PotterCast 83: Cover Art, or: Whose Soul Is It Anyway? Transcript

Part 1 (0:00 - 11:41)

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Melissa Anelli (MA): The cover art is out. It's the cover art day, it's the last big news in the Harry Potter world, and we're here to break it all down for you immediately! Or as best we can, on about two hours of sleep.

Sue Upton (SU): Yeah, pretty much. Pretty much. (laughs)

MA: And four hours of Potter. (SU and MA laugh)

MA: I'm Melissa, this is Sue. It's going to just be us for some time as we kind of digest this, and talk about the first things that come up when we look at this, at this beautiful cover art. I'm wagering a guess that most PotterCasts before the release, will now be full of cover art discussion.

SU: Pretty much. (laughs) Well, there's just so much! (MA: Right, Sue?) I mean, we got the arch, we got text, we got so much today. It's just overwhelming. You know?

MA: Yeah it's sort of crazy, after a big drought, we just are flooded (SU: Mm-hm.) and so why don't we start immediately. Well lets talk for a second (SU: Yes.) about how we came to this realization. (SU: Yes.) Basically, (SU: Mm-hm.) we started getting weird e-mails. (SU: Mm-hm.) This is what happened with the release date. We got weird e-mails.

SU: Right.

MA: "Hey you guys should be up at such and such time." And we're like "Okay." (SU: Mm-hm.) And then at like about one o'clock or two o'clock in the morning, we get a note that something's going on at Bloomsbury. (laughs) And so we're like, "All right, well, this is either too many to ignore." And so we stayed up, I stayed up most of the night.

SU: I was up very early, very early, yeah.

MA: Yeah. Sue and I met at like six o'clock in the morning, and we're like, "Okay!"

SU: "Okay!" (excited clapping)

MA: "We're on the watch! (SU laughs) There's going to be artwork on the watch! I know it's going to be on the Today Show, it's on the- you gotta watch!" (SU laughs)

SU: Yeah, yeah, yup.

MA: Sure enough, it was on the Today Show. But it was on Bloomsbury first.

SU: Right, right.

MA: Bloomsbury beat everybody to the punch, just threw it up on their site.

SU: No! No fanfare, there it was, poof!

MA: Nothing! Nothing! I refreshed, and boom! There was the artwork. I said, "Oh, my God!" (laughs) So, we're wanting to put things up, and then as we're putting it up, the server's slowing down because people are coming to Leaky. (SU: Right.) Then on the television, they start talking about it on the television, we posted that on Leaky. Then it shows up on the Scholastic site. (SU: Site.) Then there's an image here, then we're waiting for the real artwork, then there's- it was out of control! Crazyness. I think Leaky broke four times today!

SU: At least, at least. (both laugh) And just like every time- we're talking about news, and then you just don't get time to absorb what's actually happening.

MA: No.

SU: I mean, I know that sounds weird to people out there but Melissa had just- was just saying, "Do we get a chance to actually look at what we're doing?" You know?

MA: No, it was- you were IM'ing me about something about the art, (SU: Yeah.) and I couldn't. I had this pang of pain because you were talking about the art, and I'm trying to fix images, I'm trying to get it right, and I hadn't even looked at the art yet. (SU: Right, right.) I hadn't even looked at it. I knew it was orange, I knew the U.K. stuff was very busy (SU: Yeah.) and that was it! I was like, "everybody's talking about it and I can't take part!"

SU: Yeah, I know. And coincidentally, I know this will come as a big shock to everyone, but the first word I said to Melissa was the word "Hufflepuff" and the cup.

MA: Of course.

SU: (cackles) Strange how I immediately focus in on that. Strange!

MA: Well, why don't we start talking about the cover. (SU: Okay.) Where exactly do you see this "Hufflepuff"?

SU: Okay, I'm looking at- okay, the first thing we saw was the Bloomsbury artwork, so let's tackle that first. And the first thing I saw was the UK children's edition. There are two different, distinctly different, cover arts for the different versions. And on the children's version there is a very colorful, elaborate of the trio and if you look they're bursting through something and there's all these things going on. And there's a whole- at the very bottom there is a whole splay of different images and items and things. And there's a suit of armor, and there looks like the Hufflepuff cup, right under Harry's hand.

MA: See, I don't...

SU: Do you see that round gold cup with the little things go around it? (MA: I do see it, I don't think...) That looks like the chalice to me. It makes sense because I see the ring. There's a ring.

MA: Where's the ring?

SU: On the front. If you go over to the left, if you're looking towards the fr- see where that coat of arm- his- the body of that coat of armor is. Doesn't that look like the ring with the big red emerald on it? Or is that?

MA: Is that a ring or is that just a piece of gold, or something and another ruby? Because that's big for a ring.

SU: But look at the way the things are stacked. It looked like- it looks like a band of- I have a ring like that. That's like a gold inlay ring that has just like- I don't know, it's an Italian ring, so it's just- I don't know, but that looked like to me, it looked like a ring laying on its side. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm probably wrong.

MA: Well, the thing is, though, wherever they are, (SU: Yeah.) that ring was destroyed and would be in Dumbledore's office. (SU: True.) So wherever they are, if that is a ring, it won't be the ring. And the thing about this picture, if you look closely- first of all, I think they're in Gringotts, (SU: Yeah, I agree. I agree.) because there's coins. And it seems like a lot of jewelry, (SU: Right.) a lot of jewels, (SU: Uh huh.) but they're only rubies. There's no other jewel there but rubies.

SU: Right. And there's no emeralds, there's no sapphires, there's nothing else. It's interesting. But see, the reason I thought this was a ring is I thought this represents the- see, well, if you're squirrely like me and you think that the Deathly Hallows are the four relics belonging to the four founders, that's why the ring, but...

