MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

Pat joins the show and shares his Wizarding World experience and why he still plays Hogwarts Mystery The hosts review two recent interviews with Eddie Redmayne and David Heyman Newt's apartment, his relationship with Theseus, Dumbledore's manipulation and more Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 4 of Half-Blood Prince The hosts recap the chapter in 7 words with a new Group Summary game! Harry is allowed to use magic outside of school, but is it his first time truly Apparating? We learn that Voldemort is now on the defensive (against Harry's mind) Dumbledore continues to put his final plan in motion by recruiting Slughorn References two and three - what's up with Dumbledore's blackened hand? Why does Harry never check that Dumbledore... is in fact Dumbledore? How does Dumbledore know where Slughorn is living - has he been tracking him? Does Slughorn recognize what's truly happened to Dumbledore's hand? Is Horace correct that he would be better off/safer not at Hogwarts? The Master Collector: why does Dumbledore want Harry to become a member of the Slug Club?  Harry will receive private lessons this year - about time! The hosts give their MVPs of the Week and Rename the Chapter We receive an email on the recent Crimes of Grindelwald trailer specific to Leta Lestrange's Hogwarts house Quizzitch: The night Harry arrives at the Burrow, which characters does he spot who aren't in the film adaptation, and which characters does he NOT interact with that he does in the movie? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hypable.com writer Kendra joins the show! Eric recaps a great LeakyCon weekend in Dallas! We meet a brand-new Fantastic Beast - the chupacabra - and get our first glimpse at baby nifflers Newt is headed to Paris to "track" Credence, but how does he even know he's alive? Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 3 of Half-Blood Prince Are the media headlines meant to make readers and the wizarding community feel safe despite Voldemort's known return to power? Why has Dumbledore been reinstated as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot? Our first (passing) mention of Inferi Is Harry's lack of trust in Dumbledore showing up at Privet Drive a result of their relationship from Order of the Phoenix? Why didn't Harry tell the Dursleys that Dumbledore would be visiting? How would they have reacted if he did? We discuss Dumbledore and Petunia's prior correspondence. Was Dumbledore ready to play that hand if necessary? Privet Drive Payoff: Dumbledore puts the Dursleys in their rightful place! Are we seeing a Grindelwald-era Dumbledore based on the way he intimidates the Dursleys or is he just setting affairs in order? Dumbledore's hand, mead, Grimmauld Place, Kreacher and more! We learn that Harry must return to Privet Drive one more time The hosts give their MVPs of the Week and Rename the Chapter; plus a great Crackpot Theory on Felix Felicis Quizzitch: Who gave Ambrosius Flume his first job, thanks to Slughorn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

… Did that work? Is he listening to this episode? With Micah gone this week, we're joined by two of our listeners, Alex and Stefanie, who do their best impressions of the NY News Anchor. Patrons in the U.S. have received their mugs, but we need to know if they arrived okay! And if yours arrived broken (rare but possible), let us know. This week's episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play! Receive a special discount on tickets to see Puffs at New York City's New World Stages. Chapter by Chapter continues with Chapter 2 of Half-Blood Prince: Spinner's End. The brilliance of this chapter is how Snape is playing Bellatrix and Naricissa simultaneously but in different ways. How much does Voldemort know about Dumbledore's injury? He can't know about the Horcrux… right? Does one line from Bellatrix help make Delphi's existence canon? Why would Bellatrix have such a hard time trusting Snape's word when Voldemort is content with his reasoning? And what should she do if she had ever learned the truth? Who is the MVP of the chapter? Those poor elves… We rename the chapter to reflect what really happens. Crackpot Theory: Has Bellatrix made an unbreakable vow before? Have questions or comments about HBP Chapter 3? E-mail mugglecast@gmail.com, or use the voicemail line or feedback form on our website! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Birthday Harry & Jo! We rank Harry's birthdays from worst to best MuggleCast turns 13 years old on August 7! We break down the details of two new Crimes of Grindelwald posters ZouWu? JKR reveals the mysterious beast in the recent Crimes of Grindelwald trailer! Ezra Miller talks about Credence's character development The biggest Harry Potter LEGO set ever hits store shelves August 15 Patrons share their thoughts and questions on the latest trailer Does Dumbledore see Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised because he desires him to be captured? What role exactly will Nicolas Flamel play in The Crimes of Grindelwald? How will Jacob find himself with Newt? Will Credence be reunited with his true family? Will he ever get the chance to go to wizarding school? Was Abernathy working for Grindelwald the whole time? Did he help him capture Graves? We compare Grindewald's populist movement and Dumbledore's timid response to that of the U.S. in the 1930s Voicemails cover the Deathly Hallows, splitting the films into five parts, Johnny Depp and more Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul returns Don't forget: Cormoran Strike is back in Lethal White on September 18 Quizzitch: What floor is Vernon Dursley's office on at Grunnings? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew and Eric reminisce on their latest trivia night battle, which leaves Andrew and friends with a huge prize. The new Crimes of Grindelwald trailer is here and we go scene-by-scene! There is some mixed reaction to Dumbledore's DADA lesson with Newt What interests Credence so much about Circus Arcanus? Who is Grindelwald addressing when he says hiding in the shadows serves us no longer? A flying black curtain - is this a new obscurial effect or perhaps a Lethifold? Dumbledore's deepest desire is not socks - he sees Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised! Newt, Tina and Leta team up to escape the French Ministry of Magic! The Niffler is back! What's up with those cats? And is Newt trying to rescue the Oni Oni? Is Leta referring to herself when she tells Newt he never met a monster he couldn't love? Could Grindelwald be referring to his own failed relationship with Dumbledore when he asks Newt if Dumbledore will mourn for him? Could it be a reference to Ariana? Does Abernathy help Grindelwald escape from prison? What are Newt and Jacob up to in Nicolas Flamel's home? The hosts react to Johnny Depp's in-character appearance at Comic-Con Patrons weigh in with their thoughts on the new trailer Quizzitch: On what historic date was the actor who plays Grimmson born? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slug Club member Chris joins the show David Heyman says Grindelwald is scarier than Voldemort! Why is Dumbledore teaching a young Newt Defense Against the Dark Arts? "After all this time," Chapter-by-Chapter returns! And just in time for HBP's birthday! We analyze the chapter that had been brewing in JKR's mind for more than 13 years Would The Other Minister have worked earlier in the series? Where's Harry? Our first Potter book that doesn't begin with the boy wizard! Voldemort is on the rise and its clear the tone of the series has shifted Fireplace entrances, shady portraits, secret staff - do wizards have a superiority complex? Should the Ministry have considered lifting the International Statute of Secrecy?  Does Fudge ever consider enlisting the help of the Muggle Prime Minister? Do other heads of state have similar relationships with their Muggle counterparts? Rufus Scrimgeour: our thoughts on the new Minister and do we have cause to trust him? Kingsley Shacklebolt "Undercover Secretary" Whatever came of the Ministry's inquiry into the death of Sirius Black? How much control do magical governments have over their Muggle counterparts? Two new segments debut with Character MVP and Rename The Chapter!  Patrons weigh in with their thoughts on the first chapter of Half-Blood Prince! Quizzitch: What is the name of the bridge that gets destroyed by Death Eaters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cursed Child is coming to two new cities... San Francisco (2019) and Hamburg, Germany (2020). Could a Midwest location be next? Chamber of Secrets turns 20 years old! We begin our Half-Blood Prince discussion looking back at some popular fan theories Patrons share their midnight release party memories! We discuss how parts of Half-Blood Prince were originally written for Chamber of Secrets and that it was Book 2’s working title The hosts revisit some of MuggleCast’s theories following the release of the sixth book Who is the Half-Blood Prince? Harry? Voldemort? Felix Felicis? We dive deep into The Underground Lake, one of MuggleNet’s notorious series of editorials What did Dumbledore mean by Remember My Last, Petunia? Who will take over the DADA vacancy? Why does Dumbledore trust Snape? Voicemails cover a Deathly Hallows symbol in Goblet of Fire, deluminators, Cho Chang and more! Quizzitch: What two Order members does Harry bump into (in order) in the HBP chapter, "Silver and Opals"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slug Club member Sarah joins the show! Warner Brothers cracks down on unofficial fan events Main Discussion: The Department of Mysteries & The Prophecy Who are The Unspeakables? The Brain Room: just what are they studying in there? What does each of us think is beyond The Veil? Does the Veil have magical properties to draw one in? Was the Ministry built around the amphitheater that houses the Veil? How is security so lax around such a dangerous room? The Love Room: why is it locked? The Planet Room: what can you do in here that makes it worthy of the Department of Mysteries?  Are there alien wizards? The Time Room: do we believe this is where Time Turners were invented? The Hall of Prophecies: why are they kept locked away?  Should who the Prophecy concerns be able to hold onto the prophecy? Do we forgive Dumbledore for withholding this information until now? Patreon Question of the Week: What other rooms could be within the Department of Mysteries? Quizzitch: What is the spell that Hermione uses to mark the doors in the revolving room? Coming this July... chapter-by-chapter for Half-Blood Prince! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slug Club member Karen joins the show Listeners share their Order of the Phoenix release party memories Cursed Child cleans up at the Tony Awards Universal Orlando adds Harry Potter to their nighttime water show Main Discussion: Major Events of the Phoenix Grimmauld Place: Was this truly the safest place for the Order to be headquartered? Do Sirius and the Order underestimate the threats within the Black Family home? Ministry Interference at Hogwarts: What are Umbridge's credentials for becoming DADA professor? Was it always Fudge's intention for Umbridge to become Headmistress? Do the Educational Decrees expose weaknesses in Dumbledore's leadership? The Formation of Dumbledore's Army: we discuss the Hog's Head, the Room of Requirement and the importance of unifying (almost) all of the Houses Welcome to St. Mungo's: why was it cut from the film? Augusta Longbottom, Neville's parents, Lockhart and Harry's connection to Nagini We reminisce on those gum wrapper theories! Patrons share their top 5 moments from Order of the Phoenix Don't worry, we'll spend Episode 374 inside the Department of Mysteries and discussing The Prophecy Quizzitch: Who was the last member of the Dumbledore's Army to sign up in the Hog's Head? Bonus MuggleCast (available on Patreon) includes memorable lines from the fifth book and Crimes of Grindelwald trailer speculation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris, London, New York: Pottermore offers fans the chance to attend the Fantastic Beasts 2 premieres for charity Cursed Child is up for 10 Tony Awards Main Discussion: Fresh Faces of the Phoenix What would have happened to Harry without the support of Luna and her father? We discuss Bellatrix exposing Harry's ignorance and her unwavering loyalty to Voldemort Does Tonks make the Order of the Phoenix cool? Dolores Umbridge has one redeeming quality - she's the reason for Dumbledore's Army! Do we overlook the importance of Ms. Figg? Was she best equipped to keep Harry safe? What's up with the relationship between Squibs and cats? Mundungus Fletcher... enough said! What if these characters were introduced earlier in the series? What if they never were? This episode's lone voicemail asks about a Hermione-based movie with Emma Watson Quizzitch: Who did JKR say would win in a fight: Crookshanks or Mrs. Norris? MuggleCast Vault: Luna Lovegood and Dolores Umbridge character discussions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices