Hermione Granger is one of Harry's closest friends at Hogwarts, alongside Ron Weasley. The trio remains inseparable throughout the book, as they do in the other "Harry Potter" novels. Hermione serves as the intellectual counterpart to Ron's sidekick role, always having the textbook answer to magical problems. She is a top student who prioritizes school and learning, often encouraging Harry and Ron to be more diligent in their studies.

Coming from a non-magical, or Muggle, family, Hermione is the only witch in her household. While sympathetic characters like Harry and Ron do not see her any differently, some in the wizarding community view Muggle-borns as inferior. Followers of Voldemort, for instance, use the derogatory term "mudblood" to describe witches and wizards of non-magical descent. Due to this prejudice, Hermione often champions the rights of other oppressed magical beings, such as house-elves. Her strong character and logical approach frequently help Harry and Ron out of tough situations, demonstrating that life involves more than just books. It takes the combined bravery, loyalty, and intelligence of all three characters to overcome the challenges in each "Harry Potter" novel.

Rubeus Hagrid

Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant, presents an imposing figure with his large beard, shabby clothes, and enormous physical presence. In the fifth "Harry Potter" novel, he returns as more of a peer to Harry and his friends rather than an authority figure, despite his position as the Care of Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hold a special fondness for Hagrid, whose gruff exterior hides his sensitivity.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

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Kreacher

Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, resides with Sirius throughout the novel. He remains loyal to the dark wizards of the Black family and frequently insults Sirius and the members of the Order of the Phoenix who stay at the house. Bound to his masters, Kreacher cannot leave or disobey Sirius unless given a direct order. Ultimately, this binding allows him to play a crucial role in luring Harry Potter into a trap set by Voldemort.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Sirius Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, has spent fifteen years in prison due to her loyalty to Voldemort. In this tale, she escapes confinement and aids Voldemort by supplying information to ensnare Harry in his scheme. Lestrange drove Neville Longbottom's parents insane through torture and later torments Neville himself in the book's climactic battle.

Neville Longbottom

Neville, a classmate of Harry Potter, is a close friend of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Readers often sympathize with Neville because his clumsiness frequently puts him in awkward or embarrassing predicaments. Additionally, his parents were tortured into madness when he was a baby, leading his grandmother to raise him. Although Neville appears in all five books, he takes on a more significant role in this novel, displaying bravery—albeit sometimes clumsily—while fighting Voldemort and the Death Eaters at the end.

Luna Lovegood

Introduced as a new character in the "Harry Potter" series, Luna Lovegood is a somewhat eccentric classmate of Harry who shares peculiar tales about dubious creatures and events. Known to other students as "Loony," Luna becomes crucial to the story's development when she battles Voldemort at the Ministry of Magic. Her father publishes the quirky newspaper, The Quibbler.

Remus Lupin

Remus Lupin, a werewolf, entered Harry's life as a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in a previous book. Having known Harry's parents during their school years and being a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Lupin continues to be a mentor to Harry throughout his adventures.

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter's main rival at Hogwarts, serves as a persistent bully and irritant to the characters readers support. Draco acts as Harry's foil by playing the same position in Quidditch, leading Slytherin House, and attracting many followers due to his strong personality. He verbally harasses Harry and his friends throughout the school year. Adding to the conflict, Draco's father, Lucius, is a Death Eater loyal to Voldemort.

Lucius Malfoy

Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, appears more prominently in the later "Harry Potter" novels. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Lucius continues to serve Voldemort as a Death Eater and attempts to sway the Minister of Magic to support the dark wizard's cause. During the final battle, Lucius fights against Harry and his friends but is ultimately imprisoned once his allegiance to Voldemort is revealed.

Minerva McGonagall

Professor McGonagall teaches Transfiguration at Hogwarts, leads Gryffindor House, and serves as Dumbledore's deputy. She appears in every "Harry Potter" book, offering stern yet fair guidance to Harry and his friends. She is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody

Another former Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, is renowned for his magical eye, which allows him to see in all directions, including behind him. As a master of magical defense, he holds a prominent position in the Order of the Phoenix. In this book, he takes particular care to ensure Harry's safety and fights in the climactic battle against Voldemort.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a young wizard who begins the story celebrating his fifteenth birthday. His life has been fraught with challenges for someone so young: his parents were murdered by the dark wizard Voldemort when Harry was just a baby. However, when Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, he survived, leaving him with a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead that throbs with pain whenever Voldemort is near. The overarching mystery of the story, and the entire "Harry Potter" series, explores why Harry was targeted, how he survived, and why Voldemort was nearly destroyed in the attempt. This extraordinary event made Harry famous in the wizarding world, earning him the title "The Boy Who Lived."

Earlier "Harry Potter" books delve deeper into Harry's past. Despite his fame, those close to him decided he should be raised by his non-magical relatives, the Dursleys, until he turned eleven. Treated poorly and kept unaware of his heritage, Harry discovered on his eleventh birthday that he was a wizard and that he would attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His entry into the wizarding world as an unassuming boy unaware of his unique abilities made him a relatable and humble character for many readers. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix takes place during Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts.

