Still Reading Harry Potter -- Spoiler Warning!!

I have now finished book five of the Harry Potter series, much to the joy and amusement of my wife and son, who have completed all the reading... finished all seven.

Through all five books, I have been searching for symbolism, theme, and any other "TIER TWO" information that J. K. Rowling may be attempting to incorporate. There is some, and it begins to take shape towards the end of Book IV.

At the end of that book, Harry returned from the last tri-wizard tournament challenge via a portkey clinging to the arm of a dead classmate whose death he alone (from the school community) had witnessed. That set up an intriguing crisis of belief in his fellow students: Did Harry witness this murder by Lord Voldemort, or did Harry commit the murder himself?

In his last address to the students that academic year, Dumbledore made it perfectly clear that he believed Harry's tale. He raised the alarm that Voldemort had returned and warned the students that one of Voldy's favorite tactics was to divide people who were not worshippers of the Dark Lord. Of course, the Minister of Magic does not want to acknowledge Voldemort's return. He instead devises some conspiracy theory about Dumbledore wanting to take over as Minister of Magic.

In Book V, we are introduced to the Order of the Phoenix, a group whose purpose, directed by Dumbledore, is to prevent the return and empowerment of the Dark Lord. Now, I don't know yet, but the sub-groups of people in the book are eerily similar to people in society. Consider:

Muggles -- people completely unaware of the spiritual dimension of life. Non-Christians in the sense of philosophical naturalists. They are uncomfortable if the magic bumps into them, and seek to distance themselves as quickly as possible.

Death Eaters -- people who get the essence of spiritual reality but who have chosen evil knowingly. They serve the Dark Lord.

Ministry of Magic folk -- appear to me as similar to Christians who close their eyes when confronted with the reality of spiritual warfare. They want things to be "just like they always have been" and would rather have what is easy than what is right. They value position over mission.

Order of the Phoenix -- appear to me as a perfect parallel to what the Christian life should really look like. The people in the order are loyal to each other even when it's not enjoyable because they have a mission that they know is crucial to the future of the wizarding world. It may take great sacrifice to work for the Order, but they know it would be greater sacrifice in the end "to not to".

Dumbledore -- I thought for several books that Dumbledore represented God, but I am moving away from that position at the end of five. The evidence in the earlier books is compelling, though: the long white hair and beard (God is pictured often and inaccurately that way); the name Albus (white); his tendency to arrive just before the moment of disaster and rescue those within his school, the others' tendency to seek his wisdom and yet want to hide from him when they were ashamed of their own choices, his almost omniscient awareness of affairs of their world...

I have abandoned this position in light of events late in Book Five. Dumbledore shows fear and then laments some of his decisions in a protracted discussion with a very volatile Harry. While he maintains his calm and gracious demeanor, it is obvious that he blames himself for Sirius' death and his handling of Harry's prophecy. I learned something, too, from his point about youth and age. Youth, he said, cannot feel what it is like to be aged (since they have not experienced it), but age should remember what it is to be young. Dumbledore blamed himself for forgetting and acting only from the perspective of the elderly. I get it. I've forgotten already in so many ways...

I also admire Rowling's ability to produce angst. Harry's behavior at the end of five does not surprise me, except that her ability to capture disillusionment is so fine. When the heaviness of Harry's situation fully soaks in to him, he is no longer interested in trifles, but he also cannot for the most part enjoy simple joys that others might experience. This whole experience has a rather Frodo-esque feeling about it. The heaviness is almost unbearable.