It was Laurence Fishburn as Morpheus for me.
Dumbledore never explicitly says so, but I believe that the “weapon” in question was a decoy to occupy Voldemort’s and the Death Eaters’ attention until Dumbledore was able to organize an effective opposition to Voldemort. I recall that independent of the surveillance of Privet Drive, members of the Order of the Phoenix were still pulling nightly duty for some purpose. It appears that this duty was only undertaken by Ministry of Magic employees, and it further appears to be a guard mounted on the Department of Mysteries, to prevent Voldemort or his minions from stealing the prophecy. Since Dumbledore, but not Voldemort, knew that only Harry or Voldemort could retrieve the prophecy from the shelf, placing the access to the prophecy room under guard drew the Dark Lord’s attention (and energies) away from Harry (the real key to removing the prophecy from the room).
Voldemort seems to be moving quite slowly and deliberately in his efforts to rebuild his organization (it took him from late June to late January to get the dementors to abandon Azkaban, after all). It’s my opinion that he wants to stay well out of sight as long as he can, at least until he can get hold of the prophecy and analyze how best to avoid being vanquished by Harry. Fudge’s stubbornness had been making things a great deal easier for Voldemort on this front, and Dumbledore adopted a fairly effective delaying tactic to neutralize that benefit.
If my speculations above have any validity, I’m still not clear on whether the wizards on guard are aware that they are decoys.
Mr. Weasley was one of those guards, was he not? Sounds like he might not have been attacked if he hadn’t been sleeping on the job.
I still think Neville and Ginny will end up together; there are a number of small indications throughout the book indicating that they’ve got a particular link. I also wonder if, in true Hollywood style, Neville will eventually get to avenge his parents by taking on the Lestranges personally.
Please enumerate!
And you may very well be right. He did take her to the Yule Ball in book 4, which is where she met Michael Corner, and I hate to think of his just being the “placekeeper”.
I thought the exact opposite. Daniel is going to have to grow some huge acting skills if he can even hopes to capture the Harry of OotP. The best I could imagine him approaching is “cross”.
On Harry, blood, and the Dursleys -
The protection is only while he’s at the Dursley’s house. However, to be protected there, he has to live there. If he spent the year at school and the summer with the Weasleys, he would no longer live with the Dursleys, so their house would be no protection to him. That’s why he has to spend a certain amount of time at their house every year. It’s sort of like establishing residency for the purpose of voting or running for office, or something like that.
Thank you, look!ninjas, I’ve been thinking about a way to say exactly that for days. It makes much more sense than Harry being protected by the Dursleys all the time.
Thank you, look!ninjas, I’ve been thinking about a way to say exactly that for days. It makes much more sense than Harry being protected by the Dursleys all the time.
I just finished it. It took me a few days.
I agree that some of it dragged a bit but I quite liked it anyway. The Umbridge woman so thoroughly loathsome that I was actually swearing out loud as I read. I agree with everyone else that Fred and George’s departure from Hogwarts was a high point, as was the rest of the Hogwarts faculty’s response to Umbridge.
The Sirius death was not particularly emotional to me. I was more moved by Snapes’ memories and by Neville at the hospital.
I thought the Harry/Cho stuff was amusing and that Hermione’s insights were brilliant (Hermione’s has been my favorite character since book one. She’s just the kind of girl I would have had a crush on in high school).
I think it’s good that Rowling is letting the characters experiment and fail with other relationships rather than just pairing them up for life as eleven year olds. How many people actually end up marrying their first crush?
My guess as to how the pairings will fall by book 7 is as follows:
Hermione/Ron (they already bicker like they’re married).
Harry/Ginny (She’s very compatible for Harry. She’s confident bit not too much of a know-it-all like Hermione and she likes quidditch, which is a sure way to Harry’s heart).
Neville/Luna (two somewhat misfit characters who would go great together)
Malfoy/Pansy (An obvious one)
I think the next DADA teacher will be a brand new character in keeping with the pattern of the rest of the books. Ultimately, though, I’m going to guess that Snape will be awarded the job he’s always wanted by the end of the series.
When I went to Borders on Wednesday night looking for a book for work, I found Order of the Phoenix on sale fo %40 off. A few days of semi-obsessive reading later, I’m done.
