The Lexicon Blog
The Battle of the Department of Mysteries: An Analysis of the Chase and Battle, June 1996
• Essay
At turns exciting, suspenseful, horrific, unexpectedly funny, and in the end, tragic, OP35 (“Beyond the Veil”) brilliantly captures the chaos and confusion of battle. Harry doesn’t have time to fully comprehend everything going on around him, but we the readers have the luxury of going back and re-reading this chapter for new insights… Read More
Echoes of the Past: Street Names in Little Whinging
• Essay
Posted
by Nik the Hermit
in Essays
(by Nik the Hermit, our “man in the street”) J. K. Rowling has stated many times that memories and “echoes” from her own childhood became part of the Harry Potter Books. Two well-known examples are: The use of the surname of her two friends from her early childhood, Ian and… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
After a busy few days, I finally got back to working on the Lexicon. Nik the Hermit’s analyses of Little Whinging and of number four Privet Drive is complete and I’ve uploaded it all. He actually found a house of the type that the Dursleys’ house would be… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
New page added about the Hogwarts choir. Okay, okay, I know, there ISN’T a Hogwarts choir in the books, so this is definitely NOT CANON, but it’s so interesting that I decided to add the page anyway. Included on the page are the lyrics and music for the song they… Read More
Posted
by Nik the Hermit
in Essays
This work is based on a good understanding of Southern England (the author’s home territory), along with solid knowledge of the County of Surrey, the history of Great Britain, and British domestic architecture. It is an attempt to probe beneath the surface of the Potter books and to fit, where possible, the… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Another wonderful essay has just been added, this one called “How Safe Is Privet Drive?“, written by Jen Reese. To complement the essay I’ve included another beautiful drawing by Marta T. based on the first chapter of Order of the Phoenix. Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
In case anyone’s interested, I’ve uploaded a page showing a scan of one of the pages of my research notebook about OP. I had a few requests for people who wondered what my notebooks looked like, so if that’s you, here you go. Nik the Hermit has added a whole new… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Essays
At Nimbus 2003, several people asked if they could see my notes. It never occurred to me that anyone would be interested, but I was sort of flattered that they asked. So I figure that there might just be a few curious people out there who might want to see… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
New pages: information about the Chamber of Secrets film, edited by Marilyn Cole new page for the Atlas giving details of the location of Little Whinging in Surrey, carefully researched by Nik (who lives in that area and has been investigating homes and neighborhoods)… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Two new essays have been added: “Those Unpredictable Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors” by Louis F. Badalament, II “A View of the Map: Understanding How The Marauder’s Map Works” by Steven Beers Also added are a wonderful new map of Wizarding London and a page describing various special types of… Read More
Those Unpredictable Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors
• Essay
Introduction: An Explanation And A Bit Of History Defence Against the Dark Arts professors are really something, aren’t they? None of them are what you’d call “typical” teachers, and there’s a fascinating element in the way nobody can hold onto the job for more than a single school year. I,… Read More
A View of the Map: Understanding How the Marauder's Map Works
• Essay
Posted
by Steve Beers
in Essays
Let us take a look at the mysterious, amazing Marauder’s Map. But first, let’s look at the castle. If you research castles on the Internet, you will see that Hogwarts is a castle of unprecedented (mammoth, huge, gigantic) size. You might find some castles that have towers that are 7 commercial stories high,… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Most of the new spells have been added to the Spell Encyclopedia, which is a bit of a relief, since I do get a lot of email reminding me about them. I am still adding more, however. Tonight, for example, I added Permanent Sticking Charm. That’s because I’m currently on… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I am delighted to announce that a new essay has been added to the Lexicon, this one delving into the possible connections between Ginny and Harry. The author of this essay, Water Witch, emailed me the other day to point out, without rancor, that she had indeed submitted this essay to… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Rants
Well, this has been interesting. You’d think that I would have been familiar enough with the, uh, fervency of fans when it comes to “shipping,” but I have to admit that I was surprised by the reactions in email to Penny’s essay. Some accused the Lexicon of no longer being… Read More
Posted
by Mary Jo Neyer
in Essays
There has been a lot of talk about who might come back as ghosts in the Harry Potter series. I don’t think Rowling will have anybody return as a ghost, because she is very aware that there are children reading this series who have lost or about to lose a… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
I finally got around to editing and publishing an essay from my dear friend Penny Linsenmayer, who was in many ways the person most responsible for Harry Potter for Grown Ups being what it is today. Penny’s essay is entitled “Partners and Friends: The Evolving Relationship Between Harry and Hermione.” I… Read More
Posted
by Penny L.
in Uncategorized
NOTE: All OP page references refer to the UK hardback edition of OP. Page references to GF refer to the UK paperback edition. Introduction I believe that OP sets in motion a trend that had begun developing in PA and GF: the trend of Harry and Hermione becoming partners. They are in effect equals in leadership roles, and… Read More
Posted
by Estelle Daniels
in Essays
I am an astrologer, and I observed the types of astrology Trelawney and Firenze teach (and presumably practice) are two different types. Trelawney’s astrology is natal or genethiliacal astrology. It consists of personal birthcharts and what will happen when Mars and Saturn make an angle. As Parvati said, it has to do with individuals and their… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I’ve just added another new essay, this one by Ali Hewison, entitled The Tragedy of Petunia Dursley. Read More
The Tragedy of Petunia Dursley
• Essay
I’ve just finished my third reading of OP. The Dursleys interest me in a way that I can’t fathom, but I feel the need to explain Petunia Dursley. OP opens our minds and Harry’s to the idea that Petunia had had more contact with, and understanding of, the wizarding world then she had hitherto pretended. From the small glimpse we… Read More
Posted
by Sandra L. Diersing
in Essays
What he’d like the most is a pair of warm socks, Dumbledore told Harry (PS12). Is he joking? Is this just another example of his droll wit? I think Professor Dumbledore told the truth, that Harry surprised it out of him, although it wasn’t very clear. Fans have suggested that socks represent include freedom (Dobby), love (Molly… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Oh my goodness, where do I begin? Michele has been editing pages left and right, so many that I can’t even begin to list them all. She’s added name origins and much more information to the Wizards lists, the new song to the Sorting Hat page, OP information to the pages… Read More
Timeline Facts and Questions
• Essay
One of the more interesting mysteries about the Harry Potter universe is when the stories in the books take place. There have been a lot of discussions and debates about this subject and some fans have done amazingly detailed research trying to determine the years involved. This page presents some… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
Before I get to the latest updates and new pages, I need to take the opportunity to officially welcome Michele Worley to the staff of The Lexicon. Until now, the staff of the Lexicon has consisted of just one person. A lot of folks have contributed over the years, but… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Essays
Charms magic can be used to move objects in various ways. Locomotion Magic The basic spell for moving an object is Locomotor, which comes from two Latin words meaning roughly “move from its place.” First years learn to move objects by magic; the practical part of Flitwick’s exam for the first… Read More
How Do Duels Work?
• Essay
This is no moot point. Quite contrary to what many a reader may think, duels such as those in the Harry Potter books are not frequent in fantasy literature. That is so because it’s very difficult to convey to the audience or to the readers the precise impression of a… Read More
Vanishing Magic
• Essay
Various types of spells and items make things vanish, but in different ways. Vanishing The basic form of Vanishing is the Vanishing Spell. Taught in fifth year Transfiguration (OP13), this spell is usually cast using the incantation Evanesco which is Latin for “vanish.” McGonagall starts students out with Vanishing invertebrates—snails—and then works them up to… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Lots of new stuff, including huge numbers of edits and additions by Michele, who is amazing and wonderful. I’ll list them all when I get a chance (I’m just in for a few hours from camping by Lake Michigan…ahhh…). I have also added a couple of new pages that might… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Added a couple more facts to the Fantastical Facts page, including another bona fide error. Phyllis Morris has been working on a list of the differences between the UK and US editions of The Order of the Phoenix. Her list is now complete and has been uploaded. It’s surprising, really, how few… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
More editing. I’ve uploaded one of the images from my History of the Wizarding World presentation from Nimbus 2003, a chart that shows who was at Hogwarts during the time that James and his friends were there. I’ve also added a new website to the Resources page, Visualizing Harry Potter, and Amy… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I have to say again how much I am indebted to Michele Worley. The page about Legilimency just shows what excellent research Michele is doing. Major new material: Page with nice description of Legilimency, including an outstanding assessment of where Legilimency may have occurred elsewhere in the books. A similar page… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Back from Nimbus 2003 and a relaxing vacation, during which time I added a LOT of new information. I’ve uploaded all the new stuff. Here’s a list of the major things: The Ministry of Magic Departments page has been extensively updated new names have been added all through the Which Wizard… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Lots more new stuff. Here’s a partial list: fantastic artwork added to the Malfoy Mansion page, by Angela West updated the page about Trelawney, including details of her two correct prophesies new terms added to the Strictly British glossary, including “budgerigar” and “titchy.”… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
I’ve finished adding all of the Famous Witches and Wizards to the Master List. I added some icons and things to that list too. the calendar of OP has been updated with new and adjusted information new details about Dragon Pox on the Medical Magic page updated and corrected the page about … Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Lots of new information added. The section on the Ministry of Magic used to be one page, now it’s, I dunno, about six. I’m adding names to the Witch Wizard section a little at a time, too. I can’t list every single change here, there are way too many. I have… Read More
History of the Ministry
• Essay
The Wizards’ Council The Wizards’ Council was the predecessor to the Ministry of Magic (FBx). Barberus Bragge was the Chief of the Council in 1269. Burdock Muldoon was Chief of the Wizards’ Council in the fourteenth century (FB, QA). He was followed in office by Elfrida Clagg, who is generally regarded as being more enlightened than her predecessors… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
New pages uploaded: St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries Malfoy Mansion 12 Grimmauld Place The Order of the Phoenix new definitions added to the Strictly British glossary of British terms… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
New pages uploaded: the Black Family Tree fantastic facts from OP (a place for us to put some of the most exciting new tidbits of information we’ve turned up which we just haven’t had time to get into the Lexicon itself yet)… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
Thanks to everyone who spotted an error in the calendar and emailed. Yes, Harry had classes with Snape TWICE a week, Monday and Wednesday, not just once. I’ll update the calendar as soon as I get a chance. More good stuff coming… Thanks to the dedicated effort of two people,… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in What's New
What’s new indeed. The Harry Potter Lexicon is now part of the most exciting resource for Potter information in the entire Muggle world, The Floo Network. The editors of the various web sites of the Floo Network are working together to bring you the absolute best and most complete information,… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I’ve been editing and adding to pages left and right. I just uploaded about thirty revised pages, including one or two new ones. I’m not going to list all the changes here, but you will want to take a look at the new essay, entitled Harry Potter: The Truest Gryffindor… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Fandom News
The DVD of Chamber of Secrets is out and it includes the Official Timeline of Hogwarts. Read this important note about the timelines of the Lexicon… thanks!… Read More
British Schooling in the 1970s
• Essay
Posted
by Diana Summers
in Essays
Some American fans have raised the issue of being confused about the British education system. I am a Brit who is exactly the same age as JKR (a mere 5 weeks older) so I can explain, step by step, British schooling as we both knew it in the 1970s. Obviously… Read More