Chapter 1: Dudley Demented

Welcome to our Grand Online Book Discussion!
This month, we will be discussing the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

In Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic plots to take control of the school, and Lord Voldemort attempts to acquire a new weapon.




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Discussion Leaders,
HG Severusa.Snape & HB Siyuske_Tryeth

Chapter 1: Dudley Demented

Harry is once again trapped with the Dursleys over the summer, feeling frustrated that he has a little communication with his friends, hungry and desperate for news from the wizarding world. Knowing that Voldymort is now resurrected, Harry waited for his signs and expecting evil things to happen once again. After another fight with his cousin Dudley in the park, they were attacked by Dementors in the dark alley on their way home. Surprised to see Mrs. Figg in the scene, Harry found out that she as well is a Squib and helped him bring Dudley home looking pale, nauseous and shaking.

***
1. Was Dumbledore right in keeping Harry out of the loop (regarding the news about the wizarding community and news about Voldemort?)

2. Having known the gravity of the situation (Voldemort has risen, is immune to the ancient spell that Lily cast), is it right to have set Mundungus and Figg to be the only guardians that watches over Harry (the supposed chosen One?). Were these guards the best choices that the Order could come up with? Defend or refute!

3. Keeping in mind that Harry may have had this "star complex - hero complex". Was his friends (Ron and Hermione) right to have obeyed orders this time around? How many times have they defied orders, was this the best time for them to actually follow the "non-communication or non-disclosure order to Harry, whom they know very much to be very very paranoid?

*As we go further in this discussion, watch out for bigger and better questions as the story progresses.

1. Was Dumbledore right in keeping Harry out of the loop (regarding the news about the wizarding community and news about Voldemort?)

I don't think it was a matter or right or wrong (in the moral sense), at least from the Headmaster's perspective. I suppose it was more a matter of what is safest for Harry vis-a-vis the fight against the Dark Lord. We have seen a certain struggle in Dumbledore when it comes to Harry. On the one hand we know that Harry's safety is always a matter of top importance to him, and on the other, we have also seen how Albus, in his desire to figure out the truth about certain things, is willing to put Harry in tricky situations (in the words of the cinematic McGonagall in GoF, "what, offer him up as bait? . . .he's a boy, not a piece of meat!"). So keeping Harry out of the loop showcases once again that duality: keeping Harry out of the loop could be equivalent to Harry being kept out of harm's way OR keeping Harry out of the loop could be equivalent to Albus letting Harry simmer his emotions during the entire tortuous summer because of certain truths that will be revealed much later in the narrative (like an excellent poker player keeping all his cards close to his chest).

Personally speaking though, as a reader, I felt the frustration of Harry towards the Headmaster. I didn't like being out of the loop (for Harry being out of the loop is tantamount to keeping ME, the reader out of it as well). I like the narrative technique for it works (contributing factor to Harry's growing teenage resentment and angst), but still, the frustration is there. Kudos to JKR for being able to play with the readers' feelings

2. Having known the gravity of the situation (Voldemort has risen, is immune to the ancient spell that Lily cast), is it right to have set Mundungus and Figg to be the only guardians that watches over Harry (the supposed chosen One?). Were these guards the best choices that the Order could come up with? Defend or refute!

Definitely not! They're not even aurors! Figg is not even a witch but a certifiable squibb. And Dung? A big, fat no. I don't know what Albus was thinking but if he really was out to protect Harry, he could've sent somebody more capable and responsible. By the end of GoF, we see how prompt and how judicious the Headmaster was in making decisions. He immediately tried to contact the Order members. He mentioned Arabella, yes. But is there no one else? I mean, looking at the credentials (what credentials) of those two "guardians", I'd say Dobby was more effective in his attempts to keep Harry out of Hogwarts (see Chamber of Secrets) by utilizing his own brand of elf magic than having Figg and Dung do the simple task of watching over Harry. I'm not saying that Albus should've hired Dobby or another elf (even if paid, for no elf was an Order member as far as we know), but I guess he could've exercised more judiciousness in his actions. Goes to show that Albus, despite being wise, is also mortal; prone to making lapses in decision-making.

3. Keeping in mind that Harry may have had this "star complex - hero complex". Was his friends (Ron and Hermione) right to have obeyed orders this time around? How many times have they defied orders, was this the best time for them to actually follow the "non-communication or non-disclosure order to Harry, whom they know very much to be very very paranoid?

Good observations! Indeed, the two sidekicks have always found ways to circumvent the adults' rules. Why stop now? Why obey now? After what happened in the graveyard (GoF), with the return of the Dark Lord and the injuries and literal nightmares their friend suffered, wouldn't it be in total keeping with Hermione's statement before about friendship if they actually tried to contact Harry to at least keep him informed and give him some comfort? (Hermione: "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery. . . "- see Sorcerer's Stone). The way I see it now, I guess Harry has always been the glue, the chief rule violator so to speak that sort of opens the other two characters to possible rule-breaking. That without Harry, the two are as lost as the sky is high. The problem now is, without Harry to kick-start a possible violation, they couldn't reach out to Harry himself. This proves how Ron and Hermione will also have to learn the ropes along the way; to learn how to make decisions even without Harry's greenlight and presence. That soon they will need to learn how to stand up against the perceived authority figures for we know that in the world of HP, the adults get things wrong more often than they get things right.

1. Was Dumbledore right in keeping Harry out of the loop (regarding the news about the wizarding community and news about Voldemort?)

~yes. because if harry knew any news from the wizarding world, he could have been in danger.


2. Having known the gravity of the situation (Voldemort has risen, is immune to the ancient spell that Lily cast), is it right to have set Mundungus and Figg to be the only guardians that watches over Harry (the supposed chosen One?). Were these guards the best choices that the Order could come up with? Defend or refute!

it is better to have figg and "dung" to watch over harry because harry did not know that these persons were actually magical. so it is better to keep it a secret.


3. Keeping in mind that Harry may have had this "star complex - hero complex". Was his friends (Ron and Hermione) right to have obeyed orders this time around? How many times have they defied orders, was this the best time for them to actually follow the "non-communication or non-disclosure order to Harry, whom they know very much to be very very paranoid?

yes. they should obey order from him.. because he oncve knew taht the dark lord was making plans to end him.