PotterCast!!

I just got home from the live PotterCast in the city. Okay, that's not true. I got home, chatted with my mother, and then I had to watch Doctor Who. I ... I may love Martha. But right before that, I just got home from PotterCast.

Oh dudes. I am all over that thing like brown on brown rice. Really!

First, a few basic impressions.

- Public transportation was, of course, delayed for reasons that were hard to figure out. I had meant to get there early, but didn't get there until after 6:30, so I wound up standing in the back. I got to chat with some nice people back there, though.

- About thirty seconds after I settled into my place, Melissa Anelli came walking right by me. I managed to sputter that it was nice to meet her (totally stupid - we didn't actually meet!) and she responded in kind and quickly shuffled off. She was very busy with ... things. It was adorable. Her mother was there, too.

- John looks a lot more Italian in real life. I mean, he's said that he is, but from the few pictures that I'd seen, I didn't think so. He seemed too dark. Like he was really Philipino or something and just trying to fake everyone out. Up close, he looks much more Italian. He's just a lot darker than I am.

- I took a bunch of behind-the-scenes photos, which you can find here. They're all really boring, even if you like PotterCast. Just the hosts in various unflattering candids. Good times!

- Melissa's boobs are as big as mine used to be. And she's about as short as I am. Aww.

- The proceedings may have been taped by CBS News. I'm not sure. In any event, it probably would have aired while I was watching much more important television (Who).


Now the parts with me!! Here's a sneak preview of PotterCast #Whatever.

- As promised, I cheered really loudly at the "Is Harry A Horcrux?" question. The three of them on stage all turned to look at me. It was awesome and awkward, just as I'd planned.

- During discussion of the film, I butted in to note the following:

[Begin Spoiler for OOTP Movie — Highlight to view]

In the scene in the Ministry, when Voldemort knocks Harry's wand away from him, is he using wandless magic? I say he is.

[End Spoiler]


- I got up at the end for theories! They asked people to start lining up, and a billion people ran for it. There were a good deal of people ahead of me. Even though I started out immediately, I went up the center aisle, instead of around the side. The queue was even on the side where I had been standing. D'oh! But it worked out, because I was the penultimate speaker. I first offered to share my reasons why I think Harry is a Horcrux. But ... didn't. Obviously. Really wrong audience. Instead, I offered the world premiere of two new theories of mine:

1. Nagini is not a Horcrux. I know! This kind of, actually, would dissolve a lot of my argument for why Harry is a Horcrux. Although, I think the most important part of this plot line was finding out that you can make a Horcrux of a living thing. That's still relevant. Plus all the stuff about the scar. But! Nagini's not a Horcrux. I'd be willing to bet. It just seems ... largely speculative on Dumbledore's part. I think this was his most tentative theory, and something about it just doesn't add up. For one, Dumbledore says that Voldemort has never trusted anyone. Then he backtracks and says maybe he kind of trusts the snake. Also, Dumbledore has to be wrong about at least one of the Horcruxes. He can't be right all the time. He even says so. Repeatedly. So, there's got to be something to that.

2. Somewhere in Book 7, probably in the epilogue, Percy Weasley will become Minister for Magic. I should point out that this theory was completely vetoed by the whole crowd. Shot down. But! It was a very emotionally-based reaction. Let me explain why I think this would be good. First of all, Percy didn't really do anything that wrong. Put aside for a moment that everybody loves the Weasleys. All Percy did was have a fight with his family. Lots of people do that. It doesn't make him a Death Eater, for Pete's sake. And yes, Percy's sycophantic and arrogant, but that's just because he has some growing up to do. He's been taking an extended adolescence, but I don't think it will last forever. Secondly, I think this could work out to be a very bittersweet ending for Percy. Percy is Ministry. If he's on any sort of team at all, it's the Ministry's. He's with them. That's where he belongs. I also don't think that he will ever entirely make up with his family or our band of heroes. He's never going to "join" them again. However, I've been saying all along that Percy has to have some sort of low-level redemption happen. I think this could be just the right avenue. Percy's administration might heal the rift that we see between our heroes and the wizarding government. It will still never be a close and friendly relationship, but I think it would be better. Ties up Percy and ties up the Ministry. Both will get their acts together in the end, though they will always remain somewhat separate.

Isn't that a nice theory? Don't you think they should have listened to me?


Afterwards, I tried to patronize the Borders, but they didn't have the Ted Leo album that I wanted. However, I did manage to pick up more tea at the bus station. Woo, tea!

So what I'm saying is, you should listen to PotterCast this week! Even if you don't usually, and even if you don't listen to podcasts in general or anything about Harry Potter. Because it's a chance to hear how stupid my voice sounds in recording!