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Eric
Every holiday shopper's got a list.
Laura
But Ross shoppers?
Eric
You've got a mission. Like a gift run that turns into a disco, snow globe, throw pillows and.
Laura
PJs for the whole family.
Eric
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Laura
This episode is brought to you by 20th Century Studios. Upcoming comedy Ella McKay from Academy Award.
Eric
Winning writer director James L. Brooks.
Laura
Emma Mackey plays Ella McKay, an idealistic young woman who juggles family and work in a story about the people you.
Eric
Love and how to survive them.
Laura
Featuring an all star cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Loudon. Kumail Nanjani, Iowa Debris Julie Kavner. With Albert Brooks and Woody Harrelson. Ella McKay in theaters December 12th.
Eric
Again, where's the train going in a hurry? Why wouldn't it?
Micah
At least, why are we blaming the train?
Andrew
Well, because it's no welcome to mugglecast, your weekly ride into the world of Harry Potter. I'm Andrew.
Eric
I'm Eric.
Micah
I'm Micah.
Laura
And I'm Laura.
Andrew
And we are your Harry Potter friends talking about the books and the movies and the upcoming TV show. So make sure you press that follow button in your podcast app and that way you'll never miss an episode. And this week, don't try to spy on your enemies without sharing your location. Our mom's favorite mugglecast segment, chapter by chapter continues with chapter eight of Half Blood Prince Nate Victorious. Eric was kind of trolling the last two weeks. I feel like they had written highly acclaimed. Highly acclaimed to preface what I just said there. And I thought you were making a reference to like the Slug Club, Slughorn, that type of thing. But no, you were just bragging about chapter by chapter. You told me earlier this week.
Eric
You know, I feel like after a certain number of years doing this, a certain number of episodes, we can start calling our own segments highly acclaimed. But I immediately felt nervous about that and so I changed it up this week. And thanks for reading just whatever I write in the dog there, you know?
Andrew
Yeah, I know. I had, like, a Ron Burgundy moment. But I will say, speaking of incredible women, remember Mugglecast was featured in Oprah's favorite book podcast on her website. So maybe we could also say Oprah's favorite chapter.
Eric
Oprah's favorite segment.
Andrew
Oprah's favorite segment.
Eric
There's no limit to this. Let's keep going. Let's keep hyping up our chapter by chapter.
Laura
Well, and we don't even have to throw an allegedly in there to cover ourselves, because it actually is. I'm proud of us, y'.
Andrew
All.
Eric
Does anybody have a physical copy of that, like Oprah O Magazine wasn't?
Andrew
No, I think it was online only, but it's still online, so you can find it. Yeah.
Laura
Okay.
Andrew
Well, before we get to Oprah's favorite segment chapter by chapter, we have some on news to report. Dan Radcliffe wrote a letter to the new actor playing Harry potter in the TV show Dominic McLaughlin. And I just want to say. Aw. He said, I wrote to Dominic and sent him a letter, and he sent me a very sweet note back. I don't want to be a specter in the life of these children, but I just wanted to write him to say, I hope you have the best time and an even better time than I did. I. I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better time, Radcliffe said. And I do. I just see these pictures of him and the other kids, and I just want to hug them. They just seem so young. I just look at them and say, oh, it's crazy. I was doing that at that age. But it's also incredibly sweet, and I hope they're having a great time. I just thought that was heartwarming to know that he did that, you know?
Laura
Yeah, it's very sweet.
Eric
It's so heartwarming. There's a video of this appearance on Good Morning America, and it is so. It's just as sweet. It's just. It shows that we really lucked out with the best Harry the first time around. And there's such, like, goodwill from that Harry into the new Harry and to the new, all the young actors. And I just. Every day I see a clip with Dan Ratt. I'm like, we don't deserve Dan Ratt.
Andrew
Well, before we continue, it's the holiday shopping season. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Thanksgiving next week in America.
Eric
Yay. We're thankful for all of you.
Andrew
We sure are. And to show you our appreciation, we have some Black Friday specials to tell you all about. First, our patreon keeps the show running as smoothly as snow falls on Hogwarts highest peaks and we now have our best offer of the year. Get 20% off an annual membership to our Patreon. Just visit patreon.com mugglecast and sign up for an annual subscription at the Dumbledore's army or Slug Club level. This will guarantee you next year's physical gift plus a year of ad free episodes, bonus episodes, access to our member only Potter communities and a lot more. This offer is only available to new or former patrons. Again that's patreon.com mugglecast and click the promotional banner at the top or use Code Holiday at checkout. I just mentioned Bonus Mugglecast. What are we doing this week Maika?
Micah
Well in addition to being thankful for our listeners, we're going to be doing a Thanksgiving themed bonus mugglecast segment talking about which of the Hogwarts houses would host the best Thanksgiving feast. We'd also gonna do a little bit of character analysis, maybe try and figure out who would give the best Thanksgiving toast. Who would be the worst Thanksgiving dinner guest. We all have that one Uncle. That's really what I'm angling for there. Who would win the pumpkin pie eating contest. So we're gonna have a lot of fun with it. And that's coming up in Bonus Mugglecast.
Eric
I feel like for this there is a right answer and it's not.
Micah
There are no right answers. There are no wrong answers.
Eric
Well we'll see. Can't wait to get to bonus and talk about that.
Andrew
And a reminder, Patreon memberships can be gifted. Just click the gift option when you go to sign up. So maybe you should add a Patreon membership to your wish list for Santa this year. Another perk we have during this holiday season. Get 20% off all merchandise@mugglecastmerch.com get cozy this winter with maybe a Mugglecast hoodie or Laura's pants. Those are highly acclaimed. Or maybe a long sleeve tee. And if you're down under, stay cool this summer with a short sleeve tee or crop top. Just use Code Holiday once again at checkout. Laura, we got to get you a pair of those pants. Have we ordered you a pair of those pants yet?
Laura
No, I actually just need to go ahead and ask you for a pair.
Andrew
Yeah.
Laura
Although here's the thing. Like am I going to wear those out anywhere?
Eric
Well yes, Laura, do it for the show. This is a unique circumstance because any pants you wear are Laura's pants.
Laura
That's true. That is True, but I'm just gonna have to explain to my neighbors, when I walk outside and they see me wearing pants that say, laura's pants, I'm with you. That was gonna be a lot of questions.
Andrew
She's put an ego on her, huh?
Eric
Look, I've had to put my name on them because people keep taking them. Ugh.
Andrew
Oh, that's a good strategy.
Laura
That's true. I can just be like, listen, it all starts 20 years ago when I got involved in this Harry Potter podcast. And then I traveled to LA one time for podcast awards and I forgot a pair of my pants there and they had to be mailed home to me. That's the origin story. But imagine me telling people like in.
Micah
Real life, that you would get. Yeah, but you can also say, look, look. They're really comfortable. Feel free to order a pair of your own.
Andrew
Localcust merch.com 20% off.
Laura
We've got Black Friday sales going on.
Andrew
Right now, so help us out and get some fantastic deals in return. All offers end Friday, December 19, which actually is Laura's birthday, so act now.
Laura
Wow.
Andrew
Yeah. Okay, we definitely gotta get Laura a pair before her birthday. I mean.
Laura
Yeah, for real.
Andrew
I'll work on that. If you're looking for other ways to support us, you can leave us a review in your favorite podcast app, or you can tell a friend, fellow Muggle about our show. And now it's time for chapter by chapter. Half Blood Prince, Chapter 8. Snape Victorious.
Eric
Last time we talked about this chapter was way back on Mugglecast388, and that episode was titled Grudge Victorious for October 8th, 2018. Lotta eights. And in this clip that we're about to hear, a listener sasses us, and we sassed them back. What you're looking at are memories. This is the most important memory I've collected.
Laura
It is from Mugglekast episode 388.
Eric
My question is, when Tonks and Harry jump off the train, the train is in motion. Where exactly does the Hogwarts Express have to be that it's in such a damn hurry to get there?
Micah
I think she'd also be able to stop the train if she's going in to search it. She could just tell the conductor that she needs a couple minutes because she's looking for Harry.
Eric
She's an R, for crying out loud. You're right.
Micah
It's more dramatic, though, and that's why this. This is almost a movie scene, right? Jumping from the train onto the platform before it kind of goes back to London. I think more than anything else, it sounds like something that would be well adapted to screen. I don't really see the. See the point of it. In. In the book, Justin Sharkey says the conductor has to go back to their family. Duh.
Eric
But Hogsmeade is a wizarding village. Duh. So why can't his family just live there? I don't know.
Laura
This memory is everything.
Andrew
That train has places to be.
Laura
Yeah. Conductor, just move your entire family to a different village.
Andrew
Micah, you did mention the scene getting adapted, so maybe we'll have another chance with the television series.
Micah
Maybe.
Laura
Yeah. Well, I'm glad that we actually featured.
Andrew
Go ahead, keep talking through.
Laura
I'm glad that we actually featured that clip ahead of this discussion, because that's really where this chapter picks up is Harry being immobilized with a broken nose under the invisibility cloak after Draco finds him out at the end of the last chapter. And, you know, as was kind of pointed out, the movie changed the circumstance under which Harry was found. Of course, in the book, it's Tonks that finds him, but in the movie it's Luna. So that was an area where they. They completely, like, retconned the story and kind of, like, stepped away from developing any of the Tonks and Lupin characterization and their relationship, which kind of makes their scenes in Deathly Hallows have less impact, I think. Does that strike anyone else? Is like, why? Why would viewers who haven't read the books feel connected to the relationship between these two people and the tragedy of their outstretched hands in their dead bodies in the Great hall, reaching out for each other?
Andrew
I agree with you. Those two moments were, in a way, fan service because of the lack of buildup that we weren't getting in that.
Eric
Sequence of the movie.
Andrew
But I do like Luna coming to save Harry. It is a nice friendship development.
Laura
Well, and a nod to Nargles, wasn't it? In the movie they said that she, like, saw he had Nargles or something.
Eric
Well, it's visible. You can see these tiny little floaty thingies in the shape of, you know, basically where his cloak is. So, I mean, maybe not be Nargles. Maybe Raxperts. I'm not quite sure, but it's under the spectre vision. I really like that little touch. But to your point, Laura, the. The character development of Tonks, or lack thereof, and her subplot, like, it's. It's gone from the movies. And by the time I'm watching, you know, part two of Deathly Owls, I'm just like, oh look, it's that woman from movie five and that guy from movie three.
Laura
Right.
Eric
They're holding hands almost.
Micah
And fairness to Lupin though, he was developed to an extent in movie three.
Eric
They're also both just mostly absent from these books. Like it's like Tonks to my memory isn't in many major scenes left in this book. So to bring Nat Tenna on for that scene, you know, they made a decision, I guess. And I do ultimately like Luna finding him. But in the book it's a great way to get information from what else is going on and just to understand for Harry to understand the increase in security that's been placed on Hogwarts in general.
