The Book of Prophecies: How “Order of the Phoenix” Predicts the Plot of “Deathly Hallows” – Part 2

In Part I of this series, I delved into specific chapter-level comparisons between Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows, and how the events in the former predict or foreshadow those in the latter. In this article, I will be looking at broader themes and plot points that are introduced in Order of the Phoenix, but are brought to their conclusions or to a greater extreme in Deathly Hallows.

Comparison of Themes/Plot Points:

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place:

The advance guard introduces Harry to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place in the beginning of Order of the Phoenix, which he learns about through a note from Dumbledore that is given to him by Mad-Eye Moody. In a sick reversal, the trio enters Grimmauld Place in Deathly Hallows and are immediately accosted by a jinx created by Mad Eye Moody in the shape of Dumbledore’s corpse. 

Harry’s time in Grimmauld Place in Order of the Phoenix sets up several vitally important plotlines that come to fruition in Deathly Hallows:

• The Deluminator: Although the reader recognizes the Deluminator from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry is first introduced to it in Order of the Phoenix, when Moody employs it outside Grimmauld Place. The Deluminator is then left to Ron in Dumbledore’s will in Deathly Hallows. 
• The Locket: When cleaning out Grimmauld Place, Harry and the others find: “a heavy locket that none of them could open” (OP6, p. 116). This is the same Locket Horcrux that the trio succeeds in opening and destroying in Deathly Hallows.
• Kreacher: Kreacher’s devotion to the Black family and his desire to keep artifacts that are important to their history is introduced in the opening of Order of the Phoenix. At the beginning of Deathly Hallows, this knowledge becomes essential to learning what has happened to the locket. 
• Regulus Black: Sirius tells Harry about his brother Regulus, who’s on the Black family tree. He theorizes that Regulus tried to leave the Death Eaters and was killed. His theory is (partially) confirmed and expanded on in Deathly Hallows, when we learn that Regulus did in fact die while leaving the Death Eaters while attempting to destroy Voldemort’s Horcrux. 
• Mundungus Fletcher: Mundungus is revealed to have an interest in stealing and selling Black family heirlooms, which in Deathly Hallows is revealed to have led to the Horcrux locket being sold to Dolores Umbridge. 

Dumbledore’s Army:

Harry forms Dumbledore’s Army in the 5th book with the purpose of teaching his fellow classmates skills they can use to defend themselves against Death Eaters and other Dark forces. The necessity of these skills is questioned by Umbridge herself, who says, “Why, I can’t imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren’t expecting to be attacked during class?” (OP12, p. 242). This is perfect foreshadowing for book 7, when students are routinely attacked by their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, the Death Eater Amycus Carrow. Dumbledore’s Army as a sign of resistance against the Ministry and the Death Eaters takes on even greater significance—and faces far more danger— in book 7 than Harry ever could have imagined. 

Harry’s anger with Dumbledore:

Although Harry and Dumbledore are on the same side and both experiencing blows to their reputation from the Ministry, to Harry’s great frustration Dumbledore barely talks to him throughout Order of the Phoenix. This is a minor blow to Harry’s view of Dumbledore as, not only his greatest protector, but also as a parent figure who cares for him and supports him. Their relationship is mended and strengthened throughout the course of Half-Blood Prince, but it then goes on to face a far greater blow in Deathly Hallows. Once again, Harry doubts that Dumbledore cares for him or wants to protect him, but— even worse— he begins to doubt that Dumbledore is even on the side of what is right and good. This is a complete crisis of faith that Harry must come to terms with by choosing to believe even as he still doubts.

Harry entering Voldemort’s mind

In books 5 and 7, Harry frequently dips into Voldemort’s mind. In both, he has different feelings about these trips than those around him, seeing them as useful, even if they might be unpleasant. After a painful series of Occlumency lessons, in which Snape tells him to shut out all thoughts and control his emotions, what saves Harry from possession by Voldemort at the end of book 5 is the exact opposite: thoughts and feelings of love. Dumbledore tells Harry this in book 6, when talking about Harry’s ability to love: “You have flitted into Lord Voldemort’s mind without damage to yourself, but he cannot possess you without enduring mortal agony” (HBP23, p. 511). Harry, however, doesn’t learn this lesson until the end of Book 7, when he thinks: “Just as Voldemort had not been able to possess Harry while Harry was consumed with grief for Sirius, so his thoughts could not penetrate Harry now, while he mourned Dobby. Grief, it seemed, drove Voldmeort out… though Dumbledore, of course, would have said that it was love….” (DH24, p. 478). 

