Albus Dumbledore, Superstar (OOTP Chapter 8, The Hearing)

It’s the day of Harry’s hearing in our Chapter-by-Chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and we wouldn’t blame you if you lost sleep over it. While the odds are stacked firmly against Harry in several ways, Dumbledore decides to save Harry and us all by standing up against the increasingly-fascist Ministry of Magic. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and our Slug Club guest Monet as they tackle Chapter 8, “The Hearing.”

• Welcome to the show, Slug Club guest Monet!
• Just like Monet, YOU can guest-host the show if you pledge to our Patreon at the Slug Club level. In addition, you can now gift a Patreon subscription to a friend!
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• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 8: The Hearing. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 441 and Episode 240 for prior Chapter 8 analysis!
• How does this chapter hit differently for us now, versus in 2003? Laura says the trial seems a lot more believable.
• Eric lists the ways that the trial impugns on Harry’s rights and is designed to be cruel and throw him off of his game.
• Monet points out a direct parallel between this trial, and the one we see for Mary Cattermole in Deathly Hallows.
• Andrew admires Dumbledore’s show of force, his preparedness too, and for once we all agree with him!
• Had Dumbledore not arrived, would Harry have been convicted? Would his wand have been smashed before anyone could do anything about it?
• Dumbledore’s calm and even tone, and his humility - allowing the Minister and co. to save face - is critical to his success, Laura says.
• The connection between a know-it-all headmaster, the ignorant Minister, and the country’s slow descent into Voldemort’s rule is analyzed.
• Does Dumbledore’s interference here cause the Ministry to retaliate later in the year?
• Lynx Line: What crime would listeners have to face a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry over? And, who would we want as our defense?
• Quizzitch: The UK judicial system established a Supreme Court in 2009. Prior to that, what was the highest court in the UK??
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