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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Chapters 25-30Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 25 Summary: “The Beetle at Bay”
The next morning at breakfast, the Daily Prophet reveals that 10 Death Eaters have escaped Azkaban. The newspaper attributes the escape to Sirius, but Harry notices that more people seem to believe his and Dumbledore’s version of events about Voldemort’s return. Many students whose relatives were killed by the Death Eaters receive renewed and unwelcome attention, as does Harry.
They also read that Boderick Bode, the wizard they saw incapacitated at St. Mungo’s, has been killed by Devil’s Snare gifted to him in the form of a potted plant. They are shocked when they remember seeing this. Umbridge releases a new teaching decree ruling that teachers cannot discuss information unrelated to the subjects they teach. Lee Jordan is disciplined by Umbridge when he challenges her for talking about Exploding Snap, which has no direct relation to her subject.
Hagrid reveals that he is on probation, as is Professor Trelawney; Umbridge continues to attend all their classes, putting them off with probing questions and judgmental comments. Hagrid forbids Harry, Ron, and Hermione from visiting him, worried that Umbridge will find out.
In DA meetings, Harry is thrilled with the group’s progress, particularly Neville’s. Harry’s Occlumency lessons with Snape continue to result in little improvement; in fact, Harry is more susceptible to feeling the changes in Voldemort’s mood and dreaming of the corridor. Ron suggests that Snape might intentionally make Harry’s mind more vulnerable to intrusion; Hermione angrily reminds them that Dumbledore trusts him.
Hermione is excited to receive a letter on the morning of February 14; she instructs Harry to meet him in the Three Broomsticks after his date with Cho. Cho and Harry walk into Hogsmeade together. He is relieved they are conversing naturally and comfortably; however, over coffee, Harry mentions that he is meeting Hermione, and Cho becomes angry. When she brings up Cedric, Harry asks if they could not talk about it. Crying, Cho angrily leaves. Harry heads to the Three Broomsticks and sits with Hagrid, who is drinking at the bar, while he waits for Hermione. Hagrid seems drunk and despondent, reminding Harry that they are both orphans.
Harry is surprised to find Hermione sitting with Luna and Rita Skeeter, a journalist who used to write for the Daily Prophet. Hermione reveals her plan to have Skeeter write a piece from Harry’s point of view, which can be published in the Quibbler, Luna’s father’s magazine. Skeeter is reluctant, but Hermione threatens to expose her as an unregistered Animagus. Skeeter begins to interview Harry about the events of the Triwizard Tournament.
Chapter 26 Summary: “Seen and Unforeseen”
Hermione helps Harry to understand why Cho was upset and angry about their Hogsmeade date; she is jealous of Hermione. Harry feels frustrated. Hufflepuff beats Gryffindor convincingly in Quidditch, but Ron continues to perform abysmally. Harry dreams again of the locked door. Harry receives a copy of The Quibbler from Luna’s father and letters from witches and wizards responding to the article. Some believe him, while others do not.
Umbridge appears while Harry examines the mail with Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, and Luna. She deducts 50 points from Gryffindor, confiscates the magazine, and gives Harry another week of detention. She erects a new educational decree that anyone reading The Quibbler will be expelled. This has the effect, as Hermione predicts, of making more students eager to read the article, and it circulates around the school quickly. Teachers find subtle ways to convey their approval, such as Professor Sprout, who awards Harry 20 points to Gryffindor for merely passing a watering can. Draco and his friends are furious; Harry labeled their fathers as Death Eaters in the interview. Cho tells Harry approvingly that she thinks he was brave for giving the interview.
Harry has a clear vision from the point of view of Voldemort; an informer called Rookwood tells Voldemort that he was given false information by someone called Avery. He, Ron, and Hermione discuss what happened the following morning. Hermione deduces that Voldemort used, or attempted to use, the Imperius curse on both Sturgis and Bode to acquire what he needed from the Ministry of Magic but has now learned further information on its whereabouts from Rookwood, one of the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban.
Snape sees the vision in Harry’s next Occlumency class and chides Harry for not working harder. Snape enters Harry’s mind again, but Harry repels him and even enters Snape’s mind, seeing Snape as a cowering child and then a solitary teenager. Angry, Snape enters Harry’s mind; the door Harry has been picturing at the Ministry of Magic opens. Snape seems scared and angry. They are interrupted by a scream. Trelawney is being forced out of the castle by a smug Umbridge. Dumbledore interrupts and insists that Umbridge has the right to fire staff but not to force them to leave the castle. Trelawney is accompanied back to her room by Professors Sprout, McGonagall, and Flitwick.
Dumbledore informs Umbridge—in accordance with her educational decree that the Ministry can appoint a new staff member if the headmaster cannot fill a role—that he has found a replacement for the position and introduces a centaur called Firenze.
Chapter 27 Summary: “The Centaur and the Sneak”
Harry and Ron attend Divination with Firenze. The classroom on the lower floor appears to be a mossy forest; Firenze gestures to the roof, which becomes a starry night, and tells the class about the Centaur art of interpreting the stars. He tells the class that the period of peace the wizarding world is currently experiencing is merely a calm between two great wars. After class, Firenze tells Harry to warn Hagrid that his attempt is not working and that he should desist. Firenze will not clarify what he is talking about. When Harry passes this message on, Hagrid disagrees.
During a DA meeting where the students are practicing summoning Patronus charms, Dobby arrives to warn Harry that Umbridge has found out about the club. The members run toward their common rooms; Potter is tripped by a jinx sent by Draco, who had been looking for members in the hallways. Draco summons Umbridge, who congratulates him. Harry is taken to Dumbledore’s office, where Fudge, accompanied by Percy Weasley, awaits, along with Professor McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Fudge asks Harry whether he knows why he is there. He sees Dumbledore shake his head subtly and says that he does not. Fudge explains that his illegal group has been discovered. Fudge summons Marietta, Cho’s friend, who has the word “sneak” imprinted across her face in purple boils, as a witness. Marietta is too distressed to talk; Umbridge explains that Marietta told her that Umbridge would find an illegal group gathering in the Room of Requirement. Umbridge also explains that she had a witness to the Hog’s Head meeting where the group was established. Dumbledore gently reminds them that the decree banning clubs and groups was not yet in effect then. Dumbledore becomes angry when Umbridge shakes Marietta with frustration. When a list entitled “Dumbledore’s Army” is produced, Dumbledore quickly claims responsibility for the group; he explains that he was organizing an army to take on Fudge. Shocked and overjoyed, Fudge orders Percy to send word to the Daily Prophet and tries to arrest Dumbledore. Dumbledore cheerfully explains that he will not be going quietly. He jinxes all of the Ministry sympathizers and, clasping Fawkes’s tail, disappears. Fudge is furious.
Chapter 28 Summary: “Snape’s Worst Memory”
Umbridge appoints herself as Hogwarts’ new Headmistress. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are shocked and appalled to find out that she has given power to several students, including Draco, to take house points from fellow students as part of a so-called Inquisitorial Squad. Fred and George resolve that they will cause trouble, not caring if they are expelled.
Umbridge summons Harry for a meeting. She insists that he has a drink and eyes him carefully. Harry feels suspicious and only pretends to drink. She asks him where Dumbledore and Sirius are. He says that he does not know. Meanwhile, Fred and George let off a series of fireworks, which multiply when magical spells try to stop them. Umbridge spends the day trying to stop them; teachers summon her to their classrooms to help get rid of them.
At Occlumency, Snape and Harry are about to begin when Lucius arrives; Umbridge needs Snape’s help. Snape leaves. Harry sees the Pensive, where Snape stores secret memories before each of their Occlumency classes. He enters the pensive and watches a scene that happened decades earlier. After a Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, Harry’s father cruelly bullies 15-year-old Snape in front of a group of onlookers, including James’s friends Sirius and Lupin. Harry’s mother tries to intervene to save Snape; Snape is rude to her. Adult Snape arrives in the memory, furious, and pulls Harry out of it. He tells Harry never to return to his dungeon and never tell anyone about what he saw. Harry leaves. He is distressed by his father’s arrogant, bullying ways.
