Use this thread to post your questions about Order of the Phoenix. Questions, anomalies, ponderings, etc. You can post as you think of things, and I don't mind if the questions take you back a few books or forward a few books...

My biggest question from this book is why the Ministry would keep that curtain! I guess they were studying it or what have you, but it certainly seems dangerous. I wonder if they'd lost anyone else to it? I mean, if it held such pull for Harry and. . .Neville, was it? . . .Surely someone else had been entranced by it.

I often wondered that myself..Why keep that dreadful thing. I think that maybe the Ministry was keeping that Veil of Death to maybe like to study it and find out what types of deep dark secrets that it held, and why does it only allure ceratin types of people. As far as Neville and Harry goes, I think that they were so entranced by it becuae of the fact that both of them had witnessed Death (Harry with his folks) and Neville witnessed the terrible act that was done upon his parents (when Bellatrix literally made them insane). I was trying to remember didn't Luna also become entranced by it as well? I mean she had witnessed the death of her own mother at a young age. It seems like the Death Veil knew of those people that had witnessed something catastropic in their lives.

For those people like Hermione or Ron the Veil would not affect them in anyway because they had not personally witnessed any tragedies.

I started today with OotP, so I might not get in time to read HBP , but anyway, there're a few things that puzzle me... maybe people've already discussed this in other threads, but... this is the purpose of the re-read, I guess!

Ok, so... how is that Tonks is able to perform magic in Privet Drive, when Harry got a warning the time Dobby did it? I mean... the Ministry detects magic, without knowing who did it, and in Harry's case, they know it because he's the only wizard of the neighbourhood... then how in OotP could those wizards (well, I guess it was Tonks the only one who did, but anyway) perform magic, and the Ministry didn't say a word about it? I don't think that it was because Dumbledore told them that Harry was going to be rescued from the Dursleys, right?

I think the reson why Tonk's was able to perform magic in Privet Drive and not have anything said about it, as opposed to Harry is because of the fact that under-aged wizards are not allowed to perform magic outside Hogwarts (or any other magical community) at any time, where as an of aged wizard (such as Tonks) would not have any repercussions done to her.

Harry got in trouble because for one he was under-aged and he performed magic in front of a muggle.

Well they say that there is no way to detect who is doing the magic, so that's a good question. They couldn't have known who did that magic. And for that matter, why couldn't Ron and any of the other underage Weasleys do magic at home? They can't detect who does it, so couldn't they pass it off and say that one of the adults did it? I think that law has too many holes in it.

I've got another question...In PoA, Hermione says that nobody knows what boggarts look like because they are shape-shifters. However, in OotP, they get Moody to look in the drawer and see if it's a boggart. That means that Moody must know what a boggart looks like. So why hasn't anyone ever printed in a textbook what a pre-shape-shifted boggart looks like? Surely they have magic for that kind of stuff... That, or does the boggart shape-shift in the drawer when Moody's magical eye looks at it? I find that pretty improbable... Anyone have any ideas?

Yes, but the wizards in charge wouldn't have known it was Tonks doing the magic instead of Harry because they can't detect who did the magic. It stands to reason that when Tonks did the magic, they would have immediately thought it was Harry again and sent him an Owl about it.

It does seem strange that Harry wasn't reprimanded that time.

EDIT:
You posted just before me, Just the Droobles. I agree, the law has too many holes in it. They say that for magical homes with underage witches/wizards in it that it's up to the parents to make sure they stick by the rules. And who's to say that's going to happen? lol So, it seems to me that the only ones that the law is very strict about are the ones that don't live in a magical home. Then there's all the possibilities that could occur to have magic happen around those homes that those kids end up getting blamed for, even if they are cleared later. Seems like to much trouble and problems to me.

As for the boggart and Moody, I've always wondered the same thing! Why couldn't Moody tell them what a boggart looked like? Does seem far-stretched to think it could change in that drawer when Moody was looking through floors and stuff to see it. Wonder if JKR was ever approached with the question and if she answered it? Hmmm. . .