Laura
Well, there's just a lot of subtext that we get provided to us through these interactions. And we'll talk about that more in a moment. But right before Tonks discovers Harry, Harry does have this sinking feeling that the train's about to take off. And it truly is. He feels it lurch as though it's about to leave the station. Tonks finds him and they jump off the train. But I'm wondering, what if no one had discovered Harry was missing before the train left? I mean he would have been stuck all the way back to London. And that makes me wonder how long would the immobilization have held? Presumably not forever, not indefinitely. Right. Because I mean, do we ever get an answer about that, about how long something like this can last? I would think him also being geographically so far away from where it was cast would have an impact too.
Eric
I think these spells quite often wear off. I mean, not immediately, but I think at one point Neville gets like the leg locker curse put on him or something and he's hopping around and sometimes it's until somebody waves their wand and does the counter curse. But I think something like Petrificus totalis just like slowly wears off.
Andrew
Yeah, it would be very, very dangerous if that type of thing could last forever. And you would think maybe the body was slowly but surely working to kind of of that the resistance would somewhat would wear it down over time. But yeah, I mean that's a good point. If the train had fully left, he probably wouldn't have been found until they got back to platform 9 and 3/4 or wherever the conductor is sleeping that night.
Laura
Well, yeah, I mean at that point I'm sure there would have been a panic because Tonks did note that she didn't see him get off the train. So they know that he's missing. But I think it's a good reminder that wasn't it Montague that got stuck in the vanishing cabinet for like a month. So I guess I'm just saying this feels like it could be a potential security nightmare and like maybe part of the procedures of like boarding and deboarding the Hogwarts Express is that somebody should sweep the train and then cast. What's the what's Revelio or is that just Hogwarts legacy?
Micah
I can't remember Homonym Revelio. It's used in Criminal Place in Deathly Hallows.
Eric
Yeah but again where's the train going in a hurry? Why wouldn't it at least why are.
Micah
We blaming the train?
Eric
Well because it's no, it's the most random thing in the entire world. This has never happened. It's not like Harry gets off the train every year and it all of a sudden zooms the hell away. This is a thing that has never been shown to happen But Draco somehow just magically knows that yeah, it's going to be back in London. See you enjoy London Potter. And he walks off. It's a random ass thing put in at like the last possible second to shock Harry. Then it turns out it's real and the train is really leaving and it's the forced way to get him to feel sorry about something that's about to happen to him.
Micah
I think we're over sensationalizing this whole situation a little bit because it's not like he's going somewhere dangerous. It liken it to if you fall asleep on a train here in New York you're probably going to end up maybe in the rail yard worst case scenario and assuming a conductor doesn't come by and wake you up which yes they should be doing a sweep of the train. I agree with you Laura. Somebody should before departing and just making sure every perhaps there are some kids who are hiding out in there that don't want to go to school they want to go back home or just go goof off somewhere.
Eric
Where's the trolley lady? She should be like isn't she meticulous about this kind of thing?
Andrew
That's another one of her duties. But I do think even though it was a short lived moment for Harry waiting for Tonks I do wonder if this was a traumatic or a triggering event for him because he was held prisoner basically in a cupboard under the stairs a confined space wasn't really allowed to leave with no one thinking or caring about him as a child and now here he is again trapped in thinking that no one was looking or caring for him. He feels that way. He said there was no hint of a search being made and he had a feeling of hopelessness spread through, through him. It kind of reminds me of how he may, might have felt under the cupboard. So again, it was a short moment but maybe it would have been more traumatic had he gone all the way back to platform nine and three quarters. So yeah, maybe, maybe it wouldn't have been the worst deal on paper but I think that would have been a really bad situation for Harry's mental health if he's trapped, heading all the way back there. That's a long ride too, it seems like.
Eric
Yeah, yeah, hours. I'm going to actually push back against what Micah said about it not being dangerous too because if you think about how they've been escorting Harry every step of the way, the Ministry drivers. He needed an escort in Diagon Alley which just turned out to be Hagrid. But it was going to be more Aurors. There's. Now Tonks is like eyeing the train. She's been assigned. She and like three other Aurors have been assigned to Hogsmeade. So they're taking security very seriously. But if Harry Potter were on the train just barreling down the English countryside from Scotland heading south, that train is in open wild land that is not protected. There's no Aurors there. And so presumably Harry would never be less safe than just barreling down the countryside in the Hogwarts Express.
Laura
Kind of a sitting duck too if he's immobilized, right?
Andrew
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Micah
But you can't see him.
Eric
That's true.
Micah
He's not visible to the average eye.
Laura
Yeah but if Draco, I mean, we know Draco is already deep in with the Death Eaters at this point. If he could just touch his dark mark, reach out to people and be like, yo, Harry Potter's on the Hogwarts.
Andrew
Express all by himself moving through an unprotected area. Yeah, for hours.
Micah
In fairness though too, he was just as exposed on the way to Hogwarts. There weren't any oars on the train that we know about.
Eric
They were teachers.
Andrew
Teachers.
Eric
Hundreds of students.
Andrew
Students on the way back to platform nine and three quarters. I'm thinking like of a Breaking Bad style heist. You know the train scene where they rob it of whatever that material was.
Eric
Oh God.
Laura
Incredible.
Andrew
The Death Eaters would stop the train and then other Death Eaters would go in and extract Harry.
Micah
Well, despite all of my arguments, I do think that Harry should be priority number One here. And this is in no way trying to be disrespectful towards Tonks, but that train should have been swarming with Aurors when Harry did not come off of it. I think there should have been a full inquiry into what happened to Harry. Nobody really asks him why he's late and we can talk more about that as he makes his way up to the school. And Draco should have been punished for it. I know Harry was eavesdropping, but Draco attacked him.
