The Order of the Phoenix played a huge role throughout the Harry Potter franchise, but the battle against Voldemort sadly saw only a few original members survive. The Order was formed during the First Wizarding War, as Voldemort was first rising to power several years before the events of Harry Potter even took place. The group consisted mainly of powerful Aurors, talented wizards, and squibs (such as Mrs Figg), who fought against Voldemort to bring order back to the Wizarding World. Although they did defeat the Dark Lord, several members were forced to return many years later when the Death Eaters resurrected their leader.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Harry Potter series included several heartbreaking deaths that really affected Harry along his journey, and many of these victims were originally involved with the Order of the Phoenix. Powerful wizards like Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore, and even Harry’s parents were among the founding members of the group, but they all lost their lives in the deadly battle against Voldemort. From a narrative perspective, these individuals had to die in order to make room for the next generation of the Order – giving Harry, Ron, and Hermione even more incentive to bring down the Dark Lord.
1 Aberforth Dumbledore Survived The Battle Of Hogwarts & Lived Out His Life In Hogsmeade
Although it’s his brother Albus that’s more well-known within the Wizarding World, Aberforth Dumbledore was hugely important in maintaining the Order of the Phoenix’s reputation and secrecy throughout the Second Wizarding War. In his brother’s absence, Aberforth became a figure of authority that often worked behind the shadows to influence the battle against Voldemort. Albus Dumbledore was among Hogwarts’ bravest professors, and while his brother didn’t share the same position, he was arguably just as intelligent. He kept his presence quiet, but that never stopped him from pulling the strings behind the curtain.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, it was Aberforth Dumbledore that sent Dobby to rescue the Golden Trio from their capture at Malfoy Manor, using a shard of magical glass that allowed him to watch the friends from afar. He also allowed them to use his home in Hogsmeade as a secret entrance into Hogwarts to prepare for the final battle (which gave them a surprise advantage over the Death Eaters that were stationed there). He might not have personally fought many battles, but Aberforth was among the Order’s greatest assets when it came to collecting intelligence.
2 Rubeus Hagrid Survived The Battle Of Hogwarts & Continued To Be The Groundskeeper Of The School Afterward
Though Hagrid’s broken wand prevented him from practicing magic whilst working at Hogwarts, the groundskeeper actually has a rich history that wasn’t really explored in the movies. He was a founding member of the Order of the Phoenix when Voldemort first rose to power, fighting alongside his friends to ensure the protection of the Wizarding World. He’s slightly older when audiences first meet him in the Harry Potter movies, but that hint of rebellion and strength is still obvious. As a half-giant, he also had a sizable advantage over many of Voldemort’s Death Eaters and their troops.
Hagrid wasn’t massively involved with the Order of the Phoenix during the Second Wizarding War, but he still fought to defend his home during the final battle. Although several deaths happened off-screen during the Battle of Hogwarts, Hagrid is confirmed to have survived the battle and continued his life as groundskeeper of Hogwarts in the years after the conflict. He was a loyal friend to Harry throughout his time at school, and this loyalty was one of the many reasons that Hagrid felt compelled to fight against Voldemort when the time came.
3 Frank & Alice Longbottom Stayed At St Mungo’s Hospital For Magical Maladies And Injuries After Bellatrix Tortured Them
The story of Frank and Alice Longbottom is a particularly tragic one. Although they managed to avoid death, what happened to them was arguably worse. They were captured by a group of Death Eaters shortly after Voldemort’s first defeat, where they experienced such intense torture and abuse. As a result of their mental health suffering immensely afterward, the couple was institutionalized in St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where they lived out the rest of their days together. Their son Neville visited several times, but they were so traumatized that they never even recognized him.
What happened to Neville’s parents after their torture was a real tragedy, and it just proves that life and death aren’t as black and white as many stories would have audiences believe. Even surviving can sometimes be a curse, because at least they would’ve died with dignity. Their inhumane abuse was just further proof of how immoral and corrupt Voldemort’s followers had become, particularly the Lestrange family. Not only did it give Neville a much stronger reason to hate the Death Eaters, but it also motivated Neville to fight alongside the Order at the Battle of Hogwarts.
4 Minerva McGonagall Survived The Battle Of Hogwarts & Later Became The Headmistress Of Hogwarts
Professor McGonagall had a complex relationship with Harry Potter throughout the series (never failing to display her distaste for his constant misbehavior), but she was always there for him when needed. McGonagall was incredibly wise, but she also displayed a level of magical power that very few other professors could manage. She’d been heavily involved with the Order of the Phoenix in the group’s early days, and her close friendship with Dumbledore meant that she could always be counted upon. She was a reliable asset for the Order, even if she wasn’t involved in every battle.
Following Dumbledore’s death, McGonagall was the last known member of the Order of the Phoenix operating at Hogwarts. She remained there under Snape’s tenure as Headmaster, not because she approved of the choice, but because she knew that the Order needed somebody there to gather information. Staying in Hogwarts could’ve been incredibly dangerous for her, but she stayed there out of loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order. Although Snape wasn’t a villain after all, this doesn’t dampen the courage and bravery that she displayed by staying under his rule. She led Hogwarts’ march against Voldemort in the final battle, thankfully surviving and becoming the next Headmistress of Hogwarts.