First things first. I think I’ve got an explanation for why Harry couldn’t see the thestrals in earlier years. While he was present when his parents were killed, he was only a baby, and he has no first-hand memories of the event. Remember, the Dursleys told him his parents were killed in an auto accident, and he believed them. My theory is that in order to see thestrals, one must have witnessed death in such a way that it leaves an active, first-hand memory. Any takers on this theory?
I laughed out loud at the “Weasley is our king” song. I hear the tune as God Save the King (My Country 'Tis of Thee to the Yanks on the board), but I can’t get it to scan quite right. Any other suggestions for what the tune was?
I also thought it was neat to see Neville and Ginny being fleshed out. Ginny seems like a sensible, rather neat young woman, who’s managed to learn a lot from all of her brothers, not to mention her mother. I love her explanation of how she learned to play quidditch.
The first three chapters were a rush for me. I looked up from the end of Chapter 3 on Wednesday night and thought, “Yep, she’s still got it.” I’m particularly intrigued by Petunia Dursley’s past. A week ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be writing that after reading the book.
The book is definitely darker and more frightening. I picked up a sense of, “The world is slowly going to hell and nobody’s willing to do anything about it” coming from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
I think Harry’s anger was perfectly reasonable in the book. He’s used to be the center of what’s going on, he’s watched someone he knows die and felt responsible for it, and he was looking forward to the summer. All of a sudden, he’s out of the loop, uninformed, and, in many ways, back to where he was when he was 11, only this time he knows there’s a better way. He isn’t allowed to act, he gets punished for telling the truth, and one of his roommates is acting like he’s nuts. I figure a little anger is justified.
I was pretty much undateable at 15, so I’ve very little firsthand knowledge of the circumstance, but the relationship between Harry and Cho seemed realistic enough to me, including the whole, “Now what do I do?” business. I can certainly see being insecure enough to think Hermione is Harry’s girlfriend when he says he’s got to break off a date to go and see her. I’m not placing any bets on who dates who – there’s a limit to how much speculating I’m willing to do on subjects I know nothing about.
Finally, as luck would have it, my employer was plagued by a petty bureaucrat last week who was a bit like Umbridge which added a rather interesting note to the book for me. On the other hand, that bureaucrat was the reason I was at Borders last week. I’m still looking for a good dispel/banish bureaucrats, but in the meantime this will have to do: “Documentum Apparatum!/”
CJ
I’ve got a quick question for our British Dopers. Preferably for a British-American Doper.
What, exactly, is a git? It sounds like a git is what Americans would call a jerk: a rude, dislikable person. I’m asking for clarification because I assumed that when Kreacher was “snogging” the pants, he was stealing them 
I always hummed the “Weasley is our King” song to the tune of Farmer in the Dell for some reason. It kind of works.
It’s funny you should say that, because I did the exact same thing! Wierd.
American Doper speaking-- From my Monty Python/Fawlty Towers guide to English euphamism’s-- I think you are right on with git.
Snogging, on the other hand-- I have always understood to mean kissing or generally making out. In context of Kreacher “snogging” the pants… I kind of assumed Sirius was being sarcastic. I figure Kreacher was probably cuddling them like a kid might a blanket. It’s still pretty funny though.
Sidenote-- “Eat Dung, Umbridge!” BWAHAHAHAHA
Diceman, as you say git = more or less, jerk.
Snogging was the weirdest phrase in the book (other than perhaps “remember my last”). It’s got to be a typo, snagging or hogging maybe, but snogging just makes it kinda obscene… tongue-kissing a dead mans trousers? meep
‘snogging’ made me double take as well, so I basically dismissed it as exageration.
How exactly do you snog a pair of trousers, anyway?
on second thoughts, dont answer that…
Snogging made complete sense to me. I interpreted it pretty much as Screeme did. And the definition’s of git are pretty good, too, but I’d add an air of unintelligence there as well. A git is not only a jerk, they’re a moronic jerk.
Just finished the book after a (nearly) all-night marathon reading session.
I don’t have a lot of new comments to add to this discussion, but I do have to say that I absolutely loved Fred and George. Those two deserve their own series!
