Jo has updated her site with a new Wizard of the Month:

Harvey Ridgebit

1881 - 1973
Dragonologist, caught first Peruvian Vipertooth, established world's largest dragon sanctuary in Romania.

The MuggleNet team wishes you a happy and healthy 2007! We've added some holiday spirit to the default layout to welcome in the New Year.

2006 - Year in Review: Look back at and reflect on the biggest Potter stories of the year.

Technical Problems: The MuggleNet merchandise shopping cart is broken - we know, great timing - and we won't be able to fix it until after our midnight deadline. If you still want to buy shirts - there are several hours left - send an email to orders@staff.mugglenet.com and we'll get in touch with you. We apologize for the inconvenience.

In this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, we talk about the Harry Potter fandom in the year 2006. We also listen to some of the best MuggleCast moments over the past year, premiere my Wizard Rock single, and enjoy some listener-created segments.

To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) in iTunes to have each new episode sent to your computer weekly. You can also download the show off the MuggleCast website (including in a low-bandwidth version for dial-up listeners). Enjoy!

At midnight on New Years, all MuggleNet merchandise will become collector's items, so this is really your last chance!

I know, sad.

This message will self-destruct.

Amazon has recently released a list of the most reviewed and requested items of 2006. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone topped their list as the book with the most positive reviews by customers for the year.

The actor who plays Snape in the HP films spoke recently in an interview about his new movie, Snow Cake, and a little about Order of the Phoenix. You can see a video of this interesting chat here. Thanks to those who emailed!

Although no release date has been announced, the UK's Royal Mail is already undergoing preparation for the task of delivering Deathly Hallows. Planning will commence with online retailers next month, and pre-orders are expected to be just as high as the 500,000 for Book 6. "This kind of operation takes a lot of planning," said a Royal Mail spokesman. UK fans (and international fans too) can pre-order the book now at Amazon.co.uk.

In other news, the door to the Room of Requirement at JKR.com has now closed.

HPEF (people behind Prophecy, another HP symposium) has announced two new Potter conferences. The first is Portus 2008 (July 10-13) in Dallas, Texas. With its theme, "Opening the door to the Department of Mysteries," Portus will explore all the metaphysical aspects of the Wizarding World.

The Ministry of Magic will be scrutinized even more in-depth at "Level Two 2009," which will be held July 23-26 2009, in San Jose, California. The theme for this conference will focus on Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Registration for both these conferences has not yet opened, and websites are expected to be launched in the spring.

As a reminder, two other Harry Potter symposiums will take place this summer: Enlightening (July 12-15) and Prophecy (August 2-5).

Thanks to Shelly for the tip!

British bookmakers are taking bets on which characters will bite it in Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy are the current front-runners with 6-1 odds - after Voldemort, that is, who remains the odds-on favorite at 4-5.

Money has also been placed on other Harry Potter events occurring: Ron and Hermione getting married with Harry as best man; Ron and Hermione to have a child called Harry; and Ron to kill Draco Malfoy in a duel.

For the record, we talked to Santa - he can't do anything about Book 7. Sorry.

The Internet Movie Database has released their top 25 stars for 2006. Among them were Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who came in at 22nd and 16th, respectively.

These rankings were not based upon critical assessments or box-office performance, but the actual search behavior of over 42 million users of IMDb.com.

Harrypotter.nl, the Dutch publisher of the Harry Potter books, has listed Harry Potter en het Fatale Heiligdom as the working title for Book 7. This is not the literal translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and translates as "Deadly Shrine," "Deadly Sanctuary" or "Deadly Saints." The literal Dutch translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows would be Harry Potter en de Dodelijke Heiligen.

In addition, it has been reported that the Finnish title will be Harry Potter ja kuoleman pyhimykset, which translates as "The Saints of Death."

