This week, Aureo, Ev, Sam, and special guest Geoff (our social media wizard!) tackle the iconic Marauder’s Map chapter in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We’re plunging into the darkness of dementors, exploring the secrets of the Marauder’s map, and laughing along with the Weasley twins’ hilarious antics. And, of course, no trip to Hogsmeade is complete without a butterbeer at our favorite pub: The Three Broomsticks.
Grab a butterbeer and join us for a fun-filled episode, capped off with a discussion of the chapter’s shocking finale.
In this episode:
- This is not Harry slander this is Harry realism
- Thanks to Ev we learn about real-life Grims in English churchyards
- When can magical children form memories?
- Sending dementors out in the country to find Sirius Black is just baffling
- Does Hogwarts effectively turn into a prison by the Dementors being stationed outside of the grounds?
- Some of you will die but Dumbledore was willing to make this sacrifice
- Lupin’s secret is that he’s always sad
- Madam Pomfrey needs more staff
- Passing down the map is actually a sacrifice by Fred and George
- Harry Potter and Wizarding Building Maintenance
- How does muggle tech impact magical inventions?
- Stockpiling chocolate keeps Dementors away
Pub’s Jukebox: Marauder’s Map by The 8th Horcrux
The problem is not so much that executives are placing constraints on creatives (necessity is the mother of invention, and all that), but the type of contstraints they are placing.
The Han Solo prequel could have been an interesting opportunity to explore the wider Star Wars-universe, but instead they spent all their time focusing on explaining the backstory of stuff that didn’t need it (unique blaster, lucky dice, etc).
You’ll also see a lot of complaints about movies being “written for the trailer” – certain scenes/action sequences are decided on in advance (because they’ll look awesome) and then some poor writer has to try and make a story out of them.
Tales of the “Black Dog” also note that it has a flaming heart, and eyes that shine burning red.
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I like the fan theory that the reason Harry can recall his mother’s death so clearly when dementors are around is that it’s Voldemort’s worst memory/fear (his own death), via the scarcrux.
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If I interpreted the book correctly, the dementors were specifically stationed only around Hogwarts because of Sirius being heard muttering about “he’s at Hogwarts” before he escaped.
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I agree that there’s too much overlap between what constitutes the police and the military, but like a lot of issues about the way the Ministry of Magic runs, it’s also due to the size of the population (several thousand at most).
I too came here to write about the theory that Harry relives his parents’ deaths via the horcrux, though I’d never thought about it being Voldemort’s (and so the horcrux’s) worst fear. A few chapters later he also recalls James’ death while practicing his Patronus with Lupin. Within this theory, I find it interesting that every time Harry remembers these events he wants to help his parents, especially his mother, so if the memory is coming from the horcrux it seems clear to me that the emotions aren’t.
Good point!
It’s like when Harry picks up bits of Voldevision in later books – there’s a definite sense that he experiences Voldemort’s emotions but also has his own. The snake attack, for example: part of why it’s so shocking and confusing for poor Harry is that he feels both delighted savagery and frightened disgust.
Maybe Hermione’s being passive-aggressive (in getting flossing string-mints for her parents) because they don’t approve of sweets.
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Harry misheard Hermione’s spell – it was “mobiliAlbus”. Dumbledore’s keeping an eye on Harry, cunningly disguised as a Christmas tree.
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Harry reacts slower than usual because he’s literally frozen – as was repeatedly mentioned, it’s the middle of winter and he didn’t bring a cloak!
I want MobiliAlbus Christmas ornament!!!!
Re: the Mobiliarbus spell, I always thought that was indicative of Hermione’s precision.
Like, you could move anything with a simple Wingardium Leviosa or some kind of Mobilus Charm. But if you want to be very precise and focused, you’d add a suffix for whatever it is. “Mobiliarbus,” “Mobilicorpus,” “Mobilibutterbeerus” and so on. Hermione very much seems to the type to go for the very precise incantation you need rather than a general spell and hope you’ve focused enough.