The MuggleNet team wishes you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy 2008!

It has been over ten years now since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in the United Kingdom. At that time, nobody knew what Harry Potter would become and its impact on the world.

To pay tribute, we have put together a Decade in Review highlighting over 50 news stories from the past ten years which shaped the Potter world we've all had the privilege of living in.

Take a look back and enjoy! As time goes on, we'll continue to use this page to chronicle the biggest stories in the Harry Potter fandom. Don't forget, we also have our 2007 Year in Review at this link. BIG thanks go to Kat, Rachel, Nick, Rosey, and Micah for their help in creating this section!

On this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, we take a look back at the year that was 2007. Join Jamie, Eric, Matt, Micah and I for this special look-back episode. Plus:

- Further discussion about HBP casting and TIME's "Person of the Year".
- Andrew places a call to WB about his defective DVD.
- Chapters 7 & 8 of Deathly Hallows.
- Should Harry really be opening his mind to Voldemort?
- Is Voldemort that stupid to be letting Harry see his actions?
- What good would it do the Ministry to know of Harry's plans?
- Character analysis: Xenophilius Lovegood, Aunt Muriel, Elphias Doge.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) within Apple iTunes or Zune Marketplace. That way, each episode will automatically be sent to your computer as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete show notes and alternate download links. Enjoy, and Happy New Years!

The documentary "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life" that aired earlier this evening on ITV in the UK is now available on the station's website. The description reads:

With unprecedented access, cameras follow author JK Rowling in the year that she completes her publishing phenomenon, the Harry Potter series. The programme captures her return to the sources of her inspiration, and she reveals what she is planning on writing next.

ITV has sent us a final clip from the upcoming documentary "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life." It shows Jo drawing out the family trees for both the Potters and the Weasleys. Click the link below to see the video and an accompanying press release. The documentary will air on December 30th on ITV at 7:00 p.m.

You can take a look at the family tree shown in the documentary by clicking here.

UPDATE: Jo has also updated her site to put the family tree behind the usually-locked door.

Don't forget! There are only 3 days left in the 'Ultimate Fantasy Fan' Contest! Tell us why you should be chosen as MuggleNet's official representative to The Spiderwick Chronicles premiere and we'll foot the costs for the winner and a guest!


Be sure to check out the Official Rules for all the details before Submitting your entry!

USA Today recently named J.K. Rowling's final novel in the Harry Potter series book of the year. A huge factor was due in part to the record-breaking numbers in sales made by Deathly Hallows — 11.5 million copies were sold within the first ten days of the July release. But the decision came down to something much deeper:

Hallows is the book of the year because Rowling gave her story an ending that was as graceful, unpredictable and satisfying as the series itself. She reaffirmed that magic can exist when someone opens a great book and enters a world created from words on paper. She made us believe that the imagination — like her own little wizard, now all grown up — still lives.

Ah, and what a year it was. 2007 was BY FAR the biggest year for Harry Potter fans that we have ever seen. It was filled with book releases, movie releases, theme park announcements, gay character announcements, and oh-so-much more.

We now present to you our fourth annual Year in Review, highlighting the biggest and most interesting stories of 2007.

Feel free to use the comments of this news post to reflect on this year and discuss what's coming in 2008. Also, look for two more big projects appearing here from MuggleNet within the next week!

If you don't celebrate Christmas, then we hope you have/had a Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid, or even if you worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, we hope you have/had a wonderful time celebrating that, too!

Aaaaaaaand in the spirit of the holidays, here are Christmas layouts for you to feast upon! If, uh, you eat layouts... that is. Or even if you don't. We don't judge here.





On one final note...

The Pickle Pack Reindeer also wishes you and your family the best of holidays! The Pickle Pack Reindeer's long and storied history, for those of you who have asked, goes back many, um, seconds ago, when I found the image on Google and decided Pickle Pack could use its own reindeer. (My sense of humor has gone way downhill.)

