MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

It's been 13 years, but the hosts are finally ready to revisit Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts! Join us as we sneak into The Riddle House to see prophecies fulfilled and Dark Lords taking (snake) milk shots. Plus, we share our favorite Dumbledore moments in honor of the late, great Michael Gambon! Welcome Slug Club member, Summer! We pay tribute to Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films For the first time since 2010, we're diving into Chapter-by-Chapter for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with Chapter 1: The Riddle House! We reflect on the fourth book's midnight release and the last time we actually read it! 7-Word Summary: Voldemort decides to plan an amazing murder The history of the Riddle House... is it cursed? Is Voldemort secretly bankrolling his family's home? Comparisons are drawn between The Riddles and The Dursleys Why is Tom Riddle Sr. depicted as worse than his parents? Is Merope to blame? The Significance of The Hanged Man The Scapegoating of Frank Bryce: do the townsfolk in Little Hangleton effectively "cancel" him? Can we draw comparisons to Harry later on in this book and in Order of the Phoenix? Wormtail The Snake Milker - yes, it's a real profession! Peter shows a resistance to using Harry in Voldemort's plan. Is it based solely on the effort required? Or does he have feelings of guilt? Right hands and faithful servants: Voldemort hints about the ritual to come at the end of the book! Pure Evil: How is Voldemort strong enough to use a wand and cast Avada Kedavra if he’s in need of a body and constant nurturing from Nagini? Horcuxes! Horcruxes! Horcruxes! Quizzitch: In opposition of his new diet, what did Dudley throw out the window? Next week: Chapter 2 of Goblet of Fire: The Scar Plus, Quizzitch Live returns in time for Halloween on October 28 - mark your calendars now! This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast), and Better Help (Visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast today to get 10% off your first month)! Transcripts are BACK! Thank you, Meg! And don't forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! Following our Goblet of Fire movie commentary, we discussed many of the things from the book we would have liked to see adapted in the fourth film! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we prepare to launch our Goblet of Fire Chapter-by-Chapter series, we're excited to finally do a movie commentary track for the fourth Harry Potter movie! Join the MuggleCasters as they watch and discuss Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. You will need to bring your own copy of the movie's standard edition in order to get the full experience. Before the movie begins, we help you sync up with us so we're all watching together (The sync point is as soon as you get through the 'WB' logo and see a skull). And have a celebratory drink prepared - like an orange juice if you're under 21 or a screwdriver if you're above 21 - for an iconic moment. Note: This episode was recorded before the passing of legendary actor Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore in this and many more Harry Potter movies. We will look back at his legacy on the next episode of MuggleCast. The MuggleCast 2023 Listener Survey is HERE and is open to all listeners through October 6th! We want to know what you love about the show, what you think could improve it, and what other content you’d be interested in us making. This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed. Claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to reflect on our recent re-read of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, and Laura as they open the MuggleMail bag once more to tackle an array of voicemails, e-mails and chicken soup submissions following our recent excursion into Book 3's Chapter-By-Chapter. The MuggleCast 2023 Listener Survey is HERE and is open to all listeners through October 6th! We want to know what you love about the show, what you think could improve it, and what other content you’d be interested in us making. Check out Parts 1 and 2 of Belated Binge Podcast's "Harry Potter: A History" and "Harry Potter: A Fandom" series with Eric! We begin our Book 3 wrap-up by revisiting our 7 Word Summaries and voting on which one should get a re-do! 7-Word Summary of Book 3: Sirius prevails over Ministry officials and Snape Voicemails include: Is there a connection between the Deathly Hallows and the gifts Harry receives from the Dursleys? Does the prophecy's existence explain why Snape picks on Neville? Is there another reason why Voldemort doesn't have hair? Lupin's werewolf depiction may be referenced elsewhere, and the phases of the moon are more gradual than you may think! A listener writes in about Micah's criticism of Time-Turning. Why are Lupin's lesson plans so creature-centric? Is there a reason behind the many strained paternal relationships in HP? Would Veritaserum help crack a Fidelius Charm? And, is being someone's Godfather a special magical bond? Listeners also point out: McGonagall's anti-Divination stance goes back to Book One. And, how does Professor Binns grade papers? One 13-year-old listener made her parents detour around Mount Greylock (we 100% support this). Quizzitch: Who found the Riddle family dead? Next week: Goblet of Fire movie commentary! This week’s episode is brought to you by Better Help (Visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast today to get 10% off your first month.)! And don't forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss moments that were cut from Book 4 for the movie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're closing the book on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, Laura and Melissa as they avoid Snape's wrath, have real talk with Lupin and Dumbledore and finally get permission to go to Hogsmeade. Oh, and be sure to check with your cat that your new pet isn't secretly a mass murderer! Welcome Slug Club member, Melissa! LAST CHANCE! Time is running out to subscribe to this year's MuggleCast Collectors Club over on Patreon. Be sure to opt-in to this special benefit by September 22nd! The MuggleCast 2023 Listener Survey is HERE and is open to all listeners through October 6th! We want to know what you love about the show, what you think could improve it, and what other content you’d be interested in us making. Chapter-by-Chapter for Prisoner of Azkaban concludes with Chapter 22: Owl Post Again 7-Word Summary: Justice is served by Hermione and Harry Snape claims he knows how Sirius escaped! Does he really KNOW it was Harry & Hermione? How secret is Hermione's Time-Turner? The hosts (and Fudge) react to Snape's unhinged behavior Dumbledore The Drama Queen is stoking the flames! Lupin regifts Harry the Marauder's Map forever connecting him with his father How did Dumbledore manage to convince Fudge that Lupin didn't aid Sirius? Harry is upset that Pettigrew got away, but Dumbledore tells him his choices made all of the difference. Does this moment feel authentically Dumbledore? Does it make more sense that they gave these lines to Lupin in the movie? By gifting Pigwidgeon to Ron, is Sirius trying to further endear himself to Harry? We analyze the book coming full circle and the balance of power shifting at Privet Drive Prophecies & Animagi - there ARE some things Dumbledore doesn't know! Could Trelawney be deep-linked to Harry and Voldemort? How did the Marauder's keep their situation secret from Dumbledore? Odds & Ends cover The Quidditch World Cup, the Grindylow tank, Percy's Ministry ambitions, Harry sititng by the lake and more! Quizzitch: Who gives Pigwidgeon his name? Next week: We start Goblet of Fire with a special movie commentary track! This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast), and Better Help (Visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast today to get 10% off your first month.)! And don't forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss several news stories surrounding the Fantastic Beasts film franchise and Harry Potter television reboot! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three turns ought to do it, MuggleCast! This week we plumb the depths of time with Harry and Hermione as Chapter-by-Chapter covers Chapter 21 of Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione's Secret! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they ask the tough questions such as, how is Snape Time is running out to subscribe to this year's MuggleCast Collectors Club over on Patreon. Be sure to opt-in to this special benefit by September 22nd. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21: Hermione's Secret 7-Word Summary: Hermione saves Buckbeak with a time turner Somebody Call the WAMBULANCE for Snape! We unleash our new "Severus Lie Count" right in the nick of time! Is Snape pointing out the uneven leniency given to Harry helpful or harmful to his cause? He sure knows how to play Fudge. Could Snape actually secretly believe Harry and Hermione's side of events? Once Hermione busts out the Time-Turner to save the day we must ask: is traveling in time morally correct? What alternatives must there have been to giving Hermione a Time-Turner at age 13? What gives Dumbledore the authority to play God in this situation? What If: The Time-turning sequence all went wrong? We review why Time Turners may have been more hassle for the author than a help, and ask if it was worth it. Quizzitch: At the end of term, who arrives to see Lupin after Harry does? Next week: Chapter 22: Owl Post Again, the FINAL CHAPTER of POA! And two weeks from now, we'll record a Goblet of Fire movie commentary track! This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast), and Better Help (Visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast today to get 10% off your first month.)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MuggleCast celebrates the month of August with this LIVE recording from LeakyCon 2023 at McCormick Place in Chicago IL! Recorded on Saturday, August 5 our audience-participatory mega show includes fan-favorite game segments such as Dueling Club, Make the Connection, and a new segment titled, "Is MuggleCast Older Than...?" Join Eric, Micah, Chloé with a special guest appearance by LeakyCon's founder, Melissa Anelli, as they play games and reflect on the fandom space across 18 years of Harry Potter podcasting! Welcome to LeakyCon 2023! We're old but we brought a cake... for Micah. How did we each get started with MuggleCast? The hosts reflect. Game: Is MuggleCast Older Than...? Rounds include "Taylor Swift's debut album" and "The iPhone." What have been some of our favorite moments in MuggleCast history? Game: The Dueling Club. Nonhumans edition, DADA professors, and Weasley family members! What moments in fandom were the most surprising and unbelievable when they happened in the moment? Game: Make the Connection returns! This one you have to hear to believe. (Chloé crushes it.) Thanks to all who came out to see us in Chicago! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KISSY KISSY! This week, be sure to put on your chapstick because the Dementors are ready to pucker up! Join our hosts as they exit the Whomping Willow and attempt to tackle what awaits them on the Hogwarts grounds. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 20: The Dementor's Kiss 7-Word Summary: Chaos ensues on Hogwarts grounds under moonlight WHAT IF... Peter hadn’t escaped and Sirius’ innocence had been proven? Would Dumbledore have been forced to explain Harry’s blood protection sooner? Would the Ministry have allowed Harry to live with Sirius? Do we think Sirius is mature enough or in the right state of mind to care for Harry? Does it cross Lupin's mind at all that if the moon comes out, they’re screwed? Why is Pettigrew not completely immobilized? We rate Lupin's transformation: did the book vs. the movie do it better? Lupin can be controlled by his Animagus friends, but Sirius doesn’t have much luck - is he out of practice? Soooo, Harry and Hermione are totally cool leaving Ron and Snape helpless with a werewolf running around while they go tend to Sirius? Why doesn't Harry's thought of living with Sirius work on the Dementors? Connecting The Threads: Harry attempts to save Sirius in both Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix Quizzitch: How old was Sirius Black when he played the trick on Snape with Lupin? Next week: We're off, but we'll be releasing our live show from LeakyCon in Chicago! Don't forget! Year 2 of the MuggleCast Collectors Club is here! Each year between now and 2026, we’re sending 4-5 exclusive, new stickers that celebrate the show’s past and present. We’re also giving you the Collector’s Club Card, on which you can place the stickers. It’s a beautiful backing card showing our MuggleCast listeners heading to Hogwarts. Pledge at the $5 or $10 level by September 22 to receive this year’s stickers and the Club Card at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rat is revealed! We finally understand the events of this school year at Hogwarts as well as how Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban prison. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss Chapter 19 of Book 3, including asking whether Crookshanks should be punished for stealing the password sheet and whether Sirius was selfish for not being the Potter's Secret-Keeper. The MuggleCast Collectors Club stickers for 2023 have now been revealed! Pledge on Patreon at the $5 or $10 level by September 22 to receive this year’s stickers and the Club Card! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19: The Servant of Lord Voldemort 7-Word Summary: Pettigrew begs Harry for forgiveness for murder Snape enters in full Prosecute Mode! Why can he not be swayed to consider alternate views? Do the Marauders know more than they indicate about Snape's feelings toward Lily? Would Snape have used an Unforgivable Curse in this moment? Would it have worked? What If? the Trio did not knock out Snape? How would events have unfolded differently? Micah has a theory on what Pettigrew's missing toe might signify. Should Crookshanks see punishment for stealing the Gryffindor password sheet for Sirius? Was Sirius selfish to push the Secret Keeping on to Peter? The hosts discuss. The real reason Pettigrew was in hiding is revealed and there's an unexpected connection to Book 6 Are the others Marauders to blame for Peter's poor choices? Harry comes into his own, and sparing Peter will have repercussions in Book 7... Quizzitch: Who leads the group first out of the Shrieking Shack? This week's MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orca, Pigeon, Racoon & Lemur! Well, it's not exactly Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, but it sounds way cooler, right?!?! On this week's episode, the truth about the Shrieking Shack and the Marauders is revealed, and we catch everyone's favorite headmaster telling some pretty big fibs! The Dumbledore Lie Count is BACK, BABY! Welcome Slug Club Member, Jason! Eric and Micah attended LeakyCon this past weekend in Chicago and they recap their favorite moments! Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 18: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs 7-Word Summary: Lupin reveals backstory to many children, tada! Sirius seemingly has no intentions to clear his own name. He’s waited all year to catch Peter and now he’s just going to kill him? Why does he have so little regard for himself on this matter? Scabbers is a serious flight risk! Why didn't the adults or even Hermione come up with a way to neutralize Pettigrew? Main Discussion #1: Lupin’s Tragic Backstory and The Shrieking Shack Origin The Wizarding World has done little in the way of "normalizing" werewolves and their condition. Should there be a school for werewolves and other wizarding world beings/creatures? Or does that defeat the purpose of an integrated magical society? Main Discussion #2: The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated in Hogsmeade Village What EXACTLY went down with the Shrieking Shack, historically? Who else was in on the hoax? The Dumbledore lie count is FINALLY going up! Amato Animo Animato Animagus! We take listeners step-by-step through the process of becoming an Animagus What Animagus would each of the hosts transform into? Why did Lupin feel more normal during his transformations with Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail around? Odds & Ends cover the Marauder's Map legitimacy, Harry's mental state, Snape the Sneak and more! Quizzitch: Who casts "Expelliarmus" against Snape inside the Shrieking Shack? This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast) and HelloFresh (visit HelloFresh.com/50muggle and use code 50muggle for 50% off plus free shipping)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MuggleCast was born on Sunday, August 7, 2005, and this week we're releasing a special episode of Bonus MuggleCast from our Patreon to celebrate our 18th birthday! Your Harry Potter friends look back at what was going on in the Muggle world in 2005, reflect on 18 years of podcasting, and attempt to say who our favorite host on the show is. We also share our favorite episodes and look at how the podcast has helped us in our daily lives. Later, we play voicemails from our listeners, who shared really touching thoughts on the show's impact on their lives. Here's to the next 18 years! Thank you everyone for sticking with us - the reason we continue to do this show is YOU! For two exclusive Bonus MuggleCast episodes every month, join our Patreon! You'll receive a slew of other sweet benefits too. Free trials and annual pledges are available as well. This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month), Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), and Factor (visit FactorMeals.com/MuggleCast50 and use code mugglecast50 to get 50% off your first box.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to re-open the MuggleMail bag as we prepare to read the closing chapters of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they answer questions relating to class schedules, GCSE's, sports equality, prejudice toward 'soft' subjects and more! Happy birthday, Neville and Harry! While we may not be covering those characters today, Episode 523 and Episode 481 both have excellent discussion of Neville and Harry and the prophecy. Speaking of birthdays, MuggleCast is about to turn 18! We will be releasing a special birthday episode on August 7th in conjunction with our Patreon where we release Bonus MuggleCasts twice monthly to patrons. The MuggleCast Live at LeakyCon schedule is now available on our web site! In addition to our Live MuggleCast show, all panels and events with us participating will be listed there in one place for attendees to reference. We hope to see you there! Main Discussion: MuggleMail returns! How does dropping a Hogwarts class work? Wouldn't more students beside Hermione have class times that conflict? Was Scabbers / Pettigrew present during the table of 13, and does that doom Dumbledore? A listener draws the comparison between Quidditch broom model discrepancies between teams and professional Boblsleigh racing and Formula One. We love it. Is Divination maligned on purpose in the books, and does the issue largely resolve when Firenze is brought in? Harry's Helping Horcrux is debated by a listener who thinks it would hinder Harry's Patronus-making skills. Did Snape know about the DADA job being cursed? Was Professor Lupin searching Filch's office for the Marauder's Map? Quizzitch: Who did Snape see Lupin traveling with on the grounds of Hogwarts, toward the Whomping Willow, in the 1970s? Micah, Eric and Chloe will be at LeakyCon 2023 in Chicago from August 4-6! Listeners interested in registering for the con can visit LeakyCon.com and enter code Muggle during checkout for a $10 discount. Our live panel will be on Saturday, August 5 at 1:15 p.m. Check the full list of our panels on our web site! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The threads are slowly starting to connect themselves as we head toward the final few chapters of Prisoner of Azkaban! Join Andrew, Micah, Laura and Meg as they battle the Whomping Willow and brave the Shrieking Shack, only to be confronted by an unregistered Animagus and a fraudulent werewolf professor. All on this week's episode! Welcome back, Meg! Our birthday is just a couple weeks away! To celebrate, we’ll be recording a special episode that looks back on 18 years of podcasting! AND WE WANT YOU INVOLVED! Submit a voice message to [email protected] by Friday, July 28 and we just might include it on our birthday episode! Last chance! There’s less than a week left to become a Patron and order the Exclusive MuggleCast Beanie! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 17: Cat, Rat and Dog 7-Word Summary: Sirius attacks Ron viciously when Scabbers appears Do we think the attack was premeditated? Was Crookshanks actively shadowing Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting for Scabbers to reappear? Animagus Sirius is really strong! Despite his weak, ragged human condition, how does he drag a (nearly) fully grown person, pulling so hard he breaks Ron’s leg? Why doesn't Sirius come clean immediately with Harry, Ron and Hermione? What must Hermione be thinking when Crookshanks protectively leaps on Sirius's chest? And just how have Sirius and Crookshanks been communicating? Harry is too young to know the Unforgivable Curses. How is he planning to kill Sirius? Could the Horcrux be influencing his emotional state? Why would Sirius not have told Lupin the truth about the Secret Keeper Switch? Hermione and Ron SOUND OFF on Lupin! We examine their biases in depth! Strong threads are connected between lycanthropy and the HIV/AIDS epidemic Hagrid, Trelawney, Lupin: how do we feel about Dumbledore’s hires? When time turning, would Harry and Hermione appear twice on the Marauder's Map? Quizzitch: According to the Animagus registrar Hermione looks at, how many registered Animagi have there been this century? Micah, Eric and Chloe will be at LeakyCon 2023 in Chicago from August 4-6! Listeners interested in registering for the con can visit LeakyCon.com and enter code Muggle during checkout for a $10 discount. Our live panel will be on Saturday, August 5 at 1:15 p.m. This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's exam time again! On this week's episode we are joined by Professor Julian Wamble, PhD. (@ProfW on TikTok), who teaches a college course on Harry Potter and who shares his awesome thoughts on TikTok! The hosts dive in to chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, "Professor Trelawney's Prediction." We examine Trelawney's brand of divination and question whether she has ever been right to her knowledge. Is Dumbledore to blame for what kind of teacher she has become? And what is the source of Harry feeling out of it after leaving Hagrid's hut? All of that and more on episode 619! Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We're so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let's face it, it'll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts' Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here! There will be a live MuggleCast meet up in downtown Chicago next month! Please RSVP to let us know if you can make it! The event is during LeakyCon but open to the public regardless of your ticket status. Welcome to the show Professor Julian Wample, PhD.! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney's Prediction 7-Word Summary: Exams consume clairvoyance and shocking revelations, executions Hermione's exam schedule is the biggest example yet of her secretive methods, why do Ron and Harry not say something? Buckbeak's appeal looms, but the executioner is coming. Should Ron have spoken his mind to Fudge? Some hosts believe that Hagrid gives Dumbledore WAY too much credit. Should Dumbledore have put a stop to the whole Buckbeak incident? What did Parvati Patil do to impress Trelawney so much? Why does Ron fail but Harry skate by on his? Andrew catches something amazing about the circumstances surrounding both Trelawney predictions. Harry feels "unreal." Would this have something to do with there being *two* of him, we wonder? Odds and Ends features a particular pair of footsteps... Quizzitch: What spell does Sirius Black use on Harry and Hermione? Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney's Prediction This week's MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), ZocDoc (visit ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast, download the app, and schedule your next health appointment today!) and Factor (visit FactorMeals.com/MuggleCast50 and use code mugglecast50 to get 50% off your first box.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our crystal ball told us that we can expect a lot of emotions this week as Chapter by Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 15, "The Quidditch Final"! Plus, there's a new Gryffindor-themed playlist to listen to, new social media apps where you can find MuggleCast, and more technical fouls than you can shake a stick at! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah for this guaranteed good time episode. Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We're so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let's face it, it'll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts' Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here! TikTok star Chanel Williams has graced us with her talents by the record machine. Her new collab with MuggleCast is the Gryffindor Glory playlist! Sure to meet all of your Gryffindor representation needs. There will be a live MuggleCast meet up in downtown Chicago next month! Please RSVP to let us know if you can make it! The event is during LeakyCon but open to the public regardless of your ticket status. Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15: The Quidditch Final 7-Word Summary: Fatigue sets in for Hermione intensely whoa From sleeping in the Common Room, slapping Malfoy and quitting Divination, just what is going on with Hermione?! The hosts examine the consequences of Hermione's overpacked class schedule. Is Professor Trelawney a bully? A listener e-mail responds to common criticisms of Divination and defends the real-world practices, and we discuss our favorite types to use in real life. We contrast the Quidditch play style of Cho Chang versus this game's Slytherin players. The age-old house rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin heats up once again. Entire groups must walk with Harry to keep their Seeker safe. Is this overkiil? Lee Jordan is at his peak best, while the whole school apart from Slytherins is cheering for the red team. We contrast the Quidditch play style of Cho Chang versus this game's Slytherin players. Odds and Ends include Harry's dreams, Crookshank's friend and Draco's name origin. Quizzitch: What is the first line of Professor Trelawney's PETTIGREW prophecy? Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney's Prediction This week's MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're hosting a Wizarding Wold BBQ! See who is invited and what they would bring to the party! Then, your Harry Potter friends attempt to be better friends to each other than Harry is to Hagrid, Lupin and Hermione as we discuss the latest chapter in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We're so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let's face it, it'll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts' Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14: Snape's Grudge 4-Word Summary: Mud finds its recipient Security is ramping up at Hogwarts! Why weren’t these measures taken after the Fat Lady was attacked? And, as we’ve asked many times before in this book, WHERE is the Ministry? Neville takes the fall for Hogwarts being a security nightmare! Is his punishment fair or just downright humiliating? DAD-GRID: Hagrid gives his best lesson of the year, but it’s not in Care of Magical Creatures, it’s in FRIENDSHIP! Does he get through to both Harry and Ron? Do we agree with Hermione's threat to turn in the Marauder's Map? Snape has DADDY -- and bullying -- issues! Is it a crime for Harry and Neville to be walking around the castle while the other students are in Hogsmeade? Why doesn’t Harry wait in the passageway until the area is free of Snape? Does Snape use Legilimency on Harry or does he just sense a student being up to no good? Connecting The Threads: Snape’s Worst Memory (Order of the Phoenix) is an extension of Snape’s Grudge (Prisoner of Azkaban) We reveal never-before-heard audio from the 30-year-old conversation between Snape and Harry! Should a teacher really talk to a student the way Snape talks to Harry? How much does Snape truly know about the Marauders Map and its manufacturers? Much like in the beginning of the chapter, Harry feels as if he’s let someone else he cares about down! In this case, it's Lupin! Odds & Ends cover Sirius Black's knife, Ron's popularity, Snape's ego, the Shrieking Shack and more! Quizzitch: Which class with the Gryffindors does Hermione forget to attend? Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15: The Quidditch Final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The friendship between Ron and Hermione receives its greatest test to date, while the friendship of your MuggleCast hosts remains solid as ever. We tackle Chapter 13 of Prisoner of Azkaban, "Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw" and ask Micah all of the sports questions as it pertains to Harry's new broom and Cho Chang's sports tactics. There is also an appearance from Sirius Black, and four Slytherin students are busted but ultimately given a light slap on the wrist for their attempted sabotage. All of that and more on this week's MuggleCast! The MuggleCast Patreon is now offering free trials for 7 days as a way of promoting our amazing bonus content, as well as the upcoming physical gift. Join our Patreon today! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 13: Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw Seven Word Summary: Cho distracts Harry with her amazing looooooooooooks Is Ron being overdramatic about Scabbers' disappearance? Do we side with Ron or Hermione now that the worst has presumably happened? Expert thread-connector Laura details moments when the trio argues with each other in the future. Did we ever argue with our friends when we were 13 and are we still mad about it today? On the Quidditch field, Cho has a strategy that gets Harry's attention. We examine whether it's fair to play in this way and whether Hogwarts should give everybody the same broom. Harry succeeds in casting his first full Patronus, but is it really an accomplishment given the circumstances? Does McGonagall go easy on Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint? The hosts examine Harry's latest dream and connect it to future books. Did nobody show Sir Cadogan a picture of Sirius Black? How secure is Hogwarts anyway? Quizzitch: What does Flitwick do to the front doors of Hogwarts? Next Week: Chapter 14 of Prisoner of Azkaban, "Snape's Grudge" This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed. Visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now. In Bonus MuggleCast, Laura takes us through stories that seem to be full-on Harry Potter rip-offs, worldwide. Join our Patreon at Patreon.com/MuggleCast today to listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expecto Patronum! On this week's episode of MuggleCast, Andrew, Micah, Laura and Chloé join Harry as he faces down his biggest fears under the tutelage of his greatest teacher! Plus, just what's up with Oliver Wood? Was he really going to bench The Chosen One? Happy 20th anniversary to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! On this week's bonus MuggleCast on Patreon, we celebrate 20 years of the fifth book! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 12: The Patronus Seven Word Summary: Lupin teaches Harry how to fight Dementors How does the faculty feel about Lupin searching their personal spaces for a boggart? Why is it that a boggart Dementor has the same effect on Harry as a real Dementor? Harry struggles to find a powerful enough memory to conjure a Patronus. If we were in Harry’s position, what would we choose? Harry's internal struggle: for as much as he wants to fight the Dementor, he also wants to hear his parents How much is the Horcrux influencing Harry at certain moments throughout this chapter? Lupin is the first adult figure to really believe in Harry! We examine Lupin's reactions to the mentions of both James and Sirius What if the dementor’s kiss was your FIRST (and only) kiss? ::vomit:: Lupin challenges Harry on Sirius receiving the Dementor's Kiss. Is this as a friend, a compassionate human being or a bit of both? Anywayyyyyyy, back to the Firebolt Fiasco! Wouldn’t a teacher have found out eventually that Harry had a super cool new broom, and wonder where it came from? Which begs the question... shouldn't there be standardized equipment for school-based Quidditch? Did Oliver Wood plan to bench Harry? Is there nothing he wouldn't do to win? Odds & Ends cover Lupin's condition, Neville's password problem, Hermione's favorite subject, and more! Quizzitch: What does Percy win from his girlfriend Penelope when Gryffindor beats Ravenclaw? Next Week: Chapter 13 of Prisoner of Azkaban, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw This week's episode is brought to you by Factor (visit FactorMeals.com/MuggleCast50 and use code mugglecast50 to get 50% off your first box)and BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month). Our Patreon is now offering 7-day free trials: Get full access to Bonus MuggleCasts and behind-the-scenes extras for a limited time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, it's Christmas break at Hogwarts and the castle is full of emotions... and mostly the not-so-good kind. Since Hogwarts doesn’t have a guidance counselor, we’ll be the trio’s guiding light today! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, Laura and Jason as they enjoy a special meal inside The Great Hall with all the stress and awkwardness of a normal holiday family get-together! Welcome Slug Club member, Jason! Our Patreon is now offering 7-day free trials! Get full access to Bonus MuggleCasts and behind-the-scenes extras for a limited time! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 11: The Firebolt Seven Word Summary: Somebody sends a Firebolt mysteriously to Harry “A hatred such as he had never known before was coursing through Harry like poison." Harry quickly grows obsessive over hating Sirius Black. How much could his Horcrux be fueling these emotions? Why didn't anyone ever tell Harry that the reason James and Lily Potter died was because their best friend Sirius had betrayed them? We discuss how in both Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix, Harry not being given information negatively impacts his mental health and leads to reckless decision-making! We analyze Harry's treatment of Ron and Hermione in this chapter Comparing Gryffindors: Peter Pettigrew and Neville Longbottom Comforting Hagrid: Lucius Malfoy’s influence rear its ugly head again! Did they not learn from the previous year when he threatened the Board of Governors? Hagrid goes into grim detail about his time in Azkaban. Should Azkaban just be for maximum security prisoners? Fan Fic Alert: “The Other Prisoner of Azkaban” by Jack Ichijouji The Firebolt: Does Hogwarts not have a security measure in place for packages delivered to the school? Why, just now, are they “evaluating” the broom? When 13 dine, the first to rise is the first to die: did Trelawney get it right after all? What crawled up McGonagall's @$$? Hermione's Most Gryffindor Moment Odds & Ends cover Manticores, Lupin's condition, Pettigrew's finger and more! Quizzitch: In which location does Harry’s first Patronus lesson take place? Next Week: Chapter 12 of Prisoner of Azkaban, The Patronus This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and ZocDoc (visit ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast, download the app, and schedule your next health appointment today)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From pranksters to marauders, this week’s chapter by chapter episode of MuggleCast is PACKED with all of our favorite characters and overflowing with plot. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah for a trip to Hogsmeade where we learn all about Sirius Black and his secret connection to Harry. Also, Professor Lupin reminds us why he’s our favorite teacher. Our Patreon is now offering 7 day free trials! Get full access to Bonus MuggleCasts and behind the scenes extras for a limited time! This week, we read through Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 10, “The Marauder’s Map”! Seven Word Summary: Secrets are divulged via Professors drinking Butterbeer The hosts reflect on Harry’s attachment to his broken Nimbus 2000 and their own attachment to inanimate objects from their youth. Harry’s isolation is hard to watch as with Book Five, but why doesn’t he reach out to Hermione and Ron? And, is Dumbledore to blame for all of it? When Lupin reaches for Harry, should we have intuited more about his relationship to the boy? What about when he drops his briefcase? Just how hard is it to learn the Patronus Charm and why isn’t it more widely taught? Is the Marauder’s Map a dangerous magical item? Are Fred and George reckless for giving it to Harry? How did Fred and George learn to use the map? Did the map itself help? What impressive magic is involved in the function of the map? Secrets are revealed and we wonder how the teachers could have kept this from Harry. Quizzitch: What date is set for the Ministry hearing of Hagrid and Buckbeak? This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're taking a break from your regularly scheduled programming! BUT, Micah recently got a chance to preview Harry Potter: The Exhibition in New York City! Enjoy this MuggleMiniCast, which includes an interview with Tom Zaller, the President & CEO of Imagine Exhibitions. Harry Potter: The Exhibition is now open in NYC’s Herald Square! Micah speaks with Tom Zaller, the President & CEO of Imagine Exhibitions Eric and Micah discuss how this exhibition differs from previous ones, what to expect as you make your way through, favorite moments, exclusive merchandise and more! Next week: Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 10: The Marauder's Map And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! Most recently we discussed if HBO Max should gear the new Harry Potter TV show towards adults and the next Wizarding World park coming to Universal Orlando! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, join us as we elude mass murderers with a sleepover in The Great Hall, attend a brutal Defense Against The Dark Arts class and play Quidditch in the worst possible conditions! What could possibly go wrong? Harry Potter: The Exhibition is now open in NYC’s Herald Square! Micah got a chance to preview the experience, so keep an eye out for a Muggle MiniCast set to be released Memorial Day Weekend, which includes an interview with Tom Zaller, the President & CEO of Imagine Exhibitions. Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 9: Grim Defeat 7-Word Summary: Suspicions rock the Hogwarts student body tonight With Sirius Black running around Hogwarts, shouldn’t at least one professor have stayed WITH the students in The Great Hall? How did Sirius Black break into Hogwarts? Could Crookshanks have been involved? Has Sirius formed a connection with him at this point? Why isn’t the Ministry alerted? This is now TWICE that Sirius has gotten past the Dementors! What was the conversation like between Sirius Black and the Fat Lady? We analyze Snape's conduct in teaching Defense Against The Dark Arts, his great joy in criticizing the students’ lack of knowledge on the subject, and his attempt to sow seeds of doubt amongst about Lupin’s effectiveness as a teacher! Snape is trying to OUT Lupin! Is Snape more vicious in Prisoner of Azkaban than he is at any other point in the series? Do we think Sirius knows Lupin is at Hogwarts? Did he use Lupin’s "time of the month" to his advantage as well? Could Lupin be “sick” because of the guilt of knowing that Sirius broke into the castle? Quidditch Controversy: What's up with the Slytherin favoritism? Did the dementors come onto the Quidditch pitch because of Sirius? Odds & Ends cover Cedric Diggory, Harry's worst memory, Hermione's bloodshot eyes and more! Quizzitch: In what school year of theirs did the Weasley Twins obtain the Marauder's map? Next Week: Reminder, we’re off BUT you will get a very cool MuggleMiniCast all about the new Harry Potter: The Exhibition! This week’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month)! And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we’ll have a new look at the next Wizarding World park coming to Universal Orlando! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Hogsmeade weekend approaches! Will Harry get his permission slip signed by a stand-in guardian in time? This week we are joined by Slug Club guest Ashley as we discuss Chapter 8 of Prisoner of Azkaban, Flight of the Fat Lady! We discuss Snape's continued bad attitude, Lupin's secret, and whether Harry could've gotten more out of him during their unplanned tea time. Enjoy! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8: Flight of the Fat Lady Welcome Slug Club guest Ashley! Host the show just like Ashley by joining us at Patreon.com/MuggleCast 7-Word Summary, Justice for Micah Edition: Teachers forbid Harry from going to Hogsmeade Snape picks on Neville worse than ever because he's Snape. But does Trelawney pick on Harry due to her prophecy? Did we ever have a teacher we were close with in the way that Parvati and Lavender are with Trelawney? Is Oliver Wood justified in feeling desperate about this year's Quidditch Cup? Is McGonagall mean for not signing Harry's permission slip? She knows about the Dursleys after all. Hosts connect some great threads between Book 3 and Book 5. Harry's Hogsmeade FOMO hits us in the feels. What makes Remus Lupin able and willing to say Voldemort's name? What If: Harry told Lupin about seeing the black dog off Privet Drive? Is Hermione wrong to point out the evidence against Trelawney's prediction about Binky? Could her doing so point to neurodivergent behavior? Rename the Chapter returns! And hosts assign MVP of the Week. Quzzitch: What does Hannah Abbott tell the students that Sirius Black can transform into? Next week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 9: Grim Defeat This week's show is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and HelloFresh (use code "muggle16" for 16 free meals at HelloFresh.com/Muggle16), and by ZocDoc. Visit Zocdoc dot com slash mugglecast, download the app, and schedule your next health appointment today. And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss how the Harry Potter TV show could appeal more to adults! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waddiwasi! On this week’s episode, grab your wand and get ready for the best magical classroom session to date …following the WORST magical classroom session to date! We compare and contrast Snape and Lupin's teaching styles and the impact it has on the students of Hogwarts! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7: The Boggart in The Wardrobe 7-Word Summary: Neville fears rebuke when Snape “poisons” Trevor We compare and contrast Harry's worst class to date (Potions) with his best class to date (Defense Against The Dark Arts) What do we make of Snape's treatment of any student that is not in Slytherin? We analyze the effects of bullying vs. collaboration in a classroom setting What types of emotions does Snape elicit from Harry? Neville? Hermione? Snape The Enabler creates an unsafe learning environment for his students Micah plays devil's advocate and rationalizes Snape's actions toward both Neville (paying attention to detail) and Hermione (listening to the teacher) What is the world is up with the Shrinking Solution? Do Lupin and Peeves the Poltergeist share a history? We contrast Snape's treatment of Neville with Lupin's desire to instill confidence in him (very reminiscent of how Harry works with Neville in Order of the Phoenix) Does Lupin's past with Snape inform his instruction to Neville about his Boggart? Should Lupin have explained to Harry why he didn't let him have a turn at the Boggart? Connecting The Threads includes taking a look at the non-practical nature of Harry's first class in Order of the Phoenix and a very important Boggart scene with Mrs. Weasley Odds & Ends cover the origin of Boggarts, Draco's knowledge of Sirius Black, Hermione's secret, rat references and more! Quzzitch: What is the name of the Fat Lady's close friend? Next week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8: Flight of The Fat Lady This week's show is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and HelloFresh (use code "muggle16" for 16 free meals at HelloFresh.com/Muggle16). And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss how the Harry Potter TV show could appeal more to adults! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the hosts dive deep into the MuggleMail bag to bring listeners' latest thoughts on recent Chapter-By-Chapter segments, as well as the new Harry Potter television series announcement! Voicemails include a 10 year old asking if Harry abuses Hedwig by making her travel so far, and someone has a theory about a Dementor that we all adopt on the spot as canon. Check out this laid back correspondence episode and be blown away by the opinions of our listeners. Main Discussion: It's a MuggleMail bag episode! Voicemails ask if the WWOHP theme park will adjust itself to accommodate the new TV series, a potential Cursed Child adaptation featuring the original trio, and an HP cartoon. More ideas for the HP TV series abound, with one listener asking how far the creators will stray from the look and feel of Hogwarts and surrounding areas. Will members of the HP movies be brought into new roles as a nod to their original performances? Who do we think would be most likely? One listener fan-casts the HP TV series for an actor from the Sandman series. Could the TV show flesh out the moments when Hermione and Ron learned that they would be attending Hogwarts? An eagle-eyed listener points out the use of the term 'Azkaban guards' disappears once we are introduced to Dementors. We hear a tragic story of school bullying where the school covered it up, and comparisons are made to Hogwarts The hosts reveal that double decker buses are not as prominent in the US as in the UK, in response to an email. And, the Sneakoscope was always right when Peter was around. Our latest "Legacy" E-mail from 2006 asks us if we think Draco and Harry will work together to defeat Voldemort. We offer our theories 17 years too late. Quizzitch: What animal causes the death of Lavender Brown's rabbit? Next Week: We return to Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter By Chapter with Chapter 7, "The Boggart in the Wardrobe"!! This week’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month), and also Indeed. Visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now. And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! Most recently, we discussed more breaking news... a brand-new Quidditch video game! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, get ready to broaden your minds and see past the mundane as we take our first Divination class! And remember to bow and blink while listening to this episode or your may be attacked by a hippogriff! News covers a new Quidditch video game is coming soon… for consoles! We’ll discuss it in this week's Bonus MuggleCast, which is available exclusively on our Patreon! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6: Talons and Tea Leaves 7-Word Summary: McGonagall shades Trelawney during Transfiguration class, ooooooo! We meet Professor Trelawney, who we later learn made the prophecy about Voldemort and Harry/Neville. From Neville's grandmother to Parvati's stalker to an Easter departure, we keep track of Trelawney’s predictions and see if they come true! Have any of the hosts ever seen a fortune teller or tarot card reader? What did we make of the experience? Do we think Hermione is too quick to judge Trelawney? Does McGonagall influence her opinion? Professor Hagrid... Micah argues Dumbledore set him up for failure from the start! Name Origins: The Grim & Hippogriff Does Harry offer to approach Buckbeak to test the validity of his death omen? Odds & Ends cover paying attention in Transfiguration class (cough, animagi), Hermione's busy class schedule, Sir Cadogan and more! Quizzitch: What form does Parvati Patil's Boggart take? Next Week: It's a MuggleMail bag covering Prisoner of Azkaban and the new Harry Potter TV show announcement This week’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month). And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss more breaking news... a brand-new Quidditch video game! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CHOO CHOO! On this week's episode, we’re on the Hogwarts Express for what is sure to be another lovely… enchanting… peaceful… safe….. ride to Hogwarts. As they say, the third time’s the charm, and this year everything’s gonna be A-OK! News covers the recently confirmed Harry Potter television series! Be sure to check out Episode 606, where we dive deep into the initial news leak and this week's Bonus MuggleCast, where we discuss all the new details! And... check out MuggleCast Episode 483, where we fan-casted a Harry Potter television show, and Episode 566, where the hosts developed ideas for an all-new Harry Potter television series! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5: The Dementor 7-Word Summary: Fear about the murderer abounds on trains We contrast Harry's trips to King's Cross in Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix How much information do we think Arthur would have offered to Harry about Sirius Black if Harry didn't tell him he was already "in the know"? Welcome, Remus Lupin! Check out the full Pottermore article on him and his family! How did Dumbledore convince Lupin to take the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts? Laura offers some interesting insight on the Wolfsbane Potion, lyncathropy and the AIDS epidemic of the 1990s Why is Snape so angry with Lupin being named to the Defense Against The Dark Arts post? We analyze the effect the Dementor had on Harry, Ginny and Neville Could a Dementor have removed the Horcrux from Harry? What if it took Harry’s soul and left Voldemort’s? Could anything have been done to prevent the Dementors from boarding the train? Did Dumbledore intentionally place Lupin on the train for this very reason? With McGonagall tending to Harry and Hermione, just who the hell hosted the Sorting Ceremony? Odds & Ends cover Sneakoscopes, Hogsmeade, the Shrieking Shack, secret passages, thestrals, forgetting passwords and more! Quizzitch: Who guides the trio to their first Divination class? Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6: Talons and Tea Leaves This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast). And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss breaking news... a brand-new Harry Potter TV show is coming to HBO! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week saw news of a Harry Potter television series cascading across the interwebs as it seems like Warner Bros and HBO are in final talks to develop a straight adaptation of the original 7-book series, this time for TV! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they discuss the news, read a ton of listener feedback, and provide their must-haves for any live action Potter TV adaptation. According to Bloomberg, a new Harry Potter television series which follows the storyline of the 7 books is nearing final talks over at Warner Bros. Discovery. Given that the TV show would adapt the 7 books, whose final film adaptation was released in 2011, Micah asks "is it too soon?" What steps would the television show take to distance itself from the HP films? Would they ever adapt The Missing 24 hours? Could we ever see new actors actually taking the place in our hearts of the actors who originated the role? What role will the book series' author have in the development of the show? Laura senses a real opportunity for bringing fresh voices and more diversity into the Potter universe. Check out MuggleCast Episode 483 in which we fan-cast an HP television show, and also Episode 566 where the hosts develop ideas for all new HP television series. Eric gives his must-haves for the would-be TV adaptation. Number one: the color yellow? Twitter feedback on this news includes: would we ever see an animated version?; problematic politics and the struggle to find joy with the series in 2023; is a Peeves backstory on the table?; what can the show learn from HBO's House of the Dragon? Facebook feedback includes: the stories we'd rather see told in the Wizarding World; embracing new cast members so soon after the films; and a cry for justice for Ron Weasley IG feedback includes places we still want to see, and differing perspectives of characters. This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month)! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we kick back, relax and enjoy some ice cream every half hour from our pal Florean Fortescue! Join us for some delicious sundaes as we bum around Diagon Alley, meet up with our best friends and get some surprising news about a recently escaped convict! In celebration of April Fool's Day, check out Episode #508: How To Tell Fred and George Weasley Apart, and More Twin Talk News covers Daniel Radcliffe expecting his first child and his Moderating A Trans and Nonbinary Youth Roundtable for The Trevor Project, which you can watch in full right here! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 4: The Leaky Cauldron 7-Word Summary: Discoveries are everywhere around this Leaky Cauldron Harry is free to roam all of Diagon Alley by himself! How old were we when our parents started letting us venture out on our own? Do we think that this is foolish of Molly and Arthur, to just let Ron roam around Diagon Alley given he is Harry’s best friend? Ron gets a his own wand! We analyze what the core and wand wood mean for his character! Something is definitely up with Scabbers! We start putting the pieces of the puzzle together! Molly and Arthur get into a heated argument about Harry. Which parent do the hosts ultimately side with? Connecting the Threads to Order of the Phoenix: Molly's protection of Harry, the safety of the larger wizarding community and Harry's escort to King's Cross Odds & Ends cover the Grim, the Firebolt, Dementors, the No. 12, Percy and more! Quizzitch: What is Professor R.J. Lupin’s middle name? This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and Zocdoc (go to Zocdoc.com/MuggleCast and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor)! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Harry is saved by a (violently purple) knight in shining car wax as the Knight Bus whisks him away to London, where Uncle Cornelius pats him on the back and tells him everything is fine. Join Andrew, Laura, Eric and Micah as they dive into Chapter 3 of Prisoner of Azkaban, The Knight Bus! This week the hosts provide alternative identities to help them escape detection... Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 3: The Knight Bus 7-Word Summary: Help arrives for Harry after an encounter Harry's frustration and short-sightedness mirrors our own in times of stress. Do we relate to Harry following his incident with Aunt Marge? Andrew has a full tally of all the times Harry thinks he is about to be expelled. It's higher than our Dumbledore Lie Count :'( We ask again, just why was Sirius Black not given a full trial? Is Dumbledore, or the government, to blame? Laura reminisces about an old campaign asking readers if they spotted The Grim. We ask, What If? Sirius had introduced himself to Harry? Would Harry believe him then and there? Why can't the Knight Bus go underwater, if it can do all the other things that it does? Not one but TWO Name Origins segments help us appreciate the details on display. Why did Harry choose a pureblood wizard that Stan might have known as his alias? Why didn't Harry know about the Knight Bus sooner? Fudge being described like an 'uncle with a favorite nephew' raises our interest. Why can Fudge trust Harry to follow his orders? Quizzitch: In Chapter 4 of POA, a hag orders what from the Leaky Cauldron? Next week: We continue with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 4: The Leaky Cauldron And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! Last week, we discussed the recent Harry Potter Almanac news and reflect back on the history of all the times we were promised a Harry Potter Encyclopedia! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we get a visit from one of Harry's favorite relatives, Aunt Marge! They share wine, brandy and have so much fun that she even let's Harry perform magic on her at the end of the chapter! Oh wait... Welcome Slug Club member, Sherry! Sherry, who is blind, shares her story of finding the Harry Potter series! Be sure to check out her fan fiction: Sirius Black and Becoming a Father and her book: Haven! Andrew and Laura will be discussing the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. on their podcast, #Millennial. Follow the show for free in your favorite podcast app! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 2: Aunt Marge's Big Mistake 7-Word Summary: Aunt Marge enjoys abusing Harry every minute What do we make of Vernon's assessment of Sirius Black? What do muggle relations offices look like at the Ministry? Hogsmeade Permission Slip: Harry learns how to play on Vernon's prejudices Aunt Marge was based on J.K. Rowling's grandmother, who preferred her dogs to human relatives While Marge is generally nasty to Harry, the gloves really come off when she starts to drink; is this an indictment on abuse levels rising (both verbal and physical) when family members have a drinking problem? Did Harry have to sit with Marge on multiple occasions during her visit? Is it actually to protect Vernon? Why doesn’t Petunia stand up more for her sister? Is Colonel Fubster, Marge’s boo? Quizzitch: What name does Harry give to Stan Shunpike when he boards The Knight Bus? Next week: We continue with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 3: The Knight Bus This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month)! And don’t forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss the recent Harry Potter Almanac news and reflect back on the history of all the times we were promised a Harry Potter Encyclopedia! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we begin our third year at Hogwarts as we open up the pages of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! Harry celebrates his birthday, Ron can't figure out how to use the telephone, Hermione is enjoying France and Hagrid is still, well... Hagrid! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1: Owl Post The hosts reflect on when they read Prisoner of Azkaban for the first time! 7-Word Summary: Owls deliver presents to Harry’s bedroom window Is this the last time we get the big “previously on Harry Potter” info dump? Should Ron have known how to use a telephone given his father's job? What are some other examples of common muggle technology that would vex unknowing wizards? Vacation Time: the Weasleys head to Egypt, Hermione is off to France! Why did nobody ask Harry to tag along? What do we think Ginny’s summer has been like post-Chamber of Secrets? Harry receives gifts from Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid that all pertain to events that will occur later in this book! If the Sneakoscope works to detect untrustworthy people, is there a case to be made that it should have gone off constantly around Harrym, since he’s a Horcrux? Harry, why didn't you just forge your Hogsmeade permission slip? The hosts agree to disagree about Percy's Head Boy braggadocio! Quizzitch; How much does Dudley get paid to hug Aunt Marge? Next week: We continue with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 2: Aunt Marge's Big Mistake This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and Zocdoc (go to Zocdoc.com/MuggleCast and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor)! And don't forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, March Madness takes over as the hosts compare their brackets pitting wizarding world items against each other! What item will emerge supreme? Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we delve into our MuggleMailbag for the first time in 2023! Coming off our recent review episode of Hogwarts Legacy, listeners share their thoughts and discoveries about the game. And we properly wrap up our Chamber of Secrets Chapter By Chapter series by choosing ONE 7-Word Summary to redo, based on patron feedback. Join Andrew, Eric and Micah as they get caught up on their inbox this week! First, our vintage segment "What's Buggin' Micah?" makes its triumphant return to the show. MuggleMail starts with Hogwarts Legacy feedback. On PC, there's a mod to mute the Floo Lady. Eric learns the composer of his first ever PlayStation game also scored Hogwarts Legacy. Is there an Easy Mode in Hogwarts Legacy? And which common room would the hosts party in? Chamber of Secrets comes to a close with MuggleMail feedback. Did the Weasleys go to Egypt TWICE in one year? More name origins for Gilderoy Lockhart One listener's thoughts on criminal justice in the Wizarding world. There's more to Hermione's 2nd Year class signup sheet than we realize. Did Tom Riddle spend more time making the diary so it could be more than just a Horcrux? Was Dumbledore REALLY absent from COS? Did Hagrid ever find out who really opened the Chamber? We choose a 7 Word Summary to redo, vroom vroom. Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul features an OG listener who now listens with her 8-year-old son. Quizzitch: How long did Harry go without hearing from his friends until his thirteenth birthday? Submit your answer on the MuggleCast web site. Next week: We begin our Chapter By Chapter reread of Prisoner of Azkaban! This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp, Indeed, and MeUndies! Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast. Visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now! For 20% off your first MeUndies order and free US shipping, visit MeUndies.com/MuggleCast And don't forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments. Become a patron of ours today at Patreon dot com slash mugglecast. As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we immerse ourselves into the Wizarding World in a completely different way! Our 600th installment welcomes back an old favorite as we review the highly-anticipated Hogwarts Legacy video game! The game has blown us away in a lot of ways, but it's not without issues. Please note: We acknowledge the conflict many in the fandom feel about supporting this game and address this at the top of show. For past episodes discussing the author's position on trans issues please see Episode 469 and this episode from January 2020. Fans can join us in supporting and volunteering with organizations such as Trans Lifeline, Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project, Transgender Law Center, and the Marsha P Johnson Institute. Welcome back, original MuggleCast co-host, Kevin! Main Discussion: Our Hogwarts Legacy Review How far have each of us made it in the game? Are we playing as ourselves? Or did we create an original character? Does the game live up to all of the expectations? What are we most enjoying? What are some of the little things that make us smile? What don't we like? What's really grinding our gear slots? And how is Laura making all that coin? Does the plot work for us? Have there been any story moments that we didn’t see coming?! Would we recommend the game to people who don’t usually play video games but want to experience the Wizarding World? Next week: We’ll catch up on MuggleMail we’ve received over the last couple months, and we’ll wrap up our re-read of Chamber of Secrets! And don't forget! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast! On this week's edition we make good on our Valentine's Day promise with dirty Harry Potter pick-up lines and a spicy fan-fiction reading! (Please note: this specific bonus segment is not kid-appropriate). As always, we appreciate your support of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Harry and Ron rack up substantial points for Gryffindor, and Dobby is freed! It's the final Chapter-by-Chapter segment of our read-through of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with Andrew, Eric, Laura and our social media manager Chloé! Eric tries desperately to up Dumbledore's Lie Count, but Andrew isn't having it. Finally, Quizzitch looks ahead to the third book, which we will be starting in a few weeks' time! We revisit last week's topic of inter-Horcrux communication, with quotes from the later books. Main Discussion: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18: Dobby's Reward 7-Word Summary: Harry accepts Dumbledore’s comforting advice on Voldemort Dumbledore is back! But unlike last year, he did not save Harry beneath the school. How much does the headmaster really know about the events of the past year? Who are his sources regarding Voldemort's current location? Is what happened in the Chamber a perfect recruiting opportunity for DD of Molly and Arthur? Dumbledore pays Voldemort a compliment. The hosts cringe. Examining Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue Dumbledore pays Voldemort a compliment. The hosts cringe. Lucius finds himself out of his depth when confronting Albus directly. Connecting the Threads: In books 2 and 6, a Malfoy is Voldemort's prime connection to events at Hogwarts. Quizzitch: What witch performed a Flame Freezing Charm, allowing herself to be burned at the stake at least 47 separate times? Next week: It's Episode #600! We will be reviewing Hogwarts Legacy.. This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp, Indeed, and ZocDoc! Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast. Visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now! Go to ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast to download the Zocdoc app for FREE; then find and book a top-rated doctor today. Support the show! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon! Benefits include Bonus MuggleCast, early access to each episode of the show, ad-free episodes, access to our recording studio, an exclusive Discord and Facebook group, you’ll become a member of the MuggleCast Collectors Club, and at the Slug Club level you’ll receive a physical gift every year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Harry finally enters the Chamber of Secrets! But does he leave with more questions than he had coming in? And, knowing what the diary truly represents, the hosts dive deep into the world of Horcruxes! Join us as we discuss the penultimate chapter of Chamber of Secrets! Welcome, Voldemort enthusiast and friend of the show, Tylor Starr! Be sure to follow him on social media and check out his Unofficial Harry Potter Vegan Cookbook! Main Discussion: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin 7-Word Summary: Memories reveal answers about Tom’s legacy fulfillment Are Horcruxes self-aware? Do they have a hivemind? Does the diary-version of Tom Riddle know he’s a Horcrux? How does a Horcrux work when another form still exists? If Tom Riddle weren’t killed here, would there have been a current Voldemort and a Tom Riddle, or would they have merged together? What if… Ginny had found fulfillment and happiness instead of being teased by her brothers, feeling like she didn’t fit in, and harboring unrequited feelings for Harry? Would Riddle have been able to manipulate her otherwise? Should Harry have told Tom Riddle what he knew about Voldemort's downfall? Did it inform Voldemort's future actions? We explore Signs that Tom Riddle is Voldemort: did we suspect this when we first read the book? If he didn’t have the brains or the power, why was Hagrid a good person to frame? Connecting The Threads to Half-Blood Prince: Fawkes, teenage Tom Riddle, the charming manipulation of others and the similarities between Harry and Tom Connecting The Threads to Deathly Hallows: The Sword of Gryffindor and Basilisk Fangs Ever wondered what other anagrams come from Tom Marvolo Riddle? Check out this great list from Katie Rose! And we have few international versions that will make you laugh out loud! Quizzitch: What does Fred drop on George’s head after he learns Percy has a girlfriend? Next week: We wrap up our chapter-by-chapter discussion of Chamber of Secrets with Chapter 18. This week's episode is brought to you by MasterClass (get unlimited access to EVERY class, and as a MuggleCast listener, you get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast) and Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to starting hiring now)! Support the show! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon! Benefits include Bonus MuggleCast, early access to each episode of the show, ad-free episodes, access to our recording studio, an exclusive Discord and Facebook group, you’ll become a member of the MuggleCast Collectors Club, and at the Slug Club level you’ll receive a physical gift every year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What exactly did the Forbidden Forest do to the Flying Ford Anglia? What did the teachers do all day when Ginny Weasley was discovered missing? And, should Hogwarts lock its front door? These questions and more are asked as your MuggleCast hosts delve into Chapters 15 and 16 of Chamber of Secrets on this week's jam-packed Chapter-by-Chapter episode of MuggleCast! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura, Micah, and Slug Club guest Kimberly (who came prepared with some fun HP-themed Valentines greetings) as we near the final chapters of Book 2. Welcome to the show Slug Club guest Kimberly! Is it really Valentine's Day without some Harry-Potter-themed greetings? The hosts are delighted to hear something new. Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 15: Aragog 7-Word Summary: Andrew and Micah devise, "Spiders spiders spiders spiders vroom vroom vroom" Parallels abound between life at Hogwarts without Dumbledore in Book 2, and a similar time for students in Year 7. Should Hogwarts lock its front door at night to prevent students leaving so easily as Harry and Ron do? Harry and Ron are up to their eyes in spiders, and is Dumbledore responsible for their Anglia-driven rescue? Aragog's origins and his tale are explored in depth. In Odds and Ends for Chapter 15, Draco jokes prophetically, the Hufflepuffs come around, Fang gets some relief, and Percy is caught fooling around. Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets 7-Word Summary: Laura and Eric come up with, "Gilderoy is revealed to have no integrity." Is it fair that Hogwarts doesn't (yet) cancel exams for the 1992 school year? Hermione provides Ron and Harry the key to solving the whole puzzle, while unconscious. Her most impressive feat yet! Ginny tries to tell Ron and Harry something, but is interrupted... ...and Lockhart reveals himself to be every bit as incompetent as everybody feared. For once, Ron and Harry brought a teacher into their circle, but it came at a cost. What are the teachers all doing the entire day while Ginny is gone? Would the person who put Hogwarts' plumbing in have discovered the Chamber of Secrets, and (literally) covered it up? Wouldn't it have been better if the tap on the sink had actually functioned? Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17, The Heir of Slytherin! Quizzitch: Who really opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago? Support the show! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon! Benefits include Bonus MuggleCast, early access to each episode of the show, ad-free episodes, access to our recording studio, an exclusive Discord and Facebook group, you’ll become a member of the MuggleCast Collectors Club, and at the Slug Club level you’ll receive a physical gift every year! This week's episode is brought to you by HelloFresh. Use code muggle65 for 65% off plus free shipping at HelloFresh.com/Muggle65. Also, by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another episode, another attack at Hogwarts! Join us as we enter the pages of a secret diary, get treated to a special Valentine's Day by Professor Lockhart and witness an epic showdown in Hagrid's Hut between Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge! All as the threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince continue to grow stronger! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13: The Very Secret Diary 7-Word Summary: Memories are misleading within Riddle’s secret diary Don't touch that book! Ron provides some important wizarding world advice to his best friend. Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to connect the dots between The Chamber of Secrets opening 50 years ago and Tom Riddle being at Hogwarts 50 years ago... they just draw the wrong conclusion! Harry notes it was "almost as though Riddle was a friend he’d had when he was very small, and had half-forgotten.” Is this our first introduction to the Horcrux connection? Could Tom Riddle have killed Harry by trapping him inside the diary? Connecting The Threads: memory alteration and manipulation are integral plot points in Half-Blood Prince! Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14: Cornelis Fudge 7-Word Summary: Hagrid receives terrible news about leaving Hogwarts Harry, Ron and Hermione are surprised to learn it was Hagrid who opened the Chamber of Secrets, but they’re not really surprised, are they? As Hermione begins to piece things together, why doesn't she seek out a professor? Hermione is petrified and Tom Riddle's Diary is stolen! But whose the culprit? Checkout “A Very Secret Diary” by Arabella, which details Ginny Weasley’s interactions with the diary for her entire first year! Note: this is intended for a mature audience. Would the Invisibility Cloak prevented Harry & Ron from being killed by the basilisk? So many questions surround Hagrid's arrest, first and foremost... WHERE'S THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE? Do any alternatives exist for Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge? Much like Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore leaves the school (in absolute chaos), with Harry shouldering the burden of solving the mystery! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 15 & 16! Quizzitch: Who escorts the Gryffindors to their Herbology lesson? Support the show! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon! Benefits include Bonus MuggleCast, early access to each episode of the show, ad-free episodes, access to our recording studio, an exclusive Discord and Facebook group, you’ll become a member of the MuggleCast Collectors Club, and at the Slug Club level you’ll receive a physical gift every year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Snape demonstrates the famous Disarm Charm to a clearly impressionable Harry. Harry, meanwhile, throws a well-placed firework into Goyle's cauldron. And it's pandemonium when Harry is revealed to be a Parselmouth, leading the entire school to suspect him of being Slytherin's heir (except Dumbledore, who weirdly lets Harry leave without interrogation.) Tons to talk about as the hosts cover chapters 11 and 12 of Chamber of Secrets during Chapter-by-Chapter! News: Eddie Redmayne says he's not aware of a 4th Fantastic Beasts movie. Is this the end? Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11: The Dueling Club 7-Word Summary: Students get ready for their dueling club We rank the trio's plans to break into Snape's personal potions storage and their successful execution! Would Harry have been less suspected by Snape if he sabotaged a fellow Gryffindor? After being discovered as a Parselmouth, the whole school suspects Harry is opening Slytherin's chamber. We examine ALL the evidence against Harry and see if we are convinced. When people are petrified, are they conscious or unconscious until they get cured? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12: The Polyjuice Potion 7-Word Summary: Draco confirms that he isn’t Slytherin’s baddie Dumbledore lets Harry leave his office without any explanation or follow-up questions. Why? Could Dumbledore have probed Harry's mind deeper than we realize and gotten all the answers? If so, what did he do with that information? Despite Hermione's amazing planning, Ron and Harry stumble through their Polyjuice adventure. They don't even know where the other common room is! Does Harry ever visit Hedwig? We rank Harry's Christmas presents!! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 13 & 14! Quizzitch: What Spell does Hermione use on T.M. Riddle's diary? This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chamber of Secrets is officially opened! But as Dumbledore says, the question is not who, but how? Join us as we learn more about the Chamber's legend, check books out from the Restricted Section, evade Rogue bludgers and handle (un)helpful House-Elves. Plus, we continue to connect some major threads to events of Half-Blood Prince! Welcome Slug Club member, Alyssa! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9: The Writing on The Wall 7-Word Summary: Filch scares Harry because he’s acting accusatory Was the attack on Mrs. Norris a trial run? Was Filch the intended target? Or is Mrs. Norris too meddlesome for her own good? What do we make of Ron's reaction to Filch being a Squib? How is it possible that no other students were aware? Why is Snape seemingly trying to implicate Harry? At this early stage, might Snape suspect Harry’s susceptibility to having his mind infiltrated by Voldemort? Do we think students actually checked out all copies of Hogwarts: A History, or was it a strategic choice by Madam Pince to remove them from the library? Harry struggles internally with almost having been sorted into Slytherin. Could he in fact be the heir? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10: The Rogue Bludger 7-Word Summary: Broken bones consume Lockhart’s reputation at Quidditch Lockhart continues to draw suspicion with his questionable actions Do Muggle schools have restricted sections? Rule-breaking Hermione: let's brew some Polyjuice Potion! Why didn’t Madam Hooch notice the tampered bludger? And... where are the adults? The decision to continue play is not Harry's to make! Why is there no medical personnel present at Quidditch matches? Did Lockhart ever get in trouble for removing Harry's bones? Welcome back, Dobby! But... why are you trying to kill Harry? Colin Creevey becomes the first human casualty of the basilisk! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 11 & 12! Quizzitch: During the Dueling Club, who does Snape pair Hermione with? This episode is brought to you by MeUndies (get 20% off your first order and free US shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast) and ZocDoc (go to ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast to download the Zocdoc app for FREE; then find and book a top-rated doctor today). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets, we examine the some of the book's and series' biggest themes! Join us as we hit the Quidditch pitch, visit Hagrid's hut, spend detention with Lockhart and celebrate Halloween with Nearly-Headless Nick on our latest episode of MuggleCast! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 7: Murmurs & Mudbloods 7-Word Summary: Nepotism reigns supreme when Draco receives brooms We begin to see the influence of the Malfoy family’s wealth and the impact it has at Hogwarts and in the larger wizarding community! Is it fair to assume Draco made the Slytherin Quidditch team on money alone? Unconscious bias: Why were we okay with McGonagall giving Harry a Nimbus 2000 in Sorcerer's Stone but against Lucius giving the Slytherins Nimbus 2001s in Chamber of Secrets? Why isn't there greater punishment for Malfoy using the term mudblood? Why do the male characters seem to be onto Lockhart, but most of the female characters come across as hoodwinked by his charm and good looks? Laying the Groundwork: Blood purity, Hagrid's expulsion, Ginny's strange behavior, Riddle's trophy, the cursed DADA position and more! Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 8: The Deathday Party 7-Word Summary: Nick helps Harry out with Peeves’ assistance What does it say about Filch that he’s working while he has the flu? Is he trying to prove himself given he is a Squib? Peeves drops an important piece of furniture with strong ties to Half-Blood Prince! Would the Deathday Party have been a good film adaptation? The hosts make some interesting observations about Moaning Myrtle and The Bloody Baron. The Chamber of Secrets is opened! What does it say about Harry that he runs toward an issue rather than away from it? Or better yet, that he doesn’t go and get a teacher to help investigate? Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 9 & 10! Quizzitch: What curse does Lockhart say was probably performed on Mrs Norris? This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MasterClass (get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast). On Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss Pottermore's sales dropping 40% in 2022! Bonus MuggleCast, which we now release twice per month, is just one of many great benefits of becoming a patron of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MuggleCast returns January 10th with new episodes, but until then we're releasing one of our favorite episodes of Bonus MuggleCast that we initially recorded for Patrons earlier in the year! In this installment, we discuss the late actor Alan Rickman's diary entries about playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. As you might expect from a diary, he is very candid about his work and the cast members around him. Prepare to be surprised by how he felt while filming each Harry Potter movie! For more installments of Bonus MuggleCast, pledge to our Patreon today at Patreon.com/mugglecast. In 2023, we'll be releasing two Bonus MuggleCast episodes every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Holidays! Join us for our final episode of the year! What were some of our top moments? Our favorite episodes of the show? Then we open up our MuggleMail bag one last time and look ahead to what to expect in 2023 for Harry Potter fans! Our top 5 Social Media Moments Why do you wish you were a teenager in the early 2000s? MuggleCast #tbt! Black Harry Potter content creators you should follow this Black History Month! Dan Fogler’s Cameo to celebrate Micah’s Birthday! MuggleCast Through the Years Timeline Last-minute MuggleCast Halloween Costumes! Each host shares their favorite episodes of the year: Andrew: Episode #566: WB is Planning HBO Max Harry Potter Shows — We Pitch Lots of New Ideas! and Episode #555: ’98-’99 Hogwarts School Year Deep Dive Eric: Episode #567: ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ Illustrator Thomas Taylor Reveals the Secrets Behind the Cover and #573: ‘MuggleCast, A History’ Trivia Game! Laura: Episode #576: How Are Spells Created? Discussing the Physics of Harry Potter and Episode #551: The Importance of Black Representation in Harry Potter Micah: Episode #580: Sorting Too Soon (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapters 7 – 8) and Episode #548: Will There Ever Be Another Harry Potter-Level Book Series? Muggle Mail covers HBO Max's Hogwarts Holidays: Fireplace feature, Lucius Malfoy's Ministry job status, crackpot theories, thread connecting and more! What can Harry Potter fans expect in 2023? Hogwarts Legacy hits store shelves in February! Does the Discovery/Warner Brothers merger mean good things ahead? A Harry Potter television show, perhaps? We'll celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets! Quizzitch: What does Oliver Wood say the Nimbus 2001 brooms do in comparison to the Cleansweep series? This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies (get 20% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast), BetterHelp (save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MasterClass (give the perfect gift of an annual MasterClass membership and get one free at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast). Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Our next episode is headed your way January 10, 2023! In the meantime, be sure to visit our Wall of Fame and keep your eyes out for a Bonus MuggleCast available to all in the coming weeks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Harry and Ron invent a new way to get to Hogwarts, but break a few international statutes! Settling in to classes would be easier for Harry if Draco Malfoy and Gilderoy Lockhart weren't following him around! Still, it is so good to be back within the castle walls. Join us for Chapter by Chapter segments of chapters 5 and 6 of "Chamber of Secrets." Welcome Slug Club guest Miranda! Announcement! Slug Club members of our Patreon will be able to participate in our holiday year-end MuggleCast AMA this coming Saturday, December 17 at 1pm ET. The event will be viewable by ALL when it goes live, and Slug Club members can submit their Q's! Stay tuned to our social for reminders. Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow 7-Word Summary: The tree captures the Ford toughly, rawr! Are there further investigations into why the Kings Cross barrier didn't let Harry through, after his and Ron's story come out? What makes Ron leap right to taking the car, instead of waiting for one of the many parents on the platform to come find them? Which other ways of transport can someone take to get to Hogwarts? Portkeys? Floo powder? The hosts discuss the prevalence of herbology-related mentions in this book as foreshadowing. Does the Anglia's arrival at Hogwarts prove that Hogwarts is a Security Nightmare? Do Ron and Harry get off a little easy for their world-exposing stunt? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6: Gilderoy Lockhart 7-Word Summary: Chaos ensues when Lockhart takes over class Mrs. Weasley's Howler to Ron may have consequences that she doesn't intend. Could she have been more discreet with her reprimand, and even shown up in person? For all things Professor Sprout, whose introduction occurs in this chapter, check out MuggleCast #513 which covers her presence throughout all 7 books! Has the Whomping Willow injured Sprout, or has she deftly applied the bandages? Words in the book are hard. Micah makes a piercing connection between the Mandrakes and the Basilisk. The hosts review Gilderoy Lockhart's early life, full of interesting tidbits from his extended canon backstory. Was Dumbledore really trying to expose Lockhart during the events of Harry's Year Two? The subtle way in which Colin and Justin are introduced to Harry as Muggle-born is sending us. Write this down! The students at Hogwarts have washed themselves! We award our standard MVP of the week to chapters and characters. Next week, MuggleCast does our annual Year in Review / MuggleMail extravaganza, after which we break for the holidays. Quizzitch question: Which potion makes Madam Z. Nettles of Topsham, patron of Kwikspell, the center of attention at parties? This episode is brought to you by MeUndies (Get 20% off your first order and free shipping at MeUndies.com/mugglecast) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we make our first visit to The Burrow and meet several characters for the first time in Diagon Alley! Plus, hold onto your Sorting Hat as we connect a handful of threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince! Micah visits Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in New York! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3: The Burrow 7-Word Summary: Weasley’s House Features New Magic And... Gnomes Fred & George are truly their father's sons (be sure to check out our Weasley Twins episode from April 2021) Right family, wrong motive - Dobby DOES belong to the Malfoys! What if... Molly and Arthur had gone to pickup Harry at Privet Drive? Comparing and contrasting Harry and Ron's view of The Burrow Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4: At Flourish & Blotts 7-Word Summary: Lucius takes Ginny’s father in a fight Should the Weasleys have given Harry a bit more assistance with Floo Powder? Inside Borgin and Burkes: vanishing cabinets, necklaces and hands of glory, oh my! What is Lucius Malfoy's true motive in getting Tom Riddle's diary to Hogwarts? Several characters are exhibiting odd behavior, Percy and Hagrid included! What are our first impressions of Gilderoy Lockhart? 7 BOOKS?!?! Why is Hogwarts bankrolling Gilderoy's bad habits? Bookstore Throwdown: Lucius and Arthur get into it! Next Week: Chapters 5 & 6 of Chamber of Secrets This week's episode is brought to you by Stamps.com (visit Stamps.com, click on the microphone, and enter code MUGGLECAST for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, plus free postage, and a free digital scale), BetterHelp (save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MeUndies (get 20% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast)! On Bonus MuggleCast, we uncover and discuss some exciting new info about what Harry Potter attraction is coming to Epic Universe! Bonus MuggleCast is just one of many great benefits of becoming a patron of the show! And special thank you to those who have shared that MuggleCast appeared in their Spotify Wrapped’s this year! The show was the top podcast for 1,500 listeners, in the Top 5 for 4,600 listeners, and in the Top 10 for 6,700 listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our fourth Harry Potter holiday gift guide episode! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they share their latest favorites Harry Potter-adjacent merchandise. Autobiographical works from several of the films' biggest stars are now published, and certain handcrafted and fan-made items are too good to resist. Looking for the gift that your HP-obsessed friend doesn't already have? Start here, with us, on this week's MuggleCast! This year's holiday gift guide episode features largely Harry Potter-adjacent items for the HP-obsessed friend who has everything, or so they think! We'd like to draw attention to BookShop.org, where with their special Store Locator page you can support your local bookstore through the purchase of books mentioned on this episode, and all books in general. Check it out! This year's fiction recommendations include 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman, the 'Percy Jackson' series by Rick Riordan, the 'Simon Snow' trilogy of books by Rainbow Rowell, Michael Scott's 'Immortal Nicholas Flamel' series, and the 'Eerie-on-Sea' mystery books by the delightful Thomas Taylor. MuggleCast Patrons chime in with their favorite fiction recommendations, including a series by a familiar name for some of us. In our "From the Stars" category, Evanna Lynch's Kinder Beauty Box subscription service, her deeply personal autobiography, Bonnie Wright's how-to book 'Go Gently', the posthumously released diaries of Alan Rickman, and Tom Felton's hilarious memoir. Friend of the show Tylor Starr has recently released The Unofficial Harry Potter Vegan Cookbook, with over 75 mouth-watering recipes we can't wait to try. Our fanmade recommendations include Heartwood Wands on Etsy, customized HP Bobbleheads for you or your friends, Expedition Roasters' 'Accio Coffee', Frostbeard Studio's magical assorted candle line, and even these flameless floating candles for your home decoration. Finally, we go truly wild with celebrity prayer candles, celebrity Cameo videos, toilet decals, vintage HP merch from eBay, and more favorites from The New York Puzzle Co.! If you want even more gift ideas, check out our previous gift guides on Episode 444, Episode 493, and Episode 540. If you want to support us, consider asking someone to gift you a subscription to our Patreon! Next week: We return with Chapters 3 and 4 of Chamber of Secrets Chapter-by-Chapter! This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies! Visit MeUndies.com MuggleCast for 20% off your first order, and free shipping, with a 100% moneyback guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we begin Chapter-by-Chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! Harry's abuse rises to new levels, the Dursleys obtain Death Eater status, and Dobby complicates Harry's life despite his good intentions. From horcruxes to house-elves, from animal cruelty to servitude, there's lots to unpack from on this weeks' episode! We reflect on reading Chamber of Secrets for the first time and what we're expecting to get out of our re-read Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 1: The Worst Birthday 7-Word Summary: The Day Harry Was Beaten By Family We deeply analyze the Dursley's mistreatment of Harry and add animal cruelty to the list of offenses Wouldn’t Petunia know that Harry can’t do magic outside of school? Perhaps she does not want to reveal her knowledge of the wizarding world to Vernon? How could Harry overcome the Dursleys’ restrictions except for the rescue from the Weasleys? How does Dumbledore allow for this level of abuse to go on for so long? Don't use THAT word (MAGIC)... are the Dursleys the Death Eater equivalent in the Muggle world? Can we glean anything positive from Dudley remembering Harry's birthday? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2: Dobby's Warning 7-Word Summary: Surprises await Harry in his bedroom tonight We analyze the Mystery of Dobby's Ownership When would Lucius Malfoy have begun planning to unleash the Diary Horcrux? Connecting the Threads: we compare the behavior of Dobby in this book to Kreacher in Order of the Phoenix What is our general consensus on Dobby? Helpful or super, super annoying? Harry and Dobby: both are servants in their respective households, both are bound by magical contracts and both are treated horribly! Next week: we're off for Thanksgiving... (or are we)? Quizzitch: In Chapter 3 of Chamber of Secrets, what is the last of Harry's possessions to leave Privet Drive? This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we dive deep into the final chapter of Sorcerer's Stone, connect some serious threads to Deathly Hallows and get after everyone's favorite headmaster. Dumbledore apologists beware! News: Leslie Phillips, voice of the Sorting Hat passes away at 98 The 6th Annual MuggleCast Patreon Holiday Gift Exchange is now live! Chapter-by-Chapter for Sorcerer's Stone concludes with Chapter 17: The Man With Two Faces 7-Word Summary: Dumbledore comes at the situation with lies Main Discussion 1: Dumbledore’s Task - we draw some strong parallels between Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows Does Voldemort read Harry’s mind, is it the Horcrux connection or just a lucky guess? What made Dumbledore initially move the stone from Gringotts? What tipped him off? Do we know how Quirrell found out about its location? Could Dumbledore not trust himself enough to keep the Stone in his own possession? We analyze Snape's "protection" of Harry throughout his first year Main Discussion #2: YOU LIAR! We dissect the conversation Harry and Dumbledore have in the hospital wing “Humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.” How much is Dumbledore referring to himself in this moment? Does Dumbledore's refuse to tell Harry the truth for his own protection or to serve Dumbledore's own selfish purposes? How much is Dumbledore himself a Security Nightmare? Odds & Ends cover iconic quotes, Quirrell's twitching, Hagrid's drinking and more The Dumbledore Liar count finishes Sorcerer's Stone at 8 while we revisit all of our 7-Word Summaries Next Week: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets begins! Quizzitch: What color are Dobby the House-Elf’s eyes? Bonus MuggleCast covers a new Hogwarts Legacy video, Dobby's gravesite in Wales and Harry Potter book sales being up 35% in 2022! Become a patron today and receive great benefits just like Bonus MuggleCast! This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), BetterHelp (save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MeUndies (get 20% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans! Don't forget to vote in the 2022 Midterms by Tuesday, November 8! Visit IWillVote.com to find your local polling place. This week the hosts are joined by Slug Club guest Michele, and Chapter by Chapter continues with chapters 15 and 16 of Sorcerer's Stone. Listen as we discuss how the Centaurs may have been right all along, while Harry serves detention in "The Forbidden Forest." After that, follow along as the trio go "Through the Trapdoor"! And we analyze each of the obstacles designed to protect the Sorcerer's Stone. All this and more, including: Welcome Slug Club guest Michele! If you would like the chance to guest-host on our show, visit our Patreon News: New Warner CEO David Zaslav wants "More Harry Potter movies!" What does that mean?! Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest 7-Word Summary: Mars might tell of future conflicts forthcoming Harry experiences exclusion like never before, after Gryffindor is down so many points. Have we ever disappointed our classmates in this way? What If? Harry told McGonagall the truth about Hagrid and the dragon. Would things have turned out the same? This detention in the Forbidden Forest is WAY too dangerous! And Hagrid even wants to split up! What are the Centaurs seeing in the sky, and why are they so hesitant to interfere? Main Discussion #2: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 16: Through the Trapdoor 7-Word Summary: Voldemort is hiding behind Quirrell’s incompetence – keys Would it have made more sense for Ron to impersonate the Bloody Baron? Still, props to Harry for pulling it off! Hermione has a tendency to freeze up under pressure. When else has this occurred? Why wasn't Snape's logic puzzle included in the movie? We close out the chapter with our MVPs of the Week Next Week: we finish our Chapter by Chapter re-read of Book One! Quizzitch: What does Voldemort tell Harry that he will do once he has the Elixir of Life? This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies (Get 20% off your first order and free shipping at MeUndies.com/mugglecast), MasterClass (Get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/mugglecast), and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode we dig deep into our MuggleMail bag as listeners weigh in on our latest chapter-by-chapter discussions. One voicemail leads the hosts to take sides in a Harry Potter date debate! Plus, we have fun paging through the beautifully illustrated Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay. We review the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Illustrated Edition. There's SO much to love in this one! Speaking of books, don't forget to check out The Magic of MinaLima, which is an exhaustive look at MinaLima's work for the Harry Potter movies. Voicemails cover magic's origin, a Harry Potter first date, a Draco-focused Harry Potter TV show and more Several listeners write in about Christmas gifts and Quidditch rules Why doesn’t Hermione use her own wand to stop the troll? Why did Hagrid really go to get Harry from the Dursleys? Should Ron be allowed to have a rat at Hogwarts? Is it the job of the Sorting Hat to equally divide the first year students? One listener presents a strong defense of Petunia Dursley Is the Hogwarts Express super inconvenient for students who already live close to Hogwarts? Troll in the Dungeon: is Dumbledore sending the Slytherins to their doom? Quizzitch: When McGonagall gives detentions to the trio and Neville in Book 1, she says she's "never heard of such a thing before." What is the "thing" to which she is referring? Next week: Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Chapters 15 (The Forbidden Forest) & 16 (Through The Trapdoor) of Sorcerer's Stone This week's episode is brought to you by MasterClass ( get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the hosts are joined by Andy of Harry Potter Fan Zone, and Chapter by Chapter continues with chapters 13 and 14 of Sorcerer's Stone. Listen as we discuss the real-life origins of Nicolas Flamel, debate whether 'Sorcerer's Stone' or 'Philosopher's Stone' is a better title, and revisit a fan theory about what Dumbledore did with alchemy. Then, the trio visit Hagrid's Hut and Harry uses his powers of persuasion that he may or may not have inherited from Voldemort?! All this and more, including: Welcome back, Andy! Check out Harry Potter Fan Zone, the top Australian HP fan site. News: Many new books are now available including Tom Felton's autobiography, Alan Rickman's posthumous diary, and Order of the Phoenix illustrated by Jim Kay. The hosts discuss which ones they'll be checking out. Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 13: Nicolas Flamel 7-Word Summary: Secrets are revealed when chocolate is eaten. We never did find out what work Dumbledore and Nicolas did on alchemy. Did Fantastic Beasts reveal more? We review an old fan theory that we love about Credence's origins. In talking about the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, Andrew explains who was responsible for the title change. Which is better, saying "Sorcerer's Stone" (snappy, alliterative) or "Philosopher's Stone" (boring)? Andy and the American hosts all debate. The hosts review some early Mary GrandPré artwork including an alternate cover that Andy shares with the title "Harry Potter and the School of Magic". In fact, Harry Potter Fan Zone has the most impressive gallery of official artwork, exhaustingly sourced and categorized by Andy. Worth your time to check out! Main Discussion #2: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 14: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback 7-Word Summary: Hagrid reveals illegal practices inside his hut This rare chapter is, in many ways, completely self-contained. The conflict presented is resolved at the end. Life lessons from HP #???: Flattery will get you ev-erywhere! Andrew's new proposal of an HBO Max television show features Hagrid and his pet dragon. We're in love. Hagrid clearly has a soft spot for clearly dangerous creatures. Is this intentional foreshadowing to his plotline in Chamber of Secrets? Is it reckless for Ron not to be honest with Madame Pomfrey about his bite? What if it's magically infected? The scene with Charlie's friends is unspoilt by adaptation. What do we see when we see it in our heads? We close out the chapter with our MVPs of the Week Next Week: It's a MuggleMail episode! Send us your thoughts on our recent chapters or tell us what's on your mind! Quizzitch: Which real-life Wizard Rock artist wrote a classic spurned love ballad titled "1991 - Charlie Weasley" This week's episode is brought to by Stamps.com (Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/mugglecast. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show!), BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast), and Shudder (Get your first 30 days free by using code 'mugglecast')! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices