Cue No. 5

An extended run moves from the bottom of the strings all the way to the top of the violin section with the help of the celesta, built on material from Sorcerer’s Stone that appears originally over the scene where Hermione successfully levitates a feather. Here, it’s used with the same type of underlying meaning: Harry is witnessing magic that he’s not seen before. This new magic takes up quite a bit of screen time, so it was fun to expand the material from four movies ago.

No. 12 Grimmauld Place appears in front of them, and Hedwig’s Theme plays as it does in each film when Harry re-enters the magical world. Upon entering the house, strange sounds out of the percussion, harp, and celesta swirl around in the air. This is the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, but it is still a dark and mysterious place to Harry. The musical sounds here reflect the uncertain mood. Harry isn’t re-entering the magical world via the Quidditch World Cup or a flying Ford Anglia. This time the circumstances are more threatening. A quick harpsichord solo plays a sort of dies irae, adding to the mysterious atmosphere, but also re-integrating the instrument into the orchestra.

Cellos move ominously upwards and reveal Sirius through the doorway. Harry is happy at first to see his godfather, but does not receive a cheerful look in response. Molly Weasley quickly appears in the doorway and greets Harry. A gentle, motherly statement of Harry’s Wondrous World plays over the reunion between the two. She directs Harry upstairs and tells him that Ron and Hermione are waiting for him.

A variation on Harry’s Wondrous World continues, this time in a much darker sense, suggesting that parts of Harry’s world are less than wondrous. He comes across an old and deranged house elf on the first landing. Kreacher, who has a dark past in this home, is accompanied by a brief introduction of the Black Family theme. It is ominous, uncertain, and reaches back into the history of the twisted family. The Wondrous World variation appears once again as Harry moves away from Kreacher and up the next staircase. Upon entering, his thoughts are abruptly interrupted by Hermione.