Order of the Phoenix -- Part 2

Location: End of OotP, about to start Half-Blood Prince!
Pages read: 2689, 1411 to go.

Okay, I take back some of what I said about OotP...it gets a lot better toward the end. Needless to say, the way the school unites against Umbridge is always incredibly satisfying to read; I love that she gets chased off by Peeves with McGonagall's walking stick. Also, the climactic battle stuff is one of my favorites of all of the books -- it's just so exciting and so well written. And Dumbledore and Harry's chat at the end is one of my favorite chapters of the entire series. This was the first time that, emotionally, I got into it with Harry... the way Jo describes his emotions is so realistic. Maybe it's because I'm older and have been through more stuff since the last time I read this book... because I used to think Harry was just an angsty, whiny teenager who needed to calm down. But somehow I clicked with Harry and really felt for him, and books don't usually do that for me.

Sirius's death made more of an impact on me this time around than it ever has. Harry never gets to say a proper goodbye to him after Christmas... he could have been using the 2-way mirror the whole time... and of course that it's partially Harry's fault that Sirius died. Also the fact that, had Sirius survived, he probably could've come out in the open at last. There's so much regret and guilt there, and Jo writes this very realistically. No character or situation in her story is ever perfect -- it's always very real and relatable. So often when we lose someone, we regret not saying something to them, or we feel like we could have done something differently to help them. Jo gives us characters that we can relate to for things like this, who have to go through things and make fatal mistakes to grow and learn lessons the hard way. In this way, her stories, while fantastical and fictional, have a very real quality to them that makes them not just kids' story books, but stories about life from which we can learn and grow.

Some observations to discuss...

• During Occlumency lessons: “Do not say the Dark Lord’s name!” spat Snape… “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. Uhhhhh….why is Snape so reluctant to say the name, and what does that have to do with his Dark Mark? The other Death Eaters are afraid to say it too – Bellatrix is adamant about it in the Hall of Prophecies. It could be that they’re not allowed to say it, and if people with the Dark Mark say it, Voldemort somehow knows and can hear them or something. We know it’s possible to have magic associated with the name (the taboo). There almost has to be something more to this quote than just the fact that Snape doesn’t like the name. Any thoughts?
• On Harry and Ginny… Jo understands Harry and knows what he needs in a woman – someone strong, who isn’t afraid to call him out and confront him, who knows what’s good for him, but can still empathize with him; someone with whom he can share everything. Hermione tells Harry that Ron and Ginny told her that he’d been hiding ever since he found out at St. Mungo’s that Voldemort was “possessing” him, and that he was “the weapon.” ““They do, do they?” said Harry, glaring at Ron and Ginny. Ron looked down at his feet but Ginny seemed quite unabashed.” Also: “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.” Seems angry, but Harry needs someone straightforward and blunt, and she can relate to him better than most. He and Cho have nothing in common, and she’s never straightforward with him. Jo drops the hints, as usual… Talking to Ginny about wanting to talk to Sirius makes Harry feel better…and they catch each other’s eyes understandingly a few times. Ginny’s the type of person who can understand Harry and bring out the best in him.
• Also – I have this weird theory that Ron, deep down, wants Harry and Ginny to get together. Upon finding out Ginny is dating Michael, Ron says, “I thought Ginny fancied Harry!” Then, when Hermione’s talking about Harry asking Cho out: “What if he doesn’t want to ask her?” said Ron, who had been watching Harry with an unusually shrewd expression on his face. Why wouldn’t he want his best mate to get the hot girl? O_o Then, the biggest clue of all comes on the train ride home. Finding out that Ginny and Michael broke up, Ron says, “Well, I always thought he was a bit of an idiot…Good for you. Just choose someone – better – next time.” He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it. (Furtive means he didn’t want Harry to see him looking – shifty and secretive, perhaps slightly guilty.) IMO, that’s irrefutable proof that Ron wants them together, because it comes before Ron finds out that now she’s with Dean.
• During Harry and Dumbledore’s chat, one of the first things Dumbledore says is: “I know how you are feeling Harry,” said Dumbledore very quietly. “No, you don’t,” said Harry…White-hot anger leapt inside him. Dumbledore knew nothing about his feelings. Well, it turns out Dumbledore can relate to Harry better than Harry thinks. He knows how it feels to be responsible for someone’s death – his sister’s. When I used to read this, I used to be more on Harry’s side on this point – that Dumbledore is just trying to sympathize and calm him down. But Dumbledore can actually relate.
• “Whatever Dumbledore said, he would never forgive Snape…never…” Actually, Harry, you’re going to name a child after him...
• The prophecy!! "Neither can live while the other survives..." I've always struggled with this phrase. Both of them are alive, aren't they?? I guess it just means that neither of them can rest or live the life they want to if the other one is still alive, in a sort of "this town ain't big enough for the two of us" kind of way...or that neither of them can stand the fact that the other is alive. Until one of them is dead, killing each other is pretty much their top priority. The phrase still bothers me, though. :P Also, Harry worries about the fact that he might have to become a murderer... I love that. It just shows how different he is from Voldemort -- he's not comfortable killing ANYONE, even his worst enemy, the guy who killed his parents. I always knew it would be a situation of Voldy trying to kill Harry but accidentally killing himself. Jo wouldn't let her hero use "Avada Kedavra."

Overall -- the beginning and middle of this book aren't the greatest and probably could have been cut a bit...but it's all worth it for the last third of the book. :) Onto HBP!