Three years ago, we had just fastened our hands around the behemoth Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the book where Harry gets mean, gets kissed and gets a destiny. And yesterday we got this first look at the kids during the Order of the Phoenix filming period, while we wait for the …read more!

We have our first look at Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Matt Lewis as they appear in character for a specially filmed scene for the upcoming birthday party for the Queen this weekend. You can see a still photo here in our galleries, taken from a new BBC commercial for the party, which …read more!

Bloomsbury, publishers of the U.K. Harry Potter books, has launched a search for the literary villains readers most love to hate. As part of a campaign to promote Mark Walden’s novel, H.I.V.E. (“Higher Institute of Villanous Education”), Bloomsbury has created a website where readers can vote for their favorite literary villain. You-Know-Who is, of course, …read more!

Actress Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia) will be appearing on the London stage for a limited run in “Woman and Scarecrow,” by Irish playwright Marina Carr. Whatsonstage.com gives this description of the play: A Woman – gaunt and ill, haggard after giving birth eight times – faces death. What was life? What was love? What else …read more!

PotterCast 44, “The Internet is for PotterCast” (points if you get the reference first…) is now up! Remember to hit “Update” on your iTunes! In this show: -This week’s special guest: Tom Morris, author of “If Harry Potter Ran General Electric.” Sue interviews Dr. Morris as our third “Lumos Limelight” spot. -In Canon Conundrums: Is …read more!

Playbill reports that the multiple-Tony-winning play “The History Boys” has extended its run on Broadway for another month, until October 1. In addition, Tony award winner Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon) will be absent from the cast from July 18-23 “to honor a film commitment.” Frances de la Tour (Madame Maxime), who also won a Tony …read more!

Some of our sister sites on the Floo Network – The Harry Potter Lexicon, Quick Quotes and The Cauldron Shop – are having some server burps and giggles this week, and have been unable to update; please be patient and it will all be fixed shortly. Thanks much!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has been nominated for a Teen Choice 2006 award, in the category, “Choice Movie – Drama.” its competition is Flight Plan, Pride & Prejudice, Take the Lead, Goal! and Walk the LIne. Voting is open now, and continues until August 11. The awards ceremony will air on Fox …read more!

Tomorrow the Leaky Lounge will hold its monthly meet-n-greet, this time in the form of a luau – complete with a filk writing contest, “beach blanket bingo,” custom avatars, decorations, a Horcrux hunt, and much more. Chamber of Chat will also participate, and the Corner Booth (text chat) will be open for fun as well. …read more!

We’re excited to announce that staff programmer Alex Robbin has now been promoted to become a Leaky senior staffer, with all the perks (uh…) and benefits (well…) that come with that. Like meetings. And more responsibility. And people to manage. And projects to oversee. And sitewide decisions to make. And more headaches, and phone calls …read more!