In this episode, we break down the character of Severus Snape. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Huge thanks to Leona Dolfie who submitted a fascinating theory about Grindelwald’s skull. If you want to submit any questions, comments, or theories, you can email it to thepotterdiscussion@gmail.com.·      2:57 Who is Snape? He was born on January 9th, 1960. He died on May 1st, 1998. Snape grew up in a rather depressing area, but he did have a friend. Lily. Lily had no idea about the magical world and wanted someone to tell her about it, and Snape wanted a friend. They were perfect for each other. They both went to Hogwarts together, but they drifted apart after Snape slipped and called Lily a mud blood. They never made up. ·      8:32 What is Snape’s role in the story? There might be a fancy English term that could get close to describing him, but he is too much of a complex character to be fully encompassed in a single term. He played both sides while fighting for only fighting for himself. There is an art to what he does and the things he says. He is way bigger than a single role in the story. He is a 3D character for sure. He fights for so many things and so many people, there is no way we can call him just one kind of hero. ·      13:42 How would the story be different without him? First, Voldemort would have won and there is nothing they could do about it. Harry would have gotten captured far earlier, Dumbledore would have been killed, and there would have been no hope. Dumbledore would have tried to make a plan without Snape, but Snape’s position as a trusted advisor of Voldemort. Harry also wouldn’t be as good a wizard. We can lose sight of how good a wizard and teacher Snape was because of how mean he was to Harry. Come to think of it, Harry would be dead without Snape. Think of the first book. Quirrell was trying to kill Harry in the quidditch match, and Snape stopped him. Without Snape, Harry would have died.·      21:40 What is his motivation? Obviously, his love for Lily is paramount. However there are others. When James died, Snape felt bad. Not for James, but about the fact that he died thinking Snape hated him. It was true, but Snape felt like he owed him. So Snape decides to protect Harry in his first year at Hogwarts. He did, and Harry lived. Snape went back to hating James’ memory. After a while, another motivation starts to evolve. He begins to care about Harry. Snape saw Lily’s son in Harry and wanted to protect him for the person he was.·      26:32 Is Snape a good person? Is he trustworthy? Of course, we know that Snape is a good person. But is he trustworthy? Know it gets a little more complicated. This is the root of his character. At his core, he is trying to protect, avenge, and remember Lily Evens. So technically, he is loyal to Lily. If Voldemort decided to protect Lily, Snape would have been loyal to him. So is he really that trustworthy after all?  Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss the downfall of Cornelius Fudge. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:09 The downfall of Cornelius Fudge. His reign began pretty well. The economy was stable and the secret of magic was safe. However, that didn’t stay. Once Voldemort began to creep back into the picture, Fudge fell apart. He was alright in the first book, but when the Chamber of Secrets opened, he was under fire. He arrested Hagrid just to show the world that he was doing something. In Prisoner of Azkaban, they can’t catch Sirius Black for the life of them. Fudge is panicked and he put everything they could on the case. It does eventually work, but Sirius then escaped, and they never saw him away. So, he was already set up for failure in the Goblet of Fire. The dark mark was cast at the Quidditch World cup and the world goes into a panic. Fudge denies Voldemort’s return as much as he can and convinces himself that Voldemort is gone. How wrong he is.·      12:35 Fudge didn’t listen to Dumbledore. This was really the final nail in the coffin. Dumbledore is the one of the most powerful wizards in the world and the only person Voldemort feared. Fudge knew this and was writing to Dumbledore early on in his career. The times became good, and Fudge stopped writing. When evil came back, Fudge still believed Voldemort was gone, scared that the dark days would return. Dumbledore could see his crumble, so he sent envoys to the giants and pretty much became the Minister. There is a direct correlation between listening and the times going well, and not listening to him and times going bad. ·      19:21 Fudge was far too controlled by fear. Fear dictated his entire life after the Prisoner of Azkaban, and it prevented him from seeing the truth. He had the facts in front of him and simply ignored them. He did everything he could to make sure the world thought Voldemort wasn’t back, as if that would kill Voldemort again. If he had just done one single thing right, they would have stood a chance. But he didn’t and Voldemort returned. Fudge acted too late and didn’t do what he was supposed to. By the time Fudge finally realizes what was really happening, it was too late.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss whether the Defense Against the Dark Arts job is cursed. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      This episode was submitted by a listener! If you want your idea featured on the show, send it in to thepotterdiscussion@gmail.com.·      2:14 A history of Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) teachers. First is Quirrell who appeared in the first book. He seemed like a good person, but was actually harboring Voldemort in the back of his head and was burned to ash a the end of the book. Lockhart in the Chamber of Secrets seemed too good to be true, and turned out to be a complete fraud. He placed a memory charm on himself that made him forget his entire life.  Lupin was probably one of the best teachers Harry had, but he had one flaw: he was a werewolf. He resigned quickly after that. Alastor Moody seemed like a good person at first, but was really a Death Eater is disguise. Umbridge was arguably the worst DADA teacher we have ever seen, teaching through a book for fear of an uprising. Snape was the final DADA teacher we saw at Hogwarts. Snape took his class very seriously and had some very strict policies. Snape was killed by Voldemort who was in pursuit of the Elder Wand.·      11:53 Does the subject itself have anything to do with their deaths? The reason why there is a higher rate of death for DADA teachers is the fact that those people are most involved with dark magic and dark wizards. Quirrell was young and wanted to teach, so when he took a trip to Albania and met Voldemort, it was the perfect situation for Voldemort to descend and get an inside man at Hogwarts. Similarly with Moody, Barty Crouch Jr. was a very skilled wizard that the world thinks it dead, so he was in the perfect position to take a post at Hogwarts. His downfall came when he had no Polyjuice potion. He was also one of Voldemort’s closest followers. Snape is also a Death Eater who is mostly in support of Dumbledore. Snape’s end comes when he became too involved with Voldemort and his position was one Voldemort wanted. 21:03 Is the DADA job cursed? Absolutely, but not for the reason you might think. There isn’t any magic that is involved with the position, it’s just the fact that DADA teachers are more involved with the dark arts than others. It is very difficult to find a DADA teacher who is morally good and good at magic. That’s why Dumbledore is forced to hire these people that aren’t the perfect choice by far. There are two ways you can avoid dying as the DADA teacher. The first is: completely eradicate every ounce of evil from every part of the world and make certain that there is no chance of any evil coming back. Or 2: don’t take the job.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss Tom Felton's new book. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Get Tom Felton’s book here.·      1:47 What can be gained from this book? There are a lot of different stories that have a wide variety of stages in Tom’s life. The book doesn’t move in perfect chronological order. It’s very well done and every piece of the story fits in place. As to what can be gained, we can gain a peek behind the curtain of production on the Potter set and of Tom’s life. We now have a different view of the filming that deepens our understanding of the filming. We also see what was going on in Tom’s head. It’s hard to be put on a set with millions of dollars on the line and pressure of producing a fantastic film. With this book, we can fully understand what was going on in Tom’s head every step of the way.·      9:52 Was there an element of surprise? No! Granted, I didn’t know 99% of the things he wrote about in the book about his life and just about every page held a story or piece of information I had no idea existed. But at the core of the book, it is the story of a kid dealing with the difficulty of being in a stressful situation.  ·      14:55 Did Tom’s childhood affect his acting? Of course. He had a pack of brothers that showed him the world and were some of his first big supporters. They taught him how to fish and how to keep a job and how to steal something from a store. Perhaps what was more influential in his acting before Potter was his experience acting beforehand. He did several ads and projects including The Borrowers which was his first real time on a large-scale set.·      19:24 Should similar books be published like this? Absolutely. Having this 3D view of the story is extremely valuable and any more stories of the goings on behind the curtain on set are only going to help the story. Anyone else who worked on the set could write something just as amazing.·      22:25 What are some of my favorite parts in the story? First is the first chapter where he stole a CD. It showed his character and was a great introduction to the book. I enjoyed his stories of getting driven into work and his dyed hair. He also wrote about how often they corpse on set. A story that stood out to me was toward the end of the book when he left rehab for a bit and wanted to see some of his friends across town and met some very amazing people along the way. ·      28:25 Thumbs up or thumbs down? Well, surprise surprise, I give Tom’s book a giant thumbs up. It is a fantastic behind the scenes look on Harry Potter and what goes on in Tom’s life.    Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss Ravenclaw and how it is very underrated. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      This episode comes from a listener! Thank you very much. If you want to have your own idea featured on the show, submit it to thepotterdiscussion@gmail.com.·      2:11 Who are some famous Ravenclaws? Rowena Ravenclaw is the founder of Ravenclaw and the founder of the diadem of Ravenclaw. Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang are some of the modern students in Ravenclaw house that we know in the story. Ollivander the wand maker is another Ravenclaw that is a huge help to the wizarding world. Flitwick is an awesome character with fantastic lines and a great sense of humor that brings a fascinating depth to the story. Perhaps the least known on this list is Millicent Bagnold who was the Minister of Magic when Voldemort was first in power. She handled the situation well and famously said “I assert our inalienable right to party.” Click here to learn more.·      9:55 What are some of the traits of Ravenclaw house? First and foremost, there is intelligence. But it goes past a good grade on a test. Ravenclaws think about what they say before they say it and are very quick thinking. They make clever jokes and have form a retort in a matter of seconds. They are also funny. You can always count on a Ravenclaw to give a good jibe. Ravenclaws are also quite intuitive. They can read the room and have a good sense of what’s going on just by looking at someone’s mannerism. ·      15:59 What would happen to Hogwarts if Ravenclaw house didn’t exist? The education would skew away from wand-based magic. Thinking back, the things that are associated with Ravenclaw are dueling and quick thinking, the wand user’s friends. So, if Ravenclaw were to disappear, learning the theory behind magic would become a lost art. You’ve got to know what you’re doing instead of what happens. ·      21:50 What are some common myths and misconceptions? There have been several Ravenclaws who haven’t aligned with the Ravenclaw values and began some of these myths. Firstly, the thought that every Ravenclaw is a smart-Alec. It is very easy for a joke to come off as made to put someone down than get a laugh. Ravenclaws might also be seen as self-centered. Professor Lockhart might have something to do with the beginning of this one.·      25:13 What are the takeaways? It’s simple: Ravenclaw is cool. There are a ton of amazing qualities Ravenclaws have and there is so much depth they bring to the story. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we examine different couples in Harry Potter and give them a rating based on how healthy it is. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:53 Why are we talking about relationships at all? Well, relationships are what everything in the Harry Potter story is built on. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I figured it would be fun to analyze more romantic couples in the Harry Potter story. ·      3:52 Remus and Tonks. These are two amazing people that are fighting for good and with Harry, and they have an overall good relationship. However, they have one major problem: Lupin is a werewolf. Lupin was petrified that any children they would have would turn out to be a werewolf and it would turn out to be his fault. They get a thumbs up and a rating of 8.4.·      9:13 Hagrid and Madame Maxime. They are two unique people who share many traits that allow them to be so close. What makes them so perfect for each other is the fact that they are both half-giants who find it difficult to form romantic relationships with any other person than someone who is a similar size to them. They also managed to iron out any difficulties early (unlike Lupin and Tonks) which allowed them to form a strong bond early on. They get a thumbs up and an 8.9·      14:31 Lily and Snape. Though they might not have an openly romantic relationship, there were certainly feelings between them. Let’s look at them separately. Lily is a good person. She has good morals, and she understands social situation and is easy to be friendly with. Snape is thrilled to have a friend who cares about him the same way he cares about him. Lily needed someone who was magic like her to teach her about the wizarding world and Snape wanted someone to talk to. If they were left alone, they may have turned out very happily, but alas they went to Hogwarts and Lily met James. Lily fell for James, and Snape was devastated. He turned bitter and burst out, calling Lily a mudblood. Lily never liked him again. Snape was too volatile to form a healthy relationship. They get a thumbs down and a 6.7.·      22:37 Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Their relationship is like that of Lily and Snape. There is one good person who understands how to have good values, and one person whose feet is too big for their boots. The difference comes with their separation. Dumbledore and Grindelwald still loved each other when they broke up, whereas Lily and Snape had no such feelings. This is one of those relationships that is difficult to decide a rating because they have gone through many stages. To rate their early stage, they get a tentative thumbs up and a 7.9. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss the future for Fantastic Beasts and the new development that there may not be another film. Enjoy!Topics/Summary: ·      Check out the interview with Eddie Redmayne here.