LASTLY: Want some more holiday fun? A few of the MuggleCasters compiled this holiday greetings video. Enjoy!

Emma Watson has updated her official website wishing fans a happy Christmas. She also talks about filming Half-Blood Prince:

"There are a few new faces around set, such as Jesse who plays the character Lavender, who is really cool, although our characters really don't get on in the film! We have actually just finished filming a scene with Lavender and Ron kissing, where Hermione gets really jealous which was quite fun!"

PotterCast has posted the second installment of its interview with Jo Rowling. In this part, Jo chats about the "Love Room" in the Department of Mysteries, what happened to Florean Fortescue, her thoughts on fan fiction, and more. Right click and save here to download.

Happy Holidays! Santa delivers a present in the form of some Brit named Jamie on this week's Holiday edition of MuggleCast. Andrew, Laura, and Matt join him to discuss the latest news and the next two chapters in Deathly Hallows. Plus:

- Jamie is back and recounts his problems with Christmas.
- We discuss the latest news, including casting, TIME, and the Jo documentary.
- This week, Chapter-by-Chapter covers Chapters 5 and 6 of Deathly Hallows.
- Was Harry right to use Expelliarmus against the Death Eaters?
- Was Mrs. Weasley's motherly protection justified?
- British Joke of the Day returns!
- The hosts read a Holiday poem sent in by a listener.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) within Apple iTunes or Zune Marketplace. That way, each episode will automatically be sent to your computer as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete show notes and alternate download links.

ITV has sent us another clip from the upcoming documentary "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life." It shows a very emotional Jo returning to the flat she once lived in. Click the link below to see the video and an accompanying press release. Remember that the documentary will air on December 30th on ITV at 7:00 PM.

Thanks to Shelby and Ella for pointing out that Universal Studios has added a poll to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter preview site. The current question asks where you would most enjoy having a refreshment in the park!

To access, click here and then click "Poll" at the top left of the page. As of right now, submitting your answer encourters an error, but we'll keep an eye on it to see if Universal makes a fix.

You can find much more information about the park over in our theme park section of MuggleNet.

Yahoo! recently released some of their year-end awards with the Harry Potter series grabbing various honors. Emma Watson came in at #3 and Dan Radcliffe at #10 on the list of the 10 Most Popular Stars of 2007.

Order of the Phoenix was named one of the 10 Most Popular Movies of 2007 claiming the #5 spot, and the trailer for the fifth Harry Potter film ranked at #4 in the category of 10 Most Popular Trailers of 2007.

Thanks to Sara, Katie and Shannon for sending this in!

JK Rowling updated her official website today with a new news entry, FAQ, and fan site award. In her news update, Jo reflects on her experience watching the bids climb for the seventh copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard:

"It is fortunate that nobody was filming my reaction while the bids climbed higher and higher. Fiddy, Angela, Christine and I were sitting around Fiddy's laptop in our office (the aforementioned being my PA and the invaluable assistants who deal with the postbag), watching a live link to Sotheby's. Once the amount hit a million, I kept swearing loudly with every successive bid, and when we reached the final amount, the air turned a lovely shade of blue..."

MSN has released it's Most Influential Women list for the year 2007 and Jo Rowling made the cut - notably she was the only author featured. MSN writes:

"Rowling's wizarding world has not so much influenced modern culture as grown roots deep into the heart of it [...] Rowling's epic fantasy series has made a lasting impact on, well, just about all of us."

Congratulations to Jo!

Happy Holidays! Winter break has officially started in most of the US so be sure to get working on your entries for the ‘Ultimate Fantasy Fan’ contest! There are only 11 days left! All you have to do is tell us in 500 words or less why you are the Ultimate Fantasy Fan and should be chosen as MuggleNet’s official representative at the premiere of The Spiderwick Chronicles! Don’t forget to check out the official site and watch the trailer on MySpace to get ideas for how being a fantasy fan will make you the ultimate reporter!

