Expelliarmy! (OOTP Chapter 18, Dumbledore's Army)

Summary

Detailed Summary of "MuggleCast: the Harry Potter Podcast" Episode "Expelliarmy! (OOTP Chapter 18, Dumbledore's Army)"

Podcast Information:

• Title: MuggleCast: the Harry Potter podcast
• Host: Harry Potter (Andrew, Micah, Zacharias Smith, and Pamela)
• Episode: Expelliarmy! (Order of The Phoenix, Chapter 18, Dumbledore's Army)
• Release Date: March 11, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of MuggleCast, the hosts—Andrew, Micah, Zacharias Smith, and Pamela—delve deep into Chapter 18 of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", aptly titled "Dumbledore's Army." Joined by their podcasting partner Pam, the discussion navigates through the complexities of forming Dumbledore's Army (DA), character developments, and the overarching themes that resonate within the Wizarding World.

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Chapter Overview: Dumbledore's Army

Formation of DA

The episode begins with the hosts setting the stage for Chapter 18, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione solidify the formation of Dumbledore's Army—a secret group aimed at teaching fellow students defensive spells in response to Umbridge's inadequate teaching methods.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [04:54]: "Today at T Mobile joined by a special co anchor."

Note: This timestamp seems misplaced as it references an advertisement. Ads and non-content sections are skipped in the summary.

Hermione's Internal Conflict

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Hermione Granger's growing doubts about the effectiveness and morality of DA. She becomes increasingly concerned about Umbridge's invasive tactics, comparing them to Muggle issues like the Patriot Act, highlighting the theme of surveillance and loss of privacy.

Notable Quotes:

• Micah [07:57]: "I'm not going to Vegas with you, Andrew. This is a red flag right away."
• Andrew [12:07]: "I think Hermione's grappling with several things here, and it's a good lesson for readers, seeing somebody experience this doubt."

Dumbledore vs. Harry's Relationship

The hosts explore the strained relationship between Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, emphasizing how Harry's reluctance to trust Dumbledore impacts his decisions and alliances within the DA.

Notable Quote:

• Zacharias Smith [09:36]: "Is there any kind of similar crime in the UK?"

Introduction of the Room of Requirement

A pivotal element in Chapter 18 is the introduction of the Room of Requirement. The hosts discuss its significance, usage by house elves, and potential symbolism within Hogwarts.

Notable Quotes:

• Micah [26:23]: "If the elves do use this room and know about it, what do they use it for?"
• Andrew [29:02]: "I suggests that the type of magic that powers the room is closer to elf magic."

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Thematic Analysis

Surveillance and Privacy

Drawing parallels between Umbridge's methods and real-world surveillance issues, the hosts delve into the ethical implications of DA's formation and the broader fight against oppressive authority.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [07:57]: "It became easier for the government to start tapping our phones."

Leadership and Responsibility

The discussion highlights Hermione's strategic decision to appoint Harry as the leader of DA, distributing responsibility and mitigating personal accountability—a critical step in organizing the group effectively.

Notable Quotes:

• Andrew [37:07]: "By appointing Harry the leader, if they get caught, it's Harry's problem."
• Pamela [37:48]: "It's setting the table and making things very clear from the start."

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Character Dynamics

Hermione Granger

Hermione's internal struggle is a focal point, showcasing her as a multifaceted character dealing with fear, responsibility, and the moral weight of leading a rebellion against an unjust system.

Notable Quotes:

• Pamela [11:53]: "Isn't your favorite phrase, you got to bet big to win big."
• Micah [12:07]: "But she just feels powerless to affect any kind of change on a scale that's gonna make it worth it."

Harry Potter

Harry's leadership qualities and his strained relationship with authority figures like Dumbledore are examined, emphasizing his growth and the burden of expectations placed upon him.

Notable Quotes:

• Micah [16:02]: "Sirius is a huge reason why she's having second doubts."
• Andrew [26:39]: "Did you pick that clip, Eric? Because I now live in Vegas."

Ron Weasley

Ron’s skepticism towards some of Hermione’s concerns showcases the tension within the trio, balancing friendship and differing perspectives on rebellion.

Notable Quotes:

• Zacharias Smith [07:57]: "I'm not going to Vegas with you, Andrew. This is a red flag right away."

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The Room of Requirement: House Elves' Perspective

The hosts explore fan theories about how house elves utilize the Room of Requirement, ranging from relaxation spots to practical tool sheds. Pamela and Zacharias Smith contribute creative insights, tying in elements from "Hogwarts Legacy" and other lore.

Notable Quote:

• Pamela [31:53]: "It's like simple but complicated."

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Odds and Ends

Fred and George Weasley

The entrepreneurial spirit of Fred and George is highlighted, discussing their continuous testing of magical products and the challenges they face as they prepare to leave Hogwarts.

Notable Quote:

• Zacharias Smith [43:30]: "Fred and George. They continue to test their products out on themselves."

Ginny Weasley

Ginny's role in naming Dumbledore's Army is touched upon, emphasizing her contribution to the group's identity and cohesion.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [44:02]: "But look, if you're going to open up a joke shop and create all these very cool different things..."

Neville Longbottom

Neville’s integration into DA through one-on-one training with Harry is discussed, providing insights into his character development and the prophecy's implications.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [41:36]: "Better to pair with than Harry than the teacher."

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Listener Engagement: Links Line

The hosts share and analyze listener-submitted theories about the Room of Requirement's usage by house elves, fostering community interaction and deepening the show's engagement with its audience.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [46:48]: "Rachel said, I really want to think of the elves using it for something fun or restorative."

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Quiz Segment

A fun and educational quiz segment challenges listeners with trivia related to both the Harry Potter universe and historical facts, enhancing the interactive element of the podcast.

Notable Quote:

• Micah [51:25]: "What bird did the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans and Genghis Khan all use to send their messages? The correct answer was pigeons."

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with teasers for the next week's discussion on Chapter 19, promoting other MuggleCast shows, and encouraging listeners to engage further through Patreon and merchandise. The hosts reiterate the importance of community support in sustaining the podcast.

Notable Quote:

• Andrew [55:03]: "Thanks everybody for listening. I'm Andrew."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of MuggleCast offers a comprehensive exploration of Chapter 18 in "Order of the Phoenix," blending critical analysis with fan theories and interactive elements. The hosts effectively balance in-depth discussion with light-hearted moments, making it a valuable resource for both avid fans and newcomers to the series.

