Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix (Harry Potter #5)

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This thread is to discuss Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Pages: 870 pages


Length: 1 Month (February)


Participants: Alaina, Raviteja, Bailey, Wendy, Kay .


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!


Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

[Alaina]

Woohoo super excited to dive into this one!

[Raviteja]

Me too! I am going to read Goblet of Fire this week and continue with Order of the Phoenix after that!

[bailey, Challenges]

I’m embarrassed to say I’m one of the few people that hasn’t read the Harry Potter series in its entirety 😳 I’ve finished 1-4 and started Order of the Phoenix way back in 2019 but haven’t picked it back up since then... yikes! So this will be my first read of this book and I’m excited to get back into it because I adore the HP universe. As of now I’m at chapter 10 since I’m starting where I left off and may have started reading before February. Thanks y’all for doing this buddy read because I definitely needed the motivation to pick this back up!!

[Shiruji]

I love the Harry Potter world!
I reread the series back in 2018 to feel the magic again, but I somehow stopped while reading OotP. This was back in 2019, same as Bailey!
So this is a good opportunity for me to read this wonderful book again, thank you guys! :)

[Raviteja]

I will be starting this tomorrow. I will be reading this along with another book, so I expect it to take a couple of weeks (considering its size).

[Raviteja]

My read got a little delayed because of another book, but I started it today.

Chapters 1 and 2
I feel this is a brilliant way to start the book, with an event that creates so many questions, and the reader has no choice except to read the next chapter to get (some) answers.
(view spoiler)[
1) How did Dementors come into Privet Drive?
2) The timing of the dementor attack feels too fishy, them attacking Harry at the same time Mundungus was not there.
3) It is weird that the first Ministry of Magic response to Harry involved "explusion" and "breaking the wand". It is clearly known that Patronus charm is used against dementors, so shouldn't they first "ask questions and kill" rather than the opposite?
4) Last one, who sent the Howler to Mrs. Petunia? Do we get to know the answer by the end of the book?
(hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

Chapter 9:
(view spoiler)[ All his life, Harry complained about being famous (or being in the spotlight), and one moment when things are not about him, he becomes jealous 🤷🏻‍♂️
But he recovers quickly, and doesn't hold on to it too long (atleast at this point). (hide spoiler)]

[bailey, Challenges]

Raviteja wrote: "Chapter 9:"

(view spoiler)[ I felt the same way about this!! I was super frustrated to see Harry being jealous of Ron for something that he'd forgotten about until the badges were already handed out. I get that it's upsetting to not get something that you think you deserve but at least it went to his best friend! Made me feel bad for Ron who was all excited to finally get something Harry doesn't have and for Harry to not be happy for him like Ron has been every time Harry accomplishes something. (hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

Bailey ✰ wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "Chapter 9:"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, this just took me back to that Goblet of Fire moment when Harry's name came out and I felt sorry for Harry because everyone (including Ron) looked at him like he cheated his way in!
Harry should have been better with Ron here. Besides, we all know that Harry is not the prefect material (and Harry should too by now) 🤷🏻‍♂️ (hide spoiler)]

[bailey, Challenges]

Chapter 21:

(view spoiler)[ WOW! I’m at the point in the series where I don’t remember much from the movies I watched at around 10 y/o. Harry’s dreams/premonitions are getting super strange and I’m loving it. I did find Harry and Cho’s kiss super awkward though and I really could’ve done without it. On another note, it’s astounding how Umbridge continues to get more and more aggravating as the story progresses. Like I just want someone to sucker punch her or something jeez. (hide spoiler)]

Also, Raviteja, I definitely agree with you!

[Shiruji]

Just finished this!
This used to be my least favorite books in the series, but now I love it. I used to hate how Harry was jealous/angry/moody, and I didn't like certain things in this book. Now I understand that the story line had to happen this way, and that Harry being a 15 years old full of emotions, is totally normal - I just didn't want to admit it myself when I was that age and read the book for the first time lol! I loved reading this and getting to know more of Harry's story, especially since I pick up more clues now than when I first read this series.