I also thought that Harry’s angst and anger were right-on considering his age and what he’s been through. And I loved that the tables have turned between him and Dudsley.
To me, the most intriquing unanswered question in the whole book is the possibilty that Aunt Petunia may know a lot more than she’s letting on. I think she’s going to come into her own in the next two books.
I do have one prediction that I haven’t seen mentioned here yet. I think that those gum wrappers Neville’s mother was slipping to him were some sort of message. The fact that he slipped it into his pocket was sad and touching, but I got the feeling there might be more to it than just that. I wouldn’t be surprised if Neville later reveals a large collection of gum wrappers with messages written on them. Maybe she’s been driven insane but still knows there’s something she needs to tell Neville and scribbbles her thoughts down on the wrappers? Maybe it’s a big puzzle that Neville’s trying to figure out…or maybe I am just posting under the influence of less than 4 hours sleep…
Heh.
I didn’t get to start reading this book until Friday, but I finished it last night.
I love Ginny and Neville now. The dimensions added to their characters has been great.
I disagree that Hagrid is now a “paper” character. His role was disappointingly small, but I think it was due more to the MoM interference. If he had associated more with Harry, Hermy and Ron, it would have caused even more problems.
I LOVE Prof. McGonagall teaming up with Peeves. Hilarious!
“I expect what you’re not aware of would fill several books” Mad-Eye to Vernon. Laugh out loud funny!
There was another line that made me laugh out loud, but I can’t remember what it was at the moment, it was toward the beginning.
Snogging…that’s what I THOUGHT it meant. I was seriously disturbed.
“Big D” Dudley. SO brought up him being a late blooming wizard. I dismiss this out of hand. He would be like Draco without rules. He’s too stupid to be truly fearful of Voldemort, and I can’t see him being about to cast a simple Wingardium Leviosa spell properly.
Petunia as a wizardess, I found this an interesting concept. I am looking forward to a bit of background on her, as well as James and Co…and Lily.
Ron & Hermoine, since the first book.
Harry & Ginny…distinct possibility.
I can very much see Harry as an Auror.
Neville needs to avenge his parents, there is no other outcome there.
I was also disappointed with Harry’s thought that Neville wasn’t a person he’d want to take along with him for the big fight scene. Neville showed a lot of promise in the class, and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d personally take instead of Neville.
I thought Umbridge was dead. I was surprised that Hermoine would do something like that to a teacher.
Thanks for explaining that a jumper is a sweater.
I am also wondering about the Unforgivable Curse. I think the only explanation for the MoM not knowing is that they only keep track of students using magic away from school. The SO brought up an EXCELLENT point here. IF they knew he cast this spell, they would know anytime anyone cast this spell, and therefore would know about Voldemort being back, and all Death Eaters who had used an Unforgivable. There would be no secret.
I liked Sirius, although he did come across as a bit snarky in this book. He was becoming something of a brother/surrogate father to Harry, as well as his only link to them. I am dissatisfied with the implications of him going through the arch, and must agree that it’s still possible for him to come back, soap opera style. There’s no body, therefore there is always a chance.
Harry and Cho was very well done. Teenage angst is always self centered, and they could not understand each other at all. Typical. I love the way he was agonizing in the Tea Room. Her jealously was a bit out of hand, but some girls ARE like that.
FRED and GEORGE! Ohhh, the hilarity. I love their exit from Hogwart’s. Anyone else notice that Mrs. Weasley is consiciously quiet about the whole thing? She doesn’t even yell at them, as far as we know.
Snape’s memory…is very sad and explains a great deal. But HE is the adult in the situation, and has treated Harry very poorly throughout. He is the one that needs to get over himself. What James did has no bearing on Harry whatsoever.
Ahh, no one else has brought this up. I don’t think the Occumency lessons were making Harry worse. He WANTED to know what was behind the door. He wasn’t trying to stop those dreams, he just perhaps didn’t realize that Voldy was putting this place in his head.
Super Gnat, Harry’s birthday wasn’t COMPLETLEY ignored, she just started the book after the fact. She did mention that he’d gotten cards from Ron and Hermoine.