UPDATE: Some readers have sent in some other translations of the title that are being reported by news stations/websites:

"Harry Potter und die todbringenden Heiligen" (German)
"Harry Potter et les saints mortuaires/mortels" (French, "Deathly/Mortal Saints")
"Harry Potter y los santos de la muerte" (Spanish, "Saints of Death")
"Harry Potter e l rito moratle" (Italian, "Deadly Ritual")
"Harry Potter e os Santos Mortuários" (Portuguese, "Deathly Saints")
"Harry Potter ve Olumcul Takdis" (Turkish, "Deadly Blessing")
"Hari Poter i Smrtonosni Blagoslovi" (Serbian)
"Harry Potter si Ingerii Mortii" (Romanian, "Angels of Death")
"Harry Potter i sveci smrtnici" (Croatian, "Mortal Saints")
"Harry Potter ja Surmapühakud" (Estonian, "Saints of Death")
"Harry Potter ve Ruchot Hamavet" (Hebrew, "Spirits of Death")

Please be reminded that these are only tentative titles; the definitive titles will appear at a later stage.

Thanks to everyone who emailed!

HarryLatino has uncovered some interesting details concerning recent trademarks filed by a company named Field Fisher Waterhouse. Along with registering Deathly Hallows on December 5th, they also registered two more titles: Heart of Ravenclaw and Deadly Veil.

UPDATE: A representative for Jo said the titles were "never contenders" for Book 7. "We often registered a few spares to keep people guessing! Whether Jo reveals what her two other favorites were, I don't know."

In what won't be the best holiday gift for her, Ms. Mallory, the Georgian woman who's fighting to have the Potter series banned from local schools, has been named Idiot of the Year by the Washington Post.

This vigilant mother of four has demanded local schools remove Harry Potter from their libraries because, in her analysis, the books are an "evil" attempt to indoctrinate children in Wicca religion. Congratulations Laura, and good luck on your quest to eradicate the dark forces which pollute children's literature.

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

What was scheduled to be a holiday episode of MuggleCast turned into a special edition of our Harry Potter podcast (under high demand this week) with lots of analysis on the new Book 7 title. Join Jamie, Eric, Laura, Kevin, Micah and me for all of the discussion on Deathly Hallows that you could possibly need, including:

- We discuss what the "Deathly Hallows" could be.
- Are they the remaining Horcruxes?
- Does this title encompass the theme of the series as a whole?
- Is there a connection with the murder of Lily and James on Halloween?
- Will we see book 7 in 2007 after all?
- Micah predicts October 31st. You hear that, Jo?
- Andrew tries to interpret Jo's HP dream.
- Somehow this turns into analyzing life as she writes the final book.

All that and much more is covered on this week's episode! You can download the show on this page of the MuggleCast website, or subscribe (for free) in iTunes. You don't need a special iPod or MP3 player to listen... just download and click Play. Enjoy!

Those of you in the UK are now able to pre-order Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows over at Amazon for 13 pounds and 99 pence ($27.50).

Thanks, Timo.

Presenting your Christmas present from Jo Rowling:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thank you, Jo, and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Analyze the title: Debate and discussion about the title is currently taking place over at our forums - go check it out!

The release date: Find out when we think Book 7 will be released, now that we have a title.

EDIT: Some news outlets are reporting the title as "Deathly Hollows," but this is incorrect. Also, for those of you who hadn't noticed, the title was released yesterday on the winter solstice. Recall in OOTP: "...at the solstice will come a new... and none will come after..." At the winter solstice, a new title will be revealed, but as this is the last book, no more will be released.

The Do Not Disturb sign has been removed from JK Rowling's official site. Highlight the text below to see how to open the door.

-->Go to JKRowling.com. Click on the eraser on her desk.

1. Click the knob on the open door in the mirror to see the Christmas tree.

2. Click on the top half of the main door to see a wreath.

3. Click on the top of the mirror to reveal garland.

4. They will all go away if you click the spider web next to the mirror.

5. Click on the fourth chime in the window and the key for the door.

6. Drag the key to the door knob to unlock the door.

7. The door opens to reveal a package.

8. When you click the bow, the package will open.

9. Inside is a game of Hangman you can play to guess the title of Book 7!<--

Click below to watch a step-by-step video revealing the title.

A new photo of Dan Radcliffe is currently on display at the Michael Birt photo exhibition in Fulham, London. You can see the image here, thanks to DR.com.

Slash Film has a new interview with Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron and another film director Guillermo Del Toro. In it, Cuaron discusses whether Harry could possibly die in the final book:

"I don't know, I had this same conversation with someone the other day about that. In one hand it makes sense, in the other hand - how do you finish Harry Potter if you kill Harry? What is the resolution of the tale? How is she going to finish the seven books and not have an temptation to do an eighth book? I don't know. And that kind of stuff, I have a really good relationship with JK but I don't mess with that."

He goes on to mention a recent phone call he received from Jo congratulating him on his film Children of Men:

"She really loved Children of Men. And we started talking and I said that it was a tough process doing the movie because of the brutality of what you're doing, of what we're picturing. And then she conveyed to me, 'yes, yes, it's been hard for me because when you do writing about hard stuff, you have to sleep with that.' But I don't go into details."

Jo Rowling updated her official site today with a new diary entry and a new addition to the rumors section. In her diary, Jo fills us in a little on Book 7's progress - she's currently "writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more" - and says, "I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will.)" She also details a recent dream in which she was both Harry and the narrator.

I was searching for a Horcrux in a gigantic, crowded hall, which bore no resemblance to the Great Hall as I imagine it. As the narrator I knew perfectly well that the Horcrux was jammed in a hidden nook in the fireplace, while as Harry I was searching for it in all kinds of other places, while trying to make the people around me say lines I had pre-arranged for them. Meanwhile waiters and waitresses who work in the real cafe in which I have written huge parts of book seven roamed around me as though on stilts, all of them at least fifteen feet high. Perhaps I should cut back on the caffeine?

Could this dream have some bearing on an event in the seventh book? JK also wrote in her rumors section: "Harry will NOT merge with Voldemort to become a single entity, nor would Harry ever wish to command Death Eaters/Dementors/Inferi," debunking the theory he would.

MuggleNet's sponsor Alivan's is offering Express rates starting at only $4.99 for FedEx 2-Day Delivery and $12.99 for FedEx Overnight (that's cheap). Ground options are unavailable until after Christmas but all Express rates are LOWER than standard ground anyway, so take advantage of these awesome rates and get those last minute gifts. Orders placed by Wednesday Dec. 20 will arrive on time if 2-Day is chosen and orders placed by Friday Dec. 22 will arrive on time with overnight delivery chosen.

On this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, Dylan Spartz joins us as a guest host as we discuss the founders of Hogwarts. Plus:

- We listen and comment on a Fox 5 report concerning Laura Mallory and her appeal to have the Potter books banned from Gwinnett County schools.
- Did all turmoil in the wizarding world arise from poking a sleeping dragon?
- Why would Gryffindor be friends with Slytherin?
- What happened between them?
- Does Hogwarts have a mind of its own?
- How was Slytherin able to create the Chamber of Secrets without the other founders knowing?
- Just how closely related are pureblooded wizarding families?

All that and more is available at just a download away! Visit the MuggleCast website for direct download links or update subscribe (for free) in iTunes. Remember: No iPod is required to listen, and we have special versions of the show at our website for those with dial-up connections. Enjoy!

To get in that cheerful holiday mood, we have two fresh MuggleNet themes for you.

Come on now, don't be a Scrooge! Check them out here and here.

On behalf of the team here at MuggleNet: Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid, or any other holiday you may be celebrating.

OOTP merchandise isn't expected to hit shops until next year, but the first Phoenix T-shirt is now available for pre-sale. It features Voldemort from the promotional poster released earlier this year and costs just $15.

However, the T-shirt is in limited stock and must be purchased by Monday. Also note that the shirt can only be bought online. You can order right here.

Yesterday we told you that Laura Mallory lost her appeal to ban the Harry Potter books. We now have footage covering the story from Fox 5 in Atlanta.

A new photo depicting Dan Radcliffe and OOTP director David Yates was officially released by Warner Brothers today. It was originally printed in the December 18th issue of Newsweek that accompanied this article.

Additionally, French magazine Cinelive has this new photo of Dan with his wand at the ready on their cover. Thanks to UniverseHarryPotter.com for the scan!

