The Potter Discussion: Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and the Wizarding World Fandom

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the recent casting of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and who should be cast next. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:36 The Deadline article said Malfoy, Cho Chang, and Cedric Diggory were more prized roles. Really? Chang and Diggory cover only a few books. Malfoy is an important casting, however. The actor has to understand how little Malfoy understands about himself.·      10:19 Neville has a long arc, and one that should be thoroughly explored. We need an actor who can show just how much Neville learns, but also how much heart he has from the beginning.·      14:29 The Weasley family should fall into place now that we have Ron. Every one of them has a big part in the story and we should have them soon. Ginny might even be improved upon because of how fiery she was painted into the story, but how mild she came across in the film.·      19:09 The Dursley family should be terrible. I want to watch the first season and really hate the Dursleys. In the films, they're certainly mean, but we don't dislike them as much as we could. The moment when Hagrid takes Harry to Hogwarts would be so much sweeter if he was escaping from a terrible family.·      22:38 Voldemort. If the whole first episode is focused on Voldemort, that would be a major victory. He has an ancient air about him that suggests he has been through a lot, and he is willing to kill to achieve his goals. Ralph Fiennes is the perfect actor for this, and we need someone with the same deadly calm.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we analyze the larger implications of Fred's death. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:14 Fred is killed in the Battle of Hogwarts in the seventh book. It really represents the death of Harry's past, and puts into starker contrast the fact that he can never go back. Of course, Harry can't go back to events that have already happened, but this is just a symbolic death that more absolutely illustrates the finality of this battle.·      12:34 This is not a game. Fred is light-hearted and full of life and humor. He is a character who we except to live forever. We know that there will be some death, but Fred seems almost removed from this. So when he is killed, it is a shocking blow that really shows us that this battle will not be without blood.·      15:48 The battle will not be without sacrifice. Voldemort has to sacrifice a lot to get where he is. Killing and making horcruxes is his MO. Fred's death shows us that Harry and the others also have to make sacrifices in order to win. Those sacrifices will often be in the form of death.·      23:13 The end of Percy's arc. He returns to Hogwarts for the beginning of the battle, then witnesses the death of his brother. These are the two major events in the story that mark the end of his arc. He made choices in early books that he may come to regret, and the time he spent with the ministry took him away from his family and gave him less time with Fred. This is the fragmented ending he merits.·      29:40 It makes it personal for the Weasleys. Seeing some members of the Order dead is terrible. But it's not quite personal for other people. To see Fred dead in the Great Hall hits right at home for them.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the Battle of Hogwarts in the TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:09 The charge of the houselves. This moment is only in the book, but is impactful. Kreacher has finally found something that he believes in, and it would be a shame if his arc ends without that final resolution of charging into battle. This shows us that everyone is involved. ·      10:21 Fred's death. This is one of the most shocking deaths in the battle because it represents the death of Harry's past. Fred was full of life and humor with so much ahead of him, but that all came to an end. We don't even get to see it in the film, despite the fact that it is a big moment in the book.·      15:56 Peeves. He is famously left out of the films, but he has been cast in the TV show. Peeves in fighting on the front lines along with all the rest of the students. This is impactful because he was once the thorn in the side of the castle, but know he puts his jokes aside to stand and fight. It highlights just how important this battle is.·      19:39 The epic final showdown. It is epic in the film, but it's not the same as the book. As cool as it is to watch, I prefer the sequence in the book because of the symbolic nature of the Great Hall and the more final sense in the air.·      24:23 Details that we should include, or not. The flying duel in the air is super weird. They crash into the castle and Voldemort squishes their heads together? I'm good. Harry breaking the elder wand in the film is a great detail that should be included in the TV show. I also want to have a more effective explanation for the transfer of ownership of the elder wand, because it was the motivation for Snape's murder.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss characters that don't deserve a second chance. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:30 Umbridge. She will never deserve a second chance. She was an evil toad in the books and and an even worse person in the books. She likely didn't have a good time of it when she was carried away by the centaurs, but it's hard to feel bad for someone who was as horrible as her.·      7:37 Bellatrix. She's a hotshot in the death eater business ladder, and she is making her way up. That's only because she is a terrible person who kills and tortures. In the third book, she breaks out of Azkaban and then kills Sirius in the fifth. These aren't actions that we can forgive.·      13:46 Lucius. This one isn't as certain, and I might revise my original thoughts to say that he does deserve a second chance. He seems like a mean person on the outside, but as the story progresses, we realize that perhaps what he really wants is family. It becomes increasingly obvious that that is what he really desires.·      17:55 Peter Pettigrew. Peter searches for power, and the biggest bully on the playground. This leads to his betrayal of James and Lily, and eventually why his hand exacts revenge on him in his last moments. He has no loyalty, and therefore no honor.·      22:16 Quirrell. He isn't pure evil like some of these characters are, but he still doesn't deserve a second chance because I don't think he would make the most of it. He only seeks power, and he certainly finds it. He succumbs to Voldemort's draw.·      25:25 Voldemort is not on this list. He has a complicated past with a lot of dark twists and turns, which leads to his complexity as a character as we know him. I don't think we can fully understand him, so perhaps a second chance would give him the opportunity to choose a better path.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we talk about moments in the films that should be in the TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:10 Harry breaking the elder wand. In the book, Harry simply repairs his own wand then returns the elder wand to Dumbledore's grave. It's a nice message, but the film does this much better. Harry snapping the wand and throwing it off the bridge shows a much more powerful ending and a more finite ending to a painful journey. ·      10:04 McGonagall teaching the students to dance. This is a really funny scene and one that deserves a spot in the TV show. But it is also a perfect example of what is to come. Just as Harry has to learn to dance, he also has to learn how to fight and hunt Voldemort. ·      15:15 Harry and Hermione in the tent. After Ron leaves, Hermione wallows in sadness. Harry sees this and leads her in a dance. This illustrates Harry and Hermione's relationship which is one we don't get to see to often. ·      19:14 A weird Voldemort death. Voldemort isn't human at the end, but in the book, he just dies and they put him in a room off the Great Hall. The film makes the wise decision of showing a weird death fitting of someone who has departed humanity, and the TV show should be taking notes. This moment should be more than an old man keeling over.·      24:21 Neville's bridge. He is always making progress, and this last sequence is the final test for him, a test he passes. This bridge scene where he takes down a hoard of death eaters is such an important scene that isn't in the book, and the TV show should include it to finish off Neville's arc in style.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss places we need to see more of in the TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:37 Diagon Alley. In the book, this is the meeting point of the Muggle and magical worlds. It is the first place Harry sees that is truly magical, and also acts as a sanctuary for him later on. When it is taken over, that should mean something for the larger state of the wizarding world.·      10:29 The Burrow. We get a lot of the Burrow in the film, but it's not exactly the same feel. The Burrow is a representation of what Harry lost, and the life he could have had. That doesn't really come across in the films, and the TV show should focus on that more. ·      16:30 The Hogwarts Grounds. We never really get to explore the grounds. Something standing in exploration's way is the plot. With the limited time of a film, we have to have a reason to go out into the grounds. But with hours more in a TV, we should be able to walk about the grounds without a direct reason that relates to the plot.·      21:32 The Ministry of Magic. This is a weirder one, but world building is important. The Ministry works in the shadows and has a big effect on the plot. We should be able to understand more about how it works and why Voldemort taking it over means so much.·      27:04 Hagrid's Hut. It is a magical house and a cool place, but it is also where the trio are in danger. If it's being out of bed after dark or running from werewolves, they seem to be in peril in Hagrid's hut. But I'd rather the hut be a place for them to decompress and feel safe. That would be much more valuable than fearing for their lives. When it burns down, it would be a stronger symbol if it was a warm, happy place.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss some of the major castings that HBO recently confirmed. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:17 Still nothing on the trio? We've already heard a lot surrounding other characters, and now we have confirmed other casting. But the series revolves around Harry, Ron, and Hermione, not these others. They are still important, but why would HBO cast the trio last? Perhaps they are going to dive into the past more…·      9:38 More past? If we have castings of characters that have an important role in the past events of the story, that might mean that the filmmakers are going to give us more of that backstory. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape are some of the most important people for the lore of Harry Potter. That must mean something.·      16:29 These choices are overall good. They all have the look and their interviews and previous roles are in support of their choices. My only worry is with Paapa Essiedu. He has a very active energy that could be put to good use, but thinking of Snape, energetic doesn't come to mind. Alan Rickman portrayed a very cool and stoic Snape to a perfect degree. I don't want to put Essiedu in a box, but that portrayal is going to be hard to top.·      23:45 I want Voldemort! There have been no whispers about who he might be, other than perhaps Cillian Murphy which will probably not come to pass. He is the center of the conflict of the story and the one who drives it forward. Without him, there is little to be had when it comes to backstory and plot. We should be afraid of him. He should be a deadly calm that breaks into madness. When will we find an actor like that?Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss scenes that should never change. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:37 Ollivander's wand shop. This scene sets up the conflict between Voldemort and Harry, and without the careful assembly of this scene, the effect is lost. There's wind and light when Harry finds his wand, and Ollivander tells him of the twin cores and the greatness and terribleness that awaits him.·      8:41 Ron leaving the tent. This scene is really hard to watch, and that is because of the intensity of it. Harry and Ron exchanged words they never would have, and even have a little scuffle. Without the slow bubble and the escalation, this scene means less. We should be mad at the both of them, then realize what just happened when he leaves·      16:05 Battle of the Ministry of Magic. What a great scene. We don't need the exact shots and lighting, but we absolutely need the intensity that is brought by the progression of the battle. The true fight is between Dumbledore and Voldemort, so the run up to that should be a slow ramp up to an explosion of a duel.·      21:00 Final sequence of the Prisoner of Azkaban. Starting when the trio goes down to Hagrid's hut, this is a long sequence. We need to have Sirius standing up to Lupin and getting terribly injured so we realize just how hard he is willing to fight. We also need the fear inspired by the dementors and the fight by the lake to understand the growth of true evil in the world.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss why certain scenes shouldn't have been from Harry's perspective. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:50 James and Lily's murder. This scene is pretty blurry and vague because it's from Harry's perspective. Now that we know what's going, seeing what Voldemort is feeling and how he is defeated would mean more than shots of a baby. This scene from Lily or James would show us how they stood fast and fought for their family and gave their lives so Harry could go on.·      11:21 The sorting ceremony. This is a smaller moment, but we could consider it the beginning of Harry's journey. We should be able to see Dumbledore and how he acknowledges this as the true commencement of the second war against Voldemort.·      16:15 The graveyard. This is Voldemort's big moment and his return. Who else to show us how Voldemort is feeling than the big man himself? After thirteen years of suffering, he can finally walk on his own two feet again and bring darkness to the world. We would learn something about him if we could experience his triumph.·      21:17 The Battle of the Ministry of Magic. Sirius, Bellatrix, Dumbledore, or Voldemort would be such a better choice than Harry! We could begin with him, but once the fighting starts, seeing the duels from Harry's eyes is pretty lame. ·      26:48 Dumbledore's death. This is the climax of Snape and Voldemort's plan. Snape kills Dumbledore to cement his place by Voldemort's side. Notice how Harry isn't really involved? Yeah. Snape's eyes are really the only ones we should be seeing through in this scene. He is forced to kill his mentor and protector, and move into the final stages of their plan. This is the end of their friendship and the end of Dumbledore's life. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the core trait of certain characters in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:23 Dumbledore – Wisdom. He had lived through a lot. Wars, duels, deaths, and so much more. The lessons he has learned are infinite, and can be synthesized into some pretty potent knowledge bombs. Those lessons he teaches Harry are some of the most valuable Harry ever learns.·      8:39 Harry – courage. When it comes to his friends, he never shies away from a challenge. In the Deathly Hallows, Voldemort make it clear that if Harry didn't sacrifice his life, the rest of his friends would be killed. Harry swallowed his fears and was willing to give his life for Voldemort's defeat.·      14:23 Ron – loyalty. From his family, Ron learned that being true to your allies is the most powerful connection. He is intensly loyal to Harry and Hermione, and will protect them to a fault. During the chess match through the trapdoor in the first book, he gives himself up so the other two could go on.·      18:36 McGonagall – principles. She is a very ridged person through many years of fighting Voldemort and teaching at Hogwarts. Her principles of integrity and loyalty are at the fore of her person all the time, and when they come under attack, she meets the challenge. Umbridge tried to take the spirit of Hogwarts in the fifth book, and McGonagall puts her down.·      23:25 Snape – love for Lily. It took me a long time to boil down his character to one trait, but this was the one thing that influenced his path the most. He made all of his major decision because of his love for Lily and his growing desire to protect Harry. That's why he joined Dumbledore, turned spy, and sacrificed his life for Harry's victory.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we design what the first episode of the Harry Potter TV show should be. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:33 We open in Godric's Hallow. It's important that we see the Potters as one big happy family so we can better understand the conflict of their death. For a good few minutes they're living their lives; perhaps Sirius is there too.·      9:14 Voldemort arrives and kills them. This should be more than a few flashes of light and some long, dark cloaks. Not as scary as a horror movie, but some level of true fear might go a long way. We should also get more of Lily and James protecting Harry.·      15:25 Hagrid takes Harry away. The key part of this scene is Sirius. We only learn he was there in the third book, but to see his reaction would plant some great seeds for the later books. Hagrid is also not too distraught in the films. Only McGonagall shows any kind of emotion, which shouldn't be so. Two people were just murdered!·      18:47 Dumbledore talks to the Dursleys. It should be too long, but he should knock on the door and explain the situation with more than a letter and a kid on their doorstep.·       20:23 Now we flash forward. Opening in Harry's cupboard under the stairs on Dudley's birthday. This would be a nice homage to the film. Dudley should be just as nasty, and Vernon and Petunia should be ordering Harry around just as we saw in the film.·      24:37 The reptile house. This scene should remain the same. The only change I would make is the magic. When the magic disappears, there's a comical woosh and it's gone. If the magic could be more magical, we might have a greater sense of awe.·      26:58 The letters and the hut on the rock. It should play out pretty much as we see it in the film, but when they arrive at the hut on the rock, Hagrid should be a little scarier than the film. He's very lumbering and big, some more suspense would go a long way. Then, he says, “Harry, you're a wizard” and the journey begins.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the casting annoucement of John Lithgow as Dumbledore and what we can expect. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:00 What did we get in the book versus the film? In the book, Dumbledore is very wise and much more chill than the film. In the film, Dumbledore has a much more intense way about him. Especially when Michael Gambon took the part, Dumbledore became an intense guy with a lot of energy.·      12:51 How will he be translated? In an ideal world, it will be in the small moments. It's the little conversations and interaction that really give the characters their dimensions, so if we could have that with Dumbledore, we could get a more rounded view of him.·      17:00 Was he translated well? Yeah, I guess. On the whole it was fine, there were just little details that weren't so great. The change in character gave the films a challenge to match the characters yet continue to build upon them.·      21:52 Should he be the same? No, defiantly not. But that isn't because he was bad in the film, but because he should be more expanded. If one of the films was stretched out, would Dumbledore be the same? Probably not, the same way the show won't be the same in the best possible way.·      24:31 Prediction. I predict that Dumbledore won't be perfect, which might be a fail in my book. Absolute perfection would be the only way to succeed, and the bar is too high for true perfection. But that's not to say that he won't still be a fantastic character.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss how certain things give the wizarding world its magic. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:38 Owls. Owls are closely tied to the story because they are symbols for magic. In the beginning, owls are the first introduction we have to the wizarding world. Later, Hedwig's death represents the beginning of a new era for Harry and the difficulty of the path ahead.·      7:34 Moving portraits. They aren't at the very core of the story, but they are integral for the overall feel of the castle. The point of a painting is for it to be frozen in time, which is why the portraits moving are such a fascinating part of Hogwarts.·      12:57 Hogwarts grounds. One of the most interesting parts of the grounds is their lack of magic. Of course, there is a giant squid and a forbidden forest, but its just the lake, the mountains and the castle. Nature surrounding the castle is very important for the feel of the story.·       17:35 Diagon Alley. This is the first place where Harry sees a bunch of wizards and magical things in one place. Essentially, this is the first place he lands after entering the world of magic. For him, this is the coolest place he has ever seen. Later in the story, the darkness represents the state of the wizarding world as a whole.·      21:59 Great Hall. This is a fantastic place. It has an enchanted ceiling, candles floating in the air, and suits of armor and torches everywhere. You really can't beat the ambiance of the Great Hall. The beginning and the end of the story as we know it happens in the Great Hall, which speaks to its importance.