to +guarantee you, what, twenty minutes?” he said, +looking at George. + +“Easy,” said George. + +“What sort of diversion is it?” asked Ron. + +“You’ll see, little bro,” said Fred, as he and George got +up again. “At least, you will if you trot along to +Gregory the Smarmy’s corridor round about five +o’clock tomorrow.” + +Harry awoke very early the next day, feeling almost as +anxious as he had done on the morning of his hearing +at the Ministry of Magic. It was not only the prospect +of breaking into Umbridge’s office and using her fire + +Page | 841Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to speak to Sirius that was making him feel nervous, +though that was certainly bad enough — today also +happened to be the first time he would be in close +proximity with Snape since Snape had thrown him +out of his office, as they had Potions that day. + +After lying in bed for a while thinking about the day +ahead, Harry got up very quietly and moved across to +the window beside Neville’s bed, staring out on a truly +glorious morning. The sky was a clear, misty, +opalescent blue. Directly ahead of him, Harry could +see the towering beech tree below which his father +had once tormented Snape. He was not sure what +Sirius could possibly say to him that would make up +for what he had seen in the Pensieve, but he was +desperate to hear Sirius’s own account of what had +happened, to know of any mitigating factors there +might have been, any excuse at all for his father’s +behavior. . . + +Something caught Harry’s attention: movement on +the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry squinted into +the sun and saw Hagrid emerging from between the +trees. He seemed to be limping. As Harry watched, +Hagrid staggered to the door of his cabin and +disappeared inside it. Harry watched the cabin for +several minutes. Hagrid did not emerge again, but +smoke furled from the chimney, so Hagrid could not +be so badly injured that he was unequal to stoking +the fire... + +Harry turned away from the window, headed back to +his trunk, and started to dress. + +With the prospect of forcing entry into Umbridge’s +office ahead, Harry had never expected the day to be a +restful one, but he had not reckoned on Hermione’s +almost continual attempts to dissuade him from what +he was planning to do at five o’clock. For the first time +Page | 842Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ever, she was at least as inattentive to Professor +Binns in History of Magic as Harry and Ron were, +keeping up a stream of whispered admonitions that +Harry tried very hard to ignore. + +"... and if she does catch you there, apart from being +expelled, shell be able to guess you’ve been talking to +Snuffles and this time I expect she’ll force you to +drink Veritaserum and answer her questions...” + +“Hermione,” said Ron in a low and indignant voice, +“are you going to stop telling Harry off and listen to +Binns, or am I going to have to take notes instead?” + +“You take notes for a change, it won’t kill you!” + +By the time they reached the dungeons, neither Harry +nor Ron was speaking to Hermione any longer. +Undeterred, she took advantage of their silence to +maintain an uninterrupted flow of dire warnings, all +uttered under her breath in a vehement hiss that +caused Seamus to waste five whole minutes checking +his cauldron for leaks. + +Snape, meanwhile, seemed to have decided to act as +though Harry were invisible. Harry was, of course, +well used to this tactic, as it was one of Uncle +Vernon’s favorites, and on the whole was grateful he +had to suffer nothing worse. In fact, compared to +what he usually had to endure from Snape in the way +of taunts and snide remarks, he found the new +approach something of an improvement and was +pleased to find that when left well alone, he was able +to concoct an Invigoration Draught quite easily. At the +end of the lesson he scooped some of the potion into a +flask, corked it, and took it up to Snape’s desk for +marking, feeling that he might at last have scraped an +E. + + + +Page | 843Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He had just turned away when he heard a smashing +noise; Malfoy gave a gleeful yell of laughter. Harry +whipped around again. His potion sample lay in +pieces on the floor, and Snape was watching him with +a look of gloating pleasure. + +“Whoops,” he said softly. “Another zero, then, Potter + + + +Harry was too incensed to speak. He strode back to +his cauldron, intending to fill another flask and force +Snape to mark it, but saw to his horror that the rest +of the contents had vanished. + +“I’m sorry!” said Hermione with her hands over her +mouth. “I’m really sorry, Harry, I thought you’d +finished, so I cleared up!” + +Harry could not bring himself to answer. When the +bell rang he hurried out of the dungeon without a +backward glance and made sure that he found +himself a seat between Neville and Seamus for lunch +so that Hermione could not start nagging him about +using Umbridge’s office again. + +He was in such a bad mood by the time that he got to +Divination that he had quite forgotten his career +appointment with Professor McGonagall, +remembering only when Ron asked him why he +wasn’t in her office. He hurtled back upstairs and +arrived out of breath, only a few minutes late. + +“Sorry, Professor,” he panted, as he closed the door. “I +forgot...” + +“No matter, Potter,” she said briskly, but as she +spoke, somebody else sniffed from the corner. Harry +looked around. + + + +Page | 844Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor Umbridge was sitting there, a clipboard on +her knee, a fussy little pie-frill around her neck, and a +small, horribly smug smile on her face. + +“Sit down, Potter,” said Professor McGonagall tersely. +Her hands shook slightly as she shuffled the many +pamphlets littering her desk. + +Harry sat down with his back to Umbridge and did +his best to pretend he could not hear the scratching +of her quill on her clipboard. + +“Well, Potter, this meeting is to talk over any career +ideas you might have, and to help you decide which +subjects you should continue into sixth and seventh +years,” said Professor McGonagall. “Have you had any +thoughts about what you would like to do after you +leave Hogwarts?” + +“Er,” said Harry. + +He was finding the scratching noise from behind him +very distracting. + +“Yes?” Professor McGonagall prompted Harry. + +“Well, I thought of, maybe, being an Auror,” Harry +mumbled. + +“You’d need top grades for that,” said Professor +McGonagall, extracting a small, dark leaflet from +under the mass on her desk and opening it. “They ask +for a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s, and nothing under +‘Exceeds Expectations’ grade, I see. Then you would +be required to undergo a stringent series of character +and aptitude tests at the Auror office. It’s a difficult +career path, Potter; they only take the best. In fact, I +don’t think anybody has been taken on in the last +three years.” + +Page | 845Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +At this moment Professor Umbridge gave a very tiny +cough, as though she was trying to see how quietly +she could do it. Professor McGonagall ignored her. + +“You’ll want to know which subjects you ought to +take, I suppose?” she went on, talking a little more +loudly than before. + +“Yes,” said Harry. “Defense Against the Dark Arts, I +suppose?” + +“Naturally,” said Professor McGonagall crisply. “I +would also advise — ” + +Professor Umbridge gave another cough, a little more +audible this time. Professor McGonagall closed her +eyes for a moment, opened them again, and +continued as though nothing had happened. + +“I would also advise Transfiguration, because Aurors +frequently need to Transfigure or Untransfigure in +their work. And I ought to tell you now, Potter, that I +do not accept students into my N.E.W.T. classes +unless they have achieved ‘Exceeds Expectations’ or +higher at Ordinary Wizarding Level. I’d say you’re +averaging ‘Acceptable’ at the moment, so you’ll need +to put in some good hard work before the exams to +stand a chance of continuing. Then you ought to do +Charms, always useful, and Potions. Yes, Potter, +Potions,” she added, with the merest flicker of a smile. +“Poisons and antidotes are essential study for Aurors. +And I must tell you that Professor Snape absolutely +refuses to take students who get anything other than +‘Outstanding’ in their O.W.L.s, so — ” + +Professor Umbridge gave her most pronounced cough +yet. + + + +Page | 846Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“May I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?” Professor +McGonagall asked curtly, without looking at Professor +Umbridge. + +“Oh no, thank you very much,” said Umbridge, with +that simpering laugh Harry hated so much. “I just +wondered whether I could make the teensiest +interruption, Minerva?” + +“I daresay you 11 find you can,” said Professor +McGonagall through tightly gritted teeth. + +“I was just wondering whether Mr. Potter has quite +the temperament for an Auror?” said Professor +Umbridge sweetly. + +“Were you?” said Professor McGonagall haughtily. +“Well, Potter,” she continued, as though there had +been no interruption, “if you are serious in this +ambition, I would advise you to concentrate hard on +bringing your Transfiguration and Potions up to +scratch. I see Professor Flitwick has graded you +between Acceptable’ and ‘Exceeds Expectations’ for +the last two years, so your Charm work seems +satisfactory; as for Defense Against the Dark Arts, +your marks have been generally high, Professor Lupin +in particular thought you — are you quite sure you +wouldn’t like a cough drop, Dolores?” + +“Oh, no need, thank you, Minerva,” simpered +Professor Umbridge, who had just coughed her +loudest yet. “I was just concerned that you might not +have Harry’s most recent Defense Against the Dark +Arts marks in front of you. I’m quite sure I slipped in +a note ...” + +“What, this thing?” said Professor McGonagall in a +tone of revulsion, as she pulled a sheet of pink +parchment from between the leaves of Harry’s folder. + +Page | 847Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She glanced down it, her eyebrows slightly raised, +then placed it back into the folder without comment. + +“Yes, as I was saying, Potter, Professor Lupin thought +you showed a pronounced aptitude for the subject, +and obviously for an Auror — ” + +“Did you not understand my note, Minerva?” asked +Professor Umbridge in honeyed tones, quite forgetting +to cough. + +“Of course I understood it,” said Professor +McGonagall, her teeth clenched so tightly that the +words came out a little muffled. + +“Well, then, I am confused... I’m afraid I don’t quite +understand how you can give Mr. Potter false hope +that — ” + +“False hope?” repeated Professor McGonagall, still +refusing to look round at Professor Umbridge. “He has +achieved high marks in all his Defense Against the +Dark Arts tests — ” + +“I’m terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, +but as you will see from my note, Harry has been +achieving very poor results in his classes with me — ” + +“I should have made my meaning plainer,” said +Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look +Umbridge directly in the eyes. “He has achieved high +marks in all Defense Against the Dark Arts tests set +by a competent teacher.” + +Professor Umbridge’s smile vanished as suddenly as a +lightbulb blowing. She sat back in her chair, turned a +sheet on her clipboard, and began scribbling very fast +indeed, her bulging eyes rolling from side to side. + + + +Page | 848Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Professor McGonagall turned back to Harry, her thin +nostrils flared, her eyes burning. + +“Any questions, Potter?” + +“Yes,” said Harry. “What sort of character and +aptitude tests do the Ministry do on you, if you get +enough N.E.W.T.s?” + +“Well, you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to react +well to pressure and so forth,” said Professor +McGonagall, “perseverance and dedication, because +Auror training takes a further three years, not to +mention very high skills in practical defense. It will +mean a lot more study even after you’ve left school, so +unless you’re prepared to — ” + +“I think you’ll also find,” said Umbridge, her voice +very cold now, “that the Ministry looks into the +records of those applying to be Aurors. Their criminal +records.” + +“ — unless you’re prepared to take even more exams +after Hogwarts, you should really look at another — ” + +“ — which means that this boy has as much chance of +becoming an Auror as Dumbledore has of ever +returning to this school.” + +“A very good chance, then,” said Professor +McGonagall. + +“Potter has a criminal record,” said Umbridge loudly. + +“Potter has been cleared of all charges,” said Professor +McGonagall, even more loudly. + +Professor Umbridge stood up. She was so short that +this did not make a great deal of difference, but her + +Page | 849Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +fussy, simpering demeanor had given place to a hard +fury that made her broad, flabby face look oddly +sinister. + +“Potter has no chance whatsoever of becoming an +Auror!” + +Professor McGonagall got to her feet too, and in her +case this was a much more impressive move. She +towered over Professor Umbridge. + +“Potter,” she said in ringing tones, “I will assist you to +become an Auror if it is the last thing I do! If I have to +coach you nightly I will make sure you achieve the +required results!” + +“The Minister of Magic will never employ Harry +Potter!” said Umbridge, her voice rising furiously. + +“There may well be a new Minister of Magic by the +time Potter is ready to join!” shouted Professor +McGonagall. + +“Aha!” shrieked Professor Umbridge, pointing a +stubby finger at McGonagall. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Of +course! That’s what you want, isn’t it, Minerva +McGonagall? You want Cornelius Fudge replaced by +Albus Dumbledore! You think you’ll be where I am, +don’t you, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and +headmistress to boot!” + +“You are raving,” said Professor McGonagall, superbly +disdainful. “Potter, that concludes our career +consultation.” + +Harry swung his bag over his shoulder and hurried +out of the room, not daring to look at Umbridge. He +could hear her and Professor McGonagall continuing + + + +Page | 850Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to shout at each other all the way back along the +corridor. + +Professor Umbridge was still breathing as though she +had just run a race when she strode into their +Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson that afternoon. + +“I hope you’ve thought better of what you were +planning to do, Harry,” Hermione whispered, the +moment they had opened their books to chapter +thirty- four (“Non-Retaliation and Negotiation”). +“Umbridge looks like she’s in a really bad mood +already...” + +Every now and then Umbridge shot glowering looks at +Harry, who kept his head down, staring at Defensive +Magical Theory, his eyes unfocused, thinking... + +He could just imagine Professor McGonagall’s +reaction if he were caught trespassing in Professor +Umbridge’s office mere hours after she had vouched +for him. . . There was nothing to stop him simply going +back to Gryffindor Tower and hoping that sometime +during the next summer holiday he would have a +chance to ask Sirius about the scene he had +witnessed in the Pensieve... Nothing, except that the +thought of taking this sensible course of action made +him feel as though a lead weight had dropped into his +stomach... And then there was the matter of Fred and +George, whose diversion was already planned, not to +mention the knife Sirius had given him, which was +currently residing in his schoolbag along with his +father’s old Invisibility Cloak... + +But the fact remained that if he were caught . . . + +“Dumbledore sacrificed himself to keep you in school, +Harry!” whispered Hermione, raising her book to hide + + + +Page | 851Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +her face from Umbridge. “And if you get thrown out +today it will all have been for nothing!” + + + +He could abandon the plan and simply learn to live +with the memory of what his father had done on a +summer’s day more than twenty years ago... + +And then he remembered Sirius in the fire upstairs in +the Gryffindor common room... ’’You ’re less like your +father than I thought... The risk would’ve been what +made it fun for James...” + +But did he want to be like his father anymore? + +“Harry, don’t do it, please don’t do it!” Hermione said +in anguished tones as the bell rang at the end of the +class. + +He did not answer; he did not know what to do. Ron +seemed determined to give neither his opinion nor his +advice. He would not look at Harry, though when +Hermione opened her mouth to try dissuading Harry +some more, he said in a low voice, “Give it a rest, +okay? He can make up his own mind.” + +Harry’s heart beat very fast as he left the classroom. +He was halfway along the corridor outside when he +heard the unmistakable sounds of a diversion going +off in the distance. There were screams and yells +reverberating from somewhere above them. People +exiting the classrooms all around Harry were stopping +in their tracks and looking up at the ceiling fearfully + + + +Then Umbridge came pelting out of her classroom as +fast as her short legs would carry her. Pulling out her +wand, she hurried off in the opposite direction: It was +now or never. + + + +Page | 852Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Harry — please!” said Hermione weakly. + + + +But he had made up his mind — hitching his bag +more securely onto his shoulder he set off at a run, +weaving in and out of students now hurrying in the +opposite direction, off to see what all the fuss was +about in the east wing... + +Harry reached the corridor where Umbridge’s office +was situated and found it deserted. Dashing behind a +large suit of armor whose helmet creaked around to +watch him, he pulled open his bag, seized Sirius’s +knife, and donned the Invisibility Cloak. He then +crept slowly and carefully back out from behind the +suit of armor and along the corridor until he reached +Umbridge’s door. + +He inserted the blade of the magical knife into the +crack around it and moved it gently up and down, +then withdrew it. There was a tiny click, and the door +swung open. He ducked inside the office, closed the +door quickly behind him, and looked around. + +It was empty; nothing was moving except the horrible +kittens on the plates continuing to frolic on the wall +above the confiscated broomsticks. + +Harry pulled off his cloak and, striding over to the +fireplace, found what he was looking for within +seconds: a small box containing glittering Floo +powder. + +He crouched down in front of the empty grate, his +hands shaking. He had never done this before, +though he thought he knew how it must work. +Sticking his head into the fireplace, he took a large +pinch of powder and dropped it onto the logs stacked +neatly beneath him. They exploded at once into +emerald-green flames. + +Page | 853Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Number twelve, Grimmauld Place!” Harry said loudly +and clearly. + + + +It was one of the most curious sensations he had ever +experienced; he had traveled by Floo powder before, of +course, but then it had been his entire body that had +spun around and around in the flames through the +network of Wizarding fireplaces that stretched over +the country: This time, his knees remained firm upon +the cold floor of Umbridge’s office, and only his head +hurtled through the emerald fire... + +And then, abruptly as it had begun, the spinning +stopped. Feeling rather sick and as though he was +wearing an exceptionally hot muffler around his head, +Harry opened his eyes to find that he was looking up +out of the kitchen fireplace at the long, wooden table, +where a man sat poring over a piece of parchment. + +“Sirius?” + +The man jumped and looked around. It was not +Sirius, but Lupin. + +“Harry!” he said, looking thoroughly shocked. “What +are you — what’s happened, is everything all right?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “I just wondered — I mean, I just +fancied a — a chat with Sirius.” + +“I’ll call him,” said Lupin, getting to his feet, still +looking perplexed. “He went upstairs to look for +Kreacher, he seems to be hiding in the attic again...” + +And Harry saw Lupin hurry out of the kitchen. Now +he was left with nothing to look at but the chair and +table legs. He wondered why Sirius had never +mentioned how very uncomfortable it was to speak +out of the fire — his knees were already objecting +Page | 854Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +painfully to their prolonged contact with Umbridge’s +hard stone floor. + + + +Lupin returned with Sirius at his heels moments +later. + +“What is it?” said Sirius urgently, sweeping his long +dark hair out of his eyes and dropping to the ground +in front of the fire, so that he and Harry were on a +level; Lupin knelt down too, looking very concerned. +“Are you all right? Do you need help?” + +“No,” said Harry, “it’s nothing like that... I just wanted +to talk ... about my dad...” + +They exchanged a look of great surprise, but Harry +did not have time to feel awkward or embarrassed; his +knees were becoming sorer by the second, and he +guessed that five minutes had already passed from +the start of the diversion — George had only +guaranteed him twenty. He therefore plunged +immediately into the story of what he had seen in the +Pensieve. + +When he had finished, neither Sirius nor Lupin spoke +for a moment. Then Lupin said quietly, “I wouldn’t +like you to judge your father on what you saw there, +Harry. He was only fifteen — ” + +“I’m fifteen!” said Harry heatedly. + +“Look, Harry,” said Sirius placatingly, “James and +Snape hated each other from the moment they set +eyes on each other, it was just one of those things, +you can understand that, can’t you? I think James +was everything Snape wanted to be — he was +popular, he was good at Quidditch, good at pretty +much everything. And Snape was just this little +oddball who was up to his eyes in the Dark Arts and +Page | 855Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +James — whatever else he may have appeared to you, +Harry — always hated the Dark Arts.” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, “but he just attacked Snape for no +good reason, just because — well, just because you +said you were bored,” he finished with a slightly +apologetic note in his voice. + +“I’m not proud of it,” said Sirius quickly. + +Lupin looked sideways at Sirius and then said, “Look, +Harry, what you’ve got to understand is that your +father and Sirius were the best in the school at +whatever they did — everyone thought they were the +height of cool — if they sometimes got a bit carried +away — ” + +“If we were sometimes arrogant little berks, you +mean,” said Sirius. + +Lupin smiled. + +“He kept messing up his hair,” said Harry in a pained +voice. + +Sirius and Lupin laughed. + +“I’d forgotten he used to do that,” said Sirius +affectionately. + +“Was he playing with the Snitch?” said Lupin eagerly. + +“Yeah,” said Harry, watching uncomprehendingly as +Sirius and Lupin beamed reminiscently. “Well ... I +thought he was a bit of an idiot.” + +“Of course he was a bit of an idiot!” said Sirius +bracingly. “We were all idiots! Well — not Moony so + + + +Page | 856Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +much,” he said fairly, looking at Lupin, but Lupin +shook his head. + +“Did I ever tell you to lay off Snape?” he said. “Did I +ever have the guts to tell you I thought you were out +of order?” + +“Yeah, well,” said Sirius, “you made us feel ashamed +of ourselves sometimes... That was something...” + +“And,” said Harry doggedly, determined to say +everything that was on his mind now he was here, “he +kept looking over at the girls by the lake, hoping they +were watching him!” + +“Oh, well, he always made a fool of himself whenever +Lily was around,” said Sirius, shrugging. “He couldn’t +stop himself showing off whenever he got near her.” + +“How come she married him?” Harry asked miserably. +“She hated him!” + +“Nah, she didn’t,” said Sirius. + +“She started going out with him in seventh year,” said +Lupin. + +“Once James had deflated his head a bit,” said Sirius. + +“And stopped hexing people just for the fun of it,” said +Lupin. + +“Even Snape?” said Harry. + +“Well,” said Lupin slowly, “Snape was a special case. I +mean, he never lost an opportunity to curse James, +so you couldn’t really expect James to take that lying +down, could you?” + + + +Page | 857Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And my mum was okay with that?” + +“She didn’t know too much about it, to tell you the +truth,” said Sirius. “I mean, James didn’t take Snape +on dates with her and jinx him in front of her, did +he?” + +Sirius frowned at Harry, who was still looking +unconvinced. + +“Look,” he said, “your father was the best friend I ever +had, and he was a good person. A lot of people are +idiots at the age of fifteen. He grew out of it.” + +“Yeah, okay,” said Harry heavily. “I just never thought +I’d feel sorry for Snape.” + +“Now you mention it,” said Lupin, a faint crease +between his eyebrows, “how did Snape react when he +found you’d seen all this?” + +“He told me he’d never teach me Occlumency again,” +said Harry indifferently, “like that’s a big disappoint + + + +“He WHAT?” shouted Sirius, causing Harry to jump +and inhale a mouthful of ashes. + +“Are you serious, Harry?” said Lupin quickly. “He’s +stopped giving you lessons?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry, surprised at what he considered a +great overreaction. “But it’s okay, I don’t care, it’s a +bit of a relief to tell you the — ” + +“I’m coming up there to have a word with Snape!” said +Sirius forcefully and he actually made to stand up, +but Lupin wrenched him back down again. + + + +Page | 858Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“If anyone’s going to tell Snape it will be me!” he said +firmly. “But Harry, first of all, you’re to go back to +Snape and tell him that on no account is he to stop +giving you lessons — when Dumbledore hears — ” + +“I can’t tell him that, he’d kill me!” said Harry, +outraged. “You didn’t see him when we got out of the +Pensieve — ” + +“Harry, there is nothing so important as you learning +Occlumency!” said Lupin sternly. “Do you understand +me? Nothing!” + +“Okay, okay,” said Harry, thoroughly discomposed, +not to mention annoyed. “I’ll ... I’ll try and say +something to him... But it won’t be ...” + +He fell silent. He could hear distant footsteps. + +“Is that Kreacher coming downstairs?” + +“No,” said Sirius, glancing behind him. “It must be +somebody your end ...” + +Harry’s heart skipped several beats. + +“I’d better go!” he said hastily and he pulled his head +backward out of Grimmauld Place’s fire. For a +moment his head seemed to be revolving on his +shoulders, and then he found himself kneeling in +front of Umbridge’s fire with his head firmly back on, +watching the emerald flames flicker and die. + +“Quickly, quickly!” he heard a wheezy voice mutter +right outside the office door. “Ah, she’s left it open...” + +Harry dived for the Invisibility Cloak and had just +managed to pull it back over himself when Filch burst +into the office. He looked absolutely delighted about + +Page | 859Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +something and was talking to himself feverishly as he +crossed the room, pulled open a drawer in Umbridge’s +desk, and began rifling through the papers inside it. + +“Approval for Whipping . . . Approval for Whipping ... I +can do it at last... They’ve had it coming to them for +years...” + +He pulled out a piece of parchment, kissed it, then +shuffled rapidly back out of the door, clutching it to +his chest. + +Harry leapt to his feet and, making sure that he had +his bag and the Invisibility Cloak was completely +covering him, he wrenched open the door and hurried +out of the office after Filch, who was hobbling along +faster than Harry had ever seen him go. + +One landing down from Umbridge’s office and Harry +thought it was safe to become visible again; he pulled +off the cloak, shoved it in his bag and hurried +onward. There was a great deal of shouting and +movement coming from the entrance hall. He ran +down the marble staircase and found what looked like +most of the school assembled there. + +It was just like the night when Trelawney had been +sacked. Students were standing all around the walls +in a great ring (some of them, Harry noticed, covered +in a substance that looked very like Stinksap); +teachers and ghosts were also in the crowd. + +Prominent among the onlookers were members of the +Inquisitorial Squad, who were all looking +exceptionally pleased with themselves, and Peeves, +who was bobbing overhead, gazed down upon Fred +and George, who stood in the middle of the floor with +the unmistakable look of two people who had just +been cornered. + + + +Page | 860Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“So!” said Umbridge triumphantly, whom Harry +realized was standing just a few stairs in front of him, +once more looking down upon her prey. “So . . . you +think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a +swamp, do you?” + +“Pretty amusing, yeah,” said Fred, looking back up at +her without the slightest sign of fear. + +Filch elbowed his way closer to Umbridge, almost +crying with happiness. + +“I’ve got the form, Headmistress,” he said hoarsely, +waving the piece of parchment Harry had just seen +him take from her desk. “I’ve got the form and I’ve got +the whips waiting... Oh, let me do it now...” + +“Very good, Argus,” she said. “You two,” she went on, +gazing down at Fred and George, “are about to learn +what happens to wrongdoers in my school.” + +“You know what?” said Fred. “I don’t think we are.” + +He turned to his twin. + +“George,” said Fred, “I think we’ve outgrown full-time +education.” + +“Yeah, I’ve been feeling that way myself,” said George +lightly. + +“Time to test our talents in the real world, d’you +reckon?” asked Fred. + +“Definitely,” said George. + +And before Umbridge could say a word, they raised +their wands and said together, “Accio BroomsV’ + + + +Page | 861Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry heard a loud crash somewhere in the distance. +Looking to his left he ducked just in time — Fred and +George’s broomsticks, one still trailing the heavy +chain and iron peg with which Umbridge had fastened +them to the wall, were hurtling along the corridor +toward their owners. They turned left, streaked down +the stairs, and stopped sharply in front of the twins, +the chain clattering loudly on the flagged stone floor. + +“We won’t be seeing you,” Fred told Professor +Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick. + +“Yeah, don’t bother to keep in touch,” said George, +mounting his own. + +Fred looked around at the assembled students, and +at the silent, watchful crowd. + +“If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as +demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, +Diagon Alley — Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes,” he +said in a loud voice. “Our new premises!” + +“Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear +they’re going to use our products to get rid of this old +bat,” added George, pointing at Professor Umbridge. + +“STOP THEM!” shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. +As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George +kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the +air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred +looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on +his level above the crowd. + +“Give her hell from us, Peeves.” + +And Peeves, whom Harry had never seen take an +order from a student before, swept his belled hat from +his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George + +Page | 862Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the +students below and sped out of the open front doors +into the glorious sunset. + + + +Page | 863Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +GRAWP + +The story of Fred and George’s flight to freedom was +retold so often over the next few days that Harry +could tell it would soon become the stuff of Hogwarts +legend. Within a week, even those who had been +eyewitnesses were half- convinced that they had seen +the twins dive-bomb Umbridge on their brooms, +pelting her with Dungbombs before zooming out of +the doors. In the immediate aftermath of their +departure there was a great wave of talk about +copying them, so that Harry frequently heard +students saying things like, “Honestly, some days I +just feel like jumping on my broom and leaving this +place,” or else, “One more lesson like that and I might +just do a Weasley...” + +Fred and George had made sure that nobody was +likely to forget them very soon. For one thing, they +had not left instructions on how to remove the swamp +that now filled the corridor on the fifth floor of the +east wing. Umbridge and Filch had been observed +trying different means of removing it but without +success. Eventually the area was roped off and Filch, +Page | 864Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +gnashing his teeth furiously, was given the task of +punting students across it to their classrooms. Harry +was certain that teachers like McGonagall or Flitwick +could have removed the swamp in an instant, but just +as in the case of Fred and George’s Wildfire Whiz- +Bangs, they seemed to prefer to watch Umbridge +struggle. + +Then there were the two large broom-shaped holes in +Umbridge ’s office door, through which Fred and +George’s Cleansweeps had smashed to rejoin their +masters. Filch fitted a new door and removed Harry’s +Firebolt to the dungeons where, it was rumored, +Umbridge had set an armed security troll to guard it. +However, her troubles were far from over. + +Inspired by Fred and George’s example, a great +number of students were now vying for the newly +vacant positions of Troublemakers-in-Chief. In spite +of the new door, somebody managed to slip a hairy- +snouted niffler into Umbridge ’s office, which promptly +tore the place apart in its search for shiny objects, +leapt on Umbridge on her re-entrance, and tried to +gnaw the rings off her stubby fingers. Dungbombs +and Stinkpellets were dropped so frequently in the +corridors that it became the new fashion for students +to perform Bubble-Head Charms on themselves +before leaving lessons, which ensured them a supply +of fresh clean air, even though it gave them all the +peculiar appearance of wearing upside-down goldfish +bowls on their heads. + +Filch prowled the corridors with a horsewhip ready in +his hands, desperate to catch miscreants, but the +problem was that there were now so many of them +that he did not know which way to turn. The +Inquisitorial Squad were attempting to help him, but +odd things kept happening to its members. + +Warrington of the Slytherin Quidditch team reported +Page | 865Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to the hospital wing with a horrible skin complaint +that made him look as though he had been coated in +cornflakes. Pansy Parkinson, to Hermione’s delight, +missed all her lessons the following day, as she had +sprouted antlers. + +Meanwhile it became clear just how many Skiving +Snackboxes Fred and George had managed to sell +before leaving Hogwarts. Umbridge only had to enter +her classroom for the students assembled there to +faint, vomit, develop dangerous fevers, or else spout +blood from both nostrils. Shrieking with rage and +frustration she attempted to trace the mysterious +symptoms to their source, but the students told her +stubbornly they were suffering “Umbridge-itis.” After +putting four successive classes in detention and +failing to discover their secret she was forced to give +up and allow the bleeding, swooning, sweating, and +vomiting students to leave her classes in droves. + +But not even the users of the Snackboxes could +compete with that master of chaos, Peeves, who +seemed to have taken Fred’s parting words deeply to +heart. Cackling madly, he soared through the school, +upending tables, bursting out of blackboards, and +toppling statues and vases. Twice he shut Mrs. Norris +inside suits of armor, from which she was rescued, +yowling loudly, by the furious caretaker. He smashed +lanterns and snuffed out candles, juggled burning +torches over the heads of screaming students, caused +neatly stacked piles of parchment to topple into fires +or out of windows, flooded the second floor when he +pulled off all the taps in the bathrooms, dropped a +bag of tarantulas in the middle of the Great Hall +during breakfast and, whenever he fancied a break, +spent hours at a time floating along after Umbridge +and blowing loud raspberries every time she spoke. + + + +Page | 866Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +None of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring +themselves to help her. Indeed, a week after Fred and +George’s departure Harry witnessed Professor +McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was +determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and +could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out +of the corner of her mouth, “It unscrews the other +way.” + +To cap matters, Montague had still not recovered from +his sojourn in the toilet. He remained confused and +disorientated and his parents were to be observed one +Tuesday morning striding up the front drive, looking +extremely angry. + +“Should we say something?” said Hermione in a +worried voice, pressing her cheek against the Charms +window so that she could see Mr. and Mrs. Montague +marching inside. “About what happened to him? In +case it helps Madam Pomfrey cure him?” + +“ ’Course not, he’ll recover,” said Ron indifferently. + +“Anyway, more trouble for Umbridge, isn’t it?” said +Harry in a satisfied voice. + +He and Ron both tapped the teacups they were +supposed to be charming with their wands. Harry’s +spouted four very short legs that would not reach the +desk and wriggled pointlessly in midair. Ron’s grew +four very thin spindly legs that hoisted the cup off the +desk with great difficulty, trembled for a few seconds, +then folded, causing the cup to crack into two. + +“Reparo\” said Hermione quickly, mending Ron’s cup +with a wave of her wand. “That’s all very well, but +what if Montague’s permanently injured?” + + + +Page | 867Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Who cares?” said Ron irritably, while his teacup +stood drunkenly again, trembling violently at the +knees. “Montague shouldn’t have tried to take all +those points from Gryffindor, should he? If you want +to worry about anyone, Hermione, worry about me!” + +“You?” she said, catching her teacup as it scampered +happily away across the desk on four sturdy little +willow-patterned legs and replacing it in front of her. +“Why should I be worried about you?” + +“When Mum’s next letter finally gets through +Umbridge’s screening process,” said Ron bitterly, now +holding his cup up while its frail legs tried feebly to +support its weight, “I’m going to be in deep trouble. I +wouldn’t be surprised if she’s sent a Howler again.” + +“But — ” + +“It’ll be my fault Fred and George left, you wait,” said +Ron darkly. “She’ll say I should’ve stopped them +leaving, I should’ve grabbed the ends of their brooms +and hung on or something... Yeah, it’ll be all my +fault...” + +“Well, if she does say that it’ll be very unfair, you +couldn’t have done anything! But I’m sure she won’t, I +mean, if it’s really true they’ve got premises in Diagon +Alley now, they must have been planning this for +ages...” + +“Yeah, but that’s another thing, how did they get +premises?” said Ron, hitting his teacup so hard with +his wand that its legs collapsed again and it lay +twitching before him. “It’s a bit dodgy, isn’t it? They’ll +need loads of Galleons to afford the rent on a place in +Diagon Alley, she’ll want to know what they’ve been +up to, to get their hands on that sort of gold...” + + + +Page | 868Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, yes, that occurred to me too,” said Hermione, +allowing her teacup to jog in neat little circles around +Harry’s, whose stubby little legs were still unable to +touch the desktop. “I’ve been wondering whether +Mundungus has persuaded them to sell stolen goods +or something awful...” + +“He hasn’t,” said Harry curtly. + +“How do you know?” said Ron and Hermione together. + +“Because — ” Harry hesitated, but the moment to +confess finally seemed to have come. There was no +good to be gained in keeping silent if it meant anyone +suspected that Fred and George were criminals. +“Because they got the gold from me. I gave them my +Triwizard winnings last June.” + +There was a shocked silence, then Hermione’s teacup +jogged right over the edge of the desk and smashed on +the floor. + +“Oh, Harry, you didn’t” she said. + +“Yes, I did,” said Harry mutinously. “And I don’t regret +it either — I didn’t need the gold, and they’ll be great +at a joke shop...” + +“But this is excellent!” said Ron, looking thrilled. “It’s +all your fault, Harry — Mum can’t blame me at all! + +Can I tell her?” + +“Yeah, I suppose you’d better,” said Harry dully. “ +’Specially if she thinks they’re receiving stolen +cauldrons or something...” + +Hermione said nothing at all for the rest of the lesson, +but Harry had a shrewd suspicion that her self- +restraint was bound to crack before long. Sure + +Page | 869Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +enough, once they had left the castle for break and +were standing around in the weak May sunshine, she +fixed Harry with a beady eye and opened her mouth +with a determined air. + +Harry interrupted her before she had even started. + +“It’s no good nagging me, it’s done,” he said firmly. +“Fred and George have got the gold — spent a good +bit of it too, by the sounds of it — and I can’t get it +back from them and I don’t want to. So save your +breath, Hermione.” + +“I wasn’t going to say anything about Fred and +George!” she said in an injured voice. + +Ron snorted disbelievingly and Hermione threw him a +very dirty look. + +“No, I wasn’t!” she said angrily. “As a matter of fact, I +was going to ask Harry when he’s going to go back to +Snape and ask for Occlumency lessons again!” + +Harry’s heart sank. Once they had exhausted the +subject of Fred and George’s dramatic departure, +which admittedly had taken many hours, Ron and +Hermione had wanted to hear news of Sirius. As +Harry had not confided in them the reason he had +wanted to talk to Sirius in the first place, it had been +hard to think of things to tell them. He had ended up +saying to them truthfully that Sirius wanted Harry to +resume Occlumency lessons. He had been regretting +this ever since; Hermione would not let the subject +drop and kept reverting to it when Harry least +expected it. + +“You can’t tell me you’ve stopped having funny +dreams,” Hermione said now, “because Ron told me +last night you were muttering in your sleep again...” + +Page | 870Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry threw Ron a furious look. Ron had the grace to +look ashamed of himself. + +“You were only muttering a bit,” he mumbled +apologetically. “Something about ‘just a bit farther.’ ” + +“I dreamed I was watching you lot play Quidditch,” +Harry lied brutally. “I was trying to get you to stretch +out a bit farther to grab the Quaffle.” + +Ron’s ears went red. Harry felt a kind of vindictive +pleasure: He had not, of course, dreamed anything of +the sort. + +Last night he had once again made the journey along +the Department of Mysteries corridor. He had passed +through the circular room, then the room full of +clicking and dancing light, until he found himself +again inside that cavernous room full of shelves on +which were ranged dusty glass spheres... + +He had hurried straight toward row number ninety- +seven, turned left, and ran along it... It had probably +been then that he had spoken aloud... Just a bit +farther . . . for he could feel his conscious self +struggling to wake . . . and before he had reached the +end of the row, he had found himself lying in bed +again, gazing up at the canopy of his four-poster. + +“You are trying to block your mind, aren’t you?” said +Hermione, looking beadily at Harry. “You are keeping +going with your Occlumency?” + +“Of course I am,” said Harry, trying to sound as +though this question was insulting, but not quite +meeting her eye. The truth was that he was so +intensely curious about what was hidden in that +room full of dusty orbs that he was quite keen for the +dreams to continue. + +Page | 871Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The problem was that with just under a month to go +until the exams and every free moment devoted to +studying, his mind seemed saturated with +information when he went to bed so that he found it +very difficult to get to sleep at all. When he did, his +overwrought brain presented him most nights with +stupid dreams about the exams. He also suspected +that part of his mind — the part that often spoke in +Hermione’s voice — now felt guilty on the occasions it +strayed down that corridor ending in the black door, +and sought to wake him before he could reach +journey’s end. + +“You know,” said Ron, whose ears were still flaming +red, “if Montague doesn’t recover before Slytherin play +Hufflepuff, we might be in with a chance of winning +the Cup.” + +“Yeah, I s’pose so,” said Harry, glad of a change of +subject. + +“I mean, we’ve won one, lost one — if Slytherin lose to +Hufflepuff next Saturday — ” + +“Yeah, that’s right,” said Harry, losing track of what +he was agreeing to: Cho Chang had just walked +across the courtyard, determinedly not looking at +him. + +The final match of the Quidditch season, Gryffindor +versus Ravenclaw, was to take place on the last +weekend of May. Although Slytherin had been +narrowly defeated by Hufflepuff in their last match, +Gryffindor was not daring to hope for victory, due +mainly (though of course nobody said it to him) to +Ron’s abysmal goalkeeping record. He, however, +seemed to have found a new optimism. + + + +Page | 872Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I mean, I can’t get any worse, can I?” he told Harry +and Hermione grimly over breakfast on the morning +of the match. “Nothing to lose now, is there?” + +“You know,” said Hermione, as she and Harry walked +down to the pitch a little later in the midst of a very +excitable crowd, “I think Ron might do better without +Fred and George around. They never exactly gave him +a lot of confidence...” + +Luna Lovegood overtook them with what appeared to +be a live eagle perched on top of her head. + +“Oh gosh, I forgot!” said Hermione, watching the eagle +flapping its wings as Luna walked serenely past a +group of cackling and pointing Slytherins. “Cho will +be playing, won’t she?” + +Harry, who had not forgotten this, merely grunted. + +They found seats in the topmost row of the stands. It +was a fine, clear day. Ron could not wish for better, +and Harry found himself hoping against hope that +Ron would not give the Slytherins cause for more +rousing choruses of “Weasley Is Our King.” + +Lee Jordan, who had been very dispirited since Fred +and George had left, was commentating as usual. As +the teams zoomed out onto the pitches he named the +players with something less than his usual gusto. + +"... Bradley ... Davies ... Chang,” he said, and Harry +felt his stomach perform, less of a back flip, more a +feeble lurch as Cho walked out onto the pitch, her +shiny black hair rippling in the slight breeze. He was +not sure what he wanted to happen anymore, except +that he could not stand any more rows. Even the +sight of her chatting animatedly to Roger Davies as + + + +Page | 873Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +they prepared to mount their brooms caused him only +a slight twinge of jealousy. + +“And they’re off!” said Lee. “And Davies takes the +Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with +the Quaffle, he dodges Johnson, he dodges Bell, he +dodges Spinnet as well... He’s going straight for goal! +He’s going to shoot — and — and — ” Lee swore very +loudly. “And he’s scored.” + +Harry and Hermione groaned with the rest of the +Gryffindors. Predictably, horribly, the Slytherins on +the other side of the stands began to sing: + +Weasley cannot save a thing, + +He cannot block a single ring . . . + +“Harry,” said a hoarse voice in Harry’s ear. “Hermione + + + +Harry looked around and saw Hagrid’s enormous +bearded face sticking between the seats; apparently +he had squeezed his way all along the row behind, for +the first and second years he had just passed had a +ruffled, flattened look about them. For some reason, +Hagrid was bent double as though anxious not to be +seen, though he was still at least four feet taller than +everybody else. + +“Listen,” he whispered, “can yeh come with me? Now? +While ev’ryone’s watchin’ the match?” + +“Er ... can’t it wait, Hagrid?” asked Harry. “Till the +match is over? + +“No,” said Hagrid. “No, Harry, it’s gotta be now ... +while ev’ryone’s lookin’ the other way... Please?” + + + +Page | 874Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hagrid’s nose was gently dripping blood. His eyes +were both blackened. Harry had not seen him this +close up since his return to the school; he looked +utterly woebegone. + +“ ’Course,” said Harry at once, “ ’course we’ll come...” + +He and Hermione edged back along their row of seats, +causing much grumbling among the students who +had to stand up for them. The people in Hagrid’s row +were not complaining, merely attempting to make +themselves as small as possible. + +“I ’ppreciate this, you two, I really do,” said Hagrid as +they reached the stairs. He kept looking around +nervously as they descended toward the lawn below. + +“I jus’ hope she doesn’ notice us goin’...” + +“You mean Umbridge?” said Harry. “She won’t, she’s +got her whole Inquisitorial Squad sitting with her, +didn’t you see? She must be expecting trouble at the +match.” + +“Yeah, well, a bit o’ trouble wouldn’ hurt,” said +Hagrid, pausing to peer around the edge of the stands +to make sure the stretch of lawn between there and +his cabin was deserted. “Give us more time ...” + +“What is it, Hagrid?” said Hermione, looking up at +him with a concerned expression on her face as they +hurried across the lawn toward the edge of the forest. + +“Yeh — yeh’ll see in a mo’,” said Hagrid, looking over +his shoulder as a great roar rose from the stands +behind them. “Hey — did someone jus’ score?” + +“It’ll be Ravenclaw,” said Harry heavily. + + + +Page | 875Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Good ... good ...” said Hagrid distractedly. “Tha’s +good...” + +They had to jog to keep up with him as he strode +across the lawn, looking around with every other step. +When they reached his cabin, Hermione turned +automatically left toward the front door; Hagrid, +however, walked straight past it into the shade of the +trees on the outermost edge of the forest, where he +picked up a crossbow that was leaning against a tree. +When he realized they were no longer with him, he +turned. + +“We’re goin’ in here,” he said, jerking his shaggy head +behind him. + +“Into the forest?” said Hermione, perplexed. + +“Yeah,” said Hagrid. “C’mon now, quick, before we’re +spotted!” + +Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then +ducked into the cover of the trees behind Hagrid, who +was already striding away from them into the green +gloom, his crossbow over his arm. Harry and +Hermione ran to catch up with him. + +“Hagrid, why are you armed?” said Harry. + +“Jus’ a precaution,” said Hagrid, shrugging his +massive shoulders. + +“You didn’t bring your crossbow the day you showed +us the thestrals,” said Hermione timidly. + +“Nah, well, we weren’ goin’ in so far then,” said +Hagrid. “An’ anyway, tha’ was before Firenze left the +forest, wasn’ it?” + + + +Page | 876Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Why does Firenze leaving make a difference?” asked +Hermione curiously. + + + +“ ’Cause the other centaurs are good an’ riled at me, +tha’s why,” said Hagrid quietly, glancing around. +“They used ter be — well, yeh couldn’ call ’em friendly +— but we got on all righ’. Kept ’emselves to ’emselves, +bu’ always turned up if I wanted a word. Not anymore + + + +He sighed deeply. + +“Firenze said that they’re angry because he went to +work for Dumbledore?” Harry asked, tripping on a +protruding root because he was busy watching +Hagrid ’s profile. + +“Yeah,” said Hagrid heavily. “Well, angry doesn’ cover +it. Ruddy livid. If I hadn’ stepped in, I reckon they’d ’ve +kicked Firenze ter death — ” + +“They attacked him?” said Hermione, sounding +shocked. + +“Yep,” said Hagrid gruffly, forcing his way through +several low-hanging branches. “He had half the herd +onto him — ” + +“And you stopped it?” said Harry, amazed and +impressed. “By yourself?” + +“ ’Course I did, couldn’t stand by an’ watch ’em kill +him, could I?” said Hagrid. “Lucky I was passin’, +really ... an’ I’d’ve thought Firenze mighta +remembered tha’ before he started sendin’ me stupid +warnin’s!” he added hotly and unexpectedly. + +Harry and Hermione looked at each other, startled, +but Hagrid, scowling, did not elaborate. + +Page | 877Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Anyway,” he said, breathing a little more heavily +than usual, “since then the other centaurs Ve bin livid +with me an’ the trouble is, they’ve got a lot of +influence in the forest... Cleverest creatures in here + + + +“Is that why we’re here, Hagrid?” asked Hermione. +“The centaurs?” + +“Ah no,” said Hagrid, shaking his head dismissively, +“no, it’s not them... Well, o’ course, they could +complicate the problem, yeah... But yeh’ll see what I +mean in a bit...” + +On this incomprehensible note he fell silent and +forged a little ahead, taking one stride for every three +of theirs, so that they had great trouble keeping up +with him. + +The path was becoming increasingly overgrown and +the trees grew so closely together as they walked +farther and farther into the forest that it was as dark +as dusk. They were soon a long way past the clearing +where Hagrid had shown them the thestrals, but +Harry felt no sense of unease until Hagrid stepped +unexpectedly off the path and began wending his way +in and out of trees toward the dark heart of the forest. + +“Hagrid?” said Harry, fighting his way through thickly +knotted brambles over which Hagrid had stepped +easily and remembering very vividly what had +happened to him on the other occasions he had +stepped off the forest path. “Where are we going?” + +“Bit further,” said Hagrid over his shoulder. “C’mon, +Harry... We need ter keep together now...” + +It was a great struggle to keep up with Hagrid, what +with branches and thickets of thorn through which + +Page | 878Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hagrid marched as easily as though they were +cobwebs, but which snagged Harry and Hermione’s +robes, frequently entangling them so severely that +they had to stop for minutes at a time to free +themselves. Harry’s arms and legs were soon covered +in small cuts and scratches. They were so deep in the +forest now that sometimes all Harry could see of +Hagrid in the gloom was a massive dark shape ahead +of him. Any sound seemed threatening in the muffled +silence. The breaking of a twig echoed loudly and the +tiniest rustle of movement, though it might have been +made by an innocent sparrow, caused Harry to peer +through the gloom for a culprit. It occurred to him +that he had never managed to get this far into the +forest without meeting some kind of creature — their +absence struck him as rather ominous. + +“Hagrid, would it be all right if we lit our wands?” said +Hermione quietly. + +“Er ... all righ’,” Hagrid whispered back. “In fact ...” + +He stopped suddenly and turned around; Hermione +walked right into him and was knocked over +backward. Harry caught her just before she hit the +forest floor. + +“Maybe we bes’ jus’ stop fer a momen’, so I can ... fill +yeh in,” said Hagrid. “Before we ge’ there, like.” + +“Good!” said Hermione, as Harry set her back on her +feet. They both murmured “Lumos\” and their wand +tips ignited. Hagrid ’s face swam through the gloom by +the light of the two wavering beams and Harry saw +that he looked nervous and sad again. + +“Righ,” said Hagrid. “Well ... see ... the thing is ...” + +He took a great breath. + +Page | 879Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, there’s a good chance I’m goin’ ter be gettin’ the +sack any day now,” he said. + + + +Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then back +at him. + +“But you’ve lasted this long — ” Hermione said +tentatively. “What makes you think — ” + +“Umbridge reckons it was me that put tha’ niffler in +her office.” + +“And was it?” said Harry, before he could stop +himself. + +“No, it ruddy well wasn’!” said Hagrid indignantly. +“On’y anythin’ ter do with magical creatures an’ she +thinks it’s got somethin’ ter do with me. Yeh know +she’s bin lookin’ fer a chance ter get rid of me ever +since I got back. I don’ wan’ ter go, o’ course, but if it +wasn’ fer ... well ... the special circumstances I’m +abou’ ter explain to yeh, I’d leave righ now, before +she’s go’ the chance ter do it in front o’ the whole +school, like she did with Trelawney.” + +Harry and Hermione both made noises of protest, but +Hagrid overrode them with a wave of one of his +enormous hands. + +“It’s not the end o’ the world, I’ll be able ter help +Dumbledore once I’m outta here, I can be useful ter +the Order. An’ you lot’ll have Grubbly-Plank, yeh’ll — +yeh’ll get through yer exams fine...” His voice +trembled and broke. + +“Don’ worry abou’ me,” he said hastily, as Hermione +made to pat his arm. He pulled his enormous spotted +handkerchief from the pocket of his waistcoat and +mopped his eyes with it. “Look, I wouldn’ be tellin’ yer + +Page | 880Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +this at all if I didn’ have ter. See, if I go ... well, I can’ +leave withou’ ... withou’ fellin’ someone ... because I’ll +— I’ll need you two ter help me. An’ Ron, if he’s +willin’.” + +“Of course well help you,” said Harry at once. “What +do you want us to do?” + +Hagrid gave a great sniff and patted Harry wordlessly +on the shoulder with such force that Harry was +knocked sideways into a tree. + +“I knew yeh’d say yes,” said Hagrid into his +handkerchief, “but I won’ ... never ... forget ... Well ... +c’mon ... jus’ a little bit further through here ... Watch +yerselves, now, there’s nettles...” + +They walked on in silence for another fifteen minutes. +Harry had opened his mouth to ask how much farther +they had to go when Hagrid threw out his right arm to +signal that they should stop. + +“Really easy,” he said softly. “Very quiet, now ...” + +They crept forward and Harry saw that they were +facing a large, smooth mound of earth nearly as tall +as Hagrid that he thought, with a jolt of dread, was +sure to be the lair of some enormous animal. Trees +had been ripped up at the roots all around the +mound, so that it stood on a bare patch of ground +surrounded by heaps of trunks and boughs that +formed a kind of fence or barricade, behind which +Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid now stood. + +“Sleepin’,” breathed Hagrid. + +Sure enough, Harry could hear a distant, rhythmic +rumbling that sounded like a pair of enormous lungs +at work. He glanced sideways at Hermione, who was + +Page | 881Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +gazing at the mound with her mouth slightly open. + +She looked utterly terrified. + +“Hagrid,” she said in a whisper barely audible over +the sound of the sleeping creature, “who is he?” + +Harry found this an odd question... “What is it?” was +the one he had been planning on asking. + +“Hagrid, you told us,” said Hermione, her wand now +shaking in her hand, “you told us none of them +wanted to come!” + +Harry looked from her to Hagrid and then, as +realization hit him, he looked back at the mound with +a small gasp of horror. + +The great mound of earth, on which he, Hermione, +and Hagrid could easily have stood, was moving +slowly up and down in time with the deep, grunting +breathing. It was not a mound at all. It was the +curved back of what was clearly . . . + +“Well — no — he didn’ want ter come,” said Hagrid, +sounding desperate. “But I had ter bring him, +Hermione, I had ter!” + +“But why?” asked Hermione, who sounded as though +she wanted to cry. “Why — what — oh, Hagrid\” + +“I knew if I jus’ got him back,” said Hagrid, sounding +close to tears himself, “an’ — an’ taught him a few +manners — I’d be able ter take him outside an’ show +ev’ryone he’s harmless!” + +“Harmless!” said Hermione shrilly, and Hagrid made +frantic hushing noises with his hands as the +enormous creature before them grunted loudly and +shifted in its sleep. “He’s been hurting you all this + +Page | 882Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +time, hasn’t he? That’s why you’ve had all these +injuries!” + +“He don’ know his own strength!” said Hagrid +earnestly. “An’ he’s gettin’ better, he’s not fightin’ so +much anymore — ” + +“So this is why it took you two months to get home!” +said Hermione distractedly. “Oh Hagrid, why did you +bring him back if he didn’t want to come, wouldn’t he +have been happier with his own people?” + +“They were all bullyin’ him, Hermione, ’cause he’s so +small!” said Hagrid. + +“Small?” said Hermione. “Small?” + +“Hermione, I couldn’ leave him,” said Hagrid, tears +now trickling down his bruised face into his beard. +“See — he’s my brother!” + +Hermione simply stared at him, her mouth open. + +“Hagrid, when you say ‘brother,’ ” said Harry slowly, +“do you mean — ?” + +“Well — half-brother,” amended Hagrid. “Turns out +me mother took up with another giant when she left +me dad, an’ she went an’ had Grawp here — ” + +“Grawp?” said Harry. + +“Yeah ... well, tha’s what it sounds like when he says +his name,” said Hagrid anxiously. “He don’ speak a lot +of English... I’ve bin tryin’ ter teach him... Anyway, +she don’ seem ter have liked him much more’n she +liked me... See, with giantesses, what counts is +producin’ good big kids, and he’s always been a bit on +the runty side fer a giant — on’y sixteen foot — ” + +Page | 883Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh yes, tiny!” said Hermione, with a kind of +hysterical sarcasm. “Absolutely minuscule!” + +“He was bein’ kicked around by all o’ them — I jus’ +couldn’ leave him — ” + +“Did Madame Maxime want to bring him back?” +asked Harry. + +“She — well, she could see it was right importan’ ter +me,” said Hagrid, twisting his enormous hands. “Bu’ +— bu’ she got a bit tired of him after a while, I must +admit ... so we split up on the journey home... She +promised not ter tell anyone though...” + +“How on earth did you get him back without anyone +noticing?” said Harry. + +“Well, tha’s why it took so long, see,” said Hagrid. +“Could on’y travel by nigh an’ through wild country +an’ stuff. ’Course, he covers the ground pretty well +when he wants ter, but he kep’ wantin’ ter go back...” + +“Oh Hagrid, why on earth didn’t you let him!” said +Hermione, flopping down onto a ripped-up tree and +burying her face in her hands. “What do you think +you’re going to do with a violent giant who doesn’t +even want to be here!” + +“Well, now — Violent’ — tha’s a bit harsh,” said +Hagrid, still twisting his hands agitatedly. “I’ll admit +he mighta taken a couple o’ swings at me when he’s +bin in a bad mood, but he’s gettin’ better, loads +better, settlin’ down well...” + +“What are those ropes for, then?” Harry asked. + +He had just noticed ropes thick as saplings stretching +from around the trunks of the largest nearby trees + +Page | 884Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +toward the place where Grawp lay curled on the +ground with his back to them. + +“You have to keep him tied up?” said Hermione +faintly. + +“Well ... yeah ...” said Hagrid, looking anxious. “See — +it’s like I say — he doesn’ really know his strength — ” + +Harry understood now why there had been such a +suspicious lack of any other living creature in this +part of the forest. + +“So what is it you want Harry and Ron and me to do?” +Hermione asked apprehensively. + +“Look after him,” said Hagrid croakily. “After I’m +gone.” + +Harry and Hermione exchanged miserable looks, + +Harry uncomfortably aware that he had already +promised Hagrid that he would do whatever he asked. + +“What — what does that involve, exactly?” Hermione +inquired. + +“Not food or anythin’!” said Hagrid eagerly. “He can +get his own food, no problem. Birds an’ deer an’ stuff +... No, it’s company he needs. If I jus’ knew someone +was carryin’ on tryin’ ter help him a bit ... teachin’ +him, yeh know ...” + +Harry said nothing, but turned to look back at the +gigantic form lying asleep on the ground in front of +them. Grawp had his back to them. Unlike Hagrid, +who simply looked like a very oversize human, Grawp +looked strangely misshapen. What Harry had taken to +be a vast mossy boulder to the left of the great +earthen mound he now recognized as Grawp ’s head. +Page | 885Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +It was much larger in proportion to the body than a +human head, almost perfectly round and covered with +tightly curling, close-growing hair the color of +bracken. The rim of a single large, fleshy ear was +visible on top of the head, which seemed to sit, rather +like Uncle Vernon’s, directly upon the shoulders with +little or no neck in between. The back, under what +looked like a dirty brownish smock comprised of +animal skins sewn roughly together, was very broad, +and as Grawp slept, it seemed to strain a little at the +rough seams of the skins. The legs were curled up +under the body; Harry could see the soles of +enormous, filthy, bare feet, large as sledges, resting +one on top of the other on the earthy forest floor. + +“You want us to teach him,” Harry said in a hollow +voice. He now understood what Firenze’s warning had +meant. His attempt is not working. He would do better +to abandon it. Of course, the other creatures who lived +in the forest would have heard Hagrid’s fruitless +attempts to teach Grawp English... + +“Yeah — even if yeh jus’ talk ter him a bit,” said +Hagrid hopefully. “ ’Cause I reckon, if he can talk ter +people, he’ll understand more that we all like him +really, an’ want him to stay...” + +Harry looked at Hermione, who peered back at him +from between the fingers over her face. + +“Kind of makes you wish we had Norbert back, +doesn’t it?” he said and she gave a very shaky laugh. + +“Yeh’ll do it, then?” said Hagrid, who did not seem to +have caught what Harry had just said. + +“We’ll ...” said Harry, already bound by his promise. +“We’ll try, Hagrid...” + + + +Page | 886Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I knew I could count on yeh, Harry,” Hagrid said, +beaming in a very watery way and dabbing at his face +with his handkerchief again. “An’ I don’ wan’ yeh ter +put yerself out too much, like... I know yeh’ve got +exams... If yeh could jus’ nip down here in yer +Invisibility Cloak maybe once a week an’ have a little +chat with him ... I’ll wake him up, then — introduce +you — ” + +“Wha — no!” said Hermione, jumping up, “Hagrid, no, +don’t wake him, really, we don’t need — ” + +But Hagrid had already stepped over the great trunk +in front of them and was proceeding toward Grawp. +When he was around ten feet away, he lifted a long, +broken bough from the ground, smiled reassuringly +over his shoulder at Harry and Hermione, and then +poked Grawp hard in the middle of the back with the +end of the bough. + +The giant gave a roar that echoed around the silent +forest. Birds in the treetops overhead rose twittering +from their perches and soared away. In front of Harry +and Hermione, meanwhile, the gigantic Grawp was +rising from the ground, which shuddered as he placed +an enormous hand upon it to push himself onto his +knees and turned his head to see who and what had +disturbed him. + +“All righ’, Grawpy?” said Hagrid in a would-be cheery +voice, backing away with the long bough raised, ready +to poke Grawp again. “Had a nice sleep, eh?” + +Harry and Hermione retreated as far as they could +while still keeping the giant within their sights. Grawp +knelt between two trees he had not yet uprooted. + +They looked up into his startlingly huge face, which +resembled a gray full moon swimming in the gloom of +the clearing. It was as though the features had been +Page | 887Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +hewn onto a great stone ball. The nose was stubby +and shapeless, the mouth lopsided and full of +misshapen yellow teeth the size of half-bricks. The +small eyes were a muddy greenish-brown and just +now were half gummed together with sleep. Grawp +raised dirty knuckles as big as cricket balls to his +eyes, rubbed vigorously, then, without warning, +pushed himself to his feet with surprising speed and +agility. + +“Oh my ...” Harry heard Hermione squeal, terrified, +beside him. + +The trees to which the other ends of the ropes around +Grawp’s wrists and ankles were attached creaked +ominously. He was, as Hagrid had said, at least +sixteen feet tall. Gazing blearily around, he reached +out a hand the size of a beach umbrella, seized a +bird’s nest from the upper branches of a towering +pine and turned it upside down with a roar of +apparent displeasure that there was no bird in it — +eggs fell like grenades toward the ground and Hagrid +threw his arms over his head to protect himself. + +“Anyway, Grawpy,” shouted Hagrid, looking up +apprehensively in case of further falling eggs, “I’ve +brought some friends ter meet yeh. Remember, I told +yeh I might? Remember, when I said I might have ter +go on a little trip an’ leave them ter look after yeh fer +a bit? Remember that, Grawpy?” + +But Grawp merely gave another low roar; it was hard +to say whether he was listening to Hagrid or whether +he even recognized the sounds Hagrid was making as +speech. He had now seized the top of the pine tree +and was pulling it toward him, evidently for the +simple pleasure of seeing how far it would spring +back when he let go. + + + +Page | 888Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Now, Grawpy, don’ do that!” shouted Hagrid. “Tha’s +how you ended up pullin’ up the others — ” + +And sure enough, Harry could see the earth around +the tree’s roots beginning to crack. + +“I got company fer yeh!” Hagrid shouted. “Company, +see! Look down, yeh big buffoon, I brought yeh some +friends!” + +“Oh Hagrid, don’t,” moaned Hermione, but Hagrid +had already raised the bough again and gave Grawp’s +knee a sharp poke. + +The giant let go of the top of the pine tree, which +swayed menacingly and deluged Hagrid with a rain of +needles, and looked down. + +“This,” said Hagrid, hastening over to where Harry +and Hermione stood, “is Harry, Grawp! Harry Potter! +He migh’ be cornin’ ter visit yeh if I have ter go away, +understand?” + +The giant had only just realized that Harry and +Hermione were there. They watched, in great +trepidation, as he lowered his huge boulder of a head +so that he could peer blearily at them. + +“An’ this is Hermione, see? Her — ” Hagrid hesitated. +Turning to Hermione he said, “Would yeh mind if he +called yeh Hermy, Hermione? On’y it’s a difficult +name fer him ter remember...” + +“No, not at all,” squeaked Hermione. + +“This is Hermy, Grawp! An’ she’s gonna be cornin’ an’ +all! Is’n tha’ nice? Eh? Two friends fer yeh ter — +GRAWPY, NO!” + + + +Page | 889Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Grawp’s hand had shot out of nowhere toward +Hermione — Harry seized her and pulled her +backward behind the tree, so that Grawp’s fist +scraped the trunk but closed on thin air. + +“BAD BOY, GRAWPY!” Harry heard Hagrid yelling, as +Hermione clung to Harry behind the tree, shaking +and whimpering. “VERY BAD BOY! YEH DON’ GRAB + +— OUCH!” + +Harry poked his head out from around the trunk and +saw Hagrid lying on his back, his hand over his nose. +Grawp, apparently losing interest, had straightened +up again and was again engaged in pulling back the +pine as far as it would go. + +“Righ’,” said Hagrid thickly, getting up with one hand +pinching his bleeding nose and the other grasping his +crossbow. “Well ... there yeh are... Yeh’ve met him an’ + +— an’ now he’ll know yeh when yeh come back. Yeah +...well...” + +He looked up at Grawp, who was now pulling back +the pine with an expression of detached pleasure on +his boulderish face; the roots were creaking as he +ripped them away from the ground... + +“Well, I reckon tha’s enough fer one day,” said Hagrid. +“We’ll — er — we’ll go back now, shall we?” + +Harry and Hermione nodded. Hagrid shouldered his +crossbow again and, still pinching his nose, led the +way back into the trees. + +Nobody spoke for a while, not even when they heard +the distant crash that meant Grawp had pulled over +the pine tree at last. Hermione’s face was pale and +set. Harry could not think of a single thing to say. +What on earth was going to happen when somebody +Page | 890Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +found out that Hagrid had hidden Grawp in the +forest? And he had promised that he, Ron, and +Hermione would continue Hagrid’s totally pointless +attempts to civilize the giant... How could Hagrid, +even with his immense capacity to delude himself +that fanged monsters were lovably harmless, fool +himself that Grawp would ever be fit to mix with +humans? + +“Hold it,” said Hagrid abruptly, just as Harry and +Hermione were struggling through a patch of thick +knotgrass behind him. He pulled an arrow out of the +quiver over his shoulder and fitted it into the +crossbow. Harry and Hermione raised their wands; +now that they had stopped walking, they too could +hear movement close by. + +“Oh blimey,” said Hagrid quietly. + +“I thought that we told you, Hagrid,” said a deep male +voice, “that you are no longer welcome here?” + +A man’s naked torso seemed for an instant to be +floating toward them through the dappled green half- +light. Then they saw that his waist joined smoothly +with a horse’s chestnut body. This centaur had a +proud, high-cheekboned face and long black hair. + +Like Hagrid, he was armed: A quiverful of arrows and +a long bow were slung over his shoulders. + +“How are yeh, Magorian?” said Hagrid warily. + +The trees behind the centaur rustled and four or five +more emerged behind him. Harry recognized the +black-bodied and bearded Bane, whom he had met +nearly four years ago on the same night he had met +Firenze. Bane gave no sign that he had ever seen +Harry before. + + + +Page | 891Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“So,” he said, with a nasty inflection in his voice, +before turning immediately to Magorian. “We agreed, I +think, what we would do if this human showed his +face in the forest again?” + +“ This human’ now, am I?” said Hagrid testily. “Jus’ +fer stoppin’ all of yeh committin’ murder?” + +“You ought not to have meddled, Hagrid,” said +Magorian. “Our ways are not yours, nor are our laws. +Firenze has betrayed and dishonored us.” + +“I dunno how yeh work that out,” said Hagrid +impatiently. “He’s done nothin’ except help Albus +Dumbledore — ” + +“Firenze has entered into servitude to humans,” said +a gray centaur with a hard, deeply lined face. + +“ Servitude !” said Hagrid scathingly. “He’s doin’ +Dumbledore a favor is all — ” + +“He is peddling our knowledge and secrets among +humans,” said Magorian quietly. “There can be no +return from such disgrace.” + +“If yeh say so,” said Hagrid, shrugging, “but +personally I think yeh ’re makin’ a big mistake — ” + +“As are you, human,” said Bane, “coming back into +our forest when we warned you — ” + +“Now, you listen ter me,” said Hagrid angrily. “I’ll have +less of the ‘our’ forest, if it’s all the same ter you. It’s +not up ter you who comes an’ goes in here — ” + +“No more is it up to you, Hagrid,” said Magorian +smoothly. “I shall let you pass today because you are +accompanied by your young — ” + +Page | 892Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“They’re not his!” interrupted Bane contemptuously. +“Students, Magorian, from up at the school! They +have probably already profited from the traitor +F irenze ’s teachings ...” + +“Nevertheless,” said Magorian calmly, “the slaughter +of foals is a terrible crime... We do not touch the +innocent. Today, Hagrid, you pass. Henceforth, stay +away from this place. You forfeited the friendship of +the centaurs when you helped the traitor Firenze +escape us.” + +“I won’ be kept outta the fores’ by a bunch of mules +like you!” said Hagrid loudly. + +“Hagrid,” said Hermione in a high-pitched and +terrified voice, as both Bane and the gray centaur +pawed at the ground, “let’s go, please lets go! + +Hagrid moved forward, but his crossbow was still +raised and his eyes were still fixed threateningly upon +Magorian. + +“We know what you are keeping in the forest, Hagrid!” +Magorian called after them, as the centaurs slipped +out of sight. “And our tolerance is waning!” + +Hagrid turned and gave every appearance of wanting +to walk straight back to Magorian again. + +“You’ll tolerate him as long as he’s here, it’s as much +his forest as yours!” he yelled, while Harry and +Hermione both pushed with all their might against +Hagrid ’s moleskin waistcoat in an effort to keep him +moving forward. Still scowling, he looked down; his +expression changed to mild surprise at the sight of +them both pushing him. He seemed not to have felt it. + + + +Page | 893Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Calm down, you two,” he said, turning to walk on +while they panted along behind him. “Ruddy old nags +though, eh?” + +“Hagrid,” said Hermione breathlessly, skirting the +patch of nettles they had passed on their way there, +“if the centaurs don’t want humans in the forest, it +doesn’t really look as though Harry and I will be able + + + +“Ah, you heard what they said,” said Hagrid +dismissively “They wouldn’t hurt foals — I mean, +kids. Anyway, we can’ let ourselves be pushed around +by that lot...” + +“Nice try,” Harry murmured to Hermione, who looked +crestfallen. + +At last they rejoined the path and after another ten +minutes, the trees began to thin. They were able to +see patches of clear blue sky again and hear, in the +distance, the definite sounds of cheering and +shouting. + +“Was that another goal?” asked Hagrid, pausing in +the shelter of the trees as the Quidditch stadium +came into view. “Or d’you reckon the match is over?” + +“I don’t know,” said Hermione miserably. Harry saw +that she looked much the worse for wear; her hair +was full of bits of twig and leaves, her robes were +ripped in several places and there were numerous +scratches on her face and arms. He knew he could +look little better. + +“I reckon it’s over, yeh know!” said Hagrid, still +squinting toward the stadium. “Look — there’s people +cornin’ out already — if you two hurry yeh ’ll be able + + + +Page | 894Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +ter blend in with the crowd an’ no one’ll know you +weren’t there!” + + + +“Good idea,” said Harry. “Well ... see you later, then, +Hagrid...” + +“I don’t believe him,” said Hermione in a very +unsteady voice, the moment they were out of earshot +of Hagrid. “I don’t believe him. I really don’t believe +him...” + +“Calm down,” said Harry. + +“Calm down!” she said feverishly. “A giant! A giant in +the forest! And we’re supposed to give him English +lessons! Always assuming, of course, we can get past +the herd of murderous centaurs on the way in and +out! I — don’t — believe — him!” + +“We haven’t got to do anything yet!” Harry tried to +reassure her in a quiet voice, as they joined a stream +of jabbering Hufflepuffs heading back toward the +castle. “He’s not asking us to do anything unless he +gets chucked out and that might not even happen — ” + +“Oh come off it, Harry!” said Hermione angrily, +stopping dead in her tracks so that the people behind +her had to swerve to avoid her. “Of course he’s going +to be chucked out and to be perfectly honest, after +what we’ve just seen, who can blame Umbridge?” + +There was a pause in which Harry glared at her, and +her eyes filled slowly with tears. + +“You didn’t mean that,” said Harry quietly. + +“No ... well ... all right ... I didn’t,” she said, wiping +her eyes angrily. “But why does he have to make life +so difficult for himself — for us?” + +Page | 895Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I dunno — ” + + + +Weasley is our King, + +Weasley is our King, + +He didn’t let the Quaffle in, + +Weasley is our King . . . + +“And I wish they’d stop singing that stupid song,” said +Hermione miserably, “haven’t they gloated enough?” + +A great tide of students was moving up the sloping +lawns from the pitch. + +“Oh, let’s get in before we have to meet the +Slytherins,” said Hermione. + +Weasley can save anything, + +He never leaves a single ring +That’s why Gryffindors all sing: + +Weasley is our King. + +“Hermione ...” said Harry slowly. + +The song was growing louder, but it was issuing not +from a crowd of green-and-silver-clad Slytherins, but +from a mass of red and gold moving slowly toward the +castle, which was bearing a solitary figure upon its +many shoulders... + +Weasley is our King, + +Weasley is our King, + +He didn’t let the Quaffle in, + +Weasley is our King . . . + +“No!” said Hermione in a hushed voice. + +“YES!” said Harry loudly. + + + +Page | 896Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“HARRY! HERMIONE!” yelled Ron, waving the silver +Quidditch Cup in the air and looking quite beside +himself. “WE DID IT! WE WON!” + + + +They beamed up at him as he passed; there was a +scrum at the door of the castle and Ron’s head got +rather badly bumped on the lintel, but nobody +seemed to want to put him down. Still singing, the +crowd squeezed itself into the entrance hall and out of +sight. Harry and Hermione watched them go, +beaming, until the last echoing strains of “Weasley Is +Our King” died away. Then they turned to each other, +their smiles fading. + +“We’ll save our news till tomorrow, shall we?” said +Harry. + +“Yes, all right,” said Hermione wearily. “I’m not in any +hurry...” + +They climbed the steps together. At the front doors +both instinctively looked back at the Forbidden +Forest. Harry was not sure whether it was his +imagination or not, but he rather thought he saw a +small cloud of birds erupting into the air over the +treetops in the distance, almost as though the tree in +which they had been nesting had just been pulled up +by the roots. + + + +Page | 897Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +O.W.L.S + + + +Ron’s euphoria at helping Gryffindor scrape the +Quidditch Cup was such that he could not settle to +anything next day. All he wanted to do was talk over +the match and Harry and Hermione found it very +difficult to find an opening in which to mention +Grawp — not that either of them tried very hard; +neither was keen to be the one to bring Ron back to +reality in quite such a brutal fashion. As it was +another fine, warm day, they persuaded him to join +them in studying under the beech tree on the edge of +the lake, where they stood less chance of being +overheard than in the common room. Ron was not +particularly keen on this idea at first; he was +thoroughly enjoying being patted on the back by +Gryffindors walking past his chair, not to mention the +occasional outbursts of “Weasley Is Our King,” but +agreed after a while that some fresh air might do him +good. + +They spread their books out in the shade of the beech +tree and sat down while Ron talked them through his + + + +Page | 898Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +first save of the match for what felt like the dozenth +time. + +“Well, I mean, I’d already let in that one of Davies’s, +so I wasn’t feeling that confident, but I dunno, when +Bradley came toward me, just out of nowhere, I +thought — you can do this\ And I had about a second +to decide which way to fly, you know, because he +looked like he was aiming for the right goal hoop — +my right, obviously, his left — but I had a funny +feeling that he was feinting, and so I took the chance +and flew left — his right, I mean — and — well — you +saw what happened,” he concluded modestly, +sweeping his hair back quite unnecessarily so that it +looked interestingly windswept and glancing around +to see whether the people nearest to them — a bunch +of gossiping third-year Hufflepuffs — had heard him. +“And then, when Chambers came at me about five +minutes later — what?” Ron said, stopping mid- +sentence at the look on Harry’s face. “Why are you +grinning?” + +“I’m not,” said Harry quickly, looking down at his +Transfiguration notes and attempting to straighten +his face. The truth was that Ron had just reminded +Harry forcibly of another Gryffindor Quidditch player +who had once sat rumpling his hair under this very +tree. “I’m just glad we won, that’s all.” + +“Yeah,” said Ron slowly, savoring the words, “we won. +Did you see the look on Chang’s face when Ginny got +the Snitch right out from under her nose?” + +“I suppose she cried, did she?” said Harry bitterly. + +“Well, yeah — more out of temper than anything, +though ...” Ron frowned slightly. “But you saw her +chuck her broom away when she got back to the +ground, didn’t you?” + +Page | 899Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Er — ” said Harry. + +“Well, actually ... no, Ron,” said Hermione with a +heavy sigh, putting down her book and looking at him +apologetically. “As a matter of fact, the only bit of the +match Harry and I saw was Davies’s first goal.” + +Ron’s carefully ruffled hair seemed to wilt with +disappointment. + +“You didn’t watch?” he said faintly, looking from one +to the other. “You didn’t see me make any of those +saves?” + +“Well — no,” said Hermione, stretching out a +placatory hand toward him. “But Ron, we didn’t want +to leave — we had to!” + +“Yeah?” said Ron, whose face was growing rather red. +“How come?” + +“It was Hagrid,” said Harry. “He decided to tell us why +he’s been covered in injuries ever since he got back +from the giants. He wanted us to go into the forest +with him, we had no choice, you know how he gets... +Anyway ...” + +The story was told in five minutes, by the end of +which Ron’s indignation had been replaced by a look +of total incredulity. + +“He brought one back and hid it in the forest?” + +“Yep,” said Harry grimly. + +“No,” said Ron, as though by saying this he could +make it untrue. “No, he can’t have...” + + + +Page | 900Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, he has,” said Hermione firmly. “Grawp’s about +sixteen feet tall, enjoys ripping up twenty-foot pine +trees, and knows me,” she snorted, “as Hermy.” + +Ron gave a nervous laugh. + +“And Hagrid wants us to . . . ?” + +“Teach him English, yeah,” said Harry. + +“He’s lost his mind,” said Ron in an almost awed +voice. + +“Yes,” said Hermione irritably, turning a page of +Intermediate Transfiguration and glaring at a series of +diagrams showing an owl turning into a pair of opera +glasses. “Yes, I’m starting to think he has. But +unfortunately, he made Harry and me promise.” + +“Well, you’re just going to have to break your promise, +that’s all,” said Ron firmly. “I mean, come on ... We’ve +got exams and we’re about that far,” he held up his +hand to show thumb and forefinger a millimeter +apart, “from being chucked out as it is. And anyway +... remember Norbert? Remember Aragog? Have we +ever come off better for mixing with any of Hagrid ’s +monster mates?” + +“I know, it’s just that — we promised,” said Hermione +in a small voice. + +Ron smoothed his hair flat again, looking +preoccupied. + +“Well,” he sighed, “Hagrid hasn’t been sacked yet, has +he? He’s hung on this long, maybe he’ll hang on till +the end of term and we won’t have to go near Grawp +at all.” + + + +Page | 901Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as +though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled at +itself in the smoothly sparkling lake, the satin-green +lawns rippled occasionally in a gentle breeze: June +had arrived, but to the fifth years this meant only one +thing: Their O.W.L.s were upon them at last. + +Their teachers were no longer setting them +homework; lessons were devoted to reviewing those +topics their teachers thought most likely to come up +in the exams. The purposeful, feverish atmosphere +drove nearly everything but the O.W.L.s from Harry’s +mind, though he did wonder occasionally during +Potions lessons whether Lupin had ever told Snape +that he must continue giving Harry Occlumency +tuition: If he had, then Snape had ignored Lupin as +thoroughly as he was now ignoring Harry. This suited +Harry very well; he was quite busy and tense enough +without extra classes with Snape, and to his relief +Hermione was much too preoccupied these days to +badger him about Occlumency. She was spending a +lot of time muttering to herself and had not laid out +any elf clothes for days. + +She was not the only person acting oddly as the +O.W.L.s drew steadily nearer. Ernie Macmillan had +developed an irritating habit of interrogating people +about their study habits. + +“How many hours d’you think you’re doing a day?” he +demanded of Harry and Ron as they queued outside +Herbology, a manic gleam in his eyes. + +“I dunno,” said Ron. “A few ...” + +“More or less than eight?” + +“Less, I s’pose,” said Ron, looking slightly alarmed. + + + +Page | 902Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +‘Tm doing eight,” said Ernie, puffing out his chest. +“Eight or nine. I’m getting an hour in before breakfast +every day. Eight’s my average. I can do ten on a good +weekend day. I did nine and a half on Monday. Not so +good on Tuesday — only seven and a quarter. Then +on Wednesday — ■” + +Harry was deeply thankful that Professor Sprout +ushered them into greenhouse three at that point, +forcing Ernie to abandon his recital. + +Meanwhile Draco Malfoy had found a different way to +induce panic. + +“Of course, it’s not what you know,” he was heard to +tell Crabbe and Goyle loudly outside Potions a few +days before the exams were to start, “it’s who you +know. Now, Father’s been friendly with the head of +the Wizarding Examinations Authority for years — old +Griselda Marchbanks — we’ve had her round for +dinner and everything...” + +“Do you think that’s true?” Hermione whispered to +Harry and Ron, looking frightened. + +“Nothing we can do about it if it is,” said Ron +gloomily. + +“I don’t think it’s true,” said Neville quietly from +behind them. “Because Griselda Marchbanks is a +friend of my gran’s, and she’s never mentioned the +Malfoys.” + +“What’s she like, Neville?” asked Hermione at once. + +“Is she strict?” + +“Bit like Gran, really,” said Neville in a subdued voice. + + + +Page | 903Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Knowing her won’t hurt your chances though, will +it?” Ron told him encouragingly. + +“Oh, I don’t think it will make any difference,” said +Neville, still more miserably. “Gran’s always telling +Professor Marchbanks I’m not as good as my dad... +Well ... you saw what she’s like at St. Mungo’s...” + +Neville looked fixedly at the floor. Harry, Ron, and +Hermione glanced at one another, but didn’t know +what to say. It was the first time that Neville had +acknowledged that they had met at the Wizarding +hospital. + +Meanwhile a flourishing black-market trade in aids to +concentration, mental agility, and wakefulness had +sprung up among the fifth and seventh years. Harry +and Ron were much tempted by the bottle of +Baruffio’s Brain Elixir offered to them by Ravenclaw +sixth year Eddie Carmichael, who swore it was solely +responsible for the nine “Outstanding” O.W.L.s he +had gained the previous summer and was offering the +whole pint for a mere twelve Galleons. Ron assured +Harry he would reimburse him for his half the +moment he left Hogwarts and got a job, but before +they could close the deal, Hermione had confiscated +the bottle from Carmichael and poured the contents +down a toilet. + +“Hermione, we wanted to buy that!” shouted Ron. + +“Don’t be stupid,” she snarled. “You might as well +take Harold Dingle’s powdered dragon claw and have +done with it.” + +“Dingle’s got powdered dragon claw?” said Ron +eagerly. + + + +Page | 904Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Not anymore,” said Hermione. “I confiscated that too. +None of these things actually works you know — ” + +“Dragon claw does work!” said Ron. “It’s supposed to +be incredible, really gives your brain a boost, you +come over all cunning for a few hours — Hermione, +let me have a pinch, go on, it can’t hurt — ” + +“This stuff can,” said Hermione grimly. “I’ve had a +look at it, and it’s actually dried doxy droppings.” + +This information took the edge off Harry and Ron’s +desire for brain stimulants. + +They received their examination schedules and details +of the procedure for O.W.L.s during their next +Transfiguration lesson. + +“As you can see,” Professor McGonagall told the class +while they copied down the dates and times of their +exams from the blackboard, “your O.W.L.s are spread +over two successive weeks. You will sit the theory +exams in the mornings and the practice in the +afternoons. Your practical Astronomy examination +will, of course, take place at night. + +“Now, I must warn you that the most stringent Anti- +Cheating Charms have been applied to your +examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills are banned +from the examination hall, as are Remembralls, +Detachable Cribbing Cuffs, and Self- Correcting Ink. +Every year, I am afraid to say, seems to harbor at +least one student who thinks that he or she can get +around the Wizarding Examinations Authority’s rules. +I can only hope that it is nobody in Gryffindor. Our +new — headmistress” — Professor McGonagall +pronounced the word with the same look on her face +that Aunt Petunia had whenever she was +contemplating a particularly stubborn bit of dirt — +Page | 905Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“has asked the Heads of House to tell their students +that cheating will be punished most severely — +because, of course, your examination results will +reflect upon the headmistress’s new regime at the +school...” + +Professor McGonagall gave a tiny sigh. Harry saw the +nostrils of her sharp nose flare. + +“However, that is no reason not to do your very best. +You have your own futures to think about.” + +“Please, Professor,” said Hermione, her hand in the +air, “when will we find out our results?” + +“An owl will be sent to you some time in July,” said +Professor McGonagall. + +“Excellent,” said Dean Thomas in an audible whisper, +“so we don’t have to worry about it till the holidays...” + +Harry imagined sitting in his bedroom in Privet Drive +in six weeks’ time, waiting for his O.W.L. results. + +Well, he thought, at least he would be sure of one bit +of post next summer... + +Their first exam, Theory of Charms, was scheduled for +Monday morning. Harry agreed to test Hermione after +lunch on Sunday but regretted it almost at once. She +was very agitated and kept snatching the book back +from him to check that she had gotten the answer +completely right, finally hitting him hard on the nose +with the sharp edge of Achievements in Charming. + +“Why don’t you just do it yourself?” he said firmly, +handing the book back to her, his eyes watering. + +Meanwhile Ron was reading two years of Charms +notes with his fingers in his ears, his lips moving + +Page | 906Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +soundlessly; Seamus was lying flat on his back on the +floor, reciting the definition of a Substantive Charm, +while Dean checked it against The Standard Book of +Spells, Grade 5; and Parvati and Lavender, who were +practicing basic locomotion charms, were making +their pencil cases race each other around the edge of +the table. + +Dinner was a subdued affair that night. Harry and +Ron did not talk much, but ate with gusto, having +studied hard all day. Hermione on the other hand +kept putting down her knife and fork and diving +under the table for her bag, from which she would +seize a book to check some fact or figure. Ron was +just telling her that she ought to eat a decent meal or +she would not sleep that night, when her fork slid +from her limp fingers and landed with a loud tinkle on +her plate. + +“Oh, my goodness,” she said faintly, staring into the +entrance hall. “Is that them? Is that the examiners?” + +Harry and Ron whipped around on their bench. +Through the doors to the Great Hall they could see +Umbridge standing with a small group of ancient- +looking witches and wizards. Umbridge, Harry was +pleased to see, looked rather nervous. + +“Shall we go and have a closer look?” said Ron. + +Harry and Hermione nodded and they hastened +toward the double doors into the entrance hall, +slowing down as they stepped over the threshold to +walk sedately past the examiners. Harry thought +Professor Marchbanks must be the tiny, stooped +witch with a face so lined it looked as though it had +been draped in cobwebs; Umbridge was speaking to +her very deferentially. Professor Marchbanks seemed + + + +Page | 907Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to be a little deaf; she was answering Umbridge very +loudly considering that they were only a foot apart. + +“Journey was fine, journey was fine, we’ve made it +plenty of times before!” she said impatiently. “Now, I +haven’t heard from Dumbledore lately!” she added, +peering around the hall as though hopeful he might +suddenly emerge from a broom cupboard. “No idea +where he is, I suppose?” + +“None at all,” said Umbridge, shooting a malevolent +look at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were now +dawdling around the foot of the