Have a Biscuit, Potter!

After another unintended break, I am back with a discussion of chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with the title 'Dobby's Warning', although most of this podcast episode is devoted to a discussion of Petunia's cream dessert. Do not listen on an empty stomach.

In this episode, we dive into the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 'The Worst Birthday'. Nothing much happens, Harry is feeling lonely and the Dursleys continue to be horrible people.

The last chapter discussion for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in which I talk about chapter 17, 'The Man With Two Faces'. The villains are chatty in this, and Dumbledore gives us his best quotes and Wilde style aphorisms.

This episode features the discussion of chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with the title 'Through the Trapdoor'. I try to answer questions such as "Which mythological hero made it past Fluffy first?", "Did Snape write embarrassing poetry as a teenager?" and "Why does no one ever listen to Neville?".

This week, we talk about chapter 15 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with the title 'The Forbidden Forest', in which four children are sent on a unicorn hunt as a totally age-appropriate punishment for being out of bed at night.

This episode is about chapter 13 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in which Harry Potter finds out about the Philosopher's Stone and its creator, Nicolas Flamel. Part book disussion, part history lesson.

This episode features a discussion of chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'The Mirror of Erised'. In this chapter, Harry gets an invisibility cloak, sneaks around the castle at night, and eats a gigantic British Christmas dinner.

In this episode, I discuss chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with the title 'Quidditch'. Harry plays (and, spoiler: wins) his first competitive quidditch game against Slytherin, all while struggling with his cursed broom. Snape and Hagrid are being dodgy, and the trio get closer to uncovering the secret of the three-headed dog. This week's Hogwarts Kitchen is about traditional British breakfasts.

This week's episode features a discussion of chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'Hallowe'en'. This one is about sporting privilege, Hermione's insecurities, the history of the broomstick as a symbol of witchcraft and the political context of trolls. This week's Hogwarts Kitchen is about... jacket potatoes. Yes, really.

This episode features a discussion of chapter 9 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with the title 'The Midnight Duel', asking the real questions such as: Is Harry a good friend? (no) Is Malfoy an effective bully? (no) Is steak and kidney pie a reasonable dinner choice for schoolchildren? (you decide for yourself) How many heads is too many for a dog?

This is the discussion for chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'The Potions Master'. This chapter is very short and really just sets up the main mystery while giving us an insight into daily life at Hogwarts. I speculate on the tragic backstory of Professor Binns and explain why cats and dogs do not speak the same language. The Hogwarts Kitchen segment is on rock cakes, and you can find the BBC's recipe for them here: https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/rock_cakes_03094

The first and possibly only installment of a new type of bonus episode with the title "Ask a Bill" in which I question my husband Bill about British traditions in Harry Potter. This time, it's all about school traditions: prefects, uniforms, school houses and NEWTs.

In this episode, we discuss chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with the title 'The Sorting Hat'. I talk about the topic of early-book quirkyness, the Hogwarts School Song and Sunday roasts.

This episode features a discussion of chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, entitled 'The Journey from Platform Nine and Three Quarters'. We talk train etiquette, Weasley family values and wizarding baked goods, with an installment of Hogwarts Kitchen all about pumpkin pasties. Speaking of pumpkin pasties, here is my very basic and easy recipe for them: Ingredients: ready rolled shortcrust pastry some amount of fresh pumpkin, ideally one that cooks down soft, like...

In this episode, we discuss the fifth chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'Diagon Alley'. Harry and Hagrid go shopping for school supplies and talk about money, fame, banking and wizarding politics along the way.

In this episode, we discuss chapter 4 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'The Keeper of the Keys'. Everyone loses their temper, which causes Uncle Vernon to pull a shotgun, Hagrid to give Dudley a pig tail, and Harry to raise his voice.

In this episode, we discuss the third chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'The Letters from No One'. Uncle Vernon has the most ridiculous plans for how to escape the literal cascade of Hogwarts letters, and Harry just has to go along. This week's Hogwarts Kitchen is all about crisps (that's potato chips for the Americans out there), the favourite snack, side and standalone meal of the British.

In this episode, I discuss the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: The Boy Who Lived. If you have any questions for Professor McGonagall's Office Hour, tweet them using #askmcgonagall

This episode includes a discussion of Chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, titled 'The Vanishing Glass', as well as discussion of Knickerbocker Glory. You can find a basic recipe for Knickerbocker Glory here: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Knickerbocker-Glory