The story picks up where the fourth film left off, with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his fifth year. However, the atmosphere at the school has changed dramatically. The Ministry of Magic, led by the stubborn and corrupt Minister Cornelius Fudge (John Hurt), refuses to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned to power. Instead, they seek to undermine Harry's credibility and discredit Dumbledore's warnings about the Dark Lord's resurgence.