Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

Harry awoke very early on the morning of his hearing at the Ministry of Magic to find a set of clothes, neatly laid out by Mrs. Weasley, for him to wear. It was very early and Ron was still sound asleep sleeping with his mouth wide open. Harry dressed quietly and quietly left Ron sleeping to go down to the kitchen. As he got closer to the kitchen he could hear voices already at the early break of dawn. He half expected everyone else to be asleep as was Ron, but Sirius, Lupin, Tonks and Mrs. and Mrs. Weasley were all assembled having a spot of tea and chatting.

Mrs. Weasley jumped up and started to make Harry a spot of breakfast and Harry says all he wants is toast. Mrs. Weasley gave him some toast and marmalade. He tried to eat it but it tasted about as good as a dirty rug. What would the Ministry of Magic do to him today?? Mrs. Weasley fussed over Harry to Harry’s dismay. He did not like this type of attention. What did come to Harry’s attention was that Mr. Weasley was not dressed in his usual wizarding robes. Today he was sporting an old bomber jacket and pin-striped pants. He pipes up and tells Harry that his hearing is on the same floor that he works in the office of Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magic Law Enforcement.

Everyone makes a comment or two trying to make Harry feel better and perhaps eat a wee bit more when Mr. Weasley checks his watch and says it is time to go. Everyone pats him on the shoulder or tells him not to worry, but Harry just has this terrible sinking feeling. Mrs. Weasley just has to give him a hug! Mr. Weasley tells Harry they will have to go a non-magical way as he is underage and they leave to make the London Underground train. This part of the excursion delights Mr. Weasley as he loves each and every opportunity to see how the Muggles live. They got off the train in the middle of London and found themselves up walking through the streets of London.

Mr. Weasley exclaims “here we are” and Harry looks around and sees nothing but buildings, people and an old red telephone box. He asks Harry to step in to the telephone box. Mr. Weasley pushes himself inside with Harry and picks up the receiver and dials. A female voice sounded right inside the telephone booth and said to them:

“Welcome to the Ministry of Magic.
Please state Your Name and Business.”

Mr. Weasley answered: “Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office with Harry Potter who is here to attend a disciplinary hearing.” The female voice came back on and said: “thank you, visitor please wear the badge on the outside of your robes” and a little badge popped out of the place where coins usually come down. Since he had no robes on he pinned it to his t-shirt.

The next thing you know the floor of the telephone booth starts to rattle and sink slowly into the ground. It was quite dark for some time when the telephone box finally stopped sinking to hear the female voice once again speak: “The Ministry of Magic wishes you a Good Day!” A bright golden light illuminated as the doors opened to this vast area. Harry’s mouth dropped open and he was speechless to what was nothing like he could have ever imagined. There were gleaming golden symbols moving and changing on the high beautiful ceiling. There were fireplaces on each side where people were traveling via floo powder. Lines where people were waiting to depart and those arriving on the other side.

However, the most spectacular scene Harry was to come to was down the hall an enormous fountain with a circular pool. In the center of this magnificent fountain was a grouping of golden statues. The tallest of them was a wizard pointing his wand upwards together with a very beautiful witch, a centaur, goblin and house-elf. Pretty sparkling water was ejecting from the little orifices of this unusual fountain. Harry was mesmerized by the glittering at the bottom of the circular pool. Silver sickles and bronze knuts (the wizarding money) was strewn on its bottom. As they passed, Harry read some words imprinted on the bottom:

All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren will be Given to
St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

Harry thought at that very moment, if I get out of this I will put in 10 Galleons! Mr. Weasley continues to push Harry through the crowds of witches and wizards until they reach a security guard of sorts, an unshaven wizard in peacock blue robes. The wizard holds up a golden rode of sorts and passes it up and down Harry just like at the airport. He then asks Harry for his wand. Harry gives it to him and it is placed it on a scale type instrument. A little piece of parchment spurted out from the instrument with the following words:

“Eleven inches, phoenix feather core.
Been in use for four years.”