MA: But the ring- the only thing is, the ring wouldn't be (SU: Yeah, you're right, you're right.) there, you know? That's why I- for instance the suit of armor. It looks like it has a snake on it, but the image on the front also looks like a beak. I don't know if that's actually a snake. Do you see that?

SU: Yeah, it does. It very much looks like it could be Fawkes' face, but it does, you see the body of a snake, so...

MA: Right. It could be some unknown creature. It does have a very reptilian- actually, that's not reptilian, that's bird-like. It could be either, kind of patterned on the front. (SU: You're right, you're right.) Then you have that helmet, which again, it's got a ruby encrusted (SU: Mm-hm.) right on the front, and it's got some sort of- it looks like a dragon.

SU: Yeah, you know, at first I thought it was a gargoyle, but it is a dragon. But you know, I don't know. But I guess I'm obsessed with Hogwarts itself, and so I think all the things that she's described in the books, the castle, and so that's why I just flashed to the... But it makes more sense to be a dragon.

MA: Well, I just don't know. The biggest indicator to me is that they're in some sort of Gryffindor-esque (SU: Yeah.) place is all these rubies. (SU: Absolutely!) How could he do all these gems and have not a single one of them not be a ruby? (SU: Right.) It's weird.

SU: It's weird. Even like, I think those are maybe- I don't know if they're potion bottles or you know something. I don't know what those bottles are, but they're encrusted, even with red rubies. I mean, whoa!

MA: You know? Now you look at the trio. Their arms are completely busted up. (SU: Yeah.) They're bruised. Who is behind Harry? Is it a goblin, or is it Dobby?

SU: You know, it would make sense if it's a goblin if they are in Gringotts, but it could be Kreacher.

MA: And it could be Kreacher. It's a little freaky. It's a little Gollum-esque to me. (SU: It is.) But if they're in Gringotts and it's a goblin, why is a goblin holding what I can only assume is the sword of Gryffindor?

SU: Then maybe it's- that makes no sense. Then it would make more sense if it's Dobby, because obviously Kreacher wouldn't be helping them, would he? I don't know. (MA: I don't know.) But let's look- okay, so their arms are, they're bruised. And so it looks like they've been either- they were hurt going into this room or there's been some sort of confrontation. I don't know why their- because it is- although it looks...

MA: Maybe it's all the rubies hitting them on the arms. (laughs)

SU: It could be! Well, you know how when- was it in the first book when they went in the room with the flying keys and they were all scratched and Harry was scratched and stuff. Maybe it was something like that.

MA: Yeah, but it seems to only be on their arms.

SU: Yeah, true. And let's look at their clothing though too, Melissa. What do you think?

MA: Weird, huh? I mean, Ron's wearing something green, Hermione's wearing something purple. It's so funny, this purple robe that Hermione's wearing is almost exactly what a fan artist put on one of my favorite images in our fan art galleries.

SU: Oh! I know what you mean. We have so much to talk about. When Bloomsbury released their cover art, it was the jacket, and on the children's one, more so then the U.K. one, there's an additional statement on the back of the cover, and there's also an inside flap. And it mentions them leaving the warmth and safety and the companionship of the Burrow. Ahh.

MA: You know, they really could- but Harry's not in his dress robes.

SU: No.

MA: Harry's in... (SU: A t-shirt, yeah, or a tunic.) I don't know about Harry. Maybe Harry had time to go- yeah, exactly. Why would Ron be wearing that? Maybe they had to disguise themselves to get in to wherever they are?

SU: Oh, yeah, that could be. Yeah.

MA: Look at all those coins.

SU: I know! That's not there for no reason, there has- I totally agree with the Gringotts, it has to be. I just...

MA: But do you know what's interesting?

SU: Yeah?

MA: It's the same color sky in both the U.K. and the American editions.

SU: The orangey-red? Yeah.

MA: Mm-hm. But this arch is interesting, as well.

SU: Yeah, it is! See? Oh, that arch. That ties us back to the Scholastic version, doesn't it? (laughs)

MA: It does, (SU: Okay.) but first let's talk about the spine of this book.

SU: Oh, yes, yes.

MA: On the top- now, last year on the top, there was a ring, (SU: Mm-hm.) so clearly. (SU: Yes.) Bloomsbury doesn't waste any space. (SU: No.) On the top, there is a triangle with a circle inside, and a line down the middle. (SU: Mm-hm.) Which, Sue, you said you recognized?

SU: It looks very much like an old ancient Egypt symbol to ward off evil spirits. The triangle can represent, in a lot of history, can represent the Trinity, the Holy... You can take it from a religious context, or it can represent the mother, father, daughter, child, or could represent the trio? But I am not an expert, by any means, on ancient Runes, but to me, just what I have seen through, because I like archaeology and Egyptian things. I immediately flashed to that, of a protective symbol.

MA: And it's gotta be a rune.

SU: Yeah, yeah!

MA: Hermione's been squawking about Ancient Runes since the third book, (SU: Yeah.) and how it's her favorite. That knowledge has to come in handy here!

SU: Yeah. I don't know if it's used as jewelry, or something, but I know I just saw something the other day on one of- I'm history obsessed. That would make a lot of sense. It's not from the Runes, though, we should point out, because I immediately went to Jo's site, and looked for her Ancient Runes Made Easy. If you go on her site, she has, in her links section, her bookshelf, and she has a whole book with some Runes. And it's not on there, so I don't know!

MA: Maybe on purpose.

SU: Definitely, definitely. But it's gotta mean- so, if it is a protective thing?

MA: Could it be key in however, (SU: Yeah.) however he battles against his... Wherever he battles Voldemort?

SU: So, I'm not really sure about the obelisk, or whatever that thing is, in the middle. You know? The thing in the middle.