The Woes of Mrs. Weasley

Even though Dumbledore wouldn’t look at Harry, Harry still feels thrilled that he can return to Hogwarts. Harry leaves Courtroom Ten and tells Arthur Weasley that he has been cleared of the charges.

The two walk out of the Ministry of Magic in rather good spirits, with Harry fulfilling his promise of donating many wizard galleons to Saint Mungo’s Hospital by throwing the money into the Fountain of Magical Bretheren and with Arthur Weasley briefly sparring with Lucius Malfoy, who has obviously brought his own gold to win influence over other members of the Ministry of Magic. Because of this, Harry wonders if Malfoy is controlling Cornelius Fudge magically through Voldemort’s influence. Arthur Weasley admits that, at least at this point, Dumbledore doesn’t think so. This is a bit of a comfort to Harry.

When they get back to Grimmauld Place, the entire Weasely family (not to mention the Order of the Phoenix) is glad that Harry has been acquitted. Sirius Black, however, is a bit disgruntled because he won’t have his godson living with him anymore.

With attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the near future, the lists of student books arrive along with letters for Ron and Hermione; they have been made prefects of Gryffindor house. Hermione and Ron are both thrilled (although Hermione is quite surprised that Ron was made a prefect over Harry).

Ron’s twin brothers, of course, use the prefect appointment as another excuse to make fun of Ron. Actually, Harry is surprised as well and wonders why Dumbledore didn’t choose Harry for this great honor. Still, he tries to get over his surprise and mild disappointment to share the happiness with his two best friends.

Mrs. Weasley is beside herself with pride for her son. She even offers to buy him a new broomstick and throw a party to congratulate both new prefects.

Harry is interested to learn from the members of the Order of the Phoenix who attend the party that James Potter as well as Sirius Black were too unruly at Hogwarts to become prefects. This makes Harry feel a bit better.

Unfortunately, as Mrs. Weasley goes upstairs to take care of a boggart, Mad-Eye Moody shows Harry an old picture of the Order of the Phoenix from when Voldemort first came to power. With his happy parents waving from the old picture, Harry feels quite upset that almost everyone in that picture ended up dead.

As Harry escapes to his room, he hears someone crying. It is Mrs. Weasley, who in her attempt to sort out the boggart is unable to finish it off because, from its ability to mimic one's worst fears, it keeps turning into members of the Weasley family, all of whom end up dead.

As both Sirius and Lupin come to help Mrs. Weasley, Harry realizes that Mrs. Weasley isn’t far off from her fears. Her family makes up much of the new Order of the Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Harry’s scar begins hurting yet again.