Magical Theory, a Harry Potter podcast

Turn to Page 65, The Portkey. Today’s lesson is called From Here to There The chapter begins with Harry, Ron and the twins being awoken by Mrs Weasley, early in the morning. They need to prepare to leave for the Quidditch World Cup! Hermione and Ginny are joining them, but Percy, Charlie, and Bill get to sleep in because they will apparate later. On their walk to their destination, Mr. Weasley tells Harry about the process of getting 100,000 wizards to the Quidditch World Cup without breaking the statute of secrecy. They are to take a portkey, which is a mundane object that teleports people on a predetermined schedule. They spread out to search for it, but a new voice belonging to Mr. Amos Diggory calls out that they’ve found it. Harry meets Mr. Diggory and sees his son, and their schoolmate, Cedric. Music: Pooka by Kevin MacLeod #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wizardphd Want a one-time gift instead? Contribute here and buy us a coffee: h

Turn to Page 50, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. Today’s lesson is called When Harry Met Bill & Charlie The chapter begins with Harry popping out of the fireplace and into the Burrow. Fred and George ask research questions about their Ton-Tongue Toffee, as Mr. Weasley arrives and lectures them on muggle-wizard relations. Harry meets Bill & Charlie, and Mrs. Weasley insists that the twins’ work on joke magic should stop. Harry reconnects with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and they see Percy working away at his new job at the Ministry, begging for quiet. Life at the Burrows is crowded but comfortable, enough that Harry essentially forgets about his scar hurting and his letter to Sirius. The Quidditch World Cup looms, as does some other event that Percy drops hints about. Music: Pooka by Kevin MacLeod #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wizardphd Want a one-time gift instead? Contribute here and buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd Listen

Turn to Page 39, Back to the Burrow. Today’s lesson is called When Worlds Collide The chapter begins with Harry and his family waiting for the Weasleys to arrive, to take Harry to their home for the rest of the summer. Vernon and Petunia are ready to judge, but Dudley is scared to relive the trauma of a pig’s tail. Their judgement begins before they even arrive, however, as the Weasleys are late -- until there is noise from the fireplace, as several of them pile-up behind the Dursley’s electric grate. Mr. Arthur Weasley magicks away the grate and out spill Fred, George, and Ron, as well as a cloud of ash and dust. As Mr. Weasley tries to make small talk with the Dursleys, the twins run off to collect Harry’s things. A few awkward minutes later, and Ron and the Twins go back through the fireplace, but not before spilling some sweets into the room - one of which Harry’s cousin consumes just before he is going to go through the floo network himself. Dudley’s tongue has grown too large for his mouth, and although

Turn to Page 26, The Invitation. Today’s lesson is called Grapefruit and Games The chapter begins with Harry at the breakfast table with the Dursleys. The relationship between Harry and his family has changed slightly, as Harry is able to strategically use his relationship with known mass-murderer Sirius Black to affect his Uncle. This comes in handy when a piece of mail, covered in stamps, arrives from Mrs. Molly Weasley. She invites Harry to come stay with her family for the final two weeks of summer, in part to attend the Quidditch World Cup! Harry notes that he will be writing to Sirius, and this causes Uncle Vernon to relent and allow Harry to go. Harry returns to his room, jubilant, and finds Ron’s owl Pigwidgeon, bolting about with a letter from Ron declaring they are coming to get Harry no matter what. Harry responds with Pig, and finishes his note to Sirius with Hedwig, letting him know where he’s going to be. Music: Pooka by Kevin MacLeod #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the pod

Turn to Page 16, The Scar. Today’s lesson is called The Interpretation of Dreams The chapter begins with Harry waking up, his scar searing and losing the clarity of the nightmare that woke him. Voldemort and Wormtail were discussing plans, and a third stranger was present and may have died. Harry wasn’t sure if the dream was real or not, but his first worry is that Voldemort is near to him again, as that was the last time his scar had hurt. Harry calms himself by thinking about who he should tell about this experience: Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore? Finally, he remembers that his newly free godfather, Sirius Black, would be the perfect confidant. Harry scratches out a letter to Sirius and tries to fall back asleep. Music: Pooka by Kevin MacLeod #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wizardphd Want a one-time gift instead? Contribute here and buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform! Anchor: https://

