8 Harsh Realities Rereading Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

From Sirius' recklessness to Harry and Cho's doomed romance, rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix brings up many uncomfortable truths.

While the release of Hogwarts Legacy may be delayed yet again, there's still plenty of Harry Potter for fans to enjoy. In fact, the little wizard's adventures are as fascinating as ever, especially for those who plan to re-read the series.

At the same time, it has to be said that re-reading several of the original books, including Order of the Phoenix, brings up many disturbing realities. A lot of that stems from the book's length, but it's also true that some characters lose their luster. Sirius Black, in particular, is charming at first glance, but his light fades on rereading.

Order Of The Phoenix Is Just Too Long

Given that it is the fifth book in the series and the story has begun to expand, it makes sense that the book is longer than its predecessor. While this does help make it more immersive, it can also be a liability.

In this case, the extra length feels a lot like padding. In particular, scenes dealing with Ministry of Magic bureaucracy tend to bog down the plot (in stark contrast to the film, which ditches most this). As such, it's sometimes easy to forget the fact that the book is primarily about Harry dealing with the trauma associated with Voldemort's return and Cedric's tragic death at the hands of the Dark Lord.

Some Order Of The Phoenix Sub-Plots Don't Pay Off

One of the most notable things about the first four Harry Potter books is how effectively it uses its plot elements. When something happens, it pays off. Most notably, the Triwizard Tournament inevitably led to Voldemort's return. However, this momentum was slowed down by the Phoenix Order.

Clearly, by this point, J.K. Rowling is having some difficulty maintaining her forward momentum without reaching a premature climax. So there are many detours, not least Hermione's righteous advocacy of the house-elves, which unfortunately doesn't pay off much. It's a storyline that is largely sidelined in subsequent volumes, leading the reader to wonder what the point was in the first place.

Harry’s Stubbornness Strains The Reader’s Patience

Harry is certainly one of the best characters in Harry Potter. However, that doesn't mean he's immune to criticism, This is especially true of the Order of the Phoenix. Rereading the book, the reader will be reminded repeatedly of how stubborn he was.

This is especially true in his relationship with Snape. While it's understandable that he'd show some resistance to Snape's efforts to teach him, at the end of the day, it's his stubbornness in this area that not only makes readers unbearable, but is also what leads to Sirius' tragic death.

Sirius Was Far Too Reckless

Sirius was one of the bravest members of the Order of the Phoenix and one of the most beloved Gryffindors. In the books, however, he's a genuinely reckless guy, more clearly than in the movies.

That's bad enough in itself - even if it's understandable since he's basically still imprisoned even after being freed from Azkaban - but he also encourages Harry to do the same , thereby exacerbating the offense. Ironically, then, it was this carelessness that ended up costing Sirius his life.

The Cho Romance Plot Feels Forced (And Is Just Generally Cringe)

There are many important relationships and couples in Harry Potter. for Among the Phoenixes, the most important one is the one that appears between Harry and Cho Chang. While it (mostly) looked fine at the time, the same can't be said on reread.

In fact, the whole dynamic is more than a little cringe-worthy. First up is Cho's name, which seems particularly simple. Just as important, the relationship itself seems unrewarding. Instead, it's a stopover on Harry's journey that ends up with Ginny Weasley.

It’s Hard To Read Some Of The Umbridge Parts

There is no doubt that Dolores Umbridge is one of the most evil villains in Harry Potter. This was evident from the moment she showed up in the Order of the Phoenix, with a particular fondness for torturing anyone who didn't stick to the party line.

In fact, a reread reveals just how evil she is. Reading about her literal physical torture of Harry can be a test. While this certainly reinforces her villainous nature, it also inevitably feels, all in all, a little too much.

Dumbledore Was Wrong To Keep Harry In The Dark So Much

While he may be one of the most powerful wizards in Harry Potter, so is Dumbledore Capable of doing some very morally questionable things. Nowhere is this more evident than in Order of the Phoenix, where he really goes to great lengths to keep things from Harry.

This caused a lot of unnecessary pain to poor Harry. If Dumbledore had just been honest with his young protégé instead of trying to keep him "safe," Harry's fifth year wouldn't have been as miserable as it is.

It Was Deeply Questionable To Leave Umbridge In The Hands Of The Centaurs

Although Umbridge is a truly reprehensible person, rereading Order of the Phoenix reveals a very disturbing event she was concerned with. That moment, of course, is the events in the Forbidden Forest where she is kidnapped and taken by centaurs.

Reading this for the first time encourages the reader to be happy in the moment, because it feels like she deserves it. However, re-reading the book shows that, in fact, this is a morally questionable thing to do for Harry and his friends, as they could lead to Umbridge's death.