The Advance Guard

Chapter 3 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The Advance Guard

Synopsis

Harry immediately writes letters to Sirius, Hermione, and Ron. He instructs Hedwig to get detailed replies from each. Frustration overwhelms him: he has no idea what is happening in the Wizarding world and, cut off, feels he is being treated like a "naughty child" by Mr. Weasley, Dumbledore, and Sirius, who sent instructions. An annoyed Harry remains locked in his room for the next three days.

On the third day, Uncle Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley are leaving for the evening. Harry is ordered to stay in his room and not steal food or touch their possessions. Uncle Vernon locks the door behind them. Later, Harry hears a crash in the kitchen. Grabbing his wand, he cautiously advances to the stairs where nine witches and wizards, including the real Mad-Eye Moody and Remus Lupin greet him.

Harry is being taken from the Dursleys'. While he is packing, Nymphadora Tonks curiously changes her appearance, explaining that she is a Metamorphmagus and (impressing Harry) an Auror.

Lupin leaves a note for the Dursleys, then the entire group heads outside. Because Harry cannot yet Apparate, they mount broomsticks and begin a long, cold flight. They finally descend in what appears to be a lower-class neighborhood. Moody shows Harry a scrap of paper which reads: "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London."

Analysis

Harry has become increasingly upset and frustrated at being isolated, both physically and mentally, from his friends and the wizarding world. Clearly, someone is preventing detailed information from reaching him, leaving Harry feeling like a small, untrustworthy child. This is especially galling as, having fought Lord Voldemort twice successfully, and certainly able to understanding the overall situation, he feels he should be treated as an adult. However, even though Harry is on the verge of adulthood, we have seen him sometimes acting immaturely and impulsively, often reacting in anger and frustration rather than logically evaluating what the actual circumstances may be and taking appropriate action. In particular, we note how, when being informed he was in trouble for underaged magic, his first impulse again was to run away.

The Advance Guard's arrival reveals several things. First, so many wizards collecting Harry is yet another indication of Harry's fame in the Wizarding world: Harry is surprised by the large number because he has not internalized his own celebrity status. Here we meet the true Mad-Eye Moody and witness the paranoia he operates under. Even the other Aurors find his planned precautions excessive. Finally, their appearance is a clear indicator that Harry was never forgotten, nor was he ignored, but had simply been "put on ice," until another safe-house was ready. We are unable to speculate why Harry was never told about the plan to move him, or why he has been kept in the dark on all Wizarding matters since leaving Hogwarts. Clearly, Harry is relieved and excited to rejoin the Magical world, even if, as Moody suspects, it puts him in more danger.

Questions

Review

1. Why is Harry so frustrated?
2. What is a Metamorphmagus?
3. Why did so many people come to get Harry?

Further Study

1. Why has Harry been denied information about Voldemort and what is happening in the Wizard world?

Greater Picture

We learn shortly that it is at Dumbledore's bidding that Harry has been kept uninformed. This is partly due to Dumbledore knowing and understanding about the link between Harry and Voldemort. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore learned that Voldemort created at least one Horcrux, and was alarmed that this Horcrux was also a weapon, and used as one, rather than being kept safely hidden. From this, Dumbledore suspected that Voldemort had created multiple Horcruxes, a suspicion confirmed when Voldemort claims he had, "gone further along the road to immortality than any other wizard." Eventually, Dumbledore guesses that the link between Harry and Voldemort is a soul fragment that was sheared off from Voldemort and adhered to Harry's soul. Whether he already has guessed this, or simply knows the link exists at this point is uncertain. In any event, Dumbledore keeps Harry uninformed largely to prevent Voldemort from gaining any knowledge through that link.

Additionally, the adult wizards, notably Dumbledore and, to a lesser extent, Mrs. Weasley, have withheld information from Harry because they believe it could put him, and also his peers, in jeopardy by making them easy targets for Death Eaters. The less Harry knows for now, the safer he and the others are.