HP & the Order of the Phoenix

[abigail89]

Chapter 14: Percy and PadfootA most appropriate title for this chapter. But before Percy and Padfoot invade, Harry has to write a letter to ask for Sirius's advice about his scar and Umbridge. In the owlery, he meets Cho Chang in probably the first substantial encounter they have as a budding "couple." Harry is a bundle of nerves and blank of

Comments

[abigail89]

Sirius is displeased, and comments, "You're less like your father than I thought. . . The risk would've been what made it fun for James." (UK paper ed, 273).

Yeah, but James didn't have to deal with twelve years of absence and the Dursleys, did he? *rolls eyes*

I think it fascinating that JKR has Sirius being totally clueless about Harry's life thus far. He's had the Weasleys, Remus and Dumbledore stay at the house with him, and yet, he seems to have very little backstory on his godson. Yes, he's been in prison, but with everything that's happened to him and those around him, you'd think she would give Sirius a little more maturity.

[whimsicalmuse]

Yes, he's been in prison, but with everything that's happened to him and those around him, you'd think she would give Sirius a little more maturity.

Sirius' little cut at Harry about being less like his father leaves me seething everytime I read it. Sirius was so ineffectual as a godfather in the fifth book! Sirius appeared to me to become pretty self involved in OotP, and I guess I can see some of it, due to his circumstances, but he seemed to be holding a pity party for himself a lot of the time. Very few of the adults in Harry's life were what he needed for them to be in this book.

[ladymela99]

Was this the chapter with the potion class beginning? I still say there was something wrong with Sirius in this book he is so different than how he was even in the other two books.

[whimsicalmuse]

This chapt. begins with Harry composing his letter to Snuffles. I have heard other speculation that Sirius was being poisoned, and there is a scene in this book where Harry's trying to learn about a potion and keeps falling asleep. The potion he's trying to study has to do with causing a person to be angry and act in irrational ways, but I can't find the reference yet. Will keep looking...

[cadesama]

"For a moment he considered accidentally-on-purpose showing her his cut hand" -- Heh. It only took Harry two years to think up the trick Draco was plying Pansy with in PoA.

It's not so much funny as it is sad that Harry is so happy Cho doesn't "hate him for being alive". That's what nearly everyone who hates him hates him for -- the Dursleys, Snape, and Voldemort. Draco, oddly enough, hates him for things Harry has actually done.

If the twins can keep what end to use straight, those Skiving Snackboxes would actually be great for first aid.

Ah, pompous Percy. Of course, Ron is following in his footsteps, not Bill's, despite the fact that Bill actually became a prefect and then Head Boy first. If Percy were actually undercover (which I don't believe he is), I can't see a motivation behind writing this letter. Ron was already convinced Percy had turned against his family, and it doesn't hit on any new information

[muggle_prof]

And Sirius rounds out the chapter by acting like a selfish, immature idiot. It's useful, though, both for foreshadowing Sirius's recklessness (and stunted emotional development), but showing how important Sirius is to Harry. Lines like that don't hurt nearly as much from someone like Snape, or probably even Lupin, at this point.

So true.
Poor Harry. He manages the very difficult feat of being accused of being a violent maniac and a wimp, all within a few minutes of each other.
Sirius does impart a bit of wisdom, first, "The world isn't split into good people and death eaters" and warns us that Fudge will be trying to arrest Dumbledore on trumped up charges... a little more foreshadowing.
And there's still more blood (after the previous chapter's bleeding Harry) from Katie Bell. I seem to recall a variety of bloody episodes to come, as well. is all that blood there for alchemical (or other) imagery, a foreshadowing of a bloodbath to come, or what?

[cadesama]

Hmm, I'm not sure if the blood is foreshadowing, exactly. It seems more like a represenation of how damaging staying out of the war is. Perhaps just a sign of how illusory their safety is?

[lunadeath02]

Probably the best part I liked about this chapter was when and how Ron destroys Percy's letter.

"He is --" Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy's letter in half, "the world's"--he tore it into quarters -- "biggest" --he tore it into eights --"git." He threw the pieces into the fire.

[ceilidh]

Yes. ♥

[annearchy]

That's one of my favorite Ron moments in all 5 books. Ron shows his loyalty to Harry quite strikingly. I think it's important to Hermione too that Ron showed that loyalty, since she was so upset in GOF about the breach between Ron and Harry before the First Task. Hermione appreciated it so much that it changed her mind about helping them with their homework.

[schtroumph_c]

It looks like Ginny is the only girl with who Hermione talks.

[house_elf_44]

There is something endearing about the way Harry talks to Mrs. Norris and Hedwig. It's cute, but I think it's also something like he respects them, too

spoilers for later chapters

[annearchy]

Katie told Ron during practice that he keeps drifting away from where he should be, and it seems to apply to the trio, too.

Nice catch! I hadn't noticed this line, but it was obvious to me as OotP progressed that Ron seemed to be drifting further and further out of Harry's orbit, while Hermione seemed to be getting closer to him. Not that that necessarily means anything :)