MuggleCast EP9 Transcript
Show Intro
Andrew [Show Intro with music in background]: This is MuggleCast – Episode 9 for October 02, 2005. If you haven’t finished reading Book 6 yet, then you probably do not want to listen to this podcast as we do talk about several different spoilers.
Hey, everyone! Welcome to another edition of MuggleCast. I’m Andrew Sims.
Ben: I’m Ben Schoen.
Kevin: I’m Kevin Steck.
Eric: I’m Eric Scull.
Laura: And I’m Laura Thompson.
Andrew: Ben and Kevin are both back from a break. Welcome back guys! Laura and Eric are both on again for another exciting episode. Before we get to anything else…
Ben: Andrew, do you ever get a break?
Andrew: No, I never get a break. Isn’t that funny?
[All laugh]
Eric: He has to edit this even if he’s not there.
Andrew: Isn’t that funny?
Kevin: It’s true.
Andrew: Yeah, well… I’m happy to do it.
Kevin: And you’re getting experience.
Laura: The price of fame.
Andrew: And I’m getting experience.
Kevin: Put it on your resume.
[All laugh]
Andrew: Yeah. Anyone want to give me a job? Call me. First let’s go to Micah to get you…
[Ben mutters something]
Andrew: Hey! I’m intro-ing Micah. You can’t mess with me while I’m intro-ing Micah!
Ben: I didn’t mean that.
Andrew: Micah…
Kevin: Micah…
[All laugh]
Andrew: Okay. Micah please take it before I start crying.
News
Micah: Thanks, Andrew.
Sites for both the world and U.S. premiere of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire have been confirmed. The world premiere will be at the Odeon Leicester Square in London, England on November 6th.
The U.S. premiere will take place on November 12th at the Ziegfeld Theater in NYC, located at 141 West 54th Street NOT Radio City Music Hall. A special Podcast will follow at the Barnes Noble on 66th and Broadway. Listen to our Special Announcement Podcast (transcript) for more information.
Brand-new interviews with Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Katie Leung (Cho Chang) have been posted on MuggleNet’s Main Page. There are also tons of new pictures from the film and even scans from the Goblet of Fire calendar.
And a grave error has been fixed. After tons of loyal fans hounding Warner Bros. the gravestone, which displayed incorrect information regarding Tom Riddle’s ancestors has finally been corrected.
Wrapping up news on Goblet of Fire, HBO will air a “First Look” at the fourth Harry Potter film. They have previously aired first looks at Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban. It will premiere at 9:45 EST, run 13 minutes, and will repeat several times throughout November. Or if you have any of the 5,000 HBO stations, it will air several hundred times throughout the month.
As if there weren’t enough movie news, casting has begun for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Think you’ve got what it takes to play Luna Lovegood? Head over to MuggleNet for all the specifics. And according to the Daily Mail, Imelda Staunton has supposedly been cast as Professor Dolores Umbridge.
In other news, on Tuesday, Arthur Levine, editor of Scholastic, went to Silliman College Master’s Tea to talk about the Harry Potter series. He discussed his relationship with Jo and how he knows it won’t end following the publication of Book 7.
And congratulations are in order. The second annual Movies.com Movie Site Awards gave MuggleNet it’s second win under “Best Movie Fan Site” as chosen by our visitors. Thanks to everyone who voted.
That’s all the news from our News center in New York for this October 02, 2005 edition of MuggleCast. Back to you guys!
Transcript Announcement
Andrew: Holy Moly! That was a lot of news. Eric, I think you had something to say about Micah’s hard work.
Eric: Yeah, Micah’s is putting in some overtime there with that news. What I wanted to say is that every Sunday when we release the show, it’s always fun to see, but it’s not fun at the same time. The first comments on the Main Page consist of: “Hey, it’s up!” and “Hey, it’s up! I can’t wait for the transcript!” And I just wanted to say that we appreciate your anxiety and your anxiousness for the transcript, but we do have a rule on the transcripts. Isn’t that right, Andrew?
Andrew: Yeah. That is right. And it is that we do not put the transcripts up for a minimum of three days after the release because we don’t want you guys turning…really becoming reliant on these transcripts.
Eric: Correct.
Andrew: So give it three days.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: You can all listen to it. There’s no excuse for waiting.
Kevin: It is a podcast.
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: We appreciate it. Because Micah does do the transcripts rather fast.
Andrew: He gets them done very fast.
Eric: He gets them done in a day, a day-and-a-half.
Andrew: Before we started this rule, he would come to me four hours later and say: “Hey, the transcript is done.” And I’d say: “Whoa!”
[All laugh]
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: So…
Eric: Yeah. Please, people. It’s like “Fourth to post. Yeah. Can’t wait for the transcript.” And you’ll be waiting a while. It wouldn’t do good to keep on going and saying that. So, anyway.
NYC Podcast
Andrew: Right. All right. Moving on. Just a couple of quick announcements. First of all an update on our Live Podcast in New York City. If you want the full details, listen to the Special Announcement Podcast that me and Melissa of TLC did. But just real quick. There’s been some confusion. For those of you who have RSVPed via our e-mail address (hp live at gmail dot com) that doesn’t guarantee you a seat at the show. Okay. It’s a first-come-first-serve basis. So, just because you send me an e-mail and say, “Hey, I’m coming!” – and a lot of people have been saying, “Please reserve three seats for me!” – that doesn’t mean you’re reserved. So, we will give you an exact time and we will let you know when to come, a good time to come to get in early and make sure you get a seat. There are going to be a couple hundred seats, but there’s going to be standing room. And our podcast, we’re going to be going out to the entire four-story building.
Eric: Yeah. We’re only going to buy like a hundred nametags. [Laughs]
Ben: And if you can’t be there, and if you can’t be there it’s going to be online afterwards. So…
Andrew: Right.
Ben: Yeah.
Andrew: And also we’re working on having a video version. A TV high school crew actually e-mailed us and said they’d be interested in doing it.
Eric: Cool! Sweet! I’m on TV!
Andrew: Yeah, so I am hoping they can. I’d like a video version. I want to make sure people see me.
Eric: Yeah. We’re probably going to have to rotate people too because we can only fit, what? What was it? Twelve mikes?
Andrew: Right. Well, it’s going to seven on the panel.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: And we’re going to be rotating people in and out from different sites and such.
Eric: So, when somebody’s not on the podcast, the other person can talk to the…throw themselves to the fans. You know…
Ben: Yep. We’ll work out the format later. Nothing is set in stone right now.
Voldemort Contest Update
Eric: Yeah. Anyway, Andrew do you want to do your “Listener Challenge” Update? Or should I do my “Contest” Update?
Andrew: No first, let’s have you do your “Contest” Update.
Eric: Okay, currently we have about 13,000 votes for our Contest Finalists and that is pretty darn good. Everything is still up in the air for now. The contest is still open for another week. You can still vote on the Top 25. At which time the Top 3… At the end of next week/the release of next episode we will put up the winners and in the order. But also, this night, at the release of this cast we will put up a list of about fifty others, fifty other kind of semi-finalists that aren’t vote-able, but it’s a list of others we thought were funny that were not in the Top 25.
Andrew: Now, I think it is time to move on to the Voicemails! Now listen, we don’t have a Main Topic this week… What Eric? I mean Ben.
Ben’s American Joke of the Day
Ben: You skipped the “American Joke of the Day.”
Eric: Oh.
Andrew: Oh.
Eric: Oh yeah.
Ben: We can’t do that. We can’t. Oh come on, Andrew.
Eric: All right. All right. Since, since…
Andrew: So, since Jamie is away this week, unfortunately he’s very busy getting ready for…
Ben [In fake British accent]: Exams.
Andrew: …going back to… Right! [In fake British accent] Exams. Precisely. So in substitution of Jamie’s “British Joke of the Day” we’re going to have Ben’s “American Joke of the Day.” Lay it on, Ben!
Eric: Which everybody wants to here because Ben is simply not a funny guy at all. So I’m really looking forward to this.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Okay. Okay. You guys ready for this?
Andrew: I’m ready for this. [Makes noises]
Laura: I’m bracing myself.
Ben: There are actually two of them, really. A guy goes into a restaurant. He’s a really heavy coffee drinker and he sits down at the table. The waiter comes up and he says, “I’d like a cup of coffee, have it all black.” And the waiter brings back his cup of coffee, he takes one of sip of it and yells out to the waiter and says, “Hey, waiter this coffee tastes like mud.” And the waiter says, “Yeah, sir. It’s fresh-ground.”
[Some laughter]
Eric: Dude, that’s not funny. If he were a coffee drinker…
Andrew: Pun intended!
Eric: Ben, if he were a coffee drinker, he would go to Starbucks, not a restaurant.
Laura: That’s a good point.
Kevin: Okay. It is a good point.
Eric: And you can’t say there wasn’t a Starbucks in the area. Unless he lives next to you in Kansas.
[Laura laughs]
Ben: There wasn’t. It was like my town. There isn’t a Starbucks in my town.
Eric: Next?
Ben: Okay, next one. Tow peanuts were walking down a spooky road at night, and unfortunately one was “assalted.”
[Some laughter]
Andrew: I’ve heard that one before.
Eric: Okay. Thanks, Ben.
Voicemails – Owl Delivery
Andrew: So guess what guys? We have a special theme this week. It is all voicemails. We don’t really have a Main Topic because besides the six billion new pictures that came out over the past week, we really…there are no big stories we want to discuss. However, we have been getting lots of voicemails. So, we’re going to get to a lot of them.
Eric: Lots of non-Book 6 voicemails, which was very nice.
Andrew: Yeah, you fulfilled our requests, which is great.
Eric: Excellent.
Andrew: So, let’s get to those right now.
[Audio]: Hey guys! This is Randy from Cincinnati and I had a question about owl post. If all you have to do to send a letter to someone is tell an owl who to deliver it to, then why didn’t the Ministry in its search for Sirius just give an owl a letter for him, then send a pack of Aurors on brooms to follow it? Thanks.
Ben: Well, what I think personally is that we’ve heard Hermione say several times that we can make objects unplottable, we can make people unplottable. So, it wouldn’t really show up on a map, and I doubt an owl would be able to find him at all too. So, from what I’ve people to discern from reading the books, it seems to me that it makes sense that they’re unplottable. Can’t find them.
Eric: I think that we’ve seen how the Floo Network can be interrupted and can be intercepted, and I believe at some point in the books it said that it would be very hard to intercept an owl. I think that an owl is probably a more secure method of communication and I think that they probably have a magical protection so that wizards and things can’t intercept them. I think they have a special way to sense where a person is, and they’re probably more secure than things like the Floo Network as far as finding people. So, I don’t think anybody would be able to track an owl down to figure out where it is going. But as far as how it gets to people, I think that’s something that it has built in maybe.
Laura: Right. I think those are some pretty good points. I also think we know how powerful Sirius is just because he’s able to become an Animagus at such a young age. I think along with the previously mentioned points, he would have definitely thought of something like that when he broke out of Azkaban.
Eric: Yeah, it is funny because even though Sirius seems to disregard most security, he’s always been good when he has needed to be, as far as avoiding things.
Laura: Exactly.
Eric: Even Umbridge. So, that’s good. Anybody else?
Kevin: Yeah. No, I agree with all the points. Definitely.
Eric: Cool. Kevin you’re awesome. You agree with us.
[Kevin and Laura laugh]
Kevin: It’s an easy answer.
Andrew: I wish we could get an explanation as to how the owls try to track down the witches or wizards that they are after.
Kevin: I mean…
Ben: JK Rowling, I know you’re listening to this. Please answer this question.
Andrew: Yeah, she listens.
Laura: I wish.
Andrew: Come on, Jo. I am calling you out, Jo.
Eric: Jo.
Kevin: I do want to say that I think it’s one of those things that we won’t see answered until after Book 7 is released.