·      2:43 Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Depending on your view of the series, you may prefer different things. If you enjoy the films for the story and the characters, another film is exactly what you want. But, if you take the more critical path of analyzing the film, you might not enjoy the fourth film if Warner Brothers were to put it out. Whatever your view, returns on investment might point towards the fourth Fantastic Beasts film staying away from a reality.  ·      10:13 Where can we go from here? This is another question that we can’t have a correct answer to. It’s hard to think that this whole chapter of Harry Potter is going to fade into the background and amount to far less than what the filmmakers wanted to make and what we wanted to see. This is a dangerous and expensive game that, in this scenario, WB has lost. Now, we’re looking to WB for a continuation of the story.·      15:26 How can the story continue? The perfect situation would be two more films to finish of the series, but let’s just assume that’s not going to happen. More realistically, I’m hoping they put out a sort of short film that wraps up the story that doesn’t cost more than $20 or $30 million to make. Unfortunately, that might not happen. What I think will really happen is some sort of statement from WB addressing this. They might say that they are planning the next films or say that the project is coming to a close. As consumers, we have no say in this. We just have to wait. ·      22:12 Let’s make a plan. Warner Brothers can take this many ways. When/if they put out a statement, we can react accordingly. If they say that they are planning the next film(s), we can gear up for the next release. If they say that nothing is going to happen, we can put Fantastic Beasts up on the shelf and call it a day. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss if Dumbledore is really a good person.Topics/Summary:·      Check out episode 147, Dumbledore is a Death Eater here.·      2:44 Why are we talking about this at all? Well, it changes the story a lot. If Dumbledore was helping Harry in a selfish way, we can see this in a very different light. In the Battle of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore comes to Harry’s rescue. Just think, what if Dumbledore was saving Harry so Harry could die at the right moment instead of just saving him so he would be spared. ·      10:30 Dumbledore makes a lot of sacrifices. His entire plan was to keep Harry alive until he could die at the right time, and he used human shields to do this. Harry’s sacrifice was the only one that had to happen. Sure, others may have died, but it was Dumbledore who put the rest of the people who died in front of Harry. It might have gone better if they set a trap for Voldemort or thinking of something else besides hope that he can’t kill everyone until Harry. ·      15:31 Dumbledore bears an uncanny resemblance to Grindelwald. A lot of the things Dumbledore is doing is very similar to a ‘for the greater good’ mentality. Both Grindelwald and Dumbledore think they need sacrifice to reach the perfect world they are fighting for. Even Dumbledore says he isn’t a perfectly moral person, and though this doesn’t mean Dumbledore is trying to develop these secret plots against Harry, just keep in mind the influence from Grindelwald. ·      20:42 Given the chance, would Dumbledore change his life? Not his current one, no. But his past… yes. If Dumbledore could go back and change his relationship with Grindelwald and give his young self advice, he absolutely would. Dumbledore wouldn’t change his life in a huge way, but he would want to tweak a few key things that would steer him away from Grindelwald. ·      25:10 So. The zillion dollar question. Is Dumbledore a good person? Overall, yes. Dumbledore is a good person. But, he’s not perfect. Dumbledore has made many mistakes in his life, making sacrifice upon sacrifice. The reason Dumbledore is a good person, is he didn’t make any big mistakes when it counted. Dumbledore used his youth to be with Grindelwald, then in his adult life, saw his mistakes and became a good person.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we explore AI combined with Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      There have new developments in the world of AI recently, involving tools such as ChatGPT. In this episode, we are going to be asking ChatGPT questions about Harry Potter and seeing if it can answer the question. ·      Challenge question: What boat company did Newt use to get back to London at the end of Fantastic Beasts? Answer: The Royal Star Steam Company.·       5:06 Is Harry Potter a good person? ChatGPT: “Harry Potter is a fictional character and it is ultimately up to the reader whether they consider him to be a good person or not.” ·      9:55 What could the story of Harry Potter have done better?         1.)    Develop secondary characters more.         2.)    Address racial prejudice more directly        3.)    Explore the aftermath of the war more        4.)    Address the consequences of magic        5.)    Show more diversity in the wizarding world        6.)    Show more of the Ministry of Magic        7.)    Show more of the muggle world        8.)    