[Alaina]

Ch 2: (view spoiler)[I can't believe I forgot Aunt Petunia getting a howler.. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 8: (view spoiler)[Dumbledore showing up like a boss. Love him. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 14: (view spoiler)[YUP. I still hate Umbridge. Glad that hasn't change done bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 21: (view spoiler)[Poor Harry. He lost his spot to Ginny (who I love and can't wait to see kick ass on the field) and then he's dealing with Cho who can't stop thinking about Cedric. Honestly, never really saw him with Cho to begin with even though she is cute in her own way. Still shipping him with Ginny. They are my ride or die right now and forever. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 27: (view spoiler)[Ya know I remember the movie and I hated how Snape was 'helping' Harry with this 'dreams' of Voldemort. But with the book, I actually really enjoy it. Not sure why.. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I am not okay. I am not okay. I AM NOT OKAY. Why, oh why, did Sirius have to die? Ugh. WHY CRUEL WORLD?!?! What a stab to the heart! Ugh, I'm not prepared for the next book just yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

I can't wait for the next book

[Ashleigh]

Alaina, this is one of my favourite books but whenever I reach that chapter a sense of dread fills me!

[Alaina]

Ashleigh wrote: "Alaina, this is one of my favourite books but whenever I reach that chapter a sense of dread fills me!"

Oh man! Yes, I totally agree. I just know it's coming and I'm still not prepared for it.

[Eirelyn]

@Alaina, I agree wholeheartedly! (view spoiler)[Other than the mains, of course, Sirius was my absolute favorite character in these books. He should have had a bigger role, in my opinion, and I was soooo upset when he was killed off!!! :*( (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Eirelyn wrote: "@Alaina, I agree wholeheartedly! [spoilers removed]"

UGH, don't remind me. So much sadness is about to come my way.

[Trisha]

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Alaina, my life hasn't been the same after that climax! Sirius-ly!

[Trisha]

Eirelyn wrote: "@Alaina, I agree wholeheartedly! [spoilers removed]"

Eirelyn, absolutely agree. (view spoiler)[ He should have had a bigger role. They did try to glorify him though, but come on, he needs more glory than that! Came too late, gone too soon! (hide spoiler)]

[Eirelyn]

Trisha wrote: "Eirelyn wrote: "@Alaina, I agree wholeheartedly! [spoilers removed]"

Eirelyn, absolutely agree. [spoilers removed]"

I'm still not over it. :*(

[Raviteja]

Ok, this may be a newbie question..
(view spoiler)[House-elves are free only when their master presents them a piece of cloth right..

How does Hermione think giving them hats would make them free?
Since they work for Hogwarts, would it make their master the institute or Dumbledore himself? How does that work in this case?
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Raviteja wrote: "Ok, this may be a newbie question..
House-elves are free only when their master presents them a piece of cloth right..

How does Hermione think giving them hats would make them free?
Since they wor..."

(view spoiler)[This is very much a case of Hermione thinking she's doing the right thing without putting too much thought into the consequences of her actions. There are points throughout the book where Ron - who obviously has the most knowledge about those kinds of things because he grew up with it - insisted that they didn't want to be free and to actually ask them first. But she was adamant about her plans and thought Ron and Harry were just not interested in her plight. I think the whole 'who their master is' didn't really occur to her either, because Dobby even reveals Dumbledore offered him a job which I think implies that he is the 'master'.

She has a heart of gold, Hermione, but sometimes she just likes to jump head first into things on a social level that she doesn't entirely think through. It's not obvious on the outside, but if you look closely you'll probably notice that one of her flaws/weaknesses is social interactions. She's not always understanding of social matters (if you remember back in Prisoner of Azkaban, she chose to berate Lavender Brown for her pet rabbit dying because Lavender talked about Trelawney being right, rather than just being sympathetic (hide spoiler)]

Umm... I know I went a little off tangent there to your question haha. So long story short - Hermione just wanted to do what she thought was right without thinking it through and therefore not contemplating the consequences/problems surrounding the issue.

[Raviteja]

Ashleigh wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "Ok, this may be a newbie question..
House-elves are free only when their master presents them a piece of cloth right..

How does Hermione think giving them hats would make them fre..."

I agree.. Its more jumping in without details, and probably that is why it doesnt make sense.
I think that was an intentional character flaw? one of the smartest characters in the book jumping into things without thinking through the details.

[Ashleigh]

Oh, it's 100% an intentional character flaw! All the characters are flawed. That's what makes them all so realistic and likeable 😁