Eric
Yes, it's a.
Micah
It's a circumstance.
Eric
The only people that he would talk to about it, like he's aware that people are eavesdropping so he's not going to mention it at the table. Snape doesn't care and he can't tell Snape in particular because Snape would be like, well, what were you doing listening to Draco Malfoy, you know, and sneaking into the cupboard. Like he would give him more points taken away from Gryffindor than he already does. Which is a shitty thing we'll talk about later. But yeah, it's just that Harry can't talk about it. There's nobody that he trusts. But I don't know why Dumbledore isn't down there. Like, this is kind of a big deal. Harry Potter didn't step off the train. That's a big deal. Certainly the train needs some kind of signal clearance or something to leave. I don't know. I wonder who gave that clearance. They should lose their job.
Laura
Yeah, it is a great call out because Harry's a key player and we'll talk about this a little bit later but there are certain conversations that we know have happened at this point that we don't find out about until book seven between Dumbledore and Snape. Kind of confirming the status of Harry's role in all of this. And it is kind of shocking that given the kind of tale that they've had on him in the past thinking about Order of the Phoenix, for example, it is a little bit shocking that there's not more attention to detail here. But I may just be catastrophizing. Anxiety will do that to you.
Andrew
Anxiety in a shorter chapter. So we need more material to discuss. We'll do that to you.
Eric
We're just trying to get more clips for Social. Everybody. Everyone who works on Hogwarts rails should be fired.
Laura
So Tonks is still pretty subdued. The last time Harry saw her, of course, was with Mrs. Weasley at the Borough where she was being consoled about her love issues with Remus and she's once again shown up. She's not her usual vibrant self, but something that really sticks out is when she sends her Patronus to send a message up to the school that Harry is there. We see that her patron, well, I don't think it's called out explicitly in the book, but we know it to be a wolf. And that her patronus, we find out later, actually changed after she fell in love with Remus. And according to all fandom, wikis and Harry Potter.com, her original Patronus was a jackrabbit. Which definitely feels a lot more characteristic of the Tonks that we know in the books than a wolf does. So as a reminder, Patronuses can change. And Harry Potter.com calls out that the things that can cause a Patronus to change are bereavement, falling in love, or profound shifts in a person's character. And I gotta be honest, the falling in love examples that we get are bleak. I think the only two we get are Remus and Tonks and Snape and Lily, because Snape's Patronus is a doe, which is very much reminiscent of his feelings towards Lily. So it kind of, I don't know, makes me wonder if it's actually love that causes the Patronus to change or is it the trauma that just happens to coincide with the love in these instances that makes it happen.
Eric
I think both of these could somewhat be considered bereavement, really. So cause to that aspect, like there are a lot of things I don't like about this moment. In this fact that her Patronus has taken Lupin's form. This romance, or would be romance, is kind of out of the blue. It's a bit ham fisted. It's never really properly, I think, delved into or set. But for Tonks, I guess this means like, okay, so she has she caught feelings for Remus. Presumably they were working together in the order. Even though Remus is often sent off alone with the werewolves, somehow they've been interacting. They. She catches feelings for him. He is. Has feelings for her. There's a spark there, according to canon. But he is worried he's older than her and that he's no good for her. And so he rebuffs her and says no, okay, at this time, she's so distraught. She's. She just wants to be with him, nobody else. Not. Not your typical kid. Well, watch your Harry always. You know, I'll make the best out of this as possible. She's so miserable that her hair no longer can Change to pink. She doesn't do it. She just completely dresses down, goes by Molly's for tea, is miserable. And her Patronus changes, which, like, barely never happens. That's how miserable she is over losing Lupin's romantic interest or unrequited love. I don't know. I just think that in the end, Snape has no business telling her that her new Patronus looks weak because he is the other character we just talked about of whose Patronus changed for love. And I don't think people who live in glass houses should throw stones that large.
Laura
I think people with deep insecurities have a tendency to project those insecurities onto other people. And I think that's what's happening here. But yeah, totally. Snape's being an absolute butt head here, because I'm sure he's not dumb. I'm sure he can read between the lines and understand what's going on here.
Andrew
It is fascinating to me that to show emotion for someone can imply weakness in Snape's mind. But then Snape, who still loves Lily, whose Patronus is ado the same as Lily's, calls her love Patronus. Let's call it weak. That's kind of crazy to me. Yeah, but the connection there is fascinating that he would call somebody else's Patronus weak when his Patronus is a doe because of his love for Lily. Wow. And who cares if you have a Patronus that looks weak, even if it's still strong Patronus. Unless he meant the projection was weak. But I don't.
Eric
Well, maybe it's the movie Wolf. The movie version of Lupin looks pretty weak if you ask me. It's kind of, you know, kind of just a wonky character design. So I completely understand where Snape's coming from in that moment. But no, it's. It's ridiculously hypocritical. But to love someone is to make yourself vulnerable. The Patronus, though, is a protector figure. It's a protector character. So even if her Patronus changed to a wolf, her relationship with her Patronus should be that of, this is my protector. This is my chosen. So, like, it shouldn't, I don't know, make her sad to see it, or nobody making fun of her Patronus should hurt her. I don't know. I just find this whole moment to be large scale retconning or redaction or like character assassination of what was a very cool Hufflepuff character built up in the previous book, reduced to rubble of a person for reasons not properly explained. Ever and barely hinted at throughout this book.
Micah
Just a shame to go off the point of maybe the projection itself being weak. It's pretty. I think it's sensible to argue that Tonks maybe finds it very difficult in this moment to try and cast a Patronus. She's trying to think of something that is happy and her state of mind is not one of happiness.
