Overall verdict on Number 5

I realised I haven't given a general summary of what I thought about Harry Potter Book 5. Overall, I really enjoyed it. A few threads from previous books are tied up, and a few characters are fleshed out a bit more. There are a few aspects (some of which James A has noted) which will hopefully be explored further in the final two books of the series. I think they will - as the series has gone on, JKR has revealed (James, the rest of this may be spoiler territory even for you - make with the highlighting to read the rest of it) more of the background of the wizarding world, and some of the systematic flaws of their organisation. This book continued that theme - Kreacher showed more of the problems with house elves, Dumbledore's comments about the statue in the fountain in the Atrium were intriguing, and of course, there is the extreme influence Fudge was able to exert over both the Daily Prophet, Hogwart's, the Wizgamot and the International Confederation of Wizards. Fudge's ability to turn his authority to personal ends (down to actively harassing a mere school student!) was quite spectacular. Now, some of that can be attributed to the willing complicity of those who secretly support Voldemort, some more of it can be attributed the good old "head-in-the-sand" approach to dealing with fear and other aspects to good old tall poppy syndrome (w.r.t both Dumbledore and Potter).
What I hope is going to happen - and I think, with the trend towards increasing politicisation the first five books have shown, will happen - is that *this* battle with Voldemort isn't going to end with a return to the status quo. We've got the ongoing Weasley fascination with Muggles. We've got a centaur teaching at Hogwart's. We've got Hermione trying to liberate the house elves. We've got many of the pure-blood wizards throwing in with Voldemort. We've got someone of Dumbledore's stature muttering about how the wizard's have been too arrogant for too long. We've got an (apparently) unaccountable Minister for Magic concealing a deadly threat from everyone for 12 months or more. We all know Voldemort is going to lose in the end - but I suspect there is going to be a hell of a lot of collateral damage to the social structure of the Wizarding world in the process of getting there. The rest of the ride looks like it should be a lot of fun. Hopefully she doesn't take another 3 years to write the next one. . .