Eric: Right. Like if she were to write a follow-up book?
Kevin: Exactly. For charity. I think it is one of those small, little tidbits.
Andrew: Fun-facts.
Kevin: Exactly.
Andrew: I’d like to know. I would have fun. All right.
Eric: Next voicemail.
Andrew: Next voicemail.
Voicemails – Haley Joel Harry?
[Audio]: Hi, I’m Hermione-Asia from Malaysia. I’m 14 and I’d like to say I really like MuggleCast and I hope you get into the New York premiere with PotterCast. Just wanted to ask if you guys are happy about the actors and actresses in the movies, especially Dan, Emma, and Rupert. Keep up the great job! Thanks.
Eric: Well, one of the cool things I think is that I wanted to bring this up a few podcasts back. It was actually the first one. When Ben asked me about bringing things in the books to life. And, I think one of the things about movies is that they really have the power to create imagery for us. We’re going to be introduced to Pensieve scene, and all sorts of stuff in Goblet of Fire. Movies can really create visuals and things. So along with that, it didn’t just teach us how to say “Hermione” properly, but the movies did a lot for us as far as casting. And because I came into the fandom with the First Movie, my characters have always been skewed in my mind towards the movie characters. Like Alan Rickman’s Snape and things. So the Trio is pretty close to what I imagine when I read the books as a result of that. But I wanted to say I don’t think I can see anybody else being in the movies as the Trio. It would just be weird because the movies kind of established those three as them. And they went off the books, so it is close. And I don’t think I can see anybody else doing that.
Andrew: I remember Chris Columbus (who was the director for Movies 1 and 2) wanted to have Haley Joel Osment be Harry Potter. And Jo said, “Well, no because he’s an American actor. And I only want British actors in the movies.” And I really glad that’s what happened and JK Rowling didn’t let Chris Columbus get in the way of that because Haley Joel Osment would have been a terrible Harry Potter.
Kevin: Especially looking at him now.
Andrew: He’s too…
Eric: Well, I think…
Andrew: He’s got blonde hair!
[All laugh]
Eric: Yeah. I support JK’s decision on the basis that he wasn’t British. Even now when they are casting things, all these kids in America and all these Americans want to be extras and stuff. And it’s just not practical. I like how they’ve kept a British cast even for the teachers too. I’m not going to comment on Haley Joel’s acting because I liked some of his movies, but I’m just going to say that I support JK’s decision on the basis that he was American.
Andrew: He is 15. So the age difference wouldn’t be a big deal.
Ben: I SEE DEAD PEOPLE!
[Laura laughs]
Kevin: Well, what do you think about the possibility that the actors will be rotated out? Do you think it is plausible?
Eric: Yeah.
Laura: I would really prefer that they didn’t, personally.
Andrew: Switching the actors out?
Andrew: Oh, that would be such a bad move.
Kevin: Yeah, but, they’ve been talking about it since the First Movie.
Andrew: First of all you have these…
Kevin: You can’t disregard the possibility.
Andrew: But, think about it. You have these fan bases built up. These huge fan bases. DanRadcliffe.com. Even just websites for that matter. Imagine what would happen if they said, “Hey, we’re placing Dan Radcliffe with Haley Joel Osment.”
Laura: Yeah.
Andrew: Because Dan will do it if they ask him to.
Kevin: Right.
Andrew: Because we’re tired of Harry or Dan. He doesn’t fit the character anymore.
Kevin: He’s too old.
Andrew: He’s too old. His eyes are changing colors, his voice is too deep. Something stupid like that.
[Kevin laughs]
Eric: Yeah. One of the things about Dan getting older and the Trio getting older and stuff. I don’t think that matters. I’ve always liked the idea of older actors playing younger people because it gives a sense of maturity and age development. Even though Dan is, what? 16 portraying a 14 year old? That’s fine because I think it really says something that a 14 year old can be as mature. It opens up a possibility that they can be as mature and as smart as somebody older than them. Which I think, I’ve always supported that concept.
Laura: Right. And none of the main actors are exactly as I imagined the characters in the books, but I think they have all really grown into the parts. Especially Emma Watson. Even though she doesn’t really look like my version of Hermione, I think she has rally improved her acting skills. I think that she’s doing a really, really good job.
Kevin: And when you look at the original, the First Movie, compared to the Third Movie, their acting is ten times better. You know? So…
Laura: Yes.
Kevin: You would hope that they would continue to improve and that they would only get better.
Eric: The only thing I want to see from Hermione now, and I don’t know if they will let her do it. Some of the stuff hasn’t been…for a while she wasn’t even in Chamber of Secrets for that much, but one thing I would like…we’ve seen the emotional side of Hermione, I would like to see more of the book smart Hermione in a way.
Laura: Same.
Eric: Because she’s more emotional and she exists in a way to kind of bind the Ron character and the Harry character in the movies I think. She really needs…I think we need more book smarts and less “Is that really what my hair looks like from behind?” No, I actually liked the line. As for Goblet of Fire… It was cute. It was funny.
Laura: I hated that part.
Eric: It was funny and it was Emma. So I liked it, but at the same time I’d like to see a more book smart Hermione in the books.
Laura: I hated that part.
Eric: And that’s not Emma’s fault.
[Laura laughs]
Eric: It’s a lot of things. But definitely in…and it’s funny because she kind of has to be more emotional in the books now or in the future movies because she has to say in Book 5 that “You’re yelling at us, Harry! Stop!” But I really want to see some book smarts Emma because that’s what I think, what we need out of her.
[Audio]: Hi, Mugglecast! This is Janie in California. I have to say I love your show and I listen to you guys on my MP3 player when I vacuum. And Jamie, I have to say I love your British jokes. Okay. It has always been made clear that Snape dislikes Neville. Maybe even more than he dislikes Harry. Do you think that there is a reason for this since Snape did hear the first part of the prophecy, which could have indicated Neville instead of Harry? What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Kevin: I think it’s because Snape, we found out that he is a fairly powerful wizard in Book 6. So we know he has quite a bit of talent, and he looks on Neville as sort of the opposite of what he is.