·      25:30 Quidditch. Something that can never be replaced is quidditch. What is the story without this sport? There is so much development of the story and of characters that would be lost without quidditch. Just like the rest of the things in this episode, all these little details are the very things that make this series so great.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss characters we should have known better. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:34 Luna. We hear something of her backstory, but we don't have the chance to truly understand who she is and where she came from. We did get to meet her father, but only for a moment.·      6:31 Lupin. He has only a few moments of venerability, but those give us such a sophisticated perspective of who he is. More of those would go a long way.·      11:47 Dumbledore. It's pretty obvious why we need more of Dumbledore. He has such a big impact on the story, and it is too big to overlook his past.·      14:35 Snape. We do get a good look into Snape's inner workings, but we don't understand why he hates James so much. Absolutely, his relationship with Lily is explored, but not his interactions with James. ·      18:07 James. Our view of James is through other eyes, whether that be memories or some other form. All we need is a few moments of him being himself. That would give us a more neutral view of his character.·      21:45 Sirius. We know a lot about him, but always it is always helpful to have more context around the Marauders.·      23:21 McGonagall. She is one big question mark. We don't know a thing about her past, what she did before Hogwarts, or where she found her rock-solid morals. It might give us an interesting perspective on her interactions to know where they came from.·      26:10 Voldemort. The line between Tom Riddle and Voldemort is a little too solid for my liking, so a few scenes that could show us more plainly his transformation would go a long way.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we break down Nymphadora Tonks. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:40 What role does she play? This is a difficult question because we see her in many different settings despite her short time in the story. She begins as a way for Harry to share his grief about Sirius. But in the end, she becomes a representation of all the sacrifices that have been made so Harry can win.·      10:12 Strengths and weaknesses. For strengths, Tonks is very positive. She always has a good outlook and doesn't let what others say get her down. However, one of her weaknesses is how she gets in her own head and blames herself for her problem. For example, she blamed herself for Sirius's death.·      16:12 How would the story change if she wasn't in it? We probably wouldn't have the same perspective for the story. She helps Harry with Sirius in the Half-Blood Prince, and later she is killed in the line of duty. Without her, we wouldn't understand just how much had to be sacrificed for Harry to beat Voldemort.·      25:09 What is Tonks' defining moment? It may have been when she died, because that is when the true value of her sacrifice came into focus. That's the moment that represents the culmination of her actions. She died fighting for a better world for her child. If she had the chance to take it back, she probably wouldn't. To rap it all up, Tonks is the representation of what we are all fighting for and the hope that was the difference between victory and defeat.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss how I would take over the world as Voldemort. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:59 Start with Hogwarts. Voldemort should have focused on Hogwarts more intensely early on, because most of his greatest enemies are there. He has to start planting spies much earlier if he wants to turn it into a more valuable asset of information. ·      9:50 Take control of Gringotts and Olivander's.  These two are the most important shops in the wizarding world. If Voldemort could take control of the wand production, he could influence who gets to learn magic at Hogwarts. If he controlled the bank, he could hire an army large enough to defeat Dumbledore ten times over.·      15:59 Infiltrate the Ministry. Voldemort does this, but it is too late. If I was him, I would start planting spies in the Ministry earlier, and hopefully work up to installing a puppet minister. How hard could it be to get Fudge out of office and support someone else for the position?·      20:51 Incite more killings and disappearances. The thing that scared the public the most was all the disappearances and killings of civilians. He does some of this, but if he could ramp it up, he might be able to drum up enough fear to influence the war.·      24:49 Protect the horcruxes. To be fair, he does this well. However, it obviously wasn't good enough. He should think of a way to better protect his horcruxes, which would guarantee his success. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss how the story would change if Harry were more like James. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:56 Why are these episodes are important? Well, it isn't too early to start discussing possibilities for the show. He probably won't turn out exactly the same in the TV show than in the book or the film, so we should use the time we have to examine all outcomes and possibilities for the story.·      6:00 He wouldn't be as close with Ron and Hermione. The trio is a classic group and they are very tight knit, but it might not be as strong if Harry were more like James. Hermione and Harry balance out Ron's brashness to some degree, and all is well. However, Hermione might not be able to keep the group together if both Harry and Ron were even a little bit bold.·      12:11 Harry would be more popular and less respected. If Harry were more like James, he would probably be more of the popular quidditch star which would overshadow what he did with Voldemort. Additionally, he would enjoy the attention instead of shrinking away from it like he does in the written story.·      20:39 He would have more confrontations. James is more of a hot-head, and can be exited into a fight much easier. If Harry picked up these traits, his relationship with Malfoy would probably be more violent. Further, Voldemort could prey on this weakness and get Harry off his game much more than if Harry had his head on straight.·      26:11 He would fiercely protect his friends and family. We've talking a lot about the bad, but this is something towards the good. James sacrifices himself to give Lily a chance to escape with Harry on the night they died, and that sentiment transferred to Harry would result in a very committed person so protecting those who he cares about.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the most important side characters from each book. Enjoy!Listen to episode 267, QuizMaster: Potions here!Topics/Summary:·      1:23 Challenge Question·      2:25 Professor Quirrell. Quirrell drives the story forward with a masterful hand, and we wouldn't have the same conflict without him. Snape is also a good option for this, but it is the contrast between Quirrell and he that makes the first book so interesting.·      7:25 Professor Lockhart. He is an absolute idiot, but an important idiot in the second book. Lockhart allows Harry to begin his journey as a hero. He also allows him to realize his connection with Voldemort which evolved later.·      13:13 Professor Lupin. I was so close to putting down Sirius Black, but in the end, Lupin takes the cake. He somehow finds a way to be everywhere. He is at the center of the conflict surrounding Sirius even though we don't know it, and he is one of the most important Harry has when it comes to a connection to James.·      16:42 Barty Crouch Jr. This is one of the easier ones on the list, because if we pick out any one event in the fourth book, Crouch had something to do with it. He was influencing the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the search for Voldemort, and the rise of Voldemort all at the same time.·      18:34 Professor Umbridge. This is another easy one. What would happen in this book without her? We wouldn't have the trial, any of the conflicts at Hogwarts, or Dumbledore's Army without her.·      21:05 Draco and Dumbledore. I'm going to cheat a little bit here and choose both Draco and Dumbledore because it is the dance of death they do in this book that drives forward the plot. Dumbledore's death was Dumbledore's own fault as much as Draco's.·      24:37 Snape. Finally, Snape. He is doing everything. He is probably the most powerful person in the wizarding world at this point just because of how many sides he is fighting for. Snape could take down anyone he chooses and influence the entirety of the war. One of the most impactful scenes of the book is when Snape is dying in the Shrieking Shack. These reasons are more than enough.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we test our knowledge on the potions of the wizarding world. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:55 Warm Up Round·      4:22 Question #1·      9:07 Question #2·      14:21 Question #3  ·      18:25 Question #4·      22:19 Question #5·      25:26 Question #6·      27:50 Question #7·      29:36 Challenge QuestionHaving anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss what the story would be like if we swapped some character's roles. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:07 Harry and Dumbledore. With this dynamic, it is possible that Voldemort would win. Dumbledore is naturally a smart and all-knowing kind of guy. Harry certainly has enough experience to make good judgment calls, but Dumbledore just has that perspective that gives him the skills to plot Voldemort's downfall.·      9:00 Draco and Hagrid. These two are polar opposite and enemies throughout the story. All Draco wants is to get Hagrid fired, but his mind might change if he himself was thrown out of Hogwarts are the hands of Tom Riddle. Hagrid would have a hard life considering the fact that he would he a Dumbledore fan in the Malfoy house.·      15:30 Petunia and Lily. Harry's childhood is famous for being horrible, with a family that hates him. But that might change if he had someone on his side at number 4. He might actually enjoy his time in the muggle world if he had someone like his mother who actually took care of him and acted at the Dursleys should have. ·      22:08 Draco and Ron. What an interesting story it would be if Harry spent his summers in the house of his worst enemy at Hogwarts, and he had to sleep in the same dormitory as him as well. On top of that, some of the core people to Voldemort's plan are the parents of his best friend in the whole wide world. ·      25:20 Harry and Voldemort. These two are more similar than we think at the beginning of the story. Their stories start out pretty much the same, with their parents dying and being cast out. The difference is Voldemort didn't find a home and Harry did, even if it was an unhappy one. Harry wouldn't be a very good dark wizard because he has too many morals, even if he had the troubled childhood Voldemort did. Tom Riddle will always be evil, even if he had Harry's life.