The wizard took back the piece of parchment by skewering it with a small spike and thrust Harry’s wand back into his hand. Mr. Weasley then steered Harry toward an elevator and they moved inside with a crowd of witches and wizards. Harry heard the same “female voice” start announcing the different floors. (The names of these departments are quite entertaining, don’t you think??) Anyway, there is the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Official Gobstones Club, Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Apparation Test Center, and the Ludicrous Patents Office to name a few the voice was heard to say. The doors opened several times before they got to Level Two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services. (Phew!)

As they left the elevator/lift Harry noticed light coming from what looked like windows. This was odd as they just went down underground like seven-ten floors!?!? Mr. Weasley explains that the Department of Magical Maintenance decided it would be nice to enchant the windows every day with different weather. He chuckled that they gave them two (2) months of hurricane weather! Mr. Weasley then escorted him around the corner and through some big, heavy wooden doors into an open area of cubicles.

Harry looked around sheepishly and saw cubicles personalized by their inhabitants with posters of Quidditch teams, articles from the Daily Prophet, and photographs of family. There was the Auror Headquarters nearby and Harry and Mr. Weasley run in to Kingsley Shackebolt. Harry cannot believe there are pictures up of his beloved godfather, Sirius, since he is still considered a fugitive. Shackebolt and Weasley chat on about reports for a minute or two when Harry was about to say hello. Mr. Weasley stepped on Harry’s foot because they should not let on they know each other. Mr. Weasley pushes Harry forward through another set of doors into another passageway.

At the dead end they turned the corner to a door ajar at the end. In what looked like a broom cabinet (cupboard) is revealed to be the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, Mr. Weasley’s office. Inside Mr. Weasley’s office was a desk overflowing with papers almost as high as his head when he sat down. Unfortunately, this room did not have a window. Mr. Weasley said they have put in for one, but “they” hadn’t seen fit to do it for this branch of the Ministry. Mr. Weasley told Harry to sit in Perkins chair since he was not in yet and take a load off.

Just as Mr. Weasley was getting into an interesting article about Sirius in a magazine when a memo came flying into the office. Mr. Weasley read something aloud about regurgitating public toilets in one of the townships. He explained to Harry about the fact that there are anti-Muggle pranksters. This is obviously causing quite a stir, not to mention the mess! Yuk! Instead of flushing, well you get the visual. Next thing you know a white-haired, older wizard ran into the room, out of breath with a message for Weasley. Out of breath he tries to tell Arthur that Harry’s meeting has been changed, to 8:00 a.m., which is NOW. And it is changed, no longer on this floor, but down in the old Courtroom Ten. You would have through Arthur had been told the sky HAD fallen in, he jumped up, told Harry to rush as they have to get down the lift as fast as they possibly can.

Mr. Weasley was furious as he finally pushed Harry out of the elevator and then down some stairs. He cannot believe they are using this type of courtroom for this type of matter. To Harry it seemed a great deal like going down to Snape’s dungeon back at Hogwarts! Mr. Weasley stops in front of this dark, dirty door with an huge iron lock. Mr. Weasley was now out of breath himself and tells Harry he better get in there. Harry asks if he can come with him and Mr. Weasley sadly shakes his head no. Harry swallowed very hard and entered the room.

Editor’s Note: Well, it sure sounds like Arthur Weasley doesn’t get much respect at work! Jiminy Christmas! They put him in a broom closet!! I sure thought he was having a heart attack right here at the end! The Ministry of Magic is sure an interesting place. Kind of like your average well put together corporation with a huge atrium entry and fountain to interesting get to methods, i.e., the fireplaces for the floo network and a lot of magic going on. Flying memos though! Haven’t they heard of email!!! Ha!

The Order of the Phoenix.net

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter Summary

Chapter Seven - The Ministry of Magic