Her enemies include Harry's protector Dumbledore ( Michael Gambon, looking as shabby as a homeless headmaster). The Ministry of Magic, like many a government agency, is hidebound in outdated convictions and considers Harry's warning to be heresy at Hogwarts, a fierce new professor of the dark arts, Dolores Umbridge ( Imelda Staunton), has been installed to whip Harry into line. As a wizard chosen in childhood for his special powers, he has reason to believe Voldemort has returned and will have to be dealt with. Harry ( Daniel Radcliffe) has reason to fear that playtime is long behind. When they eventually arrive at some apocalyptic crossroads, as I fear they will, can the series continue to live in PG-13 land? The archvillain Voldemort is shaping up as the star of nightmares.

They weren't trained as magicians for fun. There will come a time, I fear, as we approach the end of the series (one book and two films to go), that Harry and his friends will grow up and smell the coffee. What is it, like a secret Masonic grip? When you're about to get your clock stopped by Dementors and you know the spell, what are you expected to do? Fall over passively and get Demented? But that earns the disapproval of his superiors at Hogwarts, and he is threatened with expulsion, because the spell is not to be used in public around Muggles. Harry and his cousin Dudley are attacked by Dementors, and in desperation he uses a secret spell to defeat them.

Order of the phoenix