stairs as Ron +pretended to do up his shoelace. “But I daresay the +Ministry of Magic will track him down soon enough...” + +“I doubt it,” shouted tiny Professor Marchbanks, “not +if Dumbledore doesn’t want to be found! I should +know... Examined him personally in Transfiguration +and Charms when he did N.E.W.T.s ... Did things +with a wand I’d never seen before ...” + +“Yes ... well ...” said Professor Umbridge as Harry, +Ron, and Hermione dragged their feet up the marble +staircase as slowly as they dared, “let me show you to +the staffroom ... I daresay you’d like a cup of tea after +your journey...” + +It was an uncomfortable sort of an evening. Everyone +was trying to do some last-minute studying but +nobody seemed to be getting very far. Harry went to +bed early but then lay awake for what felt like hours. +He remembered his careers consultation and +McGonagall’s furious declaration that she would help +him become an Auror if it was the last thing she did... +He wished he had expressed a more achievable +ambition now that exam time was here... He knew +that he was not the only one lying awake, but none of + + + +Page | 908Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the others in the dormitory spoke and finally, one by +one, they fell asleep. + +None of the fifth years talked very much at breakfast +next day either. Parvati was practicing incantations +under her breath while the salt cellar in front of her +twitched, Hermione was rereading Achievement in +Charming so fast that her eyes appeared blurred, and +Neville kept dropping his knife and fork and knocking +over the marmalade. + +Once breakfast was over, the fifth and seventh years +milled around in the entrance hall while the other +students went off to lessons. Then, at half-past nine, +they were called forward class by class to reenter the +Great Hall, which was now arranged exactly as Harry +had seen it in the Pensieve when his father, Sirius, +and Snape had been taking their O.W.L.s. The four +House tables had been removed and replaced instead +with many tables for one, all facing the staff-table end +of the Hall where Professor McGonagall stood facing +them. When they were all seated and quiet she said, +“You may begin,” and turned over an enormous +hourglass on the desk beside her, on which were also +spare quills, ink bottles, and rolls of parchment. + +Harry turned over his paper, his heart thumping +hard... Three rows to his right and four seats ahead, +Hermione was already scribbling. . . He lowered his +eyes to the first question: a) Give the incantation, and +b) describe the wand movement required to make +objects fly... + +Harry had a fleeting memory of a club soaring high +into the air and landing loudly on the thick skull of a +troll... Smiling slightly, he bent over the paper and +began to write... + + + +Page | 909Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, it wasn’t too bad, was it?” asked Hermione +anxiously in the entrance hall two hours later, still +clutching the exam paper. “I’m not sure I did myself +justice on Cheering Charms, I just ran out of time — +did you put in the countercharm for hiccups? I wasn’t +sure whether I ought to, it felt like too much — and +on question twenty-three — ” + +“Hermione,” said Ron sternly, “we’ve been through +this before... We’re not going through every exam +afterward, it’s bad enough doing them once.” + +The fifth years ate lunch with the rest of the school +(the four House tables reappeared over the lunch +hour) and then trooped off into the small chamber +beside the Great Hall, where they were to wait until +called for their practical examination. As small groups +of students were called forward in alphabetical order, +those left behind muttered incantations and practiced +wand movements, occasionally poking one another in +the back or eye by mistake. + +Hermione’s name was called. Trembling, she left the +chamber with Anthony Goldstein, Gregory Goyle, and +Daphne Greengrass. Students who had already been +tested did not return afterward, so Harry and Ron +had no idea how Hermione had done. + +“She’ll be fine — remember she got a hundred and +twelve percent on one of our Charms tests?” said Ron. + +Ten minutes later, Professor Flitwick called, +“Parkinson, Pansy — Patil, Padma — Patil, Parvati — +Potter, Harry.” + +“Good luck,” said Ron quietly. Harry walked into the +Great Hall, clutching his wand so tightly his hand +shook. + + + +Page | 910Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Professor Tofty is free, Potter,” squeaked Professor +Flitwick, who was standing just inside the door. He +pointed Harry toward what looked like the very oldest +and baldest examiner, who was sitting behind a small +table in a far corner, a short distance from Professor +Marchbanks, who was halfway through testing Draco +Malfoy. + +“Potter, is it?” said Professor Tofty, consulting his +notes and peering over his pince-nez at Harry as he +approached. “The famous Potter?” + +Out of the corner of his eye, Harry distinctly saw +Malfoy throw a scathing look over at him; the wine +glass Malfoy had been levitating fell to the floor and +smashed. Harry could not suppress a grin. Professor +Tofty smiled back at him encouragingly. + +“That’s it,” he said in his quavery old voice, “no need +to be nervous... Now, if I could ask you to take this +eggcup and make it do some cartwheels for me...” + +On the whole Harry thought it went rather well; his +Levitation Charm was certainly much better than +Malfoy’s had been, though he wished he had not +mixed up the incantations for Color- Change and +Growth Charms, so that the rat he was supposed to +be turning orange swelled shockingly and was the size +of a badger before Harry could rectify his mistake. He +was glad Hermione had not been in the Hall at the +time and neglected to mention it to her afterward. He +could tell Ron, though; Ron had caused a dinner plate +to mutate into a large mushroom and had no idea +how it had happened. + +There was no time to relax that night — they went +straight to the common room after dinner and +submerged themselves in studying for Transfiguration + + + +Page | 911Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +next day. Harry went to bed, his head buzzing with +complex spell models and theories. + +He forgot the definition of a Switching Spell during his +written exam next morning, but thought his practical +could have been a lot worse. At least he managed to +vanish the whole of his iguana, whereas poor Hannah +Abbott lost her head completely at the next table and +somehow managed to multiply her ferret into a flock +of flamingos, causing the examination to be halted for +ten minutes while the birds were captured and +carried out of the Hall. + +They had their Herbology exam on Wednesday (other +than a small bite from a Fanged Geranium, Harry felt +he had done reasonably well) and then, on Thursday, +Defense Against the Dark Arts. Here, for the first +time, Harry felt sure he had passed. He had no +problem with any of the written questions and took +particular pleasure, during the practical examination, +in performing all the counterjinxes and defensive +spells right in front of Umbridge, who was watching +coolly from near the doors into the entrance hall. + +“Oh bravo!” cried Professor Tofty, who was examining +Harry again, when Harry demonstrated a perfect +boggart banishing spell. “Very good indeed! Well, I +think that’s all, Potter ... unless ...” + +He leaned forward a little. + +“I heard, from my dear friend Tiberius Ogden, that +you can produce a Patronus? For a bonus point ... ?” + +Harry raised his wand, looked directly at Umbridge, +and imagined her being sacked. + +“Expecto Patronum).” + + + +Page | 912Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The silver stag erupted from the end of his wand and +cantered the length of the hall. All of the examiners +looked around to watch its progress and when it +dissolved into silver mist, Professor Tofty clapped his +veined and knotted hands enthusiastically. + +“Excellent!” he said. “Very well, Potter, you may go!” + +As Harry passed Umbridge beside the door their eyes +met. There was a nasty smile playing around her +wide, slack mouth, but he did not care. Unless he was +very much mistaken (and he was not planning on +saying it to anybody, in case he was), he had just +achieved an “Outstanding” O.W.L. + +On Friday, Harry and Ron had a day off while +Hermione sat her Ancient Runes exam, and as they +had the whole weekend in front of them, they +permitted themselves a break from studying. They +stretched and yawned beside the open window, +through which warm summer air wafted over them as +they played a desultory game of wizard chess. Harry +could see Hagrid in the distance, teaching a class on +the edge of the forest. He was trying to guess what +creatures they were examining — he thought it must +be unicorns, because the boys seemed to be standing +back a little — when the portrait hole opened and +Hermione clambered in, looking thoroughly bad +tempered. + +“How were the runes?” said Ron, yawning and +stretching. + +“I mistranslated ‘ehwaz,’ ” said Hermione furiously. “It +means ‘partnership,’ not ‘defense,’ I mixed it up with +‘eihwaz.’ ” + +“Ah well,” said Ron lazily, “that’s only one mistake, +isn’t it, you’ll still get — ” + +Page | 913Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Oh shut up,” said Hermione angrily, “it could be the +one mistake that makes the difference between a pass +and a fail. And what’s more, someone’s put another +niffler in Umbridge’s office, I don’t know how they got +it through that new door, but I just walked past there +and Umbridge is shrieking her head off — by the +sound of it, it tried to take a chunk out of her leg — ” + +“Good,” said Harry and Ron together. + +“It is not good!” said Hermione hotly. “She thinks it’s +Hagrid doing it, remember? And we do not want +Hagrid chucked out!” + +“He’s teaching at the moment, she can’t blame him,” +said Harry, gesturing out of the window. + +“Oh, you’re so naive sometimes, Harry, you really +think Umbridge will wait for proof?” said Hermione, +who seemed determined to be in a towering temper, +and she swept off toward the girls’ dormitories, +banging the door behind her. + +“Such a lovely, sweet-tempered girl,” said Ron, very +quietly, prodding his queen forward so that she could +begin beating up one of Harry’s knights. + +Hermione ’s bad mood persisted for most of the +weekend, though Harry and Ron found it quite easy +to ignore as they spent most of Saturday and Sunday +studying for Potions on Monday, the exam to which +Harry was looking forward least and which he was +sure would be the one that would be the downfall of +his ambitions to become an Auror. Sure enough, he +found the written exam difficult, though he thought +he might have got full marks on the question about +Polyjuice Potion: He could describe its effects +extremely accurately, having taken it illegally in his +second year. + +Page | 914Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The afternoon practical was not as dreadful as he had +expected it to be. With Snape absent from the +proceedings he found that he was much more relaxed +than he usually was while making potions. Neville, +who was sitting very near Harry, also looked happier +than Harry had ever seen him during a Potions class. +When Professor Marchbanks said, “Step away from +your cauldrons, please, the examination is over,” +Harry corked his sample flask feeling that he might +not have achieved a good grade but that he had, with +luck, avoided a fail. + +“Only four exams left,” said Parvati Patil wearily as +they headed back to Gryffindor common room. + +“Only!” said Hermione snappishly. “I’ve got +Arithmancy and it’s probably the toughest subject +there is!” + +Nobody was foolish enough to snap back, so she was +unable to vent her spleen on any of them and was +reduced to telling off some first years for giggling too +loudly in the common room. + +Harry was determined to perform well in Tuesday’s +Care of Magical Creatures exam so as not to let +Hagrid down. The practical examination took place in +the afternoon on the lawn on the edge of the +Forbidden Forest, where students were required to +correctly identify the knarl hidden among a dozen +hedgehogs (the trick was to offer them all milk in +turn: knarls, highly suspicious creatures whose quills +had many magical properties, generally went berserk +at what they saw as an attempt to poison them); then +demonstrate correct handling of a bowtruckle, feed +and clean a fire-crab without sustaining serious +burns, and choose, from a wide selection of food, the +diet they would give a sick unicorn. + + + +Page | 915Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry could see Hagrid watching anxiously out of his +cabin window. When Harry’s examiner, a plump little +witch this time, smiled at him and told him he could +leave, Harry gave Hagrid a fleeting thumbs-up before +heading back up to the castle. + +The Astronomy theory exam on Wednesday morning +went well enough; Harry was not convinced he had +got the names of all of Jupiter’s moons right, but was +at least confident that none of them was inhabited by +mice. They had to wait until evening for their practical +Astronomy; the afternoon was devoted instead to +Divination. + +Even by Harry’s low standards in Divination, the +exam went very badly. He might as well have tried to +see moving pictures in the desktop as in the +stubbornly blank crystal ball; he lost his head +completely during tea-leaf reading, saying it looked to +him as though Professor Marchbanks would shortly +be meeting a round, dark, soggy stranger, and +rounded off the whole fiasco by mixing up the life and +head lines on her palm and informing her that she +ought to have died the previous Tuesday. + +“Well, we were always going to fail that one,” said Ron +gloomily as they ascended the marble staircase. He +had just made Harry feel rather better by telling him +how he told the examiner in detail about the ugly +man with a wart on his nose in his crystal ball, only +to look up and realize he had been describing his +examiner’s reflection. + +“We shouldn’t have taken the stupid subject in the +first place,” said Harry. + +“Still, at least we can give it up now.” + + + +Page | 916Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah,” said Harry. “No more pretending we care what +happens when Jupiter and Uranus get too friendly ...” + +“And from now on, I don’t care if my tea leaves spell +die, Ron, die — I’m just chucking them in the bin +where they belong.” + +Harry laughed just as Hermione came running up +behind them. He stopped laughing at once, in case it +annoyed her. + +“Well, I think I’ve done all right in Arithmancy,” she +said, and Harry and Ron both sighed with relief. “Just +time for a quick look over our star charts before +dinner, then ...” + +When they reached the top of the Astronomy Tower at +eleven o’clock they found a perfect night for +stargazing, cloudless and still. The grounds were +bathed in silvery moonlight, and there was a slight +chill in the air. Each of them set up his or her +telescope and, when Professor Marchbanks gave the +word, proceeded to fill in the blank star chart he or +she had been given. + +Professors Marchbanks and Tofty strolled among +them, watching as they entered the precise positions +of the stars and planets they were observing. All was +quiet except for the rustle of parchment, the +occasional creak of a telescope as it was adjusted on +its stand, and the scribbling of many quills. Half an +hour passed, then an hour; the little squares of +reflected gold light flickering on the ground below +started to vanish as lights in the castle windows were +extinguished. + +As Harry completed the constellation Orion on his +chart, however, the front doors of the castle opened +directly below the parapet where he was standing, so + +Page | 917Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +that light spilled down the stone steps a little way +across the lawn. Harry glanced down as he made a +slight adjustment to the position of his telescope and +saw five or six elongated shadows moving over the +brightly lit grass before the doors swung shut and the +lawn became a sea of darkness once more. + +Harry put his eye back to his telescope and refocused +it, now examining Venus. He looked down at his chart +to enter the planet there, but something distracted +him. Pausing with his quill suspended over the +parchment, he squinted down into the shadowy +grounds and saw half a dozen figures walking over +the lawn. If they had not been moving, and the +moonlight had not been gilding the tops of their +heads, they would have been indistinguishable from +the dark ground on which they stood. Even at this +distance, Harry had a funny feeling that he +recognized the walk of the squattest among them, +who seemed to be leading the group. + +He could not think why Umbridge would be taking a +stroll outside past midnight, much less accompanied +by five others. Then somebody coughed behind him, +and he remembered that he was halfway through an +exam. He had quite forgotten Venus’s position — +jamming his eye to his telescope, he found it again +and was again on the point of entering it on his chart +when, alert for any odd sound, he heard a distant +knock that echoed through the deserted grounds, +followed immediately by the muffled barking of a large +dog. + +He looked up, his heart hammering. There were lights +on in Hagrid’s windows and the people he had +observed crossing the lawn were now silhouetted +against them. The door opened and he distinctly saw +six tiny but sharply defined figures walk over the + + + +Page | 918Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +threshold. The door closed again and there was +silence. + +Harry felt very uneasy. He glanced around to see +whether Ron or Hermione had noticed what he had, +but Professor Marchbanks came walking behind him +at that moment, and not wanting to appear as though +he was sneaking looks at anyone else’s work, he +hastily bent over his star chart and pretended to be +adding notes to it while really peering over the top of +the parapet toward Hagrid’s cabin. Figures were now +moving across the cabin windows, temporarily +blocking the light. + +He could feel Professor Marchbanks’s eyes on the +back of his neck and pressed his eye again to his +telescope, staring up at the moon though he had +marked its position an hour ago, but as Professor +Marchbanks moved on he heard a roar from the +distant cabin that echoed through the darkness right +to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Several of the +people around Harry ducked out from behind their +telescopes and peered instead in the direction of +Hagrid’s cabin. + +Professor Tofty gave another dry little cough. + +“Try and concentrate, now, boys and girls,” he said +softly. + +Most people returned to their telescopes. Harry looked +to his left. Hermione was gazing transfixed at +Hagrid’s. + +“Ahem — twenty minutes to go,” said Professor Tofty. + +Hermione jumped and returned at once to her star +chart; Harry looked down at his own and noticed that + + + +Page | 919Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +he had mislabelled Venus as Mars. He bent to correct +it. + +There was a loud BANG from the grounds. Several +people said “Ouch!” as they poked themselves in the +face with the ends of their telescopes, hastening to +see what was going on below. + +Hagrid’s door had burst open and by the light flooding +out of the cabin they saw him quite clearly, a massive +figure roaring and brandishing his fists, surrounded +by six people, all of whom, judging by the tiny threads +of red light they were casting in his direction, seemed +to be attempting to Stun him. + +“No!” cried Hermione. + +“My dear!” said Professor Tofty in a scandalized voice. +“This is an examination!” + +But nobody was paying the slightest attention to their +star charts anymore: Jets of red light were still flying +beside Hagrid’s cabin, yet somehow they seemed to be +bouncing off him. He was still upright and still, as far +as Harry could see, fighting. Cries and yells echoed +across the grounds; a man yelled, “Be reasonable, +Hagrid!” and Hagrid roared, “Reasonable be damned, +yeh won’ take me like this, Dawlish!” + +Harry could see the tiny outline of Fang, attempting +to defend Hagrid, leaping at the wizards surrounding +him until a Stunning Spell caught him and he fell to +the ground. Hagrid gave a howl of fury, lifted the +culprit bodily from the ground, and threw him: The +man flew what looked like ten feet and did not get up +again. Hermione gasped, both hands over her mouth; +Harry looked around at Ron and saw that he too was +looking scared. None of them had ever seen Hagrid in +a real temper before... + +Page | 920Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Look!” squealed Parvati, who was leaning over the +parapet and pointing to the foot of the castle where +the front doors seemed to have opened again; more +light had spilled out onto the dark lawn and a single +long black shadow was now rippling across the lawn. + +“Now, really!” said Professor Tofty anxiously. “Only +sixteen minutes left, you know!” + +But nobody paid him the slightest attention: They +were watching the person now sprinting toward the +battle beside Hagrid’s cabin. + +“How dare you!” the figure shouted as she ran. “How +dare you!” + +“It’s McGonagall!” whispered Hermione. + +“Leave him alone! Alone, I say!” said Professor +McGonagall’s voice through the darkness. “On what +grounds are you attacking him? He has done nothing, +nothing to warrant such — ” + +Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender all screamed. No +fewer than four Stunners had shot from the figures +around the cabin toward Professor McGonagall. +Halfway between cabin and castle the red beams +collided with her. For a moment she looked luminous, +illuminated by an eerie red glow, then was lifted right +off her feet, landed hard on her back, and moved no +more. + +“Galloping gargoyles!” shouted Professor Tofty, who +seemed to have forgotten the exam completely. “Not +so much as a warning! Outrageous behavior!” + +“COWARDS!” bellowed Hagrid, his voice carrying +clearly to the top of the tower, and several lights + + + +Page | 921Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +flickered back on inside the castle. “RUDDY +COWARDS! HAVE SOME O’ THAT — AN’ THAT — ” + +“Oh my — ” gasped Hermione. + +Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest +attackers; judging by their immediate collapse, they +had been knocked cold. Harry saw him double over +and thought for a moment that he had finally been +overcome by a spell, but on the contrary, next +moment Hagrid was standing again with what +appeared to be a sack on his back — then Harry +realized that Fang’s limp body was draped around his +shoulders. + +“Get him, get him!” screamed Umbridge, but her +remaining helper seemed highly reluctant to go within +reach of Hagrid ’s fists. Indeed, he was backing away +so fast he tripped over one of his unconscious +colleagues and fell over. Hagrid had turned and +begun to run with Fang still hung around his neck; +Umbridge sent one last Stunning Spell after him but +it missed, and Hagrid, running full-pelt toward the +distant gates, disappeared into the darkness. + +There was a long minute’s quivering silence, +everybody gazing openmouthed into the grounds. +Then Professor Tofty’s voice said feebly, “Um ... five +minutes to go, everybody ...” + +Though he had only filled in two-thirds of his chart, +Harry was desperate for the end of the exam. When it +came at last he, Ron, and Hermione forced their +telescopes haphazardly back into their holders and +dashed back down the spiral staircase. None of the +students were going to bed — they were all talking +loudly and excitedly at the foot of the stairs about +what they had witnessed. + + + +Page | 922Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“That evil woman!” gasped Hermione, who seemed to +be having difficulty talking due to rage. “Trying to +sneak up on Hagrid in the dead of night!” + +“She clearly wanted to avoid another scene like +Trelawney’s,” said Ernie Macmillan sagely, squeezing +over to join them. + +“Hagrid did well, didn’t he?” said Ron, who looked +more alarmed than impressed. “How come all the +spells bounced off him?” + +“It’ll be his giant blood,” said Hermione shakily. “It’s +very hard to Stun a giant, they’re like trolls, really +tough... But poor Professor McGonagall... Four +Stunners straight in the chest, and she’s not exactly +young, is she?” + +“Dreadful, dreadful,” said Ernie, shaking his head +pompously. “Well, I’m off to bed... ’Night, all ...” + +People around them were drifting away, still talking +excitedly about what they had just seen. + +“At least they didn’t get to take Hagrid off to +Azkaban,” said Ron. “I ’spect he’s gone to join +Dumbledore, hasn’t he?” + +“I suppose so,” said Hermione, who looked tearful. +“Oh, this is awful, I really thought Dumbledore would +be back before long, but now we’ve lost Hagrid too...” + +They traipsed back to the Gryffindor common room to +find it full. The commotion out in the grounds had +woken several people, who had hastened to rouse +their friends. Seamus and Dean, who had arrived +ahead of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, were now telling +everyone what they had heard from the top of the +Astronomy Tower. + +Page | 923Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But why sack Hagrid now?” asked Angelina Johnson, +shaking her head. “It’s not like Trelawney, he’s been +teaching much better than usual this year!” + +“Umbridge hates part-humans,” said Hermione +bitterly, flopping down into an armchair. “She was +always going to try and get Hagrid out.” + +“And she thought Hagrid was putting nifflers in her +office,” piped up Katie Bell. + +“Oh blimey,” said Lee Jordan, covering his mouth. + +“It’s me’s been putting the nifflers in her office, Fred +and George left me a couple, I’ve been levitating them +in through her window...” + +“She’d have sacked him anyway,” said Dean. “He was +too close to Dumbledore.” + +“That’s true,” said Harry, sinking into an armchair +beside Hermione ’s. + +“I just hope Professor McGonagall’s all right,” said +Lavender tearfully. + +“They carried her back up to the castle, we watched +through the dormitory window,” said Colin Creevey. +“She didn’t look very well...” + +“Madam Pomfrey will sort her out,” said Alicia +Spinnet firmly. “She’s never failed yet.” + +It was nearly four in the morning before the common +room cleared. Harry felt wide awake — the image of +Hagrid sprinting away into the dark was haunting +him. He was so angry with Umbridge he could not +think of a punishment bad enough for her, though +Ron’s suggestion of having her fed to a box of starving +Blast-Ended Skrewts had its merits. He fell asleep +Page | 924Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +contemplating hideous revenges and arose from bed +three hours later feeling distinctly unrested. + + + +Their final exam, History of Magic, was not to take +place until that afternoon. Harry would very much +have liked to go back to bed after breakfast, but he +had been counting on the morning for a spot of last- +minute studying, so instead he sat with his head in +his hands by the common room window, trying hard +not to doze off as he read through some of the notes +stacked three-and-a-half feet high that Hermione had +lent him. + +The fifth years entered the Great Hall at two o’clock +and took their places in front of their overturned +examination papers. Harry felt exhausted. He just +wanted this to be over so that he could go and sleep. +Then tomorrow, he and Ron were going to go down to +the Quidditch pitch — he was going to have a fly on +Ron’s broom and savor their freedom from studying... + +“Turn over your papers,” said Professor Marchbanks +from the front of the Hall, flicking over the giant +hourglass. “You may begin...” + +Harry stared fixedly at the first question. It was +several seconds before it occurred to him that he had +not taken in a word of it; there was a wasp buzzing +distractingly against one of the high windows. Slowly, +tortuously, he began to write an answer. + +He was finding it very difficult to remember names +and kept confusing dates. He simply skipped question +four: In your opinion, did wand legislation contribute +to, or lead to better control of, goblin riots of the +eighteenth century? thinking that he would go back to +it if he had time at the end. He had a stab at question +five: How was the Statute of Secrecy breached in 1 749 +and what measures were introduced to prevent a +Page | 925Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +recurrence? but had a nagging suspicion that he had +missed several important points. He had a feeling +vampires had come into the story somewhere... + +He looked ahead for a question he could definitely +answer and his eyes alighted upon number ten. + +Describe the circumstances that led to the Formation +of the International Confederation of Wizards and +explain why the warlocks of Liechtenstein refused to +join. + +I know this, Harry thought, though his brain felt +torpid and slack. He could visualize a heading, in +Hermione’s handwriting: The Formation of the +International Confederation of Wizards. . . He had read +these notes only this morning... + +He began to write, looking up now and again to check +the large hourglass on the desk beside Professor +Marchbanks. He was sitting right behind Parvati +Patil, whose long dark hair fell below the back of her +chair. Once or twice he found himself staring at the +tiny golden lights that glistened in it when she moved +her head very slightly and had to give his own head a +little shake to clear it. + +... the first Supreme Mugwump of the International +Confederation of Wizards was Pierre Bonaccord, but +his appointment was contested by the Wizarding +community of Liechtenstein, because — + +All around Harry quills were scratching on parchment +like scurrying, burrowing rats. The sun was very hot +on the back of his head. What was it that Bonaccord +had done to offend the wizards of Liechtenstein? + +Harry had a feeling it had something to do with +trolls... He gazed blankly at the back of Parvati ’s head +again. If he could only perform Legilimency and open +Page | 926Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +a window in the back of her head and see what it was +about trolls that had caused the breach between +Pierre Bonaccord and Liechtenstein... + + + +Harry closed his eyes and buried his face in his +hands, so that the glowing red of his eyelids grew +dark and cool. Bonaccord had wanted to stop troll- +hunting and give the trolls rights . . . but Liechtenstein +was having problems with a tribe of particularly +vicious mountain trolls... That was it... + +He opened his eyes; they stung and watered at the +sight of the blazing- white parchment. Slowly he wrote +two lines about the trolls then read through what he +had done so far. It did not seem very informative or +detailed, yet he was sure Hermione’s notes on the +confederation had gone on for pages and pages... + +He closed his eyes again, trying to see them, trying to +remember. . . The confederation had met for the first +time in France, yes, he had written that already... + +Goblins had tried to attend and been ousted... He had +written that too... + +And nobody from Liechtenstein had wanted to come + + + +Think, he told himself, his face in his hands, while all +around him quills scratched out never-ending +answers and the sand trickled through the hourglass +at the front... + +He was walking along the cool, dark corridor to the +Department of Mysteries again, walking with a firm +and purposeful tread, breaking occasionally into a +run, determined to reach his destination at last... The +black door swung open for him as usual, and here he +was in the circular room with its many doors... + +Page | 927Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Straight across the stone floor and through the +second door . . . patches of dancing light on the walls +and floor and that odd mechanical clicking, but no +time to explore, he must hurry... + +He jogged the last few feet to the third door, which +swung open just like the others... + +Once again he was in the cathedral-sized room full of +shelves and glass spheres... His heart was beating +very fast now... He was going to get there this time... +When he reached number ninety-seven he turned left +and hurried along the aisle between two rows... + +But there was a shape on the floor at the very end, a +black shape moving upon the floor like a wounded +animal... Harry’s stomach contracted with fear ... with +excitement... + +A voice issued from his own mouth, a high, cold voice +empty of any human kindness, “Take it for me... Lift it +down, now... I cannot touch it ... but you can...” + +The black shape upon the floor shifted a little. Harry +saw a long-fingered white hand clutching a wand rise +on the end of his own arm . . . heard the high, cold +voice say, “ Cruciol ” + +The man on the floor let out a scream of pain, +attempted to stand but fell back, writhing. Harry was +laughing. He raised his wand, the curse lifted, and +the figure groaned and became motionless. + +“Lord Voldemort is waiting...” + +Very slowly, his arms trembling, the man on the +ground raised his shoulders a few inches and lifted +his head. His face was bloodstained and gaunt, +twisted in pain yet rigid with defiance... + +Page | 928Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’ll have to kill me,” whispered Sirius. + +“Undoubtedly I shall in the end,” said the cold voice. +“But you will fetch it for me first, Black... You think +you have felt pain thus far? Think again... We have +hours ahead of us and nobody to hear you scream...” + +But somebody screamed as Voldemort lowered his +wand again; somebody yelled and fell sideways off a +hot desk onto the cold stone floor. Harry hit the +ground and awoke, still yelling, his scar on fire, as the +Great Hall erupted all around him. + + + +Page | 929Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +OUT OF THE FIRE + +“I’m not going... I don’t need the hospital wing... I +don’t want ...” + +He was gibbering, trying to pull away from Professor +Tofty, who was looking at him with much concern, +and who had just helped Harry out into the entrance +hall while the students all around them stared. + +“I’m — I’m fine, sir,” Harry stammered, wiping the +sweat from his face. “Really ... I just fell asleep... Had +a nightmare ...” + +“Pressure of examinations!” said the old wizard +sympathetically, patting Harry shakily on the +shoulder. “It happens, young man, it happens! Now, a +cooling drink of water, and perhaps you will be ready +to return to the Great Hall? The examination is nearly +over, but you may be able to round off your last +answer nicely?” + +“Yes,” said Harry wildly. “I mean ... no ... I’ve done — +done as much as I can, I think...” + +Page | 930Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Very well, very well,” said the old wizard gently. “I +shall go and collect your examination paper, and I +suggest that you go and have a nice lie down...” + +“I’ll do that,” said Harry, nodding vigorously. “Thanks +very much.” + +He waited for the second when the old man’s heels +disappeared over the threshold into the Great Hall, +then ran up the marble staircase and then more +staircases toward the hospital wing, hurtling along +the corridors so fast that the portraits he passed +muttered reproaches, and burst through the double +doors like a hurricane, causing Madam Pomfrey, who +had been spooning some bright blue liquid into +Montague’s open mouth, to shriek in alarm. + +“Potter, what do you think you’re doing?” + +“I need to see Professor McGonagall,” gasped Harry, +the breath tearing his lungs. “Now ... It’s urgent...” + +“She’s not here, Potter,” said Madam Pomfrey sadly. +“She was transferred to St. Mungo’s this morning. +Four Stunning Spells straight to the chest at her age? +It’s a wonder they didn’t kill her.” + +“She’s ... gone?” said Harry, stunned. + +The bell rang just outside the dormitory, and he +heard the usual distant rumbling of students starting +to flood out into the corridors above and below him. +He remained quite still, looking at Madam Pomfrey. +Terror was rising inside him. + +There was nobody left to tell. Dumbledore had gone, +Hagrid had gone, but he had always expected +Professor McGonagall to be there, irascible and + + + +Page | 931Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +inflexible, perhaps, but always dependably, solidly +present... + +“I don’t wonder you’re shocked, Potter,” said Madam +Pomfrey with a kind of fierce approval in her face. “As +if one of them could have Stunned Minerva +McGonagall face on by daylight! Cowardice, that’s +what it was... Despicable cowardice ... If I wasn’t +worried what would happen to you students without +me, I’d resign in protest...” + +“Yes,” said Harry blankly. + +He strode blindly from the hospital wing into the +teeming corridor where he stood, buffeted by the +crowd, the panic expanding inside him like poison gas +so that his head swam and he could not think what to +do... + +Ron and Hermione, said a voice in his head. + +He was running again, pushing students out of the +way, oblivious to their angry protests and shouts. He +sprinted back down two floors and was at the top of +the marble staircase when he saw them hurrying +toward him. + +“Harry!” said Hermione at once, looking very +frightened. “What happened? Are you all right? Are +you ill?” + +“Where have you been?” demanded Ron. + +“Come with me,” Harry said quickly. “Come on, I’ve +got to tell you something...” + +He led them along the first-floor corridor, peering +through doorways, and at last found an empty +classroom into which he dived, closing the door + +Page | 932Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +behind Ron and Hermione the moment they were +inside and leaning against it, facing them. + +“Voldemort’s got Sirius.” + +“What?” + +“How d’you — ?” + +“Saw it. Just now. When I fell asleep in the exam.” + +“But — but where? How?” said Hermione, whose face +was white. + +“I dunno how,” said Harry. “But I know exactly where. +There’s a room in the Department of Mysteries full of +shelves covered in these little glass balls, and they’re +at the end of row ninety-seven ... He’s trying to use +Sirius to get whatever it is he wants from in there... +He’s torturing him... Says he’ll end by killing him ...” + +Harry found his voice was shaking, as were his knees. +He moved over to a desk and sat down on it, trying to +master himself. + +“How’re we going to get there?” he asked them. + +There was a moment’s silence. Then Ron said, “G-get +there?” + +“Get to the Department of Mysteries, so we can rescue +Sirius!” Harry said loudly. + +“But — Harry ...” said Ron weakly. + +“What? What?” said Harry. + + + +Page | 933Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He could not understand why they were both gaping +at him as though he was asking them something +unreasonable. + +“Harry,” said Hermione in a rather frightened voice, + +“er . . . how . . . how did Voldemort get into the Ministry +of Magic without anybody realizing he was there?” + +“How do I know?” bellowed Harry. “The question is +how we’re going to get in there!” + +“But ... Harry, think about this,” said Hermione, +taking a step toward him, “it’s five o’clock in the +afternoon... The Ministry of Magic must be full of +workers... How would Voldemort and Sirius have got +in without being seen? Harry . . . they’re probably the +two most wanted wizards in the world... You think +they could get into a building full of Aurors +undetected?” + +“I dunno, Voldemort used an Invisibility Cloak or +something!” Harry shouted. “Anyway, the Department +of Mysteries has always been completely empty +whenever I’ve been — ” + +“You’ve never been there, Harry,” said Hermione +quietly. “You’ve dreamed about the place, that’s all.” + +“They’re not normal dreams!” Harry shouted in her +face, standing up and taking a step closer to her in +turn. He wanted to shake her. “How d’you explain +Ron’s dad then, what was all that about, how come I +knew what had happened to him?” + +“He’s got a point,” said Ron quietly, looking at +Hermione. + +“But this is just — just so unlikely\” said Hermione +desperately. “Harry, how on earth could Voldemort + +Page | 934Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +have got hold of Sirius when he’s been in Grimmauld +Place all the time?” + +“Sirius might’ve cracked and just wanted some fresh +air,” said Ron, sounding worried. “He’s been +desperate to get out of that house for ages — ” + +“But why,” Hermione persisted, “why on earth would +Voldemort want to use Sirius to get the weapon, or +whatever the thing is?” + +“I dunno, there could be loads of reasons!” Harry +yelled at her. “Maybe Sirius is just someone +Voldemort doesn’t care about seeing hurt — ” + +“You know what, I’ve just thought of something,” said +Ron in a hushed voice. “Sirius’s brother was a Death +Eater, wasn’t he? Maybe he told Sirius the secret of +how to get the weapon!” + +“Yeah — and that’s why Dumbledore’s been so keen +to keep Sirius locked up all the time!” said Harry. + +“Look, I’m sorry,” cried Hermione, “but neither of you +are making sense, and we’ve got no proof for any of +this, no proof Voldemort and Sirius are even there — ” + +“Hermione, Harry’s seen them!” said Ron, rounding +on her. + +“Okay,” she said, looking frightened yet determined, +“I’ve just got to say this...” + +“What?” + +“You ... This isn’t a criticism, Harry! But you do ... +sort of ... I mean — don’t you think you’ve got a bit of +a — a — saving-people-thing?” she said. + + + +Page | 935Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He glared at her. “And what’s that supposed to mean, +a ‘saving-people-thing’?” + +“Well ... you ...” She looked more apprehensive than +ever. “I mean . . . last year, for instance ... in the lake +... during the Tournament ... you shouldn’t have ... I +mean, you didn’t need to save that little Delacour +girl... You got a bit ... carried away ...” + +A wave of hot, prickly anger swept Harry’s body — +how could she remind him of that blunder now? + +"... I mean, it was really great of you and everything,” +said Hermione quickly, looking positively petrified at +the look on Harry’s face. “Everyone thought it was a +wonderful thing to do — ” + +“That’s funny,” said Harry in a trembling voice, +“because I definitely remember Ron saying I’d wasted +time acting the hero... Is that what you think this is? +You reckon I want to act the hero again?” + +“No, no, no!” said Hermione, looking aghast. “That’s +not what I mean at all!” + +“Well, spit out what you’ve got to say, because we’re +wasting time here!” Harry shouted. + +“I’m trying to say — Voldemort knows you, Harry! He +took Ginny down into the Chamber of Secrets to lure +you there, it’s the kind of thing he does, he knows +you’re the — the sort of person who’d go to Sirius’s +aid! What if he’s just trying to get you into the +Department of Myst — ?” + +“Hermione, it doesn’t matter if he’s done it to get me +there or not — they’ve taken McGonagall to St. +Mungo’s, there isn’t anyone left from the Order at + + + +Page | 936Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hogwarts who we can tell, and if we don’t go, Sirius is +dead!” + + + +“But Harry — what if your dream was — was just +that, a dream?” + +Harry let out a roar of frustration. Hermione actually +stepped back from him, looking alarmed. + +“You don’t get it!” Harry shouted at her. “I’m not +having nightmares, I’m not just dreaming! What d’you +think all the Occlumency was for, why d’you think +Dumbledore wanted me prevented from seeing these +things? Because they’re REAL, Hermione — Sirius is +trapped — I’ve seen him — Voldemort’s got him, and +no one else knows, and that means we’re the only +ones who can save him, and if you don’t want to do it, +fine, but I’m going, understand? And if I remember +rightly, you didn’t have a problem with my saving - +people-thing when it was you I was saving from the +dementors, or” — he rounded on Ron — “when it was +your sister I was saving from the basilisk — ” + +“I never said I had a problem!” said Ron heatedly. + +“But Harry, you’ve just said it,” said Hermione +fiercely. “Dumbledore wanted you to learn to shut +these things out of your mind, if you’d done +Occlumency properly you’d never have seen this — ” + +“IF YOU THINK I’M JUST GOING TO ACT LIKE I +HAVEN T SEEN — ” + +“Sirius told you there was nothing more important +than you learning to close your mind!” + +“WELL, I EXPECT HE’D SAY SOMETHING +DIFFERENT IF HE KNEW WHAT I’D JUST — ” + +Page | 937Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The classroom door opened. Harry, Ron, and +Hermione whipped around. Ginny walked in, looking +curious, followed by Luna, who as usual looked as +though she had drifted in accidentally. + +“Hi,” said Ginny uncertainly. “We recognized Harry’s +voice — what are you yelling about?” + +“Never you mind,” said Harry roughly. + +Ginny raised her eyebrows. + +“There’s no need to take that tone with me,” she said +coolly. “I was only wondering whether I could help.” + +“Well, you can’t,” said Harry shortly. + +“You’re being rather rude, you know,” said Luna +serenely. + +Harry swore and turned away. The very last thing he +wanted now was a conversation with Luna Lovegood. + +“Wait,” said Hermione suddenly. “Wait ... Harry, they +can help.” + +Harry and Ron looked at her. + +“Listen,” she said urgently, “Harry, we need to +establish whether Sirius really has left headquarters + + + +“I’ve told you, I saw — ” + +“Harry, I’m begging you, please!” said Hermione +desperately. “Please let’s just check that Sirius isn’t at +home before we go charging off to London — if we find +out he’s not there then I swear I won’t try and stop + + + +Page | 938Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +you, I’ll come, I’ll d-do whatever it takes to try and +save him — ” + +“Sirius is being tortured NOW!” shouted Harry. “We +haven’t got time to waste — ” + +“But if this is a trick of V-Voldemort’s — Harry, we’ve +got to check, we’ve got to — ” + +“How?