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Note: Advertisements, non-content segments, and unrelated discussions were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the episode's core content, ensuring clarity and relevance for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Andrew]

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[Eric]

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[Micah]

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[Pamela]

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[Andrew]

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[Micah]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Andrew]

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[Micah]

Magic mirror on the wall.

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[Zacharias Smith]

Snow White.

[Andrew]

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[Micah]

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[Micah]

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[Zacharias Smith]

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[Andrew]

Welcome to Mugglecast, where we go chapter by chapter through the Harry Potter books and keep you updated on the forthcoming Harry Potter TV show. We are your Harry Potter friends and your weekly ride into the fandom. I'm Andrew.

[Micah]

I'm Eric.

[Zacharias Smith]

I'm Micah.

[Andrew]

And this week, put on your ballet shoes and meet us on the seventh floor of Hogwarts because we're discussing Order of The Phoenix, Chapter 18, Dumbledore's Army. And to help us with this week's discussion, we're joined by our podcasting partner, Pam. Podcasting partner Pam welcome back, Pam.

[Pamela]

Loving that alliteration.

[Andrew]

Co host of what the Hype and Millennial. Nice to have you back on the show to talk Harry Potter with us.

[Pamela]

Nice to be back with you all.

[Andrew]

I consider Pam the biggest Harry Potter fan out of the five Mugglecasters. If we're including Pan because she has the most different editions of the Harry Potter books.

[Pamela]

We bring this up every once in a while.

[Andrew]

Listeners, as we continue to analyze the books and cover the Harry Potter TV show, we would really appreciate your [e-mail] Mugglecast by becoming a Mugglecast member, you're helping us conjure up episodes of this indie podcast. And in exchange for your support, we offer you instant access to lots of great benefits like more Mugglecast. We release two bonus Mugglecast episodes every month on our Patreon. And in these, we have fun talking about different aspects of the Potter fandom outside of chapter by chapter. And in a bonus episode coming this week, I am very proud to present my episode by episode plan for the Harry Potter TV show.

[Micah]

Wow.

[Andrew]

As a teaser for my episode one pitch, let me tell you. All right, now, it's going to instantly win over longtime Harry Potter fans because it's going to be very different from how the movies open. And it's just going to prove to us that they had good reason to do the Harry Potter TV series.

[Zacharias Smith]

I would sign up for Bonus Mugglecast just for that pitch alone.

[Andrew]

Right, Right. This is going to. This could be a long bonus Muggle cast. I'm going to try not to make it a long one, but smart of.

[Pamela]

You to put it behind the paywall, too, because you don't want to work for free.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I don't want to work for free. That's a great. That's a great point.

[Zacharias Smith]

I think it would be a fantastic idea. If this goes the length of, let's say, to Bonus Mugglecast, then I don't have to plan one for later in the month.

[Micah]

It's true. Sometimes they do.

[Andrew]

Double duty listeners. Be sure to check that out. And after you pledge to our Patreon, you can actually listen to bonus Mugglecast episodes and add free episodes of Mugglecast right within your favorite podcast app. So it's very easy to enjoy this bonus content just like you do regular Mugglecast. All right, now it's time for chapter by chapter. This week we're discussing Order of The Phoenix, Chapter 18, Dumbledore's Army.

[Micah]

Ah, yeah. So a little bit of. Little bit of hope cracking on the horizon, everybody.

[Andrew]

Some much needed hope.

[Micah]

Some much needed hope. We last discussed chapter 18 on episode 454 of Mugglecast. It was titled Drinky Winky. Gee, I wonder why.

[Zacharias Smith]

That might be my favorite episode title ever.

[Andrew]

Drinky Winky, Tipsy Lalapo, Teletubbies, God and Po.

[Micah]

Well, here is a fun little clip from that episode.

[Pamela]

Three turns should do anything.

[Micah]

Good luck.

[Andrew]

What the.

[Capella University]

Episode 454.

[Andrew]

I was wondering, has anyone ever been guilty of encouraging someone to do something so you could live vicariously through them? I always think of, like, gambling. It's a lot of fun to watch people gamble because it's not your money. And then once you start playing, you're like, oh, never mind.

[Micah]

I have provided that service for others where I gamble and lose money for their entertainment. Yes, I have done it.

[Zacharias Smith]

I'm not going to Vegas with you, Andrew. This is a red flag right away. You're gonna have be on the roulette table.

[Andrew]

Yeah, let me watch you play.

[Zacharias Smith]

You're just gonna want to, like, put the little chips on the board for me and then hope for the best.

[Pamela]

Mysterious thing time.

[Andrew]

Did you pick that clip, Eric? Because I now live in Vegas.

[Micah]

There were several reasons for picking that clip, but, yes, that's probably one of them. I'm wondering, Andrew, tell us, are you still up to no good with that? Are you still encouraging others to gamble?

[Andrew]

Maybe not encourage others to gamble, but I still prefer to live vicariously through others and watch them gamble rather than play myself.

[Micah]

Yes.

[Pamela]

Isn't your favorite phrase, you got to bet big to win big.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's true. That's true.

[Pamela]

That's very enabling.

[Micah]

It's very coercive. Yeah. Oh, man.

[Andrew]

I want to see a Harry Potter slot machine. That hasn't happened yet.

[Pamela]

Oh, I'm sure it's somewhere at the mgm.

[Andrew]

Okay, I'll get looking.

[Zacharias Smith]

I feel like it's got to be somewhere.

[Pamela]

Yeah.

[Zacharias Smith]

That's the one thing we didn't do when I was in Vegas, Andrew. We didn't go to any casinos.

[Andrew]

When you're a local, you don't play. I mean, I would have happily taken you, though.

[Zacharias Smith]

I think I was coming from a hotel that had plenty of slot machines in there if I really wanted to. But it was a work trip, so, you know, you try not to. Yeah, dabble.

[Micah]

Always stay a few thousand dollars behind your boss. That's the rule. But anyway, I mentioned this chapter has some hope to offer us. However, not right away. Unfortunately, we have a lot of indecisiveness on the part of the trio, and Hermione in particular. So she is now convinced that Hedwig was intercepted by Umbridge and that it's been basically a whole, like, false pretense to come up with the lie about dung bombs so that Filch could get at Harry's correspondence, which is a. A huge violation. And of course, it's under the guise of keeping the school safe, secure. But what bothers Me about it is Umbridge is very much a character that does not act in good faith, and she will really roll out all the tricks she has in order to do something that is illegal or very heavily not above board.

