Occlumency and Legilimency
Learning about these skills is one of the layers necessary for understanding the HP universe. I think it’s great that she pairs Harry and Snape together, creating all kinds of friction and conflict. Later, after book 7, we realize this is exactly how Snape deceived Voldemort and was able to carry on as a double agent for the Order of the Phoenix. J. K. Rowling has an interesting quote about why Harry didn’t make a good Occlumens…and why Draco would:
"...I think Draco would be very gifted in Occlumency, unlike Harry. Harry’s problem with it was always that his emotions were too near the surface and that he is in some ways too damaged. But he's also very in touch with his feelings about what's happened to him. He's not repressed, he's quite honest about facing them, and he couldn't suppress them, he couldn't suppress these memories. But I thought of Draco as someone who is very capable of compartmentalizing his life and his emotions, and always has done. So he's shut down his pity, enabling him to bully effectively. He's shut down compassion — how else would you become a Death Eater? So he suppresses virtually all of the good side of himself."
On a related note, why does Snape call Voldemort “the Dark Lord” and why doesn’t Snape want Harry to say Voldemort’s name? Are the memories Snape remove’s before the lessons the same ones we see at the end of book 7?
Speaking of these memories...they are illuminating. I love seeing glimpses into Snapes past. We learn more about where he came from and how his childhood shaped his adult persona. Does Snape intentionally call Lily a mudblood? Is it to maintain his persona as an angsty rebel? This, I assume, is the turning point in Lily and Severus's relationship.
Ginny
Urgh…Ginny Weasley. I want so much more from her. We get wonderful characters in Tonka, Luna, and Hermione, but I feel shortchanged with Ginny. She’s a Mary Sue. She’s talented, athletic, adored by all. She has no perceivable flaws..except being posessed by Lord Voldemort (which wasn't her fault, of course). She's chased around by all the boys, and then she captures Harry's attention. She's like that girl in high school that was so wonderful and perfect you couldn't help hating her. :-)
Dolores Umbridge
Stephen King says that she is “the greatest make-believe villain since Hannibal Lecter.” I’m inclined to agree. The scariest things are always the ones that don’t appear to be scary on the surface. Basically DU is a sweet little grandmother…who’s been possessed by Satan. She is heartless, cruel, sadistic, and downright EVIL. I love/hate to read about her. I love how the other teachers can't stand her, especially McGonagall. When she is carried off into the forest by the centaurs, I literally cheer out loud. One of the greatest cathartic moments in the book.
Department of Mysteries
One of my favorite places/concepts in the HP world. I love how the things that intriuge us Muggles also intrigue the wizarding world. There is truly deeper magic than spells and curses. Time, death, space, and the greatest mystery of all, behind the locked door: love. Simply beautiful. I find it interesting to see how the characters interact with the veil. Some are afraid (Hermione) and some can walk right up to it and hear voices (Harry and Luna). They have faced death and are not afraid.
Siruis and Harry
Other than his relationship with Dumbledore, none of Harry's relationships (with adults) had more effect on his life than with Sirius. The relationship between Sirius and Harry is one of my favorite parts of book 5. It begins when Sirius speaks up for Harry, saying that he should know what all the OotP is trying to protect him from. The flipside of this is that Sirius is probably still trying to treat Harry like he would’ve James. Regardless, it is obvious Sirius loves Harry so much. Even in their short amount of time together, we see their connection and mourn for what might have been. So much of this book is Harry coming to terms with the truth about his parents, especially his father. He realizes he was kind of a jerk. When Sirius dies, Harry is utterly devasted. Rowling does an amazing job plunging us into Harry's grief and despair. She lost her own mother to cancer, and it is evident that she has been to the depths of such despair. It’s heartbreaking that Harry doesn’t find the two-way mirror until after Sirius is dead. To me, this mirror symbolizes the sadness for all the unlived moments we have with those who have left us, and the regret for what we knew we should have done.
Dumbledore and Harry
Throughout so much of book 5, Dumbledore is absent and when he is with Harry, distant. The narrative cycle of having Dumbledore's actions remain a mystery until finally explained in the last few chapters continues here. However, this chapter is one of the most profound and beautiful chapters in the whole series. We see Dumbledore counseling Harry through his grief, explaining his actions in avoiding him, and discussing the powerful magic that imbues him thanks to his mother's sacrifice. One of the few complaints I hear about the fifth movie is that they give a lot of Dumbledore's great lines during this conversation to Sirius. I mean, I guess it's better than giving them to, say, Dobby, but Sirius would be the next best choice. Regardless, I ended up underlining half of this chapter because everything Dumbledore says is so profound and poignant, especially given what happens in the next book.
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