Magical Theory, a Harry Potter podcast

Turn to Page 104, Mudbloods and Murmurs. Today’s lesson is called What Lies Beneath. The chapter begins with Harry sleeping after a long week. His sleep is cut short by Oliver Wood, who springs a surprise first Quidditch practice on the Gryffindor team. Colin Creevey follows Harry down to the pitch, pestering him with questions. As the team begins to fly, they are interrupted by the Slytherins, who claim special access in order to train their new seeker, Draco Malfoy. Hermione insults Draco by pointing out he is probably only on the team because his father bought them each new broomsticks, and Draco retorts by calling Hermione a mudblood. In the ensuing chaos, Ron tries to curse Draco, but his broken wand causes the spell to backfire, and he begins spitting up slugs. The trio go to Hagrid’s house, where he comforts Ron, and fills in Harry about his interactions with Lockhart and Ginny. When they return to the castle, they find McGonagall waiting for them with detention schedules. Harry goes to assist Lockhart

Turn to Page 86, Gilderoy Lockhart. Today’s lesson is called PR The chapter begins with the first day of classes, and on a sour note. At breakfast, Ron receives a howler from his mother, which chastises him in front of the whole school. Before Herbology, Lockhart pulls Harry aside and warns him against too much ego and attention-grabbing, which Lockhart believes underlies the Whomping Willow incident. In Herbology, the second-years learn to replant baby mandrakes, and avoid their dangerous crying. In Transfiguration, Harry has regressed to being unable to successfully change a beetle into a button. Before Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry deals with Colin Creevey, a first-year, wanting his photograph and Lockhart believing he is witnessing more attention-seeking behavior from Harry. In class, Lockhart gives them a pop-quiz about himself, which Hermione aces. He then releases an unruly band of pixies on the class, as a “hands-on” experience. Hermione defends his lesson weakly, as Ron suggests Lockhart exagg

Turn to Page 65, The Whomping Willow. Today’s lesson is called Crash Decisions The chapter begins with Harry surprised that he wants summer break to go even longer, due to his love for life at the Burrow. Summer does end eventually, and the group heads to Platform 9 ¾ to take the Hogwarts Express. When Harry and Ron try to go through the barrier, however, they meet only solid concrete. In a panic, they decide to use the flying Ford Anglia to track down the Hogwarts Express. Surprisingly, they are successful, although the invisibility charm malfunctions, and begin an extensive journey flying above the train. The car begins to give out just as they see the castle, finally stalling out and crashing into a tree: The Whomping Willow. They survive the tree’s assaults and the car ejects them and their stuff and drives off. Ron discovers his wand was nearly snapped in the chaos. In the castle, Professor Snape, then McGonagall and Dumbledore, punish Harry and Ron and try to communicate the gravity of their being seen

Turn to Page 42, At Flourish and Blotts. Today’s lesson is called Subtle Clues. The chapter begins with Harry loving his time at the Burrow, experiencing life in a loving, wizarding family. His time there is capped by a trip to Diagon Alley via the Floo Network. They are all going to buy their school supplies for a new year at Hogwarts. Harry botches his first use of Floo powder and winds up in Knockturn Alley, at Borgin & Burkes. He hides from Draco Malfoy and his father, Lucius, who is trying to unload some poisons. Eventually, the Malfoys leave, and Harry escapes the shop unseen, only to be cornered by a witch. Harry is saved from this situation by Hagrid, who happened to be in Knockturn Alley himself. Hagrid leads Harry back to Diagon Alley, where they meet up with Hermione, her parents, and eventually all of the Weasleys. After a trip to Gringotts, Mr. Weasley insists on buying Hermione’s muggle parents a drink, and the kids split off. Harry, Ron, and Hermione enjoy an hour reunited and surrounded by

Turn to Page 24, The Burrow. Today’s lesson is called A Life Unlived. The chapter begins with Harry face-to-face with his friend, Ron Weasley. After his father reported that Harry had a notice for underaged magic, Ron and his brothers, Fred and George, had apparently flown a car in order to free Harry. They barely escape Uncle Vernon’s desperate attempts to stop Harry from leaving. During the flight back to the Burrow, Harry recounts his conversation with Dobby, and suspects maybe that the Malfoy’s sent Dobby to mess with Harry. When they get to the Burrow, Mrs. Molly Weasley berates her sons over their recklessness, but softens the more she learns of Harry’s rough summer. The boys set about their chore of de-gnoming the garden, and eventually Mr. Arthur Weasley returns from his work at the Ministry of Magic, and becomes the newest target of Mrs. Weasley’s ire. After a wild night and morning, Harry goes up to Ron’s room and settles down. Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast

Turn to Page 12, Dobby’s Warning. Today’s lesson is called Safe or Free? The chapter begins with Harry face-to-face with an unfamiliar and agitated being who introduces himself as Dobby. Dobby the house-elf vaguely warns Harry of a dangerous plot to take place at Hogwarts the upcoming year, but is forbidden from giving too many details about how and what he knows. Dobby reveals that he has been hiding Ron’s and Hermione’s letters to Harry in an effort to stop Harry from wanting to go back to Hogwarts. His mission is simply to prevent and being exposed to the danger, so when Harry refuses to stay away from Hogwarts, Dobby causes mayhem at Privet Drive during Vernon’s important business dinner, who promptly locks Harry away after learning that Harry cannot legally do magic outside of school. The chapter ends with Harry waking up to the face of Ron Weasley at Privet Drive. Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? BECOME A PATRON: https://patreon.com/wi

Turn to Page 1, The Worst Birthday. Today’s lesson is called The Sound of Silence. The chapter begins with Harry Potter back living at 4 Privet Drive, with Hedwig locked in her cage and all of Harry’s magical equipment locked away. His family was as disgusted as ever with Harry, whose presence was to be erased in preparation for a dinner with potential clients for Vernon Dursley. Harry’s family’s attempts to isolate him were nothing compared to how Harry felt about not hearing from his best friends from his first year at Hogwarts. He had even begun doubting those friendships, when a mysterious figure appeared on his bed. Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD MERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/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 place! Anchor: https://anchor.fm/magical-theory Apple: http://bit.l

Today we are talking about Alchemy and the Magnum Opus, and it’s our episode on book one as a whole, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (or Philosopher’s) Stone. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #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 place! Anchor: https://anchor.fm/magical-theory Apple: http://bit.ly/AppleMT Google Play: http://bit.ly/GooglePlayMT TuneIn: http://bit.ly/TuneInMT Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2lWk4bl Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2knqKyH Stitcher: http://bit.ly/StitcherMT MAGICAL THEORY, a Harry Potter podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdvEmDn42BjX7JuYhGO7AbBzDPxML83Ry --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/magical-theory/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/magical-theory/support

Turn to Page 288, The Man With Two Faces. Today’s lesson is called Gambits and Sacrifices The chapter starts with Quirrell revealing himself as the enemy. He quickly subdues Harry, tells him how he came to become a follower of Voldemort, and then returns to the last obstacle between him and the Sorcerer’s Stone: the Mirror of Erised. Harry, trying to prevent Quirrell from completing his mission, realizes that he should be able to see where the stone is hidden, if he looks in the mirror. As he tries to stealthily do so, a horrible voice suggests to Quirrell to make Harry look in the mirror. Harry does so, and sees himself putting the Stone in his pocket when, to his surprise, the Stone actually appears in that pocket. The voice demands to face Harry directly, after realizing Harry was lying about not knowing where the Stone was. Voldemort is revealed to be subsisting in Quirrell’s body, and orders Quirrell to attack Harry and take the Stone. Quirrell cannot bear to touch Harry, however, and Harry attempts to h

Turn to Page 262, Through The Trapdoor. Today’s lesson is called Simulations and the Real Thing. The chapter starts with the students preparing for their exams, and Harry preoccupied with his nightmares about Voldemort. After the trio finish their exams, Harry’s mind is able to put together that it could not have been a coincidence that Hagrid happened upon a Dragon egg. They discover that Fluffy can be circumvented with music, and that Hagrid told the Dragon-selling stranger as much. They hustle off to tell Professor Dumbledore, when Professor McGonagall tells them he has gone to the Ministry of Magic. She dismisses their concerns about the Sorcerer’s Stone, and, later, grows angry when discovering they refused to let go of their belief that it was going to be stolen. Harry decides that he must steal the stone before Snape, so they plan to have another midnight escapade under the cloak. Neville tries to prevent them from selfishly losing Gryffindor more points, so Hermione reluctantly incapacitates him. The

Turn to Page 242, The Forbidden Forest. Today’s lesson is called Uncloaked and Exposed. The chapter starts with Harry and Hermione despairing over their fate. A furious Professor McGonagall arrives with Neville, and the three are punished by losing 150 points for Gryffindor and getting detention. The other Gryffindors are indignant, and Harry studying and keeping his head down. One night, he overhears an afraid Quirrell muttering to himself, and the trio fear that Snape is closer than ever. As they consider ways to thwart Snape, Harry and Hermione receive notice of their detention. That night, Filch marches them down toward the Forbidden Forest, where they are to meet Hagrid. Hagrid shows them a puddle of unicorn blood and instructs them of their mission to find the injured creature. Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid encounter two enigmatic centaurs before Hagrid runs off to help Malfoy and Neville. Finally, Harry, Malfoy, and Fang find the unicorn, dead, and being feasted on by some being. Harry doubles over in pa

Turn to Page 228, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback. Today’s lesson is called Distractions. The chapter starts with the trio relieved that Quirrell seemed not to be giving into Snape, but stressed by their first upcoming final exams. While studying in the library, Hagrid asks them to visit him in his hut. After discovering that many of the professors helped to hide the Sorcerer’s Stone, they find that Hagrid is nurturing a dragon egg that he won from a stranger in the pub. Later, Harry suspects that Malfoy overheard them talking about the dragon egg. After they see the new dragon emerge from its egg, their awe is quickly replaced by anxiety when realize that Malfoy had seen them. They convince Hagrid that Norbert should be delivered to Charlie Weasley in Romania. After delivering the dragon to Charlie’s friends, they are dismayed when Filch catches them in the act. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? Contribute here: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd

Turn to Page 215, Nicolas Flamel. Today’s lesson is called Quick Conclusions. The chapter starts with Harry extra nervous about his next quidditch match because he has learned Snape will be refereeing. After consoling Neville with a chocolate frog after his latest bout of bullying from Malfoy, Harry notices the name Nicolas Flamel in the text on Dumbledore’s card. The trio discover that Flamel is the only known creator of the Sorcerer’s Stone, a mysterious and powerful object known to prolong life. Harry learns that Dumbledore is attending the quidditch match, and his fears that Snape will attack him subside completely. In his relief, he catches the snitch exceptionally fast. After the match, he follows Snape into the forbidden forest on his broomstick, and overhears a discussion between Snape and Professor Quirrel about the Sorcerer’s Stone and its protection inside the castle. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #HarryPotter #podcast #WizardPhD ✨Like the podcast? Contribute here: https://ko-f

Turn to Page 194, The Mirror of Erised. Today’s lesson is called The Unused Classroom. The chapter starts with Harry immune to Draco’s taunts about his having to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas. Harry rightly anticipates his best ever Christmas, full of fun, feast, Weasley brothers, and -curiously- his father’s invisibility cloak being anonymously returned to him. Harry starts his first foray under the cloak in the restricted section of the library to find leads on Nicolas Flamel, which nearly gets him caught by Filch and Snape. In his panic, he hides in an empty classroom, that seems to house a mysterious magical mirror. Harry sees his whole family looking back at him, waving and crying. Harry gets Ron to look into the mirror, but Ron sees himself, alone, as Head Boy and Quidditch captain. A noise spooks them away, but Harry is determined to return. When he does, he finds Professor Dumbledore waiting for him, with a lesson about fantasy and reality. Dumbledore tells Harry he will be moving the mirror, and no

Turn to Page 180, Quidditch. Today’s lesson is called Seek and Ye Shall Find. The chapter starts with our trio getting used to winter at Hogwarts, and Harry getting ready for his first quidditch match, against Slytherin house. Harry’s nerves are calmed slightly by “Quidditch Through the Ages,” a book recommended by Hermione, but Professor Snape confiscates it from Harry. When Harry asks for his book back, he finds Snape having his leg tended by Filch while complaining about the three-headed dog. This, along with Hermione and Ron seeing Snape mutter a spell as Harry’s broomstick malfunctions during his quidditch match, cause him to pile suspicion on Snape. The spell breaks in time for Harry to catch the snitch - in his mouth - and win the match for Gryffindor. Later, our trio visits Hagrid, who denies their claims of Snape’s nefariousness, while revealing that the three-headed dog, Fluffy, belongs to him and, more importantly, guards something connected to Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel. Music: Magica

Turn to Page 163, Halloween. Today’s lesson is called Putting on a Brave Face The chapter starts with Harry bringing Ron up to speed on what he believes is being guarded by the three-headed dog. In the Great Hall, Harry receives a large package that turns out to be a Nimbus 2000 broomstick, sent by Professor McGonagall. Harry practices Quidditch with Oliver Wood, and is exhilarated. In Charms class, Hermione attempts to help Ron with his spellcasting. After class, Ron belittles Hermione, but she overhears and runs off crying. Her subsequent absence is conspicuous, and the boys learn she has locked herself in a girls’ bathroom. Their concern for her multiplies when Professor Quirrell reports that there is a troll in the dungeon, and Hermione is unaware. Harry and Ron find the troll and lock it in a room, only to discover that Hermione is also inside. They confront the troll, and Ron successfully knocks it out with Wingardium Leviosa. The three are scolded and Hermione lies for Harry and Ron and is punished,

Turn to Page 143, The Midnight Duel. Today’s lesson is called Bearing Witness. The chapter starts with Harry eager for his first flying lesson, despite worrying about making a fool of himself in front of Malfoy and the Slytherins. During the lesson, Harry finds that he is a natural, and makes a brilliant, but unsupervised, swooping catch of Neville’s Remembrall after Draco throws it, triumphing over Draco’s bullying. That triumph seems short-lived, however, when Professor McGonagall marches Harry away from the broomsticks and toward classrooms. Unexpectedly, she turns Oliver Wood - the Gryffindor quidditch captain - onto the idea of Harry being their Seeker. Later, Malfoy challenges Harry to a duel that night. Ron joins Harry as his second, Hermione as an objector to breaking rules, and Neville as an unwitting tag-a-long. Draco is a no-show to the duel, but seems to have informed Filch of the change Gryffindors might be wandering about after curfew. After scrambling away, the foursome stumble into a locked

Turn to Page 131, The Potions Master. Today’s lesson is called The Hidden Curriculum. The chapter starts with Harry’s first week of school at Hogwarts. Although Harry is trying to simply survive his studies, he finds that he is often a subject of attention himself. Navigating the castle, his professors, and his classmates fully occupy him. Potions with Professor Snape and the Slytherins is particularly trying for Harry, who can’t help but feel like there is something more behind Snape’s picking on him. During a visit with Hagrid, Harry’s suspicions about Snape are stoked when Hagrid seems to avoid discussing him, but those suspicions are quickly overshadowed by Hagrid’s reaction to discussing a break-in at Gringotts - the very same day he and Hagrid had gone. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #podcast #HarryPotter #BackToHogwarts ✨Like the podcast? Contribute here: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/magical-theory/message Support this podcast: htt

Turn to Page 113, The Sorting Hat. Today’s lesson is called Ghostly Categories. The chapter starts with Hagrid handing over the first years to Professor Mcgonagall, who is readying them to join their respective school houses. After some ghostly introductions, the first years are paraded in front of the school to their sorting ceremony. Each student is to wear the Sorting Hat, which will measure their fit for each of the four houses, and announce the best match. Harry is placed into Gryffindor, along with Ron, Hermione, and Neville. Amidst the stress of sorting, Harry first lays eyes on Professor Albus Dumbledore and Professor Severus Snape, the latter of which locks eyes with him as a bolt of pain lashes Harry’s forehead. After settling in for his first night of sleep in the Gryffindor tower, Harry experiences some bizarre dreams. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #podcast #HarryPotter #BackToHogwarts ✨Like the podcast? Contribute here: https://ko-fi.com/wizardphd --- Send in a voice me

Turn to Page 88, The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Today’s lesson is called The Baggage We Carry. The chapter starts with Harry preparing to head to Hogwarts. His family drops him off at King’s Cross Station, and Harry struggles to find Platform 9 ¾, until a kind woman with wizard children of her own guides him. Two of her children help Harry load his stuff onto the train, and discover he is the famous Harry Potter. On the train, their younger brother, Ron Weasley, confirms this with Harry before they bond over wizarding treats. Neville comes by looking for his toad, before Hermione stops in while helping Neville to witness Ron cast a dud spell. Finally, Draco Malfoy and his two friends show up to harass Harry and Ron. The train eventually arrives at its destination, and Harry first sees Hogwarts castle. Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #podcast #HarryPotter #BackToHogwarts ✨Like the podcast? Contribute here: ko-fi.com/wizardphd --- Send in a voice message: https://anc