[Andrew]

Yeah, well, and this reminds me of how here in the muggle world, post 9 11, we had the Patriot act in which it became easier for the government to start tapping our phones. And there was reason for it, but it also made a lot of people rightly uncomfortable that it suddenly became easier for us to be surveilled. The thing about this situation in the book is that Umbridge has a false pretense, whereas that one in the Muggle world was more justified. Maybe not entirely so, though.

[Micah]

Yeah. So it's a real invasion of privacy in general, but it's done under some level of justification.

[Zacharias Smith]

Yeah. And I wanted to look this up because I remember when growing up, I would always hear, don't open somebody else's mail. It's illegal. And it turns out that it is true here in the US that opening up somebody else's mail is a federal crime. It's called obstruction of correspondence, and it's a serious felony that could lead to you ending up in jail. And so I figure if you layer on animal cruelty to this. Yeah, Umbridge is really getting herself into some hot water if she were to be caught for doing any of these things. But I did want to ask, is there any kind of similar crime in the uk?

[Andrew]

I looked into this for you, Micah, and actually, yes, it is also illegal over there under the Postal Services act of 2000. Specifically, Section 84 of the act makes it an offense to intentionally delay, open, or interfere with someone else's mail without reasonable excuse. So actually, intentionally delay mail. Didn't Dobby do that in an earlier book?

[Micah]

Oh, that happened during jail. It happened before.

[Andrew]

Ah, you're a good lawyer for Dobby.

[Micah]

It wasn't illegal in 1992.

[Andrew]

Maybe they were reading the Harry Potter books and they're like, wait, that doesn't sound right. We need to make this illegal.

[Pamela]

I wonder if this same right, though, extends to schoolchildren at, like, a private school, or if that would be another loophole where they would say, for the safety of everyone involved, we have to. We, like, reserve the right to check.

[Micah]

Oh, that's a heck of a thing.

[Zacharias Smith]

Correspondence could extend that to the Dursleys as well. I feel like we've talked a little bit about the fact that they were keeping Harry's mail from him.

[Micah]

Right?

[Andrew]

Yeah. Yeah. Wow.

[Pamela]

Maybe that's how he was ripping it up. Right, Uncle Vernon? Not necessarily opening it technically, so maybe that's how he'd get off.

[Andrew]

But also just delaying Harry from being able to open it by trying to hide them and rip them up.

[Zacharias Smith]

But I will say, I love that we found this connective thread for the Dursleys, Dabi and Umbridge. They're all very much headed to the slammer.

[Andrew]

The unexpected connection between Dobby and Umbridge.

[Micah]

Yeah, cellmates. We have all of this evidence now that, or it seems like evidence that Umbridge is committing these wrongs against the students. And yet this group that they're building in order to kind of combat this stuff is currently giving Hermione second thoughts. She actually has regret. She asks them, are we doing the right thing? And there's a funny moment with Rom where he's kind of exasperated about it. He's like, this was your idea, Hermione. But it's just clear to me that stuff is really getting real. And Hermione is feeling two things that she is, which is young and vulnerable and like a student. So she really feels powerless to affect any kind of change on a scale that's gonna make it worth it, given their sacrifice.

[Pamela]

Well, it's one thing, too, to be responsible for yourself and for maybe your two best friends since, you know, they. It's like an unspoken thing that the trio are in it together, but it's another thing to be responsible for 25 other students.

[Micah]

Right.

[Pamela]

And I think that's where she starts to get cold feet because. And it's not necessarily about doing the right thing, it's about doing right by those people that didn't maybe necessarily understand what they were signing up for in terms of, like, facing the wrath.

[Andrew]

Yeah. I think the size of the group is daunting, but I think this is normal for most of us when we're embarking on something new, and certainly something that might be a little risky. So I think Hermione's grappling with several things here, and it's a good lesson for readers, seeing somebody experience this doubt. Hermione tends to be a pretty brave person, and for her to hit this wall is. Is a good bit of character development.

[Zacharias Smith]

Yeah, it's the weight of consequence, too, because she doesn't know what's going to happen. And certainly if they're caught, they could get in a lot of trouble. And that's not something that I think she's really prepared for. It's one thing to get in trouble with Dumbledore, it's another thing to get in trouble with the Ministry.

[Micah]

Right.

[Andrew]

The big scary police, the popo.

[Micah]

Yeah, that's a good point. I mean I think though from a reader's perspective, especially because we've read this book before, we know that Dumbledore's army does create positive change for everyone. We know it's a good thing. It's adding value. The characters at this stage can't possibly know that they won't even have the first lesson until the back half of this chapter. But knowing that it is such a force for positive change, you know, like and tracking that, I feel like it's nothing short of the spells they learn in this year end up saving those kids lives two years out. Like in the Battle of Hogwarts is Coming and we see, I believe a lot of the students using those types of spells that they got during the day to survive during Voldemort's assault on Hogwarts. So it's I guess heartening or actually harrowing. Sad for to see Hermione so uncertain because she single handedly, with the help of Harry and Ron have created something that's gonna really matter to people. They just don't know it yet.

[Andrew]

Yeah, but they do know it even by the end of the chapter. The chapter ends with Hermione saying to Harry that was really, really good. Harry and Ron backs her up. Sarah says, yeah, it was enthusiastically. They're experiencing that successful relief. Maybe you can call it at the end of this chapter after the first meeting that you know they're over that they're over the hill. The, they're over the fear of putting together this group and they can see the effects. And like Eric, you're saying in time they'll look back and be even more proud that they did decide to go through with this despite that initial fear.

[Micah]

Is there a moral lesson here as far as like conquer your fears, don't give up, you're doing the right thing?

[Pamela]

I think you could actually probably link it back to. What is it? In what book did Dumbledore say that we must all face the choice between doing what is right and what is easy. So she's doing the right thing but it's not easy for her to go through with it.

[Zacharias Smith]

Yeah, there's definitely.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that was a goblet of fire.

[Zacharias Smith]

Anticipatory anxiety going on.

[Micah]

Yeah. Now something that I think is a low blow is either Harry calls Hermione out on it or she outright says it that Sirius is a huge reason why she's having second doubts. Yeah, because he's a Reckless godfather. I can barely talk about this, it hurts so bad. But you know, just because he is feeling useless and stuck at his home does not mean that wanting to do something to oppose the Ministry is a bad plan. Right? Like they've gotten this far because they see the need. So yeah, you can question someone's motives but don't just assume that because they want what you want, that what you want is wrong.