Laura Mallory's case for removing the Harry Potter books from Georgia's libraries was dealt another blow today, as the Georgia Board of Education made a unanimous decision to keep the books.

The Gwinnett County school board also voted previously for the books to remain, but Mallory appealed the decision to the state school board. Mallory, who has been working for over a year to ban the books, has shown no signs of giving up, as there is talk of yet another appeal.

The January/February 2007 edition of Premiere magazine previews the upcoming fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In the preview below, the article references this photo.

"Global terrorism. Political repression. Parental abuse. Fascist allegories. Yep, it's welcome back to the sinister and disturbing world of Harry Potter, teen wizard, who in this fifth installment of the franchise must contend not only with assassination attempts and first kisses but with the loss of someone very close to him...."

Lycos has recently released their list of the top 50 search terms for 2006. Despite having no new book or movie this year, Harry Potter remained on the list at number 40 which is a drop from its rank of 27 in 2005.

Cards Inc., the company that recently received the European license for Harry Potter merchandise, has released some new details pertaining to their Order of the Phoenix line. The firm understands the Potter audience is maturing, and will therefore be aiming its OOTP products at both young and old consumers.

Some major retailers have already been given previews of the upcoming line of toys, and have been hugely impressed by both their range and quality. Items which garnered particular attention were the "stunning" Death Eater mask and Lucius Malfoy's interactive wand game.

The first wave of this exciting new HP merchandise will hit stores this June, in conjunction with the July release of the fifth movie. Once the products are available, you will most certainly find them at MuggleShop, your one-stop location for Muggle merchandise.

A couple of weeks ago we announced our MuggleNet Fan Trip across the United Kingdom in partnership with HP Fan Trips. We had promised that financing would be available to those who might need it, and we're now happy to announce that the GE Money financing is now available! Read full details about it right here.

At yesterday's Eragon premiere in London, Katie Leung, Bonnie Wright, and the Phelps Twins were present at the film's first showing, and they attended the after-party. You can see a few photos at Shurtugal and at Getty! Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip.

JK Rowling updated her site today to wish Charlie Weasley a happy birthday.

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed!

Check it out here. Hopefully we'll also get a Book 7 update over Christmas!

In this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, Jamie teaches us all another life lesson, I have a big update on my Wizard Rock band, and much more:

- How much of Draco will we see in OOTP?
- A discussion on traitors and innocent characters.
- Is McGonagall a spy?
- Will Ginny be used as a traitor in Book 7?
- What happens when a Horcrux is destroyed, but a fraction of it resides inside of a host?
- Can R.A.B. lead us to more clues about the Horcruxes?
- Could Draco build up enough hatred to AK anyone?

To listen, we recommend subscribing (for free) in iTunes to have the show downloaded to your computer automatically each week. You can also download each episode directly off the MuggleCast website. Low-bandwidth versions are also available for those of you on dial-up connections. Enjoy!

As we mentioned several months ago, Laura Mallory, a Georgia mother, has been trying to remove the Harry Potter books from library shelves in her local school district. The Gwinnett Board of Education voted unanimously to keep the books on the shelves, but Ms. Mallory has since appealed the decision, claiming they promote witchcraft.

The Georgia State Board of Education will vote Thursday to determine the fate of the Potter books, which have been deemed by the American Library Association as the favorite controversial title.

David Yates, director of the fifth Harry Potter film, spoke in a new interview about what direction he's putting the movie in. Yates' prestige has increased in the UK after producing hits such as Sex Traffic and The Girl in the Cafe, but it has been questioned why someone who makes "gritty, hyperreal socially conscious films" is directing Potter. Producer David Heyman answers that question, saying, "Well, this movie is bit of a revolution."

Yates had this to say: "The ministry is this bureaucratic authoritarian regime trying to impose a fundamental doctrine on this liberal wacky school. The ministry isn't very good at accepting the beauty of differences. Everything has to fit in a box, and if it doesn't fit, it must be removed. The wonderful thing this story tells kids is that it's OK to be different."