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: He’s the person without talent.
Eric: In Herbology. Right.
Kevin: Yes, he has talent in maybe on section. Herbology, but…
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: …everything else, he stinks at. And I think…
Eric: I think so too.
Kevin: And I think he alienates Neville because of that. He thinks he’s just a spot on the apple of the wizarding world. I guess.
Eric: Haha. No, I think that’s really cool!
Kevin: I don’t know.
Eric: That’s a really good idea. I wasn’t looking at it because of the prophecy. He doesn’t like him. It’s a possibility, but at the same time what Kevin was saying, I like that a lot better also. Now, Snape does know or I’m pretty sure knows that it was Bellatrix and all them that went and tortured Neville’s family. So we really can’t blame him for being incapable or incompetent. But at the same time, I was rereading the 1st Book, which is why I quoted it last week. But also, if you remember the first lesson with Snape he says that, “it will be an okay class if you aren’t the same amount of dunderheads I usually have to teach.” And then Hermione was trying to prove she wasn’t a dunderhead. He really has this contempt, as Kevin said, for people who can’t perform as well as he can. And he’s the Half-Blood Prince. He invented his own spells. I think that really brings more insight into why he doesn’t tolerate people that are less than him.
Kevin: And before Book 6, he seemed…
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: He didn’t seem like he was all that special, but now that you look at him from a Book 6 perspective, you see that he obviously has talent.
Eric: He’s incredibly special. And I think it is very interesting, especially in what we can kind of concur about him being jealous of James Potter. Because in many ways, it might not have been at Quidditch, but we’re seeing that James and Snape were probably, probably, evenly matched in magical power, if Snape wasn’t more. And I think it is interesting that James really treated Snape badly because if it weren’t for James’ prejudices and if it weren’t for the Marauders’ prejudices, they would have had a really good friend on their hands. I like what we’re seeing of Snape.
Kevin: Yeah. Definitely.
Eric: Except that he killed Dumbledore.
Andrew: Good points. We’ve got to keep this moving because we’ve got a lot of voicemails.
Kevin: We do. [Coughs]
Andrew: All right.
Eric: VoiceCast.
Andrew: After all this is our voicemail-themed show. Someone could almost call it a voice-a-thon.
Voicemails – Wand Mistake
[Audio]: Hey guys! I’m Trevor and here’s my question. I just finished reading Goblet of Fire again. And at the end when Harry is fighting Voldemort, Voldemort’s spells start coming out in reverse order, except his Dad comes out and then his Mom. But supposedly his Dad died first and then his Mom. So his Mom should have come out first. Do you think this might have a meaning later in the book? Or was it just a mistake? Thanks!
Andrew: Okay. Well, great question, but actually this has already been answered. Thanks to Kevin and Ben and everyone else except me for pointing it out. It was actually answered on JK Rowling’s official site under her FAQ Section. I’ll just read it right now. “Lily first, then James. That’s how it appears in my original manuscript, but we were under enormous pressure to edit it very fast, and my American editor thought that was the wrong way around, and he is so good with catching small errors that I changed it without thinking. Then realized it had been right in the first place. We were all very sleep-deprived at the time.” So it was actually a book mistake, and it’s nothing more. There’s no theories related to it.
Eric: Yeah, that’s what Jo says. So, in reality it was that Voldemort killed James…
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: …and made a Horcrux out of him, but it is all an enormous cover-up. Yeah. In this case I will take Jo’s word for it because I agree with her and…
Laura: And it was fixed in later editions, right?
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: I believe it was fixed in later editions.
Andrew: It’s good. And stuff like that, where it is a book mistake, and people don’t know it and it turns into this huge theory discussion. That’s terrible. Especially…
Eric: Yeah. That is bad.
Kevin: She has said that she doesn’t like theories that are pointless.
Eric: Well, the Mark Evans one was pointless, which was cool. That ticked me off, but I guess it ticked her off.
Kevin: Yeah. Exactly.
Laura: I was very said when I heard that.
Eric: She got her comeuppance by putting Mark Evans in there, and she hated it as much as I did. So…
Andrew: And according to her, she’s walking around in a mustache now to avoid people swamping her because of that.
Eric: Jo in a mustache. That would look funny. Don’t send us PhotoShop images.
Andrew: I was just thinking that. [Laughs]
[All laugh]
Laura: Oh, no!
Andrew: All right. Next voicemail.
Voicemails – Where’s Charlie?
[Audio]: Hey guys! My name is Drew. I’m calling from Utah. I’m 24 years old. Great show! My question has to do with Charlie Weasley. I’m wondering what your thoughts are on him? He’s barely mentioned in the books. He only appears, I believe, in Goblet of Fire in the Quidditch World Cup and helping with the dragons with the Triwizard Tournament. I wonder if at this time of crisis and war, there is reason why he isn’t mentioned more at home. Since Bill is around all the time to help out, I wonder why Charlie isn’t around. There could be nothing to this. I just wonder what you have to say. Thanks! Bye!
Eric: Was Charlie the one, no Bill is the one with the long hair, right?
Kevin: Well, Charlie’s the one that has had… Yes, he’s been involved with the dragons. I think they mentioned him in passing. About him in a different country. Didn’t they? I think in Book 5. Am I wrong about that? Book 5 or 6?
Eric: He was elsewhere.
Ben: I don’t remember, but I don’t think it matters.
Eric: Yeah, but…
Kevin: I’m sure we’ll see him.
Ben: He’s off training the dragons to fight Voldemort.
Laura: I think that has to be part of it.
Kevin: I’m sure we’ll see him, but I’m not sure how big of a role he’s going to play.
Eric: Yeah, lately he’s been almost as little mentioned as Percy.
Kevin: Yeah, but Percy’s one of those characters that sits in the background.
Eric: Yeah. Percy…
Andrew: I think this is one of these characters that people think plays a big role, but really he plays nothing other then just another Weasley brother.
