======The Second Wizarding War: Years 5-7======
=====Overview=====
This period, spanning [[Harry Potter]]'s fifth year through the conclusion of the [[Second Wizarding War]], marks the public return of [[Lord Voldemort]] and the ensuing conflict that engulfed the entire British wizarding world. It begins with the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s campaign of denial against [[Harry Potter]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]], leading to the establishment of the oppressive [[High Inquisitor]] at [[Hogwarts]]. The core of this era is defined by the efforts of the reconstituted [[Order of the Phoenix]] and [[Dumbledore's Army]] to resist the [[Death Eaters]], the revelation of the [[prophecy]] concerning Harry and [[Voldemort]], and the critical hunt for [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]]. The period culminates in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] and the final defeat of [[Lord Voldemort]].
=====Major Events by Year=====
====Fifth Year (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)====
The fifth year is characterized by the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s refusal to accept [[Voldemort]]'s return, leading to a direct conflict with [[Dumbledore]] and Harry.
  * **[[Dementor]] Attack:** Two [[Dementor|Dementors]] attack [[Harry Potter]] and [[Dudley Dursley]] in [[Little Whinging]], forcing Harry to perform a [[Patronus Charm]] and face a disciplinary hearing at the [[Ministry of Magic]].
  * **[[Order of the Phoenix]]:** The Order re-forms, using [[Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place]] as its headquarters to secretly combat [[Voldemort]]'s activities.
  * **[[Dolores Umbridge]] at [[Hogwarts]]:** To control the school, the [[Ministry]] installs [[Dolores Umbridge]] as the [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] professor and later as the first [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor]]. She bans practical defensive magic.
  * **[[Dumbledore's Army]]:** In response to [[Umbridge]]'s poor teaching, Harry, [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] form a secret student group, [[Dumbledore's Army]] (the D.A.), to learn practical [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] in the [[Room of Requirement]].
  * **The [[Prophecy]]:** Harry has disturbing dreams and visions connected to [[Voldemort]], culminating in a vision of [[Arthur Weasley]] being attacked by [[Nagini]], which proves to be true. He begins [[Occlumency]] lessons with [[Severus Snape]] to shield his mind.
  * **[[Azkaban]] Breakout:** Ten high-security [[Death Eaters]], including [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], escape from [[Azkaban]].
  * **[[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]:** Lured by a false vision of [[Sirius Black]] being tortured, Harry and several members of the D.A. travel to the [[Department of Mysteries]]. They are ambushed by [[Death Eaters]] seeking to retrieve the [[prophecy]]. Members of the [[Order of the Phoenix]] arrive, and in the ensuing battle, [[Sirius Black]] is killed.
  * **[[Voldemort]]'s Return Confirmed:** [[Voldemort]] himself appears at the [[Ministry]], dueling [[Dumbledore]] in the Atrium before disapparating. His return is witnessed by [[Cornelius Fudge]] and other [[Ministry]] officials, forcing them to finally admit the truth.
====Sixth Year (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)====
With the [[Second Wizarding War]] now public, the atmosphere grows darker. The central focus shifts to uncovering the secret to [[Voldemort]]'s immortality.
  * **New Teachers:** [[Horace Slughorn]] returns from retirement to teach [[Potions]], while [[Severus Snape]] finally achieves his ambition of becoming the [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] professor.
  * **The [[Half-Blood Prince]]:** Harry excels in [[Potions]] by using a second-hand textbook filled with helpful annotations, signed by its mysterious former owner, the "[[Half-Blood Prince]]".
  * **[[Voldemort]]'s Past:** [[Dumbledore]] gives Harry private lessons using the [[Pensieve]], showing him memories of [[Tom Riddle]]'s past to understand his enemy's motivations and weaknesses.
  * **[[Horcrux|Horcruxes]]:** Through the memories, [[Dumbledore]] reveals his theory that [[Voldemort]] created multiple [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]] to achieve immortality. The final crucial memory, obtained from [[Slughorn]], confirms that [[Voldemort]] intended to create six [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]].
  * **[[Draco Malfoy]]'s Mission:** Harry becomes suspicious of [[Draco Malfoy]], correctly guessing that he has been tasked with a mission by [[Voldemort]]. [[Malfoy]] attempts to smuggle [[Death Eaters]] into [[Hogwarts]] using a pair of vanishing cabinets.
  * **[[The Cave]]:** [[Dumbledore]] and Harry travel to a seaside [[cave]] to retrieve a [[Horcrux]], [[Slytherin's Locket]]. They succeed, but the ordeal severely weakens [[Dumbledore]].