Well, it's just like you've said, and moreover: Dumbledore said himself that the Ministry trusts parents to keep an eye on their kids, so the Weasleys were perfectly able to perform magic at home if they wanted to. I think that the Ministry doesn't tell that out, and that's why everyone abides to the rule, right? But yes, the Ministry has no way of knowing who performed the magic, never minding whether he or she is underage or not; they just know that magic was performed in the place. It's like in Tom Riddle's case: the Ministry couldn't know that it was him who killed his family and not his uncle because in the area only lived one wizard: Morfin.

And in regards of the Boggart... I hadn't had that question until I read someone's asked it in a thread over here, but it's quite puzzling...

Having just finished HBP, some of the Underage Magic questions were answered by Dumbledore when Harry asked about using magic when they went out to look for the Horcrux. Harry was worried about using magic and being underage (since Dumbledore had told him it was ok to defend himself if necessary), and Dumbledore said the Ministry can't really tell WHO does the magic, which is why Harry got blamed for Dobby's hovering charm in CoS, and that it's up to the wizarding families to make sure their kids don't use magic when underage.

SOOOO, that still doesn't answer the question about the magic the Order used when rescuing Harry from the Dursley's, does it? I quite wondered the same thing when Tonks and Moody used magic, especially since they Ministry was keen on expelling Harry for producing a Patronus in front of a muggle. I would have thought that would have really drawn more attention to Harry, seeing as how they would have been looking out for that sort of thing. Perhaps, they did send an owl, but Harry had already left? It couldn't find him at #12 could it? Then again, you'd have think they would have brought all that up at the hearing.

I, too, am interested in why Moody could know what there was a boggart in the writing desk, when Lupin had told the class in PoA that no-one knows what a boggart looks like since it takes on the form of your worst fear. Hmmm... maybe a bit of research to see if Jo has addressed this anywhere...

And in response to the veil... I think everyone but Hermione and Ron were affected by the veil. Ginny and Neville had to be dragged away by Hermione and Ron. Maybe because Harry, Neville and Luna had all experienced Death and Ginny had come close to death that they all could hear the voices.

I think Moody could see Boggarts because Boggarts change when they see you, and if they can't see you, they remain themselves, and he can see that.

I think they kept the veil for research, because after all, it is the Department of Mysteries!

I've got two more questions and a few reflections about OotP, and talking about it, I shall mention that it killed me because I tried to read like 20 chapters in one day and I don't know how there're people who can do it, it's mental.

First: JK Rowling has a serious problem with numbers and quantities. And keep in mind that who says this is a girl who's always hated Maths and barely can find her house on the way back.
When Harry tells Umbridge that he had saw Voldemort killing Cedric, his mind says that he had never talked about that in front of 30 classmates before. But if I'm not wrong, in any moment she mentions that Gryffindors shared DADA with any other house, never minding that in the movies they do. And Gryffindor doesn't have that many students: they are five boys and three girls, unless JK doesn't considers necessary to inform readers that there're more students, but they can use another bedrooms and it's not necessary to be mentioned So... are the other 22 students invisible, or they are ghosts, or it's just me who is awful with Maths or missed something?

Second: I think I know what's the veil for. It's said that there're stands around the platform where the veil is. Well, I came to the conclusion that it might be an ancient system of death penalty. Since the veil appears as having the property of ... dragging people to the beyond, and it doesn't hurt, I think that that's about it, and I suppose they have it in the Department of Mysteries to study why that happens, but of course they know what was the Death Chamber for.

Third: I wondered why didn't Dumbledore kill Voldemort when they fought; after all, he knew that he could kill him and that way they would have had more time to destroy the Horcruxes, right? But then I thought, maybe Dumbledore wanted to give Harry that chance, just like he did with the Philosopher's Stone; he knew that he had to tell Harry the truth after all, and that Harry wouldn't rest until killing Voldemort, and also he knew that there would have been something that would stop him because the prophecy said so. Or something.

