We are celebrating 20 Years of the Lexicon
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The Lexicon Blog
🎙️ OP36: Of Magic and Duels Part Two
• Podcast Episode
In my last podcast, I talked about the first of two magic duels in chapter 36 of Order of the Phoenix, the one between Harry and Bellatrix. Now it’s time to move on to the main event, the massive duel between Albus Dumbledore and Voldemort. There is no… Read More
🎙️ Of Umbridge and Macnair
• Podcast Episode
Umbridge is one of those characters the reader is supposed to hate and despise, but she isn’t a Death Eater, she’s just a nasty person. Sirius sums this up well by saying “The world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters”, and Umbridge is the perfect embodiment… Read More
🎙️ OP36: Of Magic and Duels Part One
• Podcast Episode
In this podcast we’re going to take a look at the incredible magical duels in chapter 36 of the Order of the Phoenix. Before we get to the main duel in the chapter, however, that between Voldemort and Dumbledore, we learn a bit about the Unforgivable Curses when… Read More
🎙️ Season Three is Here!
• Podcast Episode
Season Three is Here! Hello, everyone. Back in January, 2018, I created a new short-form podcast called The Harry Potter Lexicon Minute. I had planned on a shorter title — The Harry Potter Minute — but discovered that there was already a podcast with that… Read More
Featured Artist: Felicia Cano
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Our featured artist this time around is Felicia Cano. Felicia’s lush, caricature-style artwork captures the true heart of each character. He depiction of Umbridge looming over a small, blonde, big-eared Gryffindor is a great example. The detail is delicious: scads of cat pictures, that evil black quill, and even snarling… Read More
Featured Artist: NicoPony
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Our featured artist this week is NicoPony. Her exquisite drawings capture not only classic scenes and settings but also some unique moments from the books which are seldom if ever illustrated. Here’s a great example: Guest Artist page https://www.hp-lexicon.org/author/nicopony/ Gallery… Read More
What's Going On with the Lexicon Lately?
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
You might have noticed that the website seems to be crashing a lot lately. Believe me, we’ve noticed it too! We are very, very sorry for the inconvenience. The server on which the Lexicon was running has been slowly deteriorating over the past year or so. We’ve been nursing it… Read More
Featured Artist: Lisa Magnusson
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Our featured artist this week is Lisa Magnusson. Lisa’s work, done with strong dark lines, muted colors, and carefully-crafted composition, features expressive faces which bring out the deep emotions and glimpses into the internal struggles of the characters. Here’s a great example: Guest Artist page… Read More
Celebrating the Canon Celebration and Looking Forward
• Podcast Episode
The Lexicon is 20 Years Old! To celebrate in true Lexicon fashion, we spent the second half of 2020 celebrating what many consider go be the truest form of Harry Potter canon: the Harry Potter novels. Every week from July through the end of the year we… Read More
Deathly Hallows 26-36 and the Epilogue Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Canon discussion
And we’ve finally reached the end — the last eleven chapters of the last Harry Potter book, plus the epilogue. For the past six months we’ve been exploring a different part of Harry Potter canon in sequence. Back in the late 1990s and 2000s, fans read each of these… Read More
Deathly Hallows 9-25 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Things get darker now all around the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Lord Voldemort’s people have taken over the Ministry of Magic. Harry, Ron and Hermione have escaped thanks to Hermione’s skills and planning. But nothing is straightforward – arguments, adventures and angst are on the way…. Take a deep breath… Read More
Deathly Hallows 1-8 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Finally, we arrive at the last book of the series. While we know that Harry has decided (along with Ron and Hermione) not to return to Hogwarts this school year, we have still to find out exactly what he has in mind to be able to… Read More
Canon Celebration: Rowling's Websites, Interviews, and Tales of Beedle the Bard
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in About Sources
A few weeks ago we talked about some excellent sources of information about the Wizarding World which weren’t novels: the “replica” schoolbooks of Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as Daily Prophet Newsletters and the Famous Wizards cards. Read More
Half-Blood Prince 25-30 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Canon discussion
In the final six exciting chapters that end this book, revelations, betrayals and death were promised – and so there shall be – but what they also contain is love. Handkerchiefs at the ready? Onwards we go! Podcasts: Episode 25: The Horcrux Conundrum by Nick Moline and Steve… Read More
🎙️ Half-Blood Prince 7-24 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Summer is over and it is time to return to Hogwarts. Harry has lessons with Professor Dumbledore to look forward to. He becomes surprisingly talented in Potions class and works hard as the new Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. But what is his… Read More
Half-Blood Prince 1-6 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
What in the Wizarding World will happen during Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts? Lord Voldemort has returned and the safety of families and students is at risk. And, there will be yet another appointment to the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post. Ready for revelations? Here… Read More
Canon Celebration: Wizarding Life and Organizations
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Canon discussion
What keeps the Wizarding World going? How does it work? The main organisation in the UK is the Ministry of Magic, but there are many more entities that keep things together and Muggle-free. Ready to discover more about these? Onwards we go! Podcasts: OP 7… Read More
Order of the Phoenix 28-38 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
