***Warning: The following is an actual excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix and therefore contains spoilers. Please do not continue reading if you wish to remain blissfully unaware of the contents of the fifth Harry Potter novel.***

Harry's bewilderment deepened with every step he took. What on earth were they doing in a house that looked as though it belonged to the darkest of wizards?

"Mrs. Weasley, why . . ."

"Ron and Hermione will explain everything dear. I've really got to dash," Mrs. Weasley whispered distractedly, "there." They had reached the second landing. "You're the door on the right. I'll call you when it's over," and she hurried off downstairs again.

Harry crossed the dingy landing, turned the bedroom doorknob, which was shaped like a serpent's head, and opened the door. He caught a brief glimpse of a gloomy, high-ceiling, twin-bedded room. Then there was a loud twittering noise, followed by an even louder shriek. And his vision was completely obscured by a large quantity of very bushy hair. Hermione had thrown herself onto him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat. While Ron's tiny owl Pigwidgeon zoomed excitedly 'round, and 'round their heads.

"Harry! Ron, he's here, Harry's here! We didn't hear you arrive. Oh, how are you, are you alright? Have you been furious with us? I'll bet you have. I know our letters were useless, but we couldn't tell you anything. Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn't. Ohh, we've got so much to tell you . . . and you've got to tell us . . . the dementors . . . when we heard . . . it's just outrages! I looked it all up they can't expel you, they just can't! There's provision in the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery, for the use of magic in life threatening situations."

"Let him breath, Hermione," said Ron grinning, closing the door behind Harry. He seemed to have grown several more inches during their month apart. Making him taller and more gangly-looking than ever. Though the long nose, bright red hair, and freckles were the same.

If you are like me than this excerpt most likely created more questions than it answered.

Why are they hiding is such a dark place that has serpent doorknobs?
Where did Mrs. Weasley hurry off to?
And why was Harry in a life threatening situation over the summer?

Well, we'll just have to wait a little longer to find out. In the meantime feel free to discuss this article and these questions in the Books Message Boards

This excerpt was transcribed from the audio sample available for listening at Amazon.com

Source: Amazon.com

- HPC Webmistress a.k.a V

Order of the Pheonix Spoiler (Posted: 04/10/03)

*Reporter Nikki runs frantically onto the screen, breathing heavily, and hair coming out of its usually nice ponytail. She breathes for a second and then smiles.*

Hello all fellow readers!! I am reporter Nikki and have just heard some great news. Now, I will warn you now, although a lot of you won't listen to my warning and just read on, but in this article there are spoilers for Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix. So, I highly advise you, if you don't want to know.....don't read. Anyways, after this wonderful news rang through my ears, I knew I just had to tell my readers. So, here it is, straight off the presses and to you.

"I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."
"Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust."

Albus Dumbledore spoke these words to Harry Potter at the end of the fourth book. But as he enters his fifth year at wizard school, it seems those bonds have never been tested more.

Lord Voldemort's rise has opened a rift in the wizarding world between those who believe the truth about his return, and those who prefer to believe it's all madness and lies - just more trouble from Harry Potter.

Add this to a host of other worries for Harry...

• A Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey
• A venomous, disgruntled house-elf
• Ron as Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team
• And of course, what every student dreads: end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.

And you know what Harry faces during the day. But at night it's even worse, because then he dreams of a single door in a silent corridor. And this door is somehow more terrifying than every other nightmare combined. Despite this (or perhaps because of it) Harry finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty, and unbearable sacrifice.

Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages, and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.

Well, this is reporter Nikki signing off with the news for now. Be sure to keep checking for new updates. Good-bye!!!

Source: CBBC Newsround
Original Source: The Leaky Cauldron

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Book 5 Cover (Posted 01/21/03)

Here's a sneak peek at the cover to the OOTP . . .

Kids Cover

Adult Cover

US Cover

Source: CBBC Newsround

- HPC Webmistress

Book 5 Summer Release (Posted 01/21/03)

The long awaited fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, is scheduled to hit book shelves on the 21st of June 2003. Be sure to set time aside to line up at the book stores. HPC will be posting any release events we find out about in various cities. If you would rather sit at home and let the book come to you Amazon.com has set up service to pre-order the book. Happy Reading! I will look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the book on the Message Boards and in the Chat Room!

Source: CBBC Newsround

- HPC Webmistress

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