No matter how close a movie sticks to its source material, there are always going to be differences. The Harry Potter series is no exception, and one of the greatest challenges was adapting Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which is the longest book in the series. The book features the beginning of Dumbledore's Army, the fiercely hated character Dolores Umbridge, and the reveal of an all-important prophecy.
The film adaptation sticks to these memorable and important elements, but there are inevitably some changes in how they are handled. Given the lengthy source material, some storylines and details from the book are condensed or cut out entirely. Check out these 10 differences between the book and film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Who Finds The Room Of Requirement For The DA
Dobby doesn't appear in the film adaptation of The Order of the Phoenix, but in the book, he's the one to tell Harry about the Room of Requirement. The Room of Requirement helps Dobby treat Winky whenever she becomes inebriated from drinking too much Butterbeer.
The film shows Neville stumbling upon the Room of Requirement instead. The end result is the same, though, as the Room of Requirements becomes the secret headquarters and practice area for Dumbledore's Army.
No Quidditch
The novel features some intriguing Quidditch storylines, as Umbridge bans Harry from playing Quidditch ever again and Ron becomes the Keeper of the Gryffindor team. For the first time in the series, the Gryffindor team has to find a way to win without Harry. Ginny s the team and both she and Ron rise to the occasion as they lead Gryffindor to win the Quidditch cup.
None of these storylines are incorporated into the film. In fact, there is no Quidditch in the film at all. Viewers don't see Ron become Keeper of the Gryffindor team until the movie adaptation of The Half-Blood Prince.
Mundungus Fletcher
Readers are introduced to Mundungus Fletcher in The Order of the Phoenix. He is briefly mentioned in The Goblet of Fire as a member of the "old crowd" that fought Voldemort last time. He res the Order of the Phoenix, and while he does help them, he also continues to help himself by selling stolen goods.
The movies don't introduce Mundungus until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 when the Order moves Harry from Privet Drive. This makes his sudden introduction in that film a bit jarring for those who haven't read the books.
Kreacher's Lie
Kreacher does appear in the film adaptation of The Order of the Phoenix, but what is arguably his most important moment from the book is cut from the film. When Harry has a vision of his godfather Sirius Black being tortured in the Department of Mysteries, he uses the Floo Network to see if Sirius is at twelve Grimmauld Place. Kreacher lies and tells Harry that Sirius isn't there, which leads Harry to believe that his vision is real and that Sirius is at the Department of Mysteries.
This scene with Kreacher never occurs in the movie. Sirus dies in the movie the same way as he dies in the book, but his mistreatment of Kreacher plays no part in his fate as it does in the novel.
Who Betrays The DA
Dumbledore's Army uses the Room of Requirement as their headquarters and practice area until they are betrayed. Cho Chang's friend Marietta Edgecombe is responsible for this betrayal in the book. Marietta's mother works for the Ministry, and she never wanted to the secret organization and was dragged there by Cho.
Marietta leaks information to Umbridge that allows her to expose the DA. Since Marietta doesn't exist in the movie, Cho is the one who betrays the DA, although in her case the information is parted unwillingly. Umbridge uses the truth-telling potion Veritaserum to have Cho spill the beans on Harry, the DA, and their secret meeting location.
The St. Mungo's Scenes
Arthur Weasley is sent to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries after he is attacked by Nagini. None of the St. Mungo's scenes from the books are included in the movie.
Beyond Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys visiting Arthur, book readers also get to see Neville visiting his parents, who have been hospitalized at St. Mungo's ever since they were brutally tortured by Barty Crouch Jr. and the Lestranges. It's a heartbreaking moment that provides more context and insight into Neville's character. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny also see Gilderoy Lockhart at St. Mungo's and that Lockhart's memory is still severely damaged.
Madame Maxime's Involvement In Hagrid's Mission
The book mentions that Madame Maxime ed Hagrid on his mission to recruit the giants in the fight against Voldemort. Despite Hagrid and Madame Maxime's best efforts, the giants choose to fight with Voldemort and the Death Eaters instead.
There is no mention in the film of Madame Maxime helping Hagrid with his mission. It is possible that she was still part of it and that it's just not stated in the film, though.
Firenze Teaching Divination
Dolores Umbridge sacks Sybill Trelawney in the book and in the movie. A replacement teacher is never shown in the movie but in the book, Dumbledore hires the centaur Firenze to teach Divination in Trelawney's absence.
Even after Professor Trelawney is reinstated, Firenze continues to teach Divination at Hogwarts as his centaur colony cast him out. Firenze also fights in the Battle of Hogwarts. His only film appearance is in The Sorcerer's Stone, though.
Rooms Omitted From The Department Of Mysteries
The Department of Mysteries contains many rooms that aren't featured in the film. The most memorable of these is probably the Brain Room where brains with tentacles attached to them latch onto Ron and begin suffocating him. Another notable room not in the film is the Time Room, where the Ministry keeps their Time-Turners. All of the Ministry's Time-Turners are destroyed when Harry and his friends fight the Death Eaters in the Time Room.
The movie condenses the Battle of the Department of Mysteries by focusing on the Hall of Prophecy and the Death Chamber where Sirius falls through the Veil.
Dumbledore's Explanation Of The Prophecy
Dumbledore's explanation of the prophecy is much more limited in the movie. It mainly focuses on the "neither can live while the other survives" part of the prophecy and why Dumbledore shielded this truth from Harry.
There is an extensive amount of information revealed in the book that is not included in the movie. Dumbledore's explanation in the book reveals the real reason that Harry has to stay with the Dursleys, how Dumbledore first heard the prophecy from Sybill Trelawney, and how Neville Longbottom is connected to the prophecy.
