Harry Potter and the First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Ch 7-9

Episode Summary

ʹWell, well, well… Patronus Potter,ʹ said Lucius Malfoy coolly. An all-time nickname...so join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 7-9 of Order of the Phoenix. They talk over some theories about what will happen, their impressions of the characters, and why the trial enrages them all.

Episode Notes

Chapter 7 - The Ministry of Magic

• Harry awoke at half past five the next morning as abruptly and completely as if somebody had yelled in his ear. For a few moments he lay immobile as the prospect of the disciplinary hearing filled every tiny particle of his brain, then, unable to bear it, he leapt out of bed and put on his glasses.

Q1 - Have you ever woke up in dread of something like this?

Q2 - Ever been to court?

Q3 - What do you think of the look and location of the Ministry of Magic?

• "Mr Weasley" said Harry, as they passed a window through which sunlight was streaming, "aren't we still underground?" "Yes, we are," said Mr Weasley. "Those are enchanted windows. Magical Maintenance decide what weather we'll get every day. We had two months of hurricanes last time they were angling for a pay rise ... Just round here, Harry." 

Q4 - What kind of weather would you have?

Q5 - Do you find it odd that magical beings have small offices?

Q6 - What do you think of JK's world building here?

Chapter 8 - The Hearing

Q1 - What do you think of this trial so far?

• ʹInterrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley ʹWitness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.

Q2 - How many times have you cricked your neck? 

Q3 - What do you think of Dumbledore's many middle names?

• ʹAh,ʹ said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. ʹDumbledore. Yes. You ‐ —er—got our— er—message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?ʹ ʹI must have missed it,ʹ said Dumbledore cheerfully. ʹHowever, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.ʹ
• The witch with the monocle cut across him in a booming voice. ʹYou produced a fully‐fledged Patronus?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, ʹbecause—' ʹA corporeal Patronus?ʹ ʹA—what?ʹ said Harry. ʹYour Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was more than vapour or smoke?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate, ʹitʹs a stag, itʹs always a stag.ʹ ʹAlways?ʹ boomed Madam Bones. ʹYou have produced a Patronus before now?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, ʹIʹve been doing it for over a year.ʹ ʹAnd you are fifteen years old?ʹ ʹYes, and—' ʹYou learned this at school?ʹ ʹYes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the—' ʹImpressive,ʹ said Madam Bones, staring down at him, ʹa true Patronus at his age…very impressive indeed. 

Q4 - What do you think of the people present during this hearing? Bones, Umbridge, Fudge, Dumbledore, Percy?

• I reminded you on the night of the second of August. In your admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself.ʹ ʹLaws can be changed,ʹ said Fudge savagely.

Q5 - What do you think of the trial?

Q6 - Why doesn't Dumbledore look at him?

Chapter 9 - The Woes of Mrs Weasley

• ʹWell, well, well… Patronus Potter,ʹ said Lucius Malfoy coolly.

Q1 - What's the best nickname you ever got?

• Harry turned his moneybag upsidedown and emptied not just ten Galleons, but the whole contents into the pool.

Q2 - How do you think Mr Weasley feels at this moment.

Q3 - Do you think Sirius has a right to be upset?

• ʹWe were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book,ʹ said Fred conversationally. ʹBecause it means Dumbledoreʹs found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,ʹ said George.

Q4 - Who do you think is going to be their Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?

• ʹWhatʹs up with you, Ron?ʹ asked Fred. Ron did not answer. Harry looked round. Ron was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts. ʹWhatʹs the matter?ʹ said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. Fredʹs mouth fell open, too. ʹPrefect?ʹ he said, staring incredulously at the letter. ʹPrefect?'

Q5 - Should Ron have been made a Prefect?

• Ron held up his badge. Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermioneʹs. ʹI donʹt believe it! I donʹt believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! Thatʹs everyone in the family!ʹ ʹWhat are Fred and I, nextdoor neighbors?ʹ said George.

Q6 - Ron wants a broom as a reward…do you think he’d be any good at quidditch?

Q7 - Why is Harry so bummed he didn’t get Prefect?

• Harry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefects badge around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and lying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk.

Q8 - Have you ever not been chosen for something and been really bummed out?

• ʹOh, Alastor, I am glad youʹre here,ʹ said Mrs Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his traveling cloak. ʹWeʹve been wanting to ask you for ages ‐ could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us whatʹs inside it? We havenʹt wanted to open it just in case itʹs something really nasty.ʹ ʹNo problem, Molly…ʹ Moodyʹs electric‐blue eye swiveled upwards and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. ʹDrawing room…ʹ he growled, as the pupil contracted. ʹDesk in the corner? Yeah, I see it… yeah, itʹs a Boggart… want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?ʹ 

Q9 - What do you think Moody sees?

Q10 - Should Harry have been made a prefect?

Q11 - Moody gives him a picture of the original order…who would you want a TV series about?

• ʹIʹm justʹ s ʹs  so worried,ʹ she said, tears spilling out of her eyes again. ʹHalf the f‐ f ‐ familyʹs in the Order, itʹll b ‐ b ‐ be a miracle if we all come through this…and P ‐ P ‐ Percys not talking to us… what if something d‐d ‐ dreadful happens and weʹve never in ‐ in ‐ made it up with him? And whatʹs going to happen if Arthur and I get killed, whoʹs g ‐ g ‐ going to look after Ron and Ginny?ʹ

Q12 - Who do you think will die in the end of this book?