OOTP presents Harry with his toughest experiences yet, and that's what Yates is focusing on. "I've stretched Dan quite a bit. He's a very intuitive person, very bright, quite sensitive. I'm just helping him wake those things up. You can see his determination and ambition, and he can switch things on a sixpence, so I can't wait for people to see what he's achieving."

Thanks to Roger and Andrew for the tip!

Forbes has released a list of the top-earning authors of 2006, and JK Rowling came in second place. She trailed Dan Brown's $88 million earnings, pocketing $75 million from the Harry Potter books, movies, and merchandise. However, JKR can always rub in Brown's face that she's the world's first and only billionaire author. Congratulations, Jo!

Some photos and details of the upcoming Order of the Phoenix action figures have just been released on Action-Figure.com. You can see a number of photos here, depicting the Harry figurine along with his Patronus, and a short description below:

I can't give you the full details of the line yet, but what you won't be able to tell from the pictures below is that the line is 3.75" scale! Yeah, I saw the sculpt and gasped as well (and I can tell you that the preapproved Ron and Hermoine I've seen in private look just as good!) This scale gives the line a lot of possibilities, a LOT of possibilities, that have me very excited and wanting to tell you more.

Thanks to everyone who emailed!

Last night, Daniel Radcliffe presented for the AFI Awards at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in Australia. You can view red carpet footage and Dan presenting the Best Actor award in the "Read More" link below. Thanks go to Krystina and SnitchSeeker for the clips!

Seeing as many MuggleNet staff members celebrate birthdays during the month of December, I'd like to take the time now to recognize them for their achievements:

Senior staff member Rachel Godoy, who manages various sections, turns 20 on December 20th.

MuggleCast's own Laura Thompson will celebrate her 18th birthday on the 19th.

Becky, who does various jobs for the site, including the gallery, celebrates her sweet 16 on the 24th.

MuggleNet's graphics whiz, Dylan Spartz (who made the layouts you're using now), turns 18 on the 15th.

Rachael, who helps manage MuggleNet's wonderful editorials section, turns 18 on the 12th.

Mandie, who runs the Potter Profiles section and is a MuggleCast transcriber, turns 19 today.

Amanda, who also transcribes for our weekly podcast, turns 30 on the 29th.

Oh, and I can't forget Jamie "I can't be bothered" Lawrence, who also celebrates his birthday today - his 20th. Sorry, Jamie, you're now officially closer to 30 than you are to 10.

Happy birthday to all of them!

Daniel Radcliffe appeared on the Channel 9 Today Show in Australia and discussed his role in December Boys. The interview, which includes clips from his new movie, can be viewed here. This is a continuation of the interview we posted yesterday.

Thanks, Krystina!

Harry's Gringotts' vault may need expanding. Daniel Radcliffe's net worth of approximately 14 million pounds ($27 million) made him the youngest person to land on the Sunday Times Rich List. JK Rowling also appears on the list, ranking higher than the Queen herself, with a reported worth of 520 million pounds (over one billion dollars).

Daniel Radcliffe has done a new interview with an Australian TV program where he discussed the infamous kiss with Cho in OOTP (as well as the movie in general) and another of his upcoming projects, December Boys. Click here to see a video of this interview, thanks to Yule's Woman!

Harry Potter is spoofed in the new trailer for the film Epic Movie which hits theaters January 26, 2007. View the trailer here.

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed!

JK Rowling has updated her official site to wish our favorite half-giant a Happy Birthday!

Hey guys, Ben and I will be at the Old Orchard Barnes & Noble in Skokie, IL on Friday and Gretchen will be at a B&N in Alpharatta, GA on Saturday to talk about our new book, MuggleNet's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7. Here are all the details:

Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 PM
Barnes & Noble
55 Old Orchard Center
Skokie, IL 60077

Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4 PM
Barnes & Noble
7660 North Point Pkwy Suite 2000
Alpharetta, GA 30022

Come out and see us - it'll be a good time. Whether or not you've read our book, there will be serious HP discussion going down. You'll finally have your chance to tell us what you really think about our theories, and we may or may not fight you. Free stickers for all who attend!

More events to come... stay tuned.

The Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation is holding a movie quiz which includes questions on the Potter films (along with Shrek, Aladdin, Toy Story, and a few others).