Eric: He’ll have something because they gave him Norbert. In the 1st Book, they gave him Norbert. So, he’s been there.
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: Since the beginning of the books, he’s kind of been lingering in the background. Whether he will become mainstream or not remains to be seen. Just like Aberforth, Aberforth Dumbledore. And one funny thing about Aberforth Dumbledore is will she call him “Dumbledore?” Or will she go through the whole book referencing him as Aberforth, so that hopeful fans don’t open the book and see Dumbledore’s name and say, “Oh my God. He’s back!”
Andrew: Yeah, that’s true. That is true.
Laura: Right.
Eric: Which leads us to our next voicemail about if Dumbledore will come back like Gandalf.
Andrew: Well, first let us take a listen.
Voicemails – Will Albus Pull A Gandalf?
Eric: Which leads us to our next voicemail about if Dumbledore will come back like Gandalf.
Andrew: Well, first let us take a listen.
[Audio]: Hey MuggleCast Staff! This is Jasmine. I wanted to give you guys a ring and tell you, I love the show. I think imagination has no age limit and make me really glad to see people getting excited about it. Right. On to my question. Do you think that Dumbledore will be making some sort of Gandalf-esque reappearance in the forthcoming novel? Probably not. But I just thought that I would get your opinion. Again, love the show. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Kevin: I think at most he’s going to make an appearance in a portrait. Done. I don’t think he’s going to be making…that’s the biggest appearance I think he’s going to make. Okay.
Andrew: Aww. That’s a really sad thought.
Kevin: I know, but I think he’s going to play…you’ll see him once more and that will be it.
Eric: I think so.
Laura: Right. Exactly.
Kevin: Something like that.
Eric: And maybe, you know what? I think it should end, I think it should end with Harry meeting Dumbledore in his office and he can say, “Dumbledore it’s over.” And Dumbledore can look right down at him and say, “Now you know why you have your scar.” Or something funny. Or “you truly are deserving of your scar.” I think it would be cool if the last word in the book was quoted by, was a quote from Dumbledore. Because it opens up with Dumbledore. It would be a very circular thing. It opens up with Dumbledore and that would be cool.
Voicemails – The Founders’ Portraits
[Audio]: Hey guys! I’m Nathaniel Taylor from New York. Have we ever seen the portraits of the Four Founders of Hogwarts? I don’t think so. And if not, why would JK leave this out? They’ve go to be the most important portraits, right? And they would give Harry some important information about the whereabouts of their heirlooms, if you know what I mean. Great show guys! Thanks!
Ben: I don’t we’ve seen them. It’s kind of apparent we haven’t seen them. I don’t think it really matters that we haven’t seen the portraits because they may not be portraits because they are the Founders, not the Headmasters.
Eric: Ben, hold on. You’re hasty there. Okay. Now, aren’t the Four Founders more important than any Headmaster?
Andrew: But Eric…
Eric: At least from a standpoint there you be a portrait of one of them or each of them in each…
Kevin: Well, I think there would be at most, three, because of Slytherin.
Andrew: But, wait a second. What importance would these portraits be to us? What could they tell anyone?
Laura: Well, you never know…
Andrew: Ben!
Laura: …I’m about to say the forbidden word, but because of the Horcruxes, because we know that Voldemort might have some of the objects they had in their lifetime.
Ben: But, we discussed portraits and came to the conclusion that it is their personality that is transferred, not their knowledge.
Eric: Well, anyway I think it could also be a security threat or something.
Laura: Right.
Eric: But Godric Gryffindor basically gave his Hat so that everything could be done according to how the Heads wished.
Kevin: That’s true.
Eric: So, they don’t really need to leave a portrait behind to kind of guide people and all, even if portraits couldn’t do that. So…
Laura: And you know what? They might have. For all we know there could be portraits. They just might no be of importance.
Eric: That’s true. Have we seen a statue of Godric? Haven’t we? Like Salazar had the big thing in Chamber of Secrets. In the movie at least. Was it in the books at all? The monkey?
Laura: Yeah, it was.
Eric: Yeah, the monkey face. Stuff of the Founders is still…kind of like replicas or statues could still exist and probably does.
Ben: Yeah.
Eric: We just haven’t seen it.
Voicemails – Neville and Luna
[Audio]: Hey MuggleCast guys! This is Brie from Delaware. I really love your show. All right. Since Jo said that Neville will play a bigger part in the next two books, and that she wouldn’t introduce anymore unimportant characters, and he neither he nor Luna had a very big part in Half-Blood Prince, what do you think their role will be in Book 7? Do you think they will be joining the Trio and possibly Ginny too? And do you think one other person could help them since there has been such a big emphasis on how magical the No. 7 is? Thanks guys!
Eric: Wow, this person did their homework. Okay. Seven people. That’s awesome. Okay. What I think it is, is last week on Episode 8 we kind of touched on the lack of explanation. JK had said somewhere that there was going to be a big thing revealed about Lily in the books, and there really wasn’t. So I think this kind of has something to do with that as well. How she said Luna and Neville will play bigger parts and they didn’t! I think it’s just a matter of where she had to draw the line for what fits in Book 6 and what fits in Book 7. I think that they are going to play, because they didn’t play that big of a role this year, I think next year they’re really going to play a lot larger role. And I think that there were probably certain things that she was originally going to put in this book like the Lily thing, and possibly more Neville and more Luna that simply will be put in Book 7. Book 7 is going to be a massive book.
Kevin: I also think that just the fact that she mentioned Neville and Luna. I believe she mentioned them keeping her coins. Just the fact that she mentioned that shows…
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: …that she did not want the reader to lose focus on those characters. She wanted them to be pinpointed in so that…
Eric: That’s true.
Kevin: …you at least know that they are still around, and there is some chance of them helping in the fight against Voldemort.
Eric: As for a seventh person that would be really cool. Laura, sorry.