Laura
No, not at all.
Micah
I'm not trying to give Snape an out here, but you can read it on both levels.
Laura
Oh, yeah, for sure. I think both can be true. It also just makes me wonder more about the details of the goings on between Remus and Tonks at this point, because, I mean, of course, like, everyone's different. But reading into this, this doesn't read just as unrequited love. It reads as like there's maybe been some confusion on her part and maybe something got started and then he pulled away from her. I guess to me, that feels like a more likely scenario resulting in this particular outcome. But that's for the fan fiction writers to help us figure out.
Andrew
Well, then you mix in the fact that we're in a war now, and that's gonna be stressful on a relationship too. Especially if you're both working in the Order of the Phoenix. Yeah, there's no time for romance. You dedicate all your time to Dumbledore and what he wants, what he needs. Tonks, go to Hogsmeade. Oh, fine. But I don't get to see my boo as much.
Laura
Well, speaking of Patronuses, I just wanted to bring up quickly. Apparently you can still take the Patronus quiz on Harry Potter dot com. I didn't know this, so just quickly, I wanted to point out you do have to make a new account. If you go into your original account, you'll still have your original Patronus. So I made a new account and took the Patronus quiz. And my Patronus did change since I took this quiz back in Jesus. Oh, sorry, cut that out.
Andrew
That's fine.
Eric
Since Jesus. No, the Common Era.
Laura
That's a long time ago. But since whatever. 10 + 15 years ago when I took this, my Patronus.
Andrew
10 BC. Laura did her Patronus test.
Laura
My Patronus originally was an Irish wolfhound, but today it's a Great Dane, still a dog, which I. I feel like fits. But it was interesting to me that they're very specific about different breeds of dog. I didn't know how many they had on there. Anyone else get a different Patronus now?
Micah
Yeah, I also had a change in Patronus. I had a Sparrow hawk, which is a small bird. And when I retook it today, I got an Abraxon winged horse. These are the horses that pull the carriages of Beauxbaton.
Laura
Wow, that's a big change.
Eric
That's a big horse.
Micah
A flying creature. But yeah, yeah, my Pokemon evolved.
Eric
It sure did. That's definitely a glow up. Yeah. And I actually felt a pretty big attachment to my original Patronus, which was a stoat. It's a type of weasel found only in Britain, last seen in the Harry Potter books when Hagrid gives the children stoat. So sandwiches. But I still remember tweeting JK Rowling ages ago saying, if I get a stoat sandwich in real life, can I consume my Patronus to gain its power? And I did not get a reply, but I thought it was funny. Today I took it and the quiz said that I was a. My Patronus was a basset hound.
Laura
Aw, that's so sweet. I love basset hounds.
Eric
Adorable. So I think I'm just getting. I was. I was cute a few years ago and now I'm just a sweetheart, so.
Andrew
I didn't retake it. But my Patronus is the white mare, which is a triumphant steed. Yeah, I'll take it. I would have preferred a dog or like an otter or something. Something like really cute, but a horse. Sure.
Laura
Muggle cast stallion over here. Andrew Sims.
Micah
I have a horse.
Andrew
My horse's name is Bubba.
Laura
Well, I think we need to take a quick break to try and examine why it is our Patronuses have change this last decade. So we're going to do that and then we will be right back.
Eric
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Andrew
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Laura
Okay, so once Tonks is out of the picture, because Snape, of course is the staff member who came down to escort Harry back up to the school and he spent a couple of minutes bullying Tonks and once she's out of the picture, he's like, well, got to bully the only other person here. So your turn, Harry, you're up. And he immediately begins accusing Harry of being late getting off the train simply because he thinks Harry wants to make some kind of grand entrance for attention. He says something like, what, you couldn't find a flying car this time?
Micah
Yeah, nice. Just like connecting the threads back to Chamber of Secrets, right?
Laura
And it's again, just continued. Snape is all about projection. Like all of his fears and all of his insecurities and every negative thing he has to say about another person. I am convinced it is rooted in his own self loathing. And a lot of this I think is just a projection of his beef with James because it's probably something James would have done based on the teenage version of him that we knew.
Micah
I think though, you have to give Harry a lot of credit for not taking the bait here. He is really stewing and you wouldn't blame him for lashing back out at Snape, but he actually keeps himself fairly well contained. And just shame on Snape for not asking what happened to Harry because his face is literally covered in blood. And you'd think just a normal human reaction. Forget about the fact that he's a professor, that he's a head of house, that he's in the order. No, there's no bit of empathy here.
Eric
Well, and this is the second big Snape focused chapter of this book. Spinner's End showed us what an amazing double agent, competent, plays both sides, has an answer for every inquiry. Just like utterly amazing character Snape is. And this chapter shows what a petty, childish, like unfair, unsympathetic jerk he is. And it's, it's wild that that's the same character.
Micah
The title reflects that.
Eric
Right?
Micah
Like that's. He has this arrogance throughout the entire chapter and we learn why at the very end, but it's just like he's walking around with this. I'm not going to say it because like this air of arrogance. I'll just, I'll leave it there.
Andrew
Thank you. For not saying Jesus again. We appreciate that. That would have been.
Micah
I was going to say, like, you cut this out, but it's like he's got like a Dada john basically the whole time and like he's just.
Eric
Yeah, that wasn't what I was thinking. You were gonna say, okay, we'll censor it.
Laura
I do what I call out. Actually, I think relevant to this conversation, Justin, in our discord, is reminding us that Snape is in an unbreakable vow to help Draco. So there's not much he can do here, right?
