Jenny Alson Official

Minalima

I bet everyone who’s reading this article got the chance at least once in their life to hear this name “Minalima”. But who are they? And are their books worth the price you pay?

Eduardo Lima and Mina Miraphora are a Brasilian an a British Graphic Designers, who where charged to create and realize all the props of the Harry Potter films. Their incredible work allowed us to have incredible magic objects such as: the Marauders Map.

But their work does not start and end with Harry Potter, in fact they also realized incredible illustrated books of the Disney Classics, including: Peter Pan, Snow White and Other Grimms Stories, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, and others.

Their books are best known for their illustrations and animations which are UNIQUE. So it shouldn’t be a surprise when I tell you that J. K. Rowling herself asked them to continue their work and cooperation with The Wizarding World by creating the Harry Potter books, exclusively illustrated by Minalima.

There are currently three books, and both Mira and Eduardo, recently hosted by The Lucca Comics & Games convention, stated that “Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban” is so far their favorite, but if they had to choose between the classics would be “The Incredible Wizard of Oz”, for the weirdness and colorfulness.

Their last book which was also presented at Lucca Comics, is a compedium of all the films so far, including Fantastic Beasts.

How I met Minalima.

As I previously said they came as hosts at Lucca Comics and Games 2023, which I attended on purpouse to get the chance to meet them.

Meeting them wasn’t as simple as you might think, cause eventhough it was supposed to happen at a specific event, appositely created for an autograph session, when I got there I’ve been told that rules changed that morning, and it was no longer possible to access the session freely.

Since the previous day they had thousand and thousand people queuing for the autographs, the Lucca Comics organization decided to give out 150 tickets at 8:30am, to access the venue.

I was so angry, because of course I hadn’t had the chance to get my ticket since I drove 155km, and at 8:30am I was leaving home towards Lucca.

At 4:30pm I wanted to go home, I hadn’t met them but I didn’t care, I was completely and utterly disappointed. But they still had an interview going on at the Theatre, so I decided to go there.

Eduardo Lima and Mira Minaphora being interview at Teatro del Giglio in Lucca.

It was a beautiful experience, I also got emotional in hearing their story. How Eduardo from Brazil came to UK and met Mira who was at the time one of the few graphic artists. They shared with us some curiosities, for example did you know that their favorite prop is the Marauder Map?

They explained where they get inspiration for their work, saying that Italy as well was an amazing inspiration.

They played Harry Potter Trivia with us, where Eduardo utterly crushed Mira (but in my opinion she wanted it that way), with funny toys which made funny noises (like a rubbery chicken) to book their answer.

They were asked about their future works, but sadly we didn’t get any spoilers. Eventhough they did tell us that many many times they were asked to write “their OWN stories”, and that’s what they’ve been focusing on. Does this mean we’re actually going to have a Minalima exclusive story??

And lastly they left the stage with cheers and applauses.

So I left the theatre and I still wasn’t going home, no way. Not without their autograph. I looked for the entrance to the stage, and I stood there for what it seemed like an eternity, sure that sooner or later they would have come out.

Nothing.

But instead police, and fire fighters kept coming and going from there. I took one big breath and approached one of them, I told him my story saying that I hadn’t had the chance to get the ticket, and that I’d driven 155km just to meet them.

You might think these kind of things happen only in the films, well.. they let me in.

I approached Mira, and you must know that she speaks Italian AMAZINGLY, but since I was so excited I kept talking in English ‘till she reminded me of that.

She asked my name and signed my paper, then she asked Eduardo to do the same. I told them I loved their work so much, and left. I didn’t took any picture with them because I didn’t want to test my luck anymore.

Concluding, are their books worth it? Absolutely yes.

Whether you are a Disney or a Harry Potter fan, they have created amazing works, some of them literally by hand (like the Harry Potter’s letter).

They are super talentous artists, who managed to recreate, and sometimes to CREATE ex-novo, our favorite parts of the books.

In fact one of the thing I love the most about their books is that what we didn’t get the chance to see on the screen, we’re finally seeing it on the paper thanks to them.

Hogwarts Legacy

It’s official!

We waited a very long long time, 12 years.. in Azkaban!! But we finally have a due date: 10th February!!

Hogwarts Legacy team dropped today the new on Twitter, revealing also the first platforms on which will be avaliable: PS4, PS5, X-Box 1, X-Box X Serie and Laptops.

It’s still unknown when it will be avaliable for Nintendo Switch, but as soon as we’ll hear the news we’ll break it to you!

What features will you need to play the game on laptop?

The features needed by laptops to play Hogwarts Legacy are as follow:

Hogwarts Legacy recommended requirements

Memory: 8 GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700
File Size: 30 GB
OS: Windows 10

Hogwarts Legacy minimum requirements

Memory: 6 GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600
File Size: 30 GB
OS: Windows 10

Anyway if you have any doubt you can go to this link, and follow instructions to see if your system would be able to run the game:

https://www.pcgamebenchmark.com/input/hogwarts-legacy

For now we can only say that we’re super excited and we suggest you to pre-order the game because we expect a massive steal.