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textThanks for a fantastic year! I hope it has been a good one for you, and that there are many great things to look forward to in the coming months. We'll certainly be busy over here in the studio as the TV show releases more info. Happy holidays and new year!Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the perfect Harry Potter Christmas. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:22 Opening presents. The rest of the day would feel off if the day didn't begin with a mountain of magical goodies at the foot of Harry's best. Seeing all the things he gets is flooring, considering how few friends he has made.·      7:50 Christmas breakfast. After waking up and opening presents, a good Christmas breakfast is a great way to kick off the festivities. Without a good first meal, the tone for the rest of the day wouldn't be as merry.·      11:49 Winter walk. The grounds of Hogwarts are absolutely huge, so exploring it is always a treat. To add to that, the wintertime makes it so much more magical, especially on Christmas. It would be just a blast to walk around the snow and ice of the grounds, maybe stopping by Hogsmeade and getting a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.·      17:27 Lunch and a snowball fight. We have seen our fair share of snowball fights at Hogwarts, but now we are making it official. It would be even more fun to use magic. Snowballs would be flying and there might be some injuries, but it is all worth it for some winter fun.·      23:32 Sitting by the fire. As the sun sets, the perfect way to end the afternoon is by the fire with something like a book or a boardgame. The common room is likely very well decorated and it is the perfect place to spend some time. Additionally, it would be fun to explore the castle a bit. There is more than meets the eye, that is for sure.27:05 Christmas Dinner. It goes without saying that this is the climax of the day. Maybe it is still snowing and some more torches have been added to the hallways, and the vibes are set for the most important meal of the holiday season. Christmas at Hogwarts is truly magical, and a dinner is the right way to cap it off.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we flip the script and discuss what would happen if Harry grew up with Sirius. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:22 The story wouldn't be as good. It sounds strange to say, but it is true. The magic of the story comes from Harry's ignorance for the first 11 years of his life, then the spark that comes from his realization that there is so much more to his life and an explanation why strange things happen around him.·      7:29 He would be more powerful. It took just a few years at Hogwarts for Harry (or more accurately the piece of Voldemort inside him) to grow into a powerful wizard. But if Harry knew he was magical years earlier, he might have been able to land on his feet at Hogwarts and learn magic faster.·      11:55 He would be more like James. That might also mean that he might be more of a bully. Dudley didn't do much for Harry, but he did teach Harry humility. Harry wasn't about to become a bully at Hogwarts after being tortured for years at home. But if he didn't have that and he had a much bolder and James-like father figure at home, he might be a little different.·      18:33 The Mirror of Erised might not show his parents. In the end, it probably will. Harry isn't a completely different person after all. But, when he is with Sirius, he has the person who was the closest person to his father. Petunia was Lily's sister, but they were far from close. Harry might miss his parents just a bit less with Sirius around.·      23:00 The story wouldn't happen. This is true of every Flip the Script. The differences would be smaller than others, but they would bump the story in such a way that would send it into a totally different direction.·      25:40 Harry would have less character. He would still be famous, but nothing about him other than that would be different. He would just be another student from another wizarding household coming to Hogwarts.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss some major updates for the Harry Potter TV show from an interview with some of the executives. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Read the article here·      1:18 The first season will be eight hours long. That is a heck of a lot longer than the few hours we had for the first film, so what might this mean? The hope is they won't face problems of time. If the season comes out and they make some excuse about cutting something for time, we will know something was up.·      8:21 30,000 submitted tapes? Wow. That is the number of people who auditioned for the trio. Now we have to continue to ask the age-old question, who will they cast? Will the actors play the characters from the film or the book? They had better be really good at acting and find a middle ground between the characters we know and the names on the page. ·      19:08 Peeves will be included. That was an explicit statement they made. Hopefully, this will tell us that they are in fact trying to include as many things from the books into the show as they can.·      21:16 They will keep the iconic sets and expand what we haven't seen. They said that they want to explore the aesthetics of the castle further, while keeping the iconic sets such as the Great Hall. This is great news! Changing the original and iconic sets would be a certain disaster.·       25:40 “No one can replace Alan Rickman, but we can find the next generation.” This is great news. Alan Rickman is impossible to top, and it is good that the filmmakers have realized this. Snape is technically 31 in the first film, and Rickman has a much more ancient air about him. It is good that they aren't trying to replace who we know and love, but expand upon their characters and show us more facets of who they are.·      29:09 Mark Rylance and Cillian Murphy and are two names that have come up for Dumbledore and Voldemort respectively. The filmmakers themselves have thrown Rylance's name around before. He isn't perfect, but it might work well depending on how they spin it. Ralph Fiennes himself put a stamp of approval on Murphy's name for Voldemort, but Murphy seems just a bit too young to capture Voldemort essence.·      33:25 “We have a much larger sandbox.” I hope what they mean by this is they are going to use the basis of the films to expand into places we haven't seen and characters we haven't met. They have such a good chance to make this a fantastic series, all they have to do it grab it.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss new magical holidays to add to the calendar. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:31 Magical Veteran's Day. A ton of people fought in the Battle of Hogwarts! And that wasn't even the first time Voldemort was a serious adversary. We should create a holiday that celebrates those who fought, living and dead, to protect the forces of good and their triumph over evil. It is better to celebrate Harry's victory than Voldemort's loss.·      9:09 Harry Potter Day. This is along the same lines as the previous, but celebrates the first victory over Voldemort when Harry was just a baby. I got this idea from the first conversation we are party to in the entire series between Dumbledore and McGonagall when she says this day might be known as Harry Potter Day in the future.·      15:05 Day of the Dead. This is a holiday celebrated in Mexico in the muggle world, but this could work in the magical world. This day is to celebrate friends and family that have passed away. At Hogwarts, those people are still around in the forms of portraits and ghosts. They keep the secrets of the castle and can collect and distribute information faster than any other.·      20:05 Magical Games and Sports Day. We don't need a day to celebrate quidditch, but this is more than that. In the Goblet of Fire, Hermione summed up the Tri-Wizard Tournament and other sprots like it well. She said they were for international magical cooperation, not winning or losing. To have a day set aside to celebrate this would only encourage more growth in the category.·       22:40 Magical Creatures Day. Time and time again, magical creatures are looked over and mistreated. Without fail, they are often the ones who hold up the rest of the wizarding world. By sheer numbers, there are probably three times the number of magical creatures compared to magical humans. Taking a day to celebrate them would be the least we could do to repay them.·      26:18 National Magical Statute of Secrecy Day. This one is more of a joke, but it still would be funny. What if wizards took one muggle and lifted all charms of concealment on Hogwarts, placed them in the castle, then let them loose back into the muggle world without wiping their memory? That would be fun.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss who could have been a spy in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:52 Professor McGonagall. She is of the utmost moral fiber in the series. You really want to have McGonagall on your side, and we are lucky that she was fighting for us. If she were a spy, it would be because she genuinely thought Voldemort's world would be for the greater good. ·      8:20 Ron Weasley. This one is a bit of a curve ball, but it still fits. Ron is probably the least likely to become a spy, but that is why the reveal would be so good. During the fourth year, he and Harry go through a rough patch in their friendship. Why shouldn't Ron become friends with someone else like Draco? Through the Malfoys, Ron might be introduced to the ways of Voldemort and fall victim to his promises. It's a longshot, but anything is possible. ·      13:08 Percy Weasley. Percy wasn't in the best standing with his family for a few years in the middle of the story. He was too committed to order and supporting the ministry, not to mention his own deep-rooted ambition. During that time, he might come to realize that the change that has to happen in the world must come from those who have the guts to do things others won't. That sounds something like the Death Eaters. Percy might find their ways repulsive at first, but he may come to overlook his opinions for the fight of order against chaos. ·      18:29 Professor Slughorn. We are introduced to him at first because Dumbledore needs a potion professor, and we learn that the Death Eaters have been trying to either recruit him or kill him. It makes sense that Slughorn might have been approached and presented with ideas of what the world should be. Like Percy, this pathway was already drawn for us.