A lot has happened so far this year. Fred and George have butted heads with Hermione over their product testing, and Ron has butted heads with her over the Hogwarts house-elves. Harry has struggled with both his relationship with Cho and, thanks to… Read More
Order of the Phoenix 10-27 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Between having to appear before the Ministry to explain his Patronus charm, many of his fellow students doubting Voldemort’s return, and butting heads with the new Ministry-sent DADA professor, Harry’s been on the defensive….and it’s taking a toll on him. Will Harry be believed at last? And the strange dreams he’s… Read More
🎙️ Order of the Phoenix 1-9 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Everything turns a bit darker in Book Five. Lord Voldemort has returned. Dementors show up in unexpected places. And Harry is unhappy, even when he has re-joined his friends before the end of the summer. Ready to find out why? Let’s go! Podcasts:… Read More
Canon Celebration: The Schoolbooks and Famous Wizard Cards
• Podcast Episode
Where canon information comes from besides the seven Harry Potter books is a long-running question. What we at the Lexicon count as canon is set out on our Sources page. This week we are looking at a few of the other rich sources of canon, including the “replica” schoolbooks… Read More
Goblet of Fire 19-37 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
The preliminaries events are over and it is time for the tasks. What will the Triwizard Tournament bring? Could things get any worse? Ready to find out? Here we go! Podcasts: Canon Thoughts: Goblet of Fire by Steve VanderArk Summoning Charms by Abby Koop… Read More
Goblet of Fire 11-18 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
And after the excitement of the summer’s Quidditch World Cup and reappearance of the Dark Mark, it is time to go back to Hogwarts, and finally learn what this mysterious special event is that no one will tell them about. Ready to find out? Here we go!… Read More
🎙️ Goblet of Fire 1-10 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
We now start Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a book with several exciting events for Harry and his friends to experience. We go back to the Weasleys and attend an international event where a disaster takes place. What more can happen? If you’re ready… Read More
Canon Celebration: History of the Wizarding World
• Podcast Episode
One of the things that readers fall in love with about the books is the depth of information we are given – information that is often only peripheral to the plot, but nevertheless enriches our understanding of the magical world. Some of the more interesting tidbits pertain to the history… Read More
🎙️ The History of the History of the Wizarding World
• Podcast Episode
In the early 2000s, Harry Potter fans debated the possible range of dates for the saga. Small clues like the reference to a PlayStation in book four were discussed in detail. — Since the PlayStation wasn’t available until December 1994 in Japan and September 1995 in Europe, some… Read More
Prisoner of Azkaban 12-22 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
And we are back at Hogwarts! Harry, Ron and Hermione have some new teachers and new classes. Arrogance leads to an injury and a disastrous Quidditch pitch invasion ruins the start of the season. And, a pet and a new broom has caused a rift… Read More
Prisoner of Azkaban 6-11 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
An unwelcome house guest drives Harry to run away from the Dursleys. Any trouble he might have gotten himself into is waved away in light of a new unsettling threat after Harry’s life. A second threat — a mysterious and terrifying creature — tries to attack on… Read More
Debunking Common False Myths You've Assumed About Hogwarts
• Podcast Episode
Harry Potter is, undoubtedly, one of the most well-known series across the world. Even if you’ve never seen a film or read a book, it’s highly likely that you’ve come across something related to it at some point, be it from groups of fans talking about the different Houses and… Read More
Why is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban so popular?
• Podcast Episode
Google the phrase “favourite harry potter book poll” and many of the listed results have the third book as the winner. This has set me thinking about why Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has always been my favourite of the seven books. I have come to the… Read More
🎙️ Prisoner of Azkaban 1-5 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Welcome to the third book in the series, The Prisoner of Azkaban! Many fans consider this to be their favorite Harry Potter novel. Harry is another year older, another face-off with Voldemort under his belt. What could be in store for him and his friends this year? Let’s… Read More
Canon Celebration: Classes and Teachers!
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Kathryn Thomas
in Canon discussion
Before we head back into the next Harry Potter novel, The Prisoner of Azkaban, we’re going to take a little detour and talk about education. Seems fitting, since school is starting up again in the US right about now. What sort of education does Harry and his friends receive at… Read More
Chamber of Secrets 13-18 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Several students (and a few other residents) have been mysteriously attacked around the castle. The Trio is working hard to investigate who or what is the mastermind. Ready to have some fun solving the mystery? Here we go! Podcasts: CS 13: Looks Can Be… Read More
🎙️ Chamber of Secrets 6-12 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Welcome to the fifth installment of our celebration series! We’ve been warned not to return to Hogwarts, met some new allies and foes, and accidentally broken one of the most fundamental rules of wizarding society. What a way to start the school year! Ready to… Read More
🎙️ Chamber of Secrets 1-5 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Now we’re into the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Plenty of connections can be made between this book and book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In fact, book two was originally going to be called Half-Blood Prince! Here’s what Rowling had to say about… Read More
Canon Celebration: Quidditch!
