2.1. Ron rescues Harry (Season 2!)

"I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise, and pretending I'm not there."

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We are excited to begin season 2 of Mimblewimble where we will be discussing Book 2 of the Harry Potter series: The Chamber of Secrets.

In the first episode of season 2, we are going to discuss the events leading up to Ron rescuing Harry. Why does he need rescuing when it's just the beginning of the book? Well, Harry is back at Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's place. He is bored out of his mind and lonely because none of his friends wrote to him whole summer. Because he is with his relatives, he has to participate in a very hyped up dinner with a potential business partner of Uncle Vernon's. 'Participate' is a strong word as all he has to do his hide in his bedroom and pretend he doesn't exist. 

Things would have been okay...boring but okay, had it not been for the sudden appearance of the house elf, Dobby. Dobby is a funny little creature with a terrible fashion sense. He warns Harry against going to Hogwarts that year as horrible things are about to happen there. Harry is dismayed. He would rather be adventurous and have multiple near-death experiences than stay at his Aunt's and be bored out of his mind. 

But Dobby doesn't empathize. Turns out, he's been blocking all of Harry's letters too. He tries to force Harry to promise that he won't go back to Hogwarts (Tough love!) When he refuses, Dobby uses his own brand of magic to bring Aunt Petunia's pudding crashing down on the kitchen floor and then, he disappears. 

This event invokes an official warning from the Ministry of Magic. Though the appearance of the owl scares away the potential business partners, Uncle Vernon is overjoyed to find out that Harry is not allowed to do magic.

You'll never believe what happens next.

HARRY POTTER STORIES

In this episode, this segment features Jyotsna Hariharan, a listener and a friend of the podcast.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

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Preparation

You can prepare for this episode by reading

• Chapter 1: The Worst Birthday

• Chapter 2: Dobby's Warning

• Chapter 3: The Burrow

of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Google Podcast, or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

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NOTES

The Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic that Aishwarya refers to during the episode: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2015-02-01

9. Harry meets a man with two faces

"To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"

Harry walks through fire to meet Quirrell, not Snape. It's quickly revealed that Quirrell is acting under Voldemort's orders and is trying to discover the secrets of the Mirror of Erised so that he can take the Stone and bring Voldemort back to life. Somehow, Harry winds up with the Stone. Harry lies about it but the voice sees through his lies and demands to speak to him "face to face". Quirrell unwraps his turban to reveal a second face on the back of his head - Voldemort. Harry tries to get away when Voldemort monologues about how he's a mere shadow of himself. In the scuffle, Harry realizes that Quirrell can't touch him without suffering pain. So even though it hurts him as well he puts his hands on Quirrell until he passes out.

When he wakes up, he's in the Hospital Wing with Dumbledore who explains everything that happened and fills in some of the details. Dumbledore explains that he arrived to pull Harry off Quirrell but Voldemort got away. After discussing it with Flamel, Dumbledore destroyed the Stone as well. Harry recovers in time to attend the last night feast where Slytherin is expected to win the House Championship cup.

Except Dumbledore hands out some points in the last minute to Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville and Gryffindor ends up winning the cup. The year over, they pack their trunks, get on board the Hogwarts Express and leave Hogwarts. For now.

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HARRY POTTER STORIES

In this episode, this segment features Madhumitha Narasimhan, a listener and a friend of the podcast.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

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Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 17: The Man With Two Faces

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

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FOOTNOTES

• We made it! Who'd have thunk? If you've been listening from the first episode, thank you. You've made every step of this journey incredible. If you've been listening sporadically, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts. If you're just starting out, welcome! We love you already.
• We'll be taking a break before we start the next book so stay tuned! Our next episode will be out on June 21, 2018. In the meantime, if you want to let us know what you think or simply just write to us, it's mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

• Leaving you with Aishwarya's favorite "Dumbleburn" comic by 

  floccinaucinihilipilification

8. Harry walks through fire

"Mars is bright tonight"

After Harry, Hermione, Malfoy and Neville get caught out of bed past curfew, by Filch, McGonagall takes 50 each from their respective houses and assigns them detentions. Losing a 150 points puts Gryffindor behind Slytherin, in the House Championships. This really pisses off the rest of the school who ostracize Harry and Hermione. Regretful, Harry decides to not meddle in business that isn’t his own and concentrate on studying (famous last words). They throw themselves into studying but even as Harry practices spells and memorizes dates, his resolve is put to test when he overhears a conversation between Snape and Quirrell that leads him to believe that Quirrell's about to crack.

Detention takes place in the Forbidden Forest - along with Hagrid and Fang, the four of them try to find a dying unicorn. They meet centaurs before running across a hooded figure drinking unicorn blood. Thankfully, a centaur rescues Harry and warns him to be careful. Shaken by his experience, the trio contemplate going to Dumbledore but decide to keep their heads down.

It isn’t until their exams are over, however, that Harry realizes that the timing of Norbert was very convenient. Things come to a head when the trio discover that Hagrid blurted out the secret to taming Fluffy to a random hood-wearing stranger to a pub aka Snape. They immediately decide to go to Dumbledore except Dumbledore has left to London. McGonagall is surprised to discover that they know about the Stone but dismisses their concerns. The trio make up their mind to go after Snape themselves that night. When they try to sneak out of Gryffindor Tower, Neville confronts them and refuses to let them out. Hermione ends up having to use the body-bind curse on him so that they can continue with their mission. 

They sneak through the castle using the Invisibility Cloak and make it to the Forbidden Corridor easily where Harry uses the flute to lull Fluffy to sleep. The trapdoor is open and a lyre is next to it, convincing them that they were right in assuming that Snape intended to steal the Stone that very night. They escape the Devil's Snare, use brooms to catch charmed keys, play chess with inanimate chessmen and solve a logic puzzle. Hermione goes back to take Ron to safety and alert Dumbledore while Harry walks through fire to confront Snape.

HARRY POTTER STORIES

This episode’s Harry Potter story shared by a listener and a friend of the podcast - Samyuktha Dega.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

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Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest

Chapter 16: Through The Trapdoor

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

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FOOTNOTES:

- Read more about the Chiron Aishwarya mentions in this episode. If you know of any fantasy books with centaurs in them, please mention it in the comments section!

- We only have one more episode and that's the end of season one! 

7. Harry gets detention

"It'll be gone by Tuesday"

In this episode, we discuss Harry playing his second Quidditch match, meeting his first dragon and getting his first detention at Hogwarts.

Still recovering from his encounter with the Mirror of Erised, Harry throws himself into his Quidditch training to get his mind off things. Neville thwarts them in their quest to read every book in the Hogwarts Library, in their quest to find out who Nicolas Flamel is, by giving them a Chocolate Frog card that reveals his identity. He turns out to be 665-ish odd years old and the only known maker/possessor of the Philosopher's Stone, something that can produce the Elixir of Life. Just before his second ever Quidditch match, Harry discovers that Snape is going to be the referee. Mentally prepared for things to go south, Harry is pleasantly surprised when the match goes off without a hitch and Gryffindor wins. After the match, even as he revels in the excitement, Harry overhears a conversation between Snape and Quirrell that confirms their suspicions about the Philosopher's Stone. He also discovers that there are a series of defenses set by the Hogwarts teachers to protect the Stone, and thinks that Snape wants to figure out how to get around them.

In the meantime, Hagrid wins a dragon's egg in a game of card and successfully hatches it. His attempts to raise a fire-breathing dragon in a wooden house predictably fail and the trio manage to convince him that Norbert, the dragon, is better off with Charlie, Ron's brother, in Romania. However, Malfoy discovers the existence of Norbert and attempts to thwart their handoff, getting detention in the process. This event ends up making Harry and Hermione so excited that they walk straight into Filch, and detention, themselves.

HARRY POTTER STORIES

We also have our second Harry Potter story shared by a listener and a friend of the podcast - Niranjan Murali (thanks, Ninja!).

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

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Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 13: Nicolas Flamel

Chapter 14: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest - first 2 pages.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

FOOTNOTES

The swamp dragons entry in the L Space that Aishwarya refers to

If you want to read books with the swamp dragons in them, I'd recommend the City Watch series by Terry Pratchett because it features the fantastic Lady Sybill Vimes (née Ramkin) who breeds and cares for swamp dragons.

All the dragon series that Aishwarya refers to: Eragon, Temeraire, Dragonriders of Pern, How To Train Your Dragon

Us when we realized we made another sports-related booboo. We solemnly swear not to do it ever again.

6. Harry meets Dumbledore

"We're not stupid. We know we are called Gred and Forge."

In the sixth episode, we discuss everything that happens between Harry getting a new friend and Harry meeting Dumbledore.

After the Harry Potter trio, as we know now, is formed, we can see them helping each other out as any trio should. Hermione helps by lending Harry a copy of "Quidditch through the ages" and Ron helps Harry by saying mean things about Snape behind his back. Harry's first Quidditch match is against Slytherin. If Gryffindor wins, they might win the House cup. If they don't Slytherin might win for the eighth time in a row. With so much riding on the outcome, Harry is understandably nervous. During the match, Harry loses control of his broomstick. Hermione realizes that Snape is messing with Harry's broom, thinks quickly on her feet, distracts Snape and saves Harry. He goes on to catch the snitch and win the match for Gryffindor. When they discuss Snape's broom tampering with Hagrid, he lets slip that someone called Nicolas Flamel is involved with whatever the three-headed-dog is guarding. After that, the trio makes it their mission to find out who Nicolas Flamel is. Christmas comes. Harry receives a mysterious birthday present which Ron rightly identifies as an invisibility cloak. Harry uses it to go to the restricted section of the school library and find out about Nicolas Flamel. But he almost gets caught by Filch and Snape. He enters a disused classroom and finds the Mirror of Erised. He is consumed by what he sees in the mirror and keeps coming back until Dumbledore intervenes and tells him that the mirror was going to be moved and that he should not go looking for it.

HARRY POTTER STORIES

We also have our first Harry Potter story shared by a listener and a friend of the podcast - Manasvini Ravi.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

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Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 11: Quidditch

Chapter 12: The Mirror of Erised

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and your other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

FOOTNOTES

Mirror of Erised fan fiction that we love

Why we think Ron's movie personality influenced the "insensitive and foodie" image Ron has in the later books:

5. Harry gets a new friend

"Swish and Flick"

In the fifth episode, we discuss the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone that happen between Harry becoming a seeker and Harry getting a new friend.

Lots of exciting stuff happens between these two events. Malfoy challenges Harry to a midnight duel that is obviously a trap to get him into trouble. Hermione, while trying to stop them from going, ends up with them in the trophy room. All three of them run into the three-headed dog in the forbidden corridor but somehow come back to the dorm in one piece. Harry gets a kickass new broom and starts practicing for Quidditch. Ron upsets Hermione who skips the Halloween feast to stay in the bathroom and cry. A troll is set loose in Hogwarts. Ron and Harry hurry to save Hermione. The three come out of the troll encounter alive with their differences forgotten, with friendship blossoming. JK Rowling's sense of humor is at its finest in these chapters.

Harry Potter Stories

We are starting a new segment called Harry Potter stories. Every Harry Potter fan has a story about when and how they started reading the series and what it means to them. We wanna hear it! In this episode, we share our own Harry Potter stories. From the next episode, we will be playing the stories sent in by our listeners. 

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

We can't wait to hear your stories! We will start sharing listener stories from the next episode. 

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Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 9: The Midnight Duel (we start midway through this one)

Chapter 10: Halloween

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and your other favorite podcast apps. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

Footnotes

Oops! We refer to baseball when we're talking about the Superbowl when we should have been talking about football. There's a good reason we aren't getting paid to do this full time.

The original forty - An entry on Pottermore where JK Rowling shares the names of the original forty students who were supposed to study with Harry.

Rik Mayall, who was supposed to play Peeves in the movie, talks about why his part was cut

Our favorite "Troll in the dungeon" meme 😂

4. Harry becomes a seeker

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

In the fourth episode, we discuss the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone that happen between Harry getting sorted and Harry becoming the Gryffindor Quidditch team's seeker!

Lots of exciting stuff happen in between these two events. In case you have forgotten, here's a refresher: Harry's only friend, Ron Weasley, also gets sorted into Gryffindor. The classes start and Harry realizes that Professor Snape hates him and he thinks that Hagrid knows something about Snape that he is not revealing. Harry also figures out that the Gringotts vault that was broken into is the exact same one that Hagrid emptied on July 31st. Harry also can't wait for a chance to get into a fight with Draco Malfoy and when the opportunity finally presents itself, not only does he stand up to Malfoy but with his impressive flying skills, he gets into the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a seeker. Oh, last but not the least (actually this happens right in the beginning of this episode), Harry's scar hurts when he first sees Snape!

Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat (we start from the middle of this one)

Chapter 8: The Potions Master

Chapter 9: The Midnight duel (we stop midway through this one)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and your other favorite podcast apps. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

If you have any points to add to our discussion, please feel free to leave a comment below!

FOOTNOTES

JK Rowling's entry in Pottermore about Hogwarts' ghosts

Divine Humiliation: a fanfiction where Blaise Zabini is a girl

Hmm, so what did he forget?

3. Harry gets sorted

"We got Potter! We got Potter!"

In the third episode of Mimblewimble, our discussion starts right where we left off in the second episode: a wand choosing Harry. We end the discussion when Harry gets sorted.

In between these two events, Harry reads his textbooks, names his owl, travels to London with the Dursleys, finds Platform 9 and 3/4 at King's Cross, boards the train, makes a new friend, and gets sorted into a House at Hogwarts.

Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone -

Chapter 5: Diagon Alley (we start at the end of this one)

Chapter 6: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat (we stop midway through this one)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and your other favorite podcast apps. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

If you have any points to add to our discussion, please feel free to leave a comment below!

Footnotes

JK Rowling's entry about owls in Pottermore

Why Harry Potter is great literature by Brian Brown

Fanfiction recommendations:

Hermione gets sorted into Slytherin - The Green Girl

Harry gets sorted into Ravenclaw - Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

Harry gets sorted into Slytherin - Better be Slytherin!

We couldn't find the right 'Harry gets sorted into Hufflepuff' fics but here are some popular ones from ff.net (Aishwarya hasn't read either of them so can't vouch):

Harry the Hufflepuff (Humor)

The Best Revenge (Drama)

2. A wand chooses Harry

"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter"

In the second episode of Mimblewimble, our discussion starts right where we left off in the first episode: Harry finding his true identity. We end the discussion when Harry finds his wand. In between these two events, Hagrid gives Dudley a pig's tail, takes Harry shopping to Diagon Alley, helps Harry withdraw his parents' money from Gringotts and also gets him a snowy owl as a birthday present. Harry also meets a very Dudley-like boy in Madam Malkins, the robe shop, whom he immediately dislikes. Harry then goes to buy a wand, learns more about his parents' murderer and also finds the perfect wand for himself.

Are you just starting the Harry Potter series? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone - 

Chapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys (we start mid-way through this chapter)

Chapter 5: The Diagon Alley (we stop almost at the end of this one)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and on your other favorite podcast apps. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

FOOTNOTES

• J. K. Rowling's writings about wand cores, woods, and lengths & flexibility from Pottermore
• Was Hagrid revealing the vault number an accident? Maybe not. Read this related spoiler-filled post to find out more.
• The goblins from Labyrinth

1. Harry finds his true identity

"Yer a wizard, Harry"

Join us on this journey as we reread and discuss the beloved Harry Potter books from one major event to the next. In the first episode, we will start at the beginning and stop at the point where Harry Potter finds his true identity. 

Are you just starting Harry Potter? No problem. Here's what you should read before listening to this episode from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone - 

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived

Chapter 2: The Vanishing Glass

Chapter 3: The Letters from No One

Chapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys (we stop mid-way through this chapter but read the whole chapter just to be safe)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes and on your other favorite podcast apps. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

Footnotes

• Oops! We got this wrong. Looks like Daniel Radcliffe was the sweetest.

• Stephen Fry's audiobook is available on Audible 
• Jim Kay's illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone edition is available on Amazon
• Could Harry's experience living with the Dursleys be categorized as abusive? Read this spoiler-filled exploration of various childhoods in the Harry Potter series.