Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Chapter 14: Percy and Proudfoot

Harry writes a letter to Sirius and takes it to the owlery for Hedwig to deliver. There, he runs into Cho, who compliments him. Filch, the caretaker, interrupts suspecting Harry is placing an order for dungbombs and tries to get the letter but Cho vouches that Harry has already sent it.

Harry goes to breakfast and the mail is delivered. In the Daily Prophet is an article about Sturgis Podmore (a member of the Order) being arrested and sent to Azkaban for trespassing in the Ministry of Magic. Ron thinks it is a frame-up.

Ron and Harry join the rest of the team for Quidditch practice. The Slytherins do their best to distract Ron and he has trouble making saves. Fred and George accidentally give a Blood Blisterpod instead of something helpful to Katie, who has a nosebleed. The team gives up on practice for the day.

Ron receives a letter from Percy, suggesting that Ron should be following in Percy’s footsteps and disassociating himself from Harry. He also commends Dolores Umbridge as a wonderful person. He hints that Dumbledore’s days as Headmaster are numbered. Ron thinks Percy is a git.

Sirius uses the Floo network to make his head appear in the Gryffindor common room fireplace and talks to Harry, Ron and Hermione. He reveals that Umbridge loathes part-humans, merpeople, werewolves and other non-humans. Sirius says that Fudge is scared Dumbledore is training a wizard army to use against the Ministry and that is why they are not being taught to use magic in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sirius wants to meet Harry in Hogsmeade but Harry says it is too dangerous. Sirius seems disappointed that Harry, unlike his father, doesn’t want to take the risk.