Neville defending Harry:

Book 5 is the first time we see the embers of Neville’s ferocity in fighting the Death Eaters. He becomes one of the most committed members of Dumbledore’s Army and volunteers to come to the Ministry to save Sirius. When Harry is cornered by Death Eaters, it’s Neville who bravely barrels in, bloody nose and all, yelling: “He’s dot alone! He’s still god me!” (OP35, p. 800) If ever anyone needed proof of Neville belonging in Gryffindor, it would be this moment. Being in Dumbledore’s Army and fighting in the Ministry gives Neville the confidence to take over the DA in Deathly Hallows and lead wide-scale resistance of Death Eater rule at Hogwarts. Even after Harry is presumed dead, Neville is the one person who openly defies Voldemort, charging at him from the crowd. He then proves his Gryffindor nature a second time by pulling the Sword of Gryffindor out of a hat and beheading Nagini. 

Deaths Foreshadowed:

So far, we’ve seen how Order of the Phoenix introduces important themes that reach their (often dark) conclusions in Deathly Hallows. Darker yet, however, are the deaths foreshadowed by Book 5. 

The Advance Guard:

In “The Advance Guard,” Moody’s paranoia at being ambushed by Death Eaters is seen as slightly comical by the others present. While relaying the plan to Harry, Moody says, “if we die in the attempt —” (OP3, p. 55). Kingsley interrupts, saying, “No one’s going to die.” Kingsley is right on this occasion, but Mad Eye’s fear is proved justified two years later, when he himself is killed by Voldemort. 

The Table of Thirteen:

As Professor Trelawney says, “Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!” (PA11, p. 228). As others in the fandom have noticed, during the chapter “Order of the Phoenix,” thirteen characters have dinner together. Sirius is the first to rise from the table, and he dies at the end of Order of the Phoenix. 

The Woes of Mrs. Weasley:

When Mrs. Weasley fights the boggart lurking in Number 12 Grimmauld Place, it transforms into each of her family members and loved ones dead. Four people come to her aid: Harry, Sirius, Lupin, and Mad-Eye. Lupin tries hard to convince Mrs. Weasley that her fears are unwarranted, saying: “This isn’t like last time. The Order is better prepared, we’ve got a head start, we know what Voldemort’s up to” (OP9, p. 177). However, all four of the people who come into the room (with the possible exception of Harry, depending on definitions), do end up dying by the end of the seventh book. 

Mr. Weasley’s Attack:

After Mr. Weasley is attacked by Nagini, Fred and George get into an argument with Sirius over what kinds of risks are worth taking:

“’This is how it is — this is why you’re not in the Order — you don’t understand — there are things worth dying for!’
‘Easy for you to say, stuck here!’ bellowed Fred. ‘I don’t see you risking your neck!'” (OP22)

This conversation works as foreshadowing for Sirius’s death, when he proves that these aren’t just empty words: he is actually willing to die to protect Harry. However, it also prophesies Fred’s death at the end of Deathly Hallows. By that point, Fred is part of the Order, and he is willing to risk his life for their cause. 

Conclusion:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is centered around the fabled prophecy that labels Harry as the one with the power to defeat Voldemort. This prophecy comes to fruition at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with the culmination of the series as a whole. But a closer look at Order of the Phoenix reveals that this isn’t the only prophecy hidden in the pages of this book. The entire novel as a whole, in fact, can be seen as a template for the events of Deathly Hallows. Every major scene in Order of the Phoenix, every important character or theme introduced, is mirrored in Deathly Hallows, usually in a way that ramps up the intensity and fear. Even more shockingly, this book prophesies the deaths of five major characters.