  * **[[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]:** Upon their return to [[Hogsmeade]], they discover the [[Dark Mark]] over [[Hogwarts]]. [[Death Eaters]], let in by [[Malfoy]], have invaded the castle. On the [[Astronomy Tower]], a weakened [[Dumbledore]] is disarmed by [[Malfoy]] before being killed by [[Severus Snape]] with the [[Killing Curse]].
  * **The Quest:** After [[Dumbledore]]'s funeral, Harry discovers the locket they retrieved is a fake. He vows not to return to [[Hogwarts]] for his seventh year and instead dedicate himself to finding and destroying the remaining [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]], with [[Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] pledging to join him.
====Seventh Year (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)====
The final year of the conflict sees the trio abandon their formal education to undertake a perilous quest across the country, while [[Voldemort]] seizes total control of the wizarding world.
  * **[[Battle of the Seven Potters]]:** The [[Order of the Phoenix]]'s plan to move Harry from [[Privet Drive]] is ambushed, resulting in the deaths of [[Alastor Moody]] and [[Hedwig]].
  * **The Fall of the [[Ministry of Magic]]:** [[Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]] assassinate [[Minister for Magic]] [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] and take over the [[Ministry]], installing [[Pius Thicknesse]] as a puppet Minister and creating a Muggle-Born Registration Commission led by [[Dolores Umbridge]].
  * **The Horcrux Hunt:** Harry, Ron, and Hermione spend months on the run, searching for the remaining [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]]. They successfully retrieve [[Slytherin's Locket]] from [[Umbridge]] at the [[Ministry]].
  * **The [[Deathly Hallows]]:** The trio learns about the [[Deathly Hallows]]—the [[Elder Wand]], the [[Resurrection Stone]], and the [[Invisibility Cloak]]—a parallel quest that distracts them but proves essential to the final victory.
  * **Destruction of [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]]:** Over the course of the year, several [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]] are destroyed: [[Slytherin's Locket]] by [[Ron Weasley]] with the [[Sword of Gryffindor]], [[Hufflepuff's Cup]] by [[Hermione Granger]] with a [[Basilisk]] fang, and [[Ravenclaw's Diadem]] by [[Vincent Crabbe]]'s [[Fiendfyre]].
  * **[[Battle of Hogwarts]]:** The search for the final [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]] leads the trio back to [[Hogwarts]], sparking a massive final battle between [[Voldemort]]'s army and the combined forces of [[Hogwarts]] students, staff, the [[Order of the Phoenix]], and their allies.
  * **Final Confrontations:** During the battle, [[Snape]] is murdered by [[Voldemort]]. Harry learns from [[Snape]]'s memories that he himself is an unintentional seventh [[Horcrux]]. He willingly goes to his death, allowing [[Voldemort]] to destroy the piece of soul within him. Harry survives due to the protection from his mother's sacrifice.
  * **[[Voldemort]]'s Defeat:** In the final duel, [[Voldemort]]'s [[Killing Curse]] rebounds off Harry's [[Disarming Charm]] because Harry is the true master of the [[Elder Wand]]. [[Lord Voldemort]] is killed, ending the [[Second Wizarding War]].
=====Key Themes and Developments=====
  * **Resistance and Rebellion:** The formation and actions of [[Dumbledore's Army]] and the [[Order of the Phoenix]] showcased organized resistance against tyranny, even in the face of overwhelming odds and government opposition.
  * **Moral Complexity:** The later books delved into the moral gray areas of supposedly "good" characters like [[Albus Dumbledore]], and the complex motivations of characters like [[Severus Snape]] and [[Draco Malfoy]].
  * **The Nature of Power:** The narrative explores different forms of power, contrasting [[Voldemort]]'s pursuit of dominance and immortality with the power of love, loyalty, and self-sacrifice embodied by Harry and his allies.
  * **Loss and Sacrifice:** This period is defined by immense loss, with numerous beloved characters sacrificing their lives. This theme culminates in Harry's own willing sacrifice, which is central to [[Voldemort]]'s defeat.
=====Major Casualties of the War=====
  - [[Sirius Black]] (Killed during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]])
  - [[Albus Dumbledore]] (Killed during the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]])
  - [[Alastor Moody|Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody]] (Killed during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]])
  - [[Hedwig]] (Killed during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]])
  - [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] (Killed during the fall of the [[Ministry of Magic]])
  - [[Dobby]] (Killed by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] at [[Malfoy Manor]])
  - [[Fred Weasley]] (Killed during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]])
  - [[Remus Lupin]] (Killed during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]])
  - [[Nymphadora Tonks]] (Killed during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]])
  - [[Colin Creevey]] (Killed during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]])
  - [[Severus Snape]] (Killed by [[Nagini]] on [[Voldemort]]'s orders)
  - [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] (Killed by [[Molly Weasley]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]])
  - [[Lord Voldemort]] (Killed by his own rebounding curse in the final duel)