• Podcast Episode
In the beginning, everything in the Wizarding World is new. We the readers are finding out things at the same time Harry Potter does. He first hears the word Quidditch from Draco Malfoy when they are getting fitted for robes in Diagon Alley and has to ask Hagrid what it… Read More
🎙️ Why Harry Potter Needs Quidditch
• Podcast Episode
Quidditch is the wizard sport that everyone – well, almost everyone – in the Wizarding World is mad about. It features high levels of danger and unpredictability. The strange rules and seemingly unfair scoring system of Quidditch are more than a bit illogical. But what outweighs these objections are… Read More
🎙️ Philosopher's Stone 6-17 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Ready to have some fun exploring? Here we go! Podcasts: Trunks by Selena Gallagher Platform Nine and 3/4 by Steve VanderArk How Many Students Are There at Hogwarts? by Steve VanderArk Whatever Happened to Sally-Ann? by Steve VanderArk The Significance of Hallowe’en by Rosie… Read More
🎙️ Thoughts about Trunks
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Selena Gallagher
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
When Harry finally gets his Hogwarts letter from Hagrid, it contains a list of required school supplies, but makes no mention of how he’s expected to pack it all. Nevertheless, on the 1st September, it’s all safely packed in a ‘huge, heavy trunk.’ This is fortuitous as it appears that… Read More
🎙️ Philosopher's Stone 1-5 Canon Celebration
• Podcast Episode
Welcome to the first of twenty-six blog posts in our Canon Celebration! This time around we’re exploring the first five chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Why am I not saying “Sorcerer’s Stone”? Because that’s not the original name of the book, as you probably know. That’s the… Read More
Statement from the Leaders of the Harry Potter Fan Community
• Podcast Episode
We at the Lexicon are proud to share this statement alongside other leaders in the Harry Potter fan community: The Harry Potter fandom has been going strong for more than 20 years, and we are so proud to have been there alongside so many,… Read More
🎙️ Announcing the Twentieth Anniversary Canon Celebration!
• Podcast Episode
Twenty-one years ago, I created a small website to collect and organize information about the Harry Potter novels. I was part of an online discussion group called Harry Potter for Grown Ups, which is just what it sounds like, and we all needed a quick way to… Read More
To be clear ...
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Fandom News
A few hours ago, after discussion, we went ahead and retweeted the link to JK Rowling’s essay giving her opinions about the controversy she kicked up with her tweets about trans people, specifically trans women. Over the past few days we also retweeted Emma Watson’s comments and those of… Read More
🎙️ Encore Episode: "Oh wait a minute, who was that?"
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Lexicon Podcast
This is an encore presentation of an episode from June, 2011 Steve talks about Pottermore misconceptions, how Rowling changed the online world once before, cool and interesting sources of canon information, Galleons changing the world, the late Quidditch match in book one, and other bits of Potter lore. Links:… Read More
🎙️ Encore Presentation: Wizarding Currency
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Selena Gallagher
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
This is an encore presentation of an episode from February 2018. You may notice on the homepage of the Lexicon that it always shows the current exchange rate between a galleon and a range of different worldwide currencies. But did you ever wonder how J.K. Rowling came up… Read More
🎙️ Encore Presentation: OP2 - Kneazles
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
This is an encore presentation of an episode from March, 2018. Mister Tibbles? Mrs Norris? Why do the animals owned by Squibs seem to have similar names? And particularly human-sounding names at that? In chapter two of Order of the Phoenix, we meet Mrs Figg… Read More
Quotes By and About Peeves
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Characters
Quotes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (UK ed.) Compiled by Lori Damerell ‘My dear Friar, haven’t we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he’s not really even a ghost…’ (PS7) ‘Peeves,’ Percy whispered to… Read More
Changes to the Lexicon Website
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I know it seems like nothing changes around here. That’s only partially true. I say partially because things don’t change fast since everyone working on the site does it in their spare time and on a volunteer basis. So real life being what it is, that means that big changes… Read More
🎙️ Encore Presentation: OP1 - Drought
• Podcast Episode
This is an encore presentation of an episode from March, 2018. Today we’re spending a little bit of time with chapter one of Order of the Phoenix. From the very beginning, we’re introduced to the theme of drought. Rowling writes: Cars that were usually gleaming stood dusty in their… Read More
🎙️ Encore Episode: Barebone Names
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
This is an encore episode from February 10, 2018. Chastity, Credence, and Modesty may have seemed like strange names to viewers of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but they are rooted in the Barebone family’s Puritan past. Not only is the Barebones’s… Read More
