Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Summary | Plot Summary

Harry has spent a lonely summer with the Dursleys, starved for information in the wake of Voldemort's return. Harry and his cousin Dudley are attacked by dementors while walking around his neighborhood, but Harry manages to repel them using magic. When he returns home safely, he receives letters informing him that he may be expelled from Hogwarts for using magic illegally. He is soon picked up by a group of wizards and taken to the home of his godfather, Sirius Black, which doubles as the headquarters for an organization dedicated to fighting Voldemort called the Order of the Phoenix. Harry learns that Voldemort is rebuilding his army and has a plan to obtain a powerful weapon.

Harry soon faces the hearing for his unauthorized use of magic, but he nearly misses the proceedings due to some underhanded tactics by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Dumbledore arrives in time to successfully defend Harry and Harry is acquitted of all charges and allowed to return to Hogwarts.

Ron and Hermione are named prefects for the coming year, along with Draco Malfoy. When the children return to school, they find that Hagrid is missing and they are told that he is performing secret work for the Order. A new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge, informs the students that changes will be coming at Hogwarts over the coming year and it bodes ill for the school. Harry quickly finds himself at odds with the new professor and receives the first of many punishments. The Ministry of Magic grants Umbridge a great number of powers and she makes Hogwarts a very unpleasant place to be. She fires Professor Trelawney and refuses to teach the children any practical defense techniques. In response, the children form a group called Dumbledore's Army (the D.A.) and Harry secretly teaches them how to defend themselves.

Harry keeps having dreams about searching for an object and begins to experience flashes of Voldemort's moods. A group of Voldemort's Death Eaters escape from Azkaban and the public begins to wonder if Harry has been telling the truth all along. Umbridge learns of the existence of the D.A. and raids the meeting, capturing Harry. Dumbledore lies to protect Harry, attacking the Minister and fleeing Hogwarts. Umbridge steps into Dumbledore's position as headmaster and the students begin to revolt.

Harry has a vision of Sirius being tortured by Voldemort and sets out to rescue him with the aid of a group from the D.A. When they arrive at the Ministry of Magic to rescue Sirius, they are ambushed by Voldemort's Death Eaters, who have been waiting for Harry to arrive and retrieve the prophecy Voldemort had been seeking. The children are able to keep the Death Eaters busy until members of the Order arrive to clean things up. During the battle, Sirius is knocked through a mysterious archway and does not return. Harry pursues Sirius' apparent killer and finds himself face to face with Voldemort, who attempts to kill Harry. Dumbledore arrives in time to protect Harry, though it is Harry's brave heart and love for his godfather that ultimately chase Voldemort away.

Minister Fudge sees Voldemort with his own eyes before Voldemort can escape, proving Harry and Dumbledore's claims of the Dark Lord's return. Dumbledore and Harry are once again respected and Voldemort's plans have been foiled again, though the stage is set for a terrible war among the wizards.