[Zacharias Smith]

It's a great point.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Zacharias Smith]

With Hermione though, would she expect any different from Sirius? This is right up his alley.

[Andrew]

Yeah, she should have anticipated this. Or not been surprised by this crackpot theory. Sirius was actually trying to do some reverse psychology here. He actually didn't want them to do this, but said he loves the idea just to screw with Hermione and get her to doubt herself.

[Micah]

I love that headcanon. That works for me.

[Pamela]

I just think too like she, she's seen the, the slow decline of just how reckless he's in. Because even if you look back to Sirius's advice to Harry in Goblet of Fire, he. He's the one that's telling Harry not to do anything rash. Don't you know, just like think about what you're gonna do before you actually do it? And that's like big juxtaposition. Going from that to going from, you know, him trying to egg Harry on and being like oh, the risk is what would have been fun for your father. You know, that's kind of like a slap in the face, I don't think. I think Hermione, she sees it more. And I think that like I rereading this for the purposes of this show through like an adult lens, I see why she is worried about that. But you know, as a teenager I read this and I was like, yeah, why are you being so mean to Sirius? Like I get it, you know, that's a problem.

[Micah]

I'm still in my teenage mental state going why is everyone hating on me?

[Andrew]

That's my takeaway. Syria's calling you a teen.

[Micah]

Yeah, yeah. Which, hey, whatever.

[Pamela]

Teenage petulance.

[Zacharias Smith]

Perhaps that Hermione is reacting less to Sirius and more to Molly and the message that Sirius gives the trio from Molly specifically to Ron. But I'm sure Hermione doesn't want to be in a position where she feels like she's disappointing Mrs. Weasley.

[Andrew]

Yeah, she's going to have to see Molly again. Mrs. Weasley again. So yeah, I think that gives her some pause though. Hermione does just straight up say in this chapter that it is Sirius who's giving her pause. But it's, it's probably both forces. It's disappointing her best friend's mom who she is going to have to see again at some point and Sirius encouraging this devious behavior.

[Micah]

Right.

[Pamela]

She really does carry a lot more burden than we realize, I think. And this is what this, this argument specifically is making me realize that she, she probably worries more than Harry and Ron can bind and, and it weighs.

[Andrew]

On her and she was responsible for this idea. I mean, she and Ron pitched it to Harry so if they did get in serious trouble, this was her fault. This wasn't Harry's fault.

[Micah]

That's a fair point.

[Zacharias Smith]

They all agree though. So equal responsibility, her idea. But they're co conspirators. I did think a little bit about this though, and how Hermione still very much puts trust in authority figures but gets very apprehensive around advice from those she considers to be more reckless in nature. And it's not just serious in this chapter we see it a little bit later on with Dobby. And it's only when Harry validates the Room of Requirement via Dumbledore that Hermione relaxes. But I thought to myself, let's not forget if the Order knows about Dumbledore's army via Mundungus, Dumbledore knows about Dumbledore's army and he's not stopping it. So Hermione should feel validated in her.

[Micah]

Initial decision to form the door.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's some big brain thinking. I love that. That's a really good point. It's too bad nobody said that to her, but. Oh, wow.

[Micah]

Yeah. So one of the things that happens like right at the middle of the chapter is that Harry's scar hurts. And I think you know, when they're going back and forth. If you split this chapter in halves, the first half is did we do the right thing? The second half is hell yeah, we did the right thing. But right at the middle, Harry scar hurts. And I think this is really poignant because it showcases what the threat is. It reminds readers it's been a little while since we've, you know, gotten this level of, of insight into Voldemort and just kind of reminds the audience what's at stake. Maybe. I think it's.

[Andrew]

Yeah, why. Why they are assembling this group.

[Micah]

Yeah. Ultimately it's easy to get hung up on this whole Umbridge crap, but you know, the real bad guy is out there. Yeah.

[Andrew]

Ariane says Hermione is so used to following slash trusting authority don't we all have massive doubts when we break out of our norm? Yeah. And when we do. When we do break out of that shell and then we. We crush it. Like, we see by the end of this chapter, Hermione is very pleased with how it went. You just feel elated. You're like, I got over that hill. I broke out of my comfort zone. And this is going to pay off.

[Micah]

I think that's part of growing up, to your point. And this is not intended as a hit piece on Hermione, though she should be nicer to Sirius. He's not gonna be alive very much longer, so I feel confident saying that.

[Zacharias Smith]

But if for nothing else for the. For her cat who loves Sirius.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Think of Crookshank, Hermione. You know, I mean, some people put a lot of weight in your animal loving another human. I know somebody who's always like, oh, my dog loves this person. Good judge, a character. So Hermione should be looking towards Crookshanks.

[Pamela]

And trust me, Crookshanks was after Wormtail before they knew he was Wormtail. So it's got a good track record.

[Micah]

Yeah, It's a fair point also. Although I. I'm debating whether to say this because it undercuts the serious you get more trust argument. But, like, as far as a cat goes, it's kind of easy to win them over as long as you have food. Like, that is true. Good judge of character or simply providing their basic needs is an open, open question.

[Zacharias Smith]

Martha was basically my best friend once. I had those little treats in my hand.

[Micah]

That's what I'm saying. It's why we give them to people. It's like, she's a little nervous otherwise.

[Andrew]

But, Micah, give yourself more credit. All animals love you. As you saw in my home as well.

[Micah]

Literally.

[Zacharias Smith]

Yeah. I will never forget it.

[Micah]

So you did have a question here, Micah, about the Horcrux.

[Zacharias Smith]

Yeah. And you were talking about Harry's scar. And I thought it was interesting how he's starting to be able to differentiate between when Voldemort is feeling certain emotions. He talks with Ron about how when his scar was hurting with Umbridge, it was because Voldemort was happy. And now his scar is hurting him because Voldemort is angry. And there's this line in this chapter which I think is so important and probably so easily glossed over by us as readers going through this on an initial read. And it said, what was this weird connection between them which Dumbledore had never been able to explain satisfactorily?

[Andrew]

And yet Ron encourages Harry to go to Dumbledore with this information and he says no, Dumbledore already knows. And yet Harry's realizing that he is able to explain it now.

[Micah]

Yeah, these two have beef. It's not gonna get resolved until a particular.

[Zacharias Smith]

It's not really beef. It's just an adult ignoring a child and his needs.

[Andrew]

I think Harry has beef with Dumbledore, but not the other way around.

[Micah]

That's kind of what I'm saying. Yeah.

[Zacharias Smith]

Okay.

[Micah]

Dumbledore should not. I don't think Dumbledore's surprised that Harry has beef with him. But he could be doing the extra mile to like check in with Harry, except he's deliberately avoiding him for the reasons that we know.

[Zacharias Smith]

And yeah, this is the second time so far that we've seen where Harry has been encouraged to go speak to an authority figure and he's chosen not to.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

So maybe we should keep this in mind when we try to put all the blame on Dumbledore. I mean, it sounds like Harry's. Harry has some issues to work through as well. It's a two way street because we've.

[Zacharias Smith]

Been ignoring him for the past several months. Won't even talk to the kid.

[Micah]

Won't even look at him.

[Andrew]

I'm very busy.

[Zacharias Smith]

You're busy? What are you doing?

[Andrew]

I'm busy. Just don't worry about it. On due course, you'll know.

[Micah]

He's counting chamber pots.

[Andrew]

How many have I not filled up just yet?

[Micah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We will be getting to all of the excitement that is the room of requirement in just a minute. But first, here is a word from our sponsors.

[Pamela]

I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a gift. Especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life even with cancer.

[Snoop Dogg]

Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.com supportan what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not an endorsement by bank of America Corporation. Copyright 2025 this episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs. Meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need. Have coverage options to protect the things you value most. File a claim right on the State Farm mobile app and even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there.

[Eric]

This episode is brought to you by Indeed. When your computer breaks, you don't wait for it to magically start working again. You fix the problem. So why wait to hire the people your company desperately needs? Use Indeed sponsored jobs to hire top talent fast. And even better, you only pay for results. There's no need to wait. Speed up your hiring with a $75 sponsored job credit@ Indeed.com podcast. Terms and conditions apply.

[Micah]

All right, we're back. Now it's the part of the chapter where everyone who's been reading the book up to this point can finally breathe. Because something finally happens that goes right. Dobby comes to the rescue both with a fully functional and repaired Hedwig.

[Andrew]

That criminal Dobby. Male stealing Dobby.

[Micah]

But I mean I think Grubbly Plank entrusted her to him to give to Harry. I guess she knew he was going that way. But yeah. So basically back in the common room like Harry, who is not confiding in Dumbledore does have like a flash, a stroke of genius and he's like, he decides to ask Dobby, hey, do you know a place where we can, you know, practice D A D A And Dobby does. And what's interesting here, it's kind of blink and you'll miss it comment, kind of like the one we highlighted up above. But Dabi says he heard tell of the Room of Requirement from the other Hogwarts House elves and I find that interesting. Obviously we know Dahvie's been using the Room of Requirement for to help Winky out, but I think largely the way that it's presented during this reread, I'm thinking is that mostly the elves know about this. Very few students we see a few humans talk about it. Dumbledore's mentioned it. Fred and George are like oh yeah, this was a closet for us once we were hiding from Filch. But like on the whole this seems to be in the domain of the elves. And so I wanted to ask this is going to be this episode's links line question as well. But if the elves do use this room and know about it, what do they use it for? So we'll get to that in just a moment. But my theory on this matter would be that because we've always heard how self magic is different than wizard magic, maybe something about the way that the Room of Requirement works, it seems a bit more open ended. It seems a bit more I don't know special than all the other standard wizard magic, like a rotating staircase. Say that maybe the type of magic that powers the room is closer to elf magic, to the point where an elf that's passing by or lives in the castle in fair proximity to this room would get kind of like a tingle or a sixth sense that something is going on in that room. So that's my kind of crazy crackpot theory about elves and why they know about the rumor requirement.

[Zacharias Smith]

I like it. I just like the fact that Hogwarts would have parts of it that were potentially built by non witches and wizards. Makes me think about the Fountain of Magical Brethren quite a bit. And the other reason why I really love this is because in Hogwarts legacy, so much of our relationship with Diek, one of the house elves is based in the room of Requirement.

[Micah]

Right. It's where we meet him, it's where he's introduced and it's something of a refuge for Dieke and you.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Now I do like this theory, Eric. I actually wouldn't consider it too crackpot that the house elves are somehow responsible for creating the rumor requirement or at least helped build it.

[Micah]

Well, I appreciate that.

[Andrew]

Yeah. One question I had about the room though, and maybe we could talk about this more as the series progresses. But it's always bugged me that it seems like only one person or group can use the rumor requirement at a time. Because I would have to think when people start hearing about it, demands can fill up pretty quickly. And if it is the rumor requirement and one of its key benefits is that you can basically just walk up to it and be like, I need help now. It'll help you. Except when somebody else is already in there. So I just, I don't understand how that works. I feel like it's a flaw of the room or requirement for it to not be able to accommodate multiple parties at the same time.

[Micah]

Well, you can get into the room when somebody else is in the room as long as they didn't ask it to become inaccessible the way Draco does in the next book. But it. The room can't itself be two things at once, I don't think. Or if it. Or if it. If it is two things at once. The second thing that it is is like a broom closet that deters Harry because you know, Draco is in there.

[Andrew]

To Dumbledore's peeing in there right now.

[Micah]

Yeah, yeah, maybe something small. It can be two things at once. But yeah, I mean, I agree with you. I think it's mostly the one thing. And I bet it's just down to bandwidth, you know, there's a lot of magic, a lot of powerful magic going on to that room is waiting on you hand and foot.

[Pamela]

Well, it's kind of like similar how it's like it can transform back into the same room, even if two different people are thinking for different reasons. Like becoming the hiding room. Basically. It's very clear that students across the ages have had to hide things in Hogwarts at some point or another. And that's just the room where they go hide things. But everybody's mind is different. So you would assume that like everybody would have their own hiding room, it wouldn't just be like one room.

[Micah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Pamela]

But it seems like it's pretty. Like it's. It's like simple but complicated.

[Micah]

Yeah. So after we find out about this amazing come and go room, Harry does resist the urge to visit it immediately. I'm proud of him, everybody.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's growth right there.

[Micah]

That is growth, patience. It's Hermione rubbing off, you know, are we doing the right thing, etc.

[Andrew]

No, yeah, it absolutely is. I mean, that thought crosses Harry's mind. And also he's tired. He's like, oh, I just need to rest already. I'll go check out this room later. No rush it. Obviously we'll be there the next day.