·      23:30 Rubeus Hagrid. We couldn't have an episode about jaw-dropping spies without including Hagrid. There is a zero percent chance of him willingly becoming a spy for Voldemort. He is far too committed to the cause of good and helping Dumbledore. The only chance of him being a spy would be if Dumbledore was working with Voldemort, and they misled Hagrid to do things that he thought were for good, but really only helped Voldemort.  Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss what would be on a hypothetical Fantastic Beasts TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:52 Dumbledore's past. He is such a deep character, and the struggles of his childhood are a big part of who he is and why he is so committed to defeating Grindelwald. If we could understand just a little bit more about his past, we might be able to appreciate his character more.·      7:49 Newt's Childhood. We catch just a sneak peak of this in the Crimes of Grindelwald, and it is gold to see Newt as a child. He is very committed to protecting magical creatures, and doing good wherever he goes. We don't need as much time as Dumbledore, so seeing him for just a few minutes could give a new edge to his rock solid morals.·      11:39 Creedence's backstory. He is a very emotionally damaged character, and we aren't given the best backstory as to why this is. We can understand him for the most part at the end, but I would rather we have the chance to understand him from the beginning.·      16:57 Tina and Queenie before Newt. These two are as close as can be, and that bond breaking is one of the core parts of the story. If we could have a clearer window into just how strong these sisters are drawn together, it would mean more when Queenie eventually chooses to join Grindelwald. ·      21:32 Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship. Without a doubt, their relationship is one of the driving factors that keep the story going. Some of the most compelling scenes are where we see their pain of separation. We need more scenes like the one where Dumbledore pulls the curtain off the Mirror of Erised and sees Grindelwald.·      25:11 Jacob's bakery. There are two moments in time that would give us a better perspective on Jacob. The first is right after the events of the first film, and the second is before the third film. One is him feeling great, getting with Queenie and living great. The second is when he is living without Queenie and he is a mess. The contrast between these two moments combined with how tense their relationship is when their paths cross will show us how difficult it was for Queenie to go and how painful is was for Jacob to stay. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss who would win between Harry and Umbridge. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:38 Why them? I made this choice because Harry and Umbridge have been at each other's throats forever. It isn't very hard to believe that they might have an altercation that would lead to a duel. They are two different people that support very different things, and a disagreement would lead to something less than civil.·      6:53 Harry's strengths and weaknesses. He is a good wizard to start. He can think on his feet and use spells well. He is also very motivated to fight Voldemort, and that motivation will help him. The ministry is standing in his way, and defeating them is more than half the battle. As for weaknesses, Harry is too focused on saving other people, and that distraction might impede his ability to duel.·      14:17 Umbridge's strengths and weaknesses. She has very strong beliefs. Umbridge knows what she wants and she is willing to go far to make it happen. She might be willing to do the things Harry isn't. She also is terrified of chaos and will do anything to protect it. However, she is easily distracted, and it wouldn't be hard for Harry to get in her head.·      19:40 Umbridge blasts down the wall of the Room of Requirement. Who wins? If a duel broke out and Harry and Umbridge were to lock wands, Umbridge would win in that moment. She is in her element in defending Fudge and the Ministry, and she would absolutely flatten Harry. ·      23:12 Harry takes the locket in the Deathly Hallows. Who wins? In this case, Harry would win. Umbridge is in the middle of an interrogation, but Harry has the element of surprise. Umbridge wouldn't be able to understand what was going on before she lost.·       26:28 The flat plane. Who wins? If there are no other outside factors, Harry would win. Umbridge won the first duel because she was in her element. If there was nothing on the outside influencing what was going on, Umbridge wouldn't have the extra punch on her side to win.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the scariest characters in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:34 Tom Riddle. He is such a terrifying character because we know what his future is. He causes mass panic and killing, and it all starts at an unassuming orphanage. With every glint of red in his eye and every sly trick he plays, we are only reminded that his past present and future (get it?) is Voldemort.·      7:58 Bellatrix Lestrange. She is literally insane, and that is why she is so terrifying. She is a big part of Voldemort's plans, and it is early on established that she is willing to go very far to serve Voldemort. Her torture of the Longbottoms only supports this.·      12:11 Xenophilius Lovegood. What in the world? What is he doing here? Well, clearly he was willing to sell out Harry to the Death Eaters. We learn that Luna's live was on the line and that is why he did it, but looking back, what else would he have been willing to do? Kill Harry himself?·      17:37 Umbridge. She is the most easily hated villain in Harry Potter, but she is also quite terrifying. She isn't particularly scary in Order of the Phoenix, but in the Deathly Hallows, we learn how far she is willing to go. She was giving out Azkaban sentences like candy on Halloween. What else is she doing that we don't know about?·      24:21 Dementors. We couldn't have a Halloween episode without these guys. If their name is said, the very temperature of the room drops. Nothing will ever beat them in terms of scare factor. They are the very embodiment of fear; a rotting hand opening a door, the crackle of freezing water, the wave of the hooded cloak in invisible wind. Boy oh boy, they take the cake.  Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss some of my least favorite quotes. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:00 “There is no good and evil, only power, and those too weak to seek it.” How Voldemort is this one, huh? I can appreciate this quote as the very least. It is well written and reflects the values that Voldemort has. However, he is wrong. If this quote was instead something like: “In the world, there is more than good and evil. There is power, and those too weak to seek it” it might have rung true. Unfortunately Voldemort disregards the very ideas of good and evil as false.·      11:32 “If it's true, what you say, and he has the Elder Wand, you really don't stand a chance.” This quote is far from false. That is not the reason why it is among my least favorite. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Ollivander is completely right. He just shouldn't have told Harry that the fight is pointless before it even begins.·      17:50 “He's not back!” Fudge is ignorant. He doesn't want to believe that Voldemort is back, and even if he knows that he is, he insists on continuing to say that Voldemort is far from returned. If Fudge had just accepted it and began action earlier, it may have been much easier to win.·      21:55 “He's not James, Sirius.” I didn't think Mrs. Weasley would get on this list, but here we are. Sirius and Mrs. Weasley are arguing about Harry's involvement in the Order of the Phoenix, when she drops this on Sirius. She shouldn't feel the need to go this low.·      27:03 “I don't think you're a waste of space.” Dudley finally makes this realization after 17 years of living with his cousin. This is such a heart-wrenching quote and probably the nicest thing Dudley has ever said in his life, but it comes at the worst time. It is a shame that the very moment they have to say goodbye is the moment they finally reach somewhat good terms. Moments after this quote, the Dursleys leave and they never see Harry again.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the best superhero moments in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:35 Harry and Hermione Rescuing Sirius. They had just executed Dumbledore's well thought out plan perfectly. However, they aren't exactly heroes which is why this moment is number one, but it is still Harry and Hermione coming to the rescue.·      6:18 Harry returns to the DA in Deathly Hallows. Harry is the founder of the DA and he represents the resistance against Voldemort, so why he returns, the moment means so much because it spells out the beginning of the end, one way or the other.·      Listen to episode 225 about Dudley and the Dursleys here!·      12:52 7 Potters. Harry says goodbye to the Dursleys, then heads off the great wide world. We see number 4 empty at last, then are brought back to the real world when the Order arrives and they begin to prepare to leave, beginning the final course of events.·      17:34 The Hut on the Rock. Hagrid walks up the door, breaks it down, and tells Harry the truth about who he is and where he must take him. This is the very first time Harry has been exposed to this kind of thing, and by proxy, it is the readers first experience with magic.·      20:48 Dobby at Malfoy Manor. Dobby is so unassuming, he is a hero if that makes sense. He isn't very strong or magical, but he is loyal. He will stand up for you if you stand up for him. Here, he sacrifices his life for Harry to win against Voldemort.·      23:45 Fred, George, and Ron rescuing Harry from Privet Drive in The Chamber of Secrets. Harry sees the headlights coming, and they rip the bars off. Harry throws his trunk and Hedwig into the car, jumps through the window, and they zoom off into the night.·      26:00 Battle of the Order of the Phoenix at the Ministry of Magic. Not only are there two hero moments, but two. The DA is saved by the Order swooping in and dueling the Death Eaters away, then when Harry runs after Bellatrix who just killed Sirius, and is faced by Voldemort. Before he can make a move, Dumbledore emerges and saves the day.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss how Draco should have killed Dumbledore. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:04 Don't think about it. Dumbledore is a whole lot smarter than Draco, yet he still insists on trying to think out some elaborate plan to outsmart Dumbledore. That will never work because Dumbledore is too intelligent for that. Draco has to find a way to make a plan Dumbledore can't foresee or block.·      11:08 Accept Snape's help. Snape is ready to help Draco with his task, but he refused. That may be because when Snape offered, all Draco heard was him saying he wasn't good enough to do it himself and he needed help. Snape knows Dumbledore well and Draco should have accepted when he had the chance.