Had a more satisfying ending·      17:02 What could Harry Potter the character have done better in the story? 1.)          Communicating with his friends and allies.2.)          Trusting in his own abilities3.)          Not being so reckless4.)          Being more forgiving5.)          Seeking help when needed·      27:43 Give me an outline for a potential 8th Harry Potter book please.o  “The book would begin with Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron all being in their late thirties and living their own lives. The book would follow Harry as he is drawn back into the wizarding world when a new threat emerges. Harry would then seek help from his friends and allies, including Hermione and Ron, who would help him investigate this new threat. As they investigate, Harry and his friends would uncover a dark secret about the organization and its true purpose. They would also learn that the organization has been recruiting young witches and wizards, and Harry would have to stop them from doing so. Along the way, Harry would have to face his own demons, including his past and his feelings of guilt and regret about hie role in the previous war. The final showdown would take place at Hogwarts where Harry and his friends would have to face off against the organization and its leader. The book would end with Harry and his friends finally defeating the organization and bringing peace to the wizarding world again.·      31:17 Tell me a Harry Potter joke. Here’s the best we got: Why did the Death Eater cross the road? To get to the dark side!Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we test out knowledge on Newt Scammander. Enjoy!Topics:Where does Newt live?Which bank did Newt meet Jacob?Why did Newt say he was in America?Much more!Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

Hi everyone! I'm sorry to say I'm not feeling my best at the moment, so this episode is a rebroadcast of my favorite episode from 2022. Enjoy!See original episode, show notes, and transcript here.

Thanks. The world's been pretty crazy this year, and I'm glad I could sit down every weekend and ramble about Harry Potter. I have a blast every episode and I look forward to every week, knowing there's an episode or an Instagram post or a newsletter waiting for me. I couldn't have done any of this without you, so I just want to say thanks. See you soon.-OscarFavorite Episodes of 2022:Episode 138: My Visit to Harry Potter Filming Locations in England! (Lacock, Oxford, The Harry Potter Studio Tour)Episode 123: The Music of Harry Potter!Episode 120: Analyzing the New Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer!Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we talk all things Christmas. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·     3:06 Did Christmas change over time in the story? There’s a lot of contrast between the first and last Christmas we saw. What factors contributed to this change? Voldemort was one of the main ones. Having a safe environment to celebrate was how Harry had his Christmas, which turned out to change. The characters also changed throughout the books which influenced the Christmases. They are different people with different interests which will have some effect on Christmas.·     8:41 How is a Harry Potter Christmas different from a muggle Christmas? Of course, there is magic in a Harry Potter Christmas. Magical presents and food and events. Muggles do all this much slower. They don’t have access to magic to make their Christmas better. Which parts of which are the best? Wizards have the better gift giving, that’s for sure. Nothing beats a magical gift. However, muggles have the best games. I don’t want to have a huge glob of stink sap in my face with gobbstones or have my cards explode in Exploding Snap. The muggles also have a better Christmas feast. Hear me out! The best dish in my opinion is a Christmas mac and cheese. Did we ever see a Christmas mac and cheese in Harry Potter? No! For that reason, I’ll give the win to the muggles. ·     17:25 What would the perfect Christmas day look like at Hogwarts? I open all my presents including (but not limited to): 7 Firebolts, five thousand galleons, new quidditch robes for the entire team with anti-wind, anti-cold, and anti-water power, an entire library, and the Elder Wand. Breakfast is delicious. I go outside with a huge mug of hot chocolate and watch the giant squid and skaters on the lake. I have lunch in the Three Brook Sticks, and head back to Hogwarts. The feast is awesome, with piles upon piles of Christmas mac and cheese. For dessert, there are pies and ice cream as far as the eye can see. I play one last game of wizard chess and go to bed. ·     24:05 Are the Harry Potter Christmas vibes good, or will it take an L? Of course, Harry Potter Christmas is awesome. It has adds a wonderful layer to the story and the characters and is a fun way to read about the wizarding world. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we design the perfect Harry Potter filming location tour. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·     This idea comes from a listener. Thank you! You can suggest your ideas in here.·     You can listen to episode 138 here.