In this story, Harry's adolescence is evident; he frequently feels moody, angry, and isolated. He faces typical teenage pressures, such as dating, juggling homework with social activities, and contemplating his future. However, he also bears the monumental responsibility of defeating Voldemort to save the wizarding world. By the end, Harry uncovers more about his past, including a prophecy that foretells that he and Voldemort cannot both survive, and that one must ultimately kill the other. These combined stresses keep the usually even-tempered teenage Harry sensitive and brooding throughout much of the book.

Tom Riddle

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Severus Snape

Professor Snape instructs Potions at Hogwarts, though he longs for the Defense Against the Dark Arts role. Despite applying for the position every year, he mysteriously never secures it. Harry's least favorite teacher, Snape, once served Voldemort as a Death Eater but has since turned loyal to Dumbledore. Throughout the series, Harry consistently questions Snape's loyalty and finds even more reasons to despise him in this installment. Snape seems to reciprocate the animosity, as it is revealed that Harry's father bullied him during their school days. Snape frequently shows his disdain for Harry by lowering his grades and seeking opportunities to punish him outside of class.

Nymphadora Tonks

Nymphadora Tonks serves as an Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, making her debut in this "Harry Potter" book. She prefers to be called by her last name and has the ability to change her physical appearance at will. She can alter her features from short to long hair, small to tall stature, and young to old characteristics. She participates in the final battle to protect Harry at the end.

Delores Umbridge

The newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, Umbridge acts as an informant for the Ministry of Magic. As the story progresses, she gains increasing power from the Ministry, eventually becoming the High Inquisitor, or chief informant, at Hogwarts. Umbridge tries to control all activities and information within the school, harshly punishing any students who defy her authority. Harry and his friends resist Umbridge's new school regulations throughout the year.

Voldemort

The most malevolent wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort, recently regained his physical form and seeks ultimate power in this book. Once ruling the wizarding world, Voldemort nearly perished when he attempted to kill Harry Potter fifteen years ago. Instead of dying, Voldemort persisted in various forms of existence throughout the earlier "Harry Potter" books. By the fifth book, Voldemort has regained a body and aims to achieve supreme power by destroying Harry Potter.

Born Tom Riddle, Voldemort has non-magical ancestry despite his obsession with pureblooded wizard families. Riddle studied at Hogwarts under Dumbledore's mentorship but turned to evil as his skills and power grew. In this story, Voldemort's cruelty is more evident as readers see him punishing and killing both enemies and allies. Although Voldemort fails to kill Harry by the end of the story, the prophecy foretells that neither can survive while the other lives. Rowling sets the stage for greater, more perilous battles in the final two "Harry Potter" books.

Arthur Weasley

Arthur Weasley, father of seven children, also acts as a surrogate father to Harry Potter. Early in the series, Ron takes Harry to his home, where Arthur makes Harry feel welcome for the first time in his life. As a member of the Order of the Phoenix and an employee in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department at the Ministry of Magic, Arthur has a particular affection for non-magical people. In this novel, Arthur is severely injured when Voldemort's snake attacks him, sending him to the hospital.

Fred and George Weasley

Ron's older twin brothers, Fred and George, always appear together and provide comic relief throughout the story. They share the typical Weasley traits of red hair and freckles and have a knack for mischief. During the school year, Fred and George create various practical joke products, such as pills that induce vomiting or nosebleeds, with hopes of selling them in their own joke shop one day. Their dramatic and explosive departure from Hogwarts at the end of the term aids Harry in his fight against Voldemort and signifies their permanent exit from school, despite not having graduated.

Ginny Weasley

Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny, emerges as a stronger character in this story compared to previous "Harry Potter" books. With her past crush on Harry behind her, Ginny becomes a more assertive presence among the students preparing to battle Voldemort. She expresses her opinions more freely throughout the novel and participates in the battles at the Ministry of Magic at the end.

Molly Weasley

As the mother of the Weasley family, Molly becomes a surrogate mother to Harry and Hermione while they stay at Sirius's family house in this book. Molly embodies the stereotypical motherly role, cooking and cleaning for the family, constantly worrying about her children, and urging everyone to behave properly. She is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Molly is especially endearing because she cares for Harry as if he were her own son.

Percy Weasley

The meticulous son of Arthur and Molly Weasley, Percy is estranged from his family in The Order of the Phoenix. His allegiance lies with his boss, the Minister of Magic, leading him to reject his father's involvement with the Order of the Phoenix.

Ron Weasley

Ron Weasley, known as "Ronald" only to his mother, continues his role as Harry Potter's best friend in Rowling's fifth "Harry Potter" book. Tall, lanky, and red-haired, Ron hails from a large, financially struggling family, making him a target for frequent teasing by his peers.

In addition to helping Harry face the significant challenges posed by Voldemort's return, Ron grapples with his own insecurities concerning school and social life. Though not an outstanding student, he ventures into athletics in this book by becoming the goalkeeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. His performance remains subpar until the story's conclusion, further exacerbating his self-doubt. Readers will detect a romantic tension in the frequent arguments between Ron and Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend.

Ron’s greatest vulnerabilities stem from his envy of the wealth and talent that Harry seems to possess effortlessly. However, Ron remains a steadfast companion to Harry throughout their adventures. Even though his magical abilities do not match those of the renowned Harry Potter, Ron's unwavering loyalty endears him to readers.

You-Know-Who

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