Laura: It’s all right. I think that Neville and Luna will definitely play larger roles in Book 7. I’m not totally convinced that either of them or Ginny are suddenly going to morph into the Trio, and they are all going to become best friends. Because if you look at the relationships that Harry, Ron, and Hermione developed over the past six years, and that is not something you can just duplicate within a year or two. So I really think that, particularly at the end of Half-Blood Prince we saw Harry being thankful that he had one last, what was it? Peaceful day on earth with Ron and Hermione? I think that was definitely an indicator that there is going to be more emphasis still put on the Trio.
Eric: I like that. Yeah, it’s kind of like, well one of the things is if Harry let’s them in also. If Harry let Neville and Luna in they could probably become really good friends, even more than they are now. But I agree with you, there’s a primary, and a secondary relationship between…
Kevin: Yep.
Eric: Like primary is the Trio, and secondary is Ginny, Neville, and Luna, and some of the DA. And I’m just curious guys, do you know what comes after primary and secondary? Is there like third-ary? Triple-dary?
[All laugh]
Eric: I’m asking the fans right now. If you know, please send me an e-mail, at my e-mail on the “About Us” page.
Andrew: All right. Next voicemail. We’ve got to keep rolling here.
Voicemails – Ministry Ignorance?
[Audio]: Hello! My name is Lindsey and I subscribe to MuggleCast. I promise this isn’t a Book 6 question. However in Book 6, Fred and George mention how many Ministry wizards are unable to perform basic-skilled charms. All the Ministry’s Defensive Magic Pamphlets found in the Daily Prophet are found to be very inadequate. What do you think this says about magical standards and what effects do you think this theme of ignorance of the wizarding world in general will have on Book 7? Do you believe this is an accurate portrayal of the average wizard’s abilities or merely the ineffectiveness of the Ministry of Magic?
Kevin: This is what I think. I think that just the fact that they emphasized that difficulty shows that there are people in the Ministry that are able to do advanced magic. There are.
Ben: I agree.
Kevin: I think it is just like any community. You’re going to have people who can’t and people who can. It was just that they were saying that the fact that they allow people into the Ministry that are unable to perform some of these basic charms is, you know, pretty sad.
Laura: Just a little. [Laughs]
Ben: Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe they are just a bunch of semi-Squibs/Peter Pettigrews.
Eric: Well, Peter is proving himself now. Ignorance. Okay. My favorite topic to think about and ponder in the Harry Potter books. Which means, “Yes!” It will be a long response. So people at home make sure you have time to listen to this. All right. Now. Ignorance. Dumbledore has said in the past, or rather I believe it was the end of Book 5, where he says directly to Harry, “it is now time for us to pay for our ignorance and for our mistreatment of other races, and we consider to be lower.” Like goblins and things. And so far the goblins haven’t rebelled, but Dumbledore had that best line when he said that “it was now time to pay for our ignorance” and for our arrogance. And I think that is one of the things that contributes. I think that there’s definitely an underlying theme of ignorance. Now, also the pamphlets. Talking about how inadequate they are. I don’t think they have to be adequate. If you recall and I’m not sure that our audience, maybe some of you who are old enough to understand this, like Mr. Nelson himself. Maybe. But the “Duck and Cover” video that they show. I heard about it in History class. During the Atomic Bomb Age, where we were all frightened for our lives. The American government came up with this video called “Duck and Cover” and I believe it was a pamphlet as well. It’s rather…looking at it now, it’s a rather humorous depiction of what we should do if an atom bomb drops. They just have a lot of people running and jumping into walls and landing on their heads and covering themselves with picnic blankets. At the time, that’s the point. It’s mediocre, but at the same time it did work. And it probably created a lot of protection because pamphlets and videos like that did exist. So, I think that not everybody would realize it, but I think the American government probably should have realized at the time that it wouldn’t work, but no person would. And that’s the point. I’m going to get taken away or something by the government tonight, but I am just saying, the fact that pamphlets do exist, even if they are inadequate, no everybody realizes that they’re inadequate. And it is better then doing nothing. I think.
Ben: So what he’s saying is “Duck and Cover!”
Eric: I’m saying, “Duck and Cover!” Yes. This is Eric Scull saying, “Duck and Cover!” But that’s not all. I have one more thing I’d like to add. Yes. What you were saying Benjamin about Squibs joining the Ministry. And how Aurors have to be… Sorry was that Kevin? And how Aurors have to be… Okay, Kevin! You’re a genius. How could I suspect Ben to come up with something that intelligent.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: Now, what Kevin was saying about the Aurors and how it is particularly difficult to become one, I think it is very important. If you realize, seventeen. And people leave school at seventeen. People can graduate Hogwarts at seventeen, and they don’t even have to stay that long. Fred and George left early. And they are prominent figures in the wizard society. Think about this. If you were seventeen, how many jobs could there possibly be for wizards? How many could there be? There can’t be many office people besides the Ministry of Magic because they don’t produce anything. There aren’t manufacturing plants are there? Because they can do it from magic. They can just conjure up stuff. So, it’s really a question. How many jobs are out there for the wizarding people? And if it is hard to get them then what do most wizards do when they are out of school? You know? They are overage. They can do all this magic, but where do they put it? And even though we’ve seen diversity, like Bill does stuff for Gringotts and other people, but once you’re seventeen you can go out into the world. And unless you’re an Auror or unless you work with dragons or in a very few specific branches of magic, what do you do? And that’s it. What do you do when you graduate Hogwarts? What is there to do? You know? It feels like there’s a big void. There’s just people going… It’s a question that JK really hasn’t answered. We’ve seen what lots of people do, but at the same time it doesn’t seem like that many jobs.
Kevin: Definitely.
Eric: Especially because they are ignorant of most Muggle technology, they are ignorant of most Muggle technology so that they wouldn’t even be able to copy and do it in their own wizarding world.
Kevin: But, you would assume there was some amount of research. At the same time, you’re right in the assumption that the Ministry of Magic doesn’t have to hold all of the smartest people in the community. I mean there are obviously going to be other jobs. So, who’s going to want to go for a desk job when you can go out and see the world?
Eric: Well, there’s that too. If everybody wants to be…if everybody’s goal is different, are there that many jobs to accommodate? Anyway, that was my schpiel. Eric’s… You know that’s what my section is! All this time we were saying that I should have a section. I don’t know what it is. “Eric’s Schpiel of the Day.”
Voicemail – Crookshanks: What’s Up With HIM?
[Audio]: Hello MuggleCast! My name is Ariel Verone from Israel and I have to say I love your show very much. It is one of the only podcasts I listen to. And I think it is very good, so keep up the good work. I just wanted to ask you, what do you think of Crookshanks? Because I think he is a bit too smart to be a regular cat. He also seems to have a very special relationship with Sirius Black. So, I just wanted to hear your opinion. Bye!
Ben: Okay, I’ll answer it! I’ll answer it! I think nothing is up with Crookshanks. She’s a Kneazle. Next voicemail.
Eric: HE! HE! Ben! HE!
[All laugh]
Ben: HE! He’s a Kneazle!
Eric: How many times do I have to say it? Dude! I went on that long “Schpiel of the Day” about Lily Potter not being Crookshanks because Crookshanks was a guy cat! Come on!
[All laugh]
Ben: Well, I don’t listen to you. This is why.
Eric: That is apparent, Ben.
Ben: Just like the rest of the listeners.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: That is apparent. Okay.
Ben: Your voice comes on there. Just tune it out.
[All laugh]
Eric: There should be an edited. You know, there should be an abridged version of MuggleCast without me and just see how short all the episodes are. Wait! I’m asking to be kicked out of MuggleCast, aren’t I?
Ben: I mean…
Andrew: So, okay.
Ben: This episode would be non-existent.
Andrew: Okay, seriously now.
Ben: Seriously.
Andrew: Seriously now.
Eric: Okay. Anyway.
Andrew: Seriously now. Please?
Eric: Okay.
Andrew: Okay.
Kevin: Crookshanks. Is there anything more to Crookshanks?
Laura: Okay. If you’ve read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, you’ll see where it talks about Kneazles it states that it is illegal to own one without a permit. And since it has been stated that Crookshanks is half-Kneazle, I think that particularly seeing the corruption within the Ministry of Magic, it could have something to do with something that could have to Hermione. She could be in trouble for it. So, I think that is what’s up with Crookshanks.
Eric: That’s interesting.
Ben: Technically, would she only have to have half a permit. Since he’s half Kneazle.
[All laugh]
Eric: Ben, that’s the funniest thing you’ve ever said.
Laura: Hahaha.
Eric: Andrew, keep that in.
Laura: That was really clever.
Kevin: There’s as a lot of speculation as to why they’re restricted.
Eric: Which is…
Laura: It says something about them being very bad-tempered, which I guess could lead to violence.
Eric: But, you know what? I guess Mrs. Figg’s, Mrs. Figg’s cats, does she need to have a permit? Are they Kneazles? Or are they Animagi?
Kevin: I don’t think so.
Laura: I think they are just cats.
Kevin: Yeah.
Eric: Aww. Mr. Tufty isn’t a wizard? And he’s not the Tofty guy that gave Harry the exam? Oh man! My theory is crushed!
[All laugh]
Voicemail – The Silver Hand
[Audio]: Hi! My name is Adrian Flanders and I listen to your show on the way to class at the University of Rochester. Okay. As we know, Peter Pettigrew is in debt to Harry Potter for saving his life in the Prisoner of Azkaban. In Goblet of Fire, Peter sacrifices his hand for the rebirth of Voldemort. Voldemort then creates a silver replica of human hand that was described to be “as bright as moonlight.” Since silver is used to kill werewolves and Peter’s hand was described to be “as bright as moonlight,” could this mean that Peter might fulfill his debt to using his hand to save Harry from Lupin’s werewolf form?
Eric: I’ve heard this as a plausibility for Wormtail killing Lupin in the future. I don’t know what to believe. My question is, can Voldemort control Wormtail’s hand?
Kevin: I don’t know.
Eric: That’s where my interests lie, but silver and werewolves, it should have hit an exclamation point, or a light bulb. So, that’s all I am going to say.
Kevin: It was definitely put there on purpose.
Eric: Yeah, the plausibility.
Kevin: I mean, I don’t think she…
Laura: I think so too.
Kevin: I don’t think she did that without…she definitely did that with reason. Just that whether or not it plays a part, or she just wants to indicate on some subconscious level that Lupin will kill Wormtail. You know. You never know.
Eric: You mean Wormtail might kill Lupin. You know what? A light bulb…
Kevin: Or vice-versa. Just the connection.
Eric: Or a light bulb here. What if Wormtail kills Greyback? Fenrir Greyback?
Kevin: I doubt that though.
Eric: I doubt it too, but we all doubt it. But if he is good in the end or if he owes Harry something, he could also… It doesn’t have to be Lupin. His hand is silver so it could kill any werewolf theoretically. I was just throwing that out there. Next.
Voicemails – Ron and Hermione
[Audio]: Hey guys! I love the show. I think you’re all extremely interesting and cool, but Andrew is my main man! [Andrew says, “Yeah, that’s right!] I’m only joking. [Andrew says, “No, you’re not!”] Okay. On to the question. This question may upset certain people, and they have every right to ‘ship whatever, however JK Rowling has said that it is Ron and Hermione. And I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how they’ll get together and when? Thank you!
Ben: Well, first of all, Ron notices that he likes Hermione and then Hermione notices that she likes Ron.
[Kevin laughs]
Eric: And then you know what? I think they might…
Ben: No, no, no, no. Then they are walking down the hall in Hogwarts and Ron walks up to Hermione and says, “Hermione, will you go to the Ball with me?” or “Hermione, will you go out with me Hermione?” And then Hermione says, “Oh, yes Ron. We will. And then when Dumbledore dies we’ll cuddle at his funeral. And then…yeah!”
Eric: What?
Ben: Okay, that’s not how it will happen.
Laura: Okay.