·     2:38 Durham Castle. This was the site of the famous slug vomiting scene as well as McGonagall’s classroom. My priority would be to act out the slug scene and try to transfigure some objects. This was a smart choice to film at because this castle is very much like Hogwarts and aids in the imagery for the story. ·     8:14 Oxford. The library, the hospital wing, the ferret scene, and the first years walking up the staircase was all filmed at Oxford. The filmmakers walked around Oxford to get inspiration for the films! That’s how like Hogwarts is. The architecture is so old, it was built around the same as time Hogwarts.·     16:55 Leadenhall Market. Leadenhall Market was the inspiration for J. K. Rowling’s Diagon Ally. I would be happy to spend an afternoon with a pastry and warm drink at Leadenhall Market, enjoying the aroma of Harry Potter.·     19:13 King’s Cross. King’s Cross plays a huge role in the story as the jump off point from London to Hogwarts. We see the station in close to every film and is an important place for wizards and muggles. I would love to push a trolly through the wall and take a ride on the Hogwarts Express.·     22:52 Gloucester Cathedral. Many corridor scenes were filmed in the Gloucester Cathedral. This cathedral is almost 1000 years old. Some electricity was put into the cathedral, so the filmmakers had to cover up the more modern elements with stone columns and brasiers.·     26:16 Shell Cottage. Shell Cottage was used in the Deathly Hallows films. It would be lovely to spend a day at the beach with food, drink, and Harry Potter books in hand, watching the sea and enjoying the sights.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we talk about the main theme of Harry Potter. Enjoy!Topics/ Summary:·     Click here the enter the giveaway and win Harry Potter and the Order Illustrated and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screen Play!·     2:40 Why does the main theme of the story matter? The theme of the story is the core element that it needed to understand the plot and characters and give us a better view of the story. We have a better grasp on the different events, the climax, and why different characters do what they do. ·     6:31 J. K. Rowling said the main theme of the story is death. Does that make sense? Essentially, yes. Death is described as not the end, but the beginning of another great adventure. Harry sees his parents and Sirius and Dumbledore long after they died. This theme applies to may different aspects of the story, but death is not the only message in the story.·     12:07 What are other main messages in the story? Love and friendship are the obvious ones, but what are some others? The inner struggle also takes a front seat. Harry struggles with Voldemort possibly possessing him in the Order of the Phoenix and beyond shows this. One of the main story lines in the fifth book was Harry trying to escape Voldemort. The value of working together was also highlighted. Harry was rarely working alone. He always stood united with his friends. Voldemort is the opposite, working with his supporters in much more of a cold relationship. The final theme that I saw was the “you’ll be fine” mentality. Harry learns very little information in the beginnings of the story, and only knows the full story at the very end of the story. Did the world collapse? It was close, but no. ·      20:54 Which characters have the authority to make a theme out of a message? There are three scenarios: single person, multi-person, and prolonged single person. The first example (single person) is the least common. This is when a message is already present, and a character points it out. Multi-person is the most common. This is when many people join a movement or commit an act of make a statement that has lots of repercussions. Single person prolonged is the final example. This is when a single person will create the theme themselves over many years, doing the same things and helping the same people, creating a dynamic that allows for a theme to grow.·     26:01 Do characters or events create themes? Both! One or more characters should be performing an act over a long period of time or do something so monumental it has lasting effects. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss where Dumbledore can go from here. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·     2:14 Where are we starting from? As of now, Grindelwald is on the run, and most of our main characters are together again. Credence is on the way out with Aberforth by his side. At this point, the dynamic of the fight against Grindelwald shifting. Now they’re chasing Grindelwald and have a very good reason to catch him. Dumbledore must form a set of solid relationships to carry the cause of good through the war.