Be sure to check out the Official Rules for all the details before Submitting your entry!

ITV has sent us a preview clip of the JK Rowling documentary, "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life," which will air on December 30th on ITV1 at 7 PM, lasting one hour. We'll be sure to have a video of it online afterwards.

We'll have another clip (showing an emotional Jo) for you on Sunday.

CBBC Newsround has revealed information about casting for the following Hogwarts student roles in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:

Cormac McLaggen - Freddie Stroma
Blaise Zabini - Louis Cordice
Romilda Vane - Anna Shaffer
Katie Bell - Georgina Leonidas
Leanne (Katie Bell's friend) - Isabella Laughland
Marcus Belby - Robert Knox

All the actors and actresses are relative newcomers so not much is known about them at the moment - we will update you as information is released.

The film is set to be shown in theatres from November 21st, 2008.

Time magazine has announced its top people of 2007 and Jo Rowling made the list at #3, behind Vladimir Putin and Al Gore. The article features some new quotes from the author:

"There have been times since finishing, weak moments," she says, "when I've said, 'Yeah, all right,' to the eighth novel." But she's convinced she's doing the right thing to take some time away, do something else. She's working on two projects now, an adult novel and a "political fairy tale." "If, and it's a big if, I ever write an eighth book about the [wizarding] world, I doubt that Harry would be the central character," she says. "I feel like I've already told his story. But these are big ifs. Let's give it 10 years and see how we feel then."

Have a friend or relative who's a Potter fan and still can't decide what to get them for Christmas? We're here to help - below you can find the top 10 selling HP items at Warner Bros. shop:

1.
Harry Potter "I Solemnly Swear...Mischief Managed" Transforming Mug
2.
Harry Potter Collectible Wand by Noble Collection
3.
Harry Potter "I Solemnly Swear" Adult T-Shirt
4.
Harry Potter Collectible Time Turner by Noble Collection
5.
Harry Potter "I Solemnly Swear" Woman's Fitted T-Shirt
6.
Harry Potter Dumbledore's Army Elite Messenger Bag
7.
Harry Potter Hogwarts Bookmarks Set
8.
Harry Potter Solemnly Swear Juniors' Hoodie
9.
Harry Potter Hermione Granger's Wand by Noble Collection
10.
Harry Potter's Light-up Collectible Wand

Micah tells us what's really buggin' him on this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, alongside Eric, Matt, Andy, and I. We review the recently released Order of the Phoenix DVD and analyze Chapter 4 of Deathly Hallows. Plus:

- Amazon.com revealed as winning bidder for The Tales of Beedle The Bard
- We announce a big change coming to our show.
- Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter: was it necessary?
- Chapter-by-Chapter: The Seven Potters.
- Ties to previous books: Polyjuice Potion and the Motorcycle.
- Hedwig's death sets an early tone to the novel.
- Was Expelliarmus the weakest explanation for the Death Eaters recognizing Harry?
- The mysterious wand reaction that saved Harry's life.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) within Apple iTunes or Zune Marketplace. That way, each episode will automatically be sent to your computer as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete show notes and alternate download links. Enjoy!

Jo Rowling recently appeared on the Harry Potter podcast, PotterCast, and part one of this interview is now available for download here (right click and save)! Stay tuned for part two next week.

Some of the items discussed in this part of the interview include:

-The morals of Beedle the Bard
-Who was right about Horcri?
-Who made the first Horcrux?
-Creating a Horcrux vs. splitting the atom
-Will Jo tell us how to create a Horcrux?
-The things that made her editor look like she wanted to vomit

Amazon.com, the online retailer that made the $3.98 million bid for the auctioned copy of J.K. Rowling's 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' last week, has posted its final review - this time of the story referenced in Deathly Hallows, 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'. It can be viewed here, along with all the previous reviews.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Newsweek has named Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the Best Book of 2007. The magazine lists their top 15 books of the year with the final installment in the Harry Potter series claiming the top spot.

