Fifth Year

"Weasley cannot save a thing, he cannot block a single ring.
That's why Slytherins all sing, Weasley is our king!..."

—Slytherins mock Ron about his Keeper abilities

With the coming of the Second Wizarding War and Lord Voldemort's rise to power, Dumbledore reconvened theOrder of the Phoenix. Early in the summer of 1995, the Order moved into headquarters at 12 Grimmauld Place and Ron with it. There, he was joined by Hermione. Together, they helped Mrs. Weasley sanitise the old house and kept an ear out for information about Harry. Early in August, he finally arrived, but only after a Dementor attack. Ron felt sorry about having to keep Harry in the dark, but quickly became wary of Harry's temper, which was very close to the surface due to Harry's increasing feelings of persecution and isolation. Throughout August, they stayed at Grimmauld Place, and late in the month, Ron received quite a surprise. He was named Gryffindor prefect, along with Hermione. For this achievement, his mother gave him a new broomstick, aCleansweep Eleven. Bound by their prefect duties, Ron and Hermione could not join Harry on the Hogwarts Express, but had to go to another carriage to learn of their responsibilities. That evening, Ron was worried whenHagrid was not at the welcoming feast and disconcerted by the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor,Dolores Umbridge, who Harry reported worked for Fudge.

Ron's fears were quickly realised when Professor Umbridge refused to teach the class practical defensive magic, and put Harry in a week's worth of detention for speaking out about Voldemort. That first week of school, Ron also tried out to be the Gryffindor Quidditch team's Keeper. He won the position, but according to the Captain, Angelina Johnson, he needed improvement. Ron's Quidditch practices quickly left him behind in his school work, to Hermione's chagrin. Soon, news of Ron's prefecture reached his estranged brother, Percy Weasley, and Percy sent Ron a letter advising him to "sever ties" with Harry, whom he accused of being a mad delinquent. This letter greatly upset Ron and his friends, even though Harry tried to pass it off as a joke.

Late in September, one evening when Harry returned from detention, Ron, somewhat reluctantly, joined Hermione in proposing that Harry teach his fellow students practical defence. Harry initially blew up in their faces, but after a few days he came around. Around this time, Professor Umbridge was appointed the first Hogwarts High Inquisitor, giving her the power to arbitrarily create rules and inspect teachers. Late in October, students above third year had their first visit to Hogsmeade. There, Harry, Ron, and Hermione met with several students who were interested in learning practical defence. Ron staunchly defended Harry when questions arose, and was among the first to sign the Dumbledore's Army parchment. On the way home from the village, Ron became upset when he learned from Hermione that his sister Ginny was dating a boy. The following morning, Ron awoke to find that suddenly, by order of Professor Umbridge, all student groups had been disbanded including the Quidditch teams, but he was mollified when Harry said they would continue with their secret group, which Ginny named "Dumbledore's Army" during their first meeting, mocking the Ministry of Magic's fears.

In the weeks following the first Dumbledore's Army meeting, Quidditch season arrived. Ron had nerve issues prior to the first match versus Slytherin. They had made badges saying "Weasley is our king," which Harry decided could not mean anything good. In an attempt to distract Ron from the Slytherins, Hermione kissed him on the cheek for luck, effectively stunning Ron. Ron's play was abysmal, and it was not helped by the Slytherins' new song also entitled, "Weasley is Our King." Following the game, Ron wanted to resign, but learned he could not, as Harry Potter, Fred, and George had been banned for life. That very evening, Hagrid returned from his adventure. Although initially resistant, he regaled Ron, Hermione, and Harry with his tales of the giants, though he refused to give them any hint about he came about his gruesome injuries. Following Hagrid's return, he took up his post as Care of Magical Creatures professor. In Hagrid's first lesson, Ron learned about Thestrals, magical beasts that could only be seen by those who had witnessed death. Regular Dumbledore's Army meetings, O.W.L. homework, and his prefect duties took up most of Ron's time as the holidays approached. Following the last meeting of the term, Ron was amused at Harry's "romantic" tale, earning him a stern talking to from Hermione who suggested that Ron had "the emotional range of a teaspoon." That night, Harry witnessed Ron's father, Arthur Weasley, being attacked by Lord Voldemort's snake, Nagini. When Harry's story was confirmed, Ron, his siblings, and Harry were immediately sent to 12 Grimmauld Place, so they could look in on their father's convalescence, and there they spent the Christmas holidays, joined by Hermione the next day. During their first trip to St. Mungo's, Ron overheard Mad Eye Moody theorising that Harry had been possessed by the Dark Lord. Ron was worried when Harry became reclusive after this visit and wanted to talk to Harry about it. He got his chance after Hermione arrived and convinced Harry to come downstairs. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny told Harry how worried they had been and managed to divine that he was not being possessed. They had an otherwise enjoyable holiday, but on their second visit to the hospital, Ron learned the truth about Neville Longbottom's parents.

Throughout the new term, Ron continued to learn defensive magic from Harry. He also stayed on the Quidditchteam, despite his poor performances. Due to Quidditch, he missed the Valentine's Day visit to Hogsmeade. Though, he was impressed that Harry went public and hopeful that people might believe Harry when The Quibblercame out. Soon, Umbridge managed to sack Professor Trelawney, but her ability to name a replacement was pre-empted when Dumbledore arranged to have Firenze teach the subject. Soon after that, Marietta Edgecombe, a friend of Cho Chang's who only reluctantly joined Dumbledore's Army, told Umbridge about the group, but was unable to give up any pertinent information once she saw a jinx activate on her face. Ron was able to escape when Umbridge, raided the Dumbledore's Army meeting, but he was incensed when Dumbledore was forced out of the school. He was also wary when his brothers Fred and George Weasley said they were going to do their part for Dumbeldore. After Fred and George's escape from Hogwarts, Ron was certain that his mother would blame him, but he was saved from this fate when Harry revealed that it was he who financed Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Ron played in the final Quidditch match of the season, though Harry and Hermione did not watch, as Hagrid finally revealed the source of his injuries to them. Ron played spectacularly, and Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. Ron was unable to settle to his studies the following day, but Harry and Hermione brought him down with Hagrid's secret. Soon, their Ordinary Wizarding Levelexaminations were upon them. Ron managed to do well, but he made a few mistakes. During their final examination, Harry dozed off and had another vision. This time, he saw his godfather being tortured by Lord Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries. When Harry told Ron and Hermione of this they were wary, and Hermione prudently suggested that Harry try to contact Sirius first. Ron ran off to distract Umbridge, but the plan was foiled, and Ron and his friends were rounded up and taken to Umbridge's office. There, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna Lovegood managed to fight off the Inquisitorial Squad and escape to find Harry and Hermione. Ron insisted that he join Harry in rescuing Sirius, but also insisted that the rest remain behind, but relented when many Thestrals appeared. When Harry led them into the Department of Mysteries, Ron stuck with him into the deepest recesses of the Department. There, the six D.A. members were ambushed by twelve Death Eaters, led byLucius Malfoy, and Ron helped defend the prophecy Harry took from the shelf, but his fight was soon over as aDeath Eater had scrambled his brains. Ron was so confused that he summoned a tentacled-brain from a vat in the Thought Chamber and was attacked by it. Ron soon recovered. Ron was saddened by Sirius's death, but Hermione made sure that the subject was not discussed around Harry.