Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 31: O.W.L.s

• “‘Yeah,’ said Ron slowly, savouring 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.” – Is Harry the metaphorical Snitch here? Also, I’m super annoyed by Harry’s reaction towards Cho or specifically her crying. Like somewhere in his mind she has become this girl that cries all the time (which she doesn’t, and even if she does she has enough reasons to do so). And I think that at some point later after Harry started dating Ginny one of the things he likes about her is that she hardly ever cries. Like I get that it can be very uncomfortable to be around someone who cries, feeling helpless, and like you don’t know what to do or say to make things better. But mostly it makes Harry look immature, and like he rather spends time with a girl who can control her feelings, so he doesn’t have to deal with it. And I love Ginny as a character a lot, but it presents a false image of strength when we portray Harry’s ideal woman as the one who doesn’t cry. I love Ginny’s strength, her independence, that she doesn’t need Harry. But it also ok to cry, to ask for help, or the need to talk about your feelings with your partner, which Cho wanted, but Harry was unable to.

• “Ernie Macmillan had developed an irritating habit of interrogating people about their revision practices. ‘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.” – Don’t we all know people like Ernie, trying to make us feel guilty for our lack in ambition? I surely remember this tense atmosphere shortly before exams, though I could never be bothered to do anything more than I had to.

• It is mentioned several times how old the Ministry examiners are, which made me wonder if wizards get pension? Or do they just work until they die? What about health care? Other social benefits? How do these things work in the Wizarding World? I need to know.

• “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 Colour 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 afterwards. 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.” – Harry is not, by any standard, the most talented wizard, and I always liked that about him, that he is average, good in certain areas, horrible in others. And it is interesting that Harry feels like he can rely to Ron, who he thinks is not better than him in any way, but he can’t tell it Hermione. We naturally tend towards people that we think are equal to us. And yet Ron would probably think Harry is above him.

• “‘Such a lovely, sweet-tempered girl,’ said Ron, very quietly, prodding his queen forward to beat up one of Harry’s knights.” – That you are going to marry. Which reminds me of that part where Harry thought Hermione and Ron’s interaction remind him of Mrs. And Mr. Weasley. Like I’m not saying Ron married a girl that reminded him of his mother except that is exactly what I am saying.

• “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.” – Another proof what a horrible teacher Snape is. Like there will always be subjects you are good at and subjects you aren’t, but the right teacher can make a hell of a difference.