Turn to Page 1, The Riddle House. Today’s lesson is called The Snake of Things to Come The chapter begins in a new place, Little Hangleton: a sleepy town with a spooky story. The Riddle family mansion on the hill was the site of a grizzly triple murder 50 years ago. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Riddle and their only son, clearly murdered in their house - yet police found no evidence of murder at all - it was as if they simply dropped dead of fear. The prime suspect was Frank Bryce, a young man who tended the grounds, and although the town remained convinced over the 50 years that he was guilty, Frank remained loyal to the property and maintained it into his late 70s, when, one night, he saw a fire burning up in the house at night. He went to investigate only to find it was set in the grate and two men appeared to be speaking back and forth in front of it, using words and phrases he did not understand. He did understand, however, that these men had killed and were planning to kill again - and he needed to warn Harry

Turn to Page 416, Owl Post Again. Today’s lesson is called Grim Ending The chapter begins with Harry and Hermione rushing back to the hospital wing, to find Dumbledore waiting for them. He locks them in as an alibi for when Snape and Fudge storm back down after finding Sirius Black had escaped. Snape is completely furious, and spends the rest of the school year somehow being even worse to Harry. The dark cloud of the Dementors lifts over the castle, but Lupin resigns his post after Snape lets his werewolf condition slip. Dumbledore assures Harry that his actions surrounding Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black were incredibly important. The end of the year comes and Gryffindor is house champion. Harry dreads his return to the Dursley’s, especially in light of the brief hope he’d live with Sirius. On the Hogwarts Express, an owl arrives with a letter from Sirius, giving Harry permission to visit Hogsmeade and admitting to having bought the Firebolt. Music: The Curious Kitten by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPot

Turn to Page 386, Hermione’s Secret. Today’s lesson is called The Ghosts of Our Fathers The chapter begins with Harry coming to consciousness in the Hospital wing, overhearing Snape and Minister Fudge discussing the events of that evening. Madam Pomfrey notices Harry and Hermione awake and resumes their active care, but Harry urgently shares the true story of the night with the Minister, who dismisses him for Snape’s version. Dumbledore arrives and dismisses the other adults, insisting on talking to Harry and Hermione alone. Dumbledore has heard out Sirius Black, and his story is the same as Harry and Hermione, but Dumbledore knows it won’t stand up to scrutiny. Instead, they must act instead of tell, and he instructs Hermione on three turns, the location of Sirius Black, and that they might save more than one innocent life. He leaves unceremoniously. Hermione pulls out her time-turner, and uses it on herself and Harry. They go three hours into the past, and relive the night from another perspective. They sav

Turn to Page 378, The Dementor’s Kiss. Today’s lesson is called Shooting Star, Full Moon The chapter begins with the slow trek back through the tunnel connecting the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow. Most of the attention is simply on being able to move with an unconscious Snape, an injured Ron, and a dangerous Pettigrew. Harry and Sirius do have an important conversation about living together when Sirius is exonerated. Harry is jubilant as they exit the tree, only to quickly become terrified as Lupin transforms into a Werewolf. Sirius transforms into his dog form to fight and distract Lupin, and Pettigrew transforms into a rat and escapes again. Ron is petrified on the ground, and Harry and Hermione run to help a yelping Sirius, who turns back into his Human form and is under siege by the Dementors. They try to save him with the Patronus charm, before eventually succumbing to the Dementors’ effect and being subjected to the Dementors’ kiss. Just before all is lost, a powerful Patronus charm rolls thro

Turn to Page 358, The Servant of Lord Voldemort. Today’s lesson is called The Price of Loyalty The chapter begins with Snape interrupting Lupin’s story, triumphant that he has caught Black and Lupin. Our trio, now desperate to hear the story in its entirety, attack the deranged Snape - who is planning to deliver Sirius and Lupin straight to the Dementors - and incapacitate him. Lupin and Black continue the story, including how Black recognized Wormtail in the Weasley’s Egypt photo. Sirius claims that Wormtail cut his own finger off as he killed those muggles and framed Sirius. He was terrified that Wormtail was positioned perfectly to attack and betray Harry at an opportune time. He broke out of Azkaban by transforming into his Padfoot form and slipping by the Dementors. When he arrived at Hogwarts, he befriended Crookshanks, who understood there was more to both Padfoot and Wormtail. In final proof, Sirius and Lupin turn Wormtail back into Peter Pettigrew, Harry’s father’s old friend, and the true betrayer o