Chapter 29 Summary: “Career Advice”
Hermione is skeptical about why Harry’s Occlumency classes have stopped. Harry is evasive, telling her that Snape believed that he could manage on his own. Harry continues to dwell, with disappointment, on his father’s character. The memory of his father no longer brings him pride and joy. He is confused about why his mother chose to marry his father.
Everyone is busy preparing for the approaching O.W.L. exams over the Easter break. Harry confides in Ginny that he wishes that he could speak to Sirius; Harry desperately hopes that Sirius can help him to understand his father’s behavior. Fred and George approach Harry, suggesting they could cause a diversion to allow Harry to talk to Sirius using the fireplace in Umbridge’s office. Hermione continues to try to dissuade Harry from this plan.
Snape pretends to ignore Harry during Potions class, which Harry is relieved about. However, Snape then intentionally breaks Harry’s sample of potion, informing him that he will receive a zero.
Professor McGonagall and Harry have a careers meeting; Harry is appalled that Umbridge is in attendance. Harry tells McGonagall that he would like to become an Auror; McGonagall gives him advice about subjects he should take and the grades he should try to receive. Umbridge continues to interrupt, saying that Harry does not have the temperament to be an Auror and received very low marks in his recent Defense Against the Dark Arts classes (taught by Umbridge). McGonagall clarifies that he has received high marks from competent teachers. McGonagall and Umbridge continue to yell at each other after McGonagall dismisses Harry.
The diversion begins, and Harry—to Hermione’s dismay—runs to Umbridge’s office, donning his invisibility cloak. He uses a magical knife Sirius gave him to open Umbridge’s office. He finds flu powder and appears in the fireplace at number 12 Grimmauld Place. Lupin is sitting at the table and, shocked, retrieves Sirius. Harry describes the scene he saw. Sirius and Lupin admit that James could be arrogant but reassure Harry that he was a good person. Lupin stresses that Snape must continue Occlumency lessons with Harry. They hear footsteps; Harry quickly withdraws from the fire and dons his invisibility cloak just before Filch arrives, excitedly retrieving an educational decree permitting him to whip students. Harry moves away from Umbridge’s office before he removes his invisibility cloak and sees Fred and George surrounded by students and Umbridge; they have turned a corridor into a swamp. Fred and George interrupt Umbridge’s disciplinarian spiel to tell her they will leave the school. They magically summon their broomsticks and fly away to the enthusiastic applause of the students.
Chapter 30 Summary: “Grawp”
Fred and George’s departure is discussed in detail for weeks. Their influence continues to be felt as products from their skiving snackboxes continue circulating around the school, causing students to vomit, faint, or begin bleeding in Umbridge’s classes; she relents and must send them all from class. Peeves the ghost, whom Fred encouraged to continue making Umbridge’s life difficult, causes mayhem around the school. Other teachers are indifferent or complicit in making Umbridge’s job difficult.
Harry admits to Ron and Hermione that he gave Fred and George the money for their joke shop in Diagon Alley. Gryfinddor’s Quidditch game against Ravenclaw grows nearer; Ron is surprisingly relaxed, feeling that he cannot possibly play worse than he has previously.
Hagrid interrupts Harry and Hermione while they watch the game to ask them if they will go with him for an unspecified but allegedly important reason. He leads them deep into the Forbidden Forest where he introduces them to Grawp, his half-brother, who is a giant. Harry and Hermione are shocked and appalled; Grawp seems violent and incapable of communication. On the walk back through the Forbidden Forest, a group of centaurs accost Hagrid; they tell Hagrid that he is no longer welcome after he encouraged Firenze to work at Hogwarts.
Ron performs well in Gryffindor’s game against Ravenclaw; Gryffindor wins, securing them the Quidditch cup. Ron is thrilled to be celebrated.
Chapters 25-30 Analysis
Umbridge continues to be depicted as a villainous antagonist. She joyfully intimidates both Trelawney and Hagrid; she makes no secret that these teachers are on probation and believes them to be unfit for their roles. This humiliating intimidation affects their teaching: “He [Hagrid] was oddly distracted and jumpy during lessons, losing the thread of what he was saying to the class, answering questions wrongly, and all the time glancing anxiously at Umbridge” (510). Umbridge publicly dismisses Trelawney, watching “with an expression of gloating enjoyment, as Professor Trelawney shuddered and moaned, rocking backwards and forwards on her trunk in paroxysms of grief” (550). Hagrid’s dramatic dismissal from the staff, which will occur in subsequent chapters, is alluded to.
Similarly, watching Harry’s devastation at being banned from Quidditch brings Umbridge joy: “Once or twice she had turned squarely in her seat to look at him, her wide toad’s mouth stretched in what he thought had been a gloating smile” (533). Furthermore, her use of cruel punishments continues in these chapters: “When Harry next saw Lee, the back of his hand was bleeding rather badly” (509).
Dumbledore continues to function as a symbol of integrity against the spreading forces of evil and corruption in the wizarding role. His quiet resistance to Umbridge’s cruelty and malevolent influence at Hogwarts is clear; he insists that Professor Trelawney remain living at Hogwarts, telling Umbridge that “you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle” (551). While Umbridge discriminates against other species, Dumbledore treats all human and non-human individuals with kindness. His hiring of Firenze, the centaur, illustrates his disapproval of Umbridge’s species discrimination and his reluctance to conform to her preferences. Humor is utilized in the closing line of Chapter 26: “‘This is Firenze,’ said Dumbledore happily to a thunderstruck Umbridge. ‘I think you’ll find him suitable.’” (552). The reader infers that Umbridge will certainly not find Firenze a suitable replacement.
Dumbledore’s resistance to Umbridge’s cruelty at Hogwarts shows in his (very rarely seen) anger when Umbridge shakes Marietta:
Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her round to face her and began shaking her very hard. A split second later Dumbledore was on his feet, his wand raised…“I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores,” said Dumbledore and, for the first time, he looked angry (569).
Dumbledore’s sense of integrity is made clear in the gravity of his reaction; he seems only mildly amused when the issue of his arrest and imprisonment are being discussed. However, his selflessness and sense of responsibility to the students at Hogwarts are made clear by his anger and stand in contrast to Umbridge’s cruelty and self-interest.
The spreading corruption at Hogwarts, which gains momentum when Dumbledore leaves to escape arrest, is evident in the powers of the Inquisitorial Squad. These students have unprecedented powers over their peers, as is illustrated when Draco docks points from Gryffindor students for unreasonable and derogatory reasons:
Granger, I’ll have five from you for being rude about our new Headmistress. Macmillan, five for contradicting me. Five because I don’t like you, Potter. Weasley, your shirt’s untucked, so I’ll have another five for that. Oh yeah, I forgot, you’re a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that (578).
This also illustrates Umbridge’s paranoia and insecurity in her role and the proliferation of bloodline discrimination under her leadership.
The Hogwarts staff’s loyalty to Dumbledore is evident in their determined, yet humorous, efforts to inhibit Umbridge’s ability to do her job. When fireworks fill the school, the teachers feign ignorance about how to stop them: “Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school answering the summons of other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her” (585). Similarly, when the Weasleys’ skiving snackboxes and flood affect Hogwarts, “none of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help her [Umbridge]” (626). Harry even hears Professor McGonagall informing Peeves, the troublesome poltergeist, how to cause a crystal chandelier to fall and smash: “It unscrews the other way” (626). Professor McGonagall haughtily tells Umbridge that Harry has always achieved excellent marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts when assessments have been “set by a competent teacher,” unsubtly illustrating McGonagall’s view that Umbridge is an incompetent intrusion into the teaching staff (613).
Voldemort’s determination to retrieve the prophecy and the climactic events at the end of the novel are alluded to when Harry, Ron, and Hermione piece together the death of Broderick Bode, caused by the Devil’s Snare, which they saw being gifted to him at St. Mungo’s, and the fact that he and the recently arrested Sturgis Podmore both worked at the Department of Mysteries as Unspeakables. The importance of this location to the unfolding events is strongly hinted at. Voldemort exploits his mind link with Harry; this is foreshadowed Hermione and Lupin’s concern—both characterized as cautious and sensible—about Harry’s ongoing nightmares and their insistence that his Occlumency classes should continue.
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