Making the Calendar Fit
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
3M ago
I recently received two comments on two different entries in the Lexicon which brought up the same problem: the real world calendar doesn’t always agree with the days and dates in the books. I’m sure some of you are saying “Of course, we know that, this has been discussed in fandom for years and years.” That’s because you’ve been in fandom long enough to realize that. A lot of people, however, are just coming into fandom or haven’t ever paid close enough attention to the details in the Harry Potter books to realize the discrepancies. Now they see a problem — for example when the newsreader in ..read more
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The Secrets of Dumbledore … still a secret?
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
2y ago
So where are all the new facts from the new film, you ask? Still secret to me. I haven’t had a chance to see it. For health reasons, I haven’t been to a movie theater in years and am hesitant to go now. On top of that, I was in the process of moving the weekend Secrets of Dumbledore was released and hopping off to see a film as definitely not possible. Another factor is that the script isn’t available yet, and we typically work from the script when adding facts from the Fantastic Beasts films. At the moment, the Lexicon editorial staff consists of just one person — me. This hasn’t been a ..read more
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Exploring January in the Harry Potter Universe
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
2y ago
The excitement of the impending holidays during December gives way in January to the dull routine of the beginning of the winter term at Hogwarts. The students return, typically aboard the Hogwarts Express, the first weekend of the month. Quidditch practices begin again and the first match of the new term is played mid-month. During Harry’s time at Hogwarts, a few major events happened in January to break the routine: 1994 Jan 6, 1994: Lupin starts teaching Harry the Patronus Charm Jan 15, 1994: Slytherin narrowly defeats Ravenclaw in the first Quidditch match of the term 1995 Jan 4, 1995: Rit ..read more
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Exploring December in the Harry Potter Universe
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
2y ago
In December, the weather turns colder and even snowy. The first school term ends just before the Christmas holidays. Almost all the students go home for the two-week break but a few stay. They are invited to a Christmas feast which involves magical crackers and quite a bit of alcohol (for the adults). December is a very busy month in the Potter Universe. Here are some highlights. 1925 – Merope Gaunt tricks Tom Riddle into marrying her, probably using a Love Potion. 1926 – Merope Gaunt sells Slytherin’s locket to Borgin and Burkes for a fraction of its true worth. By the end of the month she is ..read more
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Exploring October in the Harry Potter Universe
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
2y ago
After the hustle and bustle of September, October sees life settle down quite a bit for students at Hogwarts. The most exciting part of the month is undoubtedly Hallowe’en, the very last day of the month. And in fact, most of the October events in the Harry Potter canon are about Hallowe’en. In 1991, the castle is invaded by a huge mountain troll on Hallowe’en. In 1992, the holiday marks Nearly-Headless Nick’s 500th Deathday, which he celebrates with a memorable party down in the dungeons. Sirius Black attacks the Fat Lady in 1993, an event which precipitates one of the more unexpected and cha ..read more
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Exploring September in the Harry Potter Universe
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk
2y ago
I’ve updated all the entries and artwork that will appear on the home page scroller. The theme this time around is “September.” A lot happens at Hogwarts in the first month of the school year: Quidditch tryouts, the first classes for each subject for the year, the First Years learning to fly, and a lot of just settling into the peaceful routine of school life at Hogwarts. Of course, for Harry and his fellow Gryffindors, nothing is simple or peaceful. There’s an ill-fated midnight excursion around the dark corridors of the castle in 1991 and excursions into memories of Voldemort‘s past in 1996 ..read more
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OP36: Of Magic and Duels Part Two
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk, The Harry Potter Lexicon
2y ago
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 other magical battle in the entire series to equal this one. The roller-coaster flow of spells and counterspells is wild and breathtaking. This is certainly one of the most exciting, most cinematic magical battles in the entire saga. This mighty duel is the centerpiece of the entire seven-book tale. We are most of the way through the middle book ..read more
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Of Umbridge and Macnair
Harry Potter Lexicon
by ibid, The Harry Potter Lexicon
2y ago
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 of this maxim, showing the nuance that Rowling can give to her characters. Not everything is black and white, and characters can be antagonists without being associated with Voldemort. However, not every Harry Potter character has this depth. In the third book we are introduced to Macnair, the Ministry of Magic executioner who’s ..read more
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OP36: Of Magic and Duels Part One
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk, The Harry Potter Lexicon
2y ago
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 Harry and Bellatrix have their own duel in the Atrium before Voldemort appears. After killing Sirius, Bellatrix runs away through the Department of Mysteries and into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic headquarters. Harry chases after her, consumed by righteous anger. Once he catches up to her, he fires off the Cruciatus curse in her ..read more
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Season Three is Here!
Harry Potter Lexicon
by Steve VanderArk, The Harry Potter Lexicon
2y ago
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 name, so I added the Lexicon’s name. The podcast ran for over 160 episodes, through November of 2019. I added a few more episodes in the summer of 2020 during our 25th anniversary Canon Celebration.  And now I’d like to welcome you all to a new season of the Harry Potter Lexicon Minute podcast. This time around I’ll be finishing up my se ..read more
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