��� Harry demanded. “How’re we going to check?” + +“We’ll have to use Umbridge’s fire and see if we can +contact him,” said Hermione, who looked positively +terrified at the thought. “Well draw Umbridge away +again, but we’ll need lookouts, and that’s where we +can use Ginny and Luna.” + +Though clearly struggling to understand what was +going on, Ginny said immediately, “Yeah, well do it,” +and Luna said, “When you say ‘Sirius,’ are you +talking about Stubby Boardman?” + +Nobody answered her. + +“Okay,” Harry said aggressively to Hermione, “Okay, if +you can think of a way of doing this quickly, I’m with +you, otherwise I’m going to the Department of +Mysteries right now — ” + +“The Department of Mysteries?” said Luna, looking +mildly surprised. “But how are you going to get +there?” + +Again, Harry ignored her. + +“Right,” said Hermione, twisting her hands together +and pacing up and down between the desks. “Right ... +well ... One of us has to go and find Umbridge and — +and send her off in the wrong direction, keep her + +Page | 939Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +away from her office. They could tell her — I don’t +know — that Peeves is up to something awful as +usual...” + + + +“I’ll do it,” said Ron at once. “I’ll tell her Peeves is +smashing up the Transfiguration department or +something, it’s miles away from her office. Come to +think of it, I could probably persuade Peeves to do it if +I met him on the way...” + +It was a mark of the seriousness of the situation that +Hermione made no objection to the smashing up of +the Transfiguration department. + +“Okay,” she said, her brow furrowed as she continued +to pace. “Now, we need to keep students away from +her office while we force entry, or some Slytherin’s +bound to go and tip her off...” + +“Luna and I can stand at either end of the corridor,” +said Ginny promptly, “and warn people not to go +down there because someone’s let off a load of +Garroting Gas.” Hermione looked surprised at the +readiness with which Ginny had come up with this +lie. Ginny shrugged and said, “Fred and George were +planning to do it before they left.” + +“Okay,” said Hermione, “well then, Harry, you and I +will be under the Invisibility Cloak, and we’ll sneak +into the office and you can talk to Sirius — ” + +“He’s not there, Hermione!” + +“I mean, you can — can check whether Sirius is at +home or not while I keep watch, I don’t think you +should be in there alone, Lee’s already proved the +window’s a weak spot, sending those nifflers through +it.” + +Page | 940Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Even through his anger and impatience Harry +recognized Hermione ’s offer to accompany him into +Umbridge’s office as a sign of solidarity and loyalty. + +“I ... okay, thanks,” he muttered. + +“Right, well, even if we do all of that, I don’t think +we’re going to be able to bank on more than five +minutes,” said Hermione, looking relieved that Harry +seemed to have accepted the plan, “not with Filch and +the wretched Inquisitorial Squad floating around.” + +“Five minutes’ll be enough,” said Harry. “C’mon, let’s +go + + + +“Now?” said Hermione, looking shocked. + +“Of course now!” said Harry angrily. “What did you +think, we’re going to wait until after dinner or +something? Hermione, Sirius is being tortured right +now\” + +“I — oh all right,” she said desperately. “You go and +get the Invisibility Cloak and we’ll meet you at the end +of Umbridge’s corridor, okay?” + +Harry did not answer, but flung himself out of the +room and began to fight his way through the milling +crowds outside. Two floors up he met Seamus and +Dean, who hailed him jovially and told him they were +planning a dusk-till-dawn end-of-exams celebration +in the common room. Harry barely heard them. He +scrambled through the portrait hole while they were +still arguing about how many black-market +butterbeers they would need and was climbing back +out of it, the Invisibility Cloak and Sirius’s knife +secure in his bag, before they noticed he had left +them. + + + +Page | 941Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Harry, d’you want to chip in a couple of Galleons? +Harold Dingle reckons he could sell us some +firewhisky...” + +But Harry was already tearing away back along the +corridor, and a couple of minutes later was jumping +the last few stairs to join Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and +Luna, who were huddled together at the end of +Umbridge’s corridor. + +“Got it,” he panted. “Ready to go, then?” + +“All right,” whispered Hermione as a gang of loud +sixth years passed them. “So Ron — you go and head +Umbridge off... Ginny, Luna, if you can start moving +people out of the corridor. . . Harry and I will get the +cloak on and wait until the coast is clear...” + +Ron strode away, his bright red hair visible right to +the end of the passage. Meanwhile, Ginny’s equally +vivid head bobbed between the jostling students +surrounding them in the other direction, trailed by +Luna’s blonde one. + +“Get over here,” muttered Hermione, tugging at +Harry’s wrist and pulling him back into a recess +where the ugly stone head of a medieval wizard stood +muttering to itself on a column. “Are — are you sure +you’re okay, Harry? You’re still very pale...” + +“I’m fine,” he said shortly, tugging the Invisibility +Cloak from out of his bag. In truth, his scar was +aching, but not so badly that he thought Voldemort +had yet dealt Sirius a fatal blow. It had hurt much +worse than this when Voldemort had been punishing +Avery. . . + + + +Page | 942Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Here,” he said. He threw the Invisibility Cloak over +both of them and they stood listening carefully over +the Latin mumblings of the bust in front of them. + +“You can’t come down here!” Ginny was calling to the +crowd. “No, sorry, you’re going to have to go round by +the swiveling staircase, someone’s let off Garroting +Gas just along here — ” + +They could hear people complaining; one surly voice +said, “I can’t see no gas ...” + +“That’s because it’s colorless,” said Ginny in a +convincingly exasperated voice, “but if you want to +walk through it, carry on, then we’ll have your body +as proof for the next idiot who didn’t believe us...” + +Slowly the crowd thinned. The news about the +Garroting Gas seemed to have spread — people were +not coming this way anymore. When at last the +surrounding area was quite clear, Hermione said +quietly, “I think that’s as good as we’re going to get, +Harry — come on, let’s do it.” + +Together they moved forward, covered by the cloak. +Luna was standing with her back to them at the far +end of the corridor. As they passed Ginny, Hermione +whispered, “Good one ... don’t forget the signal ...” + +“What’s the signal?” muttered Harry, as they +approached Umbridge’s door. + +“A loud chorus of Weasley Is Our King’ if they see +Umbridge coming,” replied Hermione, as Harry +inserted the blade of Sirius’s knife in the crack +between door and wall. The lock clicked open, and +they entered the office. + + + +Page | 943Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The garish kittens were basking in the late afternoon +sunshine warming their plates, but otherwise the +office was as still and empty as last time. Hermione +breathed a sigh of relief. + +“I thought she might have added extra security after +the second niffler...” + +They pulled off the cloak. Hermione hurried over to +the window and stood out of sight, peering down into +the grounds with her wand out. Harry dashed over to +the fireplace, seized the pot of Floo powder, and threw +a pinch into the grate, causing emerald flames to +burst into life there. He knelt down quickly, thrust his +head into the dancing fire, and cried, “Number twelve, +Grimmauld Place!” + +His head began to spin as though he had just got off a +fairground ride though his knees remained firmly +planted upon the cold office floor. He kept his eyes +screwed up against the whirling ash, and when the +spinning stopped, he opened them to find himself +looking out upon the long, cold kitchen of Grimmauld +Place. + +There was nobody there. He had expected this, yet +was not prepared for the molten wave of dread and +panic that seemed to burst through his stomach floor +at the sight of the deserted room. + +“Sirius?” he shouted. “Sirius, are you there?” + +His voice echoed around the room, but there was no +answer except a tiny scuffing sound to the right of the +fire. + +“Who’s there?” he called, wondering whether it was +just a mouse. + + + +Page | 944Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Kreacher the house-elf came creeping into view. He +looked highly delighted about something, though he +seemed to have recently sustained a nasty injury to +both hands, which were heavily bandaged. + +“It’s the Potter boy’s head in the fire,” Kreacher +informed the empty kitchen, stealing furtive, oddly +triumphant glances at Harry. “What has he come for, +Kreacher wonders?” + +“Where’s Sirius, Kreacher?” Harry demanded. + +The house-elf gave a wheezy chuckle. “Master has +gone out, Harry Potter.” + +“Where’s he gone? Where’s he gone, Kreacher?” +Kreacher merely cackled. + +“I’m warning you!” said Harry, fully aware that his +scope for inflicting punishment upon Kreacher was +almost nonexistent in this position. “What about +Lupin? Mad-Eye? Any of them, are any of them here?” + +“Nobody here but Kreacher!” said the elf gleefully, and +turning away from Harry he began to walk slowly +toward the door at the end of the kitchen. “Kreacher +thinks he will have a little chat with his Mistress now, +yes, he hasn’t had a chance in a long time, Kreacher’s +Master has been keeping him away from her — ” + +“Where has Sirius gone?” Harry yelled after the elf. +“Kreacher, has he gone to the Department of +Mysteries?” + +Kreacher stopped in his tracks. Harry could just +make out the back of his bald head through the forest +of chair legs before him. + + + +Page | 945Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Master does not tell poor Kreacher where he is +going,” said the elf quietly. + +“But you know!” shouted Harry. “Don’t you? You +know where he is!” + +There was a moment’s silence, then the elf let out his +loudest cackle yet. “Master will not come back from +the Department of Mysteries!” he said gleefully. +“Kreacher and his Mistress are alone again!” + +And he scurried forward and disappeared through the +door to the hall. + +“You — !” + + + +But before he could utter a single curse or insult, +Harry felt a great pain at the top of his head. He +inhaled a lot of ash and, choking, found himself being +dragged backward through the flames until, with a +horrible abruptness, he was staring up into the wide, +pallid face of Professor Umbridge, who had dragged +him backward out of the fire by the hair and was now +bending his neck back as far as it would go as though +she was going to slit his throat. + +“You think,” she whispered, bending Harry’s neck +back even farther, so that he was looking up at the +ceiling above him, “that after two nifflers I was going +to let one more foul, scavenging little creature enter +my office without my knowledge? I had Stealth +Sensoring Spells placed all around my doorway after +the last one got in, you foolish boy. Take his wand,” +she barked at someone he could not see, and he felt a +hand grope inside the chest pocket of his robes and +remove the wand. “Hers too ...” + + + +Page | 946Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry heard a scuffle over by the door and knew that +Hermione had just had her wand wrested from her as +well. + +“I want to know why you are in my office,” said +Umbridge, shaking the fist clutching his hair so that +he staggered. + +“I was — trying to get my Firebolt!” Harry croaked. + +“Liar.” She shook his head again. “Your Firebolt is +under strict guard in the dungeons, as you very well +know, Potter. You had your head in my fire. With +whom have you been communicating?” + +“No one — ” said Harry, trying to pull away from her. +He felt several hairs part company with his scalp. + +“LiaA” shouted Umbridge. She threw him from her, +and he slammed into the desk. Now he could see +Hermione pinioned against the wall by Millicent +Bulstrode. Malfoy was leaning on the windowsill, +smirking as he threw Harry’s wand into the air one- +handed and then caught it again. + +There was a commotion outside and several large +Slytherins entered, each gripping Ron, Ginny, Luna, +and — to Harry’s bewilderment — Neville, who was +trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in +imminent danger of suffocation. All four of them had +been gagged. + +“Got ’em all,” said Warrington, shoving Ron roughly +forward into the room. “ That one.” he poked a thick +finger at Neville, “tried to stop me taking her,” he +pointed at Ginny, who was trying to kick the shins of +the large Slytherin girl holding her, “so I brought him +along too.” + + + +Page | 947Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Good, good,” said Umbridge, watching Ginny’s +struggles. “Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will +shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn’t it?” + +Malfoy laughed loudly and sycophantically. Umbridge +gave her wide, complacent smile and settled herself +into a chintz-covered armchair, blinking up at her +captives like a toad in a flowerbed. + +“So, Potter,” she said. “You stationed lookouts around +my office and you sent this buffoon,” she nodded at +Ron, and Malfoy laughed even louder, “to tell me the +poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration +department when I knew perfectly well that he was +busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school +telescopes, Mr. Filch having just informed me so. + +“Clearly, it was very important for you to talk to +somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half- +breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I +hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone...” + +Malfoy and a few of the other members of the +Inquisitorial Squad laughed some more at that. Harry +found he was so full of rage and hatred he was +shaking. + +“It’s none of your business who I talk to,” he snarled. + +Umbridge’s slack face seemed to tighten. + +“Very well,” she said in her most dangerous and +falsely sweet voice. “Very well, Mr. Potter ... I offered +you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have +no alternative but to force you. Draco — fetch +Professor Snape.” + +Malfoy stowed Harry’s wand inside his robes and left +the room smirking, but Harry hardly noticed. He had + +Page | 948Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +just realized something; he could not believe he had +been so stupid as to forget it. He had thought that all +the members of the Order, all those who could help +him save Sirius, were gone — but he had been wrong. +There was still a member of the Order of the Phoenix +at Hogwarts — Snape. + +There was silence in the office except for the +fidgetings and scufflings resultant from the +Slytherins’ efforts to keep Ron and the others under +control. Ron’s lip was bleeding onto Umbridge’s carpet +as he struggled against Warrington’s half nelson. +Ginny was still trying to stamp on the feet of the +sixth-year girl who had both her upper arms in a tight +grip. Neville was turning steadily more purple in the +face while tugging at Crabbe’s arms, and Hermione +was attempting vainly to throw Millicent Bulstrode off +her. Luna, however, stood limply by the side of her +captor, gazing vaguely out of the window as though +rather bored by the proceedings. + +Harry looked back at Umbridge, who was watching +him closely. He kept his face deliberately smooth and +blank as footsteps were heard in the corridor outside +and Draco Malfoy came back into the room, holding +open the door for Snape. + +“You wanted to see me, Headmistress?” said Snape, +looking around at all the pairs of struggling students +with an expression of complete indifference. + +“Ah, Professor Snape,” said Umbridge, smiling widely +and standing up again. “Yes, I would like another +bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please.” + +“You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter,” he +said, observing her coolly through his greasy curtains +of black hair. “Surely you did not use it all? I told you +that three drops would be sufficient.” + +Page | 949Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Umbridge flushed. + +“You can make some more, can’t you?” she said, her +voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did +when she was furious. + +“Certainly,” said Snape, his lip curling. “It takes a full +moon cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for +you in around a month.” + +“A month?” squawked Umbridge, swelling toadishly. + +“A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have +just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a +person or persons unknown!” + +“Really?” said Snape, showing his first, faint sign of +interest as he looked around at Harry. “Well, it +doesn’t surprise me. Potter has never shown much +inclination to follow school rules.” + +His cold, dark eyes were boring into Harry’s, who met +his gaze unflinchingly, concentrating hard on what he +had seen in his dream, willing Snape to read it in his +mind, to understand . . . + +“I wish to interrogate him!” shouted Umbridge angrily, +and Snape looked away from Harry back into her +furiously quivering face. “I wish you to provide me +with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!” + +“I have already told you,” said Snape smoothly, “that I +have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you +wish to poison Potter — and I assure you I would +have the greatest sympathy with you if you did — I +cannot help you. The only trouble is that most +venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for +truth-telling...” + + + +Page | 950Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Snape looked back at Harry, who stared at him, +frantic to communicate without words. + +Voldemort’s got Sirius in the Department of Mysteries, +he thought desperately. Voldemort’s got Sirius — + +“You are on probation!” shrieked Professor Umbridge, +and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly +raised. “You are being deliberately unhelpful! I +expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most +highly of you! Now get out of my office!” + +Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave. +Harry knew his last chance of letting the Order know +what was going on was walking out of the door. + +“He’s got Padfoot!” he shouted. “He’s got Padfoot at +the place where it’s hidden!” + +Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridge’s door +handle. + +“Padfoot?” cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly +from Harry to Snape. “What is Padfoot? Where what is +hidden? What does he mean, Snape?” + +Snape looked around at Harry. His face was +inscrutable. Harry could not tell whether he had +understood or not, but he did not dare speak more +plainly in front of Umbridge. + +“I have no idea,” said Snape coldly. “Potter, when I +want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a +Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a +little, if Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of +tedious paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to +mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a +job.” + + + +Page | 951Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He closed the door behind him with a snap, leaving +Harry in a state of worse turmoil than before: Snape +had been his very last hope. He looked at Umbridge, +who seemed to be feeling the same way; her chest was +heaving with rage and frustration. + +“Very well,” she said, and she pulled out her wand. +“Very well ... I am left with no alternative... This is +more than a matter of school discipline... This is an +issue of Ministry security... Yes ... yes ...” + +She seemed to be talking herself into something. She +was shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, +staring at Harry, beating her wand against her empty +palm and breathing heavily. Harry felt horribly +powerless without his own wand as he watched her. + +“You are forcing me, Potter... I do not want to,” said +Umbridge, still moving restlessly on the spot, “but +sometimes circumstances justify the use ... I am sure +the Minister will understand that I had no choice...” + +Malfoy was watching her with a hungry expression on +his face. + +“The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue,” +said Umbridge quietly. + +“No!” shrieked Hermione. “Professor Umbridge — it’s +illegal” — but Umbridge took no notice. There was a +nasty, eager, excited look on her face that Harry had +never seen before. She raised her wand. + +“The Minister wouldn’t want you to break the law, +Professor Umbridge!” cried Hermione. + +“What Cornelius doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” said +Umbridge, who was now panting slightly as she +pointed her wand at different parts of Harry’s body in + +Page | 952Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +turn, apparently trying to decide what would hurt the +most. “He never knew I ordered dementors after +Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given +the chance to expel him, all the same...” + +“It was you?” gasped Harry. “ You sent the dementors +after me?” + +“ Somebody had to act,” breathed Umbridge, as her +wand came to rest pointing directly at Harry’s +forehead. “They were all bleating about silencing you +somehow — discrediting you — but I was the one who +actually did something about it... Only you wriggled +out of that one, didn’t you, Potter? Not today, though, +not now ...” + +And taking a deep breath, she cried, “Cruc — ” + +“NO!” shouted Hermione in a cracked voice from +behind Millicent Bulstrode. “No — Harry — Harry, +well have to tell her!” + +“No way!” yelled Harry, staring at the little of +Hermione he could see. + +“We’ll have to, Harry, shell force it out of you anyway, +what’s ... what’s the point... ?” + +And Hermione began to cry weakly into the back of +Millicent Bulstrode ’s robes. Millicent stopped trying to +squash her against the wall immediately and dodged +out of her way looking disgusted. + +“Well, well, well!” said Umbridge, looking triumphant. +“Little Miss Question-All is going to give us some +answers! Come on then, girl, come on!” + +“Er — my — nee — no!” shouted Ron through his gag. + + + +Page | 953Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ginny was staring at Hermione as though she had +never seen her before; Neville, still choking for breath, +was gazing at her too. But Harry had just noticed +something. Though Hermione was sobbing +desperately into her hands, there was no trace of a +tear... + +“I’m — I’m sorry everyone,” said Hermione. “But — I +can’t stand it — ■” + +“That’s right, that’s right, girl!” said Umbridge, seizing +Hermione by the shoulders, thrusting her into the +abandoned chintz chair and leaning over her. “Now +then ... with whom was Potter communicating just +now?” + +“Well,” gulped Hermione into her hands, “well, he was +trying to speak to Professor Dumbledore...” + +Ron froze, his eyes wide; Ginny stopped trying to +stamp on her Slytherin captor’s toes; even Luna +looked mildly surprised. Fortunately, the attention of +Umbridge and her minions was focused too +exclusively upon Hermione to notice these suspicious +signs. + +“Dumbledore?” said Umbridge eagerly. “You know +where Dumbledore is, then?” + +“Well ... no!” sobbed Hermione. “We’ve tried the Leaky +Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks +and even the Hog’s Head — ” + +“Idiot girl, Dumbledore won’t be sitting in a pub when +the whole Ministry’s looking for him!” shouted +Umbridge, disappointment etched in every sagging +line of her face. + + + +Page | 954Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But — but we needed to tell him something +important!” wailed Hermione, holding her hands more +tightly over her face, not, Harry knew, out of anguish, +but to disguise the continued absence of tears. + +“Yes?” said Umbridge with a sudden resurgence of +excitement. “What was it you wanted to tell him?” + +“We ... we wanted to tell him it’s r-ready!” choked +Hermione. + +“What’s ready?” demanded Umbridge, and now she +grabbed Hermione ’s shoulders again and shook her +slightly. “What’s ready, girl?” + +“The ... the weapon,” said Hermione. + +“Weapon? Weapon?” said Umbridge, and her eyes +seemed to pop with excitement. “You have been +developing some method of resistance? A weapon you +could use against the Ministry? On Professor +Dumbledore’s orders, of course?” + +“Y-y-yes,” gasped Hermione. “But he had to leave +before it was finished and n-n-now we’ve finished it +for him, and we c-c-can’t find him t-t-to tell him!” + +“What kind of weapon is it?” said Umbridge harshly, +her stubby hands still tight on Hermione ’s shoulders. + +“We don’t r-r-really understand it,” said Hermione, +sniffing loudly. “We j-j-just did what P-P-Professor +Dumbledore told us t-t-to do ...” + +Umbridge straightened up, looking exultant. + +“Lead me to the weapon,” she said. + + + +Page | 955Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +‘Tm not showing ... them,” said Hermione shrilly, +looking around at the Slytherins through her fingers. + +“It is not for you to set conditions,” said Professor +Umbridge harshly. + +“Fine,” said Hermione, now sobbing into her hands +again, “fine ... let them see it, I hope they use it on +you! In fact, I wish you’d invite loads and loads of +people to come and see! Th-that would serve you right +— oh, I’d love it if the wh-whole school knew where it +was, and how to u-use it, and then if you annoy any +of them they’ll be able to s-sort you out!” + +These words had a powerful impact on Umbridge. She +glanced swiftly and suspiciously around at her +Inquisitorial Squad, her bulging eyes resting for a +moment on Malfoy, who was too slow to disguise the +look of eagerness and greed that had appeared on his +face. + +Umbridge contemplated Hermione for another long +moment and then spoke in what she clearly thought +was a motherly voice. “All right, dear, let’s make it +just you and me ... and we’ll take Potter too, shall we? +Get up, now — ” + +“Professor,” said Malfoy eagerly, “Professor Umbridge, + +I think some of the squad should come with you to +look after — ” + +“I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you +really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers +alone?” asked Umbridge sharply. “In any case, it does +not sound as though this weapon is something that +schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until +I return and make sure none of these” — she gestured +around at Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna — “escape.” + + + +Page | 956Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“All right,” said Malfoy, looking sulky and +disappointed. + +“And you two can go ahead of me and show me the +way,” said Umbridge, pointing at Harry and Hermione +with her wand. “Lead on...” + + + +Page | 957Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +FIGHT AND FLIGHT + +Harry had no idea what Hermione was planning, or +even whether she had a plan. He walked half a pace +behind her as they headed down the corridor outside +Umb ridge’s office, knowing it would look very +suspicious if he appeared not to know where they +were going. He did not dare attempt to talk to her; +Umbridge was walking so closely behind them that he +could hear her ragged breathing. + +Hermione led the way down the stairs into the +entrance hall. The din of loud voices and the clatter of +cutlery on plates echoed from out of the double doors +to the Great Hall. It seemed incredible to Harry that +twenty feet away were people who were enjoying +dinner, celebrating the end of exams, not a care in the +world... + +Hermione walked straight out of the oak front doors +and down the stone steps into the balmy evening air. +The sun was falling toward the tops of the trees in the +Forbidden Forest now as Hermione marched +purposefully across the grass, Umbridge jogging to +Page | 958Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +keep up. Their long dark shadows rippled over the +grass behind them like cloaks. + + + +“It’s hidden in Hagrid’s hut, is it?” said Umbridge +eagerly in Harry’s ear. + +“Of course not,” said Hermione scathingly. “Hagrid +might have set it off accidentally.” + +“Yes,” said Umbridge, whose excitement seemed to be +mounting. “Yes, he would have done, of course, the +great half-breed oaf...” + +She laughed. Harry felt a strong urge to swing around +and seize her by the throat, but resisted. His scar was +throbbing in the soft evening air but it had not yet +burned white-hot, as he knew it would if Voldemort +had moved in for the kill... + +“Then ... where is it?” asked Umbridge, with a hint of +uncertainty in her voice as Hermione continued to +stride toward the forest. + +“In there, of course,” said Hermione, pointing into the +dark trees. “It had to be somewhere that students +weren’t going to find it accidentally, didn’t it?” + +“Of course,” said Umbridge, though she sounded a +little apprehensive now. “Of course ... very well, then +... you two stay ahead of me.” + +“Can we have your wand, then, if we’re going first?” +Harry asked her. + +“No, I don’t think so, Mr. Potter,” said Umbridge +sweetly, poking him in the back with it. “The Ministry +places a rather higher value on my life than yours, I’m +afraid.” + +Page | 959Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +As they reached the cool shade of the first trees, + +Harry tried to catch Hermione ’s eye; walking into the +forest without wands seemed to him to be more +foolhardy than anything they had done so far this +evening. She, however, merely gave Umbridge a +contemptuous glance and plunged straight into the +trees, moving at such a pace that Umbridge, with her +shorter legs, had difficulty in keeping up. + +“Is it very far in?” Umbridge asked, as her robe ripped +on a bramble. + +“Oh yes,” said Hermione. “Yes, it’s well hidden.” + +Harry’s misgivings increased. Hermione was not +taking the path they had followed to visit Grawp, but +the one he had followed three years ago to the lair of +the monster Aragog. Hermione had not been with him +on that occasion; he doubted she had any idea what +danger lay at the end of it. + +“Er — are you sure this is the right way?” he asked +her pointedly. + +“Oh yes,” she said in a steely voice, crashing through +the undergrowth with what he thought was a wholly +unnecessary amount of noise. Behind them, + +Umbridge tripped over a fallen sapling. Neither of +them paused to help her up again; Hermione merely +strode on, calling loudly over her shoulder, “It’s a bit +further in!” + +“Hermione, keep your voice down,” Harry muttered, +hurrying to catch up with her. “Anything could be +listening in here — ” + +“I want us heard,” she answered quietly, as Umbridge +jogged noisily after them. “You’ll see...” + + + +Page | 960Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +They walked on for what seemed a long time, until +they were once again so deep into the forest that the +dense tree canopy blocked out all light. Harry had the +feeling he had had before in the forest, one of being +watched by unseen eyes... + +“How much further?” demanded Umbridge angrily +from behind him. + +“Not far now!” shouted Hermione, as they emerged +into a dim, dank clearing. “Just a little bit — ” + +An arrow flew through the air and landed with a +menacing thud in the tree just over her head. The air +was suddenly full of the sound of hooves. Harry could +feel the forest floor trembling; Umbridge gave a little +scream and pushed him in front of her like a shield — + +He wrenched himself free of her and turned. Around +fifty centaurs were emerging on every side, their bows +raised and loaded, pointing at Harry, Hermione, and +Umbridge, who backed slowly into the center of the +clearing, Umbridge uttering odd little whimpers of +terror. Harry looked sideways at Hermione. She was +wearing a triumphant smile. + +“Who are you?” said a voice. + +Harry looked left. The chestnut-bodied centaur called +Magorian was walking toward them out of the circle; +his bow, like the others’, was raised. On Harry’s right, +Umbridge was still whimpering, her wand trembling +violently as she pointed it at the advancing centaur. + +“I asked you who are you, human,” said Magorian +roughly. + +“I am Dolores Umbridge!” said Umbridge in a high- +pitched, terrified voice. “Senior Undersecretary to the + +Page | 961Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Minister of Magic and Headmistress and High +Inquisitor of Hogwarts!” + + + +“You are from the Ministry of Magic?” said Magorian, +as many of the centaurs in the surrounding circle +shifted restlessly. + +“That’s right!” said Umbridge in an even higher voice. +“So be very careful! By the laws laid down by the +Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical +Creatures, any attack by half-breeds such as +yourselves on a human — ” + +“ What did you call us?” shouted a wild-looking black +centaur, whom Harry recognized as Bane. There was +a great deal of angry muttering and tightening of +bowstrings around them. + +“Don’t call them that!” Hermione said furiously, but +Umbridge did not appear to have heard her. Still +pointing her shaking wand at Magorian, she +continued, “Law Fifteen B states clearly that ‘Any +attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have +near-human intelligence, and therefore considered +responsible for its actions — ’ ” + +“ ‘Near-human intelligence’?” repeated Magorian, as +Bane and several others roared with rage and pawed +the ground. “We consider that a great insult, human! +Our intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips your own — + + + +“What are you doing in our forest?” bellowed the +hard-faced gray centaur whom Harry and Hermione +had seen on their last trip into the forest. “Why are +you here?” + +“Your forest?” said Umbridge, shaking now not only +with fright but also, it seemed, with indignation. “I + +Page | 962Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +would remind you that you live here only because the +Ministry of Magic permits you certain areas of land — + + + +An arrow flew so close to her head that it caught at +her mousy hair in passing. She let out an earsplitting +scream and threw her hands over her head while +some of the centaurs bellowed their approval and +others laughed raucously. The sound of their wild, +neighing laughter echoing around the dimly lit +clearing and the sight of their pawing hooves was +extremely unnerving. + +“Whose forest is it now, human?” bellowed Bane. + +“Filthy half-breeds!” she screamed, her hands still +tight over her head. “Beasts! Uncontrolled animals!” + +“Be quiet!” shouted Hermione, but it was too late — +Umbridge pointed her wand at Magorian and +screamed, “ Incarcerousl” + +Ropes flew out of midair like thick snakes, wrapping +themselves tightly around the centaur’s torso and +trapping his arms. He gave a cry of rage and reared +onto his hind legs, attempting to free himself, while +the other centaurs charged. + +Harry grabbed Hermione and pulled her to the +ground. Facedown on the forest floor he knew a +moment of terror as hooves thundered around him, +but the centaurs leapt over and around them, +bellowing and screaming with rage. + +“Nooooo!” he heard Umbridge shriek. “Noooooo ... I +am Senior Undersecretary ... you cannot ... unhand +me, you animals ... nooooo!” + + + +Page | 963Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He saw a flash of red light and knew that she had +attempted to Stun one of them — then she screamed +very loudly. Lifting his head a few inches, Harry saw +that Umbridge had been seized from behind by Bane +and lifted high into the air, wriggling and yelling with +fright. Her wand fell from her hand to the ground and +Harry’s heart leapt, if he could just reach it — + +But as he stretched out a hand toward it, a centaur’s +hoof descended upon the wand and it broke cleanly in +half. + +“Now!” roared a voice in Harry’s ear and a thick hairy +arm descended from thin air and dragged him +upright; Hermione too had been pulled to her feet. +Over the plunging, many-colored backs and heads of +the centaurs Harry saw Umbridge being borne away +through the trees by Bane, still screaming nonstop; +her voice grew fainter and fainter until they could no +longer hear it over the trampling of hooves +surrounding them. + +“And these?” said the hard-faced, gray centaur +holding Hermione. + +“They are young,” said a slow, doleful voice from +behind Harry. “We do not attack foals.” + +“They brought her here, Ronan,” replied the centaur +who had such a firm grip on Harry. “And they are not +so young... He is nearing manhood, this one...” + +He shook Harry by the neck of his robes. + +“Please,” said Hermione breathlessly, “please, don’t +attack us, we don’t think like her, we aren’t Ministry +of Magic employees! We only came in here because we +hoped you’d drive her off for us — ” + + + +Page | 964Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry knew at once from the look on the face of the +gray centaur holding Hermione that she had made a +terrible mistake in saying this. The gray centaur +threw back his head, his back legs stamping +furiously, and bellowed, “You see, Ronan? They +already have the arrogance of their kind! So we were +to do your dirty work, were we, human girl? We were +to act as your servants, drive away your enemies like +obedient hounds?” + +“No!” said Hermione in a horrorstruck squeak. “Please +— I didn’t mean that! I just hoped you’d be able to — +to help us — ” + +But she seemed to be going from bad to worse. + +“We do not help humans!” snarled the centaur +holding Harry, tightening his grip and rearing a little +at the same time, so that Harry’s feet left the ground +momentarily. “We are a race apart and proud to be +so... We will not permit you to walk from here, +boasting that we did your bidding!” + +“We’re not going to say anything like that!” Harry +shouted. “We know you didn’t do anything because +we wanted you to — ” + +But nobody seemed to be listening to him. A bearded +centaur toward the back of the crowd shouted, “They +came here unasked, they must pay the +consequences!” + +A roar of approval met these words and a dun-colored +centaur shouted, “They can join the woman!” + +“You said you didn’t hurt the innocent!” shouted +Hermione, real tears sliding down her face now. “We +haven’t done anything to hurt you, we haven’t used + + + +Page | 965Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +wands or threats, we just want to go back to school, +please let us go back — ” + +“We are not all like the traitor Firenze, human girl!” +shouted the gray centaur, to more neighing roars of +approval from his fellows. “Perhaps you thought us +pretty talking horses? We are an ancient people who +will not stand wizard invasions and insults! We do not +recognize your laws, we do not acknowledge your +superiority, we are — ” + +But they did not hear what else centaurs were, for at +that moment there came a crashing noise on the edge +of the clearing so loud that all of them — Harry, +Hermione, and the fifty or so centaurs filling the +clearing — looked around. Harry’s centaur let him fall +to the ground again as his hands flew to his bow and +quiver of arrows; Hermione had been dropped too, +and Harry hurried toward her as two thick tree +trunks parted ominously and the monstrous form of +Grawp the giant appeared in the gap. + +The centaurs nearest him backed into those behind. +The clearing was now a forest of bows and arrows +waiting to be fired, all pointing upward at the +enormous grayish face now looming over them from +just beneath the thick canopy of branches. Grawp ’s +lopsided mouth was gaping stupidly. They could see +his bricklike yellow teeth glimmering in the half-light, +his dull sludge-colored eyes narrowed as he squinted +down at the creatures at his feet. Broken ropes trailed +from both ankles. + +He opened his mouth even wider. + +“Hagger.” + +Harry did not know what “hagger” meant, or what +language it was from, nor did he much care — he was + +Page | 966Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +watching Grawp ’s feet, which were almost as long as +Harry’s whole body. Hermione gripped his arm tightly; +the centaurs were quite silent, staring up at the giant, +whose huge, round head moved from side to side as +he continued to peer amongst them as though looking +for something he had dropped. + +“Haggeii” he said again, more insistently. + +“Get away from here, giant!” called Magorian. “You +are not welcome among us!” + +These words seemed to make no impression +whatsoever on Grawp. He stooped a little (the +centaurs’ arms tensed on their bows) and then +bellowed, “HAGGER!” + +A few of the centaurs looked worried now. Hermione, +however, gave a gasp. + +“Harry!” she whispered. “I think he’s trying to say +‘Hagrid’!” + + + +At this precise moment Grawp caught sight of them, +the only two humans in a sea of centaurs. He lowered +his head another foot or so, staring intently at them. +Harry could feel Hermione shaking as Grawp opened +his mouth wide again and said, in a deep, rumbling +voice, “Hermy.” + +“Goodness,” said Hermione, gripping Harry’s arm so +tightly it was growing numb and looking as though +she was about to faint, “he — he remembered!” + +“HERMY!” roared Grawp. “WHERE HAGGER?” + +“I don’t know!” squealed Hermione, terrified. “I’m +sorry, Grawp, I don’t know!” + + + +Page | 967Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“GRAWP WANT HAGGER!” + + + +One of the giant’s massive hands swooped down upon +them — Hermione let out a real scream, ran a few +steps backward and fell over. Wandless, Harry braced +himself to punch, kick, bite, or whatever else it took +as the hand flew toward him and knocked a snow- +white centaur off his legs. + +It was what the centaurs had been waiting for — +Grawp’s outstretched fingers were a foot from Harry +when fifty arrows went soaring through the air at the +giant, peppering his enormous face, causing him to +howl with pain and rage and straighten up again, +rubbing his face with his enormous hands, breaking +off the arrow shafts but forcing the heads in still +deeper. + +He yelled and stamped his enormous feet and the +centaurs scattered out of the way. Pebble-sized +droplets of Grawp’s blood showered Harry as he +pulled Hermione to her feet and the pair of them ran +as fast as they could for the shelter of the trees. Once +there they looked back — Grawp was snatching +blindly at the centaurs as blood ran all down his face; +they were retreating in disorder, galloping away +through the trees on the other side of the clearing. As +Harry and Hermione watched, Grawp gave another +roar of fury and plunged after them, smashing more +trees aside as he went. + +“Oh no,” said Hermione, quaking so badly that her +knees gave way. “Oh, that was horrible. And he might +kill them all...” + +“I’m not that fussed, to be honest,” said Harry +bitterly. + + + +Page | 968Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The sounds of the galloping centaurs and the +blundering giant were growing fainter and fainter. As +Harry listened to them his scar gave another great +throb and a wave of terror swept over him. + +They had wasted so much time — they were even +further from rescuing Sirius than they had been when +he had had the vision. Not only had Harry managed +to lose his wand but they were stuck in the middle of +the Forbidden Forest with no means of transport +whatsoever. + +“Smart plan,” he spat at Hermione, keen to release +some of his fury. “Really smart plan. Where do we go +from here?” + +“We need to get back up to the castle,” said Hermione +faintly. + +“By the time we’ve done that, Sirius 11 probably be +dead!” said Harry, kicking a nearby tree in temper; +there was a high-pitched chattering overhead and he +looked up to see an angry bowtruckle flexing its long +twiglike fingers at him. + +“Well, we can’t do anything without wands,” said +Hermione hopelessly, dragging herself up again. +“Anyway, Harry, how exactly were you planning to get +all the way to London?” + +“Yeah, we were just wondering that,” said a familiar +voice from behind her. + +Harry and Hermione moved instinctively together, +peering through the trees, as Ron came into sight, +with Ginny, Neville, and Luna hurrying along behind +him. All of them looked a little the worse for wear — +there were several long scratches running the length +of Ginny’s cheek, a large purple lump was swelling +Page | 969Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +above Neville’s right eye, Ron’s lip was bleeding worse +than ever — but all were looking rather pleased with +themselves. + +“So,” said Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch +and holding out Harry’s wand, “had any ideas?” + +“How did you get away?” asked Harry in amazement, +taking his wand from Ron. + +“Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville +brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx,” said +Ron airily, now handing back Hermione’s wand too. +“But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy — Bat-Bogey Hex +— it was superb, his whole face was covered in the +great flapping things. Anyway, we saw you heading +into the forest out of the window and followed. + +What’ve you done with Umbridge?” + +“She got carried away,” said Harry. “By a herd of +centaurs.” + +“And they left you behind?” asked Ginny, looking +astonished. + +“No, they got chased off by Grawp,” said Harry. + +“Who’s Grawp?” Luna asked interestedly. + +“Hagrid’s little brother,” said Ron promptly. “Anyway, +never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in +the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or — ?” + +“Yes,” said Harry, as his scar gave another painful +prickle, “and I’m sure Sirius is still alive, but I can’t +see how we’re going to get there to help him.” + +They all fell silent, looking rather scared. The problem +facing them seemed insurmountable. + +Page | 970Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Well, we’ll have to fly, won’t we?” said Luna in the +closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice Harry had ever +heard her use. + + + +“Okay,” said Harry irritably, rounding on her, “first of +all, “we’ aren’t doing anything if you’re including +yourself in that, and second of all, Ron’s the only one +with a broomstick that isn’t being guarded by a +security troll, so — ” + +“I’ve got a broom!” said Ginny. + +“Yeah, but you’re not coming,” said Ron angrily. + +“Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as +much as you do!” said Ginny, her jaw set so that her +resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly +striking. + +“You’re too — ” Harry began. + +“I’m three years older than you were when you fought +You-Know-Who over the Sorcerer’s Stone,” she said +fiercely, “and it’s because of me Malfoy’s stuck back +in Umbridge’s office with giant flying bogeys attacking +him — ” + + + +“Yeah, but — ” + +“We were all in the D.A. together,” said Neville quietly. +“It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know- +Who, wasn’t it? And this is the first chance we’ve had +to do something real — or was that all just a game or +something?” + +“No — of course it wasn’t — ” said Harry impatiently. + +“Then we should come too,” said Neville simply. “We +want to help.” + +Page | 971Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“That’s right,” said Luna, smiling happily. + + + +Harry’s eyes met Ron’s. He knew that Ron was +thinking exactly what he was: If he could have chosen +any members of the D.A. in addition to himself, Ron, +and Hermione to join him in the attempt to rescue +Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville, or +Luna. + +“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway,” said Harry +frustratedly, “because we still don’t know how to get +there — ” + +“I thought we’d settled that?” said Luna maddeningly. +“We’re flying!” + +“Look,” said Ron, barely containing his anger, “you +might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest +of us can’t sprout wings whenever we — ” + +“There are other ways of flying than with +broomsticks,” said Luna serenely. + +“I s’pose we’re going to ride on the back of the Kacky +Snorgle or whatever it is?” Ron demanded. + +“The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can’t fly,” said Luna +in a dignified voice, “but they can, and Hagrid says +they’re very good at finding places their riders are +looking for.” + +Harry whirled around. Standing between two trees, +their white eyes gleaming eerily, were two thestrals, +watching the whispered conversation as though they +understood every word. + +“Yes!” he whispered, moving toward them. They +tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back long black +manes, and Harry stretched out his hand eagerly and + +Page | 972Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +patted the nearest one’s shining neck. How could he +ever have thought them ugly? + +“Is it those mad horse things?” said Ron uncertainly, +staring at a point slightly to the left of the thestral +Harry was patting. “Those ones you can’t see unless +you’ve watched someone snuff it?” + +“Yeah,” said Harry. + +“How many?” + +“Just two.” + +“Well, we need three,” said Hermione, who was still +looking a little shaken, but determined just the same. + +“Four, Hermione,” said Ginny, scowling. + +“I think there are six of us, actually,” said Luna +calmly, counting. + +“Don’t be stupid, we can’t all go!” said Harry angrily. +“Look, you three” — he pointed at Neville, Ginny, and +Luna — “you’re not involved in this, you’re not — ” + +They burst into more protests. His scar gave another, +more painful, twinge. Every moment they delayed was +precious; he did not have time to argue. + +“Okay, fine, it’s your choice,” he said curtly. “But +unless we can find more thestrals you’re not going to +be able — ” + +“Oh, more of them will come,” said Ginny confidently, +who like Ron was squinting in quite the wrong +direction, apparently under the impression that she +was looking at the horses. + + + +Page | 973Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What makes you think that?” + +“Because in case you hadn’t noticed, you and +Hermione are both covered in blood,” she said coolly, +“and we know Hagrid lures thestrals with raw meat, +so that’s probably why these two turned up in the +first place...” + +Harry felt a soft tug on his robes at that moment and +looked down to see the closest thestral licking his +sleeve, which was damp with Grawp’s blood. + +“Okay, then,” he said, a bright idea occurring. “Ron +and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione +can stay here with you three and she’ll attract more +thestrals — ” + +“I’m not staying behind!” said Hermione furiously. + +“There’s no need,” said Luna, smiling. “Look, here +come more now... You two must really smell...” + +Harry turned. No fewer than six or seven thestrals +were picking their way through the trees now, their +great leathery wings folded tight to their bodies, their +eyes gleaming through the darkness. He had no +excuse now... + +“All right,” he said angrily, “pick one and get on, +then.” + + + +Page | 974Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + +THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES + +Harry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the +nearest thestral, placed a foot on a stump nearby, +and scrambled clumsily onto the horse’s silken back. +It did not object, but twisted its head around, fangs +bared, and attempted to continue its eager licking of +his robes. + +He found there was a way of lodging his knees behind +the wing joints that made him feel more secure and +looked around at the others. Neville had heaved +himself over the back of the next thestral and was +now attempting to swing one short leg over the +creature’s back. Luna was already in place, sitting +sidesaddle and adjusting her robes as though she did +this every day. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, however, +were still standing motionless on the spot, +openmouthed and staring. + +“What?” he said. + +“How’re we supposed to get on?” said Ron faintly. +“When we can’t see the things?” + +Page | 975Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Oh it’s easy,” said Luna, sliding obligingly from her +thestral and marching over to him, Hermione, and +Ginny. “Come here...” + +She pulled them over to the other thestrals standing +around and one by one managed to help them onto +the backs of their mounts. All three looked extremely +nervous as she wound their hands into the horses’ +manes and told them to grip tightly before getting +back onto her own steed. + +“This is mad,” Ron said faintly, moving his free hand +gingerly up and down his horse’s neck. “Mad ... if I +could just see it — ” + +“You’d better hope it stays invisible,” said Harry +darkly. “We all ready, then?” + +They all nodded and he saw five pairs of knees tighten +beneath their robes. + +“Okay ...” + +He looked down at the back of his thestral’s glossy +black head and swallowed. “Ministry of Magic, +visitors’ entrance, London, then,” he said uncertainly. +“Er ... if you know ... where to go ...” + +For a moment his thestral did nothing at all. Then, +with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated him, +the wings on either side extended, the horse crouched +slowly and then rocketed upward so fast and so +steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and legs +tightly around the horse to avoid sliding backward +over its bony rump. He closed his eyes and put his +face down into the horse’s silky mane as they burst +through the topmost branches of the trees and soared +out into a bloodred sunset. + + + +Page | 976Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry did not think he had ever moved so fast: The +thestral streaked over the castle, its wide wings +hardly beating. The cooling air was slapping Harry’s +face; eyes screwed up against the rushing wind, he +looked around and saw his five fellows soaring along +behind him, each of them bent as low as possible into +the neck of their thestral to protect themselves from +its slipstream. + +They were over the Hogwarts grounds, they had +passed Hogsmeade. Harry could see mountains and +gullies below them. In the falling darkness Harry saw +small collections of lights as they passed over more +villages, then a winding road on which a single car +was beetling its way home through the hills... + +“This is bizarre!” Harry heard Ron yell from +somewhere behind him, and he imagined how it must +feel to be speeding along at this height with no visible +means of support... + +Twilight fell: The sky turned to a light, dusky purple +littered with tiny silver stars, and soon it was only the +lights of Muggle towns that gave them any clue of how +far from the ground they were or how very fast they +were traveling. Harry’s arms were wrapped tightly +around his horse’s neck as he willed it to go even +faster. How much time had elapsed since he had seen +Sirius lying on the Department of Mysteries floor? + +How much longer would he be able to resist +Voldemort? All Harry knew for sure was that Sirius +had neither done as Voldemort wanted, nor died, for +he was convinced that either outcome would cause +him to feel Voldemort’s jubilation or fury course +through his own body, making his scar sear as +painfully as it had on the night Mr. Weasley was +attacked... + + + +Page | 977Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +On they flew through the gathering darkness; Harry’s +face felt stiff and cold, his legs numb from gripping +the thestral’s sides so tightly, but he did not dare +shift positions lest he slip... He was deaf from the +thundering in his ears and his mouth was dry and +frozen from the rush of cold night air. He had lost all +sense of how far they had come; all his faith was in +the beast below him, still streaking purposefully +through the night, barely flapping its wings as it sped +ever onward... + +If they were too late . . . + +He’s still alive, he’s still fighting, I can feel it... + +If Voldemort decided Sirius was not going to crack ... +I’d know... + +Harry’s stomach gave a jolt. The thestral’s head was +suddenly pointing toward the ground and he had +actually slid forward a few inches along its neck. They +were descending at last... He heard one of the girls +shriek behind him and twisted around dangerously +but could see no sign of a falling body. . . Presumably +they had received a shock from the change of +position, just as he had... + +And now bright orange lights were growing larger and +rounder on all sides. They could see the tops of +buildings, streams of headlights like luminous insect +eyes, squares of pale yellow that were windows. Quite +suddenly, it seemed, they were hurtling toward the +pavement. Harry gripped the thestral with every last +ounce of his strength, braced for a sudden impact, +but the horse touched the dark ground as lightly as a +shadow and Harry slid from his back, looking around +at the street where the overflowing dumpster still +stood a short way from the vandalized telephone box, +Page | 978Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +both drained of color in the flat orange glare of the +streetlights. + +Ron landed a short way away and toppled +immediately off his thestral onto the pavement. + +“Never again,” he said, struggling to his feet. He made +as though to stride away from his thestral, but, +unable to see it, collided with its hindquarters and +almost fell over again. “Never, ever again ... that was +the worst — ” + +Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of +him. Both slid off their mounts a little more gracefully +than Ron, though with similar expressions of relief at +being back on firm ground. Neville jumped down, +shaking, but Luna dismounted smoothly. + +“Where do we go from here, then?” she asked Harry in +a politely interested voice, as though this was all a +rather interesting day- trip. + +“Over here,” he said. He gave his thestral a quick, +grateful pat, then led the way quickly to the battered +telephone box and opened the door. “Come on\” he +urged the others as they hesitated. + +Ron and Ginny marched in obediently; Hermione, +Neville, and Luna squashed themselves in after them; +Harry took one glance back at the thestrals, now +foraging for scraps of rotten food inside the dumpster, +then forced himself into the box after Luna. + +“Whoever’s nearest the receiver, dial six two four four +two!” he said. + +Ron did it, his arm bent bizarrely to reach the dial. As +it whirred back into place the cool female voice + + + +Page | 979Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +sounded inside the box, “Welcome to the Ministry of +Magic. Please state your name and business.” + +“Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger,” + +Harry said very quickly, “Ginny Weasley, Neville +Longbottom, Luna Lovegood ... We’re here to save +someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!” + +“Thank you,” said the cool female voice. “Visitors, +please take the badges and attach them to the front of +your robes.” + +Half a dozen badges slid out of the metal chute where +returned coins usually appeared. Hermione scooped +them up and handed them mutely to Harry over +Ginny ’s head; he glanced at the topmost one. + +HARRY POTTER +RESCUE MISSION + +“Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to +a search and present your wand for registration at the +security desk, which is located at the far end of the +Atrium.” + +“Fine!” Harry said loudly, as his scar gave another +throb. “Now can we move?” + +The floor of the telephone box shuddered and the +pavement rose up past the glass windows of the +telephone box. The scavenging thestrals were sliding +out of sight, blackness closed over their heads, and +with a dull grinding noise they sank down into the +depths of the Ministry of Magic. + +A chink of soft golden light hit their feet and, +widening, rose up their bodies. Harry bent his knees + + + +Page | 980Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +and held his wand as ready as he could in such +cramped conditions, peering through the glass to see +whether anybody was waiting for them in the Atrium, +but it seemed to be completely empty. The light was +dimmer than it had been by day. There were no fires +burning under the mantelpieces set into the walls, +but he saw as the lift slid smoothly to a halt that +golden symbols continued to twist sinuously in the +dark blue ceiling. + +“The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant +evening,” said the woman’s voice. + +The door of the telephone box burst open; Harry +toppled out of it, followed by Neville and Luna. The +only sound in the Atrium was the steady rush of +water from the golden fountain, where jets from the +wands of the witch and wizard, the point of the +centaur’s arrow, the tip of the goblin’s hat, and the +house-elf’s ears continued to gush into the +surrounding pool. + +“Come on,” said Harry quietly and the six of them +sprinted off down the hall, Harry in the lead, past the +fountain, toward the desk where the security man +who had weighed Harry’s wand had sat and which +was now deserted. + +Harry felt sure that there ought to be a security +person there, sure that their absence was an ominous +sign, and his feeling of foreboding increased as they +passed through the golden gates to the lifts. He +pressed the nearest down button and a lift clattered +into sight almost immediately, the golden grilles slid +apart with a great, echoing clanking, and they dashed +inside. Harry stabbed the number nine button, the +grilles closed with a bang, and the lift began to +descend, jangling and rattling. Harry had not realized +how noisy the lifts were on the day that he had come +Page | 981Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +with Mr. Weasley — he was sure that the din would +raise every security person within the building, yet +when the lift halted, the cool female voice said, +“Department of Mysteries,” and the grilles slid open +again, they stepped out into the corridor where +nothing was moving but the nearest torches, +flickering in the rush of air from the lift. + +Harry turned toward the plain black door. After +months and months of dreaming about it, he was +here at last... + +“Let’s go,” he whispered, and he led the way down the +corridor, Luna right behind him, gazing around with +her mouth slightly open. + +“Okay, listen,” said Harry, stopping again within six +feet of the door. “Maybe . . . maybe a couple of people +should stay here as a — as a lookout, and — ” + +“And how’re we going to let you know something’s +coming?” asked Ginny, her eyebrows raised. “You +could be miles away.” + +“We’re coming with you, Harry,” said Neville. + +“Let’s get on with it,” said Ron firmly. + +Harry still did not want to take them all with him, but +it seemed he had no choice. He turned to face the +door and walked forward. Just as it had in his dream, +it swung open and he marched forward, leading the +others over the threshold. + +They were standing in a large, circular room. +Everything in here was black including the floor and +ceiling — identical, unmarked, handle-less black +doors were set at intervals all around the black walls, +interspersed with branches of candles whose flames +Page | 982Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +burned blue, their cool, shimmering light reflected in +the shining marble floor so that it looked as though +there was dark water underfoot. + +“Someone shut the door,” Harry muttered. + +He regretted giving this order the moment Neville had +obeyed it. Without the long chink of light from the +torch-lit corridor behind them, the place became so +dark that for a moment the only things they could see +were the bunches of shivering blue flames on the +walls and their ghostly reflections in the floor below. + +In his dream, Harry had always walked purposefully +across this room to the door immediately opposite the +entrance and walked on. But there were around a +dozen doors here. Just as he was gazing ahead at the +doors opposite him, trying to decide which was the +right one, there was a great rumbling noise and the +candles began to move sideways. The circular wall +was rotating. + +Hermione grabbed Harry’s arm as though frightened +the floor might move too, but it did not. For a few +seconds the blue flames around them were blurred to +resemble neon lines as the wall sped around and +then, quite as suddenly as it had started, the +rumbling stopped and everything became stationary +once again. + +Harry’s eyes had blue streaks burned into them; it +was all he could see. + +“What was that about?” whispered Ron fearfully. + +“I think it was to stop us knowing which door we +came in from,” said Ginny in a hushed voice. + + + +Page | 983Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry realized at once that she was right: He could no +sooner have picked the exit from the other doors than +located an ant upon the jet-black floor. Meanwhile, +the door through which they needed to proceed could +be any of the dozen surrounding them. + +“How’re we going to get back out?” said Neville +uncomfortably. + +“Well, that doesn’t matter now,” said Harry forcefully, +blinking to try and erase the blue lines from his +vision, and clutching his wand tighter than ever. “We +won’t need to get out till we’ve found Sirius — ” + +“Don’t go calling for him, though!” Hermione said +urgently, but Harry had never needed her advice less; +his instinct was to keep as quiet as possible for the +time being. + +“Where do we go, then, Harry?” Ron asked. + +“I don’t — ” Harry began. He swallowed. “In the +dreams I went through the door at the end of the +corridor from the lifts into a dark room — that’s this +one — and then I went through another door into a +room that kind of ... glitters. We should try a few +doors,” he said hastily. “I’ll know the right way when I +see it. C’mon.” + +He marched straight at the door now facing him, the +others following close behind him, set his left hand +against its cool, shining surface, raised his wand, +ready to strike the moment it opened, and pushed. It +swung open easily. + +After the darkness of the first room, the lamps +hanging low on golden chains from this ceiling gave +the impression that this long rectangular room was +much brighter, though there were no glittering, + +Page | 984Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +shimmering lights such as Harry had seen in his +dreams. The place was quite empty except for a few +desks and, in the very middle of the room, an +enormous glass tank of deep-green water, big enough +for all of them to swim in, which contained a number +of pearly white objects that were drifting around lazily +in the liquid. + +“What’re those things?” whispered Ron. + +“Dunno,” said Harry. + +“Are they fish?” breathed Ginny. + +“Aquavirius maggots!” said Luna excitedly. “Dad said +the Ministry were breeding — ” + +“No,” said Hermione. She sounded odd. She moved +forward to look through the side of the tank. “They’re +brains.” + +“Brains?” + +“Yes ... I wonder what they’re doing with them?” + +Harry joined her at the tank. Sure enough, there +could be no mistake now that he saw them at close +quarters. Glimmering eerily they drifted in and out of +sight in the depths of the green water, looking +something like slimy cauliflowers. + +“Let’s get out of here,” said Harry. “This isn’t right, we +need to try another door — ” + +“There are doors here too,” said Ron, pointing around +the walls. Harry’s heart sank; how big was this place? + + + +Page | 985Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“In my dream I went through that dark room into the +second one,” he said. “I think we should go back and +try from there.” + +So they hurried back into the dark, circular room; the +ghostly shapes of the brains were now swimming +before Harry’s eyes instead of the blue candle flames. + +“Wait!” said Hermione sharply, as Luna made to close +the door of the brain room behind them. “ FlagrateV’ + +She drew with her wand in midair and a fiery X +appeared on the door. No sooner had the door clicked +shut behind them than there was a great rumbling, +and once again the wall began to revolve very fast, but +now there was a great red-gold blur in amongst the +faint blue, and when all became still again, the fiery +cross still burned, showing the door they had already +tried. + +“Good thinking,” said Harry. “Okay, let’s try this one + + + +Again he strode directly at the door facing him and +pushed it open, his wand still raised, the others at his +heels. + +This room was larger than the last, dimly lit and +rectangular, and the center of it was sunken, forming +a great stone pit some twenty feet below them. They +were standing on the topmost tier of what seemed to +be stone benches running all around the room and +descending in steep steps like an amphitheater, or the +courtroom in which Harry had been tried by the +Wizengamot. Instead of a chained chair, however, +there was a raised stone dais in the center of the +lowered floor, and upon this dais stood a stone +archway that looked so ancient, cracked, and +crumbling that Harry was amazed the thing was still +Page | 986Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +standing. Unsupported by any surrounding wall, the +archway was hung with a tattered black curtain or +veil which, despite the complete stillness of the cold +surrounding air, was fluttering very slightly as though +it had just been touched. + +“Who’s there?” said Harry, jumping down onto the +bench below. There was no answering voice, but the +veil continued to flutter and sway. + +“Careful!” whispered Hermione. + +Harry scrambled down the benches one by one until +he reached the stone bottom of the sunken pit. His +footsteps echoed loudly as he walked slowly toward +the dais. The pointed archway looked much taller +from where he stood now than when he had been +looking down on it from above. Still the veil swayed +gently, as though somebody had just passed through +it. + +“Sirius?” Harry spoke again, but much more quietly +now that he was nearer. + +He had the strangest feeling that there was someone +standing right behind the veil on the other side of the +archway. Gripping his wand very tightly, he edged +around the dais, but there was nobody there. All that +could be seen was the other side of the tattered black +veil. + +“Let’s go,” called Hermione from halfway up the stone +steps. “This isn’t right, Harry, come on, let’s go...” + +She sounded scared, much more scared than she had +in the room where the brains swam, yet Harry +thought the archway had a kind of beauty about it, +old though it was. The gently rippling veil intrigued + + + +Page | 987Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +him; he felt a very strong inclination to climb up on +the dais and walk through it. + +“Harry, let’s go, okay?” said Hermione more forcefully. + +“Okay,” he said, but he did not move. He had just +heard something. There were faint whispering, +murmuring noises coming from the other side of the +veil. + +“What are you saying?” he said very loudly, so that +the words echoed all around the surrounding stone +benches. + +“Nobody’s talking, Harry!” said Hermione, now moving +over to him. + +“Someone’s whispering behind there,” he said, moving +out of her reach and continuing to frown at the veil. + +“Is that you, Ron?” + +“I’m here, mate,” said Ron, appearing around the side +of the archway. + +“Can’t anyone else hear it?” Harry demanded, for the +whispering and murmuring was becoming louder; +without really meaning to put it there, he found his +foot was on the dais. + +“I can hear them too,” breathed Luna, joining them +around the side of the archway and gazing at the +swaying veil. “There are people in there\” + +“What do you mean, ‘in there’?” demanded Hermione, +jumping down from the bottom step and sounding +much angrier than the occasion warranted. “There +isn’t any ‘in there,’ it’s just an archway, there’s no +room for anybody to be there — Harry, stop it, come +away — ” + +Page | 988Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She grabbed his arm and pulled, but he resisted. + +“Harry, we are supposed to be here for Sirius!” she +said in a high-pitched, strained voice. + +“Sirius,” Harry repeated, still gazing, mesmerized, at +the continuously swaying veil. “Yeah ...” + +And then something slid back into place in his brain: +Sirius, captured, bound, and tortured, and he was +staring at this archway. . . + +He took several paces back from the dais and +wrenched his eyes from the veil. + +“Let’s go,” he said. + +“That’s what I’ve been trying to — well, come on, +then!” said Hermione, and she led the way back +around the dais. On the other side, Ginny and Neville +were staring, apparently entranced, at the veil too. +Without speaking, Hermione took hold of Ginny’s +arm, Ron Neville’s, and they marched them firmly +back to the lowest stone bench and clambered all the +way back up to the door. + +“What d’you reckon that arch was?” Harry asked +Hermione as they regained the dark circular room. + +“I don’t know, but whatever it was, it was dangerous,” +she said firmly, again inscribing a fiery cross upon +the door. + +Once more the wall spun and became still again. +Harry approached a door at random and pushed. It +did not move. + +“What’s wrong?” said Hermione. + + + +Page | 989Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It’s ... locked ...” said Harry, throwing his weight at +the door, but it did not budge. + + + +“This is it, then, isn’t it?” said Ron excitedly, joining +Harry in the attempt to force the door open. “Bound +to be!” + +“Get out of the way!” said Hermione sharply. She +pointed her wand at the place where a lock would +have been on an ordinary door and said, “Alohomora\” + +Nothing happened. + +“Sirius’s knife!” said Harry, and he pulled it out from +inside his robes and slid it into the crack between the +door and the wall. The others all watched eagerly as +he ran it from top to bottom, withdrew it, and then +flung his shoulder again at the door. It remained as +firmly shut as ever. What was more, when Harry +looked down at the knife, he saw that the blade had +melted. + +“Right, we’re leaving that room,” said Hermione +decisively. + +“But what if that’s the one?” said Ron, staring at it +with a mixture of apprehension and longing. + +“It can’t be, Harry could get through all the doors in +his dream,” said Hermione, marking the door with +another fiery cross as Harry replaced the now-useless +handle of Sirius’s knife in his pocket. + +“You know what could be in there?” said Luna +eagerly, as the wall started to spin yet again. + +“Something blibbering, no doubt,” said Hermione +under her breath, and Neville gave a nervous little +laugh. + +Page | 990Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The wall slid back to a halt and Harry, with a feeling +of increasing desperation, pushed the next door open. + +“This is it!” + +He knew it at once by the beautiful, dancing, +diamond-sparkling light. As Harry’s eyes became +more accustomed to the brilliant glare he saw clocks +gleaming from every surface, large and small, +grandfather and carriage, hanging in spaces between +the bookcases or standing on desks ranging the +length of the room, so that a busy, relentless ticking +filled the place like thousands of minuscule, +marching footsteps. The source of the dancing, +diamond-bright light was a towering crystal bell jar +that stood at the far end of the room. + +“This way!” + +Harry’s heart was pumping frantically now that he +knew they were on the right track. He led the way +forward down the narrow space between the lines of +the desks, heading, as he had done in his dream, for +the source of the light, the crystal bell jar quite as tall +as he was that stood on a desk and appeared to be +full of a billowing, glittering wind. + +“Oh look).” said Ginny, as they drew nearer, pointing +at the very heart of the bell jar. + +Drifting along in the sparkling current inside was a +tiny, jewel-bright egg. As it rose in the jar it cracked +open and a hummingbird emerged, which was carried +to the very top of the jar, but as it fell on the draft, its +feathers became bedraggled and damp again, and by +the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the +jar it had been enclosed once more in its egg. + + + +Page | 991Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Keep going!” said Harry sharply, because Ginny +showed signs of wanting to stop and watch the egg’s +progress back into a bird. + +“You dawdled enough by that old arch!” she said +crossly, but followed him past the bell jar to the only +door behind it. + +“This is it,” Harry said again, and his heart was now +pumping so hard and fast he felt it must interfere +with his speech. “It’s through here — ” + +He glanced around at them all. They had their wands +out and looked suddenly serious and anxious. He +looked back at the door and pushed. It swung open. + +They were there, they had found the place: high as a +church and full of nothing but towering shelves +covered in small, dusty, glass orbs. They glimmered +dully in the light issuing from more candle brackets +set at intervals along the shelves. Like those in the +circular room behind them, their flames were burning +blue. The room was very cold. + +Harry edged forward and peered down one of the +shadowy aisles between two rows of shelves. He could +not hear anything nor see the slightest sign of +movement. + +“You said it was row ninety-seven,” whispered +Hermione. + +“Yeah,” breathed Harry, looking up at the end of the +closest row. Beneath the branch of blue-glowing +candles protruding from it glimmered the silver figure +53 . + +“We need to go right, I think,” whispered Hermione, +squinting to the next row. “Yes ... that’s fifty-four...” + +Page | 992Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Keep your wands out,” Harry said softly. + +They crept forward, staring behind them as they went +on down the long alleys of shelves, the farther ends of +which were in near total darkness. Tiny, yellowing +labels had been stuck beneath each glass orb on the +shelf. Some of them had a weird, liquid glow; others +were as dull and dark within as blown lightbulbs. + +They passed row eighty-four ... eighty-five ... Harry +was listening hard for the slightest sound of +movement, but Sirius might be gagged now, or else +unconscious ... or, said an unbidden voice inside his +head, he might already be dead... + +I’d have felt it, he told himself, his heart now +hammering against his Adam’s apple. I’d already +know... + +“Ninety-seven!” whispered Hermione. + +They stood grouped around the end of the row, gazing +down the alley beside it. There was nobody there. + +“He’s right down at the end,” said Harry, whose +mouth had become slightly dry. “You can’t see +properly from here...” + +And he led them forward, between the towering rows +of glass balls, some of which glowed softly as they +passed... + +“He should be near here,” whispered Harry, convinced +that every step was going to bring the ragged form of +Sirius into view upon the darkened floor. “Anywhere +here ... really close ...” + +“Harry?” said Hermione tentatively, but he did not +want to respond. His mouth was very dry now. + +Page | 993Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Somewhere about ... here ...” he said. + + + +They had reached the end of the row and emerged +into more dim candlelight. There was nobody there at +all. All was echoing, dusty silence. + +“He might be ...” Harry whispered hoarsely, peering +down the alley next door. “Or maybe ...” He hurried to +look down the one beyond that. + +“Harry?” said Hermione again. + +“What?” he snarled. + +“I ... I don’t think Sirius is here.” + +Nobody spoke. Harry did not want to look at any of +them. He felt sick. He did not understand why Sirius +was not here. He had to be here. This was where he, +Harry, had seen him... + +He ran up the space at the end of the rows, staring +down them. Empty aisle after empty aisle flickered +past. He ran the other way, back past his staring +companions. There was no sign of Sirius anywhere, +nor any hint of a struggle. + +“Harry?” Ron called. + +“What?” + +He did not want to hear what Ron had to say, did not +want to hear Ron tell him he had been stupid, or +suggest that they ought to go back to Hogwarts. But +the heat was rising in his face and he felt as though +he would like to skulk down here in the darkness for +a long while before facing the brightness of the Atrium +above and the others’ accusing stares... + + + +Page | 994Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Have you seen this?” said Ron. + + + +“What?” said Harry, but eagerly this time — it had to +be a sign that Sirius had been there, a clue — he +strode back to where they were all standing, a little +way down row ninety-seven, but found nothing except +Ron staring at one of the dusty glass spheres on the +shelves. + +“What?” Harry repeated glumly. + +“It’s — it’s got your name on,” said Ron. + +Harry moved a little closer. Ron was pointing at one of +the small glass spheres that glowed with a dull inner +light, though it was very dusty and appeared not to +have been touched for many years. + +“My name?” said Harry blankly. + +He stepped forward. Not as tall as Ron, he had to +crane his neck to read the yellowish label affixed to +the shelf right beneath the dusty glass ball. In spidery +writing was written a date of some sixteen years +previously, and below that: + +S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D. + +Dark Lord + +and (?) Harry Potter + +Harry stared at it. + +“What is it?” Ron asked, sounding unnerved. “What’s +your name doing down here?” + +He glanced along at the other labels on that stretch of +shelf. + +Page | 995Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +‘Tm not here,” he said, sounding perplexed. “None of +the rest of us are here...” + +“Harry, I don’t think you should touch it,” said +Hermione sharply, as he stretched out his hand. + +“Why not?” he said. “It’s something to do with me, +isn’t it?” + +“Don’t, Harry,” said Neville suddenly. Harry looked +around at him. Neville’s round face was shining +slightly with sweat. He looked as though he could not +take much more suspense. + +“It’s got my name on,” said Harry. + +And feeling slightly reckless, he closed his fingers +around the dusty ball’s surface. He had expected it to +feel cold, but it did not. On the contrary, it felt as +though it had been lying in the sun for hours, as +though the glow of light within was warming it. +Expecting, even hoping, that something dramatic was +going to happen, something exciting that might make +their long and dangerous journey worthwhile after all, +he lifted the glass ball down from its shelf and stared +at it. + +Nothing whatsoever happened. The others moved in +closer around Harry, gazing at the orb as he brushed +it free of the clogging dust. + +And then, from right behind them, a drawling voice +said, “Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and +slowly, and give that to me.” + + + +Page | 996Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +35 + + + + +BEYOND THE VEIL + +Black shapes were emerging out of thin air all around +them, blocking their way left and right; eyes glinted +through slits in hoods, a dozen lit wand tips were +pointing directly at their hearts. Ginny gave a gasp of +horror. + +“To me, Potter,” repeated the drawling voice of Lucius +Malfoy as he held out his hand, palm up. + +Harry’s insides plummeted sickeningly. They were +trapped and outnumbered two to one. + +“To me,” said Malfoy yet again. + +“Where’s Sirius?” Harry said. + +Several of the Death Eaters laughed. A harsh female +voice from the midst of the shadowy figures to Harry’s +left said triumphantly, “The Dark Lord always +knows!” + + + +Page | 997Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +“Always,” echoed Malfoy softly. “Now, give me the +prophecy, Potter.” + + + +“I want to know where Sirius is!” + +“I want to know where Sirius is!” mimicked the woman +to his left. + +She and her fellow Death Eaters had closed in so that +they were mere feet away from Harry and the others, +the light from their wands dazzling Harry’s eyes. + +“You’ve got him,” said Harry, ignoring the rising panic +in his chest, the dread he had been fighting since +they had first entered the ninety-seventh row. “He’s +here. I know he is.” + +“The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it +dweamed was twoo,” said the woman in a horrible, +mock-baby voice. Harry felt Ron stir beside him. + +“Don’t do anything,” he muttered. “Not yet — ” + +The woman who had mimicked him let out a raucous +scream of laughter. + +“You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions to +the other children as though he thinks of fighting us!” + +“Oh, you don’t know Potter as I do, Bellatrix,” said +Malfoy softly. “He has a great weakness for heroics; +the Dark Lord understands this about him. Now give +me the prophecy, Potter.” + +“I know Sirius is here,” said Harry, though panic was +causing his chest to constrict and he felt as though +he could not breathe properly. “I know you’ve got +him!” + +Page | 998Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +More of the Death Eaters laughed, though the woman +still laughed loudest of all. + +“It’s time you learned the difference between life and +dreams, Potter,” said Malfoy. “Now give me the +prophecy, or we start using wands.” + +“Go on, then,” said Harry, raising his own wand to +chest height. As he did so, the five wands of Ron, +Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna rose on either +side of him. The knot in Harry’s stomach tightened. If +Sirius really was not here, he had led his friends to +their deaths for no reason at all... + +But the Death Eaters did not strike. + +“Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt,” +said Malfoy coolly. + +It was Harry’s turn to laugh. + +“Yeah, right!” he said. “I give you this — prophecy, is +it? And you’ll just let us skip off home, will you?” + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the +female Death Eater shrieked, “Accio Proph — ” + +Harry was just ready for her. He shouted “Protego\” +before she had finished her spell, and though the +glass sphere slipped to the tips of his fingers he +managed to cling on to it. + +“Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter,” +she said, her mad eyes staring through the slits in +her hood. “Very well, then — ” + +“I TOLD YOU, NO!” Lucius Malfoy roared at the +woman. “If you smash it — !” + + + +Page | 999Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry’s mind was racing. The Death Eaters wanted +this dusty spun-glass sphere. He had no interest in it. +He just wanted to get them all out of this alive, make +sure that none of his friends paid a terrible price for +his stupidity ... + +The woman stepped forward, away from her fellows, +and pulled off her hood. Azkaban had hollowed +Bellatrix Lestrange’s face, making it gaunt and skull- +like, but it was alive with a feverish, fanatical glow. + +“You need more persuasion?” she said, her chest +rising and falling rapidly. “Very well — take the +smallest one,” she ordered the Death Eaters beside +her. “Let him watch while we torture the little girl. I’ll +do it.” + +Harry felt the others close in around Ginny. He +stepped sideways so that he was right in front of her, +the prophecy held up to his chest. + +“You’ll have to smash this if you want to attack any of +us,” he told Bellatrix. “I don’t think your boss will be +too pleased if you come back without it, will he?” + +She did not move; she merely stared at him, the tip of +her tongue moistening her thin mouth. + +“So,” said Harry, “what kind of prophecy are we +talking about anyway?” + +He could not think what to do but to keep talking. +Neville’s arm was pressed against his, and he could +feel him shaking. He could feel one of the other’s +quickened breath on the back of his head. He was +hoping they were all thinking hard about ways to get +out of this, because his mind was blank. + + + +Page | lOOOHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What kind of prophecy?” repeated Bellatrix, the grin +fading from her face. “You jest, Harry Potter.” + + + +“Nope, not jesting,” said Harry, his eyes flicking from +Death Eater to Death Eater, looking for a weak link, a +space through which they could escape. “How come +Voldemort wants it?” + +Several of the Death Eaters let out low hisses. + +“You dare speak his name?” whispered Bellatrix. + +“Yeah,” said Harry, maintaining his tight grip on the +glass ball, expecting another attempt to bewitch it +from him. “Yeah, IVe got no problem saying Vol — ” + +“Shut your mouth!” Bellatrix shrieked. “You dare +speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare +besmirch it with your half-blood’s tongue, you dare — + + + +“Did you know he’s a half-blood too?” said Harry +recklessly. Hermione gave a little moan in his ear. +“Voldemort? Yeah, his mother was a witch but his +dad was a Muggle — or has he been telling you lot +he’s pureblood?” + +“STUPEF — ” + +“iVO!” + +A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix +Lestrange’s wand, but Malfoy had deflected it. His +spell caused hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of +Harry and several of the glass orbs there shattered. + +Two figures, pearly white as ghosts, fluid as smoke, +unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken +glass upon the floor and each began to speak. Their + +Page | lOOlHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +voices vied with each other, so that only fragments of +what they were saying could be heard over Malfoy and +Bellatrix’s shouts. + + + +"... at the Solstice will come a new ...” said the figure +of an old, bearded man. + +“DO NOT ATTACK! WE NEED THE PROPHECY!” + +“He dared — he dares — ” shrieked Bellatrix +incoherently. “ — He stands there — filthy half-blood + + + +“WAIT UNTIL WEVE GOT THE PROPHECY!” bawled +Malfoy. + +"... and none will come after ...” said the figure of a +young woman. + +The two figures that had burst from the shattered +spheres had melted into thin air. Nothing remained of +them or their erstwhile homes but fragments of glass +upon the floor. They had, however, given Harry an +idea. The problem was going to be conveying it to the +others. + +“You haven’t told me what’s so special about this +prophecy I’m supposed to be handing over,” he said, +playing for time. He moved his foot slowly sideways, +feeling around for someone else’s. + +“Do not play games with us, Potter,” said Malfoy. + +“I’m not playing games,” said Harry, half his mind on +the conversation, half on his wandering foot. And +then he found someone’s toes and pressed down upon +them. A sharp intake of breath behind him told him +they were Hermione’s. + +Page | 1002Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“What?” she whispered. + +“Dumbledore never told you that the reason you bear +that scar was hidden in the bowels of the Department +of Mysteries?” said Malfoy sneeringly. + +“I — what?” said Harry, and for a moment he quite +forgot his plan. “What about my scar?” + +“ What?” whispered Hermione more urgently behind +him. + +“Can this be?” said Malfoy, sounding maliciously +delighted; some of the Death Eaters were laughing +again, and under cover of their laughter, Harry hissed +to Hermione, moving his lips as little as possible, +“Smash shelves — ” + +“Dumbledore never told you?” Malfoy repeated. “Well, +this explains why you didn’t come earlier, Potter, the +Dark Lord wondered why — ” + +“ — when I say go — ” + +“ — you didn’t come running when he showed you the +place where it was hidden in your dreams. He +thought natural curiosity would make you want to +hear the exact wording...” + +“Did he?” said Harry. Behind him he felt rather than +heard Hermione passing his message to the others +and he sought to keep talking, to distract the Death +Eaters. “So he wanted me to come and get it, did he? +Why?” + +“Why?” Malfoy sounded incredulously delighted. +“Because the only people who are permitted to +retrieve a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, +Potter, are those about whom it was made, as the + +Page | 1003Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dark Lord discovered when he attempted to use +others to steal it for him.” + +“And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?” + +“About both of you, Potter, about both of you ... +Haven’t you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried to +kill you as a baby?” + +Harry stared into the slitted eyeholes through which +Malfoy’s gray eyes were gleaming. Was this prophecy +the reason Harry’s parents had died, the reason he +carried his lightning-bolt scar? Was the answer to all +of this clutched in his hand? + +“Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort and +me?” he said quietly, gazing at Lucius Malfoy, his +fingers tightening over the warm glass sphere in his +hand. It was hardly larger than a Snitch and still +gritty with dust. “And he’s made me come and get it +for him? Why couldn’t he come and get it himself?” + +“Get it himself?” shrieked Bellatrix on a cackle of mad +laughter. “The Dark Lord, walk into the Ministry of +Magic, when they are so sweetly ignoring his return? +The Dark Lord, reveal himself to the Aurors, when at +the moment they are wasting their time on my dear +cousin?” + +“So he’s got you doing his dirty work for him, has +he?” said Harry. “Like he tried to get Sturgis to steal it +— and Bode?” + +“Very good, Potter, very good ...” said Malfoy slowly. +“But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintell — ” + +“NOW!” yelled Harry. + + + +Page | 1004Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Five different voices behind him bellowed “REDUCTOl” +Five curses flew in five different directions and the +shelves opposite them exploded as they hit. The +towering structure swayed as a hundred glass +spheres burst apart, pearly-white figures unfurled +into the air and floated there, their voices echoing +from who knew what long-dead past amid the torrent +of crashing glass and splintered wood now raining +down upon the floor — + +“RUN!” Harry yelled, and as the shelves swayed +precariously and more glass spheres began to pour +from above, he seized a handful of Hermione’s robes +and dragged her forward, one arm over his head as +chunks of shelf and shards of glass thundered down +upon them. A Death Eater lunged forward through +the cloud of dust and Harry elbowed him hard in the +masked face. They were all yelling, there were cries of +pain, thunderous crashes as the shelves collapsed +upon themselves, weirdly echoing fragments of the +Seers unleashed from their spheres — + +Harry found the way ahead clear and saw Ron, + +Ginny, and Luna sprint past him, their arms over +their heads. Something heavy struck him on the side +of the face but he merely ducked his head and +sprinted onward; a hand caught him by the shoulder; +he heard Hermione shout “Stupefy\” and the hand +released him at once. + +They were at the end of row ninety-seven; Harry +turned right and began to sprint in earnest. He could +hear footsteps right behind him and Hermione’s voice +urging Neville on. The door through which they had +come was ajar straight ahead, Harry could see the +glittering light of the bell jar, he pelted through it, the +prophecy still clutched tight and safe in his hand, +waited for the others to hurtle over the threshold +before slamming the door behind them — + +Page | 1005Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ Colloportus\” gasped Hermione and the door sealed +itself with an odd squelching noise. + +“Where — where are the others?” gasped Harry. + +He had thought that Ron, Luna, and Ginny had been +ahead of them, that they would be waiting in this +room, but there was nobody there. + +“They must have gone the wrong way!” whispered +Hermione, terror in her face. + +“Listen!” whispered Neville. + +Footsteps and shouts echoed from behind the door +they had just sealed. Harry put his ear close to the +door to listen and heard Lucius Malfoy roar: “Leave +Nott, leave him, I say, the Dark Lord will not care for +Nott’s injuries as much as losing that prophecy — +Jugson, come back here, we need to organize! Well +split into pairs and search, and don’t forget, be gentle +with Potter until we’ve got the prophecy, you can kill +the others if necessary — Bellatrix, Rodolphus, you +take the left, Crabbe, Rabastan, go right — Jugson, +Dolohov, the door straight ahead — Macnair and +Avery, through here — Rookwood, over there — +Mulciber, come with me!” + +“What do we do?” Hermione asked Harry, trembling +from head to foot. + +“Well, we don’t stand here waiting for them to find us, +for a start,” said Harry. “Let’s get away from this +door...” + +They ran, quietly as they could, past the shimmering +bell jar where the tiny egg was hatching and +unhatching, toward the exit into the circular hallway +at the far end of the room. They were almost there + +Page | 1006Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +when Harry heard something large and heavy collide +with the door Hermione had charmed shut. + +“Stand aside!” said a rough voice. “Alohomora\” + +As the door flew open, Harry, Hermione, and Neville +dived under desks. They could see the bottom of the +two Death Eaters’ robes drawing nearer, their feet +moving rapidly. + +“They might’ve run straight through to the hall,” said +the rough voice. + +“Check under the desks,” said another. + +Harry saw the knees of the Death Eaters bend. Poking +his wand out from under the desk he shouted, +“STUPEFY]” + +A jet of red light hit the nearest Death Eater; he fell +backward into a grandfather clock and knocked it +over. The second Death Eater, however, had leapt +aside to avoid Harry’s spell and now pointed his own +wand at Hermione, who had crawled out from under +the desk to get a better aim. + +“Avada — ” + +Harry launched himself across the floor and grabbed +the Death Eater around the knees, causing him to +topple and his aim to go awry. Neville overturned his +desk in his anxiety to help; pointing his wand wildly +at the struggling pair he cried, “EXPELLIARMUS\” + +Both Harry’s and the Death Eater’s wands flew out of +their hands and soared back toward the entrance to +the Hall of Prophecy; both scrambled to their feet and +charged after them, the Death Eater in front and + + + +Page | 1007Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry hot on his heels, Neville bringing up the rear, +plainly horrors truck at what he had done. + + + +“Get out of the way, Harry!” yelled Neville, clearly +determined to repair the damage. + +Harry flung himself sideways as Neville took aim +again and shouted, “ STUPEFY !” + +The jet of red light flew right over the Death Eater’s +shoulder and hit a glass-fronted cabinet on the wall +full of variously shaped hourglasses. The cabinet fell +to the floor and burst apart, glass flying everywhere, +then sprang back up onto the wall, fully mended, +then fell down again, and shattered — + +The Death Eater had snatched up his wand, which +lay on the floor beside the glittering bell jar. Harry +ducked down behind another desk as the man turned +— his mask had slipped so that he could not see, he +ripped it off with his free hand and shouted, “STUP — + + + +“STUPEFY]” screamed Hermione, who had just caught +up with them. The jet of red light hit the Death Eater +in the middle of his chest; he froze, his arm still +raised, his wand fell to the floor with a clatter and he +collapsed backward toward the bell jar. Harry +expected to hear a clunk, for the man to hit solid glass +and slide off the jar onto the floor, but instead, his +head sank through the surface of the bell jar as +though it was nothing but a soap bubble and he came +to rest, sprawled on his back on the table, with his +head lying inside the jar full of glittering wind. + +“Accio Wand\” cried Hermione. Harry’s wand flew from +a dark corner into her hand and she threw it to him. + +“Thanks,” he said, “right, let’s get out of — ” + +Page | 1008Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Look out!” said Neville, horrified, staring at the Death +Eater’s head in the bell jar. + +All three of them raised their wands again, but none +of them struck. They were all gazing, openmouthed, +appalled, at what was happening to the man’s head. + +It was shrinking very fast, growing balder and balder, +the black hair and stubble retracting into his skull, +his cheeks smooth, his skull round and covered with +a peachlike fuzz... + +A baby’s head now sat grotesquely on top of the thick, +muscled neck of the Death Eater as he struggled to +get up again. But even as they watched, their mouths +open, the head began to swell to its previous +proportions again, thick black hair was sprouting +from the pate and chin... + +“It’s time,” said Hermione in an awestruck voice. + +“ Time ...” + +The Death Eater shook