Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (novel)/Fridge

Fridge Brilliance
""I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house--"
 * The chapter called "Snape's Worst Memory" is entirely accurate, but not for reasons you'd initially expect.
 * It may seem odd that Umbridge is so indulgent to the Slytherins right from the start as compared to every one else. But then you realize that her entire life is based around petty ambition. Ambition is the defining trait of Slytherin House; she would have been a Slytherin in school.
 * Not to mention that while this book doesn't tell us that she shares the "pure wizarding blood" obsession characteristic of most pure-blood Slytherins, her contempt for part-humans is a rather nasty likeness.
 * After, Dumbledore tells Harry that he knows how Harry feels. In Deathly Hallows, we find out that.
 * Rowling's Leaning On the Fourth Wall in this exchange:

"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, [Vernon] Dursley," growled Moody."


 * Just think about Moody's wording for a second. Then laugh to yourself and wonder if it was intentional.

Fridge Horror

 * Possibly a Wham Chapter Ending: Boggarts were previously only a problem for Harry because he was scared of Dementors as opposed to spiders, mummies, or clowns like the other students. Then Molly tries to get rid of the boggart in Grimmauld Place, and she is so cripplingly devastated when it takes the forms of her family's dead bodies that she can't even speak coherently enough to make the charm work. How could anything make the sight of your dead family funny?
 * Change it to them sleeping and snoring in a comically loud fashion? The other half of this is that unlike Harry and co, Molly wasn't attempting to get rid of the boggart in a safe, classroom environment. She's in a big creepy house and is doubtless on edge already (she even says so herself after Lupin gets rid of the boggart). There's a theory I've seen floating around that boggarts don't necessarily take your very worst fear, just whatever is currently lurking closest to your consciousness. Granted, in Molly's case, it's probably both of those at the same time, her greatest fear and something that's been on her mind lately.
 * You don't realize it until Half-Blood Prince, but the nonverbal spell Snape uses on James during the flashback to cause a gash to appear on his cheek is likely Sectumsempra. The spell that, if cast correctly, causes deep, painful and profusely-bleeding blade wounds, irreparable severing of body parts and is overall very tricky to use in any way that DOESN'T kill your target if you get a clear shot. He was aiming that at James' head. One mistake on his part or a slower reaction time on James' could have resulted in the later getting decapitated right there. True, James' bullying was certainly despicable, but still, you know, MURDER.
 * Dolores Umbridge's eventual comeuppance.  This totally explains her mood when she is in the infirmary later on in what can only be described as a traumatized state. It also lets you know that you should never fuck with Hermione or her friends, as it was HER idea.
 * Minor Fridge Horror compared to those above, but: Nobody in the wizarding world receives much education about mundane matters, basic human physiology included. Fred and George repeatedly tested their Skiving Snackbox treats, both on one another and on ill-informed volunteers. We know there was at least one accident with Katie's unstoppable nosebleed; how easily might the twins have put themselves or others in the infirmary, or even St. Mungo's critical-care ward, if they kept making people bleed, puke, or suffer fevers in complete ignorance of the very real dangers of anemia, dehydration or hyperthermia?

Fridge Logic

 * It took the DA several hours to fly to London -- why didn't Snape 'n' pals get there earlier?
 * It took longer. Harry's takeoff time is at sunset; when Dumbledore portkeys Harry back to his office, dawn is breaking. The kids must have been in the air all night and well into the early AM. Now has a Just Bugs Me entry.
 * Why is there no-one guarding the Ministry of Magic overnight?
 * Considering a half-dozen heavyweight Death Eaters are hanging around inside, I think we can assume something very bad happened to the night security people. Harry himself notes that there should be someone at the security desk.