Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Order of the Phoenix/Chapter 31
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Chapter 31 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: O.W.L.s
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[edit] Synopsis
Ron's elation over his performance and Gryffindor's victory lasts well into the next day. Harry and Hermione let him enjoy it before telling him they missed the match because Hagrid dragged them away to tell them about Grawp. Ron is incredulous that Hagrid brought back a Giant and reluctant to help care for one, much less teach it English. "He's lost his mind!" Hermione concurs, but says they promised to help Hagrid.
The Fifth Year Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations begin, and Harry is relieved that many questions cover familiar information. In the first week, he performs creditably in Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry receives an extra mark in this last exam for producing a Patronus when requested. Professor Umbridge, who is observing, seems pleased, but Harry does not care. After her Ancient Runes exam, Hermione reports that someone put another Niffler into Umbridge's office; it will be another excuse to sack Hagrid.
The following Monday, Harry does reasonably well in the Potions exam as Snape is not present. Tuesday is Care of Magical Creatures, and Wednesday morning is Astronomy. Both Harry and Ron fail Divination miserably on Wednesday afternoon. During the evening Astronomy practical exam, Harry spies Umbridge and a group heading for Hagrid's hut. A battle breaks out, and the group emerges, attempting to stun Hagrid with their wands, although his massive body deflects the spells. Professor McGonagall runs to Hagrid's aid, but she is hit by several stunning spells and knocked off her feet. Hagrid escapes, and McGonagall is rushed to the hospital wing. A distressed Harry, and the other Gryffindors who witnessed this, discuss it later in the common room. Hermione comments that the Nifflers found in Umbridge's office will be used as a pretext for sacking him. Lee Jordan admits that he levitated them into her office, but Hermione says it does not matter; Umbridge hates what she calls "half-breeds" and would have sacked him anyway. The Common room does not clear out until four in the morning, and Harry's three hours of restless sleep are filled with vengeful dreams.
Harry is exhausted the next day and falls asleep during the afternoon History of Magic exam. He experiences another vision, seeing himself entering the room with the glass orbs. Inside, Voldemort's voice orders a black, shapeless heap on the floor to pick up an orb. The "heap" is Sirius, being tortured by Voldemort.
[edit] Analysis
Ron's opinion about the wisdom of taking on the gigantic task of civilizing Grawp clearly echoes Harry and Hermione's. Because Hagrid is not present, he alone is able to verbalize the doubts of the entire Trio, and does so with his usual outspokenness. The author points up Hermione's unhappiness with the fact that they have promised to take this on, in the event that Hagrid gets sacked. Hagrid does get sacked, most dramatically, and the Trio now will have the responsibility of visiting Grawp occasionally, despite the fact that they are not allowed in the Forbidden Forest, and against the wishes of the Centaurs.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- What is Ron's reaction when Harry and Hermione tell him about Grawp?
- What does Harry witness during his Astronomy exam? What happens to McGonagall?
- What does Harry "see" during his History of Magic O.W.L. exam?
[edit] Further Study
- Umbridge seems pleased when Harry conjures a Patronus in his Defence Against the Dark Arts OWL. Why? This is not something that she has taught; why does she not wonder where he had learned it?
[edit] Greater Picture
Following his dream, Harry will be in a panic over Sirius, positive he is in danger, but it seems there is no one he can to turn to. Umbridge is in complete control, Dumbledore and Hagrid are now gone, Harry will shortly find that Professor McGonagall has gone to St. Mungo's, and there seems little that Ron and Hermione can do. However, Harry is overlooking the one person left who can help him: Professor Snape, also an Order member. He has also forgotten (deliberately) the package Sirius gave him at Christmas, which Sirius had said would be a way to reach him at any time.
We will shortly find that Harry's dream has been created by Voldemort, as a means of luring Harry into the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. Voldemort has been seeking an object, a Prophecy, which is contained in one of the small glass orbs that Harry sees in his vision. These orbs are charmed such that only those to whom they refer can safely touch them; Voldemort knows that only he and Harry can retrieve the prophecy from the shelf where it lies, and has determined to trick Harry into doing it for him.
In the rush of events, the Trio will quite forget their promise to visit Grawp. However, the time involved will be very short: the Astronomy exam, we see here, is Wednesday night, and that is when Hagrid is sacked; the History of Magic exam, Friday afternoon, is when Harry has his dream, and they will visit the Ministry this same evening. That visit will culminate with a battle, which will result in the reappearance of Dumbledore and the Ministry admitting the return of Voldemort. One of the demands Dumbledore makes is that the Ministry stop chasing his groundskeeper, meaning that Hagrid is free to return to Hogwarts only two days after having been driven away.