[Micah]

So we're about to describe the room at great detail, but something that we pointed out in episode 454 of Mugglecast way back in 20 is worth repeating, which is that chapter 18, which this is, sees Harry using the Marauder's Map to help him navigate. And students getting to and from their common rooms to the first DA meeting. And the same chapter number, chapter 18 of Prisoner of Azkaban is Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, where we get the in depth look at the creators of the Marauder's Map.

[Andrew]

Damn good catch connecting those threads.

[Micah]

Yeah. Past us. Nice work. So here is a short description of where the room is. The entrance to the Room of Requirement is located on the seventh floor, across from a tapestry. What's that?

[Andrew]

7, 7, 7. Reference.

[Micah]

I didn't even see that. Yeah, really?

[Andrew]

It's bolded.

[Micah]

I did bold it.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Micah]

The seventh floor across from a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls, which is what it's described as earlier in the chapter and then later a foolish attempt to train trolls for the ballet. This tapestry is as interesting, if not more than the Come and Go Room, I think itself to me, what is the meaning, if there is any to be discerned, of this tapestry being in front of this room?

[Andrew]

I did have the same thought as you, that there has to be some sort of symbolism going on here. So I was trying to come up with some sort of theory to explain this. Umbridge would see the DA as a foolish attempt to train an army. And so in this analogy, Harry and company are the trolls who are attempting to thwart her. But maybe more broadly, I think this portrait could symbolize being able to do whatever you want in this room. Something as random or foolish as trying to train trolls for ballet.

[Micah]

Oh, so sort of the possibilities are endless.

[Andrew]

Yeah, right, Exactly.

[Micah]

Maybe Barnabas used this room in order to try and train the trolls.

[Pamela]

Ooh, I wonder if it's like, you know, barmy means like going mad or going crazy. And you would think you went mad if you found a room and then went back to find that room and he was gone.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Or you've gone mad trying to figure out a solution for your problem. And then here's the rumor requirement.

[Zacharias Smith]

Part of me thinks that it might be a commentary on the fact that you can't force things to go against their true nature. So here you have somebody trying to train trolls to do ballet, but yet he's getting clubbed by all these trolls because there's no way they're gonna do ballet. That's just not in their nature.

[Micah]

It also reminds me of what Haggard tries to do with his brother later in this book. Sort of the futile effort. But I like that, Micah, as far as you can't change things through their nature. There's an old parable that's like the scorpion and the frog, which reminds me of that. But yeah, anyway, like, it's sort of ironic also because you can make the room be whatever you want. We've yet to really see too much of a limit on it. So that's also fun. As you have, on one hand, a futile attempt, and on the other side of the same hallway, infinite possibility.

[Andrew]

Yeah. And this portrait does make an appearance in Hogwarts Legacy, by the way. Do we see it in the movie?

[Pamela]

No, it's like the unicorn tapestry that's in all the rooms.

[Andrew]

They just reused something. We'll save a little money.

[Pamela]

That is like a famous tapestry, but.

[Andrew]

Got it.

[Micah]

So we mentioned this earlier, but Hermione hears from Harry that Dumbledore mentioned this room. And it's kind of one of those things where Harry only thinks about it after the fact. Like, oh, this one time he Mentioned it and she's put immediately at ease. And I also have to give her credit because she does. Like, when they all get in there, she sees the books, the crazy assortment of books. She knows that they made the right choice and not fully distracted by the books. She's the one that starts off the meeting with that. Formally electing Harry the leader of the group. And, you know, I think Ron scoffs at her, like, why are you doing this? Obviously it's Harry or Cho even, like, just scoffs at Hermione. But I think it's important to get those little things out of the way because it, like Zechariah Smith, proofs these.

[Andrew]

Proceedings and also by appointing Harry the leader, if they get caught, it's Harry's problem. She washed her hands. That was the leader. That was his fault. I didn't think of this idea. No, I don't think she had.

[Micah]

That's her last security, like. Yeah. Last personal security.

[Andrew]

I don't think that's what she was thinking, but I. Yeah, it's important to have a leader for this organization so there isn't all this infighting because if the group does explode, if it does blow up then somebody is going to possibly rat them out. And obviously Hermione has a contingency plan for that. But it's just good for organization's sake and probably, like I said, for her comfort level.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Zacharias Smith]

It's setting the table and making things very clear from the start which I think, given some of the folks in this group, as you said, Eric, basically Zacharias Smith proofing. It is important.

[Micah]

You just know he would ask, wait a minute. Why are we listening to him? Just by the cheek that he gets over them studying Expelliarmus. To which Harry. Can we just give Harry the credit that he's an excellent teacher? It comes very naturally to him. He has a knack. And this idea to teach them the disarming charm. Somebody like Zacharias might and does scoff at that. But all Harry has to say is, I actually used this against Voldemort and it saved my life.

[Andrew]

Like, any questions?

[Micah]

Yeah, how can you argue with that? You can.

[Zacharias Smith]

No, I'd be like, really? That's what got you away from him?

[Andrew]

Some Chosen One you are.

[Micah]

Micah's got some Zacharias Smith in him. I think this is exciting.

[Andrew]

Micah would have voted for Zacharias to lead Dumbledore's army.

[Zacharias Smith]

I don't know about that, but I'd be skeptical of Expelliarmus being the spell that saved your behind from the Dark Lord.

[Andrew]

No, that's fair.

[Pamela]

Would you? If he keeps getting thwarted by like a 12 year old though. Yeah, like man's tried to kill him how many times.

[Zacharias Smith]

Just give up and. Yeah, go live somewhere else in the world.

[Micah]

At this point, I think it's just that they're not expecting a defensive charm, they're expecting to learn an offensive charm.

[Zacharias Smith]

True. Well, especially after all of what has gone on in Umbridge's classes up until this point. To have to start with something like that, like, well, that's not sexy, that's not appealing. I thought we were coming here for the good stuff.

[Andrew]

All the anticipation at Dumbledore's army, the secret underground club, and then they start with a disarming spell.

[Pamela]

But I also think like it, it shows that like Harry is thinking back on like where his defensive skills started. And you know, Lockhart didn't teach him much, but going to that dueling club did teach him that. Like the first step to dueling was learning how to disarm. So everybody has to start somewhere. And it kind of like seems to me like maybe only people that went there learned how to disarm. Yeah, and maybe they just didn't teach that in the Dada classes.