You could call it the most satisfying ending to a guessing game since the casting of Scarlett O'Hara. The seventh and final installment of the Potter series went in no radical directions (Harry didn't die), but Rowling made it look effortless when she niftily tied off one plot line after another. The kids who grew up on these novels--and therefore can't help but take them somewhat for granted--have no idea how lucky they are.

A new 39-second trailer for Emma Watson's latest project, Ballet Shoes has surfaced online on Youtube. Screencaps from this can be viewed here at the Noel Streatfield forums.

In addition, some new stills from the film have been posted on the BBC's Flickr page.

Ballet Shoes will air in the UK on December 26th at 8:30pm.

Like we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our contest to search for the ‘Ultimate Fantasy Fan’ is finally here! We will be footing the bill for one lucky MuggleNet visitor and a guest to cover the premiere of The Spiderwick Chronicles! All you have to do is tell us in 500 words or less why you are the Ultimate Fantasy Fan and should be chosen as MuggleNet’s official representative at the premiere! Be sure to check out the film and watch the trailer on MySpace to get ideas for how being a fantasy fan will make you the ultimate reporter! You can also check out the galleries to see stills from the film! Entries are due December 31st, so spend your Christmas break wisely and get those quills ready!

Be sure to check out the Official Rules for all the details before Submitting your entry!

Good Luck!

Amazon.com has now released reviews of the third and fourth stories found in The Tales of Beedle The Bard, The Warlock's Hairy Heart and Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump. All reviews can be seen on this page and keep checking back as a summary of the final tale has yet to be posted.

J.K. Rowling has been nominated for a Morgan Stanley Great Briton Award in the category of Arts. The awards honor the key figures of the past year - as nominated by the British public. Rowling was nominated in this category along with actor Sir Ian McKellen and artist Damien Hirst. On Rowling's accomplishments in 2007:

This year saw the final Harry Potter novel published. Selling 11 million copies in its first 24 hours, it broke the record for the fastest-selling book; previously held by the sixth Harry Potter novel, which sold 9 million on its first day in 2005. The books have been translated into 64 different languages. The Order of Phoenix managed to become the first English-language book ever to top the bestseller list in France. In addition, the film of the Order of the Phoenix, in which Harry painfully begins to understand the battles with evil that lie ahead, was released this year. It was described as a deliciously dark affair, brimming with impressively gritty performances still managing to balance magical wonder with breathless excitement.

The awards will be given out at a dinner ceremony in January.

The Telegraph has published a new interview with actress Emma Watson - her first, and arguably one of the most detailed, outside of the Harry Potter franchise. Her latest venture, Ballet Shoes - due to air in the UK on BBC 1 on December 26th - is discussed, as well as her ambition to be a successful actress. Emma comments that:

"I was so nervous I nearly turned [Ballet Shoes] down. I'd just finished the last Harry Potter film, and it was the summer holidays and I hadn't had a break, but then I thought, 'I actually really want to be an actress, a proper actress who makes it her career'".

Sensibly, she also has a backup plan to continue with her studies, and has applied to read English and philosophy at prestigious Cambridge University. "I feel it’s terribly important to continue with my education, in case acting doesn’t work out for me", she says.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

As reported earlier this week Amazon.com, the winning bidder of The Tales of Beedle the Bard for a staggering $3.98 million will be posting reviews of all the stories contained within the book. They have now released a review of the second story, The Fountain of Fair Fortune. All reviews can be seen on this page. The auction was held to benefit The Children's Voice.

Thanks to Dylan for the update!

Warner Brothers has released the first official picture from Half-Blood Prince, depicting Harry entering a room while clutching the Marauder's Map and a potion book.

As a reminder, our Half-Blood Prince movie section is filled with information concerning the latest filming and cast news.

Additionally, Warner Bros. has released the official description of the film:

"Fantasy Adventure. Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again."