The contest is based on a series of short multiple choice quizzes. You receive 500 points for each correct answer and lose 1 point for each second taken to complete each question. The person with the most points at the end is the scholarship winner.

A $250 scholarship will be awarded to the person who gets the highest combined score on the two quizzes you must take. To enter, visit this page on their site. Good luck to anyone who enters! Thanks to Jelani, Anna, and Leah for the tip.

Dan Radcliffe, who is currently in Melbourne for Thursday's AFI awards, spoke recently in an interview about his love for Melbourne. Dan also discussed his upcoming film, December Boys.

"It does feel like a big deal and I am nervous about how it's going to be received, and I'm nervous about what people are going to say, but that's what happens. I think people will like it and the one thing they genuinely can't say is that I'm playing Harry, 'cos it's very different."

Thanks to those who emailed!

JK Rowling has donated the handbag that she carried during the premiere of Sorcerer's Stone to raise money for The Women's Fund for Scotland. The purse is up for bid on eBay, with all proceeds going to charity. The auction will run until December 8th.

The Women's Fund for Scotland is dedicated to improving the quality of life for women and girls in Scotland. The Fund has awarded over 600,000 to over 270 projects run by community groups and charities across Scotland. They help women facing a range of challenges.

Our friends at HP Fan Trips have asked us to remind everyone that there are only 10 days left to reserve a spot on their trip to London to see Equus (starring Dan Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths), Lady from Dubuque (starring Maggie Smith), and Wicked. In between shows on the six day trip, participants will tour areas of England where parts of the Potter films have been shot.

For more information, visit this link! You can also read about the special MuggleNet fan trip right here.

It's an all-voicemail show this week on our weekly Harry Potter podcast! Join Eric, Laura, Kevin, Micah and me for lots of new speculation on those listener-submitted questions, including:

- Could Ginny have seen Myrtle die through Riddle's diary?
- Was the stone basin Dumbledore drank from a Pensieve?
- When will we hear from Viktor Krum again?
- What are Dementors classified as?
- Will Harry change his Patronus?
- How could a werewolf be killed?
- Is Luna a seer?
- Dudley's greatest fear: Petunia in an Unbreakable Vow?

Plus, we reveal something in the Order of the Phoenix teaser trailer that has yet to be speculated over in the fandom. Did WB think they could get this one past the fans? Probably so, because it almost worked until a MuggleCast listener caught it.

To listen in, we recommend subscribing via iTunes so that the show is delivered to your computer automatically each week! You can also visit the MuggleCast site for full shownotes, direct download links, and much more. Enjoy!

Two new layouts:

Snowy Hogwarts
Prisoner of Azkaban (shut up, we know we're a couple years late)

Throughout tonight's presentation of SS and COS on ABC Family, new previews of Order of the Phoenix have been airing (as we first told you about a few weeks ago). 13 high-quality clips can be seen below, as well as descriptions of each video. The clips feature interviews with the cast as well as some amazing new shots from the film. Enjoy!

- Behind the Story
- Harry
- Hermione
- Ron
- Umbridge
- Bellatrix
- Luna
- New Director David Yates
- Dumbledore's Army
- The Order
- The Kiss
- Sirius Black
- Wands

Thanks to Hunter and Micah for the descriptions.

Forbes released an article today about the controversial burning of the Harry Potter books. The series has often been the target of many Christian fundamentalists who claim that "Rowling has a world platform." Over the past five years, half a dozen book burnings have been planned, their organizers claiming that the books (as well as Potter fan sites) promote witchcraft. Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, defended the books, saying, "there's nothing wrong with the Potter books, because they're not promoting witchcraft. They're promoting being wise."

Harry Potter was mentioned briefly during yesterday's episode of The Office, in which Michael discussed prison, saying, "Dementors are flying around everywhere." Check the clip out on YouTube. Thanks to TheHorcrux!

Information about the Australian version of the Order of the Phoenix trailer has been released by the government's Office of Film and Literature Classification. They list the trailer as being two minutes long - longer than the American version. The international trailer should be released within the next month. We'll keep you posted.