MuggleCast: Romance and Rumors

HBP Chapter 15, "The Unbreakable Vow"

Episode Date: February 10, 2026
Hosts: Andrew (A), Eric (C), Micah (B), Laura (D)

Overview

This episode continues the podcast’s chapter-by-chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, focusing on Chapter 15, “The Unbreakable Vow.” The discussion is layered with humor and psychological analysis, centering on the escalating romantic entanglements at Hogwarts (especially at Slughorn’s Christmas party), the true dangers of love potions, Hermione’s choices and motivations, Draco’s unraveling under the weight of his secret mission, and the mounting tension around Snape’s ambiguous actions. Listeners are also treated to listeners' creative ideas for Hogwarts faculty love connections in honor of Valentine’s Day.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Hermione’s Motivations and “Regression”

• Hermione and Cormac:
  • Hermione takes Cormac McLaggen to Slughorn’s party, not out of true interest, but as a direct retort to Ron’s jealousy and previous rudeness.
    • “She has an axe to grind with Ron and she’s gonna go through with it.” — Andrew [06:53]
    • Laura describes this decision as uncharacteristically immature for Hermione:
      • “This is the book where Hermione really regresses ... crazy to think of all the smart things Hermione does, this feels the most ‘Unhermione-ish’ thing to do.” [07:33]
  • The group agrees that, while ill-advised, this behavior is relatable for a teenager coping with jealousy and hurt.
    • “She should have just gone stag and enjoyed hanging out with her friends. But she's 16 here, so she's not going to do that.” — Laura [08:47]

2. Hermione’s Date Fiasco: Expectations vs. Reality

• Hermione quickly regrets choosing Cormac, who proves self-obsessed and oblivious.
  • “Cormac makes Grop look like a gentleman.” — Hermione (quoted by Andrew) [10:17]
  • The hosts use Cormac’s behavior as a “life lesson” about getting to know people and not being blinded by superficial qualities.
    • “Once you get to know someone, you start to realize they’re not as perfect as they may have looked on the dating profile.” — Andrew [10:56]
• Debate over whether Slughorn's party counts as a true "date":
  • Cormac seems to think it's a date; Hermione does not.
    • “So Hermione gets the full Cormac romance treatment, which is to say absolutely nothing.” — Eric [12:15]

3. The Danger of Love Potions

• A turning point in the group's maturity is reflected in how they now view love potions—what once seemed playful, now feels sinister, especially with the context of Voldemort’s conception and issues of consent.
  • “As adults, we’d probably disagree with Hermione. ... Love potions should just be banned from Hogwarts.” — Andrew [17:39]
  • “It's possible through love potion or other such magic to take away somebody's agency and manufacture consent, these are all really important things…” — Eric [17:39]
• Hermione’s dismissive attitude about love potions not being “dark or dangerous” prompts critique:
  • “I was a little surprised to see her not connecting the dots there.” — Laura [20:00]

4. Snape, Draco, and Foreshadowing

• Analysis of the social dynamics at Slughorn’s party, including Snape’s almost-suspicious indifference to Harry’s potions skills and the subtle foreshadowing of the Half-Blood Prince reveal.
  • “It’s super interesting, knowing what we know once you get to the end of the book. Should this have been a red flag to Snape?” — Andrew [22:16]
• Snape and Draco’s tense conversation is dissected:
  • “Harry is uniquely attuned a little bit to Draco’s ... wariness.” — Eric [29:55]
  • Snape’s reliance on Legilimency (“mind reading”) is debated—should he try to connect with students on a human level instead?
    • “Is Snape too reliant on trying to read people's minds rather than just being a better human and getting to know someone?” — Andrew [30:58]
  • Draco’s refusal to trust Snape or accept help is seen as both teenage bravado and the product of an unhealthy, high-stakes upbringing.
    • “Trusting Snape would mean admitting a certain level of weakness. ... He’s scared out of his mind, he’s isolated, and he’s cracking under pressure.” — Micah [34:58]
  • Laura points out that Draco's poor academic performance is itself giving him away:
    • “You’re kind of blowing your cover and showing that something is off because you’re not performing to your usual standards..." [37:54]

5. Madam Pince and Filch: Hogwarts Staff Romance?

• The group has fun with a brief moment in the text implying a possible romantic connection between the strict librarian and the cantankerous caretaker.
  • Andrew observes: “It ties into the overall romance theme of Half-Blood Prince.” [27:47]
  • Laura feels it’s a background joke, not something with narrative weight.

6. What If: Harry Overhears the Unbreakable Vow Plot

• Hypothetical discussion about what would have happened if Harry had heard Draco and Snape explicitly discuss their intent to kill Dumbledore.
  • General consensus is that Harry would initially go to Ron and Hermione, but would likely end up telling Dumbledore or another Order member if he felt he wasn’t believed.
    • “If he came to them and was like, 'Yo, Draco was literally talking about killing Dumbledore to Snape'... I think they'd put it aside.” — Laura [40:39]
    • “McGonagall's really the person ... she's his head of house, she's in the Order, she's in the castle.” — Eric [40:41]

7. Silly and Sweet: Listener Pickup Line Submissions and Character MVPs

• Fun segment where Patreon supporters invent Hogwarts Valentine’s Day pairings and pickup lines for Snape and Trelawney.
  • “Snape would be unable to bring a date. He’s still hung up on Lily, and he’d bring a bouquet of lilies.” — Rachel [44:59]
  • “Trelawney’s pickup line could be: ‘I have read the leaves and they said, you accompany me to the party.’” — Zachary [46:11]
• Hosts choose their own “MVP date” for a Hogwarts holiday party:
  • Andrew: “Cormac McClaggen ... he can talk Quidditch to me all day, baby.” [43:20]
  • Laura: “Hagrid, because he just seems like he'd be really fun to party.” [43:37]
  • Eric: “Helga Hufflepuff ... she'll know just what to bring.”
  • Micah: “George Weasley. ... You're guaranteed to have fun, you're gonna laugh.” [43:29]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hermione’s Schoolgirl Drama:
  “She kind of shoots herself in the foot here because she's so hyper focused on wanting to get back at Ron, that she actually sets herself up for a really unpleasant evening with a person she doesn't like.” — Laura [07:33]

• On Cormac’s Failure As a Date:
  “If you’re at a party with somebody, ask questions about them and you know what, pretend to be interested. Even if you have to force it, fake it. This, this is like human again 101 here.” — Eric [11:18]

• On Re-Evaluating Love Potions:
  “Love potions should totally be banned from all of Hogwarts at a minimum and probably the whole wizarding world.” — Eric [17:39]

• On Draco’s Isolation:
  “Draco is a teenager. He’s scared out of his mind. He's isolated and he's cracking under pressure.” — Micah [34:58]

• On Hogwarts Staff Shipping:
  “It ties into the overall romance theme of Half Blood Prince. ... Filch is a squib. He deserves some love in the wizarding school. He deserves some magic in this school. Why not date Madam Pince?” — Andrew [27:47, 28:59]

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 04:41 | Start of Chapter 15 discussion: “The Unbreakable Vow” | | 06:14 | Hermione’s motivations for inviting Cormac | | 10:17 | Hermione realizes Cormac is a mistake | | 14:14 | Is Cormac attractive? Hermione’s Quidditch “type” | | 17:39 | Love potions: reflection on their dangers | | 22:16 | Snape & Harry’s potion skills foreshadowing | | 25:31 | Filch & Madam Pince “romance” speculation | | 29:31 | Draco’s mental state; Snape tries to read Draco’s mind| | 32:54 | Discussion: Why won’t Draco accept Snape’s help? | | 36:51 | Snape’s advice to Draco as a possible clue to loyalty | | 39:02 | What if Harry overheard the Unbreakable Vow plot? | | 43:20 | Hosts choose MVP party dates | | 44:59 | Patreon pickup lines for Snape/Trelawney |

Tone and Atmosphere

• The episode is both analytical and playful, mixing deep literary analysis with the hosts’ trademark banter, nostalgia, and self-aware humor. The tone is friendly, sincere, and accessible to both longtime fans and casual listeners.

Next week:
The re-read continues with Half-Blood Prince Chapter 16, “A Very Frosty Christmas.” Submit theory answers and feedback through the usual channels!