·     8:17 Speaking of relationships, which characters will Dumbledore form these key relationships with? Newt is a no brainer, being a major character. Tina is less of a possibility because she hasn’t been playing a large role so far. Queenie is in a similar boat to Tina. Lally is more of a wild card. We don’t know her character as well as we know others, so including her in the film will be a risk, but a risk that I think it worth taking. ·     13:56 Will the story move fast or slow? If there are four films, there are several routes the film could go. We’ll either move very quickly through the story to get to 1945 where the story ends, or we’ll just skip every element of the story until said end. I would be happy with either of these. However, it would be very disappointing to just a brief recap lasting only a couple minutes to get us to the later years of the story. A less likely route would be the fourth film to be picked up right where Secrets of Dumbledore ended, as the time in which the war is beginning, and ending is one of the calmest points before the stormiest storm in history and would be a very interesting point to see from the wizarding perspective. ·     22:39 What will Dumbledore focus on in the fourth film and will Newt play a role in quest? Let’s begin with the first question. Firstly, Dumbledore is going to look for Grindelwald of course. The next thing he is going to do is gather a form of the Order of the Phoenix. If that’s what Dumbledore did in the later books, why change his strategy? He is going to find people who will support him and defend the good.  Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram and TikTok@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we break down Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·     A huge thanks to Milly for this wonderful episode idea! Email ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com if you want your idea featured on the show.·     To begin, we should lay a solid foundation for own characters. We’re looking both Xenophilius and Luna today because understanding one will help us know more about the other.·     We meet Luna in the Order of the Phoenix. It’s hard to know if Luna is joking or completely serious, which made for a strange but true introduction to her character. ·     Harry meets Xenophilius at Bill and Fleur’s wedding at first. Harry was more used to the Lovegoods at that point, but it was still an unsettling encounter.·     Where do they fit into the story? Is it a big role? If they appear a bunch but don’t make a large difference, we shouldn’t consider them main characters. However, they do. Luna is the character that doesn’t really have a place. She’s pushed around and bullied, and Luna must find a place to settle, and does so in the DA. Xenophilius is in a similar boat. He doesn’t fit into any groups, so he must make his own. That element doesn’t go great, as the Death Eaters take Luna because of what Xenophilius was printing in the newspaper.·     So, do Xenophilius and Luna have a big role in the story? Well, they aren’t the main characters but also aren’t in the background. They aren’t horrible or great. Let’s start with Xenophilius. For importance, we’ll give him a 57/100. He doesn’t appear in many books, so he doesn’t have a higher score. For goodness, we’ll give him a 72/100. Xenophilius is a good person, but he did call the Death Eaters to take Harry away. Luna’s importance rating is an 81/100. She appears in more books and scenes than Xenophilius. For goodness, a 95/100 seems fair. Luna is a very good person who is honest and pure. It’s not 100 because her honestly might not be a great thing all the time.·     For the final part of the episode, let’s zero in on these characters and answer a question central about their character. ·     How did Luna’s childhood influence who she was? It all comes down to the fact that Luna was raised by her father, Xenophilius. They share many traits. They dress the same, say the same things, and have similar habits. Although her personality might have been formed before she went to Hogwarts, her exposure to the outside world is what influenced her to be the way she is.·     Was Xenophilius right to call the Death Eaters on Harry? No. That’s the simple answer. However, his credit isn’t destroyed because it was Luna’s safety that was in the balance. Xenophilius had to make a gut decision and chose Luna over Harry. Not a bad way to go, but the train of thought wasn’t thought out very well. If Harry died and all good was killed, would Luna and Xenophilius have been spared? No. Xenophilius should have been honest and told Harry to look out for Luna if he could. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram and TikTok@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we discuss some of the things that could have shaken up Harry Potter. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·     1:43 We need more varieties of magic! Specifically, wandless magic. Now it makes total sense, but there should be more to casting spells. Every spell involves waving the wand and saying something. Perhaps magic that could be done without a wand or being able to influence matter without the use strictly of a wand. Removing the wand from a person pretty much ends the battle.·     11:06 What if muggles were find out about magic? This topic had been glossed over too much in the story, so what would the story look like if muggles knew about magic? Wizards would probably start by trying to find a way to obliviate every person in the world. When they realized it was impossible, wizards would begin to give muggles magical solutions to their problems. ·     16:54 What would a wizard/muggle war look like? This would be a very interesting thing to see. Muggles couldn’t use technology as magic destroys it. And could a wizard blow up a tank or block a bullet? It’s hard to think about because we have no information to go on in the story as it is. ·     22:18 Does the possibility exist for a magical monarchy? Several monarchies exist around the globe today, but could a magical king or queen be any similar? We know there is a magical prime minister, but not a monarch. What would happen in the wizarding world, and would it be helpful or harmful?Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram and TikTok@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we test our knowledge on the quotes of Harry Potter. Enjoy!Summary/Topics:·     This episode idea comes from a listener! Thank you for submitting an idea. If you want to submit an episode idea, check out the bottom of the show notes for contact details.·     2:33 Warm up round. There are three questions in the warmup round to get ready for the main round.·     5:31 Main round ·     6:01 Question one: “You do it then if you’re so clever.” This quote does occur around the same time as one of the warmup questions if that helps at all. This quote is also a good insight into several characters; this insight also helps us see further into the relationship of the two characters involved.·     10:48 Question two: “There will be no need to talk.” Similar to the last quote, it is a good insight into character. This character puts a lot of thought into image and rules, making sure that everything is done perfectly.  ·     15:19 Question three: “Come on Tom, let’s finish it the way we started. Together.” This quote seems obvious, but there are several characters that might have said this. It does only apply to a couple situations, but many characters. This quote has the qualities of a good meme, but it also has a sense of finality and it a perfect addition to the story. ·      19:28 Question four: “Don’t be a prat. Do him!” Although this is not the nicest of quotes, it is a wonderful insight into plot. It makes sense when you hear the answer, but there are many characters and situations that could apply. ·     22:44 Question five: “Fame is a fickle friend, Harry.” This is rather a funny quote given by a ridiculous character in the wrong situation.·     25:35 Question six: “What’s basketball?” This is a lesser-known quote in the story. It isn’t commonly quoted quote and is rather obscure. However, it shows good contrast between the magical and muggle world which is helpful for the reader. We know only what the story can tell us and showing how blurred the lines are between the magical and muggle world is a fascinating thing.·     29:22 Question seven: “Avada kadavra!!!” What an awesome quote! Not much of a secret who says this, but this scene is a good end to this episode.·     31:52 Challenge Question: “Yes, but the world isn’t split into good people and death eaters.” Tune in next week to find out the answer!Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram and TikTok@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite

In this episode, we create the perfect Halloween night in the Wizarding World. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·     2:58 What better way to start off our Halloween night than to design a costume. This costume is perfect Halloween. It is, of course, a dementor. First, I need a lot of robes. Our dementor is going to be at least 15 feet tall, so I’ll magically meld several cloaks together and use polls with hands for the arms. For my own head to be the head of the dementor, I need to be at the dementor’s level, so I’ll use a broomstick to fly on. This will also allow for the classic dementor glide. We also need to create the environment of the dementor with some kind of cold spell to make a bubble of freezing cold to really tie this costume together.·     13:06 Who are we going to invite to the party? Our first set of people will be invited to the much larger school party. The second is much smaller and is much wilder with more games and fun. To begin with the first list, we can assume around 800 people are going to be at the larger party. The trio are going to be there along with Draco. McGonagall will show off her Animagus skills and Flitwick would cast some Halloween themed charms. Umbridge would just try and shut the whole thing down. For the smaller party, just a group of the trio, Fred and George, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Seamus and Dean, Padma and Parvati Patil, Bill and Charlie would be the perfect small group.·     20:44 Going back to the larger party, what disaster would take place? It was the troll in the first book, so we can rule that one out. A good disaster would be a beast in the forest. The guests leave the party and walk out into the garden and see a huge beast at the edge of the trees with glinting eyes and claws. It slinks away, but it was a close call.·      26:11 How would we trick or treat? Although my broomstick could take me many places, the rest of the group don’t have the luxury, so we’ll need a different mode of transport. The zouwu would make the perfect creature to aid our effort to collect hoards of candy! Ideally, we would be able to collect thousands of pieces of candy. With some numbers crunched, we could make up to around 300 galleons if we play our cards right after selling it.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. The Quill and Ink NewsletterThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com@thepotterdiscussion on Instagram and TikTok@potter_discuss on TwitterWebsite