MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we get back to our Harry Potter character discussions with the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Jean Granger. We discuss her personality traits, her academic prowess, and her overall perceptiveness. Plus, on Bonus MuggleCast on our Patreon, the hosts try to figure out if Hermione has a female best friend and debate which member of the trio is the "third wheel"? The Secrets of Dumbledore will hit theaters a week earlier in the UK. Why, just days after the franchise's big announcement, are they making this change? Unimpressed by the The Secrets of Dumbledore official movie synopsis, Micah writes his own! Wizarding World Gold is coming to an end this month! Does this news have larger implications for other endeavors of the Wizarding World franchise? Character Discussion: Hermione Jean Granger Much like Hermes, messenger of the gods, does Hermione serve as messenger between the Muggle and wizarding worlds? Why we, as readers, should identify more with Hermione than Harry! What do we make of Hermione's decision to return to Hogwarts after the war? How does she balance personal achievement with what is necessary and urgent? The hosts recall their initial impressions of Hermione. Is she really an "insufferable know-it-all"? Where does Hermione's academic drive come from? Her parents? Pressure to fit into a new school? Pressure to fit into a new society? HER-MEE-OWN! How long did it take us to the proper pronunciation? Emma Watson and Noma Dumezweni: how each made their own profound impact We share Our Top 7 Hermione Moments and give our Best Hermione Impressions Quizzitch: These 'splintery' treats were considered by Hermione for her parents while in Honeydukes? Submit your answer! This week's episode is brought to you by Greenchef - the #1 meal kit for eating well (visit GreenChef.com/MuggleCast100 and use code mugglecast100 to get $100 off, including free shipping)! Coming up on Bonus MuggleCast (available on Patreon), the hosts discuss if Hermione has a female best friend. And, just who is the true third wheel of the Harry, Ron and Hermione trio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's special episode of MuggleCast, we finally have some Fantastic Beasts 3 news to discuss! The third entry in the Fantastic Beasts series will be titled, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore! Also, a plot synopsis and new release date (April 15, 2022) are out! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss their first impressions of the title, what specific "secrets" the title may be hinting at, and we hear from Slug Club-level Patrons listening live who have some great theories as well! Fantastic Beasts 3 will be titled, The Secrets of Dumbledore. The hosts all owe Andrew money. He has heavily speculated that "Dumbledore" would be in the title! Back on MuggleCast 442, the hosts each predicted the title of the movie in 2019, and some came close! What do we make of the title? Is this anything other than a money-motivated decision to get people to see the movie because it is called something "Dumbledore"? What does this mean for how prominent Dumbledore will be versus the Core Four and Grindelwald from previous movies? What could the "secrets" of Dumbledore be? Will it have to do with the Blood Pact, or Ariana perhaps? Will the secrets of Dumbledore be better explained than the crimes of Grindelwald in Crimes of Grindelwald? We discover that the film title shares a word with another Harry Potter movie! Will this be a trend? Andrew points out the huge visual difference in the size of both series titles on their respective title cards. It's huge! The movie's synopsis includes phrases like "intrepid explorers" and "Muggle baker" - but otherwise is pretty vague. Are we still going to visit Rio de Janeiro in this movie?! Was the Brazil setting filmed exclusively at Leavesden? Quizzitch: Who is the main character of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? WRONG answers only! Submit your answer! This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies, makers of the most comfortable loungewear and underwear! Get 15% off and free shipping by going to MeUndies.com/mugglecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, Andrew has some news that's been 14 years in the making! Plus, we open up our Muggle mailbag to hear from listeners about our most recent Hogwarts House discussions (don't forget, you can find them all here: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw & Slytherin). And on Bonus MuggleCast, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, we review deleted and unreleased scenes from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone! Andrew's long-awaited Harry Potter Vibrating Broomstick review is here! Did Slytherins have collective guilt about leaving the Battle of Hogwarts? Was J.K. Rowling really trying to course correct for the lack of love for other Hogwarts Houses? Snapping the Elder Wand?!?! Why one listener thinks the movie got it right! Pickett The Ring Bearer Cuteness Alert! We hear from one of our youngest Hufflepuff listeners! Did J.K. Rowling subtly rank the Houses based on their colors? Do fans' perceptions of their House common rooms differ based on personality? We read several strong defenses of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Houses. What if... Tom Riddle was in Gryffindor? A 2007 throwback emails asks how Harry could recognize Lily's patronus? Quizzitch: What form does Cho Chang’s Patronus take? Submit your answer! This week's episode is brought to you BetterHelp - get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast! Coming up later this week on Bonus MuggleCast (available on Patreon), the hosts discuss the deleted scenes from Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone, to celebrate 20 years since the movie was released! Did you know they filmed the Professors singing the Hogwarts school song? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the MuggleCasters tackle the fiercest Hogwarts house of them all with their main discussion centered on Gryffindor! Joining the discussion is long-time friend of the show and boyfriend of Andrew, Pat! The panel of current and former Gryffindors talk about the good and the bad traits of Gryffindor, like why being bold can be a bad thing, and how being "daring" can mean you like to get into trouble. The hosts also examine Gryffindor's security system, ask why it is so insecure, and how famous Gryffindors like Minerva McGonagall and Peter Pettigrew fit into their house assignments! On this episode we conclude our epic House-themed discussions with Gryffindor House! What do daring, nerve and chivalry have to do with the panel's own experiences as former/current Gryffindors? Is the Sorting Hat's description of Gryffindors the complete picture? Why is Pottermore's welcome letter for Gryffindors so hilariously short? We examine the good and bad of Gryffindor, including their readiness to admit fault once they've been proven wrong, their hot-headedness and ill temper, and loyalty to one another. Is everything Snape said about Gryffindors true? We examine moments between he and the Marauders. What does it mean that Gryffindor House has had two pairs of troublemakers that we know of across two generations? What happens when Gryffindors fight each other? Seamus and Harry's argument in Book Five may give us insight into the personalities of Gryffindor. The Fat Lady's password system STINKS! It's a security nightmare! Notable Gryffindors include Dumbledore, McGonagall and... Peter Pettigrew? The hosts discuss who fits in and who doesn't. Quizzitch: The Sorting Hat tells us that Hufflepuff came from Valley Broad, Slytherin from Fen, and Ravenclaw from Glen, but from where did Godric hail? This week's episode is brought to you by Quip -- get $5 off a mouthwash starter kit at GetQuip.com/muggle5 Coming up later this week on Bonus MuggleCast, available on Patreon, the hosts discuss HBO Max's new Harry Potter Hub, where the platform makes TV and Movie suggestions based on what Hogwarts House you're in. Do we agree with HBO Max's choices? Definitely not -- Laura is hurt by the Ravenclaw picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intelligence. Wisdom. Learning. Wit. Our four-part series on the Houses of Hogwarts continues this week with Ravenclaw (be sure to check out our Slytherin and Hufflepuff episodes)! Andrew and Eric are surprised with just how critical Micah and Laura are of their own house (but, honestly, would you expect anything less of Ravenclaws?). Join us as we "look down" upon the Hogwarts grounds from high atop Ravenclaw Tower and discuss some of the House's most notable members! Main Discussion: Ravenclaw House Could Ravenclaw be the house we know the least about? Does the Sorting Hat group Ravenclaws together based on academic prowess, regardless of their intent? Why was Hermione not sorted into Ravenclaw? What makes Micah and Laura Ravenclaws... Andrew and Eric have some ideas! Do certain descriptions of Ravenclaws, especially that of their common room, make them come across as elitist? What sort of students were the hosts during their younger years? What does it mean for Ravenclaw House that Luna was the character most often referred to as being authentically herself? What do we make of Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw, being Harry’s first love interest? Would the reader's perspective have changed at all knowing the first two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors/frauds were both Ravenclaws? We discuss other notable Ravenclaws, including Garrick Ollivander, Sybill Trelawney, Filus Flitwick, The Grey Lady and more ! Quizzitch: On which floor at Hogwarts can you find the staircase that leads directly to the door to Ravenclaw’s common room? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (get 20% off your first purchase) and HelloFresh (use code muggle14 for up to 14 free meals, including free shipping)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CHOO CHOO! Join us as we head back to Hogwarts on this week's episode of MuggleCast! Andrew, Eric, Micah and Meg as they play a few games and discuss the school's prime locations for first kisses, homework, parties and more! Plus, with David Yates beginning a new project, could the latest Fantastic Beasts news spell more trouble for the five-part movie franchise? Last chance! Only one day remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st! With so much time having already elapsed between Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts 3, what do we make of the news that there will be a "break" between Fantastic Beasts 3 and 4? Could the Fantastic Beasts franchise rest on the success of the third film? Andrew has a theory for what this break really means! Main Discussion: It's time to go Back to Hogwarts! Where would each of the hosts sit on the Hogwarts Express? What would be the first thing each of us did upon return to Hogwarts? "What Would You Do?" & Guess That Book (Back to Hogwarts Edition) Where at Hogwarts would you: have your first kiss? Do your homework? Have some "me" time? Hold secret parties? Quizzitch: In what books does Harry not directly interact with Draco Malfoy while on the Hogwarts Express? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MeUndies (get 15% off your first order plus free shipping ) and GreenChef (get $100 off plus free shipping)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming off of the success of our last episode where we defended Slytherin House, the MuggleCasters turn their sights to that other maligned Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss the qualities possessed by Hufflepuff students, examine why Hufflepuff does not get much glory in the books, and why everyone should want to know a Hufflepuff in real life. All that and more, on MuggleCast episode 527! Important: Only one week remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our retro throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st! We begin the episode with a fun segment, "The Top 5 Most Disparaging Scenes Featuring Hufflepuff"! Main Discussion: While they may have been "picked last for kickball" in the books, Hufflepuffs may represent the best of us. A brief video of the author from after the books were published seems conciliatory to all Hufflepuffs burned by their book representation. What do traits such as "just" and "loyal" mean? What are the values of hard work and patience, and why do Hufflepuffs prefer to walk the quiet road to glory? Helga Hufflepuff's philosophy of "I'll teach the lot, and train them up the same" is actually the best policy when it comes to education, Laura explains. Eric shares which moments from the Hufflepuff Welcome Letter made him feel most at home in his new house. Other famous Hufflepuffs: from Newt AND his brother Theseus, to Helga herself, Hepzibah Smith, the founder of Hogsmeade and more, just which witches and wizards wore the badger when they were at Hogwarts? Each hosts says something nice about Hufflepuff House and listeners give their thoughts! Quizzitch: What conceals the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by UE Fits True Wireless, Custom Fit Earbuds (Get 15% off your order by going to UE.com/fits and using promo code MUGGLECAST at checkout) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Tylor, President of the Wizarding World-inspired animal rights nonprofit, The Protego Foundation, and co-host of The ChickPeeps podcast with Evanna Lynch! Who is Tylor's favorite character? The answer may shock you (but is perfect for this episode)! Main Discussion: In Defense of Slytherin House What do we make of the first words revealed to us by the Sorting Hat about Salazar Slytherin? Does this introduction mislead us? Is there an argument to be made that Slytherin’s preference for pure-blood students could have been due to muggle persecution of wizardry? Andrew shares why he converted to Slytherin House How much of Salazar Slytherin’s legacy should be used against current members of his house? The Slytherin Spectrum: we rate notable members of Slytherin House, including Merlin, Severus Snape, Regulus Black, Leta Lestrange, Dolores Umbridge, Horace Slughorn and more! Which characters are still down with Slytherin's pure-blood mania? Which are on the right side of history, but may have some ingrained blood status bias? Each hosts says something nice about Slytherin House and listeners give their thoughts! Quizzitch: What living creature are both Marvolo Gaunt and Salazar Slytherin compared to, in appearance? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we're discussing Tina Goldstein's role following the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, and what lies ahead! Plus, we revisit our predictions made after seeing her in the first Fantastic Beasts movie. Welcome to Slug Club Member Deanna and Alohomora's Katy Haile! Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Tina Goldstein and her role in The Crimes of Grindelwald We revisit some of the things we mentioned back in Episode 320 during our initial Tina discussion to see if anything held true in Crimes of Grindelwald! Did her standoffishness subside? Did she get her mojo back after catching Grindelwald? What does Tina's horoscope say about her character? What happened to Tina's story between movies? Why did she never reach out to Newt about the photo of him and Leta? Why didn't Queenie help to clarify the situation? Tina The Auror & The Search for Credence Why was she so easily duped by Yusuf Kama? What will Tina and Queenie’s relationship be like now that she has (supposedly) sided with Grindelwald? Are we headed toward a showdown between sisters? Knowing World War II will serve as a backdrop to future Fantastic Beasts films, how concerned should we be for the Goldstein family? What can we expect of her future relationship with Newt? Will it be a very minor subplot? Was Tina catching Grindelwald at the end of the first movie foreshadowing of what’s to come? Will Credence save her much like she has saved him? New Game: Whose Eyes Are They? Quizzitch: As of the late 20th century, Tina Goldstein lived with her husband Newt Scamander in Dorset with their pet Kneazles, what were their pets’ names? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by Quip (get $5 off their mouthwash starter kit) and ThirdLove (get 20% off your first purchase)! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another MuggleMail episode, folks! But first: The Cursed Child's North American productions are being condensed into one part! What does this mean for the show's future? It's time to announce this year's MuggleCast Patreon physical gifts: Throwback socks and a "Sweet 16" customizable wooden model car! Listeners must sign up to our Patreon and choose their gift by September 1st to be eligible to receive them. Voicemails from listeners concern Petunia's motivations for spying on her neighbors, character maturities, a big fandom moment, and fond memories from the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 red carpet. It's DumbledoreMail galore as listeners write in about the hiding of Ariana, the blood pact and 12 uses of dragon's blood being related, and when phoenixes appear. Could Travers already be working for the Dark side in the time of Crimes of Grindelwald? He's got family history. Bellatrix's comment about Snape's neighborhood leaves one listener asking if his home town puts Snape in hot water with the Death Eaters. That same listener asks why NOBODY told Harry that Snape and Lily were childhood friends! Lupin, Sirius, and Dumbledore all hide that fact for their entire lives. Did the Hogwarts Sorting Hat always reflect Salazar Slytherin's bias? The hosts reflect on which scenes from the Potter films most improved on the books. In this month's Throwback Email, an Australian listener details WW2 references present in Grindelwald's backstory. A new game, "Who Said It?" has us identifying which of us said the excerpt read by Andrew. The participants do not do particularly well! Quizzitch: What is the name for the double agent, working for the British MOM as a bounty hunter, who is secretly taking orders from Grindelwald? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies! Get 15% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/mugglecast Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our character discussions return as we celebrate the birthday of Neville Longbottom! Professor Trelawney drops in to give us a refresher on the Lost Prophecy Had Voldemort marked Neville as his equal, would a similar situation have played out with Alice sacrificing herself to save her son? Neville & Hannah Abbott: was the plan all along that she and Neville end up together, or did the idea evolve as the series neared its end? The hosts give their reactions to the movies pairing Neville and Luna together. It's not fair! Augusta constantly compares Neville to her own son, Frank! Both orphaned in their own way, we discuss the similarities of Harry and Neville's upbringings. Was Neville always doomed to feeling “second best” even if he had a more supportive parental figure? Why did Neville want to be sorted in Hufflepuff? Did it further diminish the house's reputation for readers early on in the series? The hosts share moments from their own lives where they felt like they didn't belong. Neville's Notable Moments of Development: we discuss him standing up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in Sorcerer's Stone, his actions inside the Ministry of Magic in Order of the Phoenix and his confrontation with Voldemort in Deathly Hallows Matt Lewis: how was Neville portrayed in the films and what were some notable movie differences for the character? What if... Neville was The Chosen One? What would his upbringing have looked like? Who would be his Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts? What would his relationship with Dumbledore be like? Quizzitch: Right after impersonating Neville Longbottom during his ride on the Knight Bus in Year 3, Harry bumps into the real Neville outside Flourish and Blotts. What is Neville looking for, in this moment? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by Warby Parker (order 5 pairs of glasses to try at home for free for 5 days – with no obligation to buy) and Logitech UE Fits ( get 15% off your pair of Ultimate Ears FITS True Wireless Earbuds using code MUGGLECAST). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 turns ten years old! On this episode, the MuggleCasters and Slug Club member Molly reminisce about the last film in the original series. Where were we when Deathly Hallows came out? We experience the touching farewell speeches given by Dan, Rupert and Emma on the red carpet in London. Movie 8 has the highest Rotten Tomato rating of the whole series! And it made the most money. Can we see why? We deep dive the plot of DH2 and re-learn what was new and different, including Aberforth. Micah recaps the biggest omissions in adaptation from the page to the screen. Tonks' pregnancy, portrait Dumbledore and Carrows vs. McGonagall all got changed. Meanwhile, the scene in the Chamber of Secrets is shown for the first time, and Snape gets a change of scenery! The hosts revisit what they were most looking forward to, after having read the book, and what scenes surprised them. The Epilogue was shot, and then re-shot. Remembering the geriatric non-millennial trio and friends. In this week's debate, hosts take sides defending or criticizing the last film's adaptation. Let us know who won via our social media poll! Quizzitch: Five years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the franchise was continued with the first Fantastic Beasts film. What is the first spoken sentence of Fantastic Beasts? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off by visiting BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and HelloFresh (Get up to 14 free meals and free shipping by going to HelloFresh.com/muggle14 and using code 'muggle14' at checkout) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With one year to go until the film's release (we think), our Fantastic Beasts character discussions return! Up first... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in his younger years! Jude Law: Youngledore, DumbleDAMN, Yumbledore! How did Deathly Hallows help inform our knowledge of the Dumbledores before seeing Crimes of Grindelwald? Aunt Muriel and Rita Skeeter weigh in! Did Albus fail in his responsibility to take care of both Ariana and Aberforth? What was so terrifying about the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald? Exactly what happened during the fight that killed Ariana? Why was Ariana seemingly kept a secret from the larger wizarding world? Gellert the Manipulator: did Grindelwald go to Godric's Hollow with the intent of meeting the Dumbledores? Was Ariana Dumbledore the first person to die “for the greater good”? Why does Dumbledore have such a close & trusting relationship with Newt? Even at a young age, Dumbledore didn't see eye-to-eye with the Ministry The Blood Pact : does it really need to exist? Is it too Horcruxy? We revisit the Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore reveal! Do we buy it? What's next for Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts storyline? Quizzitch: Ciaran Hinds, who portrays Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, starred alongside fellow Potter alums Gary Oldman, Toby Jones and John Hurt in the film adaptation of this novel by John le Carre, what is the name of the movie? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Get 20% off your first purchase) and Quip (Try their new mouthwash today!). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our discussion on the most shocking moments in Harry Potter fandom history, with some stories you'll remember -- and others you probably forgot! In 2012, Micah discovered that JKR had announced she was actively working on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, but it was quickly retracted once the story got out. In 2013, Rowling was outed as male author Robert Galbraith by a lawyer's... wife's... friend... and a British newspaper. Later that same year, only a week after MuggleCast "ended," the Fantastic Beasts film series was announced! Years later, can we all agree Fantastic Beasts IS a prequel? Dumbledore's appearance in Crimes of Grindelwald and the casting of Jude Law was a delightful surprise. In 2016, more Wizarding World schools were announced, and controversy may have prevented us from getting more that were promised. The same year, the stage show Cursed Child is announced, and debuts in 2 parts! We revisit the original description of the show, which is very different than the final product. Honorable mentions submitted by our listeners include Ron/Hermione regrets, Rowling on Twitter, and the Wizards Unite game. We also reflect on the actors we've lost over the years. To wrap up our discussion, each of the hosts speculates on which crazy "impossible" idea will be the next shocking news story in fandom. Quizzitch: Who portrayed the character of Barry Fairbrother on the BBC series adaptation of the Casual Vacancy? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back Andy, of Harry Potter Fan Zone (and PotterNoMore.com)! This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, wherein the hosts discuss the most Shocking Moments in Harry Potter Fandom History. First up: In 2005, JK Rowling invites fan site heads Emerson and Melissa to her house! In 2007, before Deathly Hallows and high-speed internet, a live stream revealed a new Harry Potter theme park! What was the significance of a Potter-themed park at the time? ...but Andy had already been to a Harry Potter theme park, down in Australia, called Warner Bros. "Movie World"! Also in 2007, JKR Fan Site Award winner The HP Lexicon was taken to court by JKR/WB over their plans for a book. How did this feel to us as fellow fan site workers? The split that changed it all: How WB's decision to break up The Deathly Hallows changed history and set the bar for future film franchises to come. Half-Blood Prince's unexpected release date postponement disappointed fans like few things had at the time. Andrew had made a reaction video and a new version of the HBP trailer. Pottermore announced: We discuss the early days of the website, why it was so special, and what ultimately happened to it. Stay tuned next week for more shocking news moments, like the time JKR confirmed she was finally writing an Encyclopedia, Fantastic Beasts coming into existence, the earliest Cursed Child information, and so much more. This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies. Get the most comfortable undies with the coolest prints by visiting MeUndies.com/mugglecast. You'll get 15% off your first order and free shipping! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a MuggleMail episode! But first: Micah & Eric visit the newly-opened Harry Potter New York flagship store and share some pro tips for fans looking to visit in the near future! What are some of the top items? And more importantly, how is the butterbeer? To celebrate Pride Month in the Wizarding World, listeners send in their favorite LGBTQ+ couples Voicemails cover Draco's "real" dad, the Battle of Hogwarts, Sprout & Snape's relationship and more! Do the they teach sex education at Hogwarts? One listener gives us an epic ending for Trelawney in the Battle of Hogwarts! What are some details left out of the Potter movies that should be in the TV show? How are wizards educated in early academics? Why does Draco criticize students for staying at Hogwarts during the holidays when HE DOES IT HIMSELF? We reminisce about where we all though the final battle of the series would take place and the significance of The Veil! In Chamber of Secrets, did Harry have an immediate connection to the Diary Horcrux that we all overlooked? Selfish Harry! Did Ginny have any say in the naming of her children? Draco would NEVER wear Muggle clothes (sorry movies)! Was it a matter of convenience that most wizarding families were sorted into the same House (ex: Weasleys)? One listener shares a really profound email on fan fiction Quizzitch: June 21st is the 18th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the longest Potter book ever written. How many chapters are contained in Book 5? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by UE Fits (Visit UE.com/fits and use promo code 'MuggleCast' for 15% off) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Swish and Flick's Meg & Katie! Main Discussion: Celebrating Pride Month in the Harry Potter fandom Andrew, Meg & Katie share their personal experiences of coming out and the feeling of safety in the Potter fan community What is it about the Harry Potter fandom that makes it a welcoming place for diversity? What have the hosts noticed about inclusion at Potter events? What’s a “different” thing about the other hosts that the fandom didn’t judge them for? Why was it such a big deal to reveal Dumbledore's sexuality? What other gay characters were in pop culture at the time? How important is it for us to remember the time at which the Harry Potter series was written? Does the lack of an LGBTQ+ character in the Harry Potter series speak to its larger diversity issue? Would J.K. Rowling have viewed including a gay character as a risk? Would publishers be concerned about how parents might react to a gay character? We discuss the possible sexualities of several Potter characters, including Nymphadora Tonks, Charlie Weasley, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and more Quizzitch: A witch named Glenda Chittock hosts this program on the Wizarding Wireless Network, dedicated to interviewing musicians. What is the name of the program? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by MasterClass (Get 15% off an annual subscription at MasterClass.com/mugglecast) and MeUndies, makers of the most comfortable underwear (get 15% off your first order at MeUndies.com/mugglecast). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Harry Potter Store in New York City is now open. Will Micah be going? In celebration of the character's birthday, today we are discussing all things Draco Malfoy. Malfoy's name implies he will act in bad faith, and his horoscope suggests a duality of character. Do the hosts agree? According to LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Malfoy's Boggart is Lord Voldemort. Is this canon? Are there any other things his Boggart might be? We all agree Tom Felton was an excellent choice for Draco, and we love how active he is in fandom today. Fun Segment: To kick off our in-depth character analysis, the hosts recap the Top 7 Moments Draco was a Jerk While the first four moments were concerning, the top three moments could have or did result in the loss of life! Can Draco Malfoy be redeemed? How much of his upbringing is to blame for his casual racism? Is there a "sweet spot" age where Draco can be held responsible for all of his actions, and if so, when? Drawing from Cursed Child, all the hosts strangely agree that Draco would be a good father as a result of his actions. Are there actions of Draco's that are truly unforgivable? What behavior would the hosts never forgive in their personal life? Which characters from Harry Potter would never forgive Draco? Which ones would? Finally, the hosts all try to say something nice about Draco! Quizzitch: The constellation Draco was so named for its appearance of being like a dragon.. Who first named the constellation Draco?Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Get 20% off your first purchase) and Quip (Try their new mouthwash today!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is our fifth-ever Wizarding World movie commentary! Watch Prisoner of Azkaban with the MuggleCasters, and listen as we react in real-time to everything happening. Is this movie as bad as some people say it is? What do we love and hate about it? We discuss it all as we watch! Note: You will need your own copy of Prisoner of Azkaban in order to watch with us. We will help you sync up the movie with us at the start of the commentary track. We strongly recommend listening to this episode with your own copy of the movie. Otherwise, it may be difficult to follow along with what we're discussing. See more of our movie commentaries on our Must-Listens page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cursed Child will not reopen with other Broadway shows this Fall as it rethinks its length and structure, targeting a 2022 return What's at the heart of this decision? We discuss a few ways The Cursed Child could accomplish a cutdown version of the show. Main Discussion: Revisiting The Best of MuggleNet and other Potter Fan Sites, particularly during the biggest year for Harry Potter The hosts revisit their roles and how they got their start in the Potter fandom The layouts, the countdowns, the breaking news: what were some of our favorite parts of MuggleNet? The Wall of Shame, Editorials, MuggleSpace and more! Be sure to check out older versions of MuggleNet using The Wayback Machine! What was the rivalry like with other Harry Potter fansites? The hosts read their old staff profiles from 2007 - laughter... and cringing ensue! Our patrons share their favorite parts and memories of MuggleNet Quizzitch: Some of the earliest Harry Potter fan conventions were run by a group called HPEF. What does HPEF stand for? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by MasterClass (Get 15% off an annual subscription at MasterClass.com/mugglecast) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast). Next week: We'll be releasing a brand-new movie commentary on Prisoner of Azkaban. The following week we'll be off for the Memorial Day holiday. So, we'll see you on June 7! In the meantime, check out some of our past episodes on the Wall of Fame! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! This week, on Bonus MuggleCast, the hosts reflect on what the party scene was like at Potter conferences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Slug Club member, Franzi! Main Discussion: Professor Sprout & Herbology’s Role in the Harry Potter Series To start off, the hosts test their skills in a new game: Potter Plant or... Pokemon? What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Professor Sprout? What does Sprout's name origin tell us about her character? Miriam Margoyles shined in her limited screen time in the Potter films The Chronicles of Sprout and McGonagall are canon - should it be a spin-off series? Laura dishes on some good Sprout fan fictions as we revisit the Splitwick publishing controversy! Does Professor Sprout's character suffer from lack of representation? How would we rank her in comparison to other heads of house? Does the connection between Professor Sprout and Hufflepuff house get lost on the reader? Is she not that memorable for the average reader? Do Sprout (Hufflepuff) and Flitwick (Ravenclaw) suffer from not being focal points of Harry’s story and attention? Top Sprout Moments in the Potter series include devil's snare, mandrakes, keeping Hogwarts open and more Sprout, Snape, and Neville: we discuss Herbology's role in the series and its relationship to Potions Quizzitch: What is the common name of the family of flowering plants, solenacaeae, which include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell and chili peppers? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Visit ThirdLove.com/MuggleCast for 20% off your perfect fitting bra) and Quip (visit GetQuip.com/muggle to get a free plastic gum dispenser with any refill plan). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take note! The new-ish Harry Potter Database is keeping track of deleted and never-seen scenes from the movies, with stills and even script excerpts! Including the alternate ending from Goblet of Fire that we mentioned last week. It's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts! The hosts honor the occasion by looking at what the movie left out from the book. How do the hosts feel about the Harry/Voldemort face-off, now that they've reread it? What role would Andrew, Laura, Micah, and Eric taken in defending the school? Would any particular moment during the Battle of Hogwarts have caused us to retreat or rethink our strategy? What is the one thing that we'd change after all these years about what happened during the Battle of Hogwarts in the book? Listeners weigh in with the top things they would change as well. Which character who died would Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah save, and who would we kill in their place? We eulogize those who lost their lives on this fateful day in the book series. Quizzitch: What is the final sentence in Deathly Hallows prior to the epilogue?Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies, makers of the most comfortable underwear (get 15% off your first order at MeUndies.com/mugglecast) and HelloFresh (Get 12 free meals plus free shipping, at HelloFresh.com/12muggle, and using code 12muggle) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News: Harry Potter flagship store opening on June 3 in New York City, but not everyone on the panel is into the news. This week’s episode is all MuggleMail! Did Harry's "I am The Chosen One" line miss its mark with some fans? Listeners share lots of feedback on our Fred and George episode! We even hear from several twins! Should you omit "problematic" parts of the books when reading Harry Potter to your children? Seline from South Australia sparks a spirited discussion about teaching basic reading, writing and arithmetic at Hogwarts! Do the hosts enjoy the books more because the movies omit so much? We examine a secret deleted scene from the Goblet of Fire movie Night Crawler: Wasn't Harry old enough to crawl or even walk away from the Dursley's doorstep at the beginning of Sorcerer's Stone? Everyone seems to want a Harry Potter TV show. Well, what if it's really bad? Is Ron the glue that holds the trio together? What was Hermione doing on the train ride to Hogwarts while Harry and Ron were in the flying Ford Anglia? Why weren't students told Voldemort's real name? We answer a vintage email from August 2007! Did Ron use Helga Hufflepuff's Cup to gain entrance to the Chamber of Secrets? Quizzitch: What is the mathematical formula for determining the circumference of a circle? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and Usual Wines (get your first glass on us by using code ‘mugglecast’ at checkout)! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News: British star of stage, film and TV Helen McCrory has died. We wish the best to her family and loved ones. Main Discussion: Former MuggleNet Fan Fiction moderator Laura Tee is here to discuss fanfic! Have the MuggleCast hosts read fanfic before? Why or why not? Was there a stigma attached in the early days? Laura runs through some common Harry Potter fanfic tropes including American exchange students, students getting "HOT" over the summer, and replacement love interests for Snape. The hosts have each read some of the most popular Potter fanfics as suggested by our listeners, and are here to dish! In "The Very Secret Diary" by Arabella, Laura found a depth to Ginny's character that was lacking for her in the books. Eric describes the 700,000 word Hermione time-travel epic, "The Debt of Time" by ShayaLonnie Debt of Time is so massive that it even has its own read-through podcast, Firewhisky and Honey. Micah's choice for fan fiction, "In the Light of the Stars" by little0bird, features a lot of diversity as a teenaged McGonagall navigates wartime Britain. Draco and Hermione meet repeatedly for coffee in Andrew's new favorite fanfic, "Remain Nameless" by HeyJude19. After talking about SO MUCH fan fiction, and listing off some honorable mentions, the hosts try their own hand at writing fanfiction with prompts given to them by Laura! Andrew reads his heartwarming meetcute for adult Scorpius Malfoy and Albus-Severus Potter. Micah adds a new best friend on to the journey Hagrid and Maxime take through the mountains in his fanfic. ...and Eric reads his scene in which My Chemical Romance headlines the Yule Ball at Hogwarts. Quizzitch: Which member of American rock band MCR dropped out of college to join the band? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and MasterClass (Get 15% off an annual subscription at MasterClass.com/mugglecast)! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Main Discussion: What Would We Change About The Harry Potter Books & Movies? A couple of Mary GrandPre's book covers should've taken a different direction! It's Philosopher's Stone, NOT Sorcerer's Stone! Get with it, America! What's Buggin' Micah returns as he Americanizes the other Harry Potter book titles Enough Expelliarmus, Harry! Don't you know more than one spell? Justice for Slytherin! What in the world was that final fight scene between Harry and Voldemort? Too many directors, not enough consistency! Plainclothes Hogwarts students - this isn't an Abercrombie & Fitch ad! Why is every major wizard duel made to look like Priori Incantatem? Our patrons weigh in with their book & movie changes! Why does Harry break the Elder Wand? Where is S.P.E.W.? Why does Bellatrix burn down The Burrow? Moody Sirius, Sassy Harry, Tonks & Lupin, Grawp and more! Quizzitch: What is the British Television series from 2003 which was directed by David Yates, and scored by Nicholas Hooper? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies and Quip! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News: Warner Bros' recent deal with Regal means a shorter window between theaters and streaming for future Wizarding World films. This week, we focus our attention on Fred and George Weasley, in celebration of their April 1st birthday. Following up on our Ron discussion, we read the Twins' horoscope (Aries) for insight into their personality. Is it strange for George to marry Angelina Johnson, after Fred's death? The hosts weigh in. The Weasley Twins have traits that can be found in each of their other family members, like Percy's ambition and Arthur's ingenuity. Are Fred and George the most entrepreneurial characters in Harry Potter? Eric asks: Can readers readily tell the twins apart from one another in the books? It turns out, Fred and George really do have different personalities! One of the twins often "goes too far," while the other is more restrained. The hosts read textual evidence to support the findings. From harming childhood pets to forcing Unbreakable Vows and feeding acid pops, one Weasley Twin sure has a mean streak, even toward his family members! Check out MuggleCast #235 for our interview with Oliver Phelps. Our patrons weigh in on the top Weasley Twins moments... together. On Bonus MuggleCast, available on Patreon this week, the hosts celebrate March Madness by competing in a Weasley Twins Quotes bracket The MuggleCasters gift each other one product from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Quizzitch: What TWO things do the Twins bewitch Percy's badge to say in the books? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! This week's MuggleCast is brought to you by ThirdLove. Visit Thirdlove.com/mugglecast for 20% off today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Bradley Bakes, a YouTuber in the United Kingdom who’s currently baking his way through the entire Harry Potter book series! Bradley shares why he started creating every food and drink item mentioned in the Harry Potter books 64 recipes for Sorcerer's Stone, 54 recipes for Chamber of Secrets - what's next on the menu? Golden Snitch Lemon Meringue Pie... Whomping Willow Chocolate Cabbage Cake... Bradley puts a twist on some notable Potter items! Bradley shares a few simple recipes the listeners (and hosts) can try at home and the most challenging food for him to make How long does each recipe take from start to finish? What's it like to shop for all of these delicious items? Which item in the upcoming books is Bradley most looking forward to making? MuggleCast gets its very own recipe! Fans have no excuses for their next Harry Potter party! Be sure to check Bradley out on YouTube, Instagram and his blog! Snog, Marry, Avada Kedavra returns! Can the hosts name the Top 50 Most Mentioned Characters in the Harry Potter series without naming those outside the Top 50? You give a try! Quizzitch: The night Norbert is born, Hagrid makes the trio tea and offers them which food that they refuse? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked our listeners, following last week's discussion, what fan films they would like to see made. From Arthur and Molly's courtship, to Regulus' thwarting of Voldemort, the hosts discuss what the best plots yet to be seen could look like. Since Ilvermorny has been more or less forgotten about by the author, should fans take it back / make it their own? This week's episode is all MuggleMail! Theories on how Ron inherited Charlie's wand, and similarities between Hogwarts and boarding school arrive in hushed tones in new voicemails from our listeners. We've received a litany of responses to our Security Nightmare series, agreeing that Hagrid, the Floo Network, the troll, and the Chamber of Secrets all prove Hogwarts is not safe. We hear from a listener who homeschools her kid and loves sharing Harry Potter as a proud parent. MuggleMail covers other topics such as: Could Harry and a Young Tom Riddle be romantically involved? Could Mrs. Norris be a secret Animagus? And how one listener feels about the women of Harry Potter. We answer a vintage email from August 2007! Where is 13-year-old Blake now? Quizzitch: What secret does the Grey Lady say Rowena Ravenclaw kept from the other founders? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month of therapy at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MuggleCasters recently appeared on Evanna Lynch’s ChickPeeps podcast, where we nerded out on Harry Potter - check it out! We remember Harry Potter fandom icon Nigel Taylor (Vladimir Snape) Grab the popcorn, candy and soda and hide it inside Laura's huge purse, because this week, we're going to the movies! In our main discussion this week, we review several excellent Harry Potter Fan-Made Short Films We review some of the best fan-made movies over the last several years Severus Snape the The Marauders Voldemort: Origins of the Heir Lily Evans and the Eleventh Hour Life After Fred Dumbledore and Grindelwald: For The Greater Good Harrey Podder: Say The Magic Word Sisters of House of Black The hosts give their own ideas for a Harry Potter short film Quizzitch: At what United States college was A Very Potter Musical written and first performed? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MD Acne (Take the quiz and get your first month supply for free, just pay shipping). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Slug Club guest Olivia! The Hogwarts Legacy video game will reportedly allow for players to customize their character's gender identity. To celebrate International Womens Day 2021, the hosts discuss achievements by women in the Harry Potter series Not only did Lily Potter save her son, but she ended the war with Voldemort the first time, saving thousands of lives! Hermione has saved Ron and Harry's lives more times than we can count! Ginny overcame the trauma of Tom Riddle's teenage Horcrux and turned out well adjusted, in spite of a lack of psychological services at Hogwarts Fleur Delacour and Nymphadora Tonks distinguish themselves as strong and powerful witches Sirius Black's mother defeats the Order of the Phoenix! How comes nobody could get her painting down? The hosts uncomfortably talk about Umbridge's attack on Privet Drive and Harry, before they even met. Others we discuss include Luna, Professor McGonagall, Narcissa, and Molly. Do the ladies on our panel feel like women in the series were brought to the forefront in a way they're happy with? To wrap up our International Womens Day celebration, the hosts tackle multiple choice trivia questions based on J.K. Rowling's Witch or Wizard of the Month segment And finally, we recognize that the author herself faced an uphill battle in the publishing industry as a woman, which she overcame. Quizzitch: Name this famous female campaigner for breaking the Statute of Secrecy, she's been imprisoned several times for her blatant and deliberate use of magic in public placesVisit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MD Acne (Take the quiz and get your first month supply for free, just pay shipping) and ThirdLove (Get 20% off your first purchase) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Birthday, Ronald Bilius Weasley! Today we're kicking off a new monthly feature, where we’ll be hosting a main character discussion timed around their birthday. We start with Ron! One of the most underrated characters in the Wizarding World, let's get Ron's Fandom ID! We discuss our first impressions of Harry's best friend and Ron's complex about his family's socioeconomic status What were our favorite Ron moments in the books? What was his defining chapter? What were some of Ron's worst character moments? We discuss The Yule Ball Dating Lavender, and more. In celebration of Rupert Grint, we share our favorite Ron scenes from the movies! ... But we can't forget all the great Ron moments that were given to Hermione in the films! What would each of the hosts get Ron for his birthday? We play two Ron-themed games: Snog, Marry, Avada Kedavra and Two Truths, One Lie! Quizzitch: What did Fred turn into a spider when Ron was three? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MDAcne (Visit MDAcne.com/mugglecast to get your first month supply free!) and HelloFresh (Visit HelloFresh.com/12muggle and use code 12 muggle for 12 FREE meals!) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Wizards Unite finally confirm a long-standing theory about Lavender Brown? Main Discussion: All The Ways That Hogwarts Is A Security Nightmare For decades, students and teachers have been lied to about Hogwarts safety! Are moving staircases really a good idea? The Forbidden Forest & Black Lake are no place for students of any age! The Triwizard Tournament? Ask Cedric Diggory how that turned out! Background check, anyone? We discuss how professors like Quirrell, Lockhart, Hagrid & Impostor Moody endangered the students year-after-year. Quidditch... need we say more? Dear Dumbledore, you REALLY couldn't find the the Chamber of Secrets? Or the giant snake? The Whomping Willow (emphasis on whomping) Mental health check: should students really be experiencing their worst fears (Boggarts) in front of each other? Remember that year Dementors "safeguarded" the school? Listeners weigh in with their security concerns, including The Room of Requirement, Portraits, Secret Passages and more! Are parents ever notified about all of the dangers at Hogwarts? Quizzitch: After Neville falls off his broom in Year 1 who tells Malfoy to shut up? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MDAcne (take the quiz and get your first month's supply for free, just pay shipping) and BetterHelp (receive 10% off your first month)! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new Harry Potter Exhibition will be touring the globe. How similar will it be to the one we've already been to? The hosts discuss how they would like to see Fantastic Beasts 3 start, from blood pact flashbacks to a street chase in Rio! Will director David Yates finally make a substantive flashback sequence? Will the colors of this film at last be cheery and bright? Lynx Line: Our Patrons weigh in with their opening ideas. What if our heroes are all turned into Nifflers? Could Leta Lestrange still be alive? Voicemails cover thoughts on being an adult Harry Potter fan, how John Williams joined the world of Harry Potter, getting our kids into Harry, and what if Voldemort had killed Draco? Ron, Neville, and Ginny are three potential POV's that our e-mails analyze for the story. The last two e-mails involve Snape and his love for Lily. What if Harry had been a girl, and did he leave Harry under the rubble in Godric's Hollow? We answer a question sent to us in July 2007! Our pick-up lines segment from Episode 500 inspired a Chicken Soup segment this week. Quizzitch: When Harry and Dumbledore Apparate to the Cave, what is the first spell Dumbledore uses? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MeUndies and Quip Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We made it to Episode 500! To celebrate, we have a fun a look at MuggleCast By The Numbers How many emails have we received over the years? How many times has the show been downloaded? Which host has appeared on the most episodes? Guess That MuggleCast Episode Title! Eric quizzes Andrew, Laura and Micah on some of the more memorable episode titles on the last 15 years! To celebrate Valentine's Day, we set the mood and deliver some of the best Harry Potter Pickup Lines Alternate Universe Pairings that've been popular head cannon: could Harry and Luna have really happened? What about Hermione and Draco? Remus and Sirius? We examine some of the more popular head canon couples in the series and try to identify the turning point where they could have become a reality! What Hogwarts House is your soulmate in? Take the quiz! Quizzitch: How far did Harry throw the gnome that bit him? This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Get 20% off your order at the link!) and our newest sponsor Magic Spoon (hit the link and use promo code 'mugglecast' for $5 off your first order!) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our listener and Patron Julia, whose son Wyatt sent us a great question a few weeks ago. News: As we predicted, a Potter television series is reportedly in the works. And, Fantastic Beasts 3 finishes filming this week! In Bonus MuggleCast, available on our Patron, we'll discuss when to expect more news and updates about the third Fantastic Beasts movie. Today we discuss the trials and tribulations of being an adult fan of the Harry Potter series! The hosts discuss whether they've received backlash for liking Harry Potter as adults. How the New York Times Bestseller List cleverly sidelined Harry Potter back in the heyday to make room for more "adult" book series Eric discovered a 2003 Telegraph article overflowing with derision for adults who like "kids movies" We discuss the United Kingdom "adult edition" book covers, and ask why Scholastic never did the same thing in the United States. Listeners who got into Harry Potter as adults weigh in over on Twitter! When is the best time to get your child into Harry Potter? Julia gives her thoughts! Troll in the Dungeon: Andrew takes on 3 incredible personas and grills the hosts to defend their love of Harry. Quizzitch: What statue resides next to the Prefect’s Bathroom? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News: With a new appointment at Warner Brothers, could a Harry Potter television show be in our future? (Note: This episode was recorded before The Hollywood Reporter reported on January 25 that a live-action Harry Potter series is officially in development, but our news discussion still relates to the news) It's Not Just For Kids! Listeners weigh in on Ollivander's wand choosing ceremony at the Wizarding World theme park. Main Discussion: Harry Potter Companion Novels. As we continue the 20th anniversary celebration of the Sorcerer's Stone movie, whose eyes would we want to see the first story through? Twilight and Fifty Shades have taken this approach: have other book series? (MuggleCast interviewed Twilight author Stephenie Meyer back on Episode 156). What would Sorcerer's Stone look like from Professor Quirrell's perspective? Would Draco Malfoy and Boy Who Snubbed Me be a bestseller? Would readers enjoy Severus Snape's story and his constant struggle to protect the son of his worst enemy? Andrew takes us further into the series looking at Prisoner of Azkaban through Hermione's eyes. Other characters discussed include: Firenze, Professor McGonagall, Remus Lupin and Hagrid. Why did none of the hosts choose Ron? Dumbledore? Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul (from Greece) Quizzitch: What is Albus Dumbledore’s favorite flavor of jam? Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Slug Club member Pablo to the show! Spanish language speakers, check out Pablo's HP podcast Cuarantena 9 3/4! In a bit of sad news, Hogwarts Legacy has been given a 2022 release window, not 2021 as we had hoped. How will the hosts fill the time without the new game? By checking out other games like Micah? The Sorcerer's Stone movie turns 20 this year! To celebrate, we'll be hosting discussions about the first film throughout the year! The hosts discuss which character was given the best introduction in the movie. The rest of today's episode is all MuggleMail! The hosts answer your e-mails and voicemails Why don't we hear more about teachers' spouses at Hogwarts? Should Samuel L. Jackson voice the Sorting Hat on a new TV series? We listen to his audition tape. Did Dumbledore fail to protect Frank and Alice Longbottom sufficiently in the wake of the death of the Potters? 12-year-old listener Wyatt asks us, would throwing a Horcrux through The Veil destroy it? The hosts ruminate on whether a Chapter by Chapter reboot lays in our future. Quizzitch: Which actress reportedly turned down the role of the witch Sybil Trelawney in “Prisoner of Azkaban” because she did not believe boarding school life should be glorified? This week’s episode is sponsored by Quip (Get a free dispenser for their new chewing gum) and MeUndies (Get 15% off your first order Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2021 - our 16th year of Potter podcasting! What Harry Potter gifts did we receive over the holidays? Main Discussion: The New Year's Resolutions of Harry Potter Characters But first... the host share resolutions of their own! Which character shouldn’t make promises he can’t keep? Who might want to regularly check on his Horcruxes this year? Which character should wash his socks? Smile more? From Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix to Neville and Lavender Brown, our Patrons weigh in with their Potter character resolutions! For more fun, we discuss what Harry Potter lines we and fellow fans say out loud? The hosts try their hand at some of most notable lines in the Harry Potter series! Quizzitch: Which actor, who had worked with Chris Columbus before, asked to audition for Hagrid? This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Receive 10% off your first month) and ThirdLove (visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 20% off your first purchase). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2020 comes to a close, we're so thankful to have all of you! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! To celebrate the holidays, the hosts each pick a Harry Potter-themed cocktail of their choice and taste test live on air! See who comes out the winner as Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah battle it out for the title of Heads Up champ! Main Discussion: 2020 Year in Review. From Grindelwald's recasting to J.K. Rowling's tweets to Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter at Home, we reflect on the most notable Potter moments of 2020 And on top of it all, we celebrated our 15th anniversary! Muggle Mail covers some thoughts on our gizmos and gadgets episode, a defining chapter for Molly Weasley and more! Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul Quizzitch: The Fizzing Whizbee is said to contain parts of which Fantastic Beast? This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 10% off your first purchase), Literati (get 25% off your first two orders!) and BetterHelp (Receive 10% off your first month). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast, where this week we look ahead and discuss what to expect for the Wizarding World in 2021! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts are joined by Dave Jorgenson, Washington Post's TikTok Guy, who's a huge Harry Potter fan and a longtime MuggleCast listener! Dave is a long-time listener of MuggleCast and has his finger on the pulse of Harry Potter TikTok trends. This week's Main Discussion: The gadgets and gizmos of the Wizarding World We ask this of each gadget: How does it work? Is it cool or dumb or dangerous? Also, what would we pay for each? Far fewer people are on Team Cool regarding Dumbledore's Put-Outer than you'd expect! And what's up with the change in name to Deluminator? Wizards' Chess sets and the Flying Ford Anglia both get passing grades and positive reviews. The Monster Book of Monsters and Pocket Sneakoscope fall behind... ...and the Time Turner also turns some heads! Omnioculars, Wormtail's Hand, Decoy Detonators, and Auto-Answer Quill receive mixed feedback... ...while the Pensieve, Quick Quotes Quill, and Hermione's beaded bag impress everyone! Which gadget would you most like to own? Did we leave any out? Send us an e-mail and let us know! Quizzitch: After the First Task, what does George hear when Harry opens the Golden Egg? Find Dave on Twitter where he tries to make the world a better place. ...and check out Dave's episode on Eric's new podcast for more info about the TikToks and his history with the fandom! This week's episode is sponsored by MeUndies (get 15% off your first order at MeUndies.com/mugglecast), Quip (get your first refill free at GetQuip.com/muggle), and Usual Wines (get your first glass on us by using code 'mugglecast' at checkout) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the holiday season, so we're discussing some great fan-made Harry Potter item with MuggleCast listener and Etsy creator Hannah, owner of Flighty Temptress Adventures! Hannah shares her story of becoming a fan creator, product creation, her favorite item and the community overall The hosts share some of the main reasons they support fan creators How long will the market for fan-made Harry Potter items last? Jewelry? Artwork? What fan-made products have the hosts purchased over the years? Host recommendations: CrestCrossed (shirts, patches and more that merge the Hogwarts Houses), Cards Against Muggles, HeadBandz, SouthCoasters (Harry Potter themed drink coasters), HollowBooks, AniaArtNL's House Banners, Diagon Alley watercolor print, Harry Potter AirPod cases, Book Page earrings and Art By Fox Listener recommendations: Rogue Rose Gifts (knitted items including your very own Weasley sweater), Story Hero (protective book sleeves), Painted Book Edges, Almandol's Custom Mugs, Diagon Alley & Hogwarts Staircase Bookshelf Inserts, Snail Customs (custom Funkos), BriarWick Candles, Ultra Plush and Snuggly Harry Potter Lovey Security Blanket Given the unprecedented food lines in the United States, this year, MuggleCast will be making a donation to No Kid Hungry. To find out more, visit nokidhungry.org. Muggle Mail covers Hagrid and Harry's defining chapters Quizzitch: What’s the first thing that Harry Potter buys in Diagon Alley? Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 10% off your first purchase), BeachBody (text ‘mugglecast’ to 30-30-30 to receive a free trial!) and Usual Wines (Enter code "MuggleCast" for $8 off your first order and your first glass on us!) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! In Bonus MuggleCast, we'll be fantasy gifting each other some of the fan-made items we mentioned in the show and coming up with our own Harry Potter Etsy creations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to all who came out to Quizzitch Live: Weasley Thanksgiving edition! If you missed it, watch it now! Main Discussion: What chapters from the Harry Potter books best define the "Big Seven" characters? Is Harry's heroism better represented anywhere than in "The Forest Again"? Does Draco's inaction speak as much to his character as his inaction? Can a character's defining chapter be the chapter in which they are introduced? The hosts propose runner-up chapters that show different sides of a character Ginny and Neville both assert themselves in the chapters we chose. Is Luna Lovegood's defining chapter one in which she does not physically appear?! Listeners weigh in with defining chapters for additional characters! Quizzitch: Who did Snape tell off for using the word “Mudblood,” during the Prince's Tale? And who was it said about? This week's episode is sponsored by Usual Wines (Enter code "MuggleCast" for $8 off your first order and your first glass on us!), Literati (get 25% off your first two orders!) and BetterHelp (Receive 10% off your first month). In Bonus MuggleCast, available exclusively on Patreon, we'll be discussing Dumbledore and Snape's defining chapters, or CHAPTER?! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! And, participate in our magical Holiday gift exchange. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanksgiving is all about family! Join us for a Weasley Family-themed Quizzitch Live on Sunday, November 22nd! The hosts share their reactions to the news that Mads Mikkelson will replace Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts series MuggleCasTBT: In May 2016, which characters did we predict we’d see in the Fantastic Beasts series? The answers may surprise you! Main Discussion: Which character would we want to be in the Harry Potter series, and why? Charlie Weasley? Nearly-Headless Nick? For real?!?! Listeners weigh in with their picks including Oliver Wood, Crookshanks, Luna Lovegood, Celestina Warbeck and more! We dig deep into the Muggle Mail bag to answer some lingering questions The "real" Harry Potter fan debate continues Why is Slytherin House still allowed to exist? Could Sirius going to Azkaban have been part of Dumbledore's larger plan? Why is Harry so good at resisting the Imperius Curse? Could it be the Horcrux? Will it really be that hard for fans to adjust to a new Grindelwald? Should fans stop complaining about plot holes and let J.K. Rowling finish the Fantastic Beasts series first? One listener thinks so! Quizzitch: Rhys Ifans, who plays Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, shares a birthday with this Canadian quiz show host. (You must answer in the form of a question) This week's episode is sponsored by Quip (visit GetQuip.com/Muggle and get your first refill free), BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast for 10% off), and BeachBody (text ‘mugglecast’ to 30-30-30 to receive a free trial!). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! And, participate in our magical Holiday gift exchange. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanksgiving is all about family; join us for a Weasley Family-themed Quizzitch Live on Sunday, November 22nd! Breaking News: Johnny Depp is OUT as Grindelwald! Warner Bros reportedly asked Johnny to leave the role. Andrew breaks down what happened and details a chain of events. Why is this happening now, and why didn't it happen sooner? WB gave him the professional courtesy of stepping down with dignity, but was Johnny Depp actually fired? Is Fantastic Beasts a doomed series? Is it a sinking ship of controversy? Is it cursed? Hosts read listener-submitted casting suggestions for a new Grindelwald, and we present our own suggestions! Would Colin Farrell come back as Graves/Grindelwald, and would that make sense? Will Grindelwald's appearance be worked into the plot of future films? And will this still be 5-part series? Guess That Book returns! Can the hosts correctly guess what Harry Potter book that four out-of-context audio clips are from? Quizzitch: Actor Jamie Campbell Bower starred alongside Johnny Depp in what film before FB2? Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast for 10% off), UsualWines (Use our discount code 'mugglecast' for $8 off and your first wine on us!), and ThirdLove (Visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 10% off your first purchase). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! And, participate in our magical Holiday gift exchange. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of Halloween, we hosted a brand-new, spoooooky edition of Quizzitch Live! Join us later this November for another round of trivia! News: MinaLima confirms they are working on a Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition while Laura introduces us to the latest trend on TikTok... POTTAH! Muggle Mail covers Halloween Happenings at Hogwarts, additional Potter plot holes and more scary moments from Chamber of Secrets and Deathly Hallows! With Election Day upon us, this week's main discussion focuses on Politics of the Wizarding World! Neville Chamberlain & The Mitford Sisters: which historic figures do we think may have inspired certain characters in the Harry Potter series? We discuss Nazi Germany's connection to the plots of both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Government corruption: Cornelius Fudge, Lucius Malfoy and Dolores Umbridge Why Hagrid's arrest, Dumbledore's banishment and Buckbeak's execution defined Ministry interference and governmental abuse of power How The Daily Prophet acts as state-influenced media What problems do we think the wizarding government needs to address? Why does The International Statute of Secrecy still exist? Can we please banish Time Turners, Love Potions and Veritaserum already? Could the political aspects of Harry Potter be one of the reasons we love the series so much? The results are in from our "You Decide 2020 Minster of Magic" campaign! Find out who won: Hermione Granger, Aberforth Dumbledore, Kingsley Shacklebolt or Dolores Umbridge? Quizzitch: Which Minister founded the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul This week's episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh (visit HelloFresh.com/muggle90 and use code muggle90 at checkout for $90 off your order!) and MeUndies (visit MeUndies.com/mugglecast to see their new line of Harry Potter undies!) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of Halloween, we're hosting our next Quizzitch Live this Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m. ET! We hope to see you there! Chris Hansen takes on Tom Riddle! Watch it on our social media channels later this week. Only one week left until Election Day! Please make sure you are registered to vote in your state right now by visiting IWillVote.com. You can also find out great ballot information at BallotReady.org and sign up to be a poll worker at PowerThePolls.org. We review the brand-new, beautifully illustrated MinaLima edition of Sorcerer's Stone. How does it compare to the Jim Kay Illustrated Series? We discuss how having worked on the Harry Potter films brings a whole new perspective to this illustrated edition Pop-ups galore: Dumbledore's watch, Hogsmeade, The Fat Lady Portrait and more! Main Discussion: The Most Controversial Opinions in the Harry Potter series What are the Harry Potter opinions that you think would get you in trouble? That would have people flinging an Unforgivable Curse at you? That would cause Umbridge to write a new decree about you? Is Hermione a terrible person? Are people who’ve only watched the movies and haven’t read the books "real" fans? Could the chapters that aren’t about Harry be the best parts of the series? Was the attack on The Burrow a good addition to the Half-Blood Prince movie? Were the Marauders, while intelligent and witty, actually total a**holes? Was Remus Lupin horrible for not writing to Harry in Year 1? Quizzitch: What is Harry wearing during his first dream in Gryffindor Tower? This week's episode is sponsored by Peacock TV (watch the Harry Potter movies for free, all October long!) and BeachBody (text ‘mugglecast’ to 30-30-30 to receive a free trial!). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our annual Halloween episode and we discuss the scariest moments in the Harry Potter series! Some our favorite past Halloween episodes have included Episode 61: Ghosts in Harry Potter and Episode 343: Halloween Happening! In Sorcerer's Stone: Fluffy and Professor Quirrell's death are just two of the most terrifying moments for 11-year-old Harry. Aragog, the Baslisk, Tom Riddle's possession of Ginny and Gilderoy Lockhart - could Chamber of Secrets be the scariest book in the series? With werewolves, mass murderers, death omens and dementors, Prisoner of Azkaban certainly holds its own! Goblet of Fire gave us Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup, the madness of Mr. Crouch, an impostor professor and the return of Voldemort! Terrifying gets taken to new level with Dolores Umbridge in Order of the Phoenix! Did Inferi, Horcruxes, Dumbledore reliving his worst memory or Katie Bell's attack give us the biggest scare in Half-Blood Prince? We can't conclude the discussion without mentioning Bathilda "Nagini" Bagshot and Bellatrix's torture of Hermione in Deathly Hallows! Acromantulas, Lethifolds, Kelpies and more! The hosts muster up their best Halloween voices to describe some of the creepiest beasts in the Harry Potter series! Quizzitch: How many Muggles did the Opal Necklace reportedly kill? PSA for the USA: Many voter registration deadlines are approaching in the United States. Please make sure you are registered to vote in your state right now by visiting IWillVote.com. You can also find out great ballot information at BallotReady.org and sign up to be a poll worker at PowerThePolls.org. This week's episode is sponsored by Peacock TV (watch the Harry Potter movies for free, all October long!) and Quip (Visit GetQuip.com/Muggle and get your first refill free)! Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like Bonus MuggleCast, where this week, in celebration of Halloween, the hosts share their Boggarts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PSA for the USA: Many voter registration deadlines are approaching in the United States. Please make sure you are registered to vote in your state right now by visiting IWillVote.com. You can also find out great ballot information at BallotReady.org and sign up to be a poll worker at PowerThePolls.org. Quidditch Through the Ages gets a fully-illustrated edition by Emily Gravett. We dig into the book and share what we love about it! The new edition has an illustration on every page, and nearly 3 times the page count of the original book, plus -- Andrew's confirmed -- unique paper stock. Are there bits in this new book that weren't in the original? The hosts discuss Emily's impressive world building, and how it feels like a history book. What are our favorite new illustrations, and where does this version rank among other illustrated books? Debate Segment: Is Quidditch a dumb or amazing sport? Be sure to vote in our polls on social media later this week, to help us determine who won the dbeate! MuggleMail addresses more plot holes. How does Lily's love protection work? Why did the portkey take Harry back to the maze? We finally get some satisfying answers. The hosts play a game: Avada Kedavra, Imperio, Love Potion with characters from Fantastic Beasts! Quizzitch: Who was the seeker for the Irish National Quidditch team in 1994? This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (get 10% off your perfect fitting bra by visiting ThirdLove.com/mugglecast) and Peacock TV (watch the Harry Potter movies for free, all October long!) Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PSA for the USA: Many voter registration deadlines are approaching in the United States. Please make sure you are registered to vote in your state right now by visiting IWillVote.com. You can also find out great ballot information at BallotReady.org and sign up to be a poll worker at PowerThePolls.org. MuggleMail covers Dumbledore and Tom Riddle's first encounter and Voldemort's ability to love Our Main Discussion focuses on The Biggest Plot Holes in the Harry Potter books! The Lost Day: What was happening in those initial 24 hours after the Potters were killed? Why didn’t James Potter become his own Secret Keeper? Time Turners galore! Why didn’t anyone go back in time to stop Voldemort? How is it Peter Pettigrew was never noticed on the Marauder’s Map by Fred & George? Why didn't Lupin warn Harry about Sirius' animagus form? How did the Triwizard Cup function as a (reverse) portkey to bring Harry back to Hogwarts at the end of Goblet of Fire? Why doesn’t Voldemort have all his Death Eaters make an Unbreakable Vow? What's the deal with the trace? The truth about Veritaserum... it could have made quite the difference! Quizzitch: Who was Fudge’s opponent in running for Minister for Magic? You can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week's episode is brought to you by Peacock (Watch the Harry Potter movies for free all October long!) and MeUndies (get 15% off and free shipping on your first order by visiting MeUndies.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Slug Club member Shyam! He, too, has gotten a letter from the author! MuggleMail includes MORE casting of gingers, Sorting Hats, Slytherins and Aussies. Could the eventual Potter TV show be on network television, rather than a streaming app? Our main discussion this week is about orphans in literature! Why are there so many, and how are they alike? Are there benefits for authors wanting to start a hero off with a blank slate that makes orphaning them appealing? How does Harry's orphan status affect him? What would change if Lily and James survived? What about Voldemort? He, too, is an orphan, but he and Harry are so different, or are they? We examine some other notable orphans: Batman, Superman, Anna and Elsa from Frozen, James Bond and even Jane Eyre! For Quizzitch: Who invented the spell Muffliato?? You can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week's episode is brought to you by BeachBody. Text 'mugglecast' to 30-30-30 to receive a free trial! Bonus MuggleCast this week is us reading the new trailer for our show! Live to tape, including bad impersonations and the public debut of Southern!Hagrid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices