MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

On this week's episode, don’t get on Harry’s bad side! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, and Laura as they discuss the bathroom duel between Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.

This week we're discussing Half-Blood Prince Chapter 24, “Sectumsempra”

What did Harry hope to achieve in barging in on Draco? Would it have been smarter for him to have waited and developed a plan?

Given the escalation in severity of the spells cast, was Harry right to use Sectumsempra on Draco?

What made Harry’s casting of the spell so successful the very first time he tried? Was it his being in imminent danger?

Was Snape tailing Draco and therefore able to get to the bathroom so quickly? Why else might he have been nearby?

Snape calls Harry a liar. Does he KNOW from which source Harry learned that particular spell?

We notice that the Prince’s diary is hidden right next to a Horcrux, and feel it fits.

Is the Room of Requirement more, or less, secure becoming the same room for everyone that wants to hide or dispose of their valuables?

Is Harry’s punishment of weekly detentions fitting for the circumstance, or too much?

Ginny and Dean split up! She’s single. Harry is free!

Andrew asks: would the hosts ever date the sibling of a friend?

Lynx Line: What would you hide in the Room of Requirement and why?

Quizzitch: In this chapter Gryffindor has to succeed over Ravenclaw by at least 300 points, which they do. In US College Football, a record-holding October 1916 match ended in Georgia Tech scoring 222-0 over their opponent. Who was that match against?

In Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss the state of MuggleNet.com, which has removed all of its volunteer-generated content and is the subject of new litigation from its former staff members. Topics such as these arend others relevant to Harry Potter fans can always be found on our Patreon, located at Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

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On this week's episode, get ready for the worst scavenger hunt ever! Join Eric, Micah, Laura and special guest Rachel as they take a trip down Horcrux memory lane and learn what near-impossible task lies ahead for Harry and company! 

Welcome Slug Club member and host of The Menuscript, Rachel!

This week we're discussing Half-Blood Prince Chapter 23, "Horcruxes"

The Slughorn Files: UNREDACTED

What do we make of Slughorn's interest in Tom becoming Minister of Magic?

Did Tom learn some of his less-than-wholesome skills from observing Slughorn?

What was the inciting event that made Dumbledore so “fierce” about a no-Horcrux curriculum?  And should Horcruxes be a banned topic at Hogwarts?

Why was Voldemort willing to risk part of his soul to reopen the Chamber of Secrets?

Hallows Happy Dumbledore: with both the Elder Wand and Resurrection Stone in his possession, why didn't Albus ask Harry for his Invisibility Cloak and just dip?

When Dumbledore suggests the possibility of a living Horcrux in Nagini, should this not have been MAJOR confirmation that Harry was a Horcrux as well?

Why does Harry’s capacity for love give him power the Dark Lord knows not?

Lynx Line: If Horcruxes were a subscription service, what would their tagline be?

Quizzitch: On July 7th, 2007, the “New 7 Wonders of the Modern World” were unveiled by the New 7 Wonders Committee in Switzerland, with input from around the world. Of the NEW 7 Wonders of the Modern world, which one is the MOST modern?

In Bonus MuggleCast, we're keeping with the Horcrux theme… and giving the Harry Potter TV show license to change one major character death. Find out what the hosts came up with at Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

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On this week's episode, it's time for Slughorn Unfiltered. We're going into the true memory that Dumbledore and Harry have been after, opening a significant path forward in the quest to defeat Voldemort!

Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 22: After the Burial

Is Hagrid being a bad friend by asking the trio to break curfew?

This isn't the first time Hagrid has put Harry in danger re: Aragog; we recall moments in Chamber of Secrets which connect.

Hermione and Ron's reactions to Harry taking liquid luck still make us giggle.

How did Hagrid actually fend off all of Aragog's family to get him to his hut?

Is Harry being a bad friend to Hagrid by inviting Slughorn to the funeral, knowing Slughorn wants to turn a profit?

Could Harry have gotten Horace's memory without using Felix Felicis?

We go through why Harry is successful and what steps are taken which ensure his victory with the memory.

Does Horace Slughorn appear again in this book? Does he avoid Harry after this?

Odds and Ends discuss the first Potions lesson of the year, which was an important one for both Harry and Draco.


Lynx Line: When did you successfully persuade someone to do something they didn’t want to do, and how did you do it?


Quizzitch: 1 On which Earth continent would you find the world’s biggest spider, Theraposa blondi aka “The Goliath Birdeater”?

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On this week's episode, we hope you know the difference between a ghost and an Inferius, lest you want to incur the sass of Severus Snape. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as we suffer through Defense Against The Dark Arts while trying very hard to break into the Room of Requirement.

Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room

Main Discussion #1: Distracted by Draco

Fudge Flashback: We reflect on the Minister's comments in the very first chapter of this book: "The other side can do magic too."

As Hermione consistently reminds Harry throughout the chapter, he is taking his eyes off the prize. Why is Harry not more focused given how testy Dumbledore was with him during their last lesson?

We debate whether or not Dumbledore should have offered Harry more guidance

Snitch Report: Given how Dobby behaves after tailing Draco, should Harry have been more mindful of what he was asking the former Malfoy house-elf to do?

Why did it take Harry (and Hermione) 452 pages to realize Draco was using the Room of Requirement?

Main Discussion #2: EMO Slytherins

Snape is in rare form. Do we attribute his more-than-sassy nature to Draco? Dumbledore? Or did he just not have his coffee?

Draco is in over his head. Do we have any sympathy for him?


Lynx Line: What would you say to make the Room of Requirement open for you to reveal what Draco is up to? [Wrong answers only]


Quizzitch: In Chapter 21, Harry is searching for a phrase that’ll get him into the Room of Requirement… kind of like a password. WHO was the host of the United States television game show called “Password,” from 1961 to 1975?

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As if last week's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone TV Show trailer wasn't enough, HBO Max has released a new documentary giving us a behind the scenes look at the making of the upcoming book to TV adaptation!

We react to this new documentary called Finding Harry and how it leaves us feeling about the new Harry Potter TV show. The thought and detail that is going into this series is nothing short of incredible, and we explain why we're feeling reassured about rebooting this story. From the numerous animatronics to an earthy Hogwarts to making illogical magic logical, we go moment by moment through this documentary.

Your Harry Potter friends at MuggleCast are continuing to cover the TV show now through the December 2026 premiere and beyond. Be sure to follow us in your favorite podcast app and tell a fellow Muggle about our TV show analysis!
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