Eric
Like, he can't expel Draco, he can't punish Draco. Even if he heard what had happened or who attacked Terry. There's not a lot that can be done. Even less than usual. Even less than usual.
Andrew
He could express empathy still, though, like. Like Micah suggested or just say, I'll look into this and then he doesn't follow up. But at least he's kind of acting like he's caring. I also wonder if it's possible that Snape was taunting Harry so much because he really did want to know what happens, why Harry was late. So he tried to make him crack under the pressure of all the bullying. But Harry does say he would rather have been immobilized all the way back to London than tell Snape why he was late. So he did win. Harry was victorious in that way.
Eric
Honestly, the rate the train was going to get off the platform, he would have been back in London already and wouldn't have had to deal with Snape at all. So I get it.
Andrew
But.
Eric
But yeah, no, I. I think too, like with. With this whole situation, it's crazy because Harry. The book even says Harry's surprised that Snape can't react to the. The waves of hate, the rays of hate that. That are radiating out of Harry. And I'm just like, yeah, that's. That's these two guys relationship to one another now, but they are destined not to like each other. But this is their book, remember, this is Snape's. This is Snape's book in particular. It's going to continue to be a really fascinating interaction. I think anytime that they interact and anytime we see Snape doing something is going to be a character study in who he is as a character. I'm excited to pull back more layers of things that, you know, we didn't really notice before.
Micah
And how convenient that the chapter that follows Snape victorious is the Half Blood Prince titular.
Laura
Yeah, stuff you didn't pick up on the first time you were Reading this book?
Micah
No, but I did want to just connect another thread I was thinking of when we were talking about Snape's arrogance. It's very similar to the arrogance we see from another Defense against the Dark Arts professor in Chamber of Secrets.
Laura
Yeah, I love that connection. Because whereas Lockhart was objectively not qualified to be teaching that, I think it's safe to say that Snape, at least in terms of his credentials on paper, would be qualified to teach this subject. What do you think?
Micah
I agree. Yeah. I think Snape is probably most equipped to teach this position than even Potions, as good as he is at that. And we learn a lot about that in this book. But, Laura, you mentioned earlier the grand entrance comment, and I know we talked a little bit about that tie back to Chamber of Secrets, but it was also Snape who received Harry and Ron following their incident in Chamber of Secrets with the Whomping Willow. In both of those instances, Harry misses the Sorting. So he misses it in Chamber of Secrets and he misses it here in.
Andrew
Half Blood Prince, which, as a reader is a bummer every time that happens in this series. Like, you want to hear the song you want to hear and see students being sorted.
Micah
I was looking back, too, to see if there was any correlation in the number of points that were taken. But in Chamber, Ron is actually smart enough to say to McGonagall, well, you shouldn't take any points because the term technically hadn't started yet when we stole the car.
Eric
Oh.
Micah
But I don't think Harry was able to get out of the situation and say, well, technically, when I was attacked on the train, the term hadn't started yet.
Laura
So. Yeah, yeah, I think.
Eric
I think the point taking is where Snape goes too far. He does it because he can. But it's. There's many reasons that shouldn't happen, especially because his students are as guilty or had a part in it too.
Laura
Yeah. But I think he also probably knows Harry's got bigger fish to fry too, and so he's taking advantage of that. Right. Like, Harry has bigger priorities than getting Draco in trouble for assaulting him on the train, you know, and Snape knows that, so he's taking the moment to kind of take a dig at Harry kind of in like a. Ha, ha. You can't do anything about this.
Eric
Well, the whole reason Snape is here is because he intercepted the Patronus that was supposed to go to Hagrid. Like Hagrid should have been down here to greet Harry and Snape was, nope, I got this and runs with it and then goes and makes Harry miserable.
Laura
You all mentioned how Harry missed the Sorting Hat. He also basically missed dinner because he sits down and he's about to serve himself some dinner and the dinner disappears and the desserts appear. I know, it's such a bummer. But once the feast is cleared, Dumbledore gives his customary start of the term speech. And this is where he drops the bomb. That new professor Slughorn is going to be teaching Potions. And Snape is finally getting a shot at Defense against the Dark Arts. It's not only shocking, but I have to think it has to feel like somewhat of a betrayal for Harry. No?
Eric
Yeah, it's not as if Dumbledore ever promised not to appoint Snape Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, like personally promised Harry. But Harry's racking his brain to figure out if Dumbledore lied to him. And then he like can't remember him saying that Slughorn was ever for Potions. It does feel like a betrayal. And I think too what Harry's most worried about is what Snape will do with all this power. This is the job that Snape has always wanted. And it can mean nothing good. Harry feels just like with Draco.
Micah
And this is the course that Harry loves the most.
Eric
Yeah, that's true too.
Laura
And Dumbledore knows that. He knows this is Harry's favorite class.
Andrew
So yeah, his precious corner of Hogwarts is being violated.
Micah
Wasn't there a mention though? It was an indirect mention by Dumbledore. Maybe it was before Harry left the shed to go into the burrow about his owl results. And potions.
Eric
Yes, don't count your owls before they arrive or something like that.
Laura
Yeah, well, because he knows that Slughorn doesn't require an outstanding owl in order to take his new level courses, so.
Micah
But we didn't know that then, Right?
Andrew
Right.
Eric
But Dumbledore. So Dumbledore is toying with Harry about that.
Laura
Pretty much the chess master at work once again.
Eric
Yes, it's always sad when he turns his powers for bad against Harry.
