After staking out the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are now ready to concoct their plan to breach it. Hosts David and Kyle commend the trio's efforts to infiltrate the Ministry, discuss the quirks of British addresses (are houses really numbered sequentially?), the transformation of Kreacher and think back to if the "toad woman" reveal was actually a surprise the first time they read the series.
The crew is holed up at Grimmauld Place and gets an unexpected visit from one of Harry's mentors Remus Lupin. Let's just say it doesn't end well and leads to quite the argument. Plus we learn some more about what's going on in the outside world from some Daily Prophet articles. Hosts David and Kyle break down the fight, who was in the wrong, and what to make of how the Death Eaters have efficiently taken control of the wizarding world.
Now that Harry, Ron and Hermione are at Grimmauld Place, they make a connection to the note they found in the fake Horcrux locket. Kreacher comes through for the gang as the house elf gives Harry some context on what happened to the real Horcrux. Plus, Harry gets to see the writing of someone he never imagined he'd have the chance to see in person.
A re-read podcast has been very beneficial for our hosts David and Kyle as they don't recall much from the latest Deathly Hallows chapter, A Place to Hide. Do you remember more about this chapter than our hosts? We take you through Harry, Ron and Hermione's initial escape from the Death Eaters after the wedding, where they go, who they're chased by (plus how it shows how efficient Harry can be under pressure) and how they end up at Grimmauld Place.
The day is finally upon us for Bill and Fleur's wedding. Hosts Kyle and David discuss how the plan to disguise Harry is quite ingenious and some of the guests at the wedding including a returning character from the Goblet of Fire. We get a little bit of lore and world building context to learn about the Deathly Hallows and other wandmakers in the wizarding world before all hell is about to break lose with the worst kind of wedding crashers: Death Eaters.
It's the day before Bill and Fleur's wedding and it's also Harry's birthday. Hosts David and Kyle discuss where this ranks in regards to Harry's all-time birthdays and it's pretty high up there - even though crusty old Rufus Scrimgeour manages to spoil the mood a little bit. He comes by with some handy trinkets for the crew, courtesy of Dumbledore's will. Talk about leaving vague puzzles for Harry even after death!
The Burrow is getting ready for the Bill-Fleur wedding and Molly is doing everything she can to prevent Harry, Ron and Hermione from planning their secret mission. David and Kyle talk about how Molly is only delaying the inevitable and also how she struggles to come to terms with them taking on a deadly mission. Plus more on the lengths Hermione and Ron are going through to protect their families as they prepare to leave.
We deal with the immediate aftermath of the Seven Potters plan as members of the Order of the Phoenix make it back to The Burrow. A certain amount of tension is brewing as we learn of another important member of the Order is dead and how another member seems to reluctantly step up as the de facto leader. Plus, when will Harry realize that running away from others isn't going to save them from the Death Eaters in the long run? All that and more in this episode.
Ah, yes, the infamous Seven Potters plan. Turned out it didn't quite go exactly as the Order of the Phoenix was hoping. Hosts David and Kyle recap how Harry's transfer from Privet Drive to The Burrow goes, add a new list to their saddest deaths list and think of other ways the group could have transferred Harry that would have been much, much better. Invisibility cloaks, anyone?
Harry bids farewell to the Dursleys for the final time of the series in a bit of an awkward moment. Hosts David and Kyle discuss the state of mind of each character during the farewell and some character growth for one Dursley family member in particular. Plus, a discussion on why the majority of wizards make terrible undercover spies in the Muggle world.
Harry cleans room. Harry reads newspapers. Harry is sad and a little frustrated. While that sums up chapter two of the Deathly Hallows, hosts David and Kyle break it down a bit more as they discuss Dumbledore's obituary, a salacious interview with Rita Skeeter and general wound care.
We're back for the final season of the re-read! Today, hosts David and Kyle break down the opening chapter of The Deathly Hallows and discuss the inner workings of the Death Eaters as they have a dinner party at Malfoy Manor. We discuss the differences in how the Death Eaters operate from the Order of the Phoenix, honour the short-lived life of Charity Burbage, and what we learn in this opening chapter of the final book of the series.
The final chapter of the Half-Blood Prince! Hosts David and Kyle discuss some of the old characters who return to Hogwarts to pay their respects to Dumbledore and how Harry's actions in this chapter set up the plot for the next book. Plus, they talk about their overall thoughts and opinions on the book.
Stay tuned for the movie re-watch in Spring 2025!
Hosts David and Kyle discuss The Phoenix Lament, essentially the aftermath of the big battle in Hogwarts. Hosts David and Kyle discuss how this chapter wraps up a few of the loose ends from the book, including what has made Tonks so upset, how Fleur will fit in with the Weasley family and who exactly is the Half-Blood Prince.
We're back with an action sequence this week on the podcast. David and Kyle discuss whether Dumbledore dying is really what un-did Harry's frozen state, and if so, how does it not undo some of his other magic? Plus the growth of Harry from basically lucking out of situations when he was younger to taking matters into his own hands this chapter.
Spoiler alert: Snape kills Dumbledore. Hosts David and Kyle re-live the infamous scene through the lens of the re-read and discuss Malfoy's feeble (and not-so-feeble) attempt to off his headmaster this past school year. Plus they recap what it's like to read this scene once again and how it certainly leaves ambiguity in Snape's allegiances for a first-time reader (heck, even a re-reader).
A Horcrux. Inferi. Fire. And Dumbledore swimming? Hosts David and Kyle break down Harry and Dumbledore's trip to the cave to retrieve a Horcrux and go in-depth about Voldemort's plan to protect it.
Our hosts are back for one of the final chapters before we get to the action in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. David and Kyle discuss Trelawney's admission to Harry, which fuels his distrust for Snape event more. Plus we see our first signs of what is come to close out this book.
Love is in the air. But so is some nasty dark magic. We reach a peak in the Harry-Ginny relationship, but we also see Harry using some careless magic to get back at his long-time rival Draco. Plus, hosts David and Kyle discuss seeing a more sympathetic side of Draco.
Have you ever wondered what Harry's true power, "love," really is? Today's episode breaks that down, in addition to learning some crucial points the entire Harry Potter story as Harry and Dumbledore review Slughorn's true conversation with Tom Riddle about Horcruxes.