Detention With Dolores
chapter thirteen of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry has another rough day after word of his encounter with Umbridge gets around (especially when Angelina finds out), and after his classes pile on more homework, Harry heads for the first of his detentions – where Umbridge has him do lines in his own blood. Finally the week moves on, though Harry gets another scare at his final detention when Umbridge seems to make his scar hurt.
Hermione’s hand shot into the air. Behind her back, Malfoy did a bucktoothed imitation of her jumping up and down in eagerness to answer a question.
(by Heather Campbell)
Luna took a great breath and then said, without so much as a preliminary hello: “I believe He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and I believe you fought him and escaped from him.”
“Er – right,” said Harry awkwardly.
(by deeterhi)
Ernie Macmillan… stepped up to him. “I want you to know, Potter,” he said in a loud, carrying voice, “that it’s not only weirdos who support you. I personally believe you one undred percent. My family have always stood firm behind Dumbledore, and so do I.”
…Harry [was] taken aback but pleased. Ernie might be pompous on occasions like these, but Harry was in a mood to deeply appreciate a vote of confidence from somebody who was not wearing radishes in their ears.
(by Ani Bester)
“Ah,” [Umbridge] said softly, moving around her desk to examine his hand herself. “Good. That ought to serve as a reminder to you, oughtn’t it?”
(by MartinTenbones)
His homework situation, however, was now desperate, and when he returned to the Gryffindor common room he did not, though exhausted, go to bed, but opened his books and began Snape’s moonstone essay. It was half-past two by the time he had finished it.
(by Chantelle)
She moved toward him, stretching out her short be-ringed fingers for his arm. And then, as she took hold of him to examine the words now cut into his skin, pain seared, not across the back of his hand, but across the scar on his forehead.
(by glockgal)
about the chapter
Something You May Not Have Noticed
Harry’s detentions with Umbridge are something close to torture for him, but he fails to notice that his stubborn refusal to let her know that she’s getting to him is at least frustrating her, too. After all, the first night she keeps him past midnight, but by Friday, she doesn’t even keep him a half hour past sundown. Perhaps even an evil toad likes a bit of a weekend.
Come to think of it, how do you suppose an evil toad spends her weekend?
The Wizarding World
We’ve heard from J.K. Rowling that wizards can live considerably longer than Muggles – Dumbledore, for instance, is 150. But to me, that makes it all the more remarkable that the kids’ career prospects are so heavily influenced by the O.W.L. exams they have to sit when they’re fifteen years old. Without passing scores, students aren’t allowed to sit the N.E.W.T.s, and without certain scores there they aren’t eligible for a good number of careers. I don’t know whether Hogwarts allows students to retake classes, but even if they do, it’s hard for me to imagine being forced to decide on a career at such a young age. It’s kind of a scary prospect.
Life at Hogwarts
It’s sort of funny that Angelina demands that Harry attend Keeper tryouts for the Quidditch team – and is then irate when he has to miss them for detention. I can see why she’d want the Chasers there, and maybe even the Beaters. But what the heck would Harry do, as the Seeker, to see how the new people “fit in?” Fly around a lot and see if the Keeper got distracted?
Great illustrations this chapter! The ones of Umbridge just make my blood boil…I love deeterhi’s Luna, just fits the character perfectly!
wizardinventor said this on November 14, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I love that pic by Heather Campbell it’s hilarious! I remember being really shocked the first time I read about Harry’s detention with Umbridge and him writing lines with his own blood, I mean Snape’s dealt out some pretty horrible detentions in his time but nothing as bad as this! Evil, pshychotic toad!
Irene said this on November 14, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I’ll throw my hat in for the trivis contest (what’s the prize? :)
1) Hermione, Dumbledore, Moody
2) Snape
3) This is easy! Peter Pettigrew, at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban.
Valeria said this on November 14, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I bet Umbridge spends her weekends organising her office, stalking students to tell them off, gazing adoringly at a picture of Fudge and sipping tea. That sounds like her. Evil toad.