With only a few hundred copies left in stock, don't miss your chance to purchase MuggleNet's New York Times' bestselling book, What Will Happen in Harry Potter Seven. All copies are signed by Emerson Spartz and are being sold at the discounted price of $9.95. For additional savings, enter the code 14DAYSLEFT and save 10% off.

UPDATE: Amazon has updated their site with their first review of the tale The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. Use the links below to see that review and more as they are posted.

The online retail store has announced on their website that they made the $3.98 million purchase of Tales of Beedle the Bard at the Sotheby's-hosted charity auction today. Along with this announcement, they have released several details about the book:

- The book is 157 pages.
- Amazon plans to "take the book on tour to libraries and schools so that kids can get a look at the magic in the Bard's own handwriting."
- Amazon will not be making a print version of the book (they have no rights to publishing its contents).
- On this page, you can find several high quality pictures of the book in all its glory. At the bottom of the page there is a video where JK Rowling's note to the buyer is read.
- Amazon promises reviews of all five tales included in Beedle the Bard.
- Official press release right here.

For more information about today's bid, click here.

iTunes has put together a collection of podcasts that are the "Best of 2007," and MuggleCast is on the list of "Classic" podcasts that are still going strong. Click here and then scroll down towards the bottom to see us listed.

We thank iTunes for putting us on the front page of that list, and we also thank all of the listeners who have made the podcast such the huge success that it has become!

UPDATE: Thanks to Justin for pointing out that Harry Potter was also named the #4 Top News Story.

In looking back at the best things of 2007, TIME magazine has released 50 Top Ten lists that each include various interests such as books, movies, DVDs, and television shows.

Their list of the Top 10 Fiction Books places Deathly Hallows in the number eight spot, with this explanation:

She gives us wartime gloom, the crackling three-sided chemistry of Harry and Ron and Hermione, and an epic, cataclysmic finale, among many other minor treats. This isn't the most elegant of the Potter volumes, but it feels like an ending, the final iteration of Rowling's abiding thematic concern: the overwhelming importance of continuing to love in the face of death.

Other books beating out DH on this list include No One Belongs Here More Than You, The House of Meetings, and (in the number one spot) The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

The Order of the Phoenix DVD has been released in the United States today, a month after fans in UK and Australia got their hands on it.

Several visitors have e-mailed in to tell us that there is a new sneak peek of Half-Blood Prince on the DVD. The clips differ from those that were available online to UK/Australia buyers. It has been uploaded to YouTube for those of you who don't hold the United States disc. If these clips are made available online for international viewers, please let us know via tips at staff dot mugglenet dot com!

Additionally, Larry sent in this article from MTV which speaks with producer David Yates about Half-Blood Prince filming:

That's because, as director David Yates points out, it's the "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" of the Potter books, with massive making-out sessions to occur for several characters — Ron and Lavender, Harry and Ginny — as they come of age. "It's the 'American Graffiti' for this set," Yates said. "I'm looking forward to developing the relationship between Ron and Hermione, and Ron and Lavender. There's a nice triangle there."

Follow this link for more from Heyman, Dan Radcliffe (Harry), Katie Leung (Cho), and Evanna Lynch (Luna).

JK Rowling has been filmed for a documentary over the past year, and "JK Rowling... A Year in the Life" will air on ITV on December 30th. ITV has sent us detailed information on the documentary, including quotes from Jo, which can be viewed here.

ITV will also shortly be sending us a video preview of the documentary so stay tuned for that!

A few missing co-hosts this week leads me to let out my frustrations on this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast. Join Micah, Andy, Matt and me for a great discussion on Chapter 3 of Deathly Hallows, including:

- We discuss The Golden Compass and its controversy.
- MTV's list of Wizard Rock bands is unfair and inaccurate.
- What were the Dursleys feeling when they left Harry?
- Would Harry come back to save them?
- Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast soul.
- We reminisce over the old Sorcerer's Stone VHS tape.

