We Solemnly Swear

Note from the MickOlsens: Sorry for our absence! As you've surely felt, the past 6 weeks have been crazy and our little group of sisters have been pulled in a million directions, so we put a pause on publishing. But we're back and will do our best to bring some magic into these crazy times!

With over 140 staircases in Hogwarts, there are definitely patterns and tricks the students have to learn to simply make it from their dormitory to class each day!

Kacee Mickelsen is the wonderful sister-in-law to Nadine and Angela. In this episode, we look at who Kacee is in the muggle world and in the wizarding world.

Because of Kacee's profession as a singer, we also discuss the musicians found in the Harry Potter world, including Celestina Warbeck and The Weird Sisters!

Check out Kacee's latest album here: https://www.kaceemickelsen.com/

Hogwarts without towers is just a lame square office building. In today's episode, we discuss in great heights the many towers that make up the magical skyline that we have come to know and love as Hogwarts, including the Gryffindor Tower, Ravenclaw Tower, Divination Tower, Astronomy Tower, and the Owlery.

If you could recast the Harry Potter movies, regardless of age, who would you choose?

The magical portraits inside Hogwarts are a staple of the castle decor. Representing famous witches and wizards throughout the ages, these paintings can interact with each other and with students. We dive into the history of the portraits we know about, the rules of a magical painting, and theorize about the creation of these masterpieces.

The Tale of the Three Brothers is an iconic story in the Harry Potter universe, weaving in themes found throughout the series. In this week's episode, we break down some of the symbolism behind the story and discuss different fan theories about who the brothers were and what they represent.

Peeves is the poltergeist of Hogwarts who has been around the school since it was founded.

“Peeves is the most notorious and troublesome poltergeist in British history. Unlike the overwhelming majority of his colleagues, Peeves has a physical form, though he is able to become invisible at will. His looks reflect his nature, which those who know him would agree is a seamless blend of humour and malice.”

Hogwarts has dozens of ghosts roaming its corridors, so in this episode we break down the stories of the ghosts we know and theorize on why these people chose to stay as spirits.

As a diligent rule-follower and respecter of authority, Percy Weasley puts his prestige and power roles above his family -- and hurts people along the way. In this episode, we break down Percy's life, his ambitions and motivations, and what he did in the end to turn everything around.

It can be a little violent and emotional, but this tree actually helped a lost little boy come to terms with his condition. The Whomping Willow is a staple of the Hogwarts grounds. Planted in 1971, this tree protected the entrance to the Shrieking Shack so a young werewolf could attend school.