Eliza said this on November 14, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I agree with choosing a career at 15 as a scary prospect. I’m in my first year of college and I’m still not entirely sure what career I’ll persue. The O. W. L.s always reminded me of ACT/SAT tests, but at least you could take those ones as often as you’d like. No wonder some, like Hannah Abbott, had breakdowns. Snape does mention in HP6 that Crabbe and Goyle had to take their O. W. L.s again, so it must only be available to “Troll” students. ;-)
Roonil Wazlib said this on November 14, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Was it ever made clear if Harry’s scar hurting was coincidence because of what Voldy was doing at the time, or if it was linked to D.U. wearing the locket?
Anna said this on November 14, 2009 at 9:58 pm
LOVE Heather Campbell’s drawing – Malfoy’s hilarious in it!
My guesses at trivia:
1) Voldemort, Sirius (“Padfoot” in PoA and OP), and Rita Skeeter
2) Dumbledore
3) Pettigrew
And I totally sympathize with career anxiety – I’m going through college apps right now at almost 18, and I’m TERRIFIED.
hpboy13 said this on November 14, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Anna, I think it mentions later in the book that the feeling Harry got when Umbridge took his hand was actually a “happy” feeling. Harry thought (or said, I am not sure) that he was so miserable at the time that he didn’t recognize it, but that Voldemort was happy at that moment.
And I have no idea as to the trivia questions. Without looking back, I’d say that Question #2 is definitely Snape. The two first names are harder. I’ll say “Dumbledore, Hermione, and DOBBY. (Is that a first name? A last name? Just a name?)
I have no idea about #3, unless it is Pettigrew. But does it mention him by name? Ah well…those are my guesses.
Great questions, all!
Jimma said this on November 14, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Nice job on the trivia! I thought it would be harder than it seems it was, especially the third question. :) Valeria got all the answers but one, which Jimma nailed. The first question was Dumbledore (Will of Albus Dumbledore and Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, both in DH), Hermione (Hermione’s Secret in PA and Hermione’s Helping Hand in HBP), and Dobby (Dobby’s Request and Dobby’s Reward, both in CS). #2 was Snape as most of you guessed, and #3 was Pettigrew – the chapter titles were Cat, Rat, and Dog; Moody, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs; and The Servant of Lord Voldemort, chapters 17-19 in PA. That’s why I thought it would be harder, since he’s never mentioned by name.
No prizes, I’m afraid, but I appreciate the participation. :)
Also, Anna – Jimma answered your question but I also wanted to add that Umbridge doesn’t have the locket yet; Mundungus didn’t ransack the house until Sirius had gone (remember Kreacher says Dung stole the locket from him).
John Kearns said this on November 14, 2009 at 10:47 pm
It was discussed in the comments of GoF if the spectators saw anything that was taking place in the maze. Here it is stated by Hermione that they did not.
Could Hermione really set the houseelves free? Doesn’t it have to be done by their master? Are all students their masters then?
I was totally thinking the same about it being very early to be deciding about careers. Considering how much older than Muggles Wizards can get I’ve always been thinking that 17 is quite early for them to become of age, too.
Bowtruckles are tree guardians. That description reminded me of Treebeard, though of course he’s much bigger.
Does anyone have a German edition of this book? Umbridge is called an old hag by Ron when he notices what Harry doing lines really meant. Since the German word for hag is the same as the one for witch I would be interested in how this was translated.
Kim said this on November 15, 2009 at 10:01 am
@ Kim, in the latinoamerican spanish version, they translated “hag” as “arpía”, which literally translates as “harpy”. The German translation probably also uses another mythological bad witch-like creature. I hope that helps.
martin said this on November 15, 2009 at 11:36 am
Isn’t Angelina just mad at harry because she is insecure herself? I mean, the person she’s replacing got a Quidditch-contract (right, we heard that in book 4, didn’t we?) And maybe she is the captain, but she would like to make the decision with her whole team. It’s not as if she’s replacing the whole team, like Harry has to do in book 6…
I can seem to relate to her anger. It’s just stress.
kim said this on November 15, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Thanks…I’d forgotten Mundungus hadn’t stolen the locket yet.
