Free Republic

It's part rugby, part dodgeball and part fantasy. But as Harry Potter's magical, fictional game of Quidditch takes off as a real sport, it's only part fun and games. Quidditch, the brainchild of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, has taken flight in hundreds of colleges and high schools in America. It's given birth to an international organization and it's even inspired a competitive World Cup, which is being played in the heart of Manhattan this week.

A new material that could be used to create a real-life Harry Potter-style "invisibility cloak" has been designed by British scientists. The material, called "Metaflex", may in future provide a way of manufacturing fabrics that manipulate light. Metamaterials have already been developed that bend and channel light to render objects invisible at longer wavelengths. Visible light poses a greater challenge because its short wavelength means the metamaterial atoms have to be very small. So far such small light-bending atoms have only been produced on flat, hard surfaces unsuitable for use in clothing.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in...

Allure of "Twilight" sparks new trend. Teens bite one another to show ...

Below is the Introduction to Exorcism and the Church Militant, a new book authored by Father Tom Euteneuer, president of Human Life International. ------- Introduction to Exorcism and the Church Militant:Draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist...

Mother Potter's Marian MissionAt the end of 1874, Mother Potter received the inner certitude that she and the religious Congregation she was to institute (The Little Company of Mary) were called to foster devotion to the Maternal Heart of Mary. "We are chosen," wrote Mother Potter, . . . to promulgate in God's Church an increase of devotion to the Maternal Heart of Mary. We must increase our love for Our Lady and her sweet Maternal Heart, which makes us desire to propagate that devotion and to lead as many of God's vast family as we can to love and...

Emma Watson took some time away from her studies to enjoy a behind-closed-doors tour of the muc- hyped Wizarding World Of Harry Potter at the Orlando Resort in Florida. The 20-year-old actress, who plays Hermione Granger in the films, was joined by some of her co-stars, including Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and Oliver and James Phelps (Weasley twins Fred and George). Dressed in a short blue summer dress, Emma, who is currently studying at Brown University in Rhode Island, was given a tour around the $200m stunning attraction ahead of its official opening in June.

Preface to Harry Potter and the Paganization of Culture, by Michael D. O'Brien This book grew out of a series of articles which were written over a ten-