·      16:15 Don't go for the kill. Draco should instead help in giving someone else the chance to kill them. That's kind of what he tried to do in fixing the vanishing cabinet so the Death Eaters could enter, but he then thought it would still be him to do the kill. All he has to do is lure Dumbledore somewhere or get the assassin in the walls of Hogwarts, not do the deed himself. ·      20:55 Use Aberforth. Aberforth is just waiting to be taken away and used as leverage against Dumbledore. He is more than happy to put himself in harm's way, but when others are at risk, Dumbledore doesn't mess around. ·      25:29 Just don't do it. If Draco doesn't want to kill Dumbledore, he can just not do it. If it were really that easy for Voldemort to kill Draco at Hogwarts if he said no, he would have done that for Voldemort. All Draco has to do is get his family to Hogwarts and hunker down there. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the most iconic groups in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Listen to episode 252 about McGonagall's Best Moments here!·      1:45 Dumbledore's Army. This is a very well known group, but there are a few things that really make them stand out. The first is when a selection goes to the Ministry to free Sirius. It turns out to be a trap, but the DA stands up to the Death Eaters and actually manage to hold them off for long enough. The second is in the final book when they have kept the DA going even after Harry left, and then in the Battle of Hogwarts when many members could protect themselves again evil.·      8:54 Newt, Jacob, and Albus. They aren't in Harry Potter, but they are certainly iconic enough to fit into this episode. The thing that makes them stand out is how noble they are. Newt and Albus are fighting hard against Grindelwald at the risk of losing their own lives. Further, Jacob is doing the same with nothing on the line. The threat of losing freedom in the world is always there, but before Jacob understands that, he is still fighting alongside Newt because he knows it is the right thing to do.·      14:55 The Gryffindor Quidditch Team. This might be less obvious, but the team is iconic because of the plot that happens around them. Quidditch is also the trademark sport of the wizarding world, and the Gryffindor team is the one that Harry plays on and learns his love of quidditch on. Things like swallowing the snitch and seeing the Grim all happened surrounding the team.·      20:17 The Order of the Phoenix. They're iconic because of their legacy. The Order that we know today is the second generation, the first coming into being when Voldemort was first on the rise. This gives it a sense of age and legacy, so when they swoop in for the rescue, it isn't a bunch of aurors but the famous Order of the Phoenix.·      25:24 The trio. We would get here eventually. How much is there to say really? I don't even have to say their names for every person to know exactly about whom I speak. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send us a textIn this episode, we honor the late Maggie Smith by discussing some of Professor McGonagall's best moments. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Listen to QuizMaster: Hermione here!·      1:30 “Fifty points…each!”. This first moment shows how fair McGonagall is. She does with a heavy heart, but she takes away 150 points away from her own house. In addition to that, she also takes points away from and gives detention to Malfoy who found them out of bed, McGonagall has the stomach to do what is right even if it hurts herself, and she refuses to shrink from further punishment. ·      8:30 Giving Harry a Nimbus 2000. It might seem like favoritism, but really, it is giving a deserving student the chance he has earned. McGonagall witnessed Harry's first victory against Malfoy on the broomstick and knows from that moment that Gryffindor has found a new seeker. ·      13:35 “I've always wanted to use that spell.”. Piertotum Locomotor is quite the spell at that. This moment shows all the good things about McGonagall. She is brave and willing to defend the castle with all powers available to her. Before this, she is unafraid to speak Voldemort's name, even in the face of her own demise at his hands. Finally, she finishes off this moment with a bit of humor to give us a little bit of everything we love about her.·      17:29 McGonagall dueling Voldemort. With Flitwick and Kingsley at her side, she battled Voldemort directly. This is after Harry sprung back to life and the end of the war is in sight. Her bravery shines through in this moment. She is battling the most powerful dark wizard of her time!·      21:24 Yule Ball Snark. She has some great lines when she uses Ron as an example for how to dance in front of the entire class, then later as she informs Harry that he will be the one to open the ball. In addition, she has some pretty great comments about Ron's choice of dress robes.·      25:11 Arguing with Umbridge. Their voices are raised, and the students rush out to see it. They are taking steps up with each jab at each other. Umbridge thinks that McGonagall is showing disloyalty, and McGonagall takes a step down to show how offensive she finds this. ·      28:39 Dueling Snape to protect Harry. Before this, the allusion of working was still there, but after this, there is no question that the battle lines are drawn. McGonagall is firing on her own troops to defend the people she knows to be correct. She is a strict follower of the rules, but when breaking them is the right course of action, she doesn't hesitate.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comKnox

Send us a textIn this episode, we test out knowledge about Hermione Granger. Enjoy!Topics./Summary:Episode 251:·      1:30 Warm Up Round·      3:48 Question 1: What is Hermione's patronus?·      8:36 Question 2: What did Hermione receive from Dumbledore's will?·      13:27 Question 3: What did Hermione place at Harry's parents' grave at Godric's Hallow?·      16:48 Question 4: Did Hermione ever walk out of a class?·      19:07 Question 5: Did Hermione ever destroy any horcruxes?·      23:13 Question 6: What was the first spell we saw Hermione cast?·      26:26 Question 7: When is Hermione's birthday?·      28:15 Challenge QuestionHaving anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comKnox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss what actors could play different characters in the upcoming TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Listen to episode 245 about the pitfalls of the TV show!·      3:46 Adam Driver plays Snape. Adam is younger than Alan, and that could be a closer representation of Snape because he isn't actually that old in the books. Additionally, Adam can portray a character of great emotional depth very well, and that is of course who Snape is.·      12:08 Ian McKellen plays Dumbledore. As Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, Ian McKellen was an old, wise, and powerful wizard that had a big role in the fight for victory. He is the perfect choice for a character like this.·      16:33 Viggo Mortensen plays Sirius Black. Viggo is an honorable actor who plays honorable and brave characters. Sirius Black is a wrongly convicted criminal who spends the first part of his arc on the run and the second in the midst of the battle against Voldemort. That kind of acting is best suited for Viggo.·      19:58 Penelope Wilton plays Professor McGonagall. What we lose with Maggie Smith is the kinder edge from the books, so if Penelope were to go for a softer version of McGonagall, she might just be able to pull it off.·      22:03 Andy Serkis plays Peter Pettigrew. Andy often plays small, snively, often somewhat unstable characters. All of these things would make a perfect Peter Pettigrew.·      25:38 Benedict Cumberbatch plays Remus Lupin. Benedict has the air of carrying a very heavy weight on his shoulders, like a responsibility that he cannot shake. Lupin must keep the secret of his furry friend, and later bear the weight of his marriage and the turmoil of having a son. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comKnox

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss what would happen if Newt and Jacob never meet. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:58 Dumbledore would be introduced in the first film. We need a set number of core characters, and if Jacob isn't there we need another. It's a little strange that he is introduced so late in the story anyway, so it would make a lot of sense for him to take Jacob's place in the beginning.·      8:57 They wouldn't break apart. The first loose thread is Queenie when she leaves to join Grindelwald in pursuit of love, but if Jacob isn't there, she has no love to peruse. That would prompt Tina to stay, therefore keeping them all together.·      18:11 The Order of the Phoenix would form. It might not be called that and the structure would be different, but this would be the first time we see Dumbledore forming a group of resistance against evil.·      23:46 Grindelwald would win. It is the growth that they make together that in the end is the reason why they win. Jacob makes the people around him better and pushes them to greater heights. Without him, they don't have the same motivation that keeps them going and glue that keeps them together.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss what a modern back to Hogwarts would look like. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:19 Self-stirring cauldrons. Potions class is a staple of Hogwarts, so why should wizards and witches have to stir their own cauldrons? The value of the class is gaining an understanding of what potions do and which ones to use in different situations. It is that knowledge that gave Harry the best help, not actually how to make them. And if you find yourself in a situation in which you need to make a potion, the cauldron is probably going to be self-stirring anyway. ·      8:21 A gossip device. The DA uses gold coins to get in touch with all their members, so why wouldn't such a device exist for the public to talk without having to send an owl? Something like the mirrors that Harry and Sirius used to communicate could be a very useful product for the Hogwarts market. ·      15:40 Super quills. Even back in Harry's day, there were self-spelling quills. Now, there are quills that could probably do something similar but much better. I could take my quill and ask it to write an essay or draw an advanced diagram without having to touch it once.·      21:59 Safety measures. From classes to quidditch, there is no end ot the number of dangers at Hogwarts. Putting a limit to how close the students can get to dangerous creatures and making sure that the professor is the only one to handle dangerous potions or plants are great ways of making this better. Additionally, putting some kind of safety net for quidditch or making sure bludgers don't kill are also great ways of making it safer. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode we break down the character of James Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:52 James's role in the story. First off, who is he? Unfortunately, this entire episode is here to answer that question. We can say that James was Harry's dad. He was also part of the Order of the Phoenix. Overall his was a major character, but he didn't have an absolutely huge effect on the story. He also had a positive effect, but he was more negative for the story that one might assume.·      8:14 Strengths. He is sensible, at the end of the day. This might be hard to see because of his past, but it is there. When they sent Snape down to see the werewolf that was Lupin, James realized what a bad idea it was and stopped Snape from doing it. Additionally, James is quite brave, being a true Gryffindor at heart for how he stood up against Voldemort when he came to kill the three Potters.·       15:04 Weaknesses. As sensible and brave as a person can be, there are also weaknesses. One of which are his over confidence. He was a quidditch star and had a group of popular friends. He was on top of the world and felt like he owned Hogwarts. This led to another bad trait of him being a bully. When Snape refused to bow down, James practically tortured Snape in front of the entire school.·      20:24 What would the story be like without him? Let's say James is actually John Smith, an accountant. Harry is much less of a strong character. It was the love he had for his father and the strength of the symbol of the stag that drove many storylines. Many things from Harry's hair to playing quidditch come from James. Also, Harry would have a much better and less complicated relationship with Snape. Snape wouldn't automatically hate Harry for his father and they might get along better from the beginning. However, it took them being enemies to grow even closer at the end, so they wouldn't have that moment in the Shrieking Shack. ·      25:23 So who is he really? Still, we can't put a label on him, but we can get closer. He is a Gryffindor at heart, that much is clear. He is brave, noble, and sensible. He is also a bully, but not because he hates people or he wants to see them suffer, but because he wants to seem strong. He is a protector, and seeming like someone who doesn't shy away from a fight is a great way to do that.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss a possible wizarding Olympic events. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:20 Quidditch. This is a staple sport in the wizarding world, and any magical competition of this scale would be remiss without it. There are team sports in the muggle Olympics, so wizards should follow suit. The Quidditch World Cup is a separate organization that could supply some of the best players to make up several talented sides.·      9:48 Wizard chess. Chess is recognized as a sport, but not included in the Olympics. However, in the wizarding world, chess is far mor physical and dangerous which could drum up more interest and make it a worthwhile sport to include. ·      15:38 Individual Quidditch trials. Beyond winning the game, there are individual skills that make up a good team. An event that would test only seekers or only beaters would give us a better idea of the talent of each individual player. The winning team likely has good chemistry in addition to good players. Viktor Krum was a better seeker than the Irish seeker, but they still lost.·      19:33 Dueling. This is the perfect sport to test someone's skill with a wand and how quickly they could think on their feet. A challenge would be to set the rules, because spells like the killing curse shouldn't be allowed. If they set the rules and have an approved list of spells that gain a certain amount of points, it could become something great.·      23:24 Archery. Muggles also compete in this realm, but it can be used for a wizard Olympics as well. A perfectly reasonable assumption for magical lore would be that muggles gained archery from centaurs, who could also stand as the judges for a magical archery competition.·      26:35 Synchronized spells. There is synchronized swimming, and spells could be the magical equivalent. How amazing would it be for ten or twelve wizards and witches to get together and cast spells into the sky, creating some absolutely stunning spectacles? It would be pretty awesome.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss the pitfalls of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·      1:52 Only following the story. One of the best parts of having a TV show is having more episodes and time to explore the story. That is more than enough to do more than follow Harry. He has an interesting journey, but going deeper and finding out more about some of the things that weren't in the films would be the benefit of having more time on our hands. ·      7:32 Actors. They are the core of the series, and the ones that make each scene pop. Choosing the right actors can be the deciding factor in the show. These are the people we are going to be living with for many years, so they should be as accurate as possible.·      14:10 Sets. This might seem like a secondary detail, but behind every production is a fantastic set. If they don't use some of the most important sets in the story like Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, the image we have in our heads of the story will be ruined.·      20:34 Music. Some of the most iconic film themes in history have come from Harry Potter. If the TV show doesn't use these themes, it will be something other than Harry Potter. I would be thrilled if they consulted the original composers to find the right balance.·      25:36 There is right and wrong. The films didn't have any restrictions. They had the books and the sentiment, and all they had to do was bring it to life. The films had a perfect shot lined up, which they smashed out of the park. Now the TV show can get some of the elements straight up incorrect.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss the curse of July 31. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:49 1991. Harry realizes he is a wizard, but the very day he buys his very first wand and gets ready for his first year at Hogwarts, Quirrell breaks into Gringotts and tries to take the stone.·      9:41 1992.  Dobby arrives at 4 Privet Drive and urges Harry to stay away from Hogwarts that year, claiming that great danger is coming to Hogwarts. Harry doesn't believe him, but later finds out that Dobby was correct.·      15:06 1993. Aunt Marge arrives, and leaves a few days later in the air. Harry decides to run for it and sees a death omen, the Grim, in the street. The Knight Bus picks him up, but he doesn't forget.·      19:11 1994. The best one yet, following the worst year. Harry gets sweets and letters from all of his friends and has a peaceful birthday. This throws the end of the book with Voldemort's return and Cedric's death into great contrast.·      22:02 1995. Order of the Phoenix if similar to the Goblet of Fire, but Harry throws out the sweets. He is angry that he is being kept in the dark, and he regrets this later. Sirius's death is later in that book, which is mirroring the decision with the sweet. It was rash, and he regretted it greatly.·      26:05 1996. Harry spends this birthday at the Burrow, but Lupin brings news of a dementor attack, leaving Igor Karkaroff worse than dead in a shack up north. The Burrow is attacked in the film and burned down.·      28:42 1997. The minister shows up and reads the will of Dumbledore to the trio. Bill and Fleur have their wedding, but it is ambushed by Death Eaters. Harry, Ron, and Hermione narrowly escape them and begin their lives on the run, hunting horcruxes. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss parallel characters from Harry Potter in Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:57 Newt and Dumbledore. But isn't Dumbledore also in Fantastic Beasts? Yes, but they actually aren't as similar as Newt is to the Dumbledore in Harry Potter. They both have a simple outlook on life. Dumbledore has had over one hundred years to look back and understand the world. Newt doesn't care what others think of him which frees him to be his own person, just like Dumbledore.·      10:07 Snape and Queenie. Both of them are loose with their choice of side. Snape is fighting for both Dumbledore and Voldemort, and Queenie switches sides to Grindelwald. However, the thing that makes them so similar is love. Both of them are fighting for love, and switch sides for the same reason. ·      15:58 Neville and Jacob. This is one of the strongest parallels. The reason they are so similar is because of their character arcs. Both start out as finding their footing, not really being a great help to their side. Eventually, they find their place in the world and rise above to a position of strength and power.·      22:29 Leta and Draco. This is perhaps a bit more obscure, but there are certainly similarities. Both are outcasts and have a shaky place in their families. They don't really have anyone who they can completely trust and confide in, and they are consistently feeling down. The cherry on top is the end of their arcs. Both stand up to their oppressors and fight against evil.·      26:24 Theseus and Percy. Both are older brothers and have careers which they care for very much. They both feel like they have to set an example and be the responsible older brother. They also both fight with their families and aren't always on great terms all the time, but in the end, they both set aside their differences and realize that fighting evil is more important than a spat.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss imaging from page to screen. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:53 Hogwarts. This is one of the best imaging feats in the series. The style of the castle set the mood for the rest of the story, and it was the first real breath of magic we witnessed in the films. The silhouette is one of the most famous in literature. But apart from the outside, the interior of the castle is also a fantastic translation from page to screen. ·      9:37 Voldemort. He is the big bad villain of the story. Voldemort's image is much stricter and more outlined in the books, which gave the filmmakers a more difficult task. However, they still carried it out well. One change they made was keeping his eyes human instead of the book's red. ·      15:57 Quidditch. This is the sport of the wizarding world and deserved a good representation, which is absolutely got. The thing that sets it apart is the amount of moving parts. The little things like the shape of the quaffle and the design of the stands make up such an interesting and magical picture that injects the charm of Harry Potter into the sport. ·      20:48 Ministry of Magic. Apart from the grates in front of the fireplaces and the fountain in the atrium, there are few descriptors. One choice that made the Ministry pop is the dark green stone. There have been few happy occasions when Harry was happy to enter, and that color is reflected in this. ·      24:21 Death Eaters. They have one of the most interesting costumed in the series. It is everything we read it to be, but it changed dramatically between films. From the graveyard to the Ministry, the Death Eaters had a complete wardrobe change. It was the perfect mix of magic and evil, metal and silk.