Eric: I think at Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Hermione and Ron should hold hands. Hermione and Ron. She’ll catch the bouquet or something. It will be funny. Kevin?
Laura: I don’t really think it’s going to be a huge part of the book. Obviously it’s the biggest…
Kevin: I don’t think so either.
Laura: Yeah. I mean I think something is going to happen, but it’s going to be very minimal.
Kevin: I think it’s going to be one of those things where Harry gets it revealed to him closer to the end of the book.
Laura: Yeah. I think it’s…
Kevin: Where he just he happens to see them going to dinner or something like that.
Eric: Yeah.
Kevin: And he’s sees it in passing. I don’t think she’s going to make it a focus.
Laura: I don’t really think it’s going to have, it’s not going to have a huge bearing on the 7th Book.
Kevin: And it shouldn’t because the relationships are important, but at the same time…
Ben: We have the Horcri to worry about, dude. The Horcri.
Kevin: Exactly.
Ben: It’s all about the Horcri!
Andrew: All right. So, I think just about wraps it up for this week’s voicemails. Wow, guys! We got a lot done.
Eric: I love, I love the…
Kevin: Yeah.
Andrew: I’m exhausted. My brain is numb.
Laura: Yes, good job everyone!
Eric: Yes. It’s because you responded as much as Ben.
Andrew: Pat on the backs. Now, let’s get back to our regular segments of the show.
Eric: Yay!
Spy on Spartz
Andrew: Let’s start if off with “Spy on Spartz!” I’m looking on AIM right now. He’s not on AIM, but the latest reports coming in from our spies tell me that he is at Purdue.
Eric: Where?
Ben: Yes. He’s attending the Purdue-Notre Dame game.
Andrew: That’s thrilling. Oh wait, did they win?
Eric: How is Notre Dame?
Andrew: Can we look that up real quick.
Ben: Go Boilermakers! Purdue rules! I’m just saying that cause Emerson likes Notre Dame.
Andrew: I’d just like to point out that if Notre Dame does not win tonight, then Emerson will be very upset.
Eric: Yeah, so…
Ben [In deep voice]: If Notre Dame doesn’t win MuggleNet is closed!
Eric: So, all of your tissues that you were going to send…
Kevin: No. No.
Andrew: Ben, Ben can you tell the story?
Kevin: He’s going to be at the bar drinking the night away.
Ben: What?
Andrew: Can you tell the story?
Laura: And none of us will IM him for like a week.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: Oh wait, wait, wait! No, no, no, no, no! Notre Dame won 36-17.
[Transcriber’s Note: Actually Notre Dame spanked Purdue 49-28. They beat Washington 36-17 the week prior.]
Eric: Oh. All right in that case send those tissues.
Ben: Ohhh!
Andrew: Isn’t that great.
Kevin: So…
Eric: Reserve those.
Ben [In weird voice]: Go Irish!
Eric: Reserve those tissues.
Andrew [Coughing and laughing]: Go Irish!
Kevin: So, now we won’t to hear the end of it for a week.
Eric: Yes. Exactly. So, now we wont hear the end of it for a week.
[All laugh]
Laura: Either way.
Andrew: So, I believe that concludes this week’s edition of “Spy on Spartz.”
Andrew’s Listener Challenge of the Week
Andrew:My new segment Andrew’s “Listener Challenge of the Week” is sweeping the nation.
Eric: Has been met with tremendous, tremendous excitement and response.
Andrew: This past week I introduced everyone to the first challenge, which was trying to find ways in your town to promote MuggleNet or MuggleCast, and boy did we get a response! At first I was worried because for the first two or three days I didn’t get anything.
Eric: That’s because they were out in their towns posting.
Andrew: And later in the week I got… Precisely. I got a big response. I posted thirty images in our Image Gallery of different ones. They are so creative! Some pictures hung up big pictures of me. Some people used their huge…one girl used her huge window overlooking Chicago to promote MuggleCast. I almost told Dylan to go down there and check it out until she had to take it down an hour-and-a-half later because her roommate got upset.
[All laugh]
Andrew: But all these are in the gallery. You can check them out in the “Show Notes” over at MuggleCast.com. Now…
Ben: Guys, are we done? I need to run out. So, let’s…
Andrew: Are you interrupting me? Seriously?
Ben: I don’t care.
Andrew: Are you interrupting me?
Ben: Eric interrupts everyone. If he can do it, why can’t I?
Andrew: Seriously? Is this a joke?
Laura: Keep going. Just keep going.
Andrew: Is this a joke? Hahaha.
[Ben laughs]
Andrew: So, this week’s “Listener Challenge,” I’ve been thinking really, really hard about this all week. And honestly, I don’t know.
Eric: Therefore we’re continuing…
Andrew: So, this week’s “Listener Challenge” is for you to give me a listener challenge. Send those to challenge at staff dot mugglenet dot com.
Eric: What?
Andrew: I really couldn’t think of anything.
Eric: You’re going to get a thousand e-mails that say, “I command you to stand on one foot. Huh!”
[Kevin laughs]
Show Close
Andrew [Show Close with music in background]: No, I need challenges that send the fans out to do stuff. So, send your ideas and then I’ll be using them. So, I think that wraps up Episode 9 of MuggleCast. Once again everyone if you have any e-mails, comments, questions, suggestions, send them to mugglecast at staff dot mugglenet dot com or make it easier on us and use our Feedback Form on MuggleCast.com. Full show notes can also be found if you’re using your iPod, just give your iPod three or four clicks and the show notes will show up. Or just go to MuggleCast.com and click on “Episodes”. That’s about it. Once again, I’m Andrew Sims.
Ben: I am THE Ben Schoen. Your favorite Kansan.
Kevin: I’m Kevin Steck.
Eric: I’m Eric Scull.
Laura: And I’m Laura Thompson.
Andrew: Oh, one last thing. I’d also like to plug my official fan site and thank them and everyone else. I should have covered all those.
Ben: No, shut up!
Andrew: SHUT UP! SHUT UP BEN! Have a good night everyone!