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 MoreThe Cauldron: Where Science and Magic meet• Article
It was very early in my life that I became captivated with the worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy. From Tolkien’s Middle Earth, to C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, to Roddenberry’s Federation, the worlds of my favorite pieces of fiction spurred me on in a myriad of ways. I can trace my… Read MoreMore from the Harry Potter Companion• Article
Josie has posted on her site blog some details about what happened to the Companion. She’s working on fixing all the links now and soon the site will be 100% safe again. You can read her post here: https://hp-companion.com/2017/06/02/sigh/#comment-47530 I’ve let her know that we’d be happy to help… Read MoreCharacter Quotes• Article
The editor for the Characters section of the Lexicon was Lisa Bunker who was also the founder of Accio Quote. So it was a natural fit for her to collect quotes by and about the main characters in the books as she worked to bring each character’s biography up to date. Read MoreThe Harry Potter Companion - UPDATE• Article
Back in 2009, I posted about a wonderful Harry Potter website called The Harry Potter Companion. It’s run by an ex-Lexicon editor who did amazing work for our site for many years before leaving to take on other challenges. The Companion goes through the entire Harry Potter series, chapter… Read MoreQuotes and Mis-Quotes• Article
We all know the quotes. They’re turned into memes, they’re spouted by cosplayers — they seem to define the characters who said them. Except DID they say them? In many cases, the answer is no. Yes, Quirrell did say “Troll — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know” (PS10)… Read MoreThe Death Eaters: A Guide To Who Was Where• Article
Here’s the thing when it comes to the Dark Lord’s followers: There aren’t that many of them. When I was watching Deathly Hallows Part Two during its midnight premiere, my groan was probably heard by everyone in the theater when, behind Voldemort, appeared (what seemed to be) a… Read More🎙️ Episode 26: Fantastic Beasts and the 2001 thirst for canon• Article
Episode 26 of the Lexicon Podcast focuses on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the schoolbook released in 2001 and a new edition released this week), and Quidditch Through the Ages (the book that was originally published along with Fantastic Beasts in 2001). We first talked… Read MoreLootCrate goes Dark!• Article
LootCrate just announced the next installment of their spectacular “J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World” Crates: THE DARK ARTS Their website states: “There’s a darker side of magic and we’re exploring its depths with exclusively-created collectibles, apparel, replicas, and more showcasing the people, places, creatures, and things associated with the Dark Arts of… Read More🎙️ Episode 25: The Horcrux Conundrum• Article
For the majority of Episode 25, Steve and Nick puzzle over the topic of Horcruxes, and more particularly how they are created and when Voldemort created each of his Horcruxes. Listen in as we end up with more questions at the end then we had at the beginning. We are back to audio only this week, but stay tuned, more Video podcasts will be coming soon. Read More🎙️ Episode 24: J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World Loot Crate Unboxing (x2)• Article
Episode 24 is a little different than usual, it is actually 2 mini-episodes put into 1 (mostly because after recording the first J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Loot Crate crate unboxing, I was so busy I didn’t have time to actually edit and post it). As such, the second Wizarding World… Read MoreIt's all about the crate• Article
For me, it started with a visit to my son’s house. We were hanging around chatting when I noticed a gray box on the bookshelf with a label on it reading “Firefly Cargo Crate.” I remarked about it since, you know, it was Firefly. He took it down and showed… Read MoreFamous Wizard Cards: Analysis and Discussion• Article
Introduction In the book, these cards are collected and traded by students and referred to as Chocolate Frog Cards. However, “real” versions of these cards exist, created by Rowling herself, providing a fascinating look into the vast scope of Wizarding history. After the release of the fourth book, the… Read MoreHow old is Minerva McGonagall? (and a lesson in humility)• Article
So a few weeks ago I published a timeline pulling together events involving Dumbledore, Newt Scamander, Grindelwald, and Voldemort. It’s fascinating to see how the struggles and ambitions of each of these characters overlap and connect. While I was at it, I put a few other interesting dates on the… Read More🎙️ Episode 23: Fantastic Beasts and the Wait for the Next Movie• Article
The week Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them came out, Lexicon Tech Wizard Nick Moline just so happened to be on a business trip. On the way home, he stopped in Texas and together Steve and Nick (along with Steve’s wife Mitzi) watched the movie together. After watching the film,… Read MoreIntegrating the Voldemort, Dumbledore, and Grindelwald timelines• Article
One very interesting line of speculation coming out of the new film is how the timelines of Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Newt Scamander integrate with each other. I will be creating a very detailed master timeline with all the information laid out, but in the meantime here is what we know… Read More🎙️ Episode 22: The One About Draco• Article
Episode 22 of The Harry Potter Lexicon Podcast focuses on the character of Draco Malfoy. Steve and Nick start by talking about the latest news about the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie franchise, now announced to be five movies instead of three, and theorize on how far… Read More🎙️ Episode 21: Do Seers see alternate realities?• Article
Steve and Nick continue their discussion of Cursed Child, so here is your spoiler warning (which we didn’t quite get to mentioning until we had already been talking about cursed child quite a bit), don’t listen to this episode if you haven’t read or seen Harry Potter and the Cursed… Read MoreMinister or Teacher, either way Hermione is still awesome• Article
In the weeks since the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, there have been a number of criticisms of the story. One, which I’ve already talked about has to do with the way time itself is presented to work. Another has to do with one character, … Read MoreFinding Hogwarts in Rowling's past• Article
Where did the name Hogwarts come from? Rowling answered that question in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald: A friend from London recently asked me if I remembered when we first saw Hogwarts. I had no idea what she was talking about until she recalled the day we went… Read More🎙️ Episode 20: Is Cursed Child Good?• Article
Steve and Nick finally got a chance to sit down and talk about Cursed Child, some good, some not so good, and found it is very hard to steer away from the Time Travel rabbit hole. So much stuff to talk about and we debate a few big issues on the story.