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we rename each book according to different characters. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·      2:18 Severus Snape·      16:12 Ron Weasley·      22:03 The DursleysHaving anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss some of the best story lines in Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:50 Horcruxes. Without these, we wouldn't have some of the most important parts of the story, especially in the later books. Harry's hunt for horcruxes and his task of destroying Voldemort go hand in hand and are the two things that he is bent of achieving. This was a story line that was set up farther towards the beginning of the story and gives us a call back to things like the diary when the whole thing is revealed.·      14:28 Harry realizing that he is a wizard. This is a much shorter story line than horcruxes, but it is no less impactful. One of the reasons that I think it is so effective is it becomes better the more we read it. It had a huge importance for the story. Looking back after reading all the books and going back to that moment, we understand what it means all the more. From that moment, he embarks on a journey that will be filled with countless unforgettable moments. ·      18:24 Patronuses. This isn't a story line exactly, but it allows us to see the storylines much clearer. A patronus is the purest form of a person: who they are and who they want to be. When we have moments like the casting of the doe in the Forest of Dean, the true nature of characters is revealed.·      Listen to episode 80 about character arcs here.·      24:24 Snape. Snape's arc is one of if not the best character arcs in the series. He is also a story line within himself. We have to work to understand him, and he dies still being somewhat of a mystery. He touched so many lives and made such a difference.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss some of Harry's biggest regrets. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:27 Cedric's death. We didn't get to know Cedric for a while in the story, and it took a few chapters with him in the fourth book to get a good idea of who he was. Cedric was a genuinely good person, and as readers we had a front seat to how close he and Harry grew. The deal was sealed when they helped each other out on the tasks. So when Cedric was killed, it dragged on Harry's soul because he couldn't stop it.·      9:53 Disliking Snape. From the beginning, Snape and Harry were enemies. Snape clearly hated Harry, and the two knew it. At the end of the story, we finally realize that that may have not been the case. Harry regrets his relationship with Snape so much because they only realized that they could have a good relationship a moment before Snape died, and Harry can never go back and make up.·      Listen to episode 225 about how the Dursleys aren't that bad here·      16:30 Making an enemy of Dudley. They were pitted against each other for their entire time together. Vernon and Petunia hated Harry, and that shed off onto Dudley. It took seven years for them to understand each other and for Dudley to break out of the prejudice brought on my his parents. When Harry parted from the Dursleys, Dudley realized that they could have been so much better friends than they had been. ·      21:49 Dumbledore dying for nothing. This is a huge regret of Harry's! The locket was a fake and the cave was completely unnecessary. They only realized that when it was too late and Dumbledore was already dead. He died in the best way possible with Snape killing him and getting into Voldemort's good books, but he still could have had a few more weeks to teach Harry valuable lessons that could have given him the skills to win with fewer losses. What would Harry give for just one more hour with Dumbledore?·      26:33 All the people that died for him. There is no way to get around it. His friends, family, students, and people he never knew all withstood torture and gave their lives for his cause. It takes a certain kind of person to live through an ordeal like the Battle of Hogwarts, and everyone that didn't weighs on Harry like nothing else. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss what would happen if the Order didn't arrive to the Ministry in time in the Order of the Phoenix. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:08 Harry and his friends will be killed. The Death Eaters have a lot of leverage on Harry to hand over the prophecy and in doing so hand them the victory. If the Order hadn't arrived a moment after that, it is very possible that they would have promptly killed Harry and his friends and moved on.·      Listen to episode 237 about themes in Harry Potter here·      8:39 Voldemort would take control of the Ministry. Fudge arrives after Dumbledore fights Voldemort and he sees Voldemort standing in a pile of sand before he disappears. Voldemort would have had all the time in the world to kill Fudge and the others that showed up and take control of the Ministry ahead of schedule without the opposition from the Order.·      13:54 Death Eaters would be on the loose. In the Deathly Hallows, there were no limits on the abilities of Death Eaters and their freedom. They could walk down the street and kill whoever they wanted because Voldemort controlled the Ministry. With this jumpstart to his plan, this would certainly become the case much earlier.  ·      18:49 Harry would go out to find horcruxes far earlier. Voldemort's timeline is moved up from this major victory, so Dumbledore would have no choice but to send Harry out into the world to find the horcruxes earlier than we know he does in the story. Dumbledore would have no choice after Voldemort forced his hand. Harry wouldn't be as successful because Dumbledore took the time to show him how to find and destroy them, and without those lessons, Harry wouldn't find nearly as many as quickly.·      24:19 The public would lose faith in the Ministry. If Voldemort returns, enters the Ministry, kills a bunch of students, and walks out, I don't know how much faith everyone could have in them after that. Especially if Voldemort managed to kill Fudge and install a minister of their own, there would be no world in which the public would still be hopeful that the Ministry could do something. ·       27:06 Would Dumbledore arrive and survive as planned? He would arrive and survive as the story is written, but because Voldemort's timeline is moved up, he would send out his minions to kill Dumbledore at Hogwarts earlier. He gains his foothold in the wizarding world and would use that to move forward as far and quickly as possible.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss some of the core themes of Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Listen to episode 236, QuizMaster: Sirius Black here!·      3:25 Death. Death is a huge theme in the story and it is very influential in every boo. However, the meaning of this theme is sometimes farther from the surface of the text that we think. In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry fights the memory of Tom Riddle who is dead but becoming alive. In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry fights hundreds of dementors who are the very embodiment of death itself.·      Listen to episode 231 about undeserved deaths in the Battle of Hogwarts here!·      15:44 Sacrifice. This isn't death as one might imagine, but there are parallels. For example, Harry sacrifices his life at the Dursleys to go to Hogwarts. He isn't leaving a warm, loving home, but he has had more turmoil that necessary and he gave up another status quo. At the end of the story, Harry sacrifices his own life to destroy the final horcrux and eventually win the war. ·        23:59 Courage. This is much more positive than the previous two, and also perhaps one of the most prominent. This had been a theme throughout every book and is often the deciding factor between life and death. Harry fights off dementors at once, goes down the Chamber of Secrets, and during the third task of the Tri-Wizard stood his ground and fought Voldemort.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode we test our knowledge on Sirius Black. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:33 Warm Up Round·      4:17 Question 1·      9:12 Question 2·      12:16 Question 3·      16:18 Question 4·      20:41 Question 5·      24:06 Question 6·      26:38 Question 7·      30:44 Challenge QuestionHaving anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss the good and bad parts of the trapdoor and replace the worst obstacles. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:20 Fluffy. He doesn't really do anything. Playing music to put him to sleep is a weakness that is far too easily exploited to be considered an effective obstacle.·      7:32 Devil Snare. This is a very good choice. In order to escape, the wizard must know what it is and how to defeat it. In addition, death is the punishment for failure. This is a puzzle that must be completed by someone who know knows what they are doing.·       12:35 Potions. Snape's room has fire at the front and back and the wizard must choose the right potion to get through. This is terrible! Logic is a good skill to have, but they could just put out the fire or blast the wall down. Instead, they should be poisoned when they walk in and must make an antidote.·      17:35 Flying Keys. This room is a thumbs down for sure. It tests how well you can play quidditch, not use charms. A better room would be to lock them in the room with protective charms around it. They would have to figure out how they can escape. ·      22:08 The Chess Game. Thumbs up! As long as we are sure that the wizard cannot leave during the game, this is a good task. Chess is one of the bests tests of brain power and thinking ahead.·      24:14 A boggart. The troll for Defense Against the Dark Arts is a terrible task, so replacing it with a boggart is perfect. The door is open, so you have to have courage to walk past it to make it further.26:10 Mirror of Erised. This is a very clever task, but there is an asterisk. There is nothing stopping someone taking the stone after someone who didn't want it already got it. Harry got it from the mirror and then Quirrell could have just taken in. If it only gave the stone to one person would be best. This is of course all to say this: the smartest change of all would be to put the stone somewhere else.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on InstagramSign up for The Quill and Ink Newsletterthepotterdiscussion.com