Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter Thirty-Seven:
The Lost Prophecy

Synopsis by Maureen Knight
Notes and links by Michele L. Worley

U.S. hardcover edition: pages 820 - 844
U.K. hardcover edition: pages aaa - bbb
U.K. paperback edition: pages 901 - 928
Timeframe: Friday, 19 June, 1996 [Y16]

In which Harry has his final outburst in anguish over Sirius' death, and Dumbledore tells him everything - about why he must return to the Dursleys every year, about the prophecy, about how Voldemort marked him as his equal, about how it could as easily have been Neville, and about how either Harry or Voldemort must die. Dumbledore also admits to allowing his emotions to blur his judgement with Harry.

Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:

This chapter answered some long-standing questions, but introduced other questions to keep matters in balance.

"I hope this means," said the corpulent, red-nosed wizard who hung on the wall behind the Headmaster's desk, "that Dumbledore will soon be back among us?"

Several of the pictures let out yells of anger and fright, and the portrait of Armando Dippet said, "Really!"

Characters introduced in this chapter:

• none

Characters returning in this chapter:

• Black, Phineas Nigellus

• Dippet, Armando

• Dumbledore, Albus

• Fawkes

• Fortescue

• Potter, Harry

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

• Black, Sirius

• Dursley, Petunia

• Granger, Hermione

• Kreacher

• Lestrange, Bellatrix Black

• Longbottom, Neville

• Lupin, Remus

• Malfoy, Lucius

• Malfoy, Narcissa Black

• Moody, Alastor "Mad-Eye"

• Pomfrey, Madam

• Potter, James

• Potter, Lily Evans

• Riddle, Tom Marvolo (as Lord Voldemort)

• Rookwood, Augustus

• Shacklebolt, Kingsley

• Snape, Severus

• Tonks, Nymphadora

• Trelawney, Professor

• Umbridge, Dolores Jane

• Weasley, Arthur

Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:

• Head's Office

Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:

• Department of Mysteries

• Forbidden Forest

• Hog's Head Tavern

• number twelve, Grimmauld Place

• St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

Exceptional character moments:

• Dumbledore's guilt over his actions with regard to Harry that set the chain of events in motion that led to Sirius' death.

• Harry's anguish at Sirius' death.

Spells:

• none

Links and Resources:

• Divination

• Harry's dreams

• essays

  • The Ethics of Rowling

  • How Safe is Privet Drive?

  • Sensitive Writing on a Difficult Topic

  • The Tragedy of Petunia Dursley

• items and devices, magical

  • pictures with moving subjects

  • quills

• Legilimency

• Occlumency

• Seer

Memorable lines:

• "You will," said Dumbledore steadily. "Because you are not nearly as angry with me as you ought to be. If you are to attack me, as I know you are close to doing, I would like to have thoroughly earned it."

Strictly British:

• prefect

Timelines/Calendar:

The entire chapter takes place early Friday morning (we know this because Harry sees the sun rising), the day after the final day of O.W.L.s.