Chapter 15: Aragog | Chamber of Secrets

[@jamma.77]

Honestly, hearing you talk about the car makes me wish it'd come back in Deathly Hallows, just running down Death Eaters during the battle of Hogwarts.

[@somerjohns9887]

That would be fantastic!

[@PositiveOnly-dm3rx]

😂😂😂

[@keelanduffy6024]

I wrote that exact thing happening in one of my fanfictions😂

[@robertgronewold3326]

Here is the thing about Myrtle. She was not at Hogwarts for several decades after she died. Her whole reason for coming back as a ghost was to haunt Olive Hornby. She was driving her old bully up the wall, and even did something disastrous at Olive's brother's wedding. It wasn't until Olive made a complaint to the Spirit Division at the Ministry that she came back to Hogwarts and started to haunt the girl's restrooms. Chances are Dumbledore never realized the bathroom ghost was the Myrtle who Voldemort murdered.

[@thorthewolf8801]

Dumbledore tracked down the ministry employee who went to the Gaunts. Aint no way Myrtle being outside of Hogwarts would stop him, and no there is no way he didnt know who died.

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@thorthewolf8801 Not everyone who dies becomes a ghost. And if the ghost heads off to another part of the world like Myrtle did, you wouldn't readily know that it was the same spirit.

[@thorthewolf8801]

​@@robertgronewold3326Dumbledore would know who died. Dumbledore would have knowledge about the ghosts of Hogwarts.

[@ObsessiveGeek]

You can make an argument for a younger Albus not realising Myrtle had become a ghost, though it’s highly unlikely that as Headmaster he never made the connection that a ghost named Moaning Myrtle who haunts a girls toilet wasn’t the same girl who was killed. Therefore the only solution is he knows exactly what is attacking and has already confirmed his suspicions from Myrtle, perhaps he even has some measure of control over the situation though is giving Harry the opportunity to solve this challenge himself as another test/learning experience on the path to defeating Voldemort. The parts Dumbledore may not be aware of is who it is that’s opening the chamber or that the entrance is in that very same girls toilet Myrtle haunts. He’s overall a good person though there’s no need to paint Albus as completely without faults, he’s a very complex character with a lot of burdens to bear and a lot of very logical guesswork on a grand scheme of events on how to defeat the darkest wizard of the time.

[@thunderslytherclaw]

Dumbledore may have known the whole time. He consistently proves that he knows more about what’s going on than he lets on.

[@JaimieAnne]

If Myrtle was crying in the bathroom her glasses could have been off

[@klaudiagrob]

And then, when she heard a voice, she put on her glasses, but her sight has been blurred due to crying.

[@lotemylife3006]

Oh come one, I just thought of that while listening and now someone else already thought of that, that's annoying xD

[@crissy297]

I think that if she had not been wearing her glasses then she would not have been able to see clearly, and then she would have only been petrified. The glasses correct vision. The moment a person looks through glasses when the dont need them their vision is distorted. But the vision of a person who needs glasses is distorted when they arent wearing them. So if harry looked at the basilisk through his glasses he would have died, without them he would have become petrified.

[@sawanna508]

@@crissy297 Also light moves through transparent glass, is reflected by mirrors (water surfaces are the same as mirrors in mytholigy and fairytales) and can be obscured by clouds, fog and smoke.Mirrors were often made of silver and silver wards of evil beeings. The first camera was called camera obscura and later on mirrors were build into cameras as well and we have the film in addion to the lenses and mirrors. Ghosts are like fog, they are cold and are made of somekind of magical substance we don't know. There are signes that the stare of a bsailisk is hot so maybe it behaves like light? This maybe another explanation why the glasses would not help but your explanation is very convincing too.

[@dagarnertn]

Alternate theory: Tom Riddle disguised himself and gifted the spider egg to Hagrid before he even opened the Chamber of Secrets. This was to create a scape goat for when he opened the Chamber. He used this same technique to tell Quirrell how to get the secret about Fluffy.

[@edoardoprevelato6577]

That's possible, after all creating scapegoats is his main MO (the elf "killing" Hepzibah Smith)

[@davidhowell8407]

I would say this chapter has one of the most chilling lines in the series. " But I cannot deny them fresh meat, when it wanders so willingly into our midst, goodbye, friend of hagrid." The single most chilling line happens in the fifth book said by Dumbledore but we'll get there when we get there

[@BeardedTruth]

“It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom.”

[@robfab5204]

now I wanna know

[@nightwand1742]

talk about a cliffhanger

[@CarrotsKing]

It was terrifying playing the original PC Chamber of Secrets game when the spider would bellow BITE HIM MY CHILDREN on repeat.

[@stewart2590]

Thanks guys. Every Sunday morning. I get excited cause i know a new episode of Through the Griffin Door is coming out.

[@bubblehulk7647]

I usually forget, go golfing, then remember when I’m putting my pajamas on at noon. Perfect timing!

