Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Bloodline and Species Discrimination continues to shape the plot. Sirius dismisses Harry’s concerns about Kreacher’s loyalty and continues to misuse Kreacher, continually deriding and insulting him. This leads Kreacher to confide in the Malfoys and lie to Harry when he reaches 12 Grimmauld Place through the flu network from Umbridge’s office: “Master will not come back from the Department of Mysteries” (683). Harry then rushes to the Department of Mysteries, believing Sirius to be there. Sirius, in turn, goes to the Department of Mysteries to save Harry and is murdered by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange. Sirius’s disrespect of Kreacher caused the house elf’s betrayal, which ultimately led to Sirius’s death.  

Hermione’s repeated request that her friends treat house elves with kindness and respect turns out to be sage advice that is ignored. Similarly, Dumbledore tells Harry that

I warned Sirius when we adopted twelve Grimmauld Place as our Headquarters that Kreacher must be treated with kindness and respect. […] I do not think that Sirius took me very seriously, or that he ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as a human’s (766).

Cruelty and unkindness are represented as malevolent forces that can push individuals to participate in acts of evil.

Dumbledore is a symbol of integrity; he is kind and fair. His tolerant and calm acceptance of Harry’s rage-stricken destruction of his office illustrates his patience and empathy. His integrity is apparent when he accepts responsibility for the tragic events which took place: “If I had been open with you Harry […], you would have known a long time ago that Voldemort might try and lure you to the Department of Mysteries […]. That blame lies with me, and with me alone. […] “It is my fault that Sirius died” (760). His position of power does not make him arrogant or cruel, as it does with Umbridge; instead, he is modest, reflective, and selfless. His kind and loving nature shows in his admission that he cared for Harry too much to burden him with the knowledge of the prophecy: “I cared about you too much […]. I cared more for your happiness than your knowing the truth” (772).

These final climactic chapters draw attention to the importance of The Protective Power of Love and Friendship. Voldemort’s followers are motivated out of fearful respect and obedience, but Harry’s friends are motivated by love. When a grief-stricken and devastated Harry destroys Dumbledore’s office, Dumbledore tells him that “the fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength” (758). Dumbledore celebrates Harry’s love for his friends and surrogate family as his greatest asset; he tells Harry that Voldemort could not occupy Harry’s body for long, as “he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests” (777). Voldemort simply cannot stand the love coursing through Harry.

The prophecy states that “the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord […] will have power the Dark Lord knows not” (774). Harry’s ability to love, a trait underestimated and dismissed by Voldemort as weak and irrelevant, saves Harry and defeats Voldemort in this battle. Harry’s allies, motivated by love, come to his aid; the Death Eaters are arrested, the prophecy is destroyed, and Harry is saved.

Furthermore, Harry’s mother’s love, Dumbledore reveals, is a protective force that kept Harry safe during his childhood. Dumbledore explains:

I knew where Voldemort was weak. […] You would be protected by an ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated […] your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection which he never expected […]. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother’s blood (769).

Petunia’s presence in Harry’s life maintained the connection to his mother, keeping Harry safe. Dumbledore and Harry are able to utilize the forces of love against Voldemort, because Voldemort does not feel love or friendship, and thereby does not recognize its power.