Harry Potter and the First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Ch 13-15

Episode Summary

The world isnʹt split into good people and Death Eaters...except for Umbridge who is just the worst. So join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 13-15 of Order of the Phoenix. They talk over some theories about what will happen, their impressions of the characters, and how on earth Danny doesn't HATE Umbridge yet.

Episode Notes

 Chapter 13 - Detention with Dolores

Q1 - Why do you think Dumbledore hired Dolores Jane Umbridge?

Q2 - They are writing an essay on moonstones…do you think this will play into the future somehow?

• ʹBowtruckles,ʹ said Hermione. Theyʹre tree guardians, usually live in wand-trees. ʹFive points for Gryffindor,ʹ said Professor Grubbly-Plank. ʹ

Q3 - How rigged is the point system?

Q4 - What direction do you hope the books go in? What has interested you the most at this point?

• The door of the nearest greenhouse opened and some fourth years spilled out of it, including Ginny. ʹHi,ʹ she said brightly as she passed. A few seconds later, Luna Lovegood emerged, trailing behind the rest of the class, a smudge of earth on her nose, and her hair tied in a knot on the top of her head. When she saw Harry, her prominent eyes seemed to bulge excitedly and she made a beeline straight for him. Many of his classmates turned curiously to watch. Luna took a great breath and then said, without so much as a preliminary hello, ʹI believe He Who Must Not Be Named is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him.ʹ

Q5 - Harry’s story is becoming a conspiracy theory…do you believe any conspiracy theories?

Q6 - What do you think of Umbridge and her detention with Harry?

Q7 - If you had a detention with a student, what would you have them do?

• ʹAt least itʹs only lines,ʹ said Hermione consolingly, as Harry sank back on to his bench and looked down at his steak and kidney pie, which he no longer fancied very much. ʹItʹs not as if itʹs a dreadful punishment, really…ʺ  Harry opened his mouth, closed it again and nodded. He was not really sure why he was not telling Ron and Hermione exactly what was happening in Umbridgeʹs room: he only knew that he did not want to see their looks of horror; that would make the whole thing seem worse and therefore more difficult to face. He also felt dimly that this was between himself and Umbridge, a private battle of wills, and he was not going to give her the satisfaction of hearing that he had complained about it.

Q8 - Would you stand true like Harry, or fake that she made her point?

• She moved towards him, stretching out her short ringed fingers for his arm. And then, as she took hold of him to examine the words now cut into his skin, pain seared, not across the back of his hand, but across the scar on his forehead. At the same time, he had a most peculiar sensation somewhere around his midriff.

Q9 - Why did his scar hurt here?

Chapter 14 - Percy and Padfoot

Q1 - How do Hogwarts students do their laundry?

Q2 - How many house elves do you think Hermione has freed?

• Harryʹs insides reinflated so rapidly he felt as though he might actually float a few inches off the dropping-strewn floor. Who cared about a stupid flying horse; Cho thought he had been really brave. For a moment, he considered accidentally- on-purpose showing her his cut hand as he helped her tie her parcel on to her owl… but the very instant this thrilling thought occurred, the Owlery door opened again.

Q3 - What’s the most you’ve tried to show off to someone you had a crush on?

Q4 - What is the deal with Sturgis Podmore?

Q5 - Who do you think will win the Quidditch cup this year?

• From something the Minister let slip when telling me you are now a prefect, I gather that you are still seeing a lot of Harry Potter. I must tell you, Ron, that nothing could put you in danger of losing your badge more than continued fraternization with that boy. Yes, I am sure you are surprised to hear this no doubt you will say that Potter has always been Dumbledoreʹs favorite — but I feel bound to tell you that Dumbledore may not be in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the people who count have a very different and probably more accurate view of Potterʹs behavior. I shall say no more here, but if you look at the Daily Prophet.

Q6 - What does Percy mean here?

Q7 - Do you think Dumbledore will be sacked by the end of this?

• And I do hope, Ron, that you will not allow family ties to blind you to the misguided nature of our parentsʹ beliefs and actions, either. I sincerely hope that, in time, they will realize how mistaken they were and I shall, of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that day comes.
• ʹHermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person Iʹve ever met,ʹ said Ron weakly, ʹand if Iʹm ever rude to you againʹ‐ Iʹll know youʹre back to normal,ʹ said Hermione. ʹHarry, yours is OK except for this bit at the end, I think you must have misheard Professor Sinistra, Europaʹs covered in ice, not mice Harry?ʹ

Q8 - Harry thought a moon was covered in mice…

• ʹYes, but the world isnʹt split into good people and Death Eaters,ʹ said Sirius with a wry smile. ʹI know sheʹs a nasty piece of work, though — you should hear Remus talk about her.ʹ 
• ʹFudge thinks Dumbledore will stop at nothing to seize power. Heʹs getting more paranoid about Dumbledore by the day. Itʹs a matter of time before he has Dumbledore arrested on some trumped up charge.ʹ 
• There was a pause in which Sirius looked out of the fire at Harry, a crease between his sunken eyes. ʹYouʹre less like your father than I thought,ʹ he said finally, a definite coolness in his voice. The risk wouldʹve been what made it fun for James.ʹ 

Q9 - What do you think of what Sirius said?

Chapter 15 - The Hogwarts High Inquisitor

Q1 - What do you think of Umbridge’s appointment as High Inquisitor?

Q2 - What do you think of the article in the Prophet?

• O - Outstanding
• E - Exceed Expectations
• A - Acceptable
• P - Poor
• D - Dreadful 
• T - Troll

Q3 - What do you think about the OWL grading system?

Q4 - Do you feel bad for Trelawney here?

Q5 - Do you think any teacher will get fired?

• ʹYes?ʹ said Professor McGonagall, turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one long, severe line. ʹI was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec—ʹ  ʹObviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom,ʹ said Professor McGonagall, turning her back firmly on Professor Umbridge. Many of the students exchanged looks of glee. ʹAs I was saying: today, we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult Vanishment of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell.
• ʹSheʹs an awful woman,ʹ said Hermione in a small voice. ʹAwful. You know, 1 was just saying to Ron when you came in… weʹve got to do something about her.ʹ  ʹI suggested poison,ʹ said Ron grimly.
• Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. ʹIsnʹt it obvious?ʹ she said. ʹIʹm talking about you, Harry.ʹ 

Q6 - Do you think Harry would be a good teacher?

• ʹYou donʹt know what itʹs like! You neither of you youʹve never had to face him, have you? You think itʹs just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like youʹre in class or something? The whole time youʹre sure you know thereʹs nothing between you and dying except your own your own brain or guts or whatever like you can think straight when you know youʹre about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die theyʹve never taught us that in their classes, what itʹs like to deal with things like that and you two sit there acting like Iʹm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up — you just donʹt get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadnʹt needed me. 
• ʹReparo,ʹ Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the broken pieces of china. They flew back together, good as new, but there was no returning the Murtlap essence to the bowl. He was suddenly so tired he was tempted to sink back into his armchair and sleep there, but instead he forced himself to his feet and followed Ron upstairs. His restless night was punctuated once more by dreams of long corridors and locked doors and he awoke next day with his scar prickling again.

Q7 - Unpack line above.