Magical Theory, a Harry Potter podcast

Turn to Page 163, Halloween. Today’s lesson is called Putting on a Brave Face The chapter starts with Harry bringing Ron up to speed on what he believes is being guarded by the three-headed dog. In the Great Hall, Harry receives a large package that turns out to be a Nimbus 2000 broomstick, sent by Professor McGonagall. Harry practices Quidditch with Oliver Wood, and is exhilarated. In Charms class, Hermione attempts to help Ron with his spellcasting. After class, Ron belittles Hermione, but...

Turn to Page 143, The Midnight Duel. Today’s lesson is called Bearing Witness. The chapter starts with Harry eager for his first flying lesson, despite worrying about making a fool of himself in front of Malfoy and the Slytherins. During the lesson, Harry finds that he is a natural, and makes a brilliant, but unsupervised, swooping catch of Neville’s Remembrall after Draco throws it, triumphing over Draco’s bullying. That triumph seems short-lived, however, when Professor McGonagall marches...

Turn to Page 131, The Potions Master. Today’s lesson is called The Hidden Curriculum. The chapter starts with Harry’s first week of school at Hogwarts. Although Harry is trying to simply survive his studies, he finds that he is often a subject of attention himself. Navigating the castle, his professors, and his classmates fully occupy him. Potions with Professor Snape and the Slytherins is particularly trying for Harry, who can’t help but feel like there is something more behind Snape’s...

Turn to Page 113, The Sorting Hat. Today’s lesson is called Ghostly Categories. The chapter starts with Hagrid handing over the first years to Professor Mcgonagall, who is readying them to join their respective school houses. After some ghostly introductions, the first years are paraded in front of the school to their sorting ceremony. Each student is to wear the Sorting Hat, which will measure their fit for each of the four houses, and announce the best match. Harry is placed into...

Turn to Page 88, The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Today’s lesson is called The Baggage We Carry. The chapter starts with Harry preparing to head to Hogwarts. His family drops him off at King’s Cross Station, and Harry struggles to find Platform 9 ¾, until a kind woman with wizard children of her own guides him. Two of her children help Harry load his stuff onto the train, and discover he is the famous Harry Potter. On the train, their younger brother, Ron Weasley, confirms...

Turn to Page 61, Diagon Alley. Today’s lesson is called Magical Theory, Muggle Reality. "The chapter starts with Harry waking up to find that he is still a wizard. Hagrid takes him through London and the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley, a wizard district, to buy Harry’s school supplies. They stop first at Gringotts, the wizard bank, to withdraw money from Harry’s family account - and Hagrid also withdraws a mysterious object from another vault, for Dumbledore. Money in hand, Harry buys...

New students: Welcome to Magical Theory. Each podcast episode features a lesson learned from a Harry Potter chapter. Take a close reading with a WizardPhD lens 🎓 Turn to Page 46, The Keeper of the Keys. Today’s lesson is called Known By Another Name. “The chapter starts with the BOOM at the door being revealed as a massive bearded man named Rubeus Hagrid, who gives Harry a birthday cake and an invitation to attend Hogwarts, a school of magic. Hagrid is furious with the Dursleys after...

Turn to Page 31, The Letters From No One. Today’s lesson is called Avoiding the Inevitable. “The chapter starts with the end of a school year, and preparation for the next. One morning, Harry is sent to collect the mail, and for the first time ever, discovers a letter addressed to him. Uncle Vernon confiscates the letter before Harry can read it. Over the next days, more and more letters keep arriving for Harry, trying to circumvent Uncle Vernon’s more and more extreme attempts to prevent...

Turn to Page 18, The Vanishing Glass. Today’s lesson is called Uncaged Hope. “The chapter starts nearly ten years later, and Harry Potter lives in the cupboard under the stairs, with his Aunt Petunia, his Uncle Vernon, and his cousin, Dudley. Dudley’s parents are taking him and a friend, Piers, to the zoo for his birthday, when Harry’s sitter breaks her leg. Instead of leaving him home alone to cause mischief, the Dursley’s reluctantly take Harry with them. Harry’s unexpected day tasting...

Dumbledore arrives outside the Dursley’s house, and confirms for Professor McGonagall (who has morphed out of her cat form) that the dangerous and powerful Voldemort had killed Harry Potter’s parents, yet somehow failed to kill the infant child, and was even destroyed by the very attempt. Dumbledore reveals that baby Harry is to come to stay at the Dursley’s home, much to the chagrin of Professor McGonagall, and be kept from learning his famous identity until he is older. Music: Magical Dirt...

Welcome! You are now enrolled in Magical Theory. Students will be able to explore life through the lens of a close studying of Harry Potter text. Hosted by Professor Lynette & Auror Jeffrey, join us -- wands ready! Music: Magical Dirt by Sir Cubworth #MagicalTheory #podcast #HarryPotter #BackToHogwarts