And lastly... I think Harry was quite a prat in OotP, but... In some moments I can understand him: in the begginning, for example, I know quite well how he feels: somethimes I have felt like that, you feel that you're treated unfairly compared to your friends or close people, and you feel guilty for thinking that way, but you can't help it because... you know it's true! It's an horrible feeling, to think stuffs about your friends and hating yourself for that, but knowing at the same time that it's the very same truth. Also, Ron and Hermione were quite annoying all the time, but I can't say I can understand that because... well, most of the times it's me arguing with someone, so I'm never the Harry
On the other hand, Harry behaved like a stupid prat all the time; first, thinking that his friends didn't suport him. After all he went through with them, after having spent half a year mad with Ron, and knowing how awful it is to be alone, from all his childhood, it's extremely stupid to be mad at your friends all the time! And it's stupid not to trust Dumbledore just because he doesn't speak to you. I mean, even when Harry meant a lot to him, to Harry he still was his Headmaster, so... hello, what are you expecting? If he doesn't tell you his plans, he must have a reason, so stop behaving like a child!

Ok, and that's how my reading of Order of the Phoenix ended

I can only tell you what I know about the veil question you ask. In most beliefs, there is a veil they divides the living from the dead. It's symbolic more than anything. For instance halloween is when the veil between the two worlds is at it's thinnest and allows spirits to pass between them. It's something that turns up in legend and literature often.

Funnyily enough I'm watching OotP right now!

I know what you mean about the number of children in DADA. JKR doesn't say the number of children in each class but I always assumed that all lessons were shared with other houses. As for the number of Gryffindors in Harrys year, maybe going back to the sorting ceremony in PS/SS will help a little. I think we are to assume that there are actualy more than 8 Gryffindors.

Well, I never assumed that all the houses shared all the classes just because of the fact that when they did share a class, it was mentioned, e.g., Herbology with Hufflepuffs and Potions and CoMC with Slytherins. And yes, it's been always weird for me that there're only about 10 wizards per house which give us 40 wiz kids per year, which is about 280 (right) children in such a huge castle, I mean, it's riddiculous. But if there were more people... why not to mention? I mean, of course it's not a big deal, but hey, you don't know your classmates?

Ah, I didn't know that! Thanks for the new info But in the practical matter, could it be? That they used it instead of hanging? Because I came to think (more), and Dementors weren't always associated to the Ministry. I think that association isn't that old. Since the moment they made the deal with Dementors and put them to work in Azkaban, they made a double deal: Dementors will keep a eye on the Azkaban residents, and when someone received the capital punishment, the Dementors kissed him/her and that was... good for both the wizarding world and the Dementors world. But before, when they weren't associated, I suppose they needed a system for death penalty, and it didn't have to be cruel (cruel the way society believes, of course).

Another thing I had forgotten: why can't Harry have grandparents? Ok, I'll go again: wizards and witches are supposed to have a long life, not a really long life, but at least a bit longer than muggles, and with an average good health. We have Dumbledore, for example, who for sure surpassed the 100 and was alright until he got the curse of the ring. We have lots of wizards and witches that you'd think they can't be more than 80 years old, because they're perfectly sane and healthy, but if you read the books and between the lines, you realise they are more than 80 indeed. However, there're some people that are definitely out of the picture without explanation! Harry's grandparents... If they weren't killed off by Death Eaters (if they were, it would have been mentioned), they have to be dead... It's ok if Lily and Petunia's parents are dead, because they were Muggles (despite it's weird anyway) but Mr and Mrs Potter? Were are they? I mean, I'm a muggle (obviously) and my parents are 42, and my grandparents are all between the 60 and 70. Where are the Potters??

Lol, I'm insane but it's just because life is unfair sometimes

To answer the question regarding the number of students in each house as well as Harry's grandparents... JKR did mention in an earlier interview that there were approximately 2000 students at Hogwarts, which is about 500 in each house, and 80 students in each year PER house. JKR also mentioned that James Potter's parents were much older when James was born (they were already around grandparent age) and they did die, but she didn't say when. She did say that James and Lily were only about 21 when Harry was born, since they had gotten married right out of Hogwarts.