[Zacharias Smith]

The fundamentals, that's what you have to start with. And he doesn't know the baseline for how good any of these students are.

[Micah]

Right?

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's a good point too.

[Pamela]

Turns out most of them are really bad.

[Micah]

Well, it demonstrates the purpose of needing this club.

[Pamela]

Exactly.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Well, speaking of really bad, something that caught my eye was that everybody starts pairing up to practice Expelliarmus. And Neville is actually the odd man out. He can't find somebody to partner up with, so Harry ends up practicing with him one on one. Which I found interesting because the prophecy could have also been about Neville. And now Neville and Harry are the ones training together in Dumbledore's Army. I wonder if that was an intentional choice for that reason.

[Micah]

I like that a lot.

[Pamela]

Me too.

[Zacharias Smith]

Aside from the fact that nobody wants to partner with Neville.

[Pamela]

I know that part makes me sad for just like the last picked in gym class.

[Andrew]

Yeah. You know, but that's, that's Neville throughout the series. Right? The odd man out. Poor guy.

[Zacharias Smith]

Better to pair with than Harry than the teacher.

[Andrew]

Yeah, but like if that happens in school, that means you're not cool. Andrew stuck with the teacher. Oh, he's got no friends.

[Pamela]

Sounds like we've opened an old wound here.

[Zacharias Smith]

But Eric, going back to what you were saying earlier, I do love how good of a teacher Harry is, and I think a lot of it draws upon his lessons with Lupin. Lupin is probably the best teacher that Harry has had. He's learned the most from him, and we see his ability to take so much of what he learned from Lupin and apply it in this book.

[Micah]

Yeah, that's really the rubric for which he's using. And it starts, I think, with empathy, with understanding that people are going to be at different levels and saying, hey, that's okay. So now let's get on to odds and ends and other such things, including links Line After a word from our sponsors.

[Ann]

This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Forget the frustration of picking commerce platforms when you switch your business to Shopify, the global commerce platform that supercharges your selling wherever you sell. With Shopify, you'll harness the same intuitive features, trusted apps, and powerful analytics used by the world's leading brands. Sign up today for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com tech. All lowercase. That's shopify.com tech. Don't miss your window of opportunity. Upgrade your space now during blinds.com's anniversary sale and save up to 50% sitewide. Our design experts can help schedule a professional measure and installation, plus guidance for DIYers too. With over 25 million windows covered and our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can count on blinds.com to deliver results you'll love. Shop blinds.com's anniversary sale now for up to 50% off site wide. Save up to 50% [e-mail] rules and restrictions may apply.

[Zacharias Smith]

So a couple of odds and ends that picked up on from this chapter. Fred and George. They continue to test their products out on themselves. We've talked a lot about Fred and George throughout the course of this book and the fact that they are not meant for Hogwarts for very much longer. Hermione throws a lot of shade their way unfairly, but they're pushing ahead.

[Andrew]

And their butts aren't meant for brooms right now because they got some lumps on them. They said.

[Micah]

Ugh.

[Zacharias Smith]

It's like every chapter has a little bit more of information that we don't want to hear about in terms of the things that these two are experiencing. But look, if you're going to open up a joke shop and create all these very cool different things that students can use to presumably get out of class, good on you for testing them out on yourself first. Yeah, and then we need to give some kudos to Ginny because She is the one who names Dumbledore's Army.

[Micah]

Oh, you know, I wasn't going to bring this up. I'm so glad that you did.

[Andrew]

This makes Eric feel better after Hermione's rough comments on Sirius earlier.

[Micah]

Yeah, yeah, but I really think it's, it's a group effort. Yes, Ginny's the one that like alters DA to mean Dumbledore's army, but it's really. They're lobbying or volleying ideas and that's ultimately something they can all be proud of, is that they come up with this title together. It's symbolic of the work they're going to be doing together this year.

[Andrew]

Yeah, and of course it tees up later on when Dumbledore takes the blame for Dumbledore's Army.

[Zacharias Smith]

Well, it's such a good name that now we're going to change it.

[Micah]

Yes, of course. So what is the best alternate name for the da?

[Andrew]

Andrew Expelliami.

[Micah]

That's so adorable.

[Zacharias Smith]

I really like that, actually.

[Andrew]

Thanks.

[Micah]

I guess. Yeah, mine too. I went for Basic Fight Club.

[Andrew]

Well, that works because you don't talk about Fight Club.

[Micah]

That's right. Yeah.

[Andrew]

For any kids who haven't seen that movie.

[Micah]

Have you actually seen Fight Club, Andrew?

[Andrew]

I have, believe it or not.

[Micah]

I can't believe that's one of the five movies you've seen.

[Zacharias Smith]

I went with Potheads.

[Andrew]

Like short for Potter.

[Zacharias Smith]

Harry Potter.

[Andrew]

That used to be a name. Well, not potheads, but remember when the media always used to call Harry Potter fans Potterheads? Potterheads?

[Pamela]

Yeah, I think I never liked that.

[Andrew]

Yeah, me too.

[Micah]

I had a suspense. Oh, and Pam, did you have an alternate name?

[Pamela]

I did. I didn't write it down, but I think I would have gone with the Junior Order. But then I realized that they're not supposed to talk about the order either. So maybe that's not a great name.

[Andrew]

Umbridge is like, where's the Senior Order?

[Micah]

Oh my God. Hilarious. Okay, well finally let's get over to our links line answers. And again, the question this week was obviously Dobby needs the Room of Requirement to help Winky out, but what do the other house elves use the Room of Requirement for if they do? And I think we'll go in host order.

[Andrew]

Rachel said, I really want to think of the elves using it for something fun or restorative. But with the exception of Dobby, they're so work driven. I can see it being a spot to grab extra cleaning supplies or reference books for new recipes or home care. Maybe a place for elf medicines or A quarantine too, since I can't imagine house elves in the hospital wing. Though that should totally be a thing.

[Micah]

I like that Carly says elf library books about anything they might care about. How to books on home maintenance, fairy tales where the elves are the protagonists. Oh, cookbooks, history, books of elf history, even raunchy elf romantasy. Oh, not going to be unthinking that anytime soon.

[Zacharias Smith]

Next one is from Xavier who says My guess is that they don't just use it for one thing. Need cleaning supplies? Boom. Broom covered. Where to put wizard trash? Boom. Elfish garbage dump. Need to let off some steam because your masters are the Malfoys. Boom. Room full of oven doors and fire pokers to hit yourself in your heart's content. Sick elf. Boom. Elfish hospital wing fully equipped with magical ailments for elves. Which is the name of Hermione's new magical ailments for elves. This is my last link slide. My membership expires tomorrow by Mugglecast.