[@xAbbieCx13]

I always suddenly realise in the middle of the day and I get so excited

[@thequirkyquark]

It's nice to know that we have this to look forward to for the next few years

[@jackmcconnell5546]

I work every Sunday morning at 6am, I show up an hour or so before work so I can listen to the podcast while I eat breakfast. (Unfortunately the video version releases later, but the spotify ver is up wayyy earlier. It's dark, cozy and something I look forward to every weekend morning.

[@bubblehulk7647]

@@jackmcconnell5546that’s the perfect spooky time to listen to stories about magic

[@ellaser93]

I honestly feel that the intelligence of the Ford Anglia shows that Arthur Weasley is low-key one of the greatest artificers in the Wizarding World. It's just that no one (especially himself) ever realized it.

[@Cailus3542]

That is one thing that I love about the Weasleys. They are the most magically powerful family in Britain, but either they don't know it or just don't care. Heck, that only grows later, as powerful sorcerers marry into the family; Hermione, Harry, Fleur...

[@thirteenthandy]

Love the thestral car theory. It doesn't have to "be" a thestral. Mr Weasley put the flying and invisibility charms on the car. It may have required thestral hair to be essentially wired into it, giving the car another similarity to the Elder Wand.

[@mikebrown1881]

I think Aragog wasn’t blind when Hagrid raised him, that’s why he also was afraid by the basilisc. Aragog went blind because he is very old. He got old age cataract.

[@quanmaryce37]

Or maybe self induced blindness for protection?

[@chester6514]

@@quanmaryce37that’s an interesting theory tbh. I can see that happening.

[@abortz0907]

He was blinded when Tom riddle tried to kill him

[@PositiveOnly-dm3rx]

​@@abortz0907na, he wouldn't have gotten out of the castle then.

[@scarlett.23]

@@abortz0907i too always assumed aragog was blinded by tom riddle’s attack (a flash of light too bright for a spider?) and he escaped using his senses (smelling and touch)

[@BeastlyP1g]

Is it possible Penelope Clearwater figured out it was basilisk with the help of Hermione? Penelope being a 6th year Ravenclaw Head Girl probably is pretty knowledgeable.

[@ambiverter]

It is clearly mentioned in the book that Hermione told her that it was a basilisk, and to look around the corners with a mirror. If I am not mistaken, it was Penelope's mirror they both used

[@kuna3627]

Myrtle was not in the Hogwarts after her death, she was haunting Olive Hornby, and only after Olive's complaint to the Ministry, she came back to Hogwarts - we don't know, how many years have passed after her death. Most of the people might not even know, that she was there and she was the victim from the past.

[@a.r11384]

‘I will only be gone till none here are loyal to me’ it’s bittersweet as Harry remembers and states that line to Rufus scrimgeor at Dumbledore’s funeral 😢

[@mikebrown1881]

If seeing the reflection of the basilisc’s stare prevents instant death, it would be logical that being blind prevents all the basilisc’s stare effects.

[@TailGunR]

I think glasses are special cases in Harry Potter. McGonagall and Skeeter have their glasses appear in the pattern of their animal form. Glasses are also considered one of the first human augmentations, which means you can consider them to be part of the wearer. This makes me wonder if Moody could be petrified if he accidentally locked eyes with the basilisk through a wall.

[@ambiverter]

That's a great food for thought !

[@KyeGuard]

43:20 - In defense of Lockhart, he wasn't so much as lying about knowing more about Hagrid's arrest than Ron so much as he was...mistaken. Presumably, he knows what all the Teachers know about the arrest, as i don't see why they'd be kept in the dark, and the Teachers should know more than any student as it was a grown-up matter in the middle of the night and not a public event. Ron shouldn't know as much as he does as he shouldn't have even been out of bed when it happened, but since no one knew his invisible self was present they'd of course assume they know more than him. Snape or Mcgonnagal could've made the same statement and it'd have been less a lie and more them being mistaken. Regardless, great series. Most excellent.

[@KudaKeileon]

Weird thought: Spiders have eight legs. Snakes have none. Do spiders run from the Basilisk because a spider stole its legs?

[@K9TheFirst1]

For the car being alive, in Japanese folk lore there are Tsukumogami - if an object is loved and well cared for enough it will come alive. The only fly in the ointment is that it requires the object to reach 100 years old. But I can see a scenario where Arthur Weasley put so much magic, love, and adoration into the care that it supercharged the process.

[@joakuz]

I love this theory! ❤

[@LoneWolfLuna28]

*Aragog and Shelob fighting over who's scarier* Ungoliant: Hold my light. (If you know you know)

[@IdaSantti]

Yes and also Shelob would eat Aragog for breakfast, no contest

[@fionarodgers4806]

Is "hold my light" supposed to be a reference to how she drank the light of the Two Trees in Valinor?

[@LoneWolfLuna28]

@@fionarodgers4806 Yes.

[@PositiveOnly-dm3rx]

Who would win Saturn from one piece or ungoliant?

