Underage Magic/ff.net/OotP

[blpurdom at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23329

I think all of the instances of underage, out of school magic that 
have been cited are things that did not take place in the presence of 
Muggles.  Harry's aunt being inflated and floating toward the ceiling 
was magic that impacted a Muggle, and required a memory charm to make 
her forget the incident.  Frankly, that does seem more serious than 
turning a rat yellow (or failing to) or even concocting the Ton-
Tongue Toffees (although the twins should have gotten into hot water 
for giving one to a Muggle--Dudley).

I tried to post the new chapter of my fic to ff.net and it worked--
kind of.  It posted it twice, as both chapter 28 and 29, so I had to 
go in and delete 29.  I contacted a friend who has me on AuthorAlert, 
and she was able to click through on the email she received about it 
and reach the chapter, and I've received a couple of new reviews, but 
the last time I tried to go through, I got an error message again.  I 
think they're still struggling.

I've been sitting on this one for a while, but a lot of folks keep 
saying who they think is "in" the Order of the Phoenix, as though it 
were some kind of club.  I'm inclined to think it's something like 
the OBE, Order of the British Empire, a very prestigious 
recognition.  Snape was hoping to get Order of Merlin (OM) for 
capturing Sirius Black; Dumbledore has his OM noted on his Hogwarts 
stationery, but I doubt that he goes to Order of Merlin meetings.  I 
think perhaps as the owner of Fawkes, the Order of the Phoenix is an 
award that Dumbledore creates and gives to Harry and possibly Ron and 
Hermione for whatever heroic acts they are required to perform in the 
next book.  Folks who are British, am I barking up the wrong tree 
here?  Is there an OBE clubhouse and a secret handshake?

--Barb