Andrew
You know, I'm so glad Rachel, who's listening live on our Patreon right now, just said Harry yelling out no out loud is so funny. I had the same reaction too. And while reading it reminded me of something, but I couldn't place it. But then a half hour ago, I finally recognized where my mind is putting that moment in pop culture.
Laura
No.
Eric
God, no. God, please, no.
Laura
No.
Eric
No.
Andrew
That's Michael Scott on the office learning that Toby was coming back. A very kind of similar situation.
Laura
Right? Oh, that's so funny.
Andrew
I wanted us to do impressions of Harry, but no, this is way better. Michael Starling.
Eric
That's so good.
Laura
Somebody superimposed Dan Radcliffe's face over Michael Scott's face for that. But something else I wanted to call out here as we get close to wrapping up this chapter. And, um, Harry thinks about the curse, and he actually speaks some of this into existence out loud, where he's like, well, hopefully he dies or something like that. He's, like, hoping for a death. And everyone seems to be pretty aware that Snape's only going to be able to serve in this position for a year because of the curse. But this is ultimately the setup to position Snape as the headmaster in book seven so that he can protect the school.
Andrew
I wonder what I was thinking reading this for the first time. Because, yes, history does tell us that this jinx is real and Snape will be out of that position. But did I believe it? It almost seemed too good to be true. It seemed too obvious.
Laura
Yeah, I agree. And I think we have had other examples over the course of the series where we had something kind of dangled in front of us like that, where it felt too good to be true. Maybe it could even just be, like, looking at the curse when we looked at someone like Umbridge and thinking, like, is it too good to be true that we're actually gonna be rid of her in a book?
Andrew
Yeah.
Eric
You know, or Harry going to live with Sirius. That was dangled very briefly.
Laura
Yeah.
Andrew
But here in this moment, we're actually reminded that Snape will be out by the end of the year. I don't think. Maybe. I can't remember, but at the start of Order of the Phoenix, were they thinking about that? Were they thinking about this curse?
Eric
No, I think they were hung up on how crazy it was that the Ministry was interfering at Hogwarts.
Laura
Yeah.
Eric
What I find satisfying. Oh, yeah.
Micah
No, going off of what you were saying, Andrew. I think that it had to have raised so many questions for us as readers the first time around, because we're sitting here saying to ourselves, okay, well, then where does that take us? At the end of this book? Right. What does that mean for book seven? Where's Snape going? Is he surviving?
Andrew
Yeah.
Micah
Unfortunately for Harry, his death wish results in losing the Headmaster instead of the Potions Master.
Eric
Shame.
Laura
You're right. Like, there is a death and there is a curse that has an expiration date on it for Dumbledore. Right. It's just not the one Harry's thinking of.
Andrew
Beggars can't be choosers. So good, so good, so good.
Laura
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Eric
That was something I put in. So the chapter starts. We pointed this out during our last discussion. It bears repeating. Harry being immobilized under the cloak at the start of this chapter. May be looking forward to the end of this book. The lightning struck tower when Harry is once again immobilized under his invisibility cloak, this time by Dumbledore.
Andrew
Good catch, good catch.
Laura
All right, we are going to get into our MVP of the week and this week we're looking at Harry and Dumbledore in their various war wounds that we see in this chapter. Harry with his broken nose and Dumbledore with his decrepit hand. So I'm asking who wore their injury better, Harry or Dumbledore?
Andrew
I'm gonna say Dumbledore. I kinda like the hand as an accessory. It's kinda cool. Harry is just attacked in the face, bleeding out of his face. That's not. He just looks Tired, exhausted.
Micah
He's totally unaware of it too. I'll, I'll second you, Andrew. With Dumbledore. I think there's also some symbolism to the fact that Dumbledore is standing up in front of the school with one of his hands blackened talking about what's to come, you know?
Laura
Yeah, yeah.
Andrew
Dark times lie ahead.
Micah
But he owns it. He, like I said, this whole book so far he's been all about business and he just, he kind of laughs in the face of danger too. Don't worry about that.
Andrew
But it's just a little thing. I think it's admirable.
Micah
Yeah, yeah.
Laura
I was also going to say Dumbledore purely because of how he very quietly picks up on the fact that all of these kids are hyper focused on what the heck is wrong with his hand. And his response to that is to continue speaking, be undeterred. And he just gives a little shake of his arm, a little shake of his wrist to shake his robes down his sleeve, down over the hand and keep it moving. I appreciate that.
Eric
I think that's all very off putting and I'm gonna give my MVP to Harry. I think that Harry's injury makes him look cool or misunderstood and Dumbledore's just looks, besides gross. Just looks like his ink pot exploded.
Laura
All right, and now we are going to get into our links line. Mugglecast listeners who are Slug Club members over at patreon.com mugglecast have answered this week's question, which is if Snape had never met Lily, what form do you think his Patronus would have taken?
Andrew
Oh, love suggestions. So many more fun and creative answers. I just love our audience. Rachel said a chameleon. Those things do what they need to to blend in and survive.
Eric
Oh, so true. Karen says a bottle of SleepEasy's hair potion keep that shine.
Micah
Isn't that where James made all his money?
Eric
Yeah, it's the Potters. Yeah.
Micah
So he's in love with James. Oh. Anyway, Julie says it's obvious. A Potions bottle.
Laura
Jennifer says, I think if he had never met Lily, he would have went full on Death Eater and not have been able to perform a Patronus at all.
Andrew
Zachary said a yearling buck due to his deep obsession with James and Lily. Similar to the Stag but not quite developed enough.
Eric
Betty says, I'm gonna say snake. Having a Snake Patronus doesn't mean he's a dark wizard. It could just signify his identity rooted more deeply in Slytherin. And he was obsessed with Slytherin before meeting Lily.