What happened with J. K. Rowling and why you should go to see Fantastic Beasts #3

J. K. Rowling has been recently attacked several times by the LGBTQ+ community, for her presumed transphobic tweets. But is this what really happened?

Let’s re-take a look at the situation, we abundantly discussed it here but here’s a sum up:

Some of J. K. Rowling tweets about trans people.

J. K. Rowling is a feminist writer, who has always supported the rights of everyone, regardless the gender identity, sex, age, or whatever. Approaching a law that was going to pass in the UK, J. K. Ro expressed her concern for women through Twitter, the law that was going to pass was the following:

“To legally recognize the non-binary identities”
May 2021.

Now seeing this from the outside of course, anyone would have voted to make it pass. Here’s what J. K. Ro stated: if you permit to everyone to legally change their sex into genderfluid, this open the road to people that haven’t the best intentions to access rooms that should be a safe place for women. She made an example out of bathrooms.

Eddie Izzard – non binary defending J. K. Rowling about her point of you.

I don’t think this a transphobic tweet and I’ll explain you why: if we were in a PERFECT world, where everyone lives in harmony, and nobody means no harm, this would the perfect law, because finally everyone would have the same rights. As it is, it’s not so. In fact we live in a world where children, women, boy, girl regardless of gender are raped, everyday.. and there are a few safe places lasts.

I make you an example: as a woman several times has happened to me to be followed by some men, in the streets, in public spaces, seeing someone that made me feel uncomfortable. When it’s so, and you don’t have anywhere else to go, what do you do? Where do you take refuge? Bathrooms, public bathrooms, public spaces. My mom used to tell me: “stay where other people are”. If I go to a bathroom, I can take a moment for myself, and call the police, call for help. But.. if someone with a sick mind uses this law, to enter my bathroom I have nowhere else to go. (The bathroom is only an example it could be applicable to other situations).

I don’t know if you’d be okay in knowing that your child is alone somewhere, and he has not a chance to stay in a safe place because everyone can access everywhere. And I also know that you’re thinking “okay but trans people are not like this. A trans person only want this because he wants to feel okay with itself.” Super agree with you, couldn’t agree more. Except for the reason that trans people are not the only people on earth, this law will apply to everyone, and since “non-binary” is a gender identity not something you can look at, or need to be “diagnosed” or something.. ANYONE could literally just say, “ok, I’m non-binary, genderfluid, today I feel like a man/girl so I’m going there or there”.

Powerful article written by a trans girl, that sees through J. K. Rowling’s point of view.

The law then was not approved because according to the UK’s Government it would have caused “complex practical consequences”, so it’s not just J. K. Rowling that sees the problematic inside this law. If we speak about making a law for non-binary people, we should also speak about how to protect everyone else, because I have literally no-problem in going to the bathroom with someone that is gender fluid, and I’m sure J. K. Ro has neither.

For sure J. K. Rowling could have faced the situation better, chosing other words in some of her tweets, but she has always been (as the Correspondent article says) respectful towards trans women calling them by “she/her”, things that a transphobic person would have done, she consider them as women, thought that a transphobic person wouldn’t have.

So why do you need to go and see Fantastic Beasts 3? What J. K. Ro matter has to do with the Harry Potter prequel saga?

Many people trans and not, used this “situation” with J. K. Rowling along with the Johnny Depp situation (further information here), to not go to see Fantastic Beasts 3, but why does this makes no sense?

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is currently facing a third trial against ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation and slander. We still don’t know yet which will be the out come, but we for sure know that, Johnny Depp has shot a few scenes in the Fantastic Beasts movie, receiving a full refund for it, he in fact has perceived the entire salary as if he had shot the entire film. So, ok, he was sent away by Warner Bros, but it’s not like the latter has mistreated him. The paid him, and as far as we do know now this was the only thing they could do, given the times. And if Johnny wins this last trial, he’ll be free of charges, meaning that we could get him back in the saga, thing that won’t happen if we don’t reach a certain amount in the box office.

Box Office

Box office of Fantastic Beasts on April 10th.

What’s the box office? The box office of a film is the income made by that film, currently to shot Fantastic Beasts 3, 200$ million of dollars have been spent, and if we don’t reach an amount equal or superior the others two film of the saga won’t happen. What will be in for Johnny then? Which revenge will he get? Wouldn’t it be better to see him winning against Amber, having him back in the saga and see her jobless? What’s in for him, if he’s too jobless? He’s our Grindelwald he deserves to be back in.

J. K. Rowling

You need to learn how to separate a film/book from its author; I bet all of you have seen Disney Channel, despite the hundreds of abuses reported from the stars working there such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and others.. you all read, or watched, Alice in Wonderland yet you don’t know the author is a rapist. J. K. Rowling has never missed a chance to pay respect to everyone, she expressed her opinion on twitter, using strong words, that could have been choose better for sure. But has not killed anyone, she has ALWAYS supported trans people, and she still. Not going to see the film will just ruin a fantastic saga, without changing J. K. Ro’s position, this is not the way of facing problems.

Little Hangleton

Verity Alson lives in a small muggle suburb in Little Hangleton with her grandparents, they told her when she was very little that they had adopted her, because her real parents weren’t so fond of her, and decided that they didn’t want to bring her up. Verity never asked further questions about her biological parents, it was enough for her knowing that they never wanted her, and that they never even tried to make up.

That day, August 21st, was the day of her eleventh birthday, and her grandparents Raymond and Lucinda were waiting for her in the kitchen with a cake baked just for her.

-Happy birthday Sweetheart! – Said Lucinda going to hug her niece.

-Happy birthday love. – Said Raymond in turn kissing Verity on the cheek.

-Thank you.. – Said Verity with a loving tune.

-Make a wish. – Said Lucy gesturing towards the eleven candles, which were towering the cake.

Verity blew the candle, and Lucy started cutting the cake.

-Darlene is waiting for me at the park, may I go please? – Darlene was Verity, one and only, best friend. Verity and her had known each other since first grade, and even if sometimes they fought with each other, Verity loved Darlene so much and always forgave her everything.

-Yes of course you can! – Said Lucy.

-Will you go and grab the mail please? – Ask Raymond.

Without even asking Verity went for the door, and on the floor stood several letters one above the others. She collected them and while she was going back to the kitchen started to browse them in her hands, bill, bill, the knitting journal her grandmother was subscribed to, a big red lacquer wax seal flashed under her eyes. She turner the letter in curiosity, and found her self in reading her own name.

Verity Alson

Little Hangleton

Sherbourne Road 77

She opened the letter with a perplexed look on her face, wondering who could possibly write to her, for a moment she almost though it was her real parents.

Dear Miss Alson,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.

She stared at the elegant green calligraphy. ‘What a dumb joke’, she tore the letter into pieces, thinking it was just another joke of some silly girl at school, Verity thought it was really sick they actually used her real address. She trashed it under the sink with too much rage.

-What was that? – Asked smiling calmly Raymon, while opening the bills with his knife.

-Nothing, nothing.. so can I please go and meet Darlene?

-Yes sure dear! Just be careful and remember to be home for lunch!!

The Saint Helen’s park was right at the end of the street, and was the usual meeting point for Darlene and Verity. Darlene was waving at Verity from the park, she started to walk towards her, as the friend was waving back.

-Haaaappy Birthday! – She said showing something she had until then been hiding behind her back.

– Thanks Darl!! – Said Verity grabbing the package – “You shouldn’t had”

– Come on open it!!

Verity started to wreck the envelope, and it came out to be a box, inside was a silver bracelet, the one she had laid her eyes on, two weeks ago in a boutique.

-Oh Darlene…. come on…- She said stunned by the present. – It’s… It’s too m..

She couldn’t finish the sentence because a huge big brown owl was gliding towards them, Verity had to push down her friend since it was coming from her back and she did not see it coming. It landed on a wall behind them, and stayed there as if waiting for something with his leg out.

Verity got closer and saw it had a letter tied up at his leg, wondered for a minute then started to untie it. Darlene was looking at the whole scene behind the friend’s back, perhaps wondering if it was safe to get that closer to such a sharp beak. Verity managed to break free the envelope, but still the owl stayed there with his leg out, as waiting for something else.

-Mm.. What do you want? – The girl asked as expecting an answer from the animal. She took his leg between two fingers, it was so tiny, and push it back under his feathers. He clearly was not happy with that, because he snapped his beak very threateningly, and then flew off.

– What’s that? – Darlene asked above Verity’s shoulder.

– I don’t kn..- She was about to say she didn’t know what the letter was about, but as soon as she turned it around, she recognised it immediately. The green ink was the same one she had just thrown away in the kitchen’s trash, not too much earlier. Verity stood there for a while just watching at it, deciding whether to open it or not. Darlene pushed her shoulder with hers, shooking Verity up, bringing her trembling fingers to break the lacquer wax seal.
As soon as it was open she got the confirmation of what she already knew inside, the letter was the same.

– I’d better go – She said throwing the letter in her pocket

– What? No wait come on let me see!!

– I’m sorry Darlene I’d better go.. I’ll explain to you I promise.. I’m sorry – Verity had already started to move, without even realising it. – Thanks for the present tho! Sorry!!

Verity started at first to walk rapidly then to run towards home, as she was going back she thought this must be a very elaborated joke, who on earth would have rented an owl jus to make fool of her? She felt that something wasn’t coming around. When she was almost home she saw what it seemed to be a cat with glasses standind on her threshold. Panting, she got closer to the cat trying to caress it, but as soon as she approached the beast started to change, its back elongated, and its fur retreated to reaveal a woman in silk green dress.

Verity jumped back almost fainting, falling onto the ground, she kept herself from screaming only beacuse all the breath had been drawn from her lungs. The woman was wearing glasses that looked exactly the same of the cat’s marks, her eyes were gentle but her mouth was stiff.

-Are you Miss Verity Alson? – The woman asked with the same solemnity she gave off.

Verity incapable of pronuncing any words just nodded.

-I’m Professor Minerva Mc Gonagall, Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, nevertheless your future Transfiguration class teacher. I’m here to give you, all your information about what you need to do..

