Order of the Phoenix (organisation)
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| Harry Potter association | |
| Order of the Phoenix | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Number 12, Grimmauld Place |
| Current head | Unknown (formerly Albus Dumbledore) |
| Intentions | To prevent Lord Voldemort from carrying out his plans |
| Enemies | Lord Voldemort and his group of Death Eaters; one-sided opposition from the Ministry of Magic. |
| First appearance | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, although briefly mentioned (not by name) at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
The Order of the Phoenix is a fictional organisation in the Harry Potter series of books by J. K. Rowling (not to be confused with the honorary - existing - order of the Hellenic Republic with exactly the same name). The phrase is also frequently used to refer to the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, properly known as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in which the organisation is introduced.
The Order is an organisation founded by Albus Dumbledore to counter Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters. Its choice of name has never been explained in the books, but it is probably related to Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's pet phoenix, who is used as a messenger for the Order, or more generally Dumbledore's recognizable use of the phoenix as a sort of mascot -- his patronus, which he uses to carry messages to other Order members, takes that form.
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[edit] Creation and purpose
Its goal was the defeat of Voldemort during the first war (before the Harry Potter books); it was disbanded upon Voldemort's disappearance. This was a blessing that could have not come too soon for the Order, which had suffered heavily. When Voldemort returned to power in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Order was reformed within the hour by an astute Dumbledore, who sent Sirius Black in dog form to alert key members such as Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, and Remus Lupin to the new threat.
Upon its reconstitution, the Order set up headquarters at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London—Sirius Black's family home. Dumbledore was the Secret-Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix, meaning that the Order's headquarters at Grimmauld Place could only be revealed to others by Dumbledore.
[edit] Relations with the Ministry
Although Dumbledore and the original members of the Order expected the return of Lord Voldemort, members of the Ministry of Magic—notably Cornelius Fudge, the Minister himself—were not convinced. Fudge preferred to believe that Dumbledore was spreading rumours in an attempt to undercut his authority as Minister for Magic. Years ago, there had been widespread support for Dumbledore to take the position, although he wished to remain at Hogwarts. In his early years as Minister, Fudge was constantly bombarding Dumbledore frantically asking for advice. These actions sowed the seeds of paranoia in Fudge, as he feared Dumbledore would usurp his power and take the job. He also accused Dumbledore of going senile in his old years, being clearly mistaken about Voldemort's return.
The Ministry forced the wizard newspaper, The Daily Prophet, to keep quiet on any stories that would present Dumbledore or Harry Potter in a favourable light. The Order was forced to exist underground. The efforts of the Ministry proved effective—the majority of the wizarding public believed both Dumbledore and Harry to be liars. Voldemort and his Death Eaters were thus allowed for nearly a year to conduct their business in secret, with most wizards and witches refusing to acknowledge even the possibility of his renewed existence.
Dumbledore, however, was vindicated when Lord Voldemort was finally sighted in the Ministry headquarters itself. Fudge then had to admit that Dumbledore had been right; because he failed to prevent several murders committed by Voldemort, he was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour as Minister for Magic in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
[edit] Role in the books
To date, the Order has been the major source of resistance against Voldemort. Its members—acting either informally or as part of the Order—have been responsible for protecting Harry his entire life. The Order (with six Hogwarts students, who were members of the Harry-founded D.A.) defeated Voldemort and his Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries in Order of the Phoenix and were the victims of a Death Eater attack in Half-Blood Prince.
As of yet, there is no more information relating to the more direct role the Order will play in the defeat or demise of Lord Voldemort. It is thought, however, that the order will remain central in defending against Dementors and Death Eaters.
[edit] Members of the Order of the Phoenix
[edit] Surviving members at the end of book six
- Dedalus Diggle
- Elphias Doge
- Aberforth Dumbledore
- Arabella Figg
- Rubeus Hagrid
- Hestia Jones
- Remus Lupin
- Minerva McGonagall
- Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody
- Sturgis Podmore
- Kingsley Shacklebolt
- Nymphadora Tonks
- Arthur Weasley
- Bill Weasley
- Charlie Weasley
- Molly Weasley
[edit] Other Surviving Characters Who Might be Order members
- Mundungus Fletcher's continued membership in the Order is up for debate. He is either serving or has served a jail term recently for impersonating an Inferius during a robbery, and his commitment to the Order in the past was largely one of personal loyalty to Dumbledore.
- Olympe Maxime has participated in at least one mission for the Order at Dumbledore's behest, namely serving as an envoy to the giants, along with Hagrid. There is no canonical evidence, however, that she was or was not inducted into the Order.
- Fred and George Weasley were told in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that they could not join the Order since they were still school-age wizards rather than full adults. Since they have now left Hogwarts, there is a possibility that they may have been inducted into the Order.
[edit] Former members
| Name | Reason For Departure |
|---|---|
| Sirius Black | Killed during the Second War by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. |
| Edgar Bones | Killed with his entire family during the First War. |
| Caradoc Dearborn | Went missing during First War, presumed dead. |
| Lily Potter | Killed during the First War by Voldemort himself. |
| James Potter | Killed during the First War by Voldemort himself. |
| Albus Dumbledore | Killed during the Second War by Severus Snape on top of the Astronomy Tower, in the battle at Hogwarts. |
| Benjy Fenwick | Killed during the First War. |
| Alice Longbottom | Driven insane by Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Rodolphus Lestrange, and the younger Barty Crouch after Voldemort was defeated. |
| Frank Longbottom | Driven insane by Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Rodolphus Lestrange, and the younger Barty Crouch after Voldemort was defeated. |
| Marlene McKinnon | Killed with whole family in the First War. |
| Dorcas Meadowes | Killed by Voldemort during the First War. |
| Peter Pettigrew | Defected, and betrayed James and Lily Potter to their deaths—joined the Death Eaters. |
| Severus Snape | Killed Dumbledore and fled with Draco Malfoy, while being chased by Harry. |
| Gideon Prewett | Molly Weasley's brother, during the First War, it took five Death Eaters (including Antonin Dolohov) to kill him and his brother, Fabian, who may have been another member of the Order |
| Emmeline Vance | Killed during the Second War close to 10 Downing Street, London. |
[edit] References
- [HP5] Rowling, J. K. (2003). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (in English). London: Bloomsbury/New York City: Scholastic, et. al. UK ISBN 0747551006/US ISBN 043935806X.
- [HP6] Rowling, J. K. (2005). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (in English). London: Bloomsbury/New York City: Scholastic, et. al. UK ISBN 0747581088/US ISBN 0439784549.
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