So sad, it’s Melissa’s last PC for awhile… Good luck finishing the book and come back soon!!!

Currently listening and really enjoying this episode. The question, “What would Harry think about Dumbledore being gay?” was just posed. Interestingly, I was reading DH, trying to highlight some of the passages with Dumbledore and this passage stuck out at me.

“Grindelwald tried to stop Voldemort from going after the wand. He lied, you know, pretended he never had it.” Dumbledore nodded, looking down at his lap, tears still glittering on his crooked nose. “Tey say he showed remorse in later years, alone in his cell at Nurmengard. I hope that it is true. I would like to think he did feel the horror and shame of wht he had done. Perhaps that lie to Voldemort was his attempt to make amends…to prevent Voldemort form taking the Hallow…” ”...or maybe from breaking into your tomb?” Harry suggested and Dumbledore dabbed his eyes. (DH, pg 719, American Edition)

Maybe Harry was more aware than we thought? Most likely, he was just alluding to Dumbledore’s friendship with Grindelwald.

All right, I’ll continue listening while finishing up some school work. Thanks for this, and I just thought I’d share that little tidbit. I found it quite intriguing yesterday.

Aww, we’re going to miss you, Melissa! Finish your book super quick so you can come back, and so we can read it! I’m looking forward to it!!

Good luck with the final touches on your book, Melissa! We will miss you, but wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

Oh, and poor Moochka. John’s dreams are enlightening but…frightening, as well.

Have fun storming the castle . . . er writing the book! You’ll be missed, Melissa – but I’m sure I’m not alone in looking forward to reading the finished product!

On Dumbledore … I still don’t get why Dumbledore’s orientation (or any aspect of back story that didn’t make it into the books) is of any more relevance than fan fiction. Even though JKR’s comments on the books are generally considered canon, I prefer to think of them – especially when it comes to back story – as part of the creative process.

I can see one important reason why Dumbledore needed to be in love with Grindlewald – after all, Dumbledore needed to defeat the wizard who was fighting with an unbeatable wand. It would make sense if Jo had created the love aspect as that would make sense because Dumbledore acting out of love would have been an act of saving Grindlewald from himself – which would only have been possible as an act of love.

But other than creating a set of self-consistent characters, the back story – no matter how shocking – just doesn’t seem to be to be over important in terms of interpreting or enjoying the books.

Bloody ‘ell.

About Harry not being a horcrux; it seems to be a really tiny technicality to say he wasn’t one. He was holding a piece of Voldemort’s soul, and by doing that was helping to keep Voldemort alive, so even if he technically wasn’t a purposely created “horcrux” he was acting 100% as one.

Yes -good luck with the book Melissa.

The Dumbledore is gay controversy was the biggest issue in Potter Fandom -EVER. It should have a chapter of its own in your book. My only concern is the apparent reluctamce -or simply inability of anyone on the LC editorial board to understand just why it upset so many people. Quite strange really.

But – best wishes – with the exception of the extreemly ill advised interview with GLAAD, you have done wonderful work over 5 years.

I think what the last reporter meant was JKR’s revelation will forever be considered part of the books – the “real end” (it is acting like an unwritten “Epilogue”). I don’t think she was trying to say JKR was “finished” as a writer.

Thanks for the awesome episode, guys!

WOW! That’s the first time I have listened! I was blown away. You are all so cool. I will be listening, from now on, you can bet! Oh, and John….you be nice to that kittie! No Dunk Tanks. (she’ll come and get you, my friend! Trust me~) Thanks, for your great show! :)

Meeeeeliiiisssaaaaaaaaaa! good luck with book, but come back soon!

Enjoyed the podcast as always, but I do want respectfully to make a comment on the discussion about the Bible’s teachings about homosexuality. It’s true that in the Old Testament homosexuality was condemned as sinful, and there were also many other laws and rules (on the podcast you mentioned some of the wilder of them). But in the New Testament, Peter had a vision about eating meat that had formerly been considered “unclean” for Jews, and the meaning of the vision was that Christians can accept people of all nationalities and races, without making them keep all of the Jewish law. So Christians were never meant to stone people, keep kosher, etc., etc. However, while the New Testament re-interpretes and even rescinds many of the Old Testament laws, it continues to take a strong stance against various things, including homosexuality. While love is at the heart of the message of Jesus (not only did the former pope forgiven his would-be assasin, but Jesus forgave his executors), it’s just incorrect to say that Christianity means tolerance. Christian teaching and the Bible are a little more complicated and nuanced than that. Many Christians react with hatred and fear rather than with the love which (I think) God would want us to have, not because they are evil, but because they think there really is such a thing as sin. However, I hope that those of us Harry Potter fans who love Jesus can act more like Him, not by becoming too tolerant of sin, but by a true concern and love for all people regardless of where they are in their lives. Only in that way will we keep from discrediting our faith, and be able to give it a real hearing in today’s society.

My Empire magazine reviewed OOTP DVD and said that Disc 2 was surprisingly lacking in content that made a second disc necessary! Uh oh! Has WB fluffed it again? :)

Melissa, John, Sue, Kristin…Thank you all so much for going throught the e-mails, comments, exc. every week. I appreciate what you add to the fandom so much, and I know it can’t be easy to go look in the e-mail inbox when things like this come up. Some close friends of mine have even said some pretty ghastly stuff about the whole Dumbledore issue, so I know you’ve been completely loaded with it.

Thanks so much for still putting out the PotterCasts, guys! I hope you continue to do so for a long while :)

Great show guys. Melissa, good luck with the book I can’t wait to read it.