Verity look at the woman for a whole minute, then found the strenght to get up, her legs shaking dangerously.

-I’m sorry instructions to do what exactly…?

-To go to school obviously – Replied Minerva McGonagall already exasperated, and Verity knew at once that wasn’t a woman who liked to repeat herself. -Now shall we? – said indicating the Alson’s front door.

They gathered all in the living room where they listened to McGonagall explanation, Hogwarts was a school for Witches and Wizards, she talked about Diagon Alley a place where you could buy all the supplies needed for the school, this place could be reached by the Leaky Cauldron in London, the students could reach Hogwarts through the Platform 9 and 3/4 at the King’s Cross station. At the end of the explanation Verity firmly hoped that someone else started talking before herself, she feared to start laughing and never stop, and she felt that Minerva McGonagall wouldn’t have liked that. Her grandmother talk first after a sadly sighed.

-We knew this day would have come…-

Verity googled at her mimaw.

-Pardon me?! You knew??-

-Well not knew… we expected you to be different…-

Verity gestured with her hands as to ask to go on.

-Wel.. when you were little.. – Raymond began. – You didn’t like to eat that much. So we tried to make you eat by simulating a plane with the spoon… and more than once it happened that you.. umh… changed..-

–Transfigurated – Corrected him Professor McGonagall.

–Transfigurated your food into chocolate.-

-Why didn’t you tell me?? – Verity bursted out half excited, half enraged.

-They didn’t know – Intervened once again Minerva McGonagall -You see you’re a Muggle Born, that means that all prior to you in your family are muggles, except for you.-

Professor McGonagall dilated in a further explanation about coins in the magic world, and objects such as wands and cauldrons, and before leaving she delivered Verity a bag of money, and explained to her that they were from the Hogwarts fund destined to Muggle Borns. She left as she came, as a cat, leaving the Alson family alone with their thoughts.

Fantastic Beasts and The Secrets Of Dumbledore

**SPOILER ALERT**

If you still haven’t seen the film, note that this article includes several spoilers about Fantastic Beasts – The Secrets of Dumbledore, so don’t go further reading.

Let’s start with saying that I always believed in J. K. Ro’s mind, and I had no doubt she would have created an amazing film, but in my opinion she really got higher every expectation. The Johnny Depp’s cloud created a mistrust around this film, and Mads Mikelsen’s performance, but I can guarantee you that, that was the least of the successes of the film.

The film is about a political situation that faces a scenario with three big head-chiefs of the political scene: Antonio Vogel, Minister of the Germany Ministry of Magic, who is at the time competing with two others Ministry of Magic Chiefs Liu Tao and Vincencia Santos. The population is spread between who to chose, even if at the moment it would have seemed that the majority was for Santos. Dumbledore who knew Vogel at a personal level, seemed to understand the peril they were going to face, and sends Newt to tell Vogel to “do what it’s right, not what is easy.” But exactly how Dumbledore predicted, Vogel doesn’t listen to his advice, and decide to absolve Grindelwald from all his crimes, and let him candidate along with Santos and Tao. The population understanding that Grindelwald is innocent, stand by his side as he promise a world where Witches and Wizards are no longer needed to hide themselves.

Ariana Dumbledore

Eventually, Albus Dumbledore finds the courage to speak to someone about his sister Ariana, who he loved very dearly. He trusts Newt, telling him about how young he was, when he got into a duel with Aberforth, duel that got out of hand. He took out his wand, and Albus did too, they didn’t notice Ariana coming down from the stairs, Grindelwald was laughing, he doesn’t know whether the spell was his, or Abertforth’s but it doesn’t matter now.. because one moment she was there, the other she wasn’t.

He also tells Newt that Ariana was an Obscuriale (theory I’d always supported), and that she was going to die, he knew because the Phoenix of his family stayed close to her, and was going into ashes.

Newt is really touched by the story of Albus, and tells him that at least his sister had stopped suffering, but nothing seems to comfort Dumbledore. But Newt believes in him, and trusts that it doesn’t matter the mistakes, but the things we do to mend it.

Credence Barebone

Apparently the Dumbledore that was keeping a secret, wasn’t Albus but Aberforth. The previous film, Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald, ends with an explosive scene: Grindelwald revealing to Credence his true identity, Aurelius Dumbledore. Eventho at first you might have not believed him, everything is supported by a Phoenix, that as the Legend of the Dumbledore’s family tells, stays with Credence. Yet, there was something stinky to me, as we told here in our article. It was just too obvious in my opinion that Grindelwald was in fact lying to Credence, and that he was telling him he was Albus’s brother, only because he couldn’t make a move towards him, due to the blood pact.

Our intuition has been finally confirmed by the latest film: Credence has been charged by Grindelwald to kill Dumbledore, obviously because of the blood pact between the two. Credence devoted as he is to Grindelwald accept the charge with honour, and immediately try to fight Dumbledore in the middle of Berlin. Dumbledore, as the greatest Wizard he is, conjure an alternative reality in which he and Credence are alone, and can fight without hurting any muggle around. During this ferocious battle Credence lets out all his pain, sorrow, and anger towards Albus, who sympathize for Credence. Albus eventually told him Grindelwald lied to him, and that he was not his brother, he was a Dumbledore tho.