Tonks and Kingsley were great characters.
Do they actually SAY that Harry saw his parents die? He was in the house, and in his crib. Aside from that, he didn’t remember the incident, so I think that might be why he only saw the thestrals after Cedric’s death.
I found it interesting that the Sorting Hat had a new song.
Before the book came out, I speculated that it would be Mr. Weasley that died. Harry, Ron and Hermoine are safe until book 7 at least. It had to be an adult. Prof. McGonagall also crossed my mind. Sirius never did actually. I didn’t think she’d take away another father figure type for him. (For the same reason I felt Dumbledore was safe.)
Sorry, LOTS of thoughts here. ~L~
~J
I’ve read and re-read the book. Then I read this thread. I am almost too tired to post anything. 
Of the all new characters we are introduced to – **Firezne, Luna, Tonks, Garwk, members of the Order Of The Phoenix ** --I am most impressed with Dolores Umbridge. Potter fans, I predict, years from now, she will go down as the best single book antagonist in the Harry Potter series. None of this wussy I’m-Your-Friend-harry-You-Can-Trust-Me-Oops-I’m-Really-Evil! nonsense; she was straightforwardly ruthless, conniving, racist and hateful all the way through the novel, dispatching teachers, students and her MoM peers. I can’t WAIT to see who plays her in the movie. Did anyone else channel American actress Louise Fletcher when reading her parts? The movies have been an all-Brit cast thus far, but Fletcher should get a shot! Fletcher as Umbridge versus Dame Maggie Smith as Professor MacGonall… wow!
I do think this book was somewhat misnamed. True, the Order of the Phoenix sounds great, and the organization did provide security and deepening sense of organization against Voldemort, and some hints of their plans in the coming books – but they weren’t central to the book at all. Umbridge stole the show. A better (if less intriguing) title would have been “Harry Potter and the Year of the Grand Inquisitor.” Or even "Harry Potter and Dumbledore’s Army."
I hate that I read this book knowing there would be a death of "a major character " – one that Rowling found “difficult to write” and “made her cry.” To me, that implied one of the recurring chacaters introduced in the first book – so not only was Sirius Black was off my radar, he was beyond my concern. I just didn’t feel as emotionally attached to his death as I would have by anyone else. Heck, even the death of one of the Dursleys-- ANY of them – would have come as a bigger shock.
On other bits:
Fred and George Weasly were great and I cannot wait to see the obvious – their induction into the Order Of the Phoenix as full members. I also hope we haven’t seen the last of Lee Jordan.
Ron Weasly seemed decidedly underwritten in this novel… even for a sidekick. Did anyone else feel that way?
Ron/Hermione seems less likely after reading this book, for some reason. They didn’t have a single moment that might be called ‘affectionate.’ Plus, I can see what what he sees in her – know-it-all that she is, she’s still cute and he admires her brains. I’m just having a hard time seeing what Hermione sees in Ron. He’s not a scholar, thoughtful, particularly brave or funny… If she seemed remotely impressed with him as an athlete, maybe. Maybe it’s just his loyalty. Anyway… I was hoping Ron still had a shot at Fleur Delacour, and I was disappointed she didn’t make it in this book. She’s the only female Hermione seemed threatened by.
Harry/Cho Chang – FEH. Blubbering women! I hope we’ve seen the last of her.
James/Lily/Petunia/Severus Snape: I am really interested in seeing more of the old school relationships revealed.
So with the death of Sirius, only one of the Marauders is left: Remus “Padfoot” Lupin. I liked him better than Wormtail and Moony anyway. I hope his being a werewolf doesn’t prevent he and Harry getting to know each other better. I wouldn’t mind at all if he came back to teach Defense of Dark Arts.
Sirius’ death was so abrupt, that I deeply suspect that he will be seen again.
If all the Blacks are dead and their ancestral Black home is in the hands of the Order – what happened to their house-elf, Kreacher?
Here’s a glaring plot-point I hope someone will clear up for me, because right now you can drive an aircraft carrier through it: WHY, after Sirius plunged into the veil, didn’t they use a time device from that Depart of Mysteries room and go back in time and prevent Sirius’ death? Besides the utter cheesiness of the solution, of course.