Turn to Page 349, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. Today’s lesson is called Unintended Consequences The chapter begins with our trio thinking Lupin is out of his mind. He tries to calm them and Sirius Black down, so he can tell them how it is possible that Scabbers is actually Peter Pettigrew. He begins the story by describing his experiences as a young child bitten by a werewolf. When Dumbledore became headmaster at Hogwarts, he extended an invitation to Lupin to join. To alleviate the risk Lupin harmed anyone during his transformation, Dumbledore planted the Whomping Willow and created the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack, where Lupin was placed before he transformed and remained until he was back to human. Lupin made friends at Hogwarts: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter. And they discovered what was happening to him and learned how to transform, each as a different Animagus to accompany their friend during his werewolf transformations. Just as Lupin got to telling the group about how Snape

Turn to Page 332, Cat, Rat, and Dog. Today’s lesson is called Hate, Fate, and Fog The chapter begins with our trio coping with Buckbeak’s execution and the surprising return of Scabbers. Just as they are trying to return to the castle, however, Crookshanks appears and harasses Scabbers, who struggles to escape Ron’s grip. A massive dog arrives and also lunges after Ron, pulling him and Scabbers into the Whomping Willow. Crookshanks helps Harry and Hermione by subduing the tree and allowing them to follow after the dog. After passing through a long tunnel, they arrive in the Shrieking Shack, to find that the dog was actually Sirius Black. Weakened and delirious, Sirius still manages to disarm Harry and Hermione, but fails to defend himself from Harry simply physically attacking him. Eventually, a disarmed Sirius lies helplessly, with Crookshanks guarding him. Harry precariously hangs on the edge of murder before Professor Lupin arrives. In only a few moments, however, our trio is shocked to see that Lupin, a w

Turn to Page 314, Professor Trelawney’s Prediction. Today’s lesson is called Interpretation The chapter begins with the students buckling down for finals, and our trio concerned about the news that the executioner would be attending Buckbeak’s appeal - an ominous sign that the decision had already been made. Hermione’s schedule appears to have errors, but she won’t elaborate. Harry proceeds through his finals with mixed success, including an out of control Cheering Charm that causes Ron to laugh hysterically for an hour. His last final is Divination, a one-on-one final involving crystal gazing. In it, he sees Buckbeak flying freely. Afterward, Trelawney appears to enter a trance state, and recites out a prophecy about the Dark Lord and his servant - and then she proceeds not to recall her prophesizing. Harry wants to tell Ron and Hermione, but is interrupted by an urgent note that Buckbeak lost the appeal and is set to be executed. Hermione goes to retrieve Harry’s abandoned cloak, and the trio go visit with

Turn to Page 291, The Quidditch Final. Today’s lesson is called The Best Defense The chapter begins with Hermione sharing Hagrid’s note that they lost the case against Buckbeak, who is now sentenced to die. Hermione, Ron, and Harry make-up in light of this tragic ruling, and start to turn from fighting against each other to helping each other out, and fighting against both Malfoys, and Trelawney. Hermione oversleeps Charms, and, after listening to Trelawney make another prediction, excuses herself unceremoniously from Divination. In the quidditch final, Harry concludes that he should aggressively defend Malfoy, and despite Malfoy seeing the snitch first, Harry manages to snag it on his speedy Firebolt, and win the Quidditch Cup. Music: The Curious Kitten by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wizardphd Want a one-time gift instead? Contribute here and buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd Listen to us on your favorite podca

Turn to Page 269, Snape’s Grudge. Today’s lesson is called At What Cost? The chapter begins with Hogwarts reacting to the latest Sirius Black intrusion. As Ron recounts his story to all takers, he and Harry receive an invitation from Hagrid to visit. On the visit, Hagrid tells the boys that Hermione has been having a tough time and chastises them for their roles in it. As they consider their attitude toward Hermione, she warns Harry not to go to Hogsmeade, for the sake of his safety. When the Hogsmeade trip begins, however, Harry ignores her and decides to use the secret tunnel to join Ron. On his way, he bumps into Neville in front of the entrance to the secret pathway, who is not allowed to Hogsmeade as a punishment. Eventually, Harry shakes Neville and finds Ron outside in Hogsmeade, being harassed by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Harry takes the opportunity to throw mud and sticks at them while under his invisibility cloak, though he does accidentally show his face for a moment. Harry retreats back to Hogwar

Turn to Page 252, Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw. Today’s lesson is called Animus The chapter begins with Harry trying to manage Ron and Hermione’s anger at each other. Neither seems willing to relent, and Harry angers Hermione, too, when he suggests Crookshanks likely did kill Scabbers. The Weasleys are trying to cheer Ron up about the apparent loss of his pet, but Harry finally breaks through by suggesting Ron try out his Firebolt after Quidditch practice. The practice goes spectacularly, with Harry zipping around on his amazing new broomstick. The morning of their match versus Ravenclaw, other students gawk at the broom, including a jealous Malfoy. When the match arrives, Harry faces off against Cho Chang, who seems determined to simply interfere with Harry catching the snitch. Eventually Harry does manage to get the snitch and win the match, even casting a patronus at some dementors (who were actually just Malfoy and other Slytherins) who were about to attack. The Gryffindors have a post-match celebration in

Turn to Page 233, The Patronus. Today’s lesson is called Chocolate and Souls The chapter begins with Harry still frustrated that Hermione got his new Firebolt confiscated. The rest of the students return from holiday break as Harry begins private lessons on the Patronus charm with Professor Lupin who, it turns out, was friends with Harry’s dad at school. The spell proves to be very challenging and requires Harry to focus intently on a happy memory to power the spell. Eventually, he does make good progress on the spell and feels more confident about his next confrontation with Dementors, despite learning about their cruel kiss that consumes a person’s soul. There are mysteries surrounding Hermione’s course work, which seems to be immense and impossible, and there is drama unfolding in the Hogwarts quidditch season just as Harry’s Firebolt is returned to him. We finally find Neville talking about having written down the passwords to Gryffindor common room, just as Ron discovers blood, a missing Scabbers, and Cr

Turn to Page 211, The Firebolt. Today’s lesson is called Flight and Fight The chapter begins with Harry reeling from the news that Sirius Black had betrayed his parents. Ron and Hermione try to console a furious Harry, who wants to seek out Black for revenge. In an attempt to change the subject, Ron suggests they visit Hagrid, who they find inconsolable over a Ministry decision to execute Buckbeak. The trio successfully help Hagrid calm himself as he recalls his terrible experience in Azkaban. They agree to help him protect Buckbeak legally, and spend some time of their holiday researching to that end. On Christmas Day, Harry awakens to an astonishing and anonymous gift: A Firebolt. Stunned, Harry and Ron plan to take the broom out later that day, but first the trio join a small holiday meal with many of the Professors and a few students. After the dinner, Hermione consults Professor McGonagall, who intercepts Ron and Harry and confiscates the broom, under suspicion that it was sent by Sirius Black. Music: Th

Turn to Page 183, The Marauder’s Map. Today’s lesson is called Betrayal The chapter begins with Harry in the hospital wing recovering from the dementor attack during quidditch. His friends try to cheer him up, but he is distraught about the experience. Worse, he is stuck in Hogwarts alone while his friends go to Hogsmeade without him. He tells Lupin about his experiences with the dementors and gets Lupin to commit to helping him survive the Fred and George come through, however, giving Harry a map they stole from Filch. It shows where everyone in the castle is at the moment, and also some different pathways out of the castle. They lead him to a secret exit that goes to Hogsmeade, and Harry takes it and joins Ron and Hermione. They have fun in Hogsmeade, and wind up in The Three Broomsticks, when several professors come in, along with Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Harry hides as the adults discuss Sirius Black. He learns that Harry’s dad and Sirius Black were best friends at Hogwarts and that Black betr

Turn to Page 162, Grim Defeat. Today’s lesson is called Nowhere To Be Found The chapter begins with a lockdown of the school as the search for Sirius Black commences. Harry overhears Snape accusing someone of helping Black from inside Hogwarts, while Dumbledore dismisses him. The Gryffindors prepare for quidditch, while McG worries about Harry’s safety. Sir Cadogan has taken over guarding the common room, and everyone is on alert for Sirius Black. Lupin is suddenly absent from teaching, and Professor Snape takes over and belittles the quality of their education. Finally, the quidditch match against Hufflepuff begins, and in inclement weather, Harry is attacked by Dementors while pursuing the snitch. He passes out, and wakes up to find that Gryffindor have lost their match. Music: The Curious Kitten by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wizardphd Want a one-time gift instead? Contribute here and buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/