[Andrew]

No. Xavier, come back.

[Micah]

Thank you, Xavier.

[Zacharias Smith]

Xavier went boom.

[Andrew]

His membership went boom.

[Pamela]

This one's from Jen Og who says the house elves work hard and use the room requirement to relax by recreating the Eras tour every night. They all take turns being the star of the show, although nobody can outshine Dobby's reputation. Era.

[Micah]

Wow. I love how creative that is.

[Andrew]

Pam's a huge Taylor fan and honest to goodness, I did not.

[Pamela]

Did she put this in for me?

[Andrew]

Yeah, but I didn't intend for you to read it. That just happened to be the order it got placed in. That's funny to me. Paula said magical movie night. I like to think they get a break from their hard work and they use their magic to create beautiful shows. Oh, like live theater. There's popcorn, candy and no need for bathroom breaks as this room. Is the room a requirement after all.

[Micah]

Bader Forth. Or Maybe Badgerforth? It's 100% their dump. Where else does wizard trash go? The room requirement, of course.

[Andrew]

Oh, that makes me sad to think the house elves are just using it as a dump instead of a place to put on live performances of Shrek the Musical.

[Zacharias Smith]

Cassandra said since we never see any food deliveries at Hogwarts, maybe this room becomes an enormous farmer's market run by agricultural elves.

[Micah]

It's really creative.

[Pamela]

And Jeff says Hermione's got it all wrong. The house elves aren't laboring all day in the kitchen, they're actually sneaking off to the remove requirement to pick up pre made meals and pretending like they cooked it themselves. Oh wow.

[Micah]

Delivery. It's DiGiorno.

[Andrew]

It's not food cooked by the house elves. It's Factor Meals. A mugglecast sponsor, Zachary, said it's where they go for a nice stiff one after a hard day's night's work. It's their home away from home away from their condo. Barrels in the kitchen.

[Micah]

That's a cute. That's a cute addition from Hogwarts Legacy.

[Andrew]

Yes.

[Micah]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

A place where they can lounge on the beanies from Hermione that Dobby can't fit on his head and discuss all the hot goss surrounding the castle. Oh, Howl's elves are total gossip queens. I hadn't thought about that.

[Pamela]

They definitely know everything that's going on in the castle.

[Andrew]

And their big ears. They're hearing so much happening.

[Micah]

And we know they throw some shades.

[Andrew]

Max that. Max that.

[Micah]

We also received many other responses, including several others that thinks that house elves simply use it as a place to relax or blow off some steam. I do like that. This idea that the house elves are not immune to some stress. And so the room requirement is like a spa or a place to relax. I like that a lot. Thank you everyone for submitting that. Don't forget that. You too. The listener can participate in Lynx line every week by becoming a [e-mail] Mugglecast address at our Slug Club level.

[Andrew]

Really fun new benefit we have. We're really enjoying hearing from our listeners. And if you have any other feedback about today's discussion, you can contact us by emailing or sending a voice memo that you record on your phone to mugglecastmail.com our next muggle Mail episode is just a few weeks away. It'll be episode 700. And next week we will discuss Order of The Phoenix, Chapter 19, the lion and the Serpents. Now it's time for everybody's favorite game show, Quiz Edge.

[Micah]

This week's question was, what bird did the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans and Genghis Khan all use to send their messages? The correct answer was pigeons. And because you learned something new every day, here's how they did it. You would take pigeons that were from a certain region or era, area of the world and take them to these foreign cities where you were sending letters from. And truly, all that they would do is they would fly home with a letter attached.

[Andrew]

Oh, interesting.

[Pamela]

Oh, is that where the, like, homing pigeon saying comes from? Like, I'm just a homing pigeon?

[Micah]

Yep, it's pretty neat because in the Harry Potter books, it's all magic. You know, elves or owls magically know where to find you. But anyway, 72% of people said they didn't look it up. They knew about the pigeons, which is exciting. And those correct answers were submitted by 100% Ravenclaw since the beginning. A healthy breeze, Aberforth's Abs of Dumbledough army the Old boot Beautiful Plumage Buff Daddy Hermione's Bogart is herself I binge podcasts when I'm not listening to audiobooks. I finally get to go back to work March 23rd. Hopefully I knew just the right answer in Andrew's Gilderoy Lockhart verse Boice meaning it's a lie because he's a fraud. I taught. I taught putty tat. John Lithgow reached it out and got the correct answer. Nice job John. Great. AKA Michael, Julianne, Fay, Quid Witch, the Hungry Hungry, Hufflepuff and Umbridgerton oh clever, clever. Very clever. Here is next week's Quizzage question. The abbreviation DA may most commonly refer to this position as Chief Prosecutor in a United States criminal case. What is the position with those initials that has a history stretching back to 1813? Because we always strive to be educational, submit your answer to us on the Mugglecast website mugglecast.comquizzic if you're already on the website, checking out transcripts or anything else, must listens page, et cetera, click on kwizzitch from the main navigation and.

[Andrew]

Also check out our other weekly podcasts, what the Hype and Millennial for more pop culture and real world talk from the four of us, including Pam. Thanks for joining us again today. Pam, Pleasure to have you on. Of course, in our latest episode of what the Hype? Micah and Laura are reviewing the latest season of the White Lotus. And on Millennial, we're talking about the Buy it Nice or Buy it Twice shopping trend. All of these shows are brought to you by Muggles like you, and there's lots of great ways to help us out. One of our newest ways is by visiting mugglecastmerch.com to get official Mugglecast gear. You can also visit patreon.com mugglecast for two bonus Mugglecast episodes every month. You hear that Warner Brothers? That's how you're going to hear my plan for Harry Potter Season one. You got to pay up. Everybody else can also get ad free episodes of Mugglecast. You can hop into a monthly Zoom hangout. There's many other magical Perks, [e-mail] Mugglecast if you enjoy the show and think other Muggles would too. Send an owl to a friend about the show. And please cast a five star review in your favorite podcast app that does it for this week's episode. Thanks everybody for listening. I'm Andrew.

[Micah]

I'm Eric.

[Zacharias Smith]

I'm Micah.

[Pamela]

And I'm Pamela.

[Andrew]

Bye, everyone.

[Zacharias Smith]

Bye.