About this episode

The hosts discuss Chapter 20 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, focusing on Voldemort's request and character dynamics.

On this week's episode, we take another trip down memory lane. Be sure to hide your valuable family heirlooms because there is a thieving Dark Lord lurking. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they do the Hokey Pokey and they turn themselves around... because that's what it's all about! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request Memory #1: Hepzibah, Hokey & Helga Hufflepuff We debate whether or not Tom Riddle should have been given a post at Hogwarts vs. allowing him to dabble in dark artifacts at Borgin and Burkes Hokey The Scapegoat: we compare how Tom Riddle used her much like he used Morfin and Hagrid! Hepzibah Smith displays some of Hufflepuff's less-than-flattering character traits. Do we agree she is Slughorn "lite" in her behavior? What do we make of the “young, attractive man charming the older, wealthy woman” trope? Memory #2: Awkward Job Interview Given how his appearance has begun to change, does Dumbledore already suspect Horcruxes during Voldemort's trip to Hogwarts? Do we agree with Dumbledore that Voldemort didn’t actually come to Hogwarts to get the Defense Against The Dark Arts (DADA) post…

People in this episode

Hosts: Andrew, Eric, Micah, Laura

Topics covered

• Harry Potter
• Half-Blood Prince
• Voldemort
• Hogwarts
• Dark Arts
• Character Analysis

Keywords

• Hokey Pokey
• Voldemort
• Hepzibah Smith
• Dumbledore
• Horcruxes
• Hogwarts
• Dark Arts
• Tom Riddle

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hogwarts, Ministry, Borgin and Burkes

Books & works: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Lord Voldemort's Request

More episodes of MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

• The Psychology of Slughorn (HBP Chapter 22, ‘After the Burial’) · April 22, 2026 · 57 min
• Moaning With Dr. Myrtle (HBP Chapter 21, 'The Unknowable Room') · April 15, 2026 · 51 min
• New 'Philosopher's Stone' TV Show Documentary Blows Us Away · April 6, 2026 · 42 min
• The 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' TV TRAILER IS OUT! · March 27, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Peeves' Fight Club (Half-Blood Prince Chapter 19, 'Elf Tails') · March 17, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Prince It 'Til You Ace It (HBP Chapter 18, Birthday Surprises) · March 10, 2026 · 1h 2m

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