As for the question for why Dumbledore didn't kill LV during the duel at the MoM... Dumbledore knew that the Horcruxes needed to be destroyed before LV could be killed, so even if Dumbledore had "killed" LV during the duel, LV would not have died. That was why Harry et al had to find and destroy the Horcruxes in DH, otherwise Voldemort wouldn't die.

Here's my question and it has to do with OoTp and GoF both. In GoF, they say that Barty Crouch Jr. tourchered(sp?) Neville's parents, right?? So in OoTP, they switch it and go with what the books say and they go on to say Bellatrix tourchered(sp?) Neville's parents. Why in the world do they have that going on between GoF and OoTP?? I understand why they did that. If anyone can explain that, it'd be great cuz me and my friends can't figure it out. Does anyone even know what I'm talking about?? Anyways, this isn't a good question for the book of OoTP or really even the movie, it's more for GoF, but the question needs to be asked.

Also, I agree with why did they keep the death veil in the Ministry and also, why did they have brains there?? It is the Department of Mysteries, after all.

Another good question is the one DeSs posted about where are the rest of the Potters?? THat is a good one, I actually can't help to answer... sorry.

There were four people in the room when they were having the trial for the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom. Two were Bellatrix and her husband. Can't remember who the other one was, but the last one was Barty Crouch Jr. So all of them were there on trial for the torture of the Longbottoms. However, when the posters were released in OotP, Crouch Jr. obviously wouldn't be on there. So it was under Bella's name, and I presume, under Rodolphus's name as well.

The 4 DEs accused of torturing the Longbottoms are Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr.

I think the question that snapesgirlforlife was asking was more about the movies than the books. I think Barty Crouch Jr was accused in the GoF movie (actually, they combined Karkaroff's trial of naming DEs with Barty Crouch Jr being sentenced... Barty Crouch Jr was in the galley of the trial and tried to escape when Karkaroff outed him as a DE) and the Lestranges weren't mentioned at all. Then in OotP movie only Bellatrix was named as the one who tortured the Longbottoms, Rodulphus and Rabastan weren't mentioned at all. So, WHY did they do that in the movies... because they can. The movies don't follow the books exactly and sometimes they are so far gone they don't resemble the books

The reason they switch it round is because they combined all of the memories that Harry sees in the pensive into Karkaroff's trial (except for Ludo Bagman, they missed him out all together) and Karkaroff only mentions Barty Crouch Jr because the others have already been captured and/or everyone knows them as death eaters because their names where the most feared other than Voldemort (Bellatrix in particular) but no-one had any idea that Barty Crouch Jr was a death eater until then. In the OotP movie, you only know that Bellatrix was involved in the torture of Neville's parents because when they meet in the Department of Mysterys, Neville goes 'Bellatrix Lestrange?' and Bellatrix replies 'Neville Longbottom, is it? How's mum and dad?' and Neville goes 'Better now they're about to be avenged!' and you know that Neville's parents were tortured because of Karkarofff's trial in GoF.

Lottie
xxx

Yeah I think JK Rowling might be a little off on her math again. there is no way that there are 80 students per year in each house. It is stated that the only Gryffindor boys are Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus. Let us not forget that JK also said that Charlie is 2 years older than Percy (meaning that he would be at Hogwarts in Harry's first year). Really, Hogwarts just has a small student population. As for the fourth person in the trial, that was Rodolphus Lestrange's brother Rabastan. Rereading the books makes me appreciate them so much more than the movies.

I've got a question that i've had for a few days now. If Sirius had survived in DoM and was cleared of supporting Voldemort wouldn't he still be arrested for being an unregistered animagus? the ministry don't know but it would likely get out somehow especially with Voldemort knowing

Well with dumbledore having his name cleared and all im sure he could of pulled some strings,if you know what I mean.But yes you have raised a valid point there