SPOILER WARNING: Don't listen to this episode if you haven't read Cursed Child yet because we are not holding back on this episode. Read MoreAlbus Potter and the lesson in Quantum Mechanics• Article
The release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has brought the conversation about quantum mechanics in the Wizarding World back into the limelight. In this essay, I will attempt to make sense of the way Time Travel in Harry’s world actually works, and give a bit of explanation to the… Read MoreWhere's All the New Canon?• Article
If you’ve come to the Lexicon to research the characters, places, and events in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, you may have to wait a bit. We are creating many new entries and adding information to existing entries, but we aren’t filling in the main characters or events just yet. Read MoreAlphabetical search is almost here! UPDATE: IT'S HERE!• Article
Since we came out of beta, the number one request has been for alphabetical lists of characters, places, etc. Nick the Tech Wizard has been working on it ever since. This afternoon I tested it behind the scenes and it’s working great! Nick tells me there is a little more… Read More🎙️ Episode 19: The Grand Circle Tour of the Lexicon• Article
On this, our second Live episode of the Harry Potter Lexicon Podcast, Steve and Nick take the viewers on a tour of the New Lexicon and show off a bit of the new unique navigation and some of the special features that we’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into. Read MoreWhere will you be Saturday Night? We know where we will be!• Article
As you may know, part of the reason we were hurrying to get the new Lexicon online was because, for the first time in nine years, Potter Fans all have something worth getting us to a bookstore at midnight. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the script of the two part play… Read MoreWelcome to the New Harry Potter Lexicon!• Article
The Lexicon has been Transfigured! I am beyond excited to finally open the doors and bring all of you into the new, modern Harry Potter Lexicon. This project has been a four-year process, starting with long planning meetings over coffee back in 2012. About two years ago our team designed and… Read More🎙️ Episode 18: We're LIVE!• Article
Episode 18 of the Harry Potter Lexicon Podcast is very special, for multiple reasons. Our first ever Live Podcast (with live Canon questions from the audience) Our first ever Video Podcast (don’t worry, you can still listen to audio!) We pushed the New Lexicon Live… Read MoreWhy is Trelawney's name different between the US and UK editions?• Article
Many fans never even noticed that there was a difference. But it’s true. In the Bloomsbury version, Trelawney’s first name is Sybill. In the US, it’s Sibyll. Note the switching of the ‘y’ there. So what’s up with that? For years, I just noted the difference on the Lexicon and left it… Read More🎙️ Episode 17: Trademarks, Contracts, and Butterbeer• Article
Steve and Nick talk about live data on the new lexicon, which spawns a debate about wizarding currency. Just how much is a Galleon “really” worth anyway? We also try to make sense of the concept of Magical Contracts, and Nick recounts a tale of his recent visit to the new… Read MoreWhy doesn't Harry just go back in time to save Sirius or his parents?• Article
I’m sure you’ve seen things online where writers take great pleasure in finding holes in the plot of the Harry Potter stories. There are memes floating around, blog posts, and videos on YouTube with titles like “10 Dumbest Harry Potter Plot Holes.” Now, it’s not that the Harry Potter stories… Read MoreFive Moments That Show off Rowling's Storytelling Magic• Article
I haven’t read the books for awhile now. I mean really read them, as opposed to looking things up. I have a feeling that’s true for a lot of us. So when I do read passages in the course of my research, I often spot things that I had forgotten, little… Read More🎙️ Episode 16: So How Does the Map Work Anyway?• Article
Steve introduces a new series with this episode to coincide with the new version of the Harry Potter Lexicon website, and also introduces a new co-host, Nick Moline. They discuss the new website, for which Nick is the programmer, and then delve into the mysterious Marauder's Map, answering the age-old fan question of why <insert name here> didn't see <insert another name here> on the map? Read MoreWhat is the Value of the Galleon?• Article
I decided to do a little bit of research and go in-depth into currency in the wizarding world. As we all know, wizard money is made up of gold galleons, silver sickles, and bronze knuts. In the first book, when Harry is getting money out of his vault for the… Read MoreOnly Black in name: Andromeda Black Tonks• Article
It could be argued that Andromeda Tonks is only a tertiary character in the Harry Potter novels; she only appears in one scene in the final book. Still, I have always found Andromeda Tonks to be an amazingly interesting character. Perhaps, it is this lack of information that causes me… Read MoreThe Voldemort Effect on the Gold Market• Article
I know it’s a few days past April Fool’s Day, but don’t let that stop you from reading this wonderful piece by Bron Suchecki on the Monetary Metals website. Judging by the comments, a number of readers of that website for serious investors made it quite far into the article before realizing… Read MoreSorting is back on Pottermore!• Article
It’s weird how excited I am about this. I mean, I don’t get all worked up about Potter polls or simulated Hogwarts classes or any of that. I’m just get excited about canon, okay? And online sorting hats aren’t canon, even if they’re on Pottermore. Except, ever since I was… Read MoreTalking about the Lexicon on Mugglenet Academia• Article
As the new site comes closer to being live, I spent some time as a guest on Mugglenet Academia podcast. We chatted about the 18-year history of Harry Potter fandom and about the plans and hopes for the new Lexicon in the 21st century. Give it a listen! http://www.mugglenet.com/2015/11/mugglenet-academia-lesson-38-the-harry-potter-lexicon-here-and-back-again-is-now-available-for-download/… Read MoreWhere is the new Lexicon?• Article
It’s almost here. As many of you know, two years ago, Nick Moline and I started working on a complete update and overhaul of the venerable Lexicon website. Our goal was to find a way to bring all the content of the Lexicon into a content management system to allow… Read MoreWhen was Charlie born? A Canon Conundrum• Article
We're in the process of creating a whole new Harry Potter Lexicon, as many of you know. There are currently 27 editors working on the project, all fans who are eager to share their knowledge of canon with the fan community. This truly is a fan project, and an international one. We have editors of all ages and from all over the world: Thailand, France, United States, Spain, Argentina, and more.
As part of that process, I've been going through the Harry Potter timeline. I originally created this timeline in 2001 after the two schoolbooks came out and when Electronic Arts added a hundred new characters to the Harry Potter universe with dates of when they lived. Read MoreMore Pottermore magic• Article
The folks over at Pottermore have waved their wands once more and produced a few more beautiful scenes from J.K. Rowling's version of the Potterverse. While we can hardly say that Pottermore is now complete -- they'll need to add a lot more scenes for that to happen -- at least we can be glad that we now have moments that span the entire series of novels. Read MoreMysteries about the Map• Article
Today I received an interesting question in email from Katty Geltmeyer, a great fan friend of the Lexicon:
"In PA, Lupin told Harry, Ron, and Hermione that he found out they were in the Shrieking Shack by using the marauders Map. But Harry and Hermione traveled back in time and were lurking around the Willow. How is it possible that Lupin didn't see the extra Harry and Hermione on the map?"
Here's my opinion, based on canon. Read More🎙️ Episode 15: The one who is both brave AND clever• Article
The Harry Potter Lexicon podcast is back with a new series. In this episode Steve talks about Severus Snape (and calls him "Snake" by accident more than once), Read MorePottermore update! Well, not really ...• Article
I received an email from Pottermore Insider informing me that there are new Bertie Bots Beans scattered through Pottermore. I jumped on that and spent a pleasant three minutes finding them.
Three minutes. If that.
And it occurred to me at the end of my short search why I find Pottermore delightful and wonderful and, well, a little boring. Read MoreHarry Potter Mysteries that Aren't• Article
For many years, fans spent most of their time online trying to figure out the mysteries in the Harry Potter books. In fact, the Lexicon was born out of those discussions back in 1998, when the group Harry Potter for Grown Ups was a hotbed of theorizing and hypothesizing. Back then, there was no Read MoreMinor Canon Error on Pottermore?• Article
Pottermore is a gold mine of interesting canon facts. Some of these are brand new but other facts just relate events and characters we've encountered before. Some other facts are clearly included to answer fan questions or explain perceived mistakes in canon. Here are a few particularly fun tidbits of canon information that make connections to elsewhere in canon: Read More3 Cool Things We Learn About Harry in Goblet of Fire Chapter 9• Article
Let’s admit it: sometimes it seems that Harry is something of a bumbler in the early books. He fails to ask the most obvious questions of the adults around him. He barely manages his schoolwork and doesn’t seem to be able to write an essay without relying on Hermione. And he comes… Read MoreWas that Quintaped always there?• Article
Pottermore has updated their map for summer with things like a few beach chairs by the seaside and some wildflowers. I also noticed, however, that there appears to be a Quintaped on a little island off the coast. Has that always been there? As soon as I noticed it, I automatically clicked on… Read MoreHow many Quidditch World Cups have there been anyway?• Article
For the past couple of months (according to The Daily Prophet in Pottermore) the 427th Quidditch World Cup took place in the Patagonia Desert in Argentina. Since April 12, 2014, J.K. Rowling has been progressively giving us the story of… Read More