Anna said this on November 15, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Wow, I epicly failed at trivia – I never can remember chapter titles.
kim, I see what you’re saying about Angelina, but I still think the response is unwarranted. Especially considering she’s only been playing a year longer than Harry, she has little right to yell at him like that. He’s not some n00b who can’t fly.
hpboy13 said this on November 15, 2009 at 11:58 pm
And here I was getting my speech ready for the awards ceremony… I know I haven’t said this before, but this is my new favorite site. I’m re-reading all the books (currently Goblet of Fire) and checking out your comments, which give me a whole new outlook on what’s going on. Thank you for a wonderful work.
Valeria said this on November 16, 2009 at 12:18 am
The trivia was fun and interesting. Snape is also one of only two characters referenced in a title of the books. Well besides Harry himself of course.
Cowboy Jim said this on November 16, 2009 at 2:18 am
@Kim, I have the German editions of the books and it was really translated with “Die alte Hexe!”, which can mean both “The old hag” or “The old witch”. But as this phrase is quite commonly used to insult someone, it doesn’t sound strange in this context.
I’ve also just realized that the chapter title has a double meaning. As Umbridge’s first name “Dolores” comes from the latin word “dolor” meaning “pain”, the title also reads as “Detention with pain”, which is quite true to Harry’s painful experience during detention.
Lorena said this on November 16, 2009 at 4:06 am
Huh? Where are these trivia question?
I agree about the children coming of age and choosing careers so early. Why? Other than to make the plot move better? Maybe that’s close to how school works in Britain. I really have no idea.
Lorena – I have a feeling JKR did that on purpose. On mugglenet there is a giant (GIANT!) list of name origins and I believe that is mentioned.
Mickey said this on November 16, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Mickey, the trivia questions were in my post on the updates page: http://hpcompanion.com/2009/11/14/order-of-the-phoenix-chapter-thirteen/
:)
John Kearns said this on November 17, 2009 at 8:17 am
This is definitely how school worked in England & Wales in the 1980s (the system on which Hogwarts is modelled).
Students started secondary school at age 11.
At the end of their fifth year (age 15 or 16) they took their Ordinary Level exams. This was broad: they studied five to twelve subjects, depending on ability, with maths and English being compulsory. They had to make some kind of career decision this year, and 70% left school to join the workplace.
At the end of their seventh year (age 17 or 18) the remaining students took their Advanced Level exams. This was much narrower, as they only sat in three to five subjects, so certain career options were already closed to them. Results in the A Levels determined who would go to which university.
The only difference in the wizarding world is that students don’t often leave Hogwarts after fifth year. The majority make an attempt at at least a couple of N.E.W.T. subjects.
Nowadays, O Levels are renamed G.C.S.E.s, but they are essentially the same thing. A Levels are still called A Levels, but there are also exams in Year 6 IN ADDITION to the life-controlling exams that end Year 7. Muggles can at any time make a second attempt at G.C.S.E. or A Level exams (or a first attempt at a new subject), but the school is not obliged to pay the exam fee. While a school might allow a teenager to repeat Year 5, 6 or 7, just as Hogwarts does, this courtesy would be at the school’s discretion. Adults who return to study usually have to pay their own way.
Grace has Victory said this on November 19, 2009 at 2:34 am
Thanks for the explanation, Grace!
Mickey said this on November 19, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Thanks to hpboy13 and Lorena for checking.
Kim said this on November 20, 2009 at 9:09 am
Concerning Angelina wanting Harry at the tryouts, I always thought she wanted him there to see how the team fit together personality wise, which we see can be very important in the sixth book with Cormac McLegger.
magdilen said this on March 5, 2010 at 11:50 pm
What really gets me in this chapter, that awful woman Umbridge keeps Harry over 7 hours for each of his first two night’s detention. Harry is only 15 – where is Dumbledore and his all seeing eye while this is happening. I know his ideas on character-building but I have always thought this is a bit overboard. It almost borders on abuse. Horrible woman!
Electa said this on June 8, 2010 at 11:02 pm