Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix picks up, both thematically and chronologically, after the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. At the Triwizard Tournament, where Harry is an unwilling participant after his name is put in the goblet by Barty Crouch Jr., a Death Eater. Harry is then almost murdered by Lord Voldemort. Based on Harry’s reports, Dumbledore tries to alert the wizarding world to Voldemort’s return. Unfortunately, Dumbledore and Harry are discredited by both the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix alludes to Harry’s ongoing trauma and anger over the traumatic events of the Triwizard Tournament. Harry and Dumbledore also continue to suffer from public critique and ridicule over their position on Voldemort’s return. During the Battle at the Ministry of Magic, at the end of the book, Cornelius Fudge, the British Minister for Magic, sees Voldemort firsthand and must publicly admit that Voldemort has returned.

The sequel to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, opens on a changed magical world: Voldemort’s return has now been widely accepted, and Rufus Scrimgeour has replaced Fudge.