[@mlove.1376]

Hey Brothers! Enjoyed today's dive. I always thought that Mr. Weasley put a powerful protection charm on the car to protect his family. And this why the car had allegiance to Ron and since he was treated like family, Harry. I could be wrong, but that was my thought.

[@RiseeRee]

“I believe you but I’m not taking your advice” is basically Dumbledore’s response to Harry’s complaints about Snape LOL

[@klaudiagrob]

Dumbledore had more important things to worry about than Harry complaining about Snape. Greater good and all that.

[@Jae20818]

Thank you guys for doing this. Trauma survivors need a sense of familiarity in what we watch & listen to most of the time, but we crave something new. You two and the story are familiar, yet you bring up stuff that makes it new at the same time. Best Podcast Ever!

[@Vi_Vi_1]

I think that's why this has become such a comfort show for me. I'm excited for their new episodes but love the familiarity of the story and these two brothers I've been following for years :D

[@theaveragegamer5242]

They give Malfoy to much credit about being a decent person over all. In the Half Blood Prince he was still calling Hermoine a MudBlood, kicked Harry in the face, was learning occulamency to keep secrets from Snape. In the Battle of Hogwarts he was trying to capture Harry and deliver him to the Dark Lord. Malfoy even married a pure blood. His mom didn’t care about people getting tortured or murdered, as long as Draco was fine.

[@ShmiMonika]

Fully agree, Malfoys are not good people, they don't turn on Voldemort becuse they change their world views they turn becuse Voldemort in power was no longer beneficial to them and they only truly do it when it is clear Voldemort will lose. If Lucius hadn't failed in Order of the Phoenix they wouldn't be scared in the slightest, maybe Draco would be but as you mention he stiil seemed to hold the same beliefs as his parents and yes that is partily due to how he was raised but the moment he went to Hogwarts his parents were no longer the only influence he had and he had every opportunity to chalenge the views he had been raised with (like Sirius and Andromeda did). Draco had been given a chance over and over again to make the right choice and never took it (hesitating is not the same), his last spoken line (excluidng Cursed Child) is literally him telling a Death Eater "I'm Draco Malfoy, I'm Draco, I'm on your side!".

[@a.r11384]

Yeah . Malfoy is really popular because of Tom Felton who seems to be the nicest person but JK herself said malfoy is not a good person at all

[@damiens4601]

Totally agree

[@KudaKeileon]

Draco as a character deserved better, I think. He wasn't a great person, but he was also a teenager who was surrounded by his family's beliefs. Dudley got better. Draco could too.

[@ObsessiveGeek]

I do agree overall they aren’t the best family though I do feel Draco does deserve a shot at redemption and I hope the tv series does change the story enough to allow the character to be seen as actively fighting against Voldermort in the end.

[@ailynrenee1796]

Here's a theory for you guys: Harry can't see thestrals until his 5th year, but the dementors cause him to relive his parents' murders in (eventual) detail as if he saw them. So was it HIS worst memory that was being brought up, OR was it VOLDEMORT'S worst memory (via horcrux) being brought to the surface, and if that's the case, how is the Dork Lord able to stand being around dementors at all??

[@ambiverter]

But DO we see Voldemort anywhere near Dementors? Or maybe he has figured out some other form of protection against them (I can't imagine him using the Noble Patronus charm)

[@ailynrenee1796]

@@ambiverter the closest we come, I think, to seeing any Dementors near Voldemort himself is the Battle of Hogwarts. Otherwise, i think when Harry, Ron, and Hermione raid the ministry in Hallows is the only other time we see Dementors in proximity to Death Eaters at all, let alone Voldy. You could maybe count Macnair in Prisoner, when he's at Hogwarts to execute Buckbeak at the same time as dementors but i wouldn't

[@RiseeRee]

I think Myrtle made too much of a nuisance of herself following her death. Remember she specifically haunted Olive Hornby for decades, even going to weddings and possibly other events to mess with her. She was forced by the Ministry to come back to the school, and by that time people would have forgotten about her. It’s not like it was really widely known that the CoS had opened before, and all of her classmates would have long since left the school.

[@Vi_Vi_1]

I always wonder if, after the series concludes, Hogwarts has an issue with giant spiders. By then, the basilisk is dead AND Aragog is dead. We spend most of book 7 away from the school and when we are there it's all battle, so it's hard to tell from that, but presumably with those two barriers removed it would be plausible that his children would start attacking the school lol. At the very least, it probably went from "pretty dangerous" to "an outright death sentence" to enter the forest

[@ladyesmeralda999]

Point about glasses vs blindness when it comes to the Basilisk........ Prescription glasses are meant to help you see better, meaning that the Basilisk is more effective in it's killing. Realistically, if Harry/Murtle faced the Basilisk WITHOUT their glasses, then they'd actually be more protected, because the Basilisk would be more distorted. Think about it, all the petrifications were because of the Basilisk's image being distorted in some way..... Harry and Murtle are wearing things that actively reverse that distortion. P.S: Ben's glasses wouldn't help of hinder in Basilisk based confrontation, because they are fake, and wouldn't affect it in any way..... unless they were SUPER smudged/dirty

[@IdaSantti]

I don't think Ben even has lenses on his glasses, so literally useless. But also, what if you were wearing mirror sunglasses? Would you die and the basilisk be petrified?

[@sawanna508]

@@IdaSantti I wondered the same about Hermione's/Penelope's mirrors and the water buddle each of them would be bit bigger then sunglass lenses. So maybe it is immune to it's own star. Sunglasses don't change your own vision only the amound of light hitting your eyes.

[@Ralph-rr9iv]

I always was team Ron Hermonie since book 2. I think those 2 were meant for each other.

[@ulrikruby]

For the first time I just realized that 50 years ago when the chamber was first opened, there was also a series of attacks before ending in a murder. Yet when they first found Mrs. Norris, Dumbledore didn’t seem to immediately know she was petrified, so what happened with the other attacks 50 years ago, if they didn’t petrify people nor kill them?

[@ambiverter]

Maybe they were petrified too, and Dumbledore was ruling out other possibilities of death/magically frozen, before concluding that she was indeed petrified.

[@Acromion11]

That fact about two werewolves mating while in wolf form is widely overlooked phenomenon

[@ailynrenee1796]

It never fails to amaze me how you guys are able to explain why things are missing through the story instead of just saying the writer/writers just forgot or hadn't come up with something yet. Excellent stuff as always!!

[@romanet-b8569]

Always the first thing I do when I wake up on my first day off work :D

[@AliAngelpie]

The basilisk hating the spider webs is every person who has to dust their homes 😅

[@takumi2023]

I keep walking into them =_=. Since I'm the tall one, I tend to walk into the stands of silk across the leaves between trees

[@KirstiMilburn]

"I have safety googles" cracked me up for a few minutes... Not something I think my family wanted to hear at 1:30am while they were sleeping but i couldn't stop. Thank you J and Ben ( :

[@BilliamJoyBoy]

45:10 could they be using time turners to sleep while roaming the halls?

[@johnanderson6124]

Moleskin is one of the most underrated fabrics in menswear. It’s a thick and sturdy brushed cotton that is built to withstand even the harshest conditions and is famous for getting better with age. As you break-in this coat it will develop a beautiful patina that is charming and full of character. This coat can be dresses-up or dressed-down and paired with virtually everything in your closet - which is good, because you will wear this coat A LOT.

[@keithg460]

Someone wrote a book analyzing Snape's character. They had an interesting point about this chapter. Normally, whenever Harry or Ron speak out against Malfoy and curse him out or something, Snape docks points or gives detention. After Malfoy said he thought Granger should die, Ron wanted to attack him and he cursed him all the way to the next class. Snape witnesses this but does nothing. No detention for trying to attack Malfoy. It follows that in this one instance he agrees with Ron and thinks that Malfoy went way too far with that comment.

[@RiseeRee]

Thestrals are also amazing at navigation apparently, so it would make sense if Mr. Weasley used some part of a thestral to animate the car.

[@RancorSnp]

This episode when you mentioned the key it made me realize something I never connected the dots on before. You often mention how obviously weak the security of fluffy's door is, and that if Umbridge can lock her door in a way allohomora won't wotk, surely Dumbledore can. Which is obviously true, but actually we don't need to go all the way to 5th book to see it possible. In the philosopers stone itself, one of the trails is the flying keys, and that door can not be opened by magic. And when they find the right key, it has one of the wings damaged because Quirrel caught it before. Which means that even Voldemort didn't know the magic to force it open, this is the level of security Dumbledore could have locked Fluffy behind, if he wanted to

[@NerdyBernie66]

My question is: What happened to the Ford Anglia after Chamber of Secrets? We never see it again. It would have been amazing if we had seen it in the battle of Hogwarts.

[@solcarlosofficial]

Why did the expel Hagrid? Could they use the truth serum and he would be able to prove he didn’t do it.

[@tiinakarmala633]

Every time you mention that the spiders don't talk about the creature, I think about "we don't talk about Bruno". And now I'm certain that the basilisk's name is Bruno :)

[@triforceofcourage100]

I’m going to say that Newt did not give Hagrid Aragog’s. On paper it makes some sense both functioning on a very similar wavelength. However there’s a very big difference, Hagrid is naive about beasts while Newt is not. Newt would be very aware of how dangerous an acromantula would be and how dangerous a place being surrounded by wizards would be for it not to mention the dangers that the beast would pose to humans. Aragog is venomous as noted by Slughorn and venom from something even a fraction of Aragog’s size would kill very quickly. Even if it was the ultimate goal to release Aragog into the forest Newt would have never wanted that as doing that no doubt did massive environmental damage to the beasts in the forest. (Sidenote I am one hundred percent sure that the only thing keeping the Acromantulas from taking over the entire forest was probably the centaurs acting as their limiting factor.) Hagrid probably got the egg from some dark wizard hoping to get rid of evidence of smuggling

[@mistv901]

I love how Hermione is missing strengthens Ron's resolve to face the spiders. Such a great little moment. He holds it together throughout the entire ordeal. Then when their safe, he's like h-hold on a mo- vomit. "Follow the bloody butterflies!" Kinda sad they skipped over those last lines.

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

Funny story, when I was a kid, I had this imaginary friend who would always have a monster with him from whatever piece of media I was the most interested in at the time to serve as a bodyguard whilst he was running round fighting bad guys, and after he’d dispensed with the omnidroid and the dalek that he’d built (but before he’d created an inter dimensional portal to Avalar in order to hoick Spyro into our universe), he bred a basilisk using the prescribed “chicken egg under toad” method, and to make sure that none of them were killed, him and his companions (a fourth Aristocat and a cartoon version of Auntie Mabel who appeared in an interactive game on the CBeebies website) would simply wear glasses when they were in its presence, which worked in their favour given that most of their enemies were killer rabbits, and we all know that rabbits have perfect eyesight because of all the carrots that they eat. In spite of this, I never actually made the connection that Harry should have been protected by his glasses, but I find it funny that I accidentally managed to predict the online debates on the subject that would ensue in the coming years.

[@jonathanreal8018]

Maybe people did talk to Myrtle. Her story about her death isn't all that useful on it's own. She saw a monster and died. Hermione put together the pipes idea because Harry could hear it in the walls. Without that clue dying in a bathroom seems coincidental, and even if you do search the bathroom there's nothing to find without knowing parseltongue.

[@davidjames8331]

I wonder if the flying cars sentience has anything to do with Ron trying to use magic on it and then his wand snapping in half. Maybe that magic went into the car and changed it

[@vaguely-humanoid]

Hey brothers- love the podcast. Just wanted to give my two cents on the glasses/ petrification issue. I figured that Myrtle actually was petrified by the basilisk (as a result of her glasses), and then properly killed by young Tom Riddle. I feel like this solves both the glasses issue and the question of whether it counts as Voldemort killing her himself to make a Horcrux. It of course makes sense that the last thing she remembers is the eyes and her body seizing up (indicative of petrification rather than death, IMO). It also makes it more reasonable to me that those in charge might assume that Aragog killed her. I figure making a Horcrux involves some violence or desecration to the victim, so in recovering her body, they might not think basilisk. After all, a basilisk kill from the eyes wouldn't leave marks, and thus might also appear to be an Avada Kedavra kill- so it doesn't make sense to me that the assumption would be a beast. This also solves the issue of why Dumbledore didn't realize it was a basilisk in the intervening fifty years- because myrtle's death didn't look like a basilisk kill. Idk just something I've been thinking about lately- esp as yall keep mentioning the glasses issue. Anyway, this is my favorite sunday ritual- keep up the good work :)

[@RiseeRee]

Was Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them out at the time that Hagrid was in school? Also he was in his 3rd year so he would have only just begun Care of Magical Creatures so maybe he just hadn’t learned enough yet. Also! Speaking of Care of Magical creatures, since we know that magical crossbreeds are possible (skrewts) maybe they’re unsure that they could even guess what the creature in the CoS even could be. It’s not like magical crossbreeding was outlawed when Slytherin was teaching.

[@joasegoans3709]

Something I've thought while hearing to you two is: why is everybody so sure the events of 1942 and 1992 are connected? They're actually no similar at all, since in 1942 only one person was attacked and was killed while in 1992 several people are being attacked and they're all getting pretified That has always feel weird to me, specially when thinking how a person who was killed by the basilisc would look. I think it's fair to asume the basilisc eyes have the same effect as the Avada Kedavra curse, where you just stop living with no other sign, so, if Dumbledore suspects Tom Riddle in 1942, wouldn't he have thought that Tom just killed Myrtle and used the Chamber of Secrets as a cover to incriminate Hagrid?

[@takumi2023]

Nobody was sure until Myrtle confirmed it when Harry asked how she died. The only connection is the location where Myrtle haunts, the bathroom. As Harry wondered, what if she never left? Everyone else is sure because we've read the series multiple times.

[@takumi2023]

Further clarification, there were clues hidden throughout the story linking the two together. The first one was Dumbledore saying that the CoS had indeed been opened again. The second clue was Malfoy saying someone died the last time the CoS opening. The final clue was the memory when Harry asked Tom Riddle if he know who opened the CoS.

[@SilkBuckets]

"Chapter 15: Aragorn"

[@ericz9527]

I went right to the comments to find this

[@DeborahBarker-dh6nk]

Best part of Sunday morning ! Thanks , guys .

[@jaspermooren5883]

Yeah he's not Aragone yet, that only happens in the 6th book.

[@satsujin-shathewitchkingof6185]

What if the Ford Anglia is a horcrux? Or at least similar. Arthur put so much of his magic (part of himself,effectively) into it that his soul/consciousness can give the car sentience but the car is still part of him,an extention of his being,so it still defends his children. Orrrrr during the first wizarding war Arthur killed a death eater and made a horcrux. Misuse of muggle artificats must mean he's coming into contact with dangerous dark magic regularly so creating an extra layer of protection would be smart. He also survives Nagini's poison despite how long it takes for Harry to tell Dumbledoor what's going on and Dumbledoor then sending someone to get him. I mean,it kills Snape in a matter of minutes,there's no way Arthur could survive unless he had a horcrux and so was never at risk anyway. This would also explains why he's willing to stitch himself up as opposed to having it done magically,he knows if something goes wrong with the stitches it won't hurt him

[@maryeastman6550]

I don't think it was Newt who gave him the spiders egg. I believe it was just a traveler who was trying to get rid of it before it was found on him.

[@lisacox4984]

So would the Weasley's car be sorted into Hufflepuff for loyalty? :)

[@stecky87]

Calling Malfoy a "little turd" was one of the funniest things I've heard in awhile

[@Boundwithflame23]

The Ford Anglia’s sentience kinda reminds me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[@zimonzieclown1633]

15:24 There's an AU fanfic out there where Harry is a girl, and the events of the second book wrap up around January-February; the few chapters after the climax are basically just a summary of the rest of the school year until the final scene at King's Cross. That just tickled me.

[@LangThoughts]

The fact that Aragog can speak is not unique in the Fantasy Genre; In the Silmarillion, it's revealed that Shelob is the daughter/descendant of an eldritch spider named Ungoliant, that even the meticulous Tolkien didn't give an origin too, who speaks, and teams up with Morgoth, who was the big bad before Sauron, and was Sauron's boss, and Ungoliant and Morgoth speak.to each other It's also implied that the spiders of Mirkwood are lesser (then Shelob) descendants of Ungoliant.

[@OneJumpMan33]

A CAMERA LENS IS A MIRROR. IN EVERY INSTANCE THEY ARE SEEING THE BASSALISKS REFLECTION. Actually scratch that idk if you'd call looking through nick as a reflection. Probably more of a refraction tbh. But still. It lends credence to glasses not working

[@ClareBearCB]

i dont think tom riddle bought the diary himself... i always assumed that one of the adults at the orphanage bought it for him and maybe he had some subconscious connection to it being maybe the only gift he ever got growing up.

[@SpiritMystery777]

Omg, Slytherin's private chamber room is hysterical! And there's Dumbledore using the ROR for a wide array of chamber pots. Lol.

[@heylolp9]

My thought on the Diary being bought in Vauxhall Road is that it's close to his orphanage and he just wanted something inconspicuous to anchor him to immortality before he started his vanity collection of Hogwarts Memorabilia

[@statisticallysound]

DOES THIS MEAN THE FORD ANGLIA HAS SEEN DEATH??!?! (If it befriended the thestrals in the Forbidden Forest)

[@joelf1]

The spiders seem very insisting to not talk about the basilisk, so my new theory is, that it's called Bruno. I mean, think about it, it's leaving in the walls too and has for a long time. Slytherin's color is green... It's all there.

[@CarrotsKing]

I've always thought that the Ford Anglia was sent to Harry and Ron's aid by Dobby. I've only realized that it probably wasn't when watching your videos cause Ben mentioned it once before. The theory of a loyal car is pretty fun, maybe it absorbed the Forbidden Forest's magic because it's been there for so long?

[@rodneyowens9918]

NOOO. We're y'all throwing shade at Hot Dogs? Idk how I'm going to keep listening to these episodes after hearing that. (Easily, these pods are amazing)

[@LisaKelso-tz4xv]

I have been a fan of this podcast from the beginning, I wanted to tell you that my four week old Great Grandson loves to listen to you guys too. He will calm down and listen to you when he is upset and crying. I believe it is the tone of your voices. Keep up the good work and my Great Grandson and I will continue to watch and listen to you.

[@PositiveOnly-dm3rx]

She is introduced eating a hotdog, cuz British people think Americans only eat hotdogs and hamburgers... even tho they also eat hotdogs and hamburgers too... Just a nonsensical American stereotype from people known for the blandest food on earth.

[@Gnarlf]

In regards to the diary: In my mind Tom learned about Hocruxes and how to do them, but has not yet acted upon it. The diary is something Tom bought to keep his personal notes in and made sure, it could magically conceal them. Coukd even be, that it was some kind of progression list about the chamber, how far he came to finding it and what the results of the attacks were. So he would have that diary on him, while unleasing the basilisk again. Myrtles death was not planed and came by surprise for Tom, but he wasn't going to let that opportunity go to waste and attempted to create a Hocrux. At that point in time, the Diary was his most significant possession at hand, so he used it.

[@jankatkaromka]

I think that in POA when we see Ron's boggart we see not just any spider, but those spiders that he met in the Forbidden forest. So if he was afraid spiders before that, his fobia would certainly get to the new level after.

[@wyattwhitaker363]

Here’s a leap, but what if Ron’s wand snapping and his “spell” rebounds onto the car and the combination of his and Mr Weasley spells makes it come to life and that is why the car saves them because Ron gave it life.

[@parthpatel-vs3iu]

34:49 Hagrid is known to raise werewolf cubs under the bed and since according to harry potter timeline that was 50 years ago the werewolf in the forest during harry’s time is most likely the same cubs that grown or maybe the offspring of the them and since hagrid raised them they could also have a similar relationship to hagrid like aragog where they don’t attack him or the students

[@berylgilligan9287]

Its always annoyed me that his name wasn't Thomas Riddle. His fathers family were rich upper class land owners who wouldnt if called their son just Tom it would of been Thomas. Or just me then 😂

[@darthpotato3566]

Maybe Myrtle was petrified first. We only have her own account to go off on how she died, she wouldn't know the difference between being killed by the Basilisk and being petrified first and then Tom finishing her off.

[@anshgoel6010]

Hey brother, I have a theory why Percy was being so secretive about his dates with Penelope. We know he is a fifth year and at the end he gets 12 owls. According to you guys he is bound to have a time turner. So I think that he was using the time turner to get the time for the date. So basically one Percy is in Griffindore common room studying whereas other Percy is on a date with Penelope. He keeps it so secretive so that no Griffindore sees him first in the common room and then in some other place in the castle. The reason to choose the dungeons is because Griffindore hates Slytherin and no Griffindore will go there

[@hufflepom]

So werewolf plus werewolf in wolf form makes wolf baby. I accept that. But is the baby wolf born when mama is in wolf form or is human lady birthing a wolf the way I birthed my son? lol

[@peterpeterpumpkineater9451]

I never thought of Aragog as being blind, all along, I just figured in his advanced age, he became blind.

[@jeremytung1632]

Makes sense to me that spiders are naturally afraid of the basilisk, because for one the spiders have eight eyes, and letter number B they can’t close them.

[@Datenauflauf]

57:13 New headcanon: Spiders hate the basilisc because he destroys their webs, and he hates them because they build these annoying webs in his pipes. I love it XD

[@watsonthe890]

Hey brothers - I have a theory about the book fantastic beasts and where to find them that newt has actually put a fedalius charm on his book that make it to where you have to have some base knowledge of the creature to get those pages and the real life book we have is Harry's version when he leaves school

[@Zeke_O3773]

I dunno if I would be so quick to exonerate Hagrid on the say so of a giant spider that just told his family to eat me. 😂 I mean, Hagrid turned out to be innocent but it would’ve taken a bit more convincing from someone that doesn’t think I look delicious.

[@jb888888888]

49:50 The Monster Book of Monsters also has some sort of sentience. It will attack you unless you stroke its spine.

[@newlifechristianfellowship190]

I love this series so much! I listen to it every Sunday. I have a what if for you, What if Harry hadn’t sat next to Ron on the first day of school?

[@BigShelley]

House centipedes are truly the worst. You didn't even mention the worst part - they are SOOOOO FAST! I just googled it and apparently it's equivalent to a human running 42 mph. Nightmares!

[@SlyLashes]

What surprised me was in Deathly Hallows that Voldemort was waiting for Harry in Aragog's hollow. He gave Harry an hour to get there. But we know from this chapter that Aragog's hollow is at least 30 min walk, maybe an hour.

[@itachisvk]

For a 12 years old at night. (Almost) adult person definitely can move a lot faster. Especially if in hurry.

[@kozuet9537]

Always makes for a great Sunday! Question - how do you think they came to know of how the horcruxes were able to be destroyed by basilisk venom? I forget if they already knew that or if it were discovered by Harry and Dumbledore. Is it just by chance that Harry happens to have access to the venom? Or is it something that came to be as Herpo the foul was also the first person known to create a horcrux was also the one who invented the basilisk? Could it have been remorse? Remorse was what led Herpo giving himself (realized or not) freedom from his undeath and thus actions to be used against those who would use his darkest art?

[@eweasel1]

Mytle had been crying in the bathroom when she was killed. Perhaps she had taken off her glasses to wipe her eyes.

[@thisepisodeisabout6481]

Cameras are not just lenses there’s mirrors in them too

[@brileyford5856]

Day 88 of asking what if Harry was a girl

[@Harry-Hartmann]

A Very Good Podcast 👌🏻👍🏻

[@juangwillems]

Heeeeeey brothers! This podcast (along with Popcorn Culture) are my company to & from work. I have a "What If…" situation for you guys that might be a good one: what if Dumbledore had cast Muffliato when having the interview with Trelawney? That would mean that Snape can't find out about the prophecy, hence wouldn't alert Voldy and that would leave Dumbledore as the only one to know that Harry is *the chosen one* (please be read as Daniel in HP6). That would also mean that, for the very first time, Harry could've grown from baby to little kid with both parents, but with the menace of Voldy roaming around? Hope you get to see this, it has been bouncing around my old dome for the last couple of weeks! Lot's of love y'all ♥

[@KnightofLillies]

Instead of Newt giving Aragog to Hagrid, I can see where a younger and smaller Aragog ran away from Newt (especially if he was previously a weapon for Grinderwald) and stumbled upon Hagrid who immediately decided to keep him. (Also I imagine Hagrid didn’t get the spider until that year cause no way he managed to keep that secret for 3ish years)

[@davidhowell8407]

The diary looks unassuming just like The One Ring from LOTR. An object that you wouldn't think twice about picking up, because you've done it a thousand times before in a thousand different situations with objects that look just like it. It's the perfect object to curse, A book.......in a school. As to the importance of the diary, Voldemort saw the diary as his artifact to be set with the cup, the sword, the diadem and the locket.

[@AHufflepuffAndASwiftie]

Have you been watching Bridgeton lately, J?? Your "does he not?" question kinda reminded me of how they always seem to phrase questions in that show!! 😂 And I think you meant "MUGGLE" world, not "real" world . . . 😅 Also, I think you meant wolf "PUPS", not "cubs; wolf babies are called "PUPS", not "cubs"! 😉 Also, also, poor Fang!! He probably hasn't been out ALL DAY!! 🥺😅 And, and, ha! A Taylor lyric reference right there: "Dancing round it . . . " 😆 Also, I always felt kinda bad for Mytle b/c she was just kid being teased when she died . . . Honestly, I always felt like she could have been like Hermione BEFORE she became friends with Harry & Ron; she was not well liked, either, if I remember correctly . . . 🥺 And I think your'e talking about a "chamberPOT", not just a " chamber". A "chamberPOT" was used to go to bathroom in the middle of the night so you didn't have to go to the outhouse in the middle of the night, AND they're called "chamberPOTS" B/C a "chamber" was an old word for a "bedroom" (I THINK the word "chambér" might just be the French word for "bedroom", actually . . . 🤔, but I may be wrong about that; I don't know French (or French-spelling) very well). WHICH all of this makes think that the "CHAMBER of Secrets" MAY have been Salazar's OWN bedroom, which, in turn, gives to the theory that the Baisilik is just a GIANT pet to Salazar & company!! He just has a giant pet snake curled up in his bedroom!! 🤣

[@RedDragonForce2]

@1:06:41 Harry is actually smarter than he shows in these books. He's smarter than Dudley, but would get punished for it. He's smarter than Ron, but Ron would get super upset with him for being a "know-it-all". Harry, not wanting an upset Ron because he's clinging on to his first ever friend since prior to losing his parents, rather than tapping into his full potential from the get go. Harry's grades could also be one letter higher (give or take Snape's bias) across the board, and that does include History. Divination is different, because some of it's easy from using your own schedule to predict the future, because you know which classes would have specific dangers. Other times, having the third eye of sight definitely more nuanced than that. People like Hermione and especially McGonagall have no way of appreciating the art of Divination because they're more science focused. It's similar to how Snape describes the art of Potion Making. He's a natural Potioneer, able to discern how to fix and/or improve Potions from a glance and basic information alone. Not everyone had that subtle talent, which upsets Snape even outside his own bias. But point is, Harry holds back, and this is just a brief glimpse into what his potential actually is.

[@somerjohns9887]

REVIEW: 10/10 dont change a thing I get excited every Sunday! THEORY: what if the reason no one has died is cuz Ginny is controlling it… her pure sole is holding the snake back. Rip tear and kill could be the actual motive but Ginny will not have it. QUESTION: do we still get recorded episodes during the Griffin Tour??? Cuz big sad if not.

[@Travis951219]

Heyyy Brotherrrrr!!!!! Love the deep dive, especially the comments you make regarding the audio books (Jim dale > Stephen fry ❤❤❤). Had a question about the series as a whole. I’ve always thought that each book represented one of the core subjects taught at hogwarts. Third year would be transfiguration because of all the animagus/werewolf stuff; book 1 is charms due to how important wingardium levels a seems to be; book 2 is herbology (maybe) cuz of the mandrakes. Book 5 seems to be divination. Do you agree and if so, what would all the books be? Would the final book represent the OWL final exam? I also wondered if you noticed that the books seem to introduce a core magical way of travelling in each book (broomsticks, floo powder, knight bus, portkey, thestrals, apparation, respectively)

[@meldiyer3904]

The greatest series ever! Hands down! 1000/10!!! HEY BROTHERS!!! Not a plot question but I was wondering if you'll ever bring your father onto the podcast? I'm sure we'd all love to meet to man that started yall on this journey 😀 maybe even convince him to give us some of his character voices?!?

[@ambiverter]

37:09 No, the Ford Anglia already had some sentience, because it "threw" Ron and Harry out after crashing into the Whomping willow, and "Ran away" into the forest with its lights blazing "angrily"... Probably to do with Arthur's magic...