Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 4: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place

• I wonder if Grimmauld Place has always been hidden because it is a magical house or if it is hidden because of the Fidelius Charm, only visible to those who know about it? And if the latter is true how come none of the Muggles seems to wonder where Number Twelve has gone? And speaking of Muggles, why would a Pureblood-family like the Blacks live in a Muggle neighbourhood?

• “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.” – The house of course belongs to Sirius, who by the end of this book, will die.

• “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.” – I stumbled over the phrasing of Hermione’s answer, that Dumbledore didn’t want to let Harry know anything at all. Why? I think Harry’s answer isn’t that far off. Is it possible Dumbledore suspected even back then that there could be a connection between Harry and Voldemort? Was he afraid Voldemort could use Harry as an involuntary spy? We know the reason why Harry had to stay at the Dursleys, at least for some time, but that doesn’t explain the total isolation and lack of any kind of news, except if Dumbledore had been suspicious of Harry even back then.

• “‘SO YOU HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, BIG DEAL! YOU’VE STILL BEEN HERE, HAVEN’T YOU? YOU’VE STILL BEEN TOGETHER! ME, I’VE BEEN STUCK AT THE DURSLEYS’ FOR A MONTH! AND I’VE HANDLED MORE THAN YOU TWO’VE EVER MANAGED AND DUMBLEDORE KNOWS IT – WHO SAVED THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE? WHO GOT RID OF RIDDLE? WHO SAVED BOTH YOUR SKINS FROM THE DEMENTORS? […] WHO HAD TO GET PAST DRAGONS AND SPHINXES AND EVERY OTHER FOUL THING LAST YEAR? WHO SAW HIM COME BACK? WHO HAD TO ESCAPE FROM HIM? ME! […]BUT WHY SHOULD I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON? WHY SHOULD ANYONE BOTHER TO TELL ME WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?’” – That is a very limited way to look at these events though. Because Hermione and Ron did help Harry with the Philosopher’s Stone, Ron accompanied him in the Chamber of Secrets, they were with him when he faced Sirius and Wormtail and tried to prepare him in every possible way to get through the tournament. And yes, Harry had been alone in the most critical moments, but neither Ron or Hermione are to blame for this. Or for the current situation. It was Dumbledore’s decision that Harry had to stay at the Dursley’s, that he wouldn’t get any access to information. But Dumbledore is not there, so all that Harry has left is Ron and Hermione to yell at. Harry has every reason to be angry and anger isn’t reasonable. Book 5 shows us the most selfish version of Harry (which is rather interesting as book 4 was so much about Harry’s heroism that showed itself through his selflessness). But Harry has been left more or less alone, without any kind of information, after the most traumatic event of his life so… let him be.

• Harry assumes that the guard duty the Order members were talking about was about him, but is it possible they guarded something else as well? Did Dumbledore already suspected Voldemort wants the prophecy and is this what they guard?

• It is also interesting how arrogance plays an important role in this book. Fudge’s arrogance in thinking Dumbledore is after his job and wants to cause trouble. Percy’s arrogance in believing his family, especially his father, lacks ambition and is jealous, ignorant to see why Fudge really wants him close (as a spy). Harry’s arrogance towards his friends, his belief he has to do everything on his own, leading ultimately to Sirius’s death. And Sirius’s arrogance of course, in one way how he treats Kreacher, and how Kreacher will play an important role in Sirius’s death as well. If anything Hybris is the real big bad of this book.

• “He noticed that her hands, too, bore the marks of Hedwig’s beak and found that he was not at all sorry. […]I know you don’t,’ said Hermione quickly, looking frightened. […]Ginny grimaced at the others and followed her mother out of the room, leaving Harry alone with Ron and Hermione. Both of them were watching him apprehensively, as though they feared he would start shouting again now that everyone else had gone. The sight of them looking so nervous made him feel slightly ashamed.” – That at least is something. Because we know that Harry isn’t usually the kind of person who doesn’t care if his friends are hurt (caused by his owl nevertheless), or worse, that they are afraid of him. After all the built up anger has left his body he feels rightfully ashamed. Mind you, he doesn’t apologize, but at least part of him knows he just acted like a jerk.