The Lexicon Blog
Improper Use of Magic Office: Not the only office for improper use of magic?
• Essay
As any fan of the franchise worth their salt can tell you if asked, the biggest and most important responsibility of the fictional Ministry of Magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe is to make sure people like you and me (Muggles) remain blissfully ignorant of the continued existence… Read More
🎙️ A Shout-out to Narcissa Malfoy
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Eileen Jones
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Narcissa Malfoy is a rude and racist witch, but there are several moments in the series that I think show Narcissa’s better side. In Spinner’s End, chapter 2 of Half Blood Prince, Narcissa is desperate to keep her son safe. Despite her sister’s warnings and Voldemort’s instructions to… Read More
🎙️ OP5: I Don't Think I Like This Book
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
You know what strikes me about chapter five of Order of the Phoenix? I really, really don’t like most of the characters in it. I don’t like Harry, I don’t like Sirius, I don’t like Molly … I don’t like any of them. But this is a tribute to… Read More
🎙️ CS1: Birthdays
• Podcast Episode
In today’s minute I’ll be discussing Chamber of Secrets Chapter 1 The Worst Birthday. Here are some of my thoughts: I wonder what birthdays were like for Harry the nine years between being dropped off on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep and finding out he was a wizard. Harry would… Read More
🎙️ Evans
• Podcast Episode
In a recent Harry Potter Minute, we discussed instances in the books where two seemingly unrelated characters have the same last name. We’ve already covered two of the three instances, the Smiths and the Gudgeons. But a third set caused quite the fuss back in the day, and is the… Read More
Another Bundle of Podcast Episodes for Patreon Supporters
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I’ve just uploaded seven new Harry Potter Minute podcast episodes to our Patreon page as rewards for Third and Seventh year supporters. The episodes cover chapters 12 through 15 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as the first three chapters of Chamber of Secrets. Read More
More reasons to be excited about Hogwarts Mystery!
• Article
Come April 25, we’ll all have a chance to play Hogwarts Mystery. Jam City, the developers, recently announced that a number of stars who played Hogwarts professors in the films would be returning to voice the characters in the game, including Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Michael Gambon as… Read More
🎙️ OP4: Discovering Grimmauld Place
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
In Chapter 4 of Order of the Phoenix, we and Harry make our first visit to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. As she has done from the very beginning of the series, Rowling lets us discover a new part of the wizarding world a tiny bit at a time… Read More
Fears and Naïveté
• Essay
Professor Lupin‘s first class with the third-year Gryffindors covers boggarts, which shapeshift into a form that the person who encounters it will find the most frightening. As humans grow and age, they compile more experiences, which result in unique personalities, a deeper capacity for emotions, and more… Read More
🎙️ Hermione's Ethnicity
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Ashmita Shanthakumar
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
When the casting for the Cursed Child came out many people were surprised that they chose a black woman to play Hermione. After all, Emma Watson, a white person, played her in the movies and that was the representation people were used to. J.K. Rowling never specified the race… Read More
🎙️ Portraits
• Podcast Episode
How does the portrait world with in the Harry Potter books work? Here are some things that I wonder about: Are all of the paintings connected, just one painting blending seamlessly into the next? Or is there blank space, equal to the distance from painting… Read More
🎙️ OP3: Why Not Side-Along Apparition?
• Podcast Episode
In Chapter 3 of Order of the Phoenix, when Harry is being rescued by the Advance Guard, Rowling writes: ‘How’re we getting – wherever we’re going?’ Harry asked. ‘Brooms,’ said Lupin. ‘Only way. You’re too young to Apparate, they’ll be watching the Floo Network and it’s more than our… Read More
It Is Our Choices
• Essay
When Harry has finished recounting the story of his experience in the Chamber of Secrets, and Dumbledore has dismissed everyone else from his office, he asks Harry to have a seat. He thanks Harry for the loyalty that called Fawkes to him in the Chamber, then opens the discussion… Read More
🎙️ Last Names
• Podcast Episode
As careful readers, we’re taught to pay attention to last names – when two characters have the same last name, there is usually a good reason why. But there are three instances within the books of two characters having the same last name, without any reason given explaining it. Read More
🎙️ About Snape and Love
• Podcast Episode
Today I wanted to talk about Snape. The “good or evil” Snape debate has rocked the Harry Potter fandom for years, and I know almost everyone has a strong opinion about him one way or the other (so I’m going to try not to ruffle too… Read More
🎙️ Episode 31: The Crimes of Grindelwald Trailer
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk and Nick Moline
in Canon discussion / Fandom News / Lexicon Podcast / The Films
The last week or two has just been chock full of new stuff for members of the fandom. We have a new audiobook version of Quidditch through the Ages which also has a dramatization of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup which is particularly entertaining. We have a new gameplay trailer… Read More
When were Frank and Alice Longbottom attacked?
• Essay
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Neville and the attack on his parents. I’ve always had trouble with the timing of this event and others surrounding it, and rereading the Pensieve scenes in Goblet of Fire leads me to think that it didn’t occur straight after… Read More
Digging for Gold in the CG Cast List
• Article
Now that the trailer has come out and presented us with wonderful nuggets of canon and plenty of questions to chew over, I think it’s time to dig a little further for canon treasure in the cast list of the film. The complete list is published on IMDb, so… Read More
🎙️ Order of the Phoenix Chapter 2 - Kneazles
• Podcast Episode
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 properly for the first time. She’d turned up in book… Read More
Fear of a Name ...
• Essay
While discussing the fate of the Sorcerer’s Stone with Harry in the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore encourages Harry to use Voldemort’s name: “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” Harry has not encountered that opinion prior to this moment, but he accepts the advice readily. When Hagrid… Read More
🎙️ The Changing Quidditch World Cup Schedule
• Podcast Episode
Following up on the earlier release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in audiobook form, Pottermore and Audible are releasing a Quidditch Through the Ages audiobook tomorrow. In addition to a reading of the book itself, 2 voice actresses will take on the roles of Ginny Potter… Read More
Trailer for the Crimes of Grindelwald is out and it's, well, FANTASTIC!
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in The Films
The teaser trailer is out and it’s wonderful. We’re given glimpses of oh, so many new places and things — and some well-established things and places as well. First thoughts, in order: We’re back at Hogwarts! It’s great to see that lovely view down Loch Shiel again. Who is… Read More
Which is the Most Popular Harry Potter Novel?
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Canon discussion
When people ask me which is my favorite Potter novel, my answer is usually “Whichever one I’m reading at the moment.” But that’s a cop-out. I do have a favorite, and I think most fans do as well. Each book in the series is very unique from the others. Each… Read More
🎙️ Is Dobby Really Necessary?
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Eileen Jones
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
In my latest re read of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets this question just hit me: Is Dobby really necessary to the end result of book 2? To be clear this is a different question than asking if he is essential to the… Read More
🎙️ Prime Numbers
• Podcast Episode
Despite being a self-confessed math-phobic J.K. Rowling has certainly had some fun with numbers in the Harry Potter universe. In a previous episode we talked about wizard currency being built on prime numbers, with 29 knuts to a sickle and 17 sickles to a galleon. Prime numbers crop up… Read More
🎙️ Order of the Phoenix Chapter 1
• Podcast Episode
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 drives and lawns that were… Read More
🎙️ Introduction to the Chapter Episodes
• Podcast Episode
Steve VanderArk here to let you know something new that’s coming to the Harry Potter Minute. Every couple of episodes, we’re going to share some thoughts on one particular chapter of one of the books. These chapter episodes will focus on one particular detail or connection that struck… Read More
🎙️ Episode 30: Discussing The Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
• Podcast Episode
Episode 30 of our main Lexicon Podcast is shorter than usual and is all about discussing our new podcast, the Harry Potter Lexicon Minute. We started the episode by talking about the rich collection of essays on the Lexicon and the recent feedback we’ve received telling us that we have… Read More
🎙️ The Similarities Between Hermione and Moaning Myrtle
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Susan
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Did you know that there are interesting similarities between Hermione Granger and Moaning Myrtle? In Philosopher’s Stone, Hermione is being bullied by Ron. She flees into the girl’s bathroom. There, she is attacked by a troll, released by Quirrel… Read More
🎙️ Wizard Currency
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Selena Gallagher
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
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 with this seemingly confusing system of wizard money? Hagrid explains… Read More
🎙️ Are Hufflepuffs "good finders"?
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Ashmita Shanthakumar
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
“Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders” If you’ve been part of the Harry Potter fandom you’ve probably heard this phrase throughout the internet but a lot of people don’t know where it comes from. In the Philosopher’s Stone the Sorting Hat says: You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are… Read More
🎙️ House Ghosts
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Bridget Bartlett
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
When did House Ghosts become a recognized part of life at Hogwarts? Nearly-Headless Nick celebrates the 500th anniversary of his death in Chapter 8 of Chamber of Secrets. In the following chapter, Professor Binns states that Hogwarts was founded more than a thousand years… Read More
What I want to be building this summer
• Article
I’ve been a Lego fanatic since always. My favorite was the castle, with its drawbridge and towers. I built and rebuilt and redesigned that set over and over for years. You might say I have a thing about Lego and castles. Which means that this August is going to be… Read More
🎙️ Who Can Take Away Points?
• Podcast Episode
The continuity editors of the Potter books surely earned their wages – other than things like math and dates, there are remarkably few inconsistencies in the Potter series. But there is a small one in Order of the Phoenix that proved to be… Read More
🎙️ Barebone Names
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Bridget Bartlett
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
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 church named for Salem, Massachusetts, but also the family… Read More
🎙️ Episode 29: “...and it was all just cabbage”
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk, Nick Moline and Barbara Moline
in Canon discussion / Lexicon Podcast / Theories
Recorded in person and with an added panelist, we discuss Gamp's Law and the meaning of "sixteenth year" Read More
🎙️ Why Ottery St Mary?
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Why do we assume that Ottery St Mary, an actual town in south Devon, is the same village as the one called Ottery St Catchpole in the books? There are a couple of good reasons for this. For one thing, the name “Ottery” means that the town… Read More
🎙️ Pets at Hogwarts
• Podcast Episode
Everyone is familiar with Ron‘s pet Scabbers, who turns out to be Peter Pettigrew, a traitor who sold out the Potters to Voldemort. What I’ve always wondered though, is how Ron was able to bring him to Hogwarts? In Harry’s Hogwarts letter in The Philosopher’s Stone, it… Read More
🎙️ Bane Was Right All Along
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Eileen Jones
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Today I’d like to talk to you about how, in the end, Bane didn’t need to get mad. When Bane gets mad at Firenze for saving Harry, he says “…we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements… Read More
🎙️ Whatever Happened to Sally-Anne?
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Did you know that one of Harry’s classmates apparently vanished between first and fifth year? I don’t mean “vanished” in the same way that Montague disappeared into a Vanishing Cabinet only to reappear a few weeks later. I mean that she was listed as an incoming First Year in book… Read More
Announcing "The Harry Potter Lexicon Minute" podcast
• Article
The Harry Potter Lexicon exists because of the enthusiasm and hard work of a small group of dedicated fans from all over the world. Now I want to share with you some of their passion and excitement in a new way. I’m excited to introduce The Harry Potter Lexicon… Read More
🎙️ Introduction to the Harry Potter Minute
• Podcast Episode
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Hey, everyone, welcome to your Harry Potter Minute, sponsored by Magic Alley. I’m Steve VanderArk, creator and editor in chief of the Harry Potter Lexicon website. The Harry Potter Lexicon website has been in existence for almost two decades. Over that time, J.K Rowling thrilled us with her magical creation… Read More
🎙️ Episode 28: New Fan Theories!
• Podcast Episode
Episode 28 is finally here! This episode (Recorded on November 25th) is all about a couple of recent fan theories we’ve come across lately. We discuss the recent updates to the Lexicon, dissect the new cast photo, and debate theories we’ve seen online lately. What’s New in the Lexicon… Read More
In memoriam: The passing of a member of the Lexicon team
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
I need to take a minute to acknowledge the passing of a much loved and respected member of the Harry Potter Lexicon team and a good friend. Howard C. “Kip” Carter died in his sleep Tuesday, Jan. 2. For those people who made the Lexicon forum… Read More
New official Hogwarts Role Playing Game coming!
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Fandom News
Okay, this one I’m really excited about. As one who has put over 400 hours into Stardew Valley on the XBox, I can say that I am MORE than ready to start role-playing in the Harry Potter universe. The game, Hogwarts Mystery, is scheduled to come out next year. Read More
Fantastic Facts and How To Find Them - Big Site Update part 2
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
The new navigation and the landing pages are very cool additions to the Lexicon. They make finding things a whole lot easier. The next part of the big site update I’d like to talk about is the timeline system. Before I talk about what we created, I’d like to explain… Read More
Fantastic Facts and How to Find Them - Big Site Updates part 1
• Article
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
A few weeks ago, we did a huge update to the site. The list of changes and improvements is long, but basically they fall into three categories: Navigation, Timelines, and Lists. We’ll be continually updating and enhancing each of these things over the coming months. All the site navigation has… Read More
Defense Against the Dark Arts Loot Crate Unboxing
• Article
Posted
by Nick Moline
in Fandom News
The July J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Loot Crate has arrived! Join Nick and Barbara once again as we unbox another box of magical goodness for the Lexicon’s Youtube Channel. This month’s theme is “Defense Against the Dark Arts” and contains items to help you fend off the darkest and most… Read More
🎙️ Episode 27: The Hogwarts Deathtrap
• Podcast Episode
New at the Lexicon Steve and Nick began Episode 27 by talking about the task of moving remaining content over from the old legacy site into the current, modern Lexicon. We also talked about the ongoing work on the Timeline system. New in the Harry Potter Universe We… Read More
Posted
by Steve VanderArk
in Website news
As of Saturday evening, 8 July 2017, we’re having some problems with the Lexicon, apparently due to the new version of Word Press to which we just upgraded. This may result in pages not Apparating onto your screen correctly. No need to contact the Department of Magical Transportation — they’re… Read More