his ugly head again, trying to +clear it, but before he could pull himself together +again, it began to shrink back to babyhood once +more... + +There was a shout from a room nearby, then a crash +and a scream. + +“RON?” Harry yelled, turning quickly from the +monstrous transformation taking place before them. +“GINNY? LUNA?” + +“Harry!” Hermione screamed. + +The Death Eater had pulled his head out of the bell +jar. His appearance was utterly bizarre, his tiny +baby’s head bawling loudly while his thick arms + +Page | 1009Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +flailed dangerously in all directions, narrowly missing +Harry, who ducked. Harry raised his wand but to his +amazement Hermione seized his arm. + +“You can’t hurt a baby!” + +There was no time to argue the point. Harry could +hear more footsteps growing louder from the Hall of +Prophecy they had just left and knew, too late, that +he ought not to have shouted and given away their +position. + +“Come on!” he said again, and leaving the ugly baby- +headed Death Eater staggering behind them, they +took off for the door that stood ajar at the other end of +the room, leading back into the black hallway. + +They had run halfway toward it when Harry saw +through the open door two more Death Eaters +running across the black room toward them. Veering +left he burst instead into a small, dark, cluttered +office and slammed the door behind them. + +“Collo — ” began Hermione, but before she could +complete the spell the door had burst open again and +the two Death Eaters had come hurtling inside. With +a cry of triumph, both yelled, “ IMPEDIMENT A\” + +Harry, Hermione, and Neville were all knocked +backward off their feet. Neville was thrown over the +desk and disappeared from view, Hermione smashed +into a bookcase and was promptly deluged in a +cascade of heavy books; the back of Harry’s head +slammed into the stone wall behind him, tiny lights +burst in front of his eyes, and for a moment he was +too dizzy and bewildered to react. + +“WEVE GOT HIM!” yelled the Death Eater nearest +Harry, “IN AN OFFICE OFF — ” + +Page | lOlOHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ Silenciol ” cried Hermione, and the man’s voice was +extinguished. He continued to mouth through the +hole in his mask, but no sound came out; he was +thrust aside by his fellow. + +“Petrificus Totalusl” shouted Harry, as the second +Death Eater raised his wand. His arms and legs +snapped together and he fell forward, facedown onto +the rug at Harry’s feet, stiff as a board and unable to +move at all. + +“Well done, Ha — ” + +But the Death Eater Hermione had just struck dumb +made a sudden slashing movement with his wand +from which flew a streak of what looked like purple +flame. It passed right across Hermione’s chest; she +gave a tiny “oh!” as though of surprise and then +crumpled onto the floor where she lay motionless. + +“HERMIONE!” + +Harry fell to his knees beside her as Neville crawled +rapidly toward her from under the desk, his wand +held up in front of him. The Death Eater kicked out +hard at Neville’s head as he emerged — his foot broke +Neville’s wand in two and connected with his face — +Neville gave a howl of pain and recoiled, clutching his +mouth and nose. Harry twisted around, his own wand +held high, and saw that the Death Eater had ripped +off his mask and was pointing his wand directly at +Harry, who recognized the long, pale, twisted face +from the Daily Prophet: Antonin Dolohov, the wizard +who had murdered the Prewetts. + +Dolohov grinned. With his free hand, he pointed from +the prophecy still clutched in Harry’s hand, to +himself, then at Hermione. Though he could no longer + + + +Page | lOUHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +speak his meaning could not have been clearer: Give +me the prophecy, or you get the same as her... + + + +“Like you won’t kill us all the moment I hand it over +anyway!” said Harry. + +A whine of panic inside his head was preventing him +thinking properly. He had one hand on Hermione’s +shoulder, which was still warm, yet did not dare look +at her properly. Don’t let her be dead, don’t let her be +dead, it’s my fault if she’s dead... + +“Whaddever you do, Harry,” said Neville fiercely from +under the desk, lowering his hands to show a clearly +broken nose and blood pouring down his mouth and +chin, “don’d gib it to him!” + +Then there was a crash outside the door, and Dolohov +looked over his shoulder — the baby-headed Death +Eater had appeared in the doorway, his head bawling, +his great fists still flailing uncontrollably at everything +around him. + +Harry seized his chance: “PETRIFICUS TOT ALU S\” + +The spell hit Dolohov before he could block it, and he +toppled forward across his comrade, both of them +rigid as boards and unable to move an inch. + +“Hermione,” Harry said at once, shaking her as the +baby-headed Death Eater blundered out of sight +again. “Hermione, wake up...” + +“Whaddid he do to her?” said Neville, crawling out +from under the desk again to kneel at her other side, +blood streaming from his rapidly swelling nose. “I +dunno...” + +Neville groped for Hermione’s wrist. + +Page | 1012Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Dat’s a pulse, Harry, I’b sure id is...” + + + +Such a powerful wave of relief swept through Harry +that for a moment he felt light-headed. + +“She’s alive?” + +“Yeah, I dink so...” + +There was a pause in which Harry listened hard for +the sounds of more footsteps, but all he could hear +were the whimpers and blunderings of the baby +Death Eater in the next room. + +“Neville, we’re not far from the exit,” Harry whispered. +“We’re right next to that circular room... If we can just +get you across it and find the right door before any +more Death Eaters come, I’ll bet you can get +Hermione up the corridor and into the lift... Then you +could find someone... Raise the alarm ...” + +“And whad are you going do do?” said Neville, +mopping his bleeding nose with his sleeve and +frowning at Harry. + +“I’ve got to find the others,” said Harry. + +“Well, I’b going do find dem wid you,” said Neville +firmly. + +“But Hermione — ” + +“We’ll dake her wid us,” said Neville firmly. “I’ll carry +her — you’re bedder at fighding dem dan I ab — ” + +He stood up and seized one of Hermione’s arms, +glared at Harry, who hesitated, then grabbed the +other and helped hoist Hermione’s limp form over +Neville’s shoulders. + +Page | 1013Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Wait,” said Harry, snatching up Hermione’s wand +from the floor and shoving it into Nevilles hand, + +“you’d better take this...” + +Neville kicked aside the broken fragments of his own +wand as they walked slowly toward the door. + +“My gran’s going do kill be,” said Neville thickly, blood +spattering from his nose as he spoke, “dat was by +dad’s old wand...” + +Harry stuck his head out of the door and looked +around cautiously. The baby-headed Death Eater was +screaming and banging into things, toppling +grandfather clocks and overturning desks, bawling +and confused, while the glass cabinet that Harry now +suspected had contained Time-Turners continued to +fall, shatter, and repair itself on the wall behind them. + +“He’s never going to notice us,” he whispered. “C’mon +... keep close behind me...” + +They crept out of the office and back toward the door +into the black hallway, which now seemed completely +deserted. They walked a few steps forward, Neville +tottering slightly due to Hermione’s weight. The door +of the Time Room swung shut behind them, and the +walls began to rotate once more. The recent blow on +the back of Harry’s head seemed to have unsteadied +him; he narrowed his eyes, swaying slightly, until the +walls stopped moving again. With a sinking heart +Harry saw that Hermione’s fiery crosses had faded +from the doors. + +“So which way d’you reck — ?” + +But before they could make a decision as to which +way to try, a door to their right sprang open and three +people fell out of it. + +Page | 1014Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Ron!” croaked Harry, dashing toward them. “Ginny +— are you all — ?” + +“Harry,” said Ron, giggling weakly, lurching forward, +seizing the front of Harry’s robes and gazing at him +with unfocused eyes. “There you are... Ha ha ha ... +You look funny, Harry... You’re all messed up... + +Ron’s face was very white and something dark was +trickling from the corner of his mouth. Next moment +his knees had given way, but he still clutched the +front of Harry’s robes, so that Harry was pulled into a +kind of bow. + +“Ginny?” Harry said fearfully. “What happened?” + +But Ginny shook her head and slid down the wall into +a sitting position, panting and holding her ankle. + +“I think her ankle’s broken, I heard something crack,” +whispered Luna, who was bending over her and who +alone seemed to be unhurt. “Four of them chased us +into a dark room full of planets, it was a very odd +place, some of the time we were just floating in the +dark — ” + +“Harry, we saw Uranus up close!” said Ron, still +giggling feebly. “Get it, Harry? We saw Uranus — ha +ha ha — ” + +A bubble of blood grew at the corner of Ron’s mouth +and burst. + +“Anyway, one of them grabbed Ginny’s foot, I used the +Reductor Curse and blew up Pluto in his face, but ...” + +Luna gestured hopelessly at Ginny, who was +breathing in a very shallow way, her eyes still closed. + + + +Page | 1015Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“And what about Ron?” said Harry fearfully, as Ron +continued to giggle, still hanging off the front of +Harry’s robes. + +“I don’t know what they hit him with,” said Luna +sadly, “but he’s gone a bit funny, I could hardly get +him along at all...” + +“Harry,” said Ron, pulling Harry’s ear down to his +mouth and still giggling weakly, “you know who this +girl is, Harry? She’s Loony ... Loony Lovegood ... ha +ha ha...” + +“We’ve got to get out of here,” said Harry firmly. + +“Luna, can you help Ginny?” + +“Yes,” said Luna, sticking her wand behind her ear for +safekeeping, putting an arm around Ginny’s waist +and pulling her up. + +“It’s only my ankle, I can do it myself!” said Ginny +impatiently, but next moment she had collapsed +sideways and grabbed Luna for support. Harry pulled +Ron’s arm over his shoulder just as, so many months +ago, he had pulled Dudley’s. He looked around: They +had a one-in-twelve chance of getting the exit right +the first time — + +He heaved Ron toward a door; they were within a few +feet of it when another door across the hall burst +open and three Death Eaters sped into the hall, led by +Bellatrix Lestrange. + +“ There they are!” she shrieked. + +Stunning Spells shot across the room: Harry smashed +his way through the door ahead, flung Ron +unceremoniously from him, and ducked back to help +Neville in with Hermione. They were all over the + +Page | 1016Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +threshold just in time to slam the door against +Bellatrix. + + + +“ Colloportus\” shouted Harry, and he heard three +bodies slam into the door on the other side. + +“It doesn’t matter!” said a man’s voice. “There are +other ways in — WEVE GOT THEM, THEY’RE HERE!” + +Harry spun around. They were back in the Brain +Room and, sure enough, there were doors all around +the walls. He could hear footsteps in the hall behind +them as more Death Eaters came running to join the +first. + +“Luna — Neville — help me!” + +The three of them tore around the room, sealing the +doors as they went: Harry crashed into a table and +rolled over the top of it in his haste to reach the next +door. + +“ Colloportusl” + +There were footsteps running along behind the doors; + +every now and then another heavy body would launch + +itself against one, so it creaked and shuddered. Luna + +and Neville were bewitching the doors along the + +opposite wall — then, as Harry reached the very top of + +the room, he heard Luna cry, “Collo — aaaaaaaaargh +?? + + + +He turned in time to see her flying through the air. + +Five Death Eaters were surging into the room through +the door she had not reached in time; Luna hit a +desk, slid over its surface and onto the floor on the +other side where she lay sprawled, as still as +Hermione. + +Page | 1017Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Get Potter!” shrieked Bellatrix, and she ran at him. +He dodged her and sprinted back up the room; he +was safe as long as they thought they might hit the +prophecy — + +“Hey!” said Ron, who had staggered to his feet and +was now tottering drunkenly toward Harry, giggling. +“Hey, Harry, there are brains in here, ha ha ha, isn’t +that weird, Harry?” + +“Ron, get out of the way, get down — ” + +But Ron had already pointed his wand at the tank. + +“Honest, Harry, they’re brains — look — Accio Brain\” + +The scene seemed momentarily frozen. Harry, Ginny, +and Neville and each of the Death Eaters turned in +spite of themselves to watch the top of the tank as a +brain burst from the green liquid like a leaping fish. +For a moment it seemed suspended in midair, then it +soared toward Ron, spinning as it came, and what +looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it, +unraveling like rolls of film — + +“Ha ha ha, Harry, look at it — ” said Ron, watching it +disgorge its gaudy innards. “Harry, come and touch +it, bet it’s weird — ” + +“RON, NO!” + +Harry did not know what would happen if Ron +touched the tentacles of thought now flying behind +the brain, but he was sure it would not be anything +good. He darted forward but Ron had already caught +the brain in his outstretched hands. + + + +Page | 1018Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The moment they made contact with his skin, the +tentacles began wrapping themselves around Ron’s +arms like ropes. + +“Harry, look what’s happen — no — no, I don’t like it +— no, stop — stop — ” + +But the thin ribbons were spinning around Ron’s +chest now. He tugged and tore at them as the brain +was pulled tight against him like an octopus’s body. + +“Diffindol” yelled Harry, trying to sever the feelers +wrapping themselves tightly around Ron before his +eyes, but they would not break. Ron fell over, still +thrashing against his bonds. + +“Harry, it’ll suffocate him!” screamed Ginny, +immobilized by her broken ankle on the floor — then +a jet of red light flew from one of the Death Eater’s +wands and hit her squarely in the face. She keeled +over sideways and lay there unconscious. + +“ STUBEFYl” shouted Neville, wheeling around and +waving Hermione’s wand at the oncoming Death +Eaters. “STUBEFY, STUBEFYl” + +But nothing happened — one of the Death Eaters +shot their own Stunning Spell at Neville; it missed +him by inches. Harry and Neville were now the only +two left fighting the five Death Eaters, two of whom +sent streams of silver light like arrows past them that +left craters in the wall behind them. Harry ran for it +as Bellatrix Lestrange sprinted right at him. Holding +the prophecy high above his head he sprinted back +up the room; all he could think of doing was to draw +the Death Eaters away from the others. + +It seemed to have worked. They streaked after him, +knocking chairs and tables flying but not daring to + +Page | 1019Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +bewitch him in case they hurt the prophecy, and he +dashed through the only door still open, the one +through which the Death Eaters themselves had +come. Inwardly praying that Neville would stay with +Ron — find some way of releasing him — he ran a few +feet into the new room and felt the floor vanish — + +He was falling down steep stone step after steep stone +step, bouncing on every tier until at last, with a crash +that knocked all the breath out of his body, he landed +flat on his back in the sunken pit where the stone +archway stood on its dais. The whole room was +ringing with the Death Eaters’ laughter. He looked up +and saw the five who had been in the Brain Room +descending toward him, while as many more emerged +through other doorways and began leaping from +bench to bench toward him. Harry got to his feet +though his legs were trembling so badly they barely +supported him. The prophecy was still miraculously +unbroken in his left hand, his wand clutched tightly +in his right. He backed away, looking around, trying +to keep all the Death Eaters within his sights. The +back of his legs hit something solid; he had reached +the dais where the archway stood. He climbed +backward onto it. + +The Death Eaters all halted, gazing at him. Some were +panting as hard as he was. One was bleeding badly; +Dolohov, freed of the full Body-Bind, was leering, his +wand pointing straight at Harry’s face. + +“Potter, your race is run,” drawled Lucius Malfoy, +pulling off his mask. “Now hand me the prophecy like +a good boy...” + +“Let — let the others go, and I’ll give it to you!” said +Harry desperately. + +A few of the Death Eaters laughed. + +Page | 1020Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You are not in a position to bargain, Potter,” said +Lucius Malfoy, his pale face flushed with pleasure. + +“You see, there are ten of us and only one of you ... or +hasn’t Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?” + +“He’s dot alone!” shouted a voice from above them. + +“He’s still god be!” + +Harry’s heart sank. Neville was scrambling down the +stone benches toward them, Hermione’s wand held +fast in his trembling hand. + +“Neville — no — go back to Ron — ” + +“STUBEFYl” Neville shouted again, pointing his wand +at each Death Eater in turn, “STUBEFYl. STUBE — ” + +One of the largest Death Eaters seized Neville from +behind, pinioning his arms to his sides. He struggled +and kicked; several of the Death Eaters laughed. + +“It’s Longbottom, isn’t it?” sneered Lucius Malfoy. + +“Well, your grandmother is used to losing family +members to our cause... Your death will not come as +a great shock...” + +“Longbottom?” repeated Bellatrix, and a truly evil +smile lit her gaunt face. “Why, I have had the +pleasure of meeting your parents, boy...” + +“I DOE YOU HAB!” roared Neville, and he fought so +hard against his captor’s encircling grip that the +Death Eater shouted, “Someone Stun him!” + +“No, no, no,” said Bellatrix. She looked transported, +alive with excitement as she glanced at Harry, then +back at Neville. “No, let’s see how long Longbottom +lasts before he cracks like his parents... Unless Potter +wants to give us the prophecy — ” + +Page | 1021Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“DON’D GIB ID DO DEM!” roared Neville, who seemed +beside himself, kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew +nearer to him and his captor, her wand raised. + +“DON’D GIB ID DO DEM, HARRY!” + +Bellatrix raised her wand. “Cruciol” + +Neville screamed, his legs drawn up to his chest so +that the Death Eater holding him was momentarily +holding him off the ground. The Death Eater dropped +him and he fell to the floor, twitching and screaming +in agony. + +“That was just a taster!” said Bellatrix, raising her +wand so that Neville’s screams stopped and he lay +sobbing at her feet. She turned and gazed up at +Harry. “Now, Potter, either give us the prophecy, or +watch your little friend die the hard way!” + +Harry did not have to think; there was no choice. The +prophecy was hot with the heat from his clutching +hand as he held it out. Malfoy jumped forward to take +it. + +Then, high above them, two more doors burst open +and five more people sprinted into the room: Sirius, +Lupin, Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley. + +Malfoy turned and raised his wand, but Tonks had +already sent a Stunning Spell right at him. Harry did +not wait to see whether it had made contact, but +dived off the dais out of the way. The Death Eaters +were completely distracted by the appearance of the +members of the Order, who were now raining spells +down upon them as they jumped from step to step +toward the sunken floor: Through the darting bodies, +the flashes of light, Harry could see Neville crawling +along. He dodged another jet of red light and flung +himself flat on the ground to reach Neville. + +Page | 1022Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Are you okay?” he yelled, as another spell soared +inches over their heads. + + + +“Yes,” said Neville, trying to pull himself up. + +“And Ron?” + +“I dink he’s all right — he was still fighding the brain +when I left — ” + +The stone floor between them exploded as a spell hit +it, leaving a crater right where Neville’s hand had +been seconds before. Both scrambled away from the +spot, then a thick arm came out of nowhere, seized +Harry around the neck and pulled him upright, so +that his toes were barely touching the floor. + +“Give it to me,” growled a voice in his ear, “give me the +prophecy — ” + +The man was pressing so tightly on Harry’s windpipe +that he could not breathe — through watering eyes he +saw Sirius dueling with a Death Eater some ten feet +away. Kingsley was fighting two at once; Tonks, still +halfway up the tiered seats, was firing spells down at +Bellatrix — nobody seemed to realize that Harry was +dying... He turned his wand backward toward the +man’s side, but had no breath to utter an incantation, +and the man’s free hand was groping toward the hand +in which Harry was grasping the prophecy — + +“AARGH!” + +Neville had come lunging out of nowhere: Unable to +articulate a spell, he had jabbed Hermione’s wand +hard into the eyehole of the Death Eater’s mask. The +man relinquished Harry at once with a howl of pain +and Harry whirled around to face him and gasped, +“STUPEFY]” + +Page | 1023Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The Death Eater keeled over backward and his mask +slipped off. It was Macnair, Buckbeak’s would-be +killer, one of his eyes now swollen and bloodshot. + +“Thanks!” Harry said to Neville, pulling him aside as +Sirius and his Death Eater lurched past, dueling so +fiercely that their wands were blurs. Then Harry’s foot +made contact with something round and hard and he +slipped — for a moment he thought he had dropped +the prophecy, then saw Moody’s magic eye spinning +away across the floor. + +Its owner was lying on his side, bleeding from the +head, and his attacker was now bearing down upon +Harry and Neville: Dolohov, his long pale face twisted +with glee. + +“Tarantallegrcd” he shouted, his wand pointing at +Neville, whose legs went immediately into a kind of +frenzied tap dance, unbalancing him and causing him +to fall to the floor again. “Now, Potter — ” + +He made the same slashing movement with his wand +that he had used on Hermione just as Harry yelled, +“Protego\” + +Harry felt something streak across his face like a +blunt knife but the force of it knocked him sideways, +and he fell over Neville’s jerking legs, but the Shield +Charm had stopped the worst of the spell. + +Dolohov raised his wand again. “Accio Proph — ” + +Sirius hurtled out of nowhere, rammed Dolohov with +his shoulder, and sent him flying out of the way. The +prophecy had again flown to the tips of Harry’s fingers +but he had managed to cling to it. Now Sirius and +Dolohov were dueling, their wands flashing like +swords, sparks flying from their wand tips — + +Page | 1024Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dolohov drew back his wand to make the same +slashing movement he had used on Harry and +Hermione. Springing up, Harry yelled, “Petrificus +Totalusl” Once again, Dolohov’s arms and legs +snapped together and he keeled over backward, +landing with a crash on his back. + +“Nice one!” shouted Sirius, forcing Harry’s head down +as a pair of Stunning Spells flew toward them. “Now I +want you to get out of — ” + +They both ducked again. A jet of green light had +narrowly missed Sirius; across the room Harry saw +Tonks fall from halfway up the stone steps, her limp +form toppling from stone seat to stone seat, and +Bellatrix, triumphant, running back toward the fray. + +“Harry, take the prophecy, grab Neville, and run!” +Sirius yelled, dashing to meet Bellatrix. Harry did not +see what happened next: Kingsley swayed across his +field of vision, battling with the pockmarked +Rookwood, now mask-less; another jet of green light +flew over Harry’s head as he launched himself toward +Neville — + +“Can you stand?” he bellowed in Neville’s ear, as +Neville’s legs jerked and twitched uncontrollably. “Put +your arm round my neck — ” + +Neville did so — Harry heaved — Neville’s legs were +still flying in every direction, they would not support +him and then, out of nowhere, a man lunged at them. +Both fell backward, Neville’s legs waving wildly like an +overturned beetle’s, Harry with his left arm held up in +the air to try and save the small glass ball from being +smashed. + + + +Page | 1025Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“The prophecy, give me the prophecy, Potter!” snarled +Lucius Malfoy’s voice in his ear, and Harry felt the tip +of Malfoy’s wand pressing hard between his ribs. + +“No — get — off — me ... Neville — catch it!” + +Harry flung the prophecy across the floor, Neville +spun himself around on his back and scooped the +ball to his chest. Malfoy pointed the wand instead at +Neville, but Harry jabbed his own wand back over his +shoulder and yelled, “Impedimental” + +Malfoy was blasted off his back. As Harry scrambled +up again he looked around and saw Malfoy smash +into the dais on which Sirius and Bellatrix were now +dueling. Malfoy aimed his wand at Harry and Neville +again, but before he could draw breath to strike, +Lupin had jumped between them. + +“Harry, round up the others and GO!” + +Harry seized Neville by the shoulder of his robes and +lifted him bodily onto the first tier of stone steps. +Neville’s legs twitched and jerked and would not +support his weight. Harry heaved again with all the +strength he possessed and they climbed another step + + + +A spell hit the stone bench at Harry’s heel. It +crumbled away and he fell back to the step below: +Neville sank to the ground, his legs still jerking and +thrashing, and thrust the prophecy into his pocket. + +“Come on!” said Harry desperately, hauling at +Neville’s robes. “Just try and push with your legs — ” + +He gave another stupendous heave and Neville’s robes +tore all along the left seam — the small spun-glass +ball dropped from his pocket and before either of + +Page | 1026Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +them could catch it, one of Neville’s floundering feet +kicked it. It flew some ten feet to their right and +smashed on the step beneath them. As both of them +stared at the place where it had broken, appalled at +what had happened, a pearly-white figure with hugely +magnified eyes rose into the air, unnoticed by any but +them. Harry could see its mouth moving, but in all +the crashes and screams and yells surrounding them, +not one word of the prophecy could he hear. The +figure stopped speaking and dissolved into +nothingness. + +“Harry, I’b sorry!” cried Neville, his face anguished as +his legs continued to flounder, “I’b so sorry, Harry, I +didn’d bean do — ■” + +“It doesn’t matter!” Harry shouted. “Just try and +stand, let’s get out of — ” + +“ Dubbledorel” said Neville, his sweaty face suddenly +transported, staring over Harry’s shoulder. + +“What?” + +“DUBBLEDORE!” + +Harry turned to look where Neville was staring. + +Directly above them, framed in the doorway from the +Brain Room, stood Albus Dumbledore, his wand aloft, +his face white and furious. Harry felt a kind of electric +charge surge through every particle of his body — +they were saved. + +Dumbledore sped down the steps past Neville and +Harry, who had no more thought of leaving. +Dumbledore was already at the foot of the steps when +the Death Eaters nearest realized he was there. There +were yells; one of the Death Eaters ran for it, +scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. +Page | 1027Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Dumbledore’s spell pulled him back as easily and +effortlessly as though he had hooked him with an +invisible line — + + + +Only one couple were still battling, apparently +unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck +Bellatrix’s jet of red light: He was laughing at her. +“Come on, you can do better than that!” he yelled, his +voice echoing around the cavernous room. + +The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. + +The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his +eyes widened in shock. + +Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of +doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, +pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore turned to the +dais too. + +It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body +curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through +the ragged veil hanging from the arch... + +And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise +on his godfather’s wasted, once-handsome face as he +fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared +behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as +though in a high wind and then fell back into place. + +Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange’s triumphant scream, +but knew it meant nothing — Sirius had only just +fallen through the archway, he would reappear from +the other side any second... + +But Sirius did not reappear. + +“SIRIUS!” Harry yelled, “SIRIUS!” + +Page | 1028Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He had reached the floor, his breath coming in +searing gasps. Sirius must be just behind the curtain, +he, Harry, would pull him back out again... + +But as he reached the ground and sprinted toward +the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, +holding him back. + +“There’s nothing you can do, Harry — ” + +“Get him, save him, he’s only just gone through!” + +“It’s too late, Harry — ” + +“We can still reach him — ” + +Harry struggled hard and viciously, but Lupin would +not let go... + +“There’s nothing you can do, Harry ... nothing... He’s +gone.” + + + +Page | 1029Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE ONLY ONE HE EVER FEARED + +“He hasn’t gone!” Harry yelled. + +He did not believe it, he would not believe it; still he +fought Lupin with every bit of strength he had: Lupin +did not understand, people hid behind that curtain, +he had heard them whispering the first time he had +entered the room — Sirius was hiding, simply lurking +out of sight — + +“SIRIUS!” he bellowed, “SIRIUS!” + +“He can’t come back, Harry,” said Lupin, his voice +breaking as he struggled to contain Harry. “He can’t +come back, because he’s d — ” + +“HE — IS — NOT — DEAD!” roared Harry. “SIRIUS!” + +There was movement going on around them, pointless +bustling, the flashes of more spells. To Harry it was +meaningless noise, the deflected curses flying past +them did not matter, nothing mattered except that +Lupin stop pretending that Sirius, who was standing +Page | 1030Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +feet from them behind that old curtain, was not going +to emerge at any moment, shaking back his dark hair +and eager to reenter the battle — + +Lupin dragged Harry away from the dais, Harry still +staring at the archway, angry at Sirius now for +keeping him waiting — + +But some part of him realized, even as he fought to +break free from Lupin, that Sirius had never kept him +waiting before... Sirius had risked everything, always, +to see Harry, to help him... If Sirius was not +reappearing out of that archway when Harry was +yelling for him as though his life depended on it, the +only possible explanation was that he could not come +back. . . That he really was . . . + +Dumbledore had most of the remaining Death Eaters +grouped in the middle of the room, seemingly +immobilized by invisible ropes. Mad-Eye Moody had +crawled across the room to where Tonks lay and was +attempting to revive her. Behind the dais there were +still flashes of light, grunts, and cries — Kingsley had +run forward to continue Sirius’s duel with Bellatrix. + +“Harry?” + +Neville had slid down the stone benches one by one to +the place where Harry stood. Harry was no longer +struggling against Lupin, who maintained a +precautionary grip on his arm nevertheless. + +“Harry ... I’b really sorry...” said Neville. His legs were +still dancing uncontrollably. “Was dat man — was +Sirius Black a — a friend of yours?” + +Harry nodded. + + + +Page | 1031Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Here,” said Lupin quietly, and pointing his wand at +Neville’s legs he said, “Finite.” The spell was lifted. +Neville’s legs fell back onto the floor and remained +still. Lupin’s face was pale. “Let’s — let’s find the +others. Where are they all, Neville?” + +Lupin turned away from the archway as he spoke. It +sounded as though every word was causing him pain. + +“Dey’re all back dere,” said Neville. “A brain addacked +Ron bud I dink he’s all righd — and Herbione’s +unconscious, bud we could feel a bulse — ” + +There was a loud bang and a yell from behind the +dais. Harry saw Kingsley, yelling in pain, hit the +ground. Bellatrix Lestrange turned tail and ran as +Dumbledore whipped around. He aimed a spell at her +but she deflected it. She was halfway up the steps +now — + +“Harry — no!” cried Lupin, but Harry had already +ripped his arm from Lupin’s slackened grip. + +“SHE KILLED SIRIUS!” bellowed Harry. “SHE KILLED +HIM — I’LL KILL HER!” + +And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches. +People were shouting behind him but he did not care. +The hem of Bellatrix’s robes whipped out of sight +ahead and they were back in the room where the +brains were swimming. . . + +She aimed a curse over her shoulder. The tank rose +into the air and tipped. Harry was deluged in the foul- +smelling potion within. The brains slipped and slid +over him and began spinning their long, colored +tentacles, but he shouted, “Wingardium Levioscd” and +they flew into the air away from him. Slipping and +sliding he ran on toward the door. He leapt over Luna, +Page | 1032Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +who was groaning on the floor, past Ginny, who said, +“Harry — what — ?” past Ron, who giggled feebly, and +Hermione, who was still unconscious. He wrenched +open the door into the circular black hall and saw +Bellatrix disappearing through a door on the other +side of the room — beyond her was the corridor +leading back to the lifts. + +He ran, but she had slammed the door behind her +and the walls had begun to rotate again. Once more +he was surrounded by streaks of blue light from the +whirling candelabra. + +“Where’s the exit?” he shouted desperately, as the +wall rumbled to a halt again. “Where’s the way out?” + +The room seemed to have been waiting for him to ask. +The door right behind him flew open, and the corridor +toward the lifts stretched ahead of him, torch- lit and +empty. He ran... + +He could hear a lift clattering ahead of him. He +sprinted up the passageway, swung around the +corner, and slammed his fist onto the button to call a +second lift. It jangled and banged lower and lower; the +grilles slid open and Harry dashed inside, now +hammering the button marked Atrium. The doors slid +shut and he was rising. . . + +He forced his way out of the lift before the grilles were +fully open and looked around. Bellatrix was almost at +the telephone lift at the other end of the hall, but she +looked back as he sprinted toward her, and aimed +another spell at him. He dodged behind the Fountain +of Magical Brethren; the spell zoomed past him and +hit the wrought gold gates at the other end of the +Atrium so that they rang like bells. There were no +more footsteps. She had stopped running. He +crouched behind the statues, listening. + +Page | 1033Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“ Come out, come out, little HarryV’ she called in her +mock-baby voice, which echoed off the polished +wooden floors. “What did you come after me for, then? + +I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin!” + +“I am!” shouted Harry, and a score of ghostly Harry’s +seemed to chorus I am\ I am\ I am\ all around the +room. + +“Aaaaaah . . . did you love him, little baby Potter?” + +Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known +before. He flung himself out from behind the fountain +and bellowed “CrucioV’ + +Bellatrix screamed. The spell had knocked her off her +feet, but she did not writhe and shriek with pain as +Neville had — she was already on her feet again, +breathless, no longer laughing. Harry dodged behind +the golden fountain again — her counterspell hit the +head of the handsome wizard, which was blown off +and landed twenty feet away, gouging long scratches +into the wooden floor. + +“Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, +boy?” she yelled. She had abandoned her baby voice +now. “You need to mean them, Potter! You need to +really want to cause pain — to enjoy it — righteous +anger won’t hurt me for long — I’ll show you how it is +done, shall I? I’ll give you a lesson — ” + +Harry had been edging around the fountain on the +other side. She screamed, “Cruciol” and he was forced +to duck down again as the centaur’s arm, holding its +bow, spun off and landed with a crash on the floor a +short distance from the golden wizard’s head. + +“Potter, you cannot win against me!” she cried. He +could hear her moving to the right, trying to get a + +Page | 1034Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +clear shot of him. He backed around the statue away +from her, crouching behind the centaur’s legs, his +head level with the house-elf’s. “I was and am the +Dark Lord’s most loyal servant, I learned the Dark +Arts from him, and I know spells of such power that +you, pathetic little boy, can never hope to compete — ” + +“Stupefy\” yelled Harry. He had edged right around to +where the goblin stood beaming up at the now +headless wizard and taken aim at her back as she +peered around the fountain for him. She reacted so +fast he barely had time to duck. + +“Protegol” + +The jet of red light, his own Stunning Spell, bounced +back at him. Harry scrambled back behind the +fountain, and one of the goblin’s ears went flying +across the room. + +“Potter, I am going to give you one chance!” shouted +Bellatrix. “Give me the prophecy — roll it out toward +me now — and I may spare your life!” + +“Well, you’re going to have to kill me, because it’s +gone!” Harry roared — and as he shouted it, pain +seared across his forehead. His scar was on fire +again, and he felt a surge of fury that was quite +unconnected with his own rage. “And he knows!” said +Harry with a mad laugh to match Bellatrix ’s own. + +“Your dear old mate Voldemort knows it’s gone! He’s +not going to be happy with you, is he?” + +“What? What do you mean?” she cried, and for the +first time there was fear in her voice. + +“The prophecy smashed when I was trying to get +Neville up the steps! What do you think Voldemort’ll +say about that, then?” + +Page | 1035Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +His scar seared and burned... The pain of it was +making his eyes stream... + + + +“LIAR!” she shrieked, but he could hear the terror +behind the anger now. “YOU’VE GOT IT, POTTER, +AND YOU WILL GIVE IT TO ME — Accio Prophecy ! +ACCIO PROPHECY !” + +Harry laughed again because he knew it would +incense her, the pain building in his head so badly he +thought his skull might burst. He waved his empty +hand from behind the one-eared goblin and withdrew +it quickly as she sent another jet of green light flying +at him. + +“Nothing there!” he shouted. “Nothing to summon! It +smashed and nobody heard what it said, tell your +boss that — ” + +“No!” she screamed. “It isn’t true, you’re lying — +MASTER, I TRIED, I TRIED — DO NOT PUNISH ME + + + +“Don’t waste your breath!” yelled Harry, his eyes +screwed up against the pain in his scar, now more +terrible than ever. “He can’t hear you from here!” + +“Can’t I, Potter?” said a high, cold voice. + +Harry opened his eyes. + +Tall, thin, and black-hooded, his terrible snakelike +face white and gaunt, his scarlet, slit-pupiled eyes +staring ... Lord Voldemort had appeared in the middle +of the hall, his wand pointing at Harry who stood +frozen, quite unable to move. + +“So you smashed my prophecy?” said Voldemort +softly, staring at Harry with those pitiless red eyes. + +Page | 1036Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No, Bella, he is not lying... I see the truth looking at +me from within his worthless mind... Months of +preparation, months of effort . . . and my Death Eaters +have let Harry Potter thwart me again...” + +“Master, I am sorry, I knew not, I was fighting the +Animagus Black!” sobbed Bellatrix, flinging herself +down at Voldemort’s feet as he paced slowly nearer. +“Master, you should know — ” + +“Be quiet, Bella,” said Voldemort dangerously. “I shall +deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have +entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your sniveling +apologies?” + +“But Master — he is here — he is below — ” + +Voldemort paid no attention. + +“I have nothing more to say to you, Potter,” he said +quietly. “You have irked me too often, for too long. +AVADA KEDAVRAl” + +Harry had not even opened his mouth to resist. His +mind was blank, his wand pointing uselessly at the +floor. + +But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the +fountain had sprung alive, leaping from its plinth, +and landed on the floor with a crash between Harry +and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its chest +as the statue flung out its arms, protecting Harry. + +“What — ?” said Voldemort, staring around. And then +he breathed, “Dumbledore!” + +Harry looked behind him, his heart pounding. +Dumbledore was standing in front of the golden gates. + + + +Page | 1037Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Voldemort raised his wand and sent another jet of +green light at Dumbledore, who turned and was gone +in a whirling of his cloak; next second he had +reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand +toward the remnants of the fountain; the other +statues sprang to life too. The statue of the witch ran +at Bellatrix, who screamed and sent spells streaming +uselessly off its chest, before it dived at her, pinning +her to the floor. Meanwhile, the goblin and the house- +elf scuttled toward the fireplaces set along the wall, +and the one-armed centaur galloped at Voldemort, +who vanished and reappeared beside the pool. The +headless statue thrust Harry backward, away from +the fight, as Dumbledore advanced on Voldemort and +the golden centaur cantered around them both. + +“It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom,” said +Dumbledore calmly. “The Aurors are on their way — ” + +“By which time I shall be gone, and you dead!” spat +Voldemort. He sent another Killing Curse at +Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security +guards desk, which burst into flame. + +Dumbledore flicked his own wand. The force of the +spell that emanated from it was such that Harry, +though shielded by his stone guard, felt his hair +stand on end as it passed, and this time Voldemort +was forced to conjure a shining silver shield out of +thin air to deflect it. The spell, whatever it was, +caused no visible damage to the shield, though a +deep, gonglike note reverberated from it, an oddly +chilling sound... + +“You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?” called +Voldemort, his scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of +the shield. “Above such brutality, are you?” + + + +Page | 1038Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“We both know that there are other ways of +destroying a man, Tom,” Dumbledore said calmly, +continuing to walk toward Voldemort as though he +had not a fear in the world, as though nothing had +happened to interrupt his stroll up the hall. “Merely +taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit — ” + +“There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!” +snarled Voldemort. + +“You are quite wrong,” said Dumbledore, still closing +in upon Voldemort and speaking as lightly as though +they were discussing the matter over drinks. Harry +felt scared to see him walking along, undefended, +shieldless. He wanted to cry out a warning, but his +headless guard kept shunting him backward toward +the wall, blocking his every attempt to get out from +behind it. “Indeed, your failure to understand that +there are things much worse than death has always +been your greatest weakness — ” + +Another jet of green light flew from behind the silver +shield. This time it was the one-armed centaur, +galloping in front of Dumbledore, that took the blast +and shattered into a hundred pieces, but before the +fragments had even hit the floor, Dumbledore had +drawn back his wand and waved it as though +brandishing a whip. A long thin flame flew from the +tip; it wrapped itself around Voldemort, shield and all. +For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore had won, but +then the fiery rope became a serpent, which +relinquished its hold upon Voldemort at once and +turned, hissing furiously, to face Dumbledore. + +Voldemort vanished. The snake reared from the floor, +ready to strike — + + + +There was a burst of flame in midair above +Dumbledore just as Voldemort reappeared, standing + +Page | 1039Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +on the plinth in the middle of the pool where so +recently the five statues had stood. + + + +“Look outi” Harry yelled. + +But even as he shouted, one more jet of green light +had flown at Dumbledore from Voldemort’s wand and +the snake had struck — + +Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, +opened his beak wide, and swallowed the jet of green +light whole. He burst into flame and fell to the floor, +small, wrinkled, and flightless. At the same moment, +Dumbledore brandished his wand in one, long, fluid +movement — the snake, which had been an instant +from sinking its fangs into him, flew high into the air +and vanished in a wisp of dark smoke; the water in +the pool rose up and covered Voldemort like a cocoon +of molten glass — + +For a few seconds Voldemort was visible only as a +dark, rippling, faceless figure, shimmering and +indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw +off the suffocating mass — + +Then he was gone, and the water fell with a crash +back into its pool, slopping wildly over the sides, +drenching the polished floor. + +“MASTER!” screamed Bellatrix. + +Sure it was over, sure Voldemort had decided to flee, +Harry made to run out from behind his statue guard, +but Dumbledore bellowed, “Stay where you are, + +Harry!” + +For the first time, Dumbledore sounded frightened. +Harry could not see why. The hall was quite empty +but for themselves, the sobbing Bellatrix still trapped + +Page | 1040Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +under her statue, and the tiny baby Fawkes croaking +feebly on the floor — + +And then Harry’s scar burst open. He knew he was +dead: it was pain beyond imagining, pain past +endurance — + +He was gone from the hall, he was locked in the coils +of a creature with red eyes, so tightly bound that +Harry did not know where his body ended and the +creature’s began. They were fused together, bound by +pain, and there was no escape — + +And when the creature spoke, it used Harry’s mouth, +so that in his agony he felt his jaw move... + +“ Kill me now, Dumbledore...” + +Blinded and dying, every part of him screaming for +release, Harry felt the creature use him again... + +“If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy...” + +Let the pain stop, thought Harry. Let him kill us... End +it, Dumbledore... Death is nothing compared to this... + +And I’ll see Sirius again... + +And as Harry’s heart filled with emotion, the +creature’s coils loosened, the pain was gone, Harry +was lying facedown on the floor, his glasses gone, +shivering as though he lay upon ice, not wood... + +And there were voices echoing through the hall, more +voices than there should have been: Harry opened his +eyes, saw his glasses lying at the heel of the headless +statue that had been guarding him, but which now +lay flat on its back, cracked and immobile. He put + + + +Page | 1041Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +them on and raised his head an inch to find +Dumbledore’s crooked nose inches from his own. + + + +“Are you all right, Harry?” + +“Yes,” said Harry, shaking so violently he could not +hold his head up properly. “Yeah, I’m — where’s +Voldemort, where — who are all these — what’s — ” + +The Atrium was full of people. The floor was reflecting +emerald-green flames that had burst into life in all +the fireplaces along one wall, and a stream of witches +and wizards was emerging from them. As Dumbledore +pulled him back to his feet, Harry saw the tiny gold +statues of the house-elf and the goblin leading a +stunned-looking Cornelius Fudge forward. + +“He was there!” shouted a scarlet-robed man with a +ponytail, who was pointing at a pile of golden rubble +on the other side of the hall, where Bellatrix had lain +trapped moments before. “I saw him, Mr. Fudge, I +swear, it was You-Know-Who, he grabbed a