just finished reading...

The 5th in the series was a longer book--lots of political intrigue in the world of wizards. The characters and story are so rich, I really do get lost in them. This book had more explanation of the link between Harry and He Who Must Not Be Named. Summer vacation is never a carefree time for Harry and this summer is no exception. The story begins with Harry casting a Patronus, breaking several rules and facing expulsion from Hogwarts. And members of the Order of the Phoenix rally around Harry to keep him safe and out of trouble. When Harry finally returns to school, the Ministry of Magic is trying to "cleanse" the school by enforcing many changes.

From the publisher:

There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Here are just a few things on Harry's mind:

• A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey.

• A venomous, disgruntled house-elf

• Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team

• The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

. . . and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J. K. Rowling's seven-part story, Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew, boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.