Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 

Finished with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and what I can say is that the book is getting gloomier and gloomier. One person very dear to Harry had died and the world had finally realized that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back.

Some consolations were that the Ministry of Magic had finally admitted their mistake and Harry and Dumbledore were exonerated, Hagrid's giant brother is learning to behave, no student was seriously hurt with their duels with the Death Eaters, Umbridge is out and Trelawney is in, and McGonnagall was not seriously hurt when she was attacked by Umbridge's henchmen.

There were some disappointments, primarily among them is the prophecy. Its as if, with the way the book is going, everybody already knows what the prophecy will be, that one person will  have to battle the Dark Lord and only one of them will survive.

Another disappointment is the Howler that Aunt Petunia received that forced her to change her mind about throwing Harry out the house after he and Dudley were attacked by dementors. I was thinking that there was a very important underlying factor about the howler and about Aunt Petunia reaction to it, like she was also a witch trying her best to hide it, something like that. But I was just a simple reminder from Dumbledore, nothing more.

But he best thing about the book was how Rowling grows Harry. She accurate describes the struggles that a boy will undergo while growing up. The problem with Harry's is that he was not in a normal environment and now in a normal situation. Rowling accurate describes Harry's feeling of being sullen, resentful, self-pitying, and anger. His outburst are all but normal for a growing boy. I always asked myself, was I like that when I can growing up? Probably not, but I always feel that there were a lot of things that he felt that I have felt to, especially the self-pitying.

Some reviews are saying that Harry is becoming arrogant and obnoxious, even when dealing with his friends. But I think that Rowling did this transformation on purpose. Its like Harry is showing some hint of his father's personality, without realizing it. The good thing about this is that when Harry found out how arrogant his father was, he felt very disturbed about it and preferred to be humble.

I said that Harry's circumstances were not normal. I think that is an understatement. Some of the things that he need to endure are being whispered about and put upon, being tried by a criminal court for under-age magic, dreams of serpents, dark rooms and corridors and anxieties about his O.W.L. exam, he's not getting enough sleep. The daily wizard paper keeps insinuating that he's a ''lying weirdo.'' Hermione wonders if maybe he loves playing the hero a bit too much. His first kiss can only be described as ''wet.'' He learns things he'd prefer not to know about his dead father. And the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has banned him from ever again playing Quidditch. What a way to spend the year in Hogwarts. Just listening to what he has to endure, it feels that it is more inviting to spend the time in Privet Drive... well, maybe not.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is another magical ride for Harry Potter fans. And for me, its better late than never.

Some of my notes while reading the book:

08/07/2008

I am on the part were Hagrid was introducing Grawp to Harry and Hermione. I was able to guess that Hagrid brought home a giant, and that's an improvement. I did not guess though that the giant was his brother, but you can't have them all.

Harry was also having Occlumency lessons from Snape and he was able to peek at a memory that Snape do not wish to have anybody view. It got Harry thinking that his father was as arrogant as Snape said he was. But I agree with Lupin, Harry should not judge what he saw on the Pensieve, as this was just one instance that his father's gang was in action. And Harry's mother, Lily, married his father. That's something that he should think about.

Another notable is the escape of Fred and George from Filch and Umbridge was setting alight a portable swamp on the corridor. Many considered that it was a stuff for Hogwarts legend.

7/31/2008

Another new thing that surprised Harry upon reaching the station drop to Hogwarts was seeing the dragonish horses that were pulling the carriage that will take them to the castle.

One had to ask what significant thing that happened to Harry for him to see these creatures, were these creatures already pulling the carriage even when they were first years, what are these creatures?

The answer will be revealed by Hagrid and a bit obvious to some HP readers, but again, it will be a bit of a surprise for me.

***
HP and OP is one were Harry has always had anger brewing a short distance from the surface of his being, and that's not surprising since Harry is entering puberty.

Rowling had depicted puberty so accurately that I was even reminiscing the time that I was courtinga few of my classmates in high school.  Some of the things that Rowling described accurate was the feeling Harry was having when he sees Cho, the way Harry feels a tingling sensation whenever he is near Cho.

***

I like the way he described Cho kissing Harry after their D.A. session.

I also like Hermione's way of explaining why Cho is always crying, that she was sad because of Cedric's dying and  confused because she likes Cedric and now she likes Harry, and she can't make up her mind who she likes best; then she felt guilty, its an insult to Cedric's memory to kiss Harry at all; and she was worried about what others might say if she starts a relationship with Harry; and she probably could not work out her feeling toward Harry has he was with Cedric when Cedric died; so that's very all mixed up and painful. And she was afraid she's going to be thrown off from the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she was flying badly.

I also like Ron's reaction, saying that nobody can feel that way at once, they'll explode.

And Hermione's reply was also funny, saying that just because Ron had the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean they all have.

7/22/2008

Another emotional scene was when Harry was anticipating his impending hearing with the Ministry of Magic for using the Patronus Charm when he and Dudley were attacked by dementors. Rowling description of how Harry feels were so involving that you can feel his anxiety.

***
First mystery, why was Aunt Petunia so worried with the howler the she received when they were in the Dursley's kitchen discussing Harry and Dudley being attacked by dementors. What could the message mean?