5 Kingsley Shacklebolt Survived The Battle Of Hogwarts & Later Became The Minister For Magic
Kingsley isn’t a huge character in the Harry Potter franchise, but his role within the Order of the Phoenix cannot be overstated. He was among the most experienced and talented fighters in the group, working as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic in his daily life. When the Ministry started to grow corrupt in the years preceding Voldemort’s return, Kingsley continued to feed information to the Order that allowed them to defeat many of the Death Eaters that were working in the shadows. Without Kingsley, the Order would’ve been at a huge disadvantage following Voldemort’s return – but he gave them the upper hand.
Kingsley was the unsung hero of Harry Potter– though his actions never directly changed the outcome of the story, it’s undeniable that his immense power was enough to turn the tide of several crucial battles. He killed several powerful Death Eaters at the Battle of Hogwarts, which likely saved the lives of many other heroes that fought alongside him. Without the intelligence that he provided during his years at the Ministry, there would’ve been even more enemies to fight on the battlefield. His bravery was eventually rewarded when he became Minister for Magic and fought to clean up the corruption in the Ministry.
6 Molly & Arthur Weasley Survived The Battle Of Hogwarts & Continued To Spend Their Lives Together At The Burrow
Much like James and Lily Potter, Molly and Arthur Weasley played huge roles in the creation and maintenance of the Order of the Phoenix in its early years. They fought in several important battles, defeated a handful of powerful Death Eaters, and despite Rowling’s original plans to kill Arthur Weasley, the couple both survived to the end of the series. They proved that compassion and selflessness are two of the most valuable traits that you can have in the battle against evil, dedicating their lives to protecting their children and maintaining the safety of their family.
The Harry Pottermovies often downplay just how powerful Molly and Arthur’s magical abilities were – not only was Arthur an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, but Molly was also responsible for murdering Bellatrix Lestrange at the Battle of Hogwarts. They’re clearly very talented fighters, but these traits were mostly omitted from the movies. They might’ve taken some time away from the Order after Voldemort’s initial downfall, but they were among the first to return when he was resurrected. They showed more loyalty to their cause than most others could’ve ever imagined, always putting the safety of their friends and family above all else.
7 Mundungus Fletcher Survived The First Wizarding War And Became A Petty Criminal
Mundungus Fletcher was left out of several movies in the Harry Potter franchise despite his importance in the books (and since he’s rarely mentioned by name at all, it may be hard to remember his scenes). However, he was a crucial member of the original Order of the Phoenix, dedicated to fighting in the battle against Lord Voldemort. He wasn’t the most beloved member of the group though, as his criminal dealings and involvement in the Wizarding underworld didn’t go unnoticed. It was his loyalty to Albus Dumbledore that kept him in the group, even when others disputed his presence.
In the years after the First Wizarding War, Fletcher fell deeper into his reputation as a petty criminal and drifted away from the other members of the group. He avoided probable death at the Battle of Hogwarts by hiding out with his criminal friends, where he spent the rest of his days. It was hardly the noblest exit for the character, but it’s still important to note that his involvement in the First Wizarding War was a huge asset that likely ensured victory for the heroes on several occasions (even if his bravery didn’t last too long).
8 Elphias Doge Fought In Both Wars Before Sitting Out The Battle Of Hogwarts
Dumbledore was arguably Hogwarts’ most powerful professor, and he played a massive role in the foundation of the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. He was assisted closely by his friend, Elphias Doge. Doge’s friendship with Dumbledore was the main reason that he decided to join the Order, but he soon developed an unwavering loyalty to the cause that continued long after his friend’s death.
Doge was a member of the Advance Guard that risked their lives to transport Harry Potter from Privet Drive to Grimmauld Place once he became a target of the Death Eaters. This proved just how much Doge believed in his cause, fighting in his old friend’s memory and becoming an unsung hero of the Harry Potter franchise. He was one of the Order’s most underrated assets, and although he wasn’t seen at the Battle of Hogwarts, he was presumed to have retired and left the fighting to the younger, more capable heroes.
9 Differences Between The Movies And The Books
Despite the Harry Potter movies’ attempts to stay true to the source material, certain aspects were ultimately changed. The films notably changed Peter Pettigrew’s death because it was deemed too mature for a family movie, writing out his demise altogether. He was a foundational member of the Order of the Phoenix, but he later switched sides and became one of Voldemort’s closest followers. The books saw Pettigrew killed by his own enchanted hand, however, he managed to survive in the cinematic adaptations (but was notably absent from the Battle of Hogwarts).
There were also several original members of the Order of the Phoenix that simply weren’t included in the movies. Sturgis Podmore doesn’t appear at all, and Dedalus Diggle only ever appears in the background – both characters were hugely important in the First Wizarding War and renewed their loyalty when Voldemort made his return. Harry’s neighbor Mrs. Figg was also a member of the Order, but the films never really touched on this aspect of her character. Podmore, Diggle, and Figg all managed to survive the Second Wizarding War by acting from the shadows, avoiding the major battles, and only offering their assistance when it was needed.
