Cues No. 16 & 17

The ominous low orchestra enters below Umbridge as she ascends to a higher step than McGonagall. At the beginning of the first montage in this film, a motoric pattern led by the violas drives forward as Dolores’s regime begins. A key change occurs when the newspaper clippings transition to Umbridge’s photo shoot in front of the clocktower, and the Ministry theme quickly takes over.

Umbridge’s theme plays in full pompous glory as she marches through the halls of Hogwarts enforcing her new rules on the students. Some moments are choreographed with orchestral accents and flourishes. The second statement of her theme is lighter in orchestration, which would give room for her dialogue to come through. After the theme ends, a quick Double Trouble variation plays over the Weasley twins having fun with friends in the courtyard. The theme is squashed as Umbridge abruptly ends the fun.

The motoric figure from the beginning of the montage returns, a little fuller in orchestration this time. Harps gain energy underneath the texture as flashes of new decrees sail over Umbridge’s satisfied face while she walks quietly through her classroom. The music gets more and more militaristic, and returns to an Umbridge theme while she requests a prediction from Trelawney during her class. The key changes abruptly and her theme continues during the accosting of Flitwick in his choir rehearsal. The music slowly loses energy and fades away after Umbridge fails to get a prediction from Professor Trelawney. She gives a sinister smile and leaves the room.

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The entire opening to this cue is made up of the string section moving from chord to chord, tied together with suspensions and two-note slurs. Trelawney is standing in the courtyard, her luggage brought out for her by Filch. Umbridge has sacked her. The plan is thwarted by the entrance of Dumbledore, accompanied by a solo trumpet playing the Order theme. It is answered immediately by a solo horn.

The Order theme gets a full statement from the brass section, and Trelawney is given permission to re-enter Hogwarts. Dumbledore asserts himself into the situation, stating that Umbridge does not have the ability to banish teachers from the grounds. Umbridge’s theme sneaks up from the depths of the orchestra, and the low strings slide around below, projecting her anger at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore leaves, and Harry pushes through the crowd, trying to catch up with him. A heavy variation of Hedwig’s theme plays in the strings, putting stress on the once innocent and whimsical theme that represented Harry’s entrance to the magical world. When he turns the corner, Dumbledore is gone, and Harry finds himself alone again. A lingering quote of Double Trouble plays quietly in the harpsichord.