All that and much more can be found on this week's episode! To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) within Apple iTunes or Zune Marketplace. That way, each episode will automatically be sent to your computer as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete show notes and alternate download links. Enjoy!

The Harry Potter Alliance, well-known for its campaign against the situation in Darfur, is now speaking out in favor of media reform. Their website notes "the Harry Potter series presents a world where media consolidation continues to fail the Wizarding World."

In its most recent podcast there is some great Harry Potter comedy and Wizard Rock in a way that's never happened before: ten bands getting together to perform ten original songs about The Daily Prophet and Potterwatch.

Jo has made several updates to her website this morning! One can be found in the Extra Stuff section regarding the Elder wand, a couple can be found in the FAQ area here and here, and one is the Characters area.

The author also made a nice update to her diary, where she reflects on the Summer that was:

The US/Canadian tour was my favourite ever. If anybody reading this was in the audience for any of those events, thank you, because they were only as wonderful as they were because of the brilliant questions and the overwhelming warmth of those present.

And lastly, in the News section, Jo revealed that the documentary (who's crew was following her for a year leading up to the release of Deathly Hallows) will be aired on ITV in the UK on December 30th, 2007.

On tonight's Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007 Special, JK Rowling was named the number one most fascinating and "magical" of the year.

Although most of those who were featured in the program had fresh interviews with Walters, JK Rowling's piece only included older interviews where Jo talks about how she came up with the idea for the series.

If anyone has recorded the video, which aired on ABC, please send it in to tips at staff dot mugglenet dot com.

JK Rowling has updated her official site to let everyone know that today our favorite keeper of keys is celebrating his birthday! Happy birthday to Rubeus Hagrid!

WB has sent along a promotional video featuring several aspects of the upcoming Order of the Phoenix DVD, Interactive DVD Game, and DVD gift set. Some of the clips include a small interview with Set Designer Stuart Craig, Set Director Stephenie McMillan, and Art Director Alex Walker (who is interviewed by Tonks actress Natalia Tena). You can view it right here, already in podcast form if you so chose to bring it with you on your iPod.

What's more, a demo of the Interactive DVD game is now available in flash form at this link.

Warner Brothers and MuggleNet are giving our visitors a special deal on the brand new Order of the Phoenix Deluxe Edition soundtrack (we were the first to tell you about this set back in June)! By clicking here, you'll be able to get it for $24.99! That's 40% off the retail price of $39.98.

HURRY! There are only a limited number of soundtracks available at this special price. Look for a contest on MuggleCast centered around this deluxe edition soundtrack soon. Enjoy!

Having shot a special piece on Wizard Rock back in June, MTV has now released a Top 10 list of their favorite Wizard Rock bands:

1. Switchblade Kittens
2. Harry and the Potters
3. The Parselmouths
4. The Remus Lupins (seen in picture at left)
5. Ministry of Magic
6. Draco and the Malfoys
7. The Moaning Myrtles
8. Catchlove
9. The Owl Post
10. The Whomping Willows

Congrats to all of the bands who were featured! We'll have more on Wizard Rock in the coming months, but in the mean time, we recommend you check out all of the latest Wizard Rock news at WizRocklopedia.com.

Recently, Yahoo! released their list for the most searched farewells of 2007. With the release of the final book in the series earlier this year, Harry Potter dominated the countdown taking the top spot.

Not all send-offs in 2007 inspired mourning, although they may have been just as heartrending. We said goodbye to a number of favorite characters, both real and fictional. Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron, the creations of author J.K. Rowling, earned the most fare-thee-well searches with the final chapter of the young wizards' adventures. The online hysteria died down, only to be revived with the author's revelatory afterword about late schoolmaster Albus Dumbledore.

Gilmore Girls and The O.C. were among the contenders.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint were all named some of the top earning "20 under 25" stars according to Forbes magazine. Dan took the top honors for the male actors, landing the countdown at number six, racking in $15 million. Emma came in 15th with $4 million along with co-star Rupert, closely following at number 16.

The top-earning actor on the list, Harry Potter alter-ego Daniel Radcliffe, 18, earned $15 million. That's more than performers twice his age, like Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock, who earned $14 million and $10 million, respectively, made over the same period. The Potter franchise catapulted Radcliffe's co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to the list with $4 million apiece. This summer's fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was the second highest-grossing film of the year (edged out by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End), raking in $938 million worldwide. The trio are already filming the follow-up, Half-Blood Prince.

E! Entertainment will have a one-hour special on this countdown on Saturday, December 22nd, at 6 PM EST.

Your Total Health talked about Multiple Scelrosis on its Saturday show, and featured a video from July of JK Rowling who lost her mother to the illness. In it Jo discusses the disease's impact on her life and the books.

You can visit the website for MS Scotland here, of which Jo is the patron.

Jim Hill Media, a website blog that we should be getting used to hearing from for theme park updates, has a new entry which reveals construction is now underway to prepare the area:

Well, once it's been determined that the Universal Orlando Resort has a level working surface which will actually be to support the weight of this several-hundred-ton structure (Which is quite a concern in sinkhole-prone Central Florida), then construction can then begin in earnest on Hogwarts Castle. With first the footings & foundation work getting underway in January, which will then be followed by vertical construction on this enormous show building in the late Winter / early Spring of next year.

Additional updates and construction photos can be found on Jim Hill Media. As construction moves along, you can be sure to find the latest updates and complete information in the Theme Park section of MuggleNet. Thanks to Sagat31 for the link!

We now have all of the sneak peeks that ran the other day on ABC Family during their presentation of the first three Potter films. Thanks to MuggleNet reader Craig for putting them all together into one video!

To be viewed right here on YouTube, you can see several deleted scenes as well as a couple of parts from the DVD feature "Trailing Tonks." Thanks again to Craig. Enjoy!

Actor Alan Rickman, who plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, has recently donated two of his autographed scripts from Goblet of Fire, a signed headshot, and a Hogwarts/Quidditch shirt to an online charity auction. This auction is to support Artists for a New South Africa, which mainly strives to advance human and civil rights in South Africa, among other many objectives. Bidding ends on December 14th.

Laura reveals something to Micah, Andy, Matt (special guest host) and I that makes us immaturely giggle on this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast. We cover chapter two of Deathly Hallows and much more, including:

- MuggleCast to podcast from Portus 2008!
- David Heyman and his wife.
- A look at Beedle the Bard.
- MuggleMail checks out some of last week's discussion.
- Comparing the Doge and Rita articles.
- Listener e-mails about Chapter 2.
- New game: QUOTE QUIZ quiz quiz.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) within Apple iTunes or Zune Marketplace. That way, each episode will automatically be sent to your computer as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete shownotes and alternate download links.

Also, the Harry Potter Alliance has released a new podcast that covers their latest effort, DarfurFast. The call to action, backed by MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron, and the Wizard Rock community, focuses on fasting from one luxury item and instead putting the money towards Darfur. We encourage you all to listen to the special HP Alliance podcast and visit their website to learn how to donate.

As we mentioned previously, as part of its "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas," ABC Family is showing the first three Harry Potter films this weekend, concluding with Prisoner of Azkaban tomorrow night at 6 p.m. ET.

Additionally, at select parts during the broadcast, certain never-before-seen footage from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is being aired. If anybody can capture these videos, please send them in!

While waiting for Half-Blood Prince, we thought it would be fun to see how much MuggleNet fans know about other fantasy series! In a couple of weeks MuggleNet will be holding a contest to send a MuggleNet visitor and a guest to cover the premiere of The Spiderwick Chronicles! We will let you know more details as it gets closer but in the meantime, click here to check out the film and start thinking about why being a fantasy fan makes you the right one to be MuggleNet's official representative at the premiere!