Andrew
Mev said a Tasmanian devil.
Micah
Jesse says octopus. Each arm represents all the different secrets, Personas, facets that Snape has to juggle over the years. They're fiercely loyal and intelligent, but they're also solitary. Plus they're just generally misunderstood. And I get a kick out of Snape thinking of the giant squid each time and being frustrated that this is his best representation, showing that he doesn't even truly understand himself underneath it all.
Laura
Wow, I love that. That's really, really well thought out. Um, 40 says a pair of old tighty whities. Well, apparently he does need some new ones, according to James.
Andrew
So Michael, not Scott said some unrecognizable creature in a bottle trying to get out. Instead of helping the user, it is used against them.
Eric
Jared has a good one.
Laura
A raven.
Eric
It fits Snape's lonely and dreary vibe like the poem the Raven by Edgar Allen Edgar Allan Poe.
Micah
Michael, also not Scott, says, my first thought was a bat. And in doing some research there's a spectral bat that is additionally the only member of the genus Vampirum. So I'm pretty satisfied with that.
Andrew
Nice.
Laura
And Matthew rounds it out for us by saying donkey because he's such an ass.
Eric
Zing.
Laura
Love it.
Andrew
The links line is a great way to have your voice heard on the show, whether or not you're listening live. We love our live audience, but we know people can't tune in every week because of time zones and work and busyness and all that. So this is a way to have your voice on the show. We ask a new question every week. Become a member of our community today by going to patreon.com mugglecast and receiving this and many more benefits like bonus MC. And don't forget, we have a special discount right now, 20% off an annual subscription. Just go to patreon.com muggleCast and you'll see a banner for the deal at the top of the page. If you have 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 you can also reach out via social media or Spotify whatever is convenient for you. And no new episode next week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. But two weeks from now, chapter by chapter, Oprah's favorite continues with Half Blood Prince Chapter nine the Half Blood Prince, a chapter named this right after Snape. Victorious Easter egg much. Visit mugglecast.com for links to our social media Patreon transcripts, our favorite episodes, and lots more. And if you're looking for more podcasting from the four of us, listen to our other shows, Millennial and what the Hype for more pop culture and real world talk. And now it's time for Quizage.
Eric
This week's Quizzage question. Name the author of the wildly successful book how to Win Friends and Influence People. Highly acclaimed, it was initially published in 1936. The correct answer to that question is DALE Carnegie. And 30% of people with the correct answer say they did not look it up. So they probably have a copy of that book on their bookshelves. Very exciting. This week's winners were Kara Cormac McLaggin behind Gwen Weasley. Hey glow, glow, hey, glow, glow. Tempa Tommy the Hair or the Heir of Hufflepuff. I know that word. Tonks Rhinoplasty, Best username ever. And our friend, Tofu Tom. Thanks to all who submitted. And here is next week's Quizzage question, A multiple choice question for us for two weeks from now. In this chapter, Dumbledore exposes his injured right hand to the whole school. Roughly what percentage of people in the world are right handed? Is it A, 55%, B, 65%, C, 75% or D, 90%? So if you, like Dumbledore, are right handed, you may be able to guess at this answer. Submit it to us on the MogoCast website, MogoCast.com quizzitch for the little quizzitch form, or if you're on our website checking out transcripts or must listens or anything else, click on quizit from the main nav bar.
Andrew
Thanks everyone for listening. I'm Andrew.
Eric
I'm Eric.
Micah
I'm Micah.
Laura
And I'm Laura.
Andrew
Happy Thanksgiving, Pip pip.
Laura
Happy Thanksgiving, Pip Pip. Sam.
Release Date: November 25, 2025
Main Hosts: Andrew, Eric, Laura, Micah
Theme: A deep-dive, chapter-by-chapter reread of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", focusing on Chapter 8: "Snape Victorious," with lively discussion about character motivation, adaptation choices, symbolism, and fandom insights.
This episode dives into Chapter 8 of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"—"Snape Victorious." The hosts examine the aftermath of Draco's attack on Harry, Tonks' evolving Patronus, Snape's new role as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and larger themes of emotional complexity and character development, both as written by Rowling and as interpreted in adaptations. The episode brims with humor, nostalgia, and a few pop culture references, all delivered with the hosts’ hallmark camaraderie and candor.
“I hope you have the best time and an even better time than I did.” — Andrew quoting Dan Radcliffe [03:15]
[33:42] Snape’s Bullying and Arrogance:
[38:33] Snape’s Unbreakable Vow & Limited Options:
[41:56] Shock & Betrayal:
[45:11] The ‘Curse’ of the Defense Job:
| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:12 | Dan Radcliffe’s letter to the new Harry Potter TV actor | | 09:08 | Book vs. Movie—Tonks vs. Luna saving Harry—discussion | | 13:03 | The immobilization spell, train risks, and magical logistics | | 22:55 | Tonks’ Patronus change to a wolf—love/trauma analysis | | 33:42 | Snape’s pettiness, projection, and treatment of Harry/Tonks | | 41:31 | Harry missing the Sorting and the Hogwarts feast | | 41:56 | Snape named DADA teacher, Harry’s sense of betrayal | | 45:11 | The curse of the DADA job and foreshadowing | | 51:18 | Link’s Line: Listeners’ picks for alternate Snape Patronuses |
[51:18]
Question: If Snape had never met Lily, what form would his Patronus have taken?
[49:11] Debate: Who “wore their injury better”, Harry (broken nose) or Dumbledore (blackened hand)?
Summary prepared for fans who missed the episode or seek a detailed recap!