The Order of the Phoenix is the secret society built by Albus Dumbledore in an effort to combat Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the Harry Potter series. Formed during Voldemort’s first rise to power, the Order of the Phoenix makes a comeback once the Dark Lord returns at the end of the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. There have been many different witches and wizards throughout the Harry Potter series, and even before it began, that joined the Order. Some are powerful at magic, while others make themselves useful through connections or cunning. The Order’s best members all bring something important to the table.
Sirius Black
Sirius was a member of both versions of the Order, but he ends up not doing much either time. He’s an intelligent man and a capable wizard who is also a skilled animagus. But he misreads the situation and inadvertently causes the deaths of James and Lily Potter by Lord Voldemort during the first Order. Once the Order returns, Sirius offers Grimmauld Place to use as the Order’s headquarters, but he can’t do much else. He’s stuck there due to being a wanted criminal for a crime he didn’t commit. He rarely leaves, and while he does come to Harry’s defense at the Department of Mysteries, it ends up costing him his life.
Rubeus Hagrid
Hagrid has brute strength provided by being a half giant, but he can’t do a lot else to help the order. He, along with Madame Maxime, go to the giants to try to get them to join the Order rather than the Death Eaters, but that mission fails, and he’s only able to bring back his half brother. But Hagrid has his uses. He is a trusted member of the main trio who supports them no matter what. When he’s attacked by Aurors and Professor Umbridge, he’s able to shrug off their stunning spells due to his half giant blood. He is able to stop several Death Eaters at once on the night Dumbledore is killed. And he is right there helping Harry through the Battle of Hogwarts. He’s a loyal friend even if he’s not the best at magic.
Molly Weasley
Molly is essentially the mother of the second version of the Order. She, her husband, and two of her kids join right when Voldemort returns. Two more of her kids join once they come of age, and her two youngest serve in Dumbledore’s Army, which is basically Hogwarts’ underage version of the Order. She takes care of all the members of the Order while they are at Grimmauld Place, and opens her home as a safe haven for Harry as he escapes Privet Drive for the final time. But her greatest act was killing Bellatrix Lestrange. The woman who viewed herself as Voldemort’s number two didn’t take this housewife and mother seriously, and it brought about her end and eventually Voldemort’s end.
Minerva McGonagall
Professor McGonagall is an integral part of the entire series as she guides Harry from young school boy to a path that allows him to become an accomplished Auror. During her time in the Order, she is the member who regularly checks in with Harry as he is under attack from the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet. Following the death of Dumbledore and the expulsion of Snape, she leads the other professors, and the students of age in the Battle of Hogwarts. She is an accomplished witch who survives the battle and takes over as Hogwarts Headmistress.
Nymphadora Tonks
The daughter of Sirius’ cousin Andromeda Black and a muggle named Ted Tonks, Nymphadora prefers to be called “Tonks.” She’s an Auror learning from Mad Eye Moody and a metamorphmagus. She takes part in the Department of Mysteries battle in the fifth book and is placed as a guard at Hogwarts during the sixth book. Tonks also marries Remus Lupin and welcomes a baby they name Teddy, after her father who is killed by Death Eaters. She and Lupin also take part in the Battle of Hogwarts, where they are both killed trying to protect the school from Voldemort.
Remus Lupin
The former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had a harsh life, but found some of his greatest ups and downs through the Order. He was suspected of being the mole in the first Order, until it was revealed to be Peter Pettigrew. He lost all three of his closest friends through Peter’s betrayal. During the second Order, he serves as a spy among the werewolves for Dumbledore, fights in the Department of Mysteries, takes part in the battle the night Dumbledore dies, meets his wife and welcomes a son, and fights in the Battle of Hogwarts where he gives up his own life for the cause. In addition to his service in the Order, his lessons as D.A.D.A teacher come in very handy for the trio over the course of the series.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Kinglsey Shacklebolt is the Order wizard trusted with every major important ministry duty. When he’s first introduced, he’s the Auror in charge of the search for Sirius, even though he knows Sirius is innocent. He works to lead the Ministry of Magic on wild goose chases to protect Sirius. From there, once the Ministry accepts that Voldemort is back, Kingsley serves as the wizard sent to protect the muggle Prime Minister. He takes part in Harry’s escape from Privet Drive, and, once Voldemort is defeated, he is named the new Minister of Magic.
Alastor Moody
Mad Eye Moody is the greatest Auror in the Harry Potter series. He literally gives up pieces of his body to take down Death Eaters during the first Wizarding War and the immediate aftermath. He is supposed to come out of retirement to teach at Hogwarts, but ends up trapped in a trunk for a year. During the second version of the Order, Moody is part of the crew who takes Harry to Grimmauld Place. He fights in the Department of Mysteries and comes to Hogwarts to fight on the night Dumbledore dies. Moody is leading Harry’s escape from Privet drive in the seventh book when he is personally killed by Voldemort.
Severus Snape
The ultimate double agent, Snape actually served with the Death Eaters during the first Wizarding War but switched side due to his love for Lily Potter. When Voldemort returns, Snape waits until Dumbledore gives him the order to return, at which point he uses his expert occlumency to pretend to still be on the Dark side. He is able to convince Voldemort that he is his most loyal Death Eater by killing Dumbledore. Voldemort doesn’t know this was prearranged by Snape and Dumbledore. He helps Harry find the sword of Gryffindor in the Forest of Dean. As he dies, he gives Harry his memories to help Harry finally defeat Voldemort. Harry eventually names his second born son after Dumbledore and Snape, a decision that has split Harry Potter fans since the seventh book came out.
Albus Dumbledore
The only wizard that Voldemort ever feared headed up both versions of the Order of the Phoenix. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore recognized the danger that Voldemort presented to the world, and worked with like-minded witches and wizards to help make the world a better place. Dumbledore often came up with plans that would thwart Voldemort’s efforts to take over the world. He found many of Voldemort’s horcruxes and taught Harry about their importance, so Potter could complete the mission. Yes, he raised Harry like a lamb to slaughter, but he did what he had to do to stop the greatest villain in wizarding history.