woman +and Disapparated!” + +“I know, Williamson, I know, I saw him too!” gibbered +Fudge, who was wearing pajamas under his +pinstriped cloak and was gasping as though he had +just run miles. “Merlin’s beard — here — here! — in +the Ministry of Magic! — great heavens above — it +doesn’t seem possible — my word — how can this +be?” + +“If you proceed downstairs into the Department of +Mysteries, Cornelius,” said Dumbledore, apparently +satisfied that Harry was all right, and walking forward +so that the newcomers realized he was there for the +first time (a few of them raised their wands, others +simply looked amazed; the statues of the elf and +goblin applauded and Fudge jumped so much that +Page | 1042Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +his slipper-clad feet left the floor), “you will find +several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death +Chamber, bound by an Anti-Disapparation Jinx and +awaiting your decision as to what to do with them.” + +“Dumbledore!” gasped Fudge, apparently beside +himself with amazement. “You — here — I — I — ” + +He looked wildly around at the Aurors he had brought +with him, and it could not have been clearer that he +was in half a mind to cry, “Seize him!” + +“Cornelius, I am ready to fight your men — and win +again!” said Dumbledore in a thunderous voice. “But +a few minutes ago you saw proof, with your own eyes, +that I have been telling you the truth for a year. Lord +Voldemort has returned, you have been chasing the +wrong men for twelve months, and it is time you +listened to sense!” + +“I — don’t — well — ” blustered Fudge, looking around +as though hoping somebody was going to tell him +what to do. When nobody did, he said, “Very well — +Dawlish! Williamson! Go down to the Department of +Mysteries and see ... Dumbledore, you — you will +need to tell me exactly — the Fountain of Magical +Brethren — what happened?” he added in a kind of +whimper, staring around at the floor, where the +remains of the statues of the witch, wizard, and +centaur now lay scattered. + +“We can discuss that after I have sent Harry back to +Hogwarts,” said Dumbledore. + +“Harry — Harry Potter?” + +Fudge spun around and stared at Harry, who was +still standing against the wall beside the fallen statue + + + +Page | 1043Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +that had been guarding him during Dumbledore and +Voldemort’s duel. + +“He-here?” said Fudge. “Why — what’s all this +about?” + +“I shall explain everything,” repeated Dumbledore, +“when Harry is back at school.” + +He walked away from the pool to the place where the +golden wizard’s head lay on the floor. He pointed his +wand at it and muttered, “Portus.” The head glowed +blue and trembled noisily against the wooden floor for +a few seconds, then became still once more. + +“Now see here, Dumbledore!” said Fudge, as +Dumbledore picked up the head and walked back to +Harry carrying it. “You haven’t got authorization for +that Portkey! You can’t do things like that right in +front of the Minister of Magic, you — you — ” + +His voice faltered as Dumbledore surveyed him +magisterially over his half-moon spectacles. + +“You will give the order to remove Dolores Umbridge +from Hogwarts,” said Dumbledore. “You will tell your +Aurors to stop searching for my Care of Magical +Creatures teacher so that he can return to work. I will +give you ...” Dumbledore pulled a watch with twelve +hands from his pocket and glanced at it, “half an +hour of my time tonight, in which I think we shall be +more than able to cover the important points of what +has happened here. After that, I shall need to return +to my school. If you need more help from me you are, +of course, more than welcome to contact me at +Hogwarts. Letters addressed to the headmaster will +find me.” + + + +Page | 1044Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Fudge goggled worse than ever. His mouth was open +and his round face grew pinker under his rumpled +gray hair. + +“I — you — ” + +Dumbledore turned his back on him. + +“Take this Portkey, Harry.” + +He held out the golden head of the statue, and Harry +placed his hand upon it, past caring what he did next +or where he went. + +“I shall see you in half an hour,” said Dumbledore +quietly. “One ... two ... three ...” + +Harry felt the familiar sensation of a hook being +jerked behind his navel. The polished wooden floor +was gone from beneath his feet; the Atrium, Fudge, +and Dumbledore had all disappeared, and he was +flying forward in a whirlwind of color and sound. . . + + + +Page | 1045Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE LOST PROPHECY + +Harry’s feet hit solid ground again; his knees buckled +a little and the golden wizard’s head fell with a +resounding clunk to the floor. He looked around and +saw that he had arrived in Dumbledore’s office. + +Everything seemed to have repaired itself during the +headmaster’s absence. The delicate silver instruments +stood again upon the spindle-legged tables, puffing +and whirring serenely. The portraits of the +headmasters and headmistresses were snoozing in +their frames, heads lolling back in armchairs or +against the edge of their pictures. Harry looked +through the window. There was a cool line of pale +green along the horizon: Dawn was approaching. + +The silence and the stillness, broken only by the +occasional grunt or snuffle of a sleeping portrait, was +unbearable to him. If his surroundings could have +reflected the feelings inside him, the pictures would +have been screaming in pain. He walked around the +quiet, beautiful office, breathing quickly, trying not to +think. But he had to think... There was no escape... +Page | 1046Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his fault. If +he, Harry, had not been stupid enough to fall for +Voldemort’s trick, if he had not been so convinced +that what he had seen in his dream was real, if he +had only opened his mind to the possibility that +Voldemort was, as Hermione had said, banking on +Harry’s love of playing the hero . . . + +It was unbearable, he would not think about it, he +could not stand it... There was a terrible hollow inside +him he did not want to feel or examine, a dark hole +where Sirius had been, where Sirius had vanished. + +He did not want to have to be alone with that great, +silent space, he could not stand it — + +A picture behind him gave a particularly loud +grunting snore, and a cool voice said, “Ah ... Harry +Potter ...” + +Phineas Nigellus gave a long yawn, stretching his +arms as he watched Harry with shrewd, narrow eyes. + +“And what brings you here in the early hours of the +morning?” said Phineas. “This office is supposed to be +barred to all but the rightful headmaster. Or has +Dumbledore sent you here? Oh, don’t tell me ...” He +gave another shuddering yawn. “Another message for +my worthless great-great-grandson?” + +Harry could not speak. Phineas Nigellus did not know +that Sirius was dead, but Harry could not tell him. To +say it aloud would be to make it final, absolute, +irretrievable. + +A few more of the portraits had stirred now. Terror of +being interrogated made Harry stride across the room +and seize the doorknob. + + + +It would not turn. He was shut in. + +Page | 1047Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I hope this means,” said the corpulent, red-nosed +wizard who hung on the wall behind Dumbledore’s +desk, “that Dumbledore will soon be back with us?” + +Harry turned. The wizard was eyeing him with great +interest. Harry nodded. He tugged again on the +doorknob behind his back, but it remained +immovable. + +“Oh good,” said the wizard. “It has been very dull +without him, very dull indeed.” + +He settled himself on the thronelike chair on which he +had been painted and smiled benignly upon Harry. + +“Dumbledore thinks very highly of you, as I am sure +you know,” he said comfortably. “Oh yes. Holds you +in great esteem.” + +The guilt filling the whole of Harry’s chest like some +monstrous, weighty parasite now writhed and +squirmed. Harry could not stand this, he could not +stand being Harry anymore... He had never felt more +trapped inside his own head and body, never wished +so intensely that he could be somebody — anybody — +else... + +The empty fireplace burst into emerald-green flame, +making Harry leap away from the door, staring at the +man spinning inside the grate. As Dumbledore’s tall +form unfolded itself from the fire, the wizards and +witches on the surrounding walls jerked awake. Many +of them gave cries of welcome. + +“Thank you,” said Dumbledore softly. + +He did not look at Harry at first, but walked over to +the perch beside the door and withdrew, from an +inside pocket of his robes, the tiny, ugly, featherless + +Page | 1048Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Fawkes, whom he placed gently on the tray of soft +ashes beneath the golden post where the full-grown +Fawkes usually stood. + +“Well, Harry,” said Dumbledore, finally turning away +from the baby bird, “you will be pleased to hear that +none of your fellow students are going to suffer +lasting damage from the night’s events.” + +Harry tried to say “Good,” but no sound came out. It +seemed to him that Dumbledore was reminding him +of the amount of damage he had caused by his +actions tonight, and although Dumbledore was for +once looking at him directly, and though his +expression was kindly rather than accusatory, Harry +could not bear to meet his eyes. + +“Madam Pomfrey is patching everybody up now,” said +Dumbledore. “Nymphadora Tonks may need to spend +a little time in St. Mungo’s, but it seems that she will +make a full recovery.” + +Harry contented himself with nodding at the carpet, +which was growing lighter as the sky outside grew +paler. He was sure that all the portraits around the +room were listening eagerly to every word Dumbledore +spoke, wondering where Dumbledore and Harry had +been and why there had been injuries. + +“I know how you are feeling, Harry,” said Dumbledore +very quietly. + +“No, you don’t,” said Harry, and his voice was +suddenly loud and strong. White-hot anger leapt +inside him. Dumbledore knew nothing about his +feelings. + +“You see, Dumbledore?” said Phineas Nigellus slyly. +“Never try to understand the students. They hate it. + +Page | 1049Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +They would much rather be tragically misunderstood, +wallow in self-pity, stew in their own — ” + +“That’s enough, Phineas,” said Dumbledore. + +Harry turned his back on Dumbledore and stared +determinedly out of the opposite window. He could +see the Quidditch stadium in the distance. Sirius had +appeared there once, disguised as the shaggy black +dog, so he could watch Harry play. . . He had probably +come to see whether Harry was as good as James had +been... Harry had never asked him... + +“There is no shame in what you are feeling, Harry,” +said Dumbledore ’s voice. “On the contrary ... the fact +that you can feel pain like this is your greatest +strength.” + +Harry felt the white-hot anger lick his insides, blazing +in the terrible emptiness, filling him with the desire to +hurt Dumbledore for his calmness and his empty +words. + +“My greatest strength, is it?” said Harry, his voice +shaking as he stared out at the Quidditch stadium, +no longer seeing it. “You haven’t got a clue... You +don’t know ...” + +“What don’t I know?” asked Dumbledore calmly. + +It was too much. Harry turned around, shaking with +rage. + +“I don’t want to talk about how I feel, all right?” + +“Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man! +This pain is part of being human — ” + + + +Page | 1050Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“THEN — I — DONT — WANT — TO-BE — +HUMAN!” Harry roared, and he seized one of the +delicate silver instruments from the spindle-legged +table beside him and flung it across the room. It +shattered into a hundred tiny pieces against the wall. +Several of the pictures let out yells of anger and +fright, and the portrait of Armando Dippet said, +a Reallyl” + +“I DONT CARE!” Harry yelled at them, snatching up a +lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. “I’VE +HAD ENOUGH, IVE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I +WANT IT TO END, I DONT CARE ANYMORE — ” + +He seized the table on which the silver instrument +had stood and threw that too. It broke apart on the +floor and the legs rolled in different directions. + +“You do care,” said Dumbledore. He had not flinched +or made a single move to stop Harry demolishing his +office. His expression was calm, almost detached. + +“You care so much you feel as though you will bleed +to death with the pain of it.” + +“I — DONT!” Harry screamed, so loudly that he felt +his throat might tear, and for a second he wanted to +rush at Dumbledore and break him too; shatter that +calm old face, shake him, hurt him, make him feel +some tiny part of the horror inside Harry. + +“Oh yes, you do,” said Dumbledore, still more calmly. +“You have now lost your mother, your father, and the +closest thing to a parent you have ever known. Of +course you care.” + +“YOU DONT KNOW HOW I FEEL!” Harry roared. + +“YOU — STANDING THERE — YOU — ” + + + +Page | 1051Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But words were no longer enough, smashing things +was no more help. He wanted to run, he wanted to +keep running and never look back, he wanted to be +somewhere he could not see the clear blue eyes +staring at him, that hatefully calm old face. He ran to +the door, seized the doorknob again, and wrenched at +it. + +But the door would not open. + +Harry turned back to Dumbledore. + +“Let me out,” he said. He was shaking from head to +foot. + +“No,” said Dumbledore simply. + +For a few seconds they stared at each other. + +“Let me out,” Harry said again. + +“No,” Dumbledore repeated. + +“If you don’t — if you keep me in here — if you don’t +let me — ” + +“By all means continue destroying my possessions,” +said Dumbledore serenely. “I daresay I have too +many.” + +He walked around his desk and sat down behind it, +watching Harry. + +“Let me out,” Harry said yet again, in a voice that was +cold and almost as calm as Dumbledore ’s. + +“Not until I have had my say,” said Dumbledore. + + + +Page | 1052Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Do you — do you think I want to — do you think I +give a — I DONT CARE WHAT YOUVE GOT TO SAY!” +Harry roared. “I don’t want to hear anything you’ve +got to say!” + +“You will,” said Dumbledore sadly. “Because you are +not nearly as angry with me as you ought to be. If you +are to attack me, as I know you are close to doing, I +would like to have thoroughly earned it.” + +“What are you talking — ?” + +“It is my fault that Sirius died,” said Dumbledore +clearly. “Or I should say almost entirely my fault — I +will not be so arrogant as to claim responsibility for +the whole. Sirius was a brave, clever, and energetic +man, and such men are not usually content to sit at +home in hiding while they believe others to be in +danger. Nevertheless, you should never have believed +for an instant that there was any necessity for you to +go to the Department of Mysteries tonight. If I had +been open with you, Harry, as I should have been, +you would have known a long time ago that +Voldemort might try and lure you to the Department +of Mysteries, and you would never have been tricked +into going there tonight. And Sirius would not have +had to come after you. That blame lies with me, and +with me alone.” + +Harry was still standing with his hand on the +doorknob but he was unaware of it. He was gazing at +Dumbledore, hardly breathing, listening yet barely +understanding what he was hearing. + +“Please sit down,” said Dumbledore. It was not an +order, it was a request. + + + +Page | 1053Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry hesitated, then walked slowly across the room +now littered with silver cogs and fragments of wood +and took the seat facing Dumbledore ’s desk. + +“Am I to understand,” said Phineas Nigellus slowly +from Harry’s left, “that my great-great-grandson — +the last of the Blacks — is dead?” + +“Yes, Phineas,” said Dumbledore. + +“I don’t believe it,” said Phineas brusquely. + +Harry turned his head in time to see Phineas +marching out of his portrait and knew that he had +gone to visit his other painting in Grimmauld Place. +He would walk, perhaps, from portrait to portrait, +calling for Sirius through the house... + +“Harry, I owe you an explanation,” said Dumbledore. +“An explanation of an old man’s mistakes. For I see +now that what I have done, and not done, with regard +to you, bears all the hallmarks of the failings of age. +Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old +men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young +... and I seem to have forgotten lately...” + +The sun was rising properly now. There was a rim of +dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the +sky above it was colorless and bright. The light fell +upon Dumbledore, upon the silver of his eyebrows +and beard, upon the lines gouged deeply into his face. + +“I guessed, fifteen years ago,” said Dumbledore, + +“when I saw the scar upon your forehead, what it +might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign of a +connection forged between you and Voldemort.” + + + +Page | 1054Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You’ve told me this before, Professor,” said Harry +bluntly. He did not care about being rude. He did not +care about anything very much anymore. + +“Yes,” said Dumbledore apologetically. “Yes, but you +see — it is necessary to start with your scar. For it +became apparent, shortly after you rejoined the +magical world, that I was correct, and that your scar +was giving you warnings when Voldemort was close to +you, or else feeling powerful emotion.” + +“I know,” said Harry wearily. + +“And this ability of yours — to detect Voldemort’s +presence, even when he is disguised, and to know +what he is feeling when his emotions are roused — +has become more and more pronounced since +Voldemort returned to his own body and his full +powers.” + +Harry did not bother to nod. He knew all of this +already. + +“More recently,” said Dumbledore, “I became +concerned that Voldemort might realize that this +connection between you exists. Sure enough, there +came a time when you entered so far into his mind +and thoughts that he sensed your presence. I am +speaking, of course, of the night when you witnessed +the attack on Mr. Weasley.” + +“Yeah, Snape told me,” Harry muttered. + +“Professor Snape, Harry,” Dumbledore corrected him +quietly. “But did you not wonder why it was not I who +explained this to you? Why I did not teach you +Occlumency? Why I had not so much as looked at +you for months?” + + + +Page | 1055Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry looked up. He could see now that Dumbledore +looked sad and tired. + +“Yeah,” Harry mumbled. “Yeah, I wondered.” + +“You see,” continued Dumbledore heavily. “I believed +it could not be long before Voldemort attempted to +force his way into your mind, to manipulate and +misdirect your thoughts, and I was not eager to give +him more incentives to do so. I was sure that if he +realized that our relationship was — or had ever been +— closer than that of headmaster and pupil, he would +seize his chance to use you as a means to spy on me. + +I feared the uses to which he would put you, the +possibility that he might try and possess you. Harry, I +believe I was right to think that Voldemort would have +made use of you in such a way. On those rare +occasions when we had close contact, I thought I saw +a shadow of him stir behind your eyes... I was trying, +in distancing myself from you, to protect you. An old +man’s mistake ...” + +Harry remembered the feeling that a dormant snake +had risen in him, ready to strike, on those occasions +when he and Dumbledore made eye contact. + +“Voldemort’s aim in possessing you, as he +demonstrated tonight, would not have been my +destruction. It would have been yours. He hoped, +when he possessed you briefly a short while ago, that +I would sacrifice you in the hope of killing him.” + +He sighed deeply. Harry was letting the words wash +over him. He would have been so interested to know +all this a few months ago, and now it was +meaningless compared to the gaping chasm inside +him that was the loss of Sirius, none of it mattered ... + + + +Page | 1056Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Sirius told me that you felt Voldemort awake inside +you the very night that you had the vision of Arthur +Weasley’s attack. I knew at once that my worst fears +were correct: Voldemort from that point had realized +he could use you. In an attempt to arm you against +Voldemort’s assaults on your mind, I arranged +Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape.” + +He paused. Harry watched the sunlight, which was +sliding slowly across the polished surface of +Dumbledore’s desk, illuminate a silver ink pot and a +handsome scarlet quill. Harry could tell that the +portraits all around them were awake and listening +raptly to Dumbledore’s explanation. He could hear +the occasional rustle of robes, the slight clearing of a +throat. Phineas Nigellus had still not returned... + +“Professor Snape discovered,” Dumbledore resumed, +“that you had been dreaming about the door to the +Department of Mysteries for months. Voldemort, of +course, had been obsessed with the possibility of +hearing the prophecy ever since he regained his body, +and as he dwelled on the door, so did you, though +you did not know what it meant. + +“And then you saw Rookwood, who worked in the +Department of Mysteries before his arrest, telling +Voldemort what we had known all along — that the +prophecies held in the Ministry of Magic are heavily +protected. Only the people to whom they refer can lift +them from the shelves without suffering madness. In +this case, either Voldemort himself would have to +enter the Ministry of Magic and risk revealing himself +at last — or else you would have to take it for him. It +became a matter of even greater urgency that you +should master Occlumency.” + +“But I didn’t,” muttered Harry. He said it aloud to try +and ease the dead weight of guilt inside him; a + +Page | 1057Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +confession must surely relieve some of the terrible +pressure squeezing his heart. “I didn’t practice, I +didn’t bother, I could’ve stopped myself having those +dreams, Hermione kept telling me to do it, if I had +he’d never have been able to show me where to go, +and — Sirius wouldn’t — Sirius wouldn’t — ” + +Something was erupting inside Harry’s head: a need +to justify himself, to explain — + +“I tried to check if he’d really taken Sirius, I went to +Umbridge’s office, I spoke to Kreacher in the fire, and +he said Sirius wasn’t there, he said he’d gone!” + +“Kreacher lied,” said Dumbledore calmly. “You are not +his master, he could lie to you without even needing +to punish himself. Kreacher intended you to go to the +Ministry of Magic.” + +“He — he sent me on purpose?” + +“Oh yes. Kreacher, I am afraid, has been serving more +than one master for months.” + +“How?” said Harry blankly. “He hasn’t been out of +Grimmauld Place for years.” + +“Kreacher seized his opportunity shortly before +Christmas,” said Dumbledore, “when Sirius, +apparently, shouted at him to ‘get out.’ He took Sirius +at his word and interpreted this as an order to leave +the house. He went to the only Black family member +for whom he had any respect left... Black’s cousin +Narcissa, sister of Bellatrix and wife of Lucius +Malfoy.” + +“How do you know all this?” Harry said. His heart was +beating very fast. He felt sick. He remembered +worrying about Kreacher’s odd absence over + +Page | 1058Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Christmas, remembered him turning up again in the +attic... + +“Kreacher told me last night,” said Dumbledore. “You +see, when you gave Professor Snape that cryptic +warning, he realized that you had had a vision of +Sirius trapped in the bowels of the Department of +Mysteries. He, like you, attempted to contact Sirius at +once. I should explain that members of the Order of +the Phoenix have more reliable methods of +communicating than the fire in Dolores Umbridge’s +office. Professor Snape found that Sirius was alive +and safe in Grimmauld Place. + +“When, however, you did not return from your trip +into the forest with Dolores Umbridge, Professor +Snape grew worried that you still believed Sirius to be +a captive of Lord Voldemort’s. He alerted certain +Order members at once.” + +Dumbledore heaved a great sigh and then said, +“Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley +Shacklebolt, and Remus Lupin were at headquarters +when he made contact. All agreed to go to your aid at +once. Professor Snape requested that Sirius remain +behind, as he needed somebody to remain at +headquarters to tell me what had happened, for I was +due there at any moment. In the meantime he, +Professor Snape, intended to search the forest for +you. + +“But Sirius did not wish to remain behind while the +others went to search for you. He delegated to +Kreacher the task of telling me what had happened. +And so it was that when I arrived in Grimmauld Place +shortly after they had all left for the Ministry, it was +the elf who told me — laughing fit to burst — where +Sirius had gone.” + + + +Page | 1059Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“He was laughing?” said Harry in a hollow voice. + +“Oh yes,” said Dumbledore. “You see, Kreacher was +not able to betray us totally. He is not Secret-Keeper +for the Order, he could not give the Malfoys our +whereabouts or tell them any of the Order’s +confidential plans that he had been forbidden to +reveal. He was bound by the enchantments of his +kind, which is to say that he could not disobey a +direct order from his master, Sirius. But he gave +Narcissa information of the sort that is very valuable +to Voldemort, yet must have seemed much too trivial +for Sirius to think of banning him from repeating it.” + +“Like what?” said Harry. + +“Like the fact that the person Sirius cared most about +in the world was you,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Like +the fact that you were coming to regard Sirius as a +mixture of father and brother. Voldemort knew +already, of course, that Sirius was in the Order, that +you knew where he was — but Kreacher’s information +made him realize that the one person whom you +would go to any lengths to rescue was Sirius Black.” + +Harry’s lips were cold and numb. + +“So . . . when I asked Kreacher if Sirius was there last +night ...” + +“The Malfoys — undoubtedly on Voldemort’s +instructions — had told him he must find a way of +keeping Sirius out of the way once you had seen the +vision of Sirius being tortured. Then, if you decided to +check whether Sirius was at home or not, Kreacher +would be able to pretend he was not. Kreacher +injured Buckbeak the hippogriff yesterday, and at the +moment when you made your appearance in the fire, +Sirius was upstairs trying to tend to him.” + +Page | 1060Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +There seemed to be very little air in Harry’s lungs, his +breathing was quick and shallow. + +“And Kreacher told you all this . . . and laughed?” he +croaked. + +“He did not wish to tell me,” said Dumbledore. “But I +am a sufficiently accomplished Legilimens myself to +know when I am being lied to and I — persuaded him + +— to tell me the full story, before I left for the +Department of Mysteries.” + +“And,” whispered Harry, his hands curled in cold fists +on his knees, “and Hermione kept telling us to be nice +to him — ” + +“She was quite right, Harry,” said Dumbledore. “I +warned Sirius when we adopted twelve Grimmauld +Place as our headquarters that Kreacher must be +treated with kindness and respect. I also told him +that Kreacher could be dangerous to us. I do not +think that Sirius took me very seriously, or that he +ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as +a humans — ” + +“Don’t you blame — don’t you — talk — about Sirius +like — ” Harry’s breath was constricted, he could not +get the words out properly. But the rage that had +subsided so briefly had flared in him again; he would +not let Dumbledore criticize Sirius. “Kreacher ’s a lying + +— foul — he deserved — ” + +“Kreacher is what he has been made by wizards, +Harry,” said Dumbledore. “Yes, he is to be pitied. His +existence has been as miserable as your friend +Dobby’s. He was forced to do Sirius’s bidding, +because Sirius was the last of the family to which he +was enslaved, but he felt no true loyalty to him. And + + + +Page | 1061Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +whatever Kreacher’s faults, it must be admitted that +Sirius did nothing to make Kreacher’s lot easier — ” + +“DON’T TALK ABOUT SIRIUS LIKE THAT!” Harry +yelled. + +He was on his feet again, furious, ready to fly at +Dumbledore, who had plainly not understood Sirius +at all, how brave he was, how much he had suffered + + + +“What about Snape?” Harry spat. “You’re not talking +about him, are you? When I told him Voldemort had +Sirius he just sneered at me as usual — ” + +“Harry, you know that Professor Snape had no choice +but to pretend not to take you seriously in front of +Dolores Umbridge,” said Dumbledore steadily, “but as +I have explained, he informed the Order as soon as +possible about what you had said. It was he who +deduced where you had gone when you did not return +from the forest. It was he too who gave Professor +Umbridge fake Veritaserum when she was attempting +to force you to tell of Sirius’s whereabouts...” + +Harry disregarded this; he felt a savage pleasure in +blaming Snape, it seemed to be easing his own sense +of dreadful guilt, and he wanted to hear Dumbledore +agree with him. + +“Snape — Snape g-goaded Sirius about staying in the +house — he made out Sirius was a coward — ” + +“Sirius was much too old and clever to have allowed +such feeble taunts to hurt him,” said Dumbledore. + +“Snape stopped giving me Occlumency lessons!” + +Harry snarled. “He threw me out of his office!” + + + +Page | 1062Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“I am aware of it,” said Dumbledore heavily. “I have +already said that it was a mistake for me not to teach +you myself, though I was sure, at the time, that +nothing could have been more dangerous than to +open your mind even further to Voldemort while in +my presence — ” + +“Snape made it worse, my scar always hurt worse +after lessons with him — ” Harry remembered Ron’s +thoughts on the subject and plunged on. “How do you +know he wasn’t trying to soften me up for Voldemort, +make it easier for him to get inside my — ” + +“I trust Severus Snape,” said Dumbledore simply. + +“But I forgot — another old man’s mistake — that +some wounds run too deep for the healing. I thought +Professor Snape could overcome his feelings about +your father — I was wrong.” + +“But that’s okay, is it?” yelled Harry, ignoring the +scandalized faces and disapproving mutterings of the +portraits covering the walls. “It’s okay for Snape to +hate my dad, but it’s not okay for Sirius to hate +Kreacher?” + +“Sirius did not hate Kreacher,” said Dumbledore. “He +regarded him as a servant unworthy of much interest +or notice. Indifference and neglect often do much +more damage than outright dislike... The fountain we +destroyed tonight told a lie. We wizards have +mistreated and abused our fellows for too long, and +we are now reaping our reward.” + +“SO SIRIUS DESERVED WHAT HE GOT, DID HE?” +Harry yelled. + +“I did not say that, nor will you ever hear me say it,” +Dumbledore replied quietly. “Sirius was not a cruel +man, he was kind to house-elves in general. He had + +Page | 1063Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +no love for Kreacher, because Kreacher was a living +reminder of the home Sirius had hated.” + +“Yeah, he did hate it!” said Harry, his voice cracking, +turning his back on Dumbledore and walking away. +The sun was bright inside the room now, and the eyes +of all the portraits followed him as he walked, without +realizing what he was doing, without seeing the office +at all. “You made him stay shut up in that house and +he hated it, that’s why he wanted to get out last night + + + +“I was trying to keep Sirius alive,” said Dumbledore +quietly. + +“People don’t like being locked up!” Harry said +furiously, rounding on him. “You did it to me all last +summer — ” + +Dumbledore closed his eyes and buried his face in his +long-fingered hands. Harry watched him, but this +uncharacteristic sign of exhaustion, or sadness, or +whatever it was from Dumbledore, did not soften him. +On the contrary, he felt even angrier that Dumbledore +was showing signs of weakness. He had no business +being weak when Harry wanted to rage and storm at +him. + +Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry +through his half-moon glasses. + +“It is time,” he said, “for me to tell you what I should +have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I +am going to tell you everything. I ask only a little +patience. You will have your chance to rage at me — +to do whatever you like — when I have finished. I will +not stop you.” + + + +Page | 1064Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry glared at him for a moment, then flung himself +back into the chair opposite Dumbledore and waited. +Dumbledore stared for a moment at the sunlit +grounds outside the window, then looked back at +Harry and said, “Five years ago you arrived at +Hogwarts, Harry, safe and whole, as I had planned +and intended. Well — not quite whole. You had +suffered. I knew you would when I left you on your +aunt and uncle’s doorstep. I knew I was condemning +you to ten dark and difficult years.” + +He paused. Harry said nothing. + +“You might ask — and with good reason — why it had +to be so. Why could some Wizarding family not have +taken you in? Many would have done so more than +gladly, would have been honored and delighted to +raise you as a son. + +“My answer is that my priority was to keep you alive. +You were in more danger than perhaps anyone but +myself realized. Voldemort had been vanquished +hours before, but his supporters — and many of them +are almost as terrible as he — were still at large, +angry, desperate, and violent. And I had to make my +decision too with regard to the years ahead. Did I +believe that Voldemort was gone forever? No. I knew +not whether it would be ten, twenty, or fifty years +before he returned, but I was sure he would do so, +and I was sure too, knowing him as I have done, that +he would not rest until he killed you. + +“I knew that Voldemort ’s knowledge of magic is +perhaps more extensive than any wizard alive. I knew +that even my most complex and powerful protective +spells and charms were unlikely to be invincible if he +ever returned to full power. + + + +Page | 1065Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But I knew too where Voldemort was weak. And so I +made my decision. You would be protected by an +ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, +and which he has always, therefore, underestimated +— to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact +that your mother died to save you. She gave you a +lingering protection he never expected, a protection +that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, +therefore, in your mother’s blood. I delivered you to +her sister, her only remaining relative.” + +“She doesn’t love me,” said Harry at once. “She +doesn’t give a damn — ” + +“But she took you,” Dumbledore cut across him. “She +may have taken you grudgingly, furiously, +unwillingly, bitterly, yet still she took you, and in +doing so, she sealed the charm I placed upon you. + +Your mother’s sacrifice made the bond of blood the +strongest shield I could give you.” + +“I still don’t — ” + +“While you can still call home the place where your +mother’s blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or +harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives +on in you and her sister. Her blood became your +refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as +long as you can still call it home, there he cannot +hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I +had done in the letter I left, with you, on her +doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom +may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen +years.” + +“Wait,” said Harry. “Wait a moment.” + +He sat up straighter in his chair, staring at +Dumbledore. + +Page | 1066Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“You sent that Howler. You told her to remember — it +was your voice — ” + +“I thought,” said Dumbledore, inclining his head +slightly, “that she might need reminding of the pact +she had sealed by taking you. I suspected the +dementor attack might have awoken her to the +dangers of having you as a surrogate son.” + +“It did,” said Harry quietly. “Well — my uncle more +than her. He wanted to chuck me out, but after the +Howler came she — she said I had to stay.” He stared +at the floor for a moment, then said, “But what’s this +got to do with ...” + +He could not say Sirius’s name. + +“Five years ago, then,” continued Dumbledore, as +though he had not paused in his story, “you arrived +at Hogwarts, neither as happy nor as well nourished +as I would have liked, perhaps, yet alive and healthy. +You were not a pampered little prince, but as normal +a boy as I could have hoped under the circumstances. +Thus far, my plan was working well. + +“And then ... well, you will remember the events of +your first year at Hogwarts quite as clearly as I do. + +You rose magnificently to the challenge that faced +you, and sooner — much sooner — than I had +anticipated, you found yourself face-to-face with +Voldemort. You survived again. You did more. You +delayed his return to full power and strength. You +fought a man’s fight. I was ... prouder of you than I +can say. + +“Yet there was a flaw in this wonderful plan of mine,” +said Dumbledore. “An obvious flaw that I knew, even +then, might be the undoing of it all. And yet, knowing +how important it was that my plan should succeed, I + +Page | 1067Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +told myself that I would not permit this flaw to min it. + +I alone could prevent this, so I alone must be strong. +And here was my first test, as you lay in the hospital +wing, weak from your struggle with Voldemort.” + +“I don’t understand what you’re saying,” said Harry. + +“Don’t you remember asking me, as you lay in the +hospital wing, why Voldemort had tried to kill you +when you were a baby?” + +Harry nodded. + +“Ought I to have told you then?” + +Harry stared into the blue eyes and said nothing, but +his heart was racing again. + +“You do not see the flaw in the plan yet? No ... +perhaps not. Well, as you know, I decided not to +answer you. Eleven, I told myself, was much too +young to know. I had never intended to tell you when +you were eleven. The knowledge would be too much at +such a young age. + +“I should have recognized the danger signs then. I +should have asked myself why I did not feel more +disturbed that you had already asked me the question +to which I knew, one day, I must give a terrible +answer. I should have recognized that I was too happy +to think that I did not have to do it on that particular +day. . . You were too young, much too young. + +“And so we entered your second year at Hogwarts. + +And once again you met challenges even grown +wizards have never faced. Once again you acquitted +yourself beyond my wildest dreams. You did not ask +me again, however, why Voldemort had left that mark +upon you. We discussed your scar, oh yes... We came +Page | 1068Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +very, very close to the subject. Why did I not tell you +everything? + +“Well, it seemed to me that twelve was, after all, +hardly better than eleven to receive such information. + +I allowed you to leave my presence, bloodstained, +exhausted but exhilarated, and if I felt a twinge of +unease that I ought, perhaps, have told you then, it +was swiftly silenced. You were still so young, you see, +and I could not find it in me to spoil that night of +triumph... + +“Do you see, Harry? Do you see the flaw in my +brilliant plan now? I had fallen into the trap I had +foreseen, that I had told myself I could avoid, that I +must avoid.” + +“I don’t — ” + +“I cared about you too much,” said Dumbledore +simply. “I cared more for your happiness than your +knowing the truth, more for your peace of mind than +my plan, more for your life than the lives that might +be lost if the plan failed. In other words, I acted +exactly as Voldemort expects we fools who love to act. + +“Is there a defense? I defy anyone who has watched +you as I have — and I have watched you more closely +than you can have imagined — not to want to save +you more pain than you had already suffered. What +did I care if numbers of nameless and faceless people +and creatures were slaughtered in the vague future, if +in the here and now you were alive, and well, and +happy? I never dreamed that I would have such a +person on my hands. + +“We entered your third year. I watched from afar as +you struggled to repel dementors, as you found +Sirius, learned what he was and rescued him. Was I + +Page | 1069Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +to tell you then, at the moment when you had +triumphantly snatched your godfather from the jaws +of the Ministry? But now, at the age of thirteen, my +excuses were running out. Young you might be, but +you had proved you were exceptional. My conscience +was uneasy, Harry. I knew the time must come +soon... + +“But you came out of the maze last year, having +watched Cedric Diggory die, having escaped death so +narrowly yourself . . . and I did not tell you, though I +knew, now Voldemort had returned, I must do it +soon. And now, tonight, I know you have long been +ready for the knowledge I have kept from you for so +long, because you have proved that I should have +placed the burden upon you before this. My only +defense is this: I have watched you struggling under +more burdens than any student who has ever passed +through this school, and I could not bring myself to +add another — the greatest one of all.” + +Harry waited, but Dumbledore did not speak. + +“I still don’t understand.” + +“Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a child +because of a prophecy made shortly before your birth. +He knew the prophecy had been made, though he did +not know its full contents. He set out to kill you when +you were still a baby, believing he was fulfilling the +terms of the prophecy. He discovered, to his cost, that +he was mistaken, when the curse intended to kill you +backfired. And so, since his return to his body, and +particularly since your extraordinary escape from him +last year, he has been determined to hear that +prophecy in its entirety. This is the weapon he has +been seeking so assiduously since his return: the +knowledge of how to destroy you.” + + + +Page | 1070Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +The sun had risen fully now. Dumbledore’s office was +bathed in it. The glass case in which the sword of +Godric Gryffindor resided gleamed white and opaque, +the fragments of the instruments Harry had thrown to +the floor glistened like raindrops, and behind him, the +baby Fawkes made soft chirruping noises in his nest +of ashes. + +“The prophecy’s smashed,” Harry said blankly. “I was +pulling Neville up those benches in the — the room +where the archway was, and I ripped his robes and it +fell...” + +“The thing that smashed was merely the record of the +prophecy kept by the Department of Mysteries. But +the prophecy was made to somebody, and that person +has the means of recalling it perfectly.” + +“Who heard it?” asked Harry, though he thought he +knew the answer already. + +“I did,” said Dumbledore. “On a cold, wet night +sixteen years ago, in a room above the bar at the +Hog’s Head Inn. I had gone there to see an applicant +for the post of Divination teacher, though it was +against my inclination to allow the subject of +Divination to continue at all. The applicant, however, +was the great-great-granddaughter of a very famous, +very gifted Seer, and I thought it common politeness +to meet her. I was disappointed. It seemed to me that +she had not a trace of the gift herself. I told her, +courteously I hope, that I did not think she would be +suitable for the post. I turned to leave.” + +Dumbledore got to his feet and walked past Harry to +the black cabinet that stood beside Fawkes’s perch. + +He bent down, slid back a catch, and took from inside +it the shallow stone basin, carved with runes around +the edges, in which Harry had seen his father +Page | 1071Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +tormenting Snape. Dumbledore walked back to the +desk, placed the Pensieve upon it, and raised his +wand to his own temple. From it, he withdrew silvery, +gossamer-fine strands of thought clinging to the +wand, and deposited them in the basin. He sat back +down behind his desk and watched his thoughts swirl +and drift inside the Pensieve for a moment. Then, +with a sigh, he raised his wand and prodded the +silvery substance with its tip. + +A figure rose out of it, draped in shawls, her eyes +magnified to enormous size behind her glasses, and +she revolved slowly, her feet in the basin. But when +Sibyll Trelawney spoke, it was not in her usual +ethereal, mystic voice, but in the harsh, hoarse tones +Harry had heard her use once before. + +“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...” + +The slowly revolving Professor Trelawney sank back +into the silver mass below and vanished. + +The silence within the office was absolute. Neither +Dumbledore nor Harry nor any of the portraits made +a sound. Even Fawkes had fallen silent. + +“Professor Dumbledore?” Harry said very quietly, for +Dumbledore, still staring at the Pensieve, seemed +completely lost in thought. “It ... did that mean ... +What did that mean?” + + + +Page | 1072Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It meant,” said Dumbledore, “that the person who +has the only chance of conquering Lord Voldemort for +good was born at the end of July, nearly sixteen years +ago. This boy would be born to parents who had +already defied Voldemort three times.” + +Harry felt as though something was closing in upon +him. His breathing seemed difficult again. + +“It means — me?” + +Dumbledore surveyed him for a moment through his +glasses. + +“The odd thing is, Harry,” he said softly, “that it may +not have meant you at all. Sibyll’s prophecy could +have applied to two wizard boys, both born at the end +of July that year, both of whom had parents in the +Order of the Phoenix, both sets of parents having +narrowly escaped Voldemort three times. One, of +course, was you. The other was Neville Longbottom.” + +“But then . . . but then, why was it my name on the +prophecy and not Neville’s?” + +“The official record was relabeled after Voldemort ’s +attack on you as a child,” said Dumbledore. “It +seemed plain to the keeper of the Hall of Prophecy +that Voldemort could only have tried to kill you +because he knew you to be the one to whom Sibyll +was referring.” + +“Then — it might not be me?” said Harry. + +“I am afraid,” said Dumbledore slowly, looking as +though every word cost him a great effort, “that there +is no doubt that it is you.” + + + +Page | 1073Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“But you said — Neville was born at the end of July +too — and his mum and dad — ” + +“You are forgetting the next part of the prophecy, the +final identifying feature of the boy who could +vanquish Voldemort... Voldemort himself would ‘mark +him as his equal.’ And so he did, Harry. He chose +you, not Neville. He gave you the scar that has proved +both blessing and curse.” + +“But he might have chosen wrong!” said Harry. “He +might have marked the wrong person!” + +“He chose the boy he thought most likely to be a +danger to him,” said Dumbledore. “And notice this, +Harry. He chose, not the pureblood (which, according +to his creed, is the only kind of wizard worth being or +knowing), but the half-blood, like himself. He saw +himself in you before he had ever seen you, and in +marking you with that scar, he did not kill you, as he +intended, but gave you powers, and a future, which +have fitted you to escape him not once, but four times +so far — something that neither your parents, nor +Neville’s parents, ever achieved.” + +“Why did he do it, then?” said Harry, who felt numb +and cold. “Why did he try and kill me as a baby? He +should have waited to see whether Neville or I looked +more dangerous when we were older and tried to kill +whoever it was then — ” + +“That might, indeed, have been the more practical +course,” said Dumbledore, “except that Voldemort’s +information about the prophecy was incomplete. The +Hog’s Head Inn, which Sibyll chose for its cheapness, +has long attracted, shall we say, a more interesting +clientele than the Three Broomsticks. As you and +your friends found out to your cost, and I to mine +that night, it is a place where it is never safe to +Page | 1074Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +assume you are not being overheard. Of course, I had +not dreamed, when I set out to meet Sibyll Trelawney, +that I would hear anything worth overhearing. My — +our — one stroke of good fortune was that the +eavesdropper was detected only a short way into the +prophecy and thrown from the building.” + +“So he only heard ... ?” + +“He heard only the first part, the part foretelling the +birth of a boy in July to parents who had thrice defied +Voldemort. Consequently, he could not warn his +master that to attack you would be to risk +transferring power to you — again marking you as his +equal. So Voldemort never knew that there might be +danger in attacking you, that it might be wise to wait +or to learn more. He did not know that you would +have ‘power the Dark Lord knows not’ — ” + +“But I don’t!” said Harry in a strangled voice. “I +haven’t any powers he hasn’t got, I couldn’t fight the +way he did tonight, I can’t possess people or — or kill +them — ” + +“There is a room in the Department of Mysteries,” +interrupted Dumbledore, “that is kept locked at all +times. It contains a force that is at once more +wonderful and more terrible than death, than human +intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, +the most mysterious of the many subjects for study +that reside there. It is the power held within that +room that you possess in such quantities and which +Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save +Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from +possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear +to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In +the end, it mattered not that you could not close your +mind. It was your heart that saved you.” + + + +Page | 1075Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry closed his eyes. If he had not gone to save +Sirius, Sirius would not have died... More to stave off +the moment when he would have to think of Sirius +again, Harry asked, without caring much about the +answer, “The end of the prophecy ... it was something +about ... ‘neither can live...’ ” + +“ ‘... while the other survives,’ ” said Dumbledore. + +“So,” said Harry, dredging up the words from what felt +like a deep well of despair inside him, “so does that +mean that . . . that one of us has got to kill the other +one ... in the end?” + +“Yes,” said Dumbledore. + +For a long time, neither of them spoke. Somewhere +far beyond the office walls, Harry could hear the +sound of voices, students heading down to the Great +Hall for an early breakfast, perhaps. It seemed +impossible that there could be people in the world +who still desired food, who laughed, who neither knew +nor cared that Sirius Black was gone forever. Sirius +seemed a million miles away already, even if a part of +Harry still believed that if he had only pulled back +that veil, he would have found Sirius looking back at +him, greeting him, perhaps, with his laugh like a +bark. . . + +“I feel I owe you another explanation, Harry,” said +Dumbledore hesitantly. “You may, perhaps, have +wondered why I never chose you as a prefect? I must +confess ... that I rather thought ... you had enough +responsibility to be going on with.” + +Harry looked up at him and saw a tear trickling down +Dumbledore ’s face into his long silver beard. + + + +Page | 1076Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + + + +THE SECOND WAR BEGINS + +HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS + +In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic +Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be +Named has returned to this country and is active +once more. + +“It is with great regret that I must confirm that the +wizard styling himself Lord — well, you know who I +mean — is alive and among us again,” said Fudge, +looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. +“It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass +revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown +themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry’s +employ. We believe that the dementors are currently +taking direction from Lord — Thingy. + +“We urge the magical population to remain vigilant The +Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary +home and personal defense that will be delivered free +to all Wizarding homes within the coming month. ” + + + +Page | 1077Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +The Minister’s statement was met with dismay and +alarm from the Wizarding community, which as +recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry +assurances that there was “no truth whatsoever in +these persistent rumors that You-Know-Who is +operating amongst us once more.” + +Details of the events that led to the Ministry +turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that +He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a select band of +followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the +Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening. + +Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated headmaster of +Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, +reinstated member of the International Confederation +of Wizards, and reinstated Chief Warlock of the +Wizengamot, was unavailable for comment last night. +He has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who was +not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but +recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to +seize power. Meanwhile the Boy Who Lived — + +“There you are, Harry, I knew they’d drag you into it +somehow,” said Hermione, looking over the top of the +paper at him. + +They were in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting on +the end of Ron’s bed and they were both listening to +Hermione read the front page of the Sunday Prophet. +Ginny, whose ankle had been mended in a trice by +Madam Pomfrey, was curled up at the foot of +Hermione’s bed; Neville, whose nose had likewise +been returned to its normal size and shape, was in a +chair between the two beds; and Luna, who had +dropped in to visit clutching the latest edition of The +Quibbler, was reading the magazine upside down and +apparently not taking in a word Hermione was saying. + + + +Page | 1078Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“He’s ‘the Boy Who Lived’ again now, though, isn’t +he?” said Ron darkly. “Not such a show-off maniac +anymore, eh?” + +He helped himself to a handful of Chocolate Frogs +from the immense pile on his bedside cabinet, threw a +few to Harry, Ginny, and Neville, and ripped off the +wrapper of his own with his teeth. There were still +deep welts on his forearms where the brain’s tentacles +had wrapped around him. According to Madam +Pomfrey, thoughts could leave deeper scarring than +almost anything else, though since she had started +applying copious amounts of Dr. Ubbly’s Oblivious +Unction, there seemed to be some improvement. + +“Yes, they’re very complimentary about you now, +Harry,” said Hermione, now scanning down the +article. “ ‘A lone voice of truth ... perceived as +unbalanced, yet never wavered in his story . . . forced to +bear ridicule and slander ...’ Hmmm,” said Hermione, +frowning, “I notice they don’t mention the fact that it +was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering, +though...” + +She winced slightly and put a hand to her ribs. The +curse Dolohov had used on her, though less effective +than it would have been had he been able to say the +incantation aloud, had nevertheless caused, in +Madam Pomfrey’s words, “quite enough damage to be +going on with.” Hermione was having to take ten +different types of potion every day and although she +was improving greatly, was already bored with the +hospital wing. + +“ ‘You-Know- Who’s Last Attempt to Take Over, pages +two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, +page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, +pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry +Potter, page nine ...’ Well,” said Hermione, folding up +Page | 1079Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +the newspaper and throwing it aside, “it’s certainly +given them lots to write about. And that interview +with Harry isn’t exclusive, it’s the one that was in The +Quibbler months ago...” + +“Daddy sold it to them,” said Luna vaguely, turning a +page of The Quibbler. “He got a very good price for it +too, so we’re going to go on an expedition to Sweden +this summer and see if we can catch a Crumple- +Horned Snorkack.” + +Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a +moment, then said, “That sounds lovely.” + +Ginny caught Harry’s eye and looked away quickly, +grinning. + +“So anyway,” said Hermione, sitting up a little +straighter and wincing again, “what’s going on in +school?” + +“Well, Flitwick’s got rid of Fred and George’s swamp,” +said Ginny. “He did it in about three seconds. But he +left a tiny patch under the window and he’s roped it +off—” + +“Why?” said Hermione, looking startled. + +“Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic,” +said Ginny, shrugging. + +“I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George,” +said Ron through a mouthful of chocolate. “They sent +me all these, you know,” he told Harry, pointing at +the small mountain of Frogs beside him. “Must be +doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?” + +Hermione looked rather disapproving and asked, “So +has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore’s back?” + +Page | 1080Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes,” said Neville, “everything’s settled right back +down again.” + +“I s’pose Filch is happy, is he?” asked Ron, propping a +Chocolate Frog card featuring Dumbledore against his +water jug. + +“Not at all,” said Ginny. “He’s really, really miserable, +actually...” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He +keeps saying Umbridge was the best thing that ever +happened to Hogwarts...” + +All six of them looked around. Professor Umbridge +was lying in a bed opposite them, gazing up at the +ceiling. Dumbledore had strode alone into the forest +to rescue her from the centaurs. How he had done it +— how he had emerged from the trees supporting +Professor Umbridge without so much as a scratch on +him — nobody knew, and Umbridge was certainly not +telling. Since she had returned to the castle she had +not, as far as any of them knew, uttered a single +word. Nobody really knew what was wrong with her +either. Her usually neat mousy hair was very untidy +and there were bits of twig and leaf in it, but +otherwise she seemed to be quite unscathed. + +“Madam Pomfrey says she’s just in shock,” whispered +Hermione. + +“Sulking, more like,” said Ginny + +“Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this,” said +Ron, and with his tongue he made soft clip-clopping +noises. Umbridge sat bolt upright, looking wildly +around. + +“Anything wrong, Professor?” called Madam Pomfrey, +poking her head around her office door. + + + +Page | 1081Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“No ... no ...” said Umbridge, sinking back into her +pillows, “no, I must have been dreaming...” + +Hermione and Ginny muffled their laughter in the +bedclothes. + +“Speaking of centaurs,” said Hermione, when she had +recovered a little, “who’s Divination teacher now? Is +Firenze staying?” + +“He’s got to,” said Harry, “the other centaurs won’t +take him back, will they?” + +“It looks like he and Trelawney are both going to +teach,” said Ginny. + +“Bet Dumbledore wishes he could’ve got rid of +Trelawney for good,” said Ron, now munching on his +fourteenth Frog. “Mind you, the whole subjects +useless if you ask me, Firenze isn’t a lot better...” + +“How can you say that?” Hermione demanded. “After +we’ve just found out that there are real prophecies?” + +Harry’s heart began to race. He had not told Ron, +Hermione, or anyone else what the prophecy had +contained. Neville had told them it had smashed while +Harry was pulling him up the steps in the Death +Room, and Harry had not yet corrected this +impression. He was not ready to see their expressions +when he told them that he must be either murderer +or victim, there was no other way... + +“It is a pity it broke,” said Hermione quietly, shaking +her head. + +“Yeah, it is,” said Ron. “Still, at least You-Know-Who +never found out what was in it either — where are + + + +Page | 1082Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +you going?” he added, looking both surprised and +disappointed as Harry stood up. + +“Er — Hagrid’s,” said Harry. “You know, he just got +back and I promised I’d go down and see him and tell +him how you two are...” + +“Oh all right then,” said Ron grumpily, looking out of +the dormitory window at the patch of bright blue sky +beyond. “Wish we could come ...” + +“Say hello to him for us!” called Hermione, as Harry +proceeded down the ward. “And ask him what’s +happening about ... about his little friend!” + +Harry gave a wave of his hand to show he had heard +and understood as he left the dormitory. + +The castle seemed very quiet even for a Sunday. +Everybody was clearly out in the sunny grounds, +enjoying the end of their exams and the prospect of a +last few days of term unhampered by studying or +homework. Harry walked slowly along the deserted +corridor, peering out of windows as he went. He could +see people messing around in the air over the +Quidditch pitch and a couple of students swimming +in the lake, accompanied by the giant squid. + +He was finding it hard at the moment to decide +whether he wanted to be with people or not. + +Whenever he was in company he wanted to get away, +and whenever he was alone he wanted company. He +thought he might really go and visit Hagrid, though; +he had not talked to him properly since he had +returned... + +Harry had just descended the last marble step into +the entrance hall when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle +emerged from a door on the right that Harry knew led + +Page | 1083Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +down to the Slytherin common room. Harry stopped +dead; so did Malfoy and the others. For a few +moments, the only sounds were the shouts, laughter, +and splashes drifting into the hall from the grounds +through the open front doors. + +Malfoy glanced around. Harry knew he was checking +for signs of teachers. Then he looked back at Harry +and said in a low voice, “You’re dead, Potter.” + +Harry raised his eyebrows. “Funny,” he said, “you’d +think I’d have stopped walking around...” + +Malfoy looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him. +He felt a kind of detached satisfaction at the sight of +his pale, pointed face contorted with rage. + +“You’re going to pay,” said Malfoy in a voice barely +louder than a whisper. “I’m going to make you pay for +what you’ve done to my father...” + +“Well, I’m terrified now,” said Harry sarcastically. “I +s’pose Lord Voldemort’s just a warm-up act compared +to you three — what’s the matter?” he said, for +Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had all looked stricken at +the sound of the name. “He’s your dad’s mate, isn’t +he? Not scared of him, are you?” + +“You think you’re such a big man, Potter,” said +Malfoy, advancing now, Crabbe and Goyle flanking +him. “You wait. I’ll have you. You can’t land my father +in prison — ” + +“I thought I just had,” said Harry. + +“The dementors have left Azkaban,” said Malfoy +quietly. “Dad and the others’ll be out in no time...” + + + +Page | 1084Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yeah, I expect they will,” said Harry. “Still, at least +everyone knows what scumbags they are now — ” + +Malfoy’s hand flew toward his wand, but Harry was +too quick for him. He had drawn his own wand before +Malfoy’s fingers had even entered the pocket of his +robes. + +“Potter!” + +The voice rang across the entrance hall; Snape had +emerged from the staircase leading down to his office, +and at the sight of him Harry felt a great rush of +hatred beyond anything he felt toward Malfoy . . . +Whatever Dumbledore said, he would never forgive +Snape ... never ... + +“What are you doing, Potter?” said Snape coldly as +ever, as he strode over to the four of them. + +“I’m trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,” +said Harry fiercely. + +Snape stared at him. + +“Put that wand away at once,” he said curtly. “Ten +points from Gryff — ” + +Snape looked toward the giant hourglasses on the +walls and gave a sneering smile. + +“Ah. I see there are no longer any points left in the +Gryffindor hourglass to take away. In that case, + +Potter, we will simply have to — ” + +“Add some more?” + +Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone +steps into the castle. She was carrying a tartan + +Page | 1085Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +carpetbag in one hand and leaning heavily on a +walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked +quite well. + +“Professor McGonagall!” said Snape, striding forward. +“Out of St. Mungo’s, I see!” + +“Yes, Professor Snape,” said Professor McGonagall, +shrugging off her traveling cloak, “I’m quite as good as +new. You two — Crabbe — Goyle — ” + +She beckoned them forward imperiously and they +came, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward. + +“Here,” said Professor McGonagall, thrusting her +carpetbag into Crabbe ’s chest and her cloak into +Goyle’s, “take these up to my office for me.” + +They turned and stumped away up the marble +staircase. + +“Right then,” said Professor McGonagall, looking up +at the hourglasses on the wall, “well, I think Potter +and his friends ought to have fifty points apiece for +alerting the world to the return of You- Know- Who! +What say you, Professor Snape?” + +“What?” snapped Snape, though Harry knew he had +heard perfectly well. “Oh — well — I suppose ...” + +“So that’s fifty each for Potter, the two Weasleys, +Longbottom, and Miss Granger,” said Professor +McGonagall, and a shower of rubies fell down into the +bottom bulb of Gryffindor’s hourglass as she spoke. + +“Oh — and fifty for Miss Lovegood, I suppose,” she +added, and a number of sapphires fell into +Ravenclaw’s glass. “Now, you wanted to take ten from +Mr. Potter, I think, Professor Snape — so there we +are...” + +Page | 1086Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +A few rubies retreated into the upper bulb, leaving a +respectable amount below nevertheless. + + + +“Well, Potter, Malfoy, I think you ought to be outside +on a glorious day like this,” Professor McGonagall +continued briskly. + +Harry did not need telling twice. He thrust his wand +back inside his robes and headed straight for the +front doors without another glance at Snape and +Malfoy. + +The hot sun hit him with a blast as he walked across +the lawns toward Hagrid’s cabin. Students lying +around on the grass sunbathing, talking, reading the +Sunday Prophet, and eating sweets looked up at him +as he passed. Some called out to him, or else waved, +clearly eager to show that they, like the Prophet, had +decided he was something of a hero. Harry said +nothing to any of them. He had no idea how much +they knew of what had happened three days ago, but +he had so far avoided being questioned and preferred +it that way. + +He thought at first when he knocked on Hagrid’s +cabin door that he was out, but then Fang came +charging around the corner and almost bowled him +over with the enthusiasm of his welcome. Hagrid, it +transpired, was picking runner beans in his back +garden. + +“All righ’, Harry!” he said, beaming, when Harry +approached the fence. “Come in, come in, we’ll have a +cup o’ dandelion juice... + +“How’s things?” Hagrid asked him, as they settled +down at his wooden table with a glass apiece of iced +juice. “You — er — feelin’ all righ’, are yeh?” + +Page | 1087Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry knew from the look of concern on Hagrid’s face +that he was not referring to Harry’s physical well- +being. + +“I’m fine,” Harry said quickly, because he could not +bear to discuss the thing that he knew was in +Hagrid’s mind. “So, where’ve you been?” + +“Bin hidin’ out in the mountains,” said Hagrid. “Up in +a cave, like Sirius did when he — ” + +Hagrid broke off, cleared his throat gruffly, looked at +Harry, and took a long draft of juice. + +“Anyway, back now,” he said feebly. + +“You — you look better,” said Harry, who was +determined to keep the conversation moving away +from Sirius. + +“Wha?” said Hagrid, raising a massive hand and +feeling his face. “Oh — oh yeah. Well, Grawpy’s loads +better behaved now, loads. Seemed right pleased ter +see me when I got back, ter tell yeh the truth. He’s a +good lad, really... I’ve bin thinkin’ abou’ tryin’ ter find +him a lady friend, actually...” + +Harry would normally have tried to persuade Hagrid +out of this idea at once. The prospect of a second +giant taking up residence in the forest, possibly even +wilder and more brutal than Grawp, was positively +alarming, but somehow Harry could not muster the +energy necessary to argue the point. He was starting +to wish he was alone again, and with the idea of +hastening his departure he took several large gulps of +his dandelion juice, half emptying his glass. + + + +Page | 1088Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Ev’ryone knows you’ve bin tellin’ the truth now, +Harry,” said Hagrid softly and unexpectedly. “Tha’s +gotta be better, hasn’ it?�� + +Harry shrugged. + +“Look ...” Hagrid leaned toward him across the table, +“I knew Sirius longer ’n you did... He died in battle, +an’ tha’s the way he’d’ve wanted ter go — ” + +“He didn’t want to go at all!” said Harry angrily. + +Hagrid bowed his great shaggy head. + +“Nah, I don’ reckon he did,” he said quietly. “But still, +Harry ... he was never one ter sit around at home an’ +let other people do the fightin’. He couldn’ have lived +with himself if he hadn’ gone ter help — ” + +Harry leapt up again. + +“I’ve got to go and visit Ron and Hermione in the +hospital wing,” he said mechanically. + +“Oh,” said Hagrid, looking rather upset. “Oh ... all +righ then, Harry ... Take care of yerself then, an’ drop +back in if yeh’ve got a mo...” + +“Yeah ... right ...” + +Harry crossed to the door as fast as he could and +pulled it open. He was out in the sunshine again +before Hagrid had finished saying goodbye and +walked away across the lawn. Once again, people +called out to him as he passed. He closed his eyes for +a few moments, wishing they would all vanish, that +he could open his eyes and find himself alone in the +grounds... + + + +Page | 1089Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +A few days ago, before his exams had finished and he +had seen the vision Voldemort had planted in his +mind, he would have given almost anything for the +Wizarding world to know that he had been telling the +truth, for them to believe that Voldemort was back +and know that he was neither a liar nor mad. Now, +however ... + +He walked a short way around the lake, sat down on +its bank, sheltered from the gaze of passersby behind +a tangle of shrubs, and stared out over the gleaming +water, thinking... + +Perhaps the reason he wanted to be alone was +because he had felt isolated from everybody since his +talk with Dumbledore. An invisible barrier separated +him from the rest of the world. He was — he had +always been — a marked man. It was just that he had +never really understood what that meant... + +And yet sitting here on the edge of the lake, with the +terrible weight of grief dragging at him, with the loss +of Sirius so raw and fresh inside, he could not muster +any great sense of fear. It was sunny and the grounds +around him were full of laughing people, and even +though he felt as distant from them as though he +belonged to a different race, it was still very hard to +believe as he sat here that his life must include, or +end in, murder... + +He sat there for a long time, gazing out at the water, +trying not to think about his godfather or to +remember that it was directly across from here, on +the opposite bank, that Sirius had collapsed trying to +fend off a hundred dementors... + +The sun had fallen before he realized that he was +cold. He got up and returned to the castle, wiping his +face on his sleeve as he went. + +Page | 1090Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing completely +cured three days before the end of term. Hermione +showed signs of wanting to talk about Sirius, but Ron +tended to make hushing noises every time she +mentioned his name. Harry was not sure whether or +not he wanted to talk about his godfather yet; his +wishes varied with his mood. He knew one thing, +though: Unhappy as he felt at the moment, he would +greatly miss Hogwarts in a few days’ time when he +was back at number four, Privet Drive. Even though +he now understood exactly why he had to return +there every summer, he did not feel any better about +it. Indeed, he had never dreaded his return more. + +Professor Umbridge left Hogwarts the day before the +end of term. It seemed that she had crept out of the +hospital wing during dinnertime, evidently hoping to +depart undetected, but unfortunately for her, she met +Peeves on the way, who seized his last chance to do +as Fred had instructed and chased her gleefully from +the premises, whacking her alternately with a walking +stick and a sock full of chalk. Many students ran out +into the entrance hall to watch her running away +down the path, and the Heads of Houses tried only +halfheartedly to restrain their pupils. Indeed, + +Professor McGonagall sank back into her chair at the +staff table after a few feeble remonstrances and was +clearly heard to express a regret that she could not +run cheering after Umbridge herself, because Peeves +had borrowed her walking stick. + +Their last evening at school arrived; most people had +finished packing and were already heading down to +the end-of-term feast, but Harry had not even started. + +“Just do it tomorrow!” said Ron, who was waiting by +the door of their dormitory. “Come on, I’m starving...” + +“I won’t be long... Look, you go ahead...” + +Page | 1091Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +But when the dormitory door closed behind Ron, +Harry made no effort to speed up his packing. The +very last thing he wanted to do was to attend the end- +of-term feast. He was worried that Dumbledore would +make some reference to him in his speech. He was +sure to mention Voldemort’s return; he had talked to +them about it last year, after all... + +Harry pulled some crumpled robes out of the very +bottom of his trunk to make way for folded ones and, +as he did so, noticed a badly wrapped package lying +in a corner of it. He could not think what it was doing +there. He bent down, pulled it out from underneath +his trainers, and examined it. + +He realized what it was within seconds. Sirius had +given it to him just inside the front door of twelve +Grimmauld Place. Use it if you need me, all right? + +Harry sank down onto his bed and unwrapped the +package. Out fell a small, square mirror. It looked old; +it was certainly dirty. Harry held it up to his face and +saw his own reflection looking back at him. + +He turned the mirror over. There on the reverse side +was a scribbled note from Sirius. + +This is a two-way mirror. I’ve got the other. If you need +to speak to me, just say my name into it; you’ll appear +in my mirror and I’ll be able to talk in yours. James +and I used to use them when we were in separate +detentions. + +And Harry’s heart began to race. He remembered +seeing his dead parents in the Mirror of Erised four +years ago. He was going to be able to talk to Sirius +again, right now, he knew it — + + + +Page | 1092Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +He looked around to make sure there was nobody else +there; the dormitory was quite empty. He looked back +at the mirror, raised it in front of his face with +trembling hands, and said, loudly and clearly, + +“Sirius.” + +His breath misted the surface of the glass. He held +the mirror even closer, excitement flooding through +him, but the eyes blinking back at him through the +fog were definitely his own. + +He wiped the mirror clear again and said, so that +every syllable rang clearly through the room, “Sirius +Black!” + +Nothing happened. The frustrated face looking back +out of the mirror was still, definitely, his own... + +Sirius didn’t have his mirror on him when he went +through the archway, said a small voice in Harry’s +head. That’s why it’s not working... + +Harry remained quite still for a moment, then hurled +the mirror back into the trunk where it shattered. He +had been convinced, for a whole, shining minute, that +he was going to see Sirius, talk to him again... + +Disappointment was burning in his throat. He got up +and began throwing his things pell-mell into the +trunk on top of the broken mirror — + +But then an idea struck him... A better idea than a +mirror ... A much bigger, more important idea . . . How +had he never thought of it before — why had he never +asked? + +He was sprinting out of the dormitory and down the +spiral staircase, hitting the walls as he ran and barely +noticing. He hurtled across the empty common room, + +Page | 1093Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +through the portrait hole and off along the corridor, +ignoring the Fat Lady, who called after him, “The feast +is about to start, you know, you’re cutting it very +fine!” + +But Harry had no intention of going to the feast . . . + +How could it be that the place was full of ghosts +whenever you didn’t need one, yet now ... + +He ran down staircases and along corridors and met +nobody either alive or dead. They were all, clearly, in +the Great Hall. Outside his Charms classroom he +came to a halt, panting and thinking disconsolately +that he would have to wait until later, until after the +end of the feast . . . + +But just as he had given up hope he saw it — a +translucent somebody drifting across the end of the +corridor. + +“Hey — hey Nick! NICK!” + +The ghost stuck its head back out of the wall, +revealing the extravagantly plumed hat and +dangerously wobbling head of Sir Nicholas de Mimsy- +Porpington. + +“Good evening,” he said, withdrawing the rest of his +body from the solid stone and smiling at Harry. “I am +not the only one who is late, then? Though,” he +sighed, “in rather different senses, of course ...” + +“Nick, can I ask you something?” + +A most peculiar expression stole over Nearly Headless +Nick’s face as he inserted a finger in the stiff ruff at +his neck and tugged it a little straighter, apparently to +give himself thinking time. He desisted only when his + +Page | 1094Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +partially severed neck seemed about to give way +completely. + + + +“Er — now, Harry?” said Nick, looking discomforted. +“Can’t it wait until after the feast?” + +“No — Nick — please,” said Harry, “I really need to +talk to you. Can we go in here?” + +Harry opened the door of the nearest classroom and +Nearly Headless Nick sighed. + +“Oh very well,” he said, looking resigned. “I can’t +pretend I haven’t been expecting it.” + +Harry was holding the door open for him, but he +drifted through the wall instead. + +“Expecting what?” Harry asked, as he closed the door. + +“You to come and find me,” said Nick, now gliding +over to the window and looking out at the darkening +grounds. “It happens, sometimes ... when somebody +has suffered a ... loss.” + +“Well,” said Harry, refusing to be deflected. “You were +right, I’ve — I’ve come to find you.” + +Nick said nothing. + +“It’s — ” said Harry, who was finding this more +awkward than he had anticipated, “it’s just — you’re +dead. But you’re still here, aren’t you?” + +Nick sighed and continued to gaze out at the grounds. + +“That’s right, isn’t it?” Harry urged him. “You died, +but I’m talking to you... You can walk around +Hogwarts and everything, can’t you?” + +Page | 1095Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Yes,” said Nearly Headless Nick quietly, “I walk and +talk, yes.” + +“So, you came back, didn’t you?” said Harry urgently. +“People can come back, right? As ghosts. They don’t +have to disappear completely. Well?” he added +impatiently, when Nick continued to say nothing. + +Nearly Headless Nick hesitated, then said, “Not +everyone can come back as a ghost.” + +“What d’you mean?” said Harry quickly. + +“Only ... only wizards.” + +“Oh,” said Harry, and he almost laughed with relief. +“Well, that’s okay then, the person I’m asking about is +a wizard. So he can come back, right?” + +Nick turned away from the window and looked +mournfully at Harry. “He won’t come back.” + +“Who?” + +“Sirius Black,” said Nick. + +“But you did!” said Harry angrily. “You came back — +you’re dead and you didn’t disappear — ” + +“Wizards can leave an imprint of themselves upon the +earth, to walk palely where their living selves once +trod,” said Nick miserably. “But very few wizards +choose that path.” + +“Why not?” said Harry. “Anyway — it doesn’t matter +— Sirius won’t care if it’s unusual, he’ll come back, I +know he will!” + + + +Page | 1096Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +And so strong was his belief that Harry actually +turned his head to check the door, sure, for a split +second, that he was going to see Sirius, pearly white +and transparent but beaming, walking through it +toward him. + +“He will not come back,” repeated Nick quietly. “He +will have ... gone on.” + +“What d’you mean, ‘gone on’?” said Harry quickly. +“Gone on where? Listen — what happens when you +die, anyway? Where do you go? Why doesn’t everyone +come back? Why isn’t this place full of ghosts? Why +— ?” + +“I cannot answer,” said Nick. + +“You’re dead, aren’t you?” said Harry exasperatedly. +“Who can answer better than you?” + +“I was afraid of death,” said Nick. “I chose to remain +behind. I sometimes wonder whether I oughtn’t to +have ... Well, that is neither here nor there... In fact, I +am neither here nor there...” He gave a small sad +chuckle. “I know nothing of the secrets of death, + +Harry, for I chose my feeble imitation of life instead. I +believe learned wizards study the matter in the +Department of Mysteries — ” + +“Don’t talk to me about that place!” said Harry +fiercely. + +“I am sorry not to have been more help,” said Nick +gently. “Well ... well, do excuse me ... the feast, you +know ...” + +And he left the room, leaving Harry there alone, +gazing blankly at the wall through which Nick had +disappeared. + +Page | 1097Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry felt almost as though he had lost his godfather +all over again in losing the hope that he might be able +to see or speak to him once more. He walked slowly +and miserably back up through the empty castle, +wondering whether he would ever feel cheerful again. + +He had turned the corner toward the Fat Lady’s +corridor when he saw somebody up ahead fastening a +note to a board on the wall. A second glance showed +him that it was Luna. There were no good hiding +places nearby, she was bound to have heard his +footsteps, and in any case, Harry could hardly muster +the energy to avoid anyone at the moment. + +“Hello,” said Luna vaguely, glancing around at him as +she stepped back from the notice. + +“How come you’re not at the feast?” Harry asked. + +“Well, I’ve lost most of my possessions,” said Luna +serenely. “People take them and hide them, you know. +But as it’s the last night, I really do need them back, +so I’ve been putting up signs.” + +She gestured toward the notice board, upon which, +sure enough, she had pinned a list of all her missing +books and clothes, with a plea for their return. + +An odd feeling rose in Harry — an emotion quite +different from the anger and grief that had filled him +since Sirius’s death. It was a few moments before he +realized that he was feeling sorry for Luna. + +“How come people hide your stuff?” he asked her, +frowning. + +“Oh ... well ...” She shrugged. “I think they think I’m a +bit odd, you know. Some people call me ‘Loony’ +Lovegood, actually.” + +Page | 1098Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Harry looked at her and the new feeling of pity +intensified rather painfully. + +“That’s no reason for them to take your things,” he +said flatly. “D’you want help finding them?” + +“Oh no,” she said, smiling at him. “They’ll come back, +they always do in the end. It was just that I wanted to +pack tonight. Anyway ... why aren’t you at the feast?” + +Harry shrugged. “Just didn’t feel like it.” + +“No,” said Luna, observing him with those oddly +misty, protuberant eyes. “I don’t suppose you do. + +That man the Death Eaters killed was your godfather, +wasn’t he? Ginny told me.” + +Harry nodded curtly, but found that for some reason +he did not mind Luna talking about Sirius. He had +just remembered that she too could see thestrals. + +“Have you ...” he began. “I mean, who ... has anyone +you’ve known ever died?” + +“Yes,” said Luna simply, “my mother. She was a quite +extraordinary witch, you know, but she did like to +experiment and one of her spells went rather badly +wrong one day. I was nine.” + +“I’m sorry,” Harry mumbled. + +“Yes, it was rather horrible,” said Luna +conversationally. “I still feel very sad about it +sometimes. But I’ve still got Dad. And anyway, it’s not +as though I’ll never see Mum again, is it?” + +“Er — isn’t it?” said Harry uncertainly. + + + +Page | 1099Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +She shook her head in disbelief. “Oh, come on. You +heard them, just behind the veil, didn’t you?” + +“You mean ...” + +“In that room with the archway. They were just +lurking out of sight, that’s all. You heard them.” + +They looked at each other. Luna was smiling slightly. +Harry did not know what to say, or to think. Luna +believed so many extraordinary things . . . yet he had +been sure he had heard voices behind the veil too... + +“Are you sure you don’t want me to help you look for +your stuff?” he said. + +“Oh no,” said Luna. “No, I think I’ll just go down and +have some pudding and wait for it all to turn up... It +always does in the end... Well, have a nice holiday, +Harry.” + +“Yeah ... yeah, you too.” + +She walked away from him, and as he watched her +go, he found that the terrible weight in his stomach +seemed to have lessened slightly. + +The journey home on the Hogwarts Express next day +was eventful in several ways. Firstly, Malfoy, Crabbe, +and Goyle, who had clearly been waiting all week for +the opportunity to strike without teacher witnesses, +attempted to ambush Harry halfway down the train +as he made his way back from the toilet. The attack +might have succeeded had it not been for the fact that +they unwittingly chose to stage the attack right +outside a compartment full of D.A. members, who saw +what was happening through the glass and rose as +one to rush to Harry’s aid. By the time Ernie +Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin +Page | llOOHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Finch-Fletchley, Anthony Goldstein, and Terry Boot +had finished using a wide variety of the hexes and +jinxes Harry had taught them, Malfoy, Crabbe, and +Goyle resembled nothing so much as three gigantic +slugs squeezed into Hogwarts uniforms as Harry, + +Ernie, and Justin hoisted them into the luggage rack +and left them there to ooze. + +“I must say, I’m looking forward to seeing Malfoy’s +mother’s face when he gets off the train,” said Ernie +with some satisfaction, as he watched Malfoy squirm +above him. Ernie had never quite got over the +indignity of Malfoy docking points from Hufflepuff +during his brief spell as a member of the Inquisitorial +Squad. + +“Goyle’s mum’ll be really pleased, though,” said Ron, +who had come to investigate the source of the +commotion. “He’s loads betterlooking now... Anyway, +Harry, the food trolley’s just stopped if you want +anything...” + +Harry thanked the others and accompanied Ron back +to their compartment, where he bought a large pile of +Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties. Hermione was +reading the Daily Prophet again, Ginny was doing a +quiz in The Quibbler, and Neville was stroking his +Mimbulus mimbletonia, which had grown a great deal +over the year and now made odd crooning noises +when touched. + +Harry and Ron whiled away most of the journey +playing wizard chess while Hermione read out +snippets from the Prophet It was now full of articles +about how to repel dementors, attempts by the +Ministry to track down Death Eaters, and hysterical +letters claiming that the writer had seen Lord +Voldemort walking past their house that very +morning. . . + +Page | llOlHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“It hasn’t really started yet,” sighed Hermione +gloomily, folding up the newspaper again. “But it +won’t be long now...” + +“Hey, Harry,” said Ron, nodding toward the glass +window onto the corridor. + +Harry looked around. Cho was passing, accompanied +by Marietta Edgecombe, who was wearing a balaclava. +His and Cho’s eyes met for a moment. Cho blushed +and kept walking. Harry looked back down at the +chessboard just in time to see one of his pawns +chased off its square by Ron’s knight. + +“What’s — er — going on with you and her anyway?” +Ron asked quietly. + +“Nothing,” said Harry truthfully. + +“I — er — heard she’s going out with someone else +now,” said Hermione tentatively. + +Harry was surprised to find that this information did +not hurt at all. Wanting to impress Cho seemed to +belong to a past that was no longer quite connected +with him. So much of what he had wanted before +Sirius’s death felt that way these days... The week +that had elapsed since he had last seen Sirius seemed +to have lasted much, much longer: It stretched across +two universes, the one with Sirius in it, and the one +without. + +“You’re well out of it, mate,” said Ron forcefully. “I +mean, she’s quite good-looking and all that, but you +want someone a bit more cheerful.” + +“She’s probably cheerful enough with someone else,” +said Harry, shrugging. + + + +Page | 1102Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Who’s she with now anyway?” Ron asked Hermione, +but it was Ginny who answered. + +“Michael Corner,” she said. + +“Michael — but — ” said Ron, craning around in his +seat to stare at her. “But you were going out with +him!” + +“Not anymore,” said Ginny resolutely. “He didn’t like +Gryffindor beating Ravenclaw at Quidditch and got +really sulky, so I ditched him and he ran off to +comfort Cho instead.” She scratched her nose +absently with the end of her quill, turned The +Quibbler upside down, and began marking her +answers. Ron looked highly delighted. + +“Well, I always thought he was a bit of an idiot,” he +said, prodding his queen forward toward Harry’s +quivering castle. “Good for you. Just choose someone +— better — next time.” + +He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it. + +“Well, I’ve chosen Dean Thomas, would you say he’s +better?” asked Ginny vaguely. + +“WHAT?” shouted Ron, upending the chessboard. +Crookshanks went plunging after the pieces and +Hedwig and Pigwidgeon twittered and hooted angrily +from overhead. + +As the train slowed down in the approach to King’s +Cross, Harry thought he had never wanted to leave it +less. He even wondered fleetingly what would happen +if he simply refused to get off, but remained +stubbornly sitting there until the first of September, +when it would take him back to Hogwarts. When it +finally puffed to a standstill, however, he lifted down +Page | 1103Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Hedwig’s cage and prepared to drag his trunk from +the train as usual. + +When the ticket inspector signaled to him, Ron, and +Hermione that it was safe to walk through the +magical barrier between platforms nine and ten, +however, he found a surprise awaiting him on the +other side: a group of people standing there to greet +him whom he had not expected at all. + +There was Mad-Eye Moody, looking quite as sinister +with his bowler hat pulled low over his magical eye as +he would have done without it, his gnarled hands +clutching a long staff, his body wrapped in a +voluminous traveling cloak. Tonks stood just behind +him, her bright bubble-gum-pink hair gleaming in the +sunlight filtering through the dirty glass station +ceiling, wearing heavily patched jeans and a bright +purple T-shirt bearing the legend THE WEIRD +SISTERS. Next to Tonks was Lupin, his face pale, his +hair graying, a long and threadbare overcoat covering +a shabby jumper and trousers. At the front of the +group stood Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, dressed in their +Muggle best, and Fred and George, who were both +wearing brand-new jackets in some lurid green, scaly +material. + +“Ron, Ginny!” called Mrs. Weasley, hurrying forward +and hugging her children tightly. “Oh, and Harry dear +— how are you?” + +“Fine,” lied Harry, as she pulled him into a tight +embrace. Over her shoulder he saw Ron goggling at +the twins’ new clothes. + +“What are they supposed to be?” he asked, pointing at +the jackets. + + + +Page | 1104Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Finest dragon skin, little bro,” said Fred, giving his +zip a little tweak. “Business is booming and we +thought we’d treat ourselves.” + +“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 had limped a +little closer. “That’ll be them, will it, Potter?” + +He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder; his +magical eye was evidently peering through the back of +his head and his bowler hat. Harry leaned an inch or +so to the left to see where Mad-Eye was pointing and +there, sure enough, were the three Dursleys, who +looked positively appalled to see Harry’s reception +committee. + +“Ah, Harry!” said Mr. Weasley, turning from +Hermione’s parents, whom he had been greeting +enthusiastically, and who were taking it in turns to +hug Hermione. “Well — shall we do it, then?” + +“Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur,” said Moody. + +He and Mr. Weasley took the lead across the station +toward the place where the Dursleys stood, +apparently rooted to the floor. Hermione disengaged +herself gently from her mother to join the group. + + + +Page | 1105Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +“Good afternoon,” said Mr. Weasley pleasantly to +Uncle Vernon, coming to a halt right in front of him. +“You might remember me, my name’s Arthur +Weasley.” + +As Mr. Weasley had singlehandedly demolished most +of the Dursleys’ living room two years previously, + +Harry would have been very surprised if Uncle Vernon +had forgotten him. Sure enough, Uncle Vernon turned +a deeper shade of puce and glared at Mr. Weasley, +but chose not to say anything, partly, perhaps, +because the Dursleys were outnumbered two to one. +Aunt Petunia looked both frightened and +embarrassed. She kept glancing around, as though +terrified somebody she knew would see her in such +company. Dudley, meanwhile, seemed to be trying to +look small and insignificant, a feat at which he was +failing extravagantly. + +“We thought we’d just have a few words with you +about Harry,” said Mr. Weasley, still smiling. + +“Yeah,” growled 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 + +Page | 1106Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +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. + +“Yes,” said Mr. Weasley, “even if you won’t let Harry +use the fellytone — ” + +“ Telephone ,” whispered Hermione. + +“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 Mad-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 +painfully with a luggage trolley. “Yes, I’d have to say +you do, Dursley.” + +He turned from Uncle Vernon to Harry. “So, Potter ... +give us a shout if you need us. If we don’t hear from +you for three days in a row, well send someone +along...” + + + +Page | 1107Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + + +Aunt Petunia whimpered piteously. It could not have +been plainer that she was thinking of what the +neighbors would say if they caught sight of these +people marching up the garden path. + +“ T3ye, then, Potter,” said Moody, grasping Harry’s +shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand. + +“Take care, Harry,” said Lupin quietly. “Keep in +touch.” + +“Harry, we’ll have you away from there as soon as we +can,” Mrs. Weasley whispered, hugging him again. + +“We’ll see you soon, mate,” said Ron anxiously, +shaking Harry’s hand. + +“Really soon, Harry,” said Hermione earnestly. “We +promise.” + +Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to +tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged +there, on his side. Instead he smiled, raised a hand in +farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the +station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, +Aunt Petunia, and Dudley hurrying along in his wake. + + + +Page | 1108Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling + + + +