Why Does Harry ALWAYS Win the House Cup?

Welcome to The Podcast That Must Not Be Named’s Quibbler! The Quibbler focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 4-12 – Three Shall Enter – One Shall Win.

Early in this episode, Melissa and Luke discussed the House Cup at Hogwarts and how absolutely insane it is that Gryffindor even has a winning streak. Like Melissa said: if Harry wasn’t doing dangerous things and being awarded a ton of points from Dumbledore, would they even have a streak to protect? 

Short answer: NO. Because all Harry does is lose points until the end of the year when he gains them all back and then some. If he didn’t save the world conveniently in May every year, Gryffindor would not have a winning streak and Slytherin would have kept winning like they were before he showed up. 

*Minor spoilers for books 4-7 ahead, if you care about the House Cup tournament*

What I really want to talk about today is this: why is it important that Harry and his House win this tournament? It features prominently in book one – Harry and company think Slytherin has won (because, um, it did), until Dumbledore surprises everyone by awarding last minute points. Gryffindor wins, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are rewarded for their bravery, friendship, and intelligence, and Slytherin is sad.

In books two and three, Gryffindor also wins. In year two, Quidditch was cancelled, so that didn’t factor into the House Cup tournament, but in year three, the Gryffindor Quidditch win helped secure the House Cup. The defeat of the Basilisk in year two earned Harry and Ron four hundred points, so again, just two people saving the school apparently gave their House the advantage.

But after year three, the House Cup tournament is barely mentioned again. We can assume that it was cancelled in years four and six because of certain events, and most likely, Gryffindor didn’t win it year five because of a certain authority figure. Who knows what happened in year seven (we sure don’t, and let me explain why it doesn’t matter). 

Gryffindor tasted sweet, sweet victory when the kids were 11, 12, and 13 during the books that are inarguably the most written for children. Harry and friends save the school or win the sports and thus they win the House Cup and are happy! 

Things aren’t quite as simple as they grow up. Year four begins a significant turn in not just Harry’s life, but also J.K. Rowling’s writing of the series. Chapter one is the first time we have information from a narrator other than Harry. We don’t even reach Hogwarts until page 170 (US Paperback)! And of course, the book will take us on a darker and riskier journey than ever before. 

Maybe the House Cup actually represents a time in Harry’s life when his dangerous actions had simple and positive consequences: save the school, win the House Cup.

Now that Harry’s actions will affect the entire wizarding world, his choices can’t have simple and positive consequences. Rowling is weaving a new and exciting narrative, and the House Cup tournament is just one more representation of how our characters (and our author) have grown up.

Until next time, stay imaginary. 

Prisoner of Azkaban Movie Adaptation- Love It or Hate It?

Welcome to The Podcast That Must Not Be Named’s Quibbler! The Quibbler focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 3-22M Movie Special, in which Luke, Melissa, and first-time-reader Riley provide commentary on the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie as they watch.

It was fun to listen to this episode of the show while at work, but it was even more fun to go home and sync up the movie to watch along with them. I highly recommend that method. Moving on.

Luke, Melissa, and Riley talked a lot about the differences between the movie and the book. The beginning of the film is pretty different from the beginning of the book. As Melissa pointed out, there’s no build up to Harry enlarging Aunt Marge, which changes Harry’s characterization. You don’t get to see how restrained he is for the entire visit and that it really is the last straw by the time he blows her up.

We also didn’t get to see the weeks of Harry’s summer that were spent living at The Leaky Cauldron. I know this is one of Luke’s favorite parts, and I loved it the first time I read the book. It’s so fun to experience living in the wizarding world along through Harry’s eyes. I could read an entire book of him hanging out in Diagon Alley and not even be mad.

I don’t have too many issues with the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. I think it’s gorgeous to watch and a lot of fun and pretty well adapted, considering the book is all about time travel, the most confusing sci-fi/fantasy subject ever. I’d say my biggest complaint is that the Marauder’s plot is very abbreviated and not very clear.

I don’t have too much to say in this blog, so I’d really love to hear from everyone else. What was your favorite thing about the Prisoner of Azkaban movie adaptation? What was your least favorite thing? Where does this movie rank on the list for you? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @ThePodcastThat or @NotNamedPodcast and I’ll add your thoughts to this blog!

Until next time, stay imaginary!

Time-Turners Should Include Nap Time

Welcome to The Podcast That Must Not Be Named’s Quibbler! The Quibbler focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 3-22E Final Chaps Recap.

In this first edition, I have some burning questions from hosts and guests Luke, Riley, and, of course, Lorelei, all of which focus on the use of the Time Turner in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We’ll start with Lorelei (who was on fire in this episode). Lorelei asked, “Why would Hermione want to take all those classes anyway?” An excellent question, Lorelei.

We know from the book itself that several of the classes held topics of interest to Hermione. Despite being a Muggleborn, she thought it’d be interesting to study the subject of Muggles from the wizards’ perspective. I totally agree. But why did Hermione even sign up for Divination? Is this a required subject for all students? That seems a little silly to me, since Hermione ends up dropping it anyway and it is arguably the least respected of the subjects studied at Hogwarts. It doesn’t surprise me that Hermione would want to make the most of her education, and it sounds like Hogwarts might have too many options of classes, really, since she has to take three during one class period.

But maybe a more important question off of Lorelei’s wonderful question: Why would McGonagall LET Hermione take all these classes? We can assume that the Hogwarts class schedule has been set for quite a long time and that no one ever used a Time-Turner to take multiple classes before, because that’s insane. Why make an exception for Hermione (besides, you know, the plot)? There is literally nothing stopping Hermione from using it for her own desires, and McGonagall just trusts that she won’t? Doesn’t seem like the McGonagall I know.

But since McGonagall did allow her to use the Time Turner, let’s look at Riley and Luke’s questions: How could she ever be tired? Couldn’t she get her own bedroom?

If Hermione had her own room, she could go back in time and take a nap while she was also studying. Problem solved. She wouldn’t have to worry about being spotted in two places at once. Also, the hosts pointed out that if she walked in on herself in the bedroom she wouldn’t be confused.

Which leads to my final question: WHY would a wizard in the past ever be confused by the appearance of their future self if they knew they had a Time-Turner in their possession? I understand not knowing what was happening if you didn’t know you had a Time Turner. You’d be a little confused. But Hermione knows she has one. If she saw her future self taking a nap, she’d say, “Ah yes, of course, a nap will be great later!” Perhaps wondering about when exactly she would go back to take a nap would be confusing? But if she believes that everything in the past has already happened, then she’d trust that she would go back to take her nap exactly when she was meant to.

Hopefully, in future editions of the Quibbler, I’ll be able to discuss things in more concrete terms, but I think we can all agree that time travel is confusing and Time-Turners are just insane. Until next time, stay imaginary!