Credence, or better Aurelius, is in fact the son of Aberforth, born in the relationship between himself and a girl from Godric’s Hollow. Aurelius has been abandoned from his father, and we still had to understand the reason of this cruel act, nevertheless the Tico Dodonu’s prophecies were correct: “A son cruelly banished“. Albus tells Newt that he didn’t know about this son, that his brother kept him as a secret, and that maybe if he had been a better brother and friend to Aberforth, he would have known.

Severus Snape

A new beast has been introduced inside the Fantastic Beasts saga: the Qilin. It’s a Chinese Unicorn, part of the Chinese Mithology, his particularity? He can see in people soul, finding the pure at heart. You can only imagine Grindelwald’s interest in this little baby. In fact at the beginning of the film we see Newt, helping a Qilin mother to give birth, and immediately after Grindelwald’s henchmen coming and killing the mother, snatching the baby. What they didn’t know is that the mother had given birth to twins, and this will be essential for the history.

Qilin in fact, can see through people soul and therefore can see the pure at hearts. Grindelwald after killing the Qilin he snatched, take him back to “life” and he enchanted it to choose him at the “Qilin Ceremony”.

The Qilin Ceremony, is a choice made by the Qilin of the Head of the State, as he can see the purest of them all. Obviously the enchanted Qilin kneel before Grindelwald, but since he didn’t know he had a twin, Newt and his squad fiercely protected, we’ll see the true Qilin kneeling first before Dumbledore, and after him refusing the job, he’ll kneel before Madam Santos.

Now, Grindelwald to enchant the Qilin had first to give him a resemblance of life, and he did so through the counter-curse “Innerva-Sanantur”. Sounds any bell? Exactly the same counter-curse used by Snape to save Draco in the bathroom after he was hit by Sectumsempra. But.. if Snape invented.. as he claims Sectumsempra? Shouldn’t haven’t he invented the counter-curse too? So why was Grindelwald already using it? Maybe Snape only invented the curse, after being dragged into the Dark Arts far before Voldemort.

Gellert Grindelwald VS Albus Dumbledore

I think that the film was very well done, and above all the general expectations. Mads Mikelsen in the robes of Gellert Grindelwald did a great job, of course as you may know, I support Johnny Depp in his cause #justiceforJohnny and I’m firmly convinced of his innocence. But still Mads, kept up the flag for him. Of course Johnny would had given to Grindelwald a completely different interpratation, “madder” if you want, Mads was far more composed as a good politician should be anyway.

Dumbledore has at least confessed his love for Gellert, when he was asked the reason for stipulating the blood pact with Gellert that’s how he defends himself, even if Grindelwald remembers him that when he was younger he too believed in the Greater Good. What do you think of a younger Dumbledore agreeing with Grindelwald? The mind of a young boy, devoted to some kind of love can be easily twisted and manipulated, and easily lead to this.

There’s a moment when Grindelwald decide to kill Credence as he probably isn’t of his further need, since he discovered who he really is, and therefor his loyalty changed. As soon as Grindelwald cast the spell, both Aberforth and Albus cast counter curses together to protect Aurelius, the moment the three spells meet, the blood pact is broken. Dumbledore will lately explain that in his opinion was the meeting of two opposite forces the reason why it broke: one to kill, one to protect.

Once again J. K. Rowling has been attacked for her choice of the characters sexuality, and because of the “numbers” of the LBGTQ+ community characters inside the films, I think unfairly. But I will further discuss this matter in another article very soon so stay tuned. In the mean time if you want you can keep up with the Rowling’s matter, and what really happened in this article here.

Jacob Kovalski and Queenie Goldestein

Jacob in this film express all his love for Queenie, for as he first sees her back again, he immediately try to catch her attention and win her back. He’s been given a wand by Dumbledore, but with no nucleus, in fact he won’t be able to cast any magic with it. And he’ll even end in menacing Grindelwald with this same wand, always for Queenie’s love. Do you reckon Jacob wasn’t able to cast any magic only because of the nucleus missing, or because he’s a muggle? I personally believes that magic is within all of us, and that wands are only “canals“, so I think that with a working nucleus he probably would have been able to do something.

Queenie in the Secrets of Dumbledore is seen side by side with Grindelwald, but besides this she looks tired, sad. This because as soon as she joined the “dark side” she understood what the real intentions of Grindelwald were, but now is too late to come back. She not dare to look at Jacob when she passes him by, for fear for him, to protect him. In the last minutes right before the big battle, she managed to reach out to Jacob and the two got back together. Gellert won’t like this even a bit, in fact he’ll inflict Jacob a cruciatus curse.

But with Grindelwald gone, at least for now, the two manage to escape together and even end up in getting married! They celebrate it at Kovalski’s bakery, which leave us supposing that since Madam Santos government, muggle-wizard marriages became legal everywhere.

Altogether I firmly believe this is a very good done film, maybe won’t be the best of the entire saga, we don’t know yet, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s an explosive story tying together both the Harry Potter’s book, and the other two Fantastic Beast’s movie.

I sincerely hope that this film gets what it actually deserves, above all the criticism that has been made, and I hope that the saga will progress with the Fourth and the Fifth, which I remember you should be recorded in Italy and Rio de Janeiro.

I hope you enjoyed this article, and as always if you have theories, or things you’d like to discuss about, just drop a comment or send an email.

Hogwarts Tournament of Houses

On November 28th was released the first episode of Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. Of course we take a look, and don’t worry, you find any “big” spoilers here, but if you just want the surprise watch the show before reading our review!

Let’s start with saying that the show is available on Sky and Now platforms, and yes the episodes are recorded so don’t worry! You won’t miss a thing.

The structure of the show is amazing, everything is about Harry Potter, from the questions to the game itself, not to talk about the theater.

Each episode sees two Houses fighting one another, and the show starts with the choosing of the contestants, and it is done in a very “Potterheadly” way, which I personally find amazing and a very genial thought.

The other amazing thing about the game is that your house plays along with the contestants, and it’s so cool because this really makes it the “House Tournament”.

The Teams

Team Gryffindor

I’m a Gryffindor myself so of course I had big expectations on their team, instead I sadly found them quite unprepared. I wished they all put more attention into that “we’re the competitive ones” feeling instead on the “we’re the sassy one”, I hope we’ll get better in the next competition. They didn’t use our gut-feeling, I don’t know something went wrong.

Team Slytherin

I found this team very special, and even if I’m not that fond of Slytherins (for obvious reasons), they played really well. Cunning and determinate as you expect from a Slytherin, they had a great harmony and put on an amazing strategy in my opinion. But Ryan, honestly… Professor Umbridge?

Team Ravenclaw

When you think of a Ravenclaw you think about these three. Sharp, wise and resolute. They didn’t loose the concentration for the entire game, unfortunately they slipped on the lines game, very unlucky! Anyway they gave all they had, and that would make Rowena proud of you guys!

Team Hufflepuff

Not for sure the best team in harmony, everyone was quite on a different wave. But for sure the team that had the harder work done! They patiently waited their occasion, and BOOM! Hit the target. They fought their way more than valiantly through the game.

The House Cup

One of the most amazing thing about the game is that your team, actually win the house cup! Along with other big surprises mind blowing for a Potterhead, this is insane.

Boardman’s Manor

It’s March and it’s a cold day, but it’s not such a cold day in Boardman’s Manor, which towered over the village of Long Compton. Only the kitchen light was already on, were stood the little Wendy Boardman waiting for her Father.

He had promised her once again that he would present the day she would have received her Hogwarts letter, on her 11th birthday, but still there was no trace on him. Wendy tried to convince herself that this time it would have been different, but the story behind her family wasn’t reassuring.

Stubby Boardman was the leader singer of the coral group Hobglobin, but the story everyone knew was a little different from the truth, and Wendy knew that very well.

When an hour later a big snowy owl was about to land on the kitchen window there was still no trace of her Dad, Wendy gently took the letter from the owl’s leg and gave him two sickles. She broke the lacquer wax seal and read:

Dear Miss Boardman

We are pleased to inform you that you’ve been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Signed: Minerva McGonagall. She had heard of her so much, that just seeing her signature made her feel like she already knew that woman, but her Grand-Mother told more than once, not ever to have the presumption of knowing Professor McGonagall, and Wendy decided that she wouldn’t had.

Her father wasn’t there, so instead she started to go upstairs towards the bedroom to give her mother the great new, her long blonde hair were waving left and right while she was climbing the stairs occasionally jumping. She knocked at the bedroom door, and when she received no answer she push the handle.

-Mom? – The room was dark, and the only light which was coming through, was the one that managed to filter from the drawn curtains. She received no answer. She got closer to the four poster bed, and opened the curtain.

-Mom? -She repeated lowering her voice. -Mom.. I’ve got my letter. I’ve been accepted.-

Her mother distracted her void look from the wall in front of her, and looked at her daughter without really seeing her.

-That’s amazing Dear. –

-Look at my letter! Professor McGonagall herself signed it. She taught to you too, didn’t her? – Asked Wendy hopeful to have a conversation about Hogwarts with her mother.

-Of course Dear… of course… – Said her mother turning to look outside the window, as she jabbered something.

Wendy tried to remember her childhood, she remembered that her mom used to be a beautiful powerful Witch, she had not always been like this: switched off, extinguished. Her mother used to take care of her, she used to show her some spells just to see her laugh, she used to sing for her, and to rad her tales from Beedle the Bard’s book.

Wendy smiled sadly in the dark, closed the curtain and went off the room closing the door behind her back.

Stubby Boardman was a perfect stage man, but whenever he came back home it was like having another person, those rare cases when he came home. He was always on his tour, with his band, leaving little Wendy alone with her mother. When he was home he was always drunk, too used to the tour’s life, and forgetting about what it meant to be around a toddler and a wife.

After a terrible fight her father left for good, never came back, and her mother has never been the same again. Luckily, her grandparents Marian and Robin brought her up, loving her like a daughter of their own.

This was the only life Wendy ever knew, a Mother too broken to care after her, and a Father who was never at home, and that even when he was, he really wasn’t.

The story however told by the journals, such as the Daily Prophet, was different, and of course nothing of what ever happened to Boardman’s Manor, and inside its closed door, ever leaked.

Wendy shook off her sadness, that HAD to be a very happy day, for she had received her Hogwarts letter, and she was about to begin her new life at Hogwarts, which would have been for as long as she would have stayed there, her family. She drawn the curtains of her mother bed, and fluffed her pillows, then went out closing the door behind her back.

She began once again to go downstairs, and headed for her Grandparents side of the Manor, when she arrived there, her grannies were already fitted at the table having their breakfast.

-Happy Birthday lil witch!! – Said her Grandma, getting up from the chair and going to kiss her niece. She kissed Wendy on both cheeks, and then waving her wand she made appear a present.

-This was my Crystall Ball, from my years at Hogwarts, I know you won’t have Divination class until the Third year but..”

She couldn’t even finish her sentence because Wendy jumped at her neck.

– Thank you, thank you thank you Grandma! This is just…. perfect!! – Said Wendy turning the crystal ball in her hands.

-So.. has it arrived? – Asked her grandpa from the table.

Wendy raised the letter smiling.

-Come my love! Come here! – Her Grandma placed an hand on her back guiding her towards the table, were his grandpa was eating a croissant, while he was mixing the coffee using a spell that was making the spoon rotating in it.

Wendy sat in front of her Grandma, placing the letter on the table, the lady conjure her glasses helping herself with the wand.

-I can’t wait to be able to do that – said Wendy.

-You’ll soon my lil witch. – She stared at the letter. -Ah look here Robin! The same smart green handwriting of Minerva McGonagall.. she’s such a nice woman. – She said more to herself rather then the others.

-You just tell this because she was the Head of your House Marian! – replied her husband.

-That’s not…. -She’s stopped thinking. – Entirely true.- Concluded winking to Wendy, who smiled.

-What if I’m put in Hufflepuff or worse… Slytherin? – Bursted out Wendy, looking worried.

-You’ll be in the house that represent you the most. – Said wisely Robin. – But I’m quite sure you’ll be in Ravenclaw, just like I was. – He said all at once pompous.

-You mean, she’ll be in Gryffindor… just like I was – spatted Marian.

-Yeah you wish. She has the mind of true Ravenclaw. – He said eating the croissant.

-We’ll see – Said Marian looking at her husband from above the glasses, probably wondering for a moment how could she have ended up with someone like him. – Don’t worry Wendy, you’ll be for sure in the House that suits you the most, each house has its qualities and its flaws. And more if you’ll be put in Slytherin you’ll end up with that friend of yours.. –

-Who? Stella? – Said Wendy intrigued by the words of Marian.

-Stella is not going to end up in Slytherin. She for sure will be in Hufflepuff – teased again Robin suddenly interrupting the ‘rotating spoon’ spell.

-No she won’t! – Said back again Marian.

Wendy contemplated that scene for a minute, than bursted out laughing, her day suddenly became the best day ever, she had received her Hogwarts letter and was about to discover everything her grandparents had always told her about, and she finally felt like it didn’t matter what house she was going to end up in Hogwarts, she already had a family.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

Personally is my least favorite so far.. projected bad, and executed even worse! The game starts at the Pensieve where you have to choose your level, and every once in a while you’ll unblock some further areas by completing the previous one.

What I don’t like is that the game doesn’t have a logical connection in the middle.. One minute you’re at Hogwarts and one second later you’re in the Dark Forest, doing absolutely NOTHING.

In the game you’ll have to collect beans which will allow you to buy special power-up cards for Harry, Ron and Hermione. That’s right in this game you will have the opportunity to play as one of the Golden Trio, but not in the same mode of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

As you play along the other two will help you in your task, and collect beans as well. To defeat some creatures, or to move some objects you’ll have to collaborate with them. When you select you character pay attention to the cards you are equipping they with, as some cards will help you in some tasks rather than others.

Each level is composed by several parts, and every time you complete a level you unblock a part of it. This means that in order to complete the whole, you have to replay the same level all over again for some times. You’ll see it is completed because it will appear in the principal menu.

Unblocking parts of the levels allow you to collect everything you need to reach the 100% of the games, which are:

-Mini Triwizard Shields – 10 to collect during the level
-Triwizard Shields – When you catch it the level ends (so be careful to walk through it only when you’ve done everything you wanted to.)
-Dark Detectors
-Vanishing Cards – (Really hard to catch , if they vanish you have to reload the level)
-Dragon Statue
-Mushroom
-Taps – They get easily concealed with the surroundings, pay attention.
-Shovels

And yes if you’re wondering, you need to face the Triward Tasks :

In the first task you’ll have to flee from the dragon, flying on your broom through a designed path. If you manage to catch the blue circles you’ll increase your speed. The faster you reach the end, the higher will be your score.

In the 2nd task you’ll have to go through the Dark Lake to find Ron, here too you’ll have booster to increase your speed. Here and there you’ll have to stun mermaids, and grindylows. About the mermaids in particular, be careful if you don’t stun them in time, they’ll eat your Gillyweed.

Follow the Grindylows, and try to catch all the Gillyweeds to reach the end in the shortest time possible. (Honestly this one is the one that I troubled the most with).

Lastly, try to find the road in the maze in the shortest time possible to reach the cup. Watch out for the ramping plants.

After the cup you’ll have to face Voldemort, try to defeat him using what you find around in the cemetery.

In conclusion, what I didn’t like about this game is the confusion.. it’s confusionary, you jump from a level to another without much of a connection. The story of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is so cool, it deserved way better. Let me know in the comment if you’ve played (or if you will), and if you liked it!

Anyway don’t desperate because you need to brace yourself fore a really quality jump, and I wasn’t ready either.

Fantastic Beasts Theory

Since the previous exit of Crimes of Grindelwald, the Fandom has split into two major groups, those who believe the film was well done and so that expected great things by the sequel, and those who thought the film was not well done, because of some tramn inconsistencies (which we abudantly discussed here).

The COVID-19 situation didn’t help, since we were expecting with our breath suspended the next film release, to discuss these plot holes, but what was initially scheduled for 2021, actually was moved to 2022.

The actual scheduled release date is July 14th 2022.

Watching Fantastic Beasts and The Crimes of Grindelwald this morning I thought of something, and so I made up a theory:

So: Leta believes her brother Corvus has drowned because exchanged the babies, and so that Credence is not Corvus Lestrange.

But Credence is a wizard, he has magical powers. So what are the odds that even the other family, Leta exchanged baby Corvus with, was also a Wizard family? Because in those years was still pursuing the thought that, Magical Blood was only to be shared through family, so it’s very peculiar to me, that that woman also was a Witch.

Secondly, and I believe most important, we know that magical powers expecially in children burst out in moment of needs, as protection. Just like happened to Neville, when he fell from the window due to his uncle.

If the other baby was Corvus Lestrange, he was a Wizard.. why didn’t he use magic to save himself? I know he may seem way too young, but I believe that if he had feared for his life magic would have burst out.

But most important, if the mother in fact was a Witch (since the exchanged baby also is a Wizard), why didn’t she use magic to save herself and the baby? Or maybe the boat?

I believe that the woman with whom Leta exchanged Corvus was a Muggle, and that the baby also was a Muggle, so I don’t think it is Credence. And so that the Tychos Dodonus Profecy is correct:

“A son cruelly banished
Despair of the daughter
Return, great avenger
With wings from the water.“

So now I have two theories: rather Corvus was exchanged again, or he survived and Credence indeed is Corvus Lestrange.

The other thoery that crossed my mind especially reading the prophecy, is that Tycho Dodonus was not referring to the Lestranges, but rather to the Dumbledores.

A son cruelly banished could it be Credence? Despair of the daughter could be Ariana?

What do you think about these theories? Do you have some your own? Let me know! The more the better!

Gobstones

Everyone has heard about the Gobstones: a game from the Magic’s World that resemble the marbles game in the Muggle’s World. But how do you play it?

There are three types of Gobstones games: Traditional, Snake Pit, and Jack Stone.

Traditional Rules:

Game Purpose: Casting the more Gobstone you can outside the circle.

Needings: Circle 1mx1m, 13 common Gobstones, Your house’s Gobstones, your opponent house’s Gobstones.

Both of you will start from the circle line, in turn you kick your house’s Gobstone, trying to send the common ones outside of the circle.

For each common Gobstone sent outside the circle it’s worth one point.

But pay attention if attempting to do so you also send out your personal Gobstone, you’ll loose a point and your opponent will gain one.

When all the common Gobstones have been kicked out of the circle the game ends, the one with the more points obtained wins.

Snake Pit

Game Purpose: Get the closest as possible to the pit, without falling it.

Needings: Circle 1mx1m with a pit at the center about 5cmx5cm, your house’s Gobstones, your opponent house’s Gobstones.

Both of you will start from the circle line, in turn you kick your house’s Gobstones towards the pit trying to get the closest as possible, without falling down.

You’ll have 4 Gobstones to kick each, at the end of these the games end and the closest to the pit wins.

You’re allowed to kick the opponent’s Gobstones away, or down the pit without penalty.

If you, or your opponent fall down the pit, nothing happens, you just loose a Gobstone, and you’ll have to try to win with the remainings.

Jack Stone

Game Purpose: Get the closest you can to the Jack Stone.

Needings: Circle 1mx1m large, 1 common Jack Stone, your house’s Gobstones, your opponent house’s Gobstones.

Both of you will start from the circle line, you both have 4 Gobstones each, at the end of these the closest to the Jack Stone wins.

You’re allowed to kick opponent’s Gobstones away from the Jack Stone.

If you accidentally kick the Jack Stone you’ll have no penalty.

If you kick the Jack Stone outside the circle you loose.

Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff Gobstones.

To completely win a game you need to win 3 matches.

You can play with your friends and set who’s the real Hogwarts Gobstone’s Winner!