Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Elizabeth from Book YAbber and I are on the fifth book! Crazy how we are almost done with the re-read! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite book out of the series but I still enjoy reading it. However, my favorite character of all time is Luna Lovegood and we first meet her in this installment! I love how whimsical and eccentric she is. Although different and sort of weird compared to others, Luna is a free spirit who believes what she believes in and doesn't care what other people think of her. She is strong and I admire her.

WARNING 
For those who haven't read the Harry Potter series, all book discussions WILL HAVE spoilers. If you do not want to read spoilers, please do not read ahead.

Harry's summer is miserable since everyone is not answering his questions. Sirius and Mr. Weasley tells Harry not to leave Pivet Drive and for good reasons. Just when Vernon Dursley is about to boot Harry out of the house because the dementors are coming after Harry, Petunia lets Harry stay at Pivet Drive. The protection charm by having Harry stay at the house during the summers protects Harry from Voldemort. The same blood that runs in Lily's veins that kept Harry safe and alive also runs in Petunia's veins. Harry is safe until he comes of age.

It's interesting how readers find out that Umbridge sends those vile dementors to Little Whinging to get rid of Harry Potter. The Ministry thinks Harry is making up stories about Voldemort. They do not want to believe that Voldemort has risen once again. It is easier to be in denial than to accept reality. Because of everyone not fully trusting Harry and then leaving him in the dark, Harry grows to become more irritated than usual. He wants answers and no one is giving them to him. However, Harry must learn to control his temper and not to interfere with the Ministry directly. But with Umbridge around, I don't blame him for acting out once in awhile. It's freaking Umbridge! Sometimes I feel like she is worst than Voldemort. Because Harry doesn't know how to behave, he gets into a lot of trouble. I know part of it has to do with the PTSD from the graveyard scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the aftermath. No one really helped Harry process what happened. Too bad J.K Rowling didn't delved more into PTSD and how Harry deals with it.

I understand that Harry is frustrated and that is at the age where they want to know everything and don't want to be ordered around but he lacked some common sense in this book. How many times did people tell him not to do something and he did it anyways? When others tell him to close his mind, he neglects Occlumency and decides to go a little further to see what is behind the door at the Department of Mysteries. His refusal to close his mind let him right into a trap. Sirius was never in trouble. Hermione even mentioned that Voldemort is trying to lure Harry into a trap but of course Harry didn't listen. Hermione and Neville tells him not to pick up the prophecy orb. What does Harry do? Of course he picks up the prophecy. Harry doesn't think in this book. He just does things without thinking about the consequences.

Image from harrypotterconfessions.tumblr.com

Harry could have avoided checking with Kreacher to see if Sirius is okay before going to the Ministry of Magic. Remember that package Sirius gives to Harry before Harry went back to Hogwarts? Yes, the one with the mirror. Harry could have used that mirror to contact Sirius whenever he wanted without sending an owl to Sirius or waiting until he had access to a fireplace.

Remember when the centaurs talk about Mars being bright in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? Well Firenze mentions about Mars again. Mars is a bringer of battle which is very accurate since a war is brewing in the wizarding world. The Battle of the Department of Mysteries is the first major conflict of the Second Wizarding War and is crucial since Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge finally believes that Voldemort is back!

It is interesting how Dumbledore tells everyone that everyone must stand together and be united. The Sorting Hat also warned everyone during this time of danger to stick together as a team. This is crucial to the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In order to beat Voldemort, everyone must be on the same side or they will be defeated.

I know most Potterheads know about the locket that can't be open that was found at 12 Grimmauld Place. The Horcrux was under the Trio's noses before they even knew what the Horcruxes are. When I saw the initials RAB it was so obviously that the locket in the Noble House of Black was obtained by Regulus Black.

What did you think of OotP? Do you have a favorite part? What do you think of Umbridge?

Some of my favorite quotes are:

Image from Tumblr.com

Image from Rgsfilmclub.wordpress.com

Don't forget to check the blog on Saturday, December 19th for the Harry Potter Spells Book Tag. If you are new to Pottermas 2015, make sure to check out this post. Also, you can follow Pottermas 2015 on social media with the hashtag #Pottermas15.