I’m not even mad that our Quidditch match and meeting keep getting postponed, because we can just drag this group out longer and longer instead of being done with book seven in July!
Oh boy, Order of the Phoenix. I hated this book SO MUCH when I was reading it. Sure the Weasley twins redeem the awfulness, like they always do, but JUDAS PRIEST THIS BOOK. At the end, once you understand, it makes so much sense why you’re so irritable and jumpy and angry all along – you’ve been living in Harry’s head and SO HAS VOLDEMORT. And we see the first death of a major (? more than Cedric at least) character. Ish was cray.
This time around I listened to it on my commute – which meant I yelled “B*%$&” a lot (at Umbridge mostly, also Cho and Marietta) and cried a lot (Dumbledore’s Army?! Neville’s parents?! *tears*). I found I actually loved it this time around! I hated Umbridge even more and loved everyone else at least as much.
Anyways. Here’s the things I want to talk about with y’all
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Questions
1. Dumbledore says he isolates Harry for his safety, but it backfires in the end. Was this still a wise decision? Should he have shared his suspicions about the connection between Harry and Voldemort?
2. The Justice system is wildly abused throughout the novel – from Harry’s attack and trial to the Inquisitorial Squad. The corruption and nepotism was certainly annoying – which was the most heinous? Most important to the story?
3. Umbridge represents everything that is wrong with society – she’s a racist, ladder-climbing, power-grabbing, prejudiced, abusive, opportunistic and merciless scum. What is the worst thing about her, in your opinion?
4. Divination is both mocked and redeemed in this book. What do you think about Divination, Trelawney, Firenze and the prophecies?
5. Sirius, James and Snape are all revealed to be more than what Harry has believed them to be, and he doesn’t like any of it. What does he learn from their collective pasts? Why is this important?
6. The Sorting Hat warns of conflict and the importance of unity. How do you see these themes throughout the book?
7. We meet several new important additions to the cast of characters in Order. Who is your favorite? How are they important to the complete story?
8. Occlumency is meant to help Harry shut out Lord Voldemort, but fails so miserably that it actually makes things worse. Did you think Snape was making Harry more vulnerable on purpose? Do you think Snape was trying to see memories of Lily? Why did he hide his memories in the Pensieve? (the movie shows Harry using a reverse to see Snapes’ memories, but is that even possible?)
9. Do you ever find it unbelievable that Harry and his teenage DA members are able to fight off a team of Death Eaters (for a time) or survive facing Lord Voldemort so often?
10. So many chaotic things happen in the Department of Mysteries that are never fully explained – the archway, the brain, etc. What did you think of this part of the story? Are you glad some things remain a mystery? Why does Rowling seemingly leave the door open for Sirius’ return, even while Dumbledore and other’s assure Harry he is dead?
Ideas for this Meeting
– Make Wands
– Target practice with Umbridge’s face
– Occlumency/Legilimency (I’m thinking some type of Two Truths and a Lie game?)
I’m really struggling to come up with good ideas so you guys need to let me know what you think would be fun and appropriate for Order of the Phoenix! I’m looking at the last week in June – also hoping we can get in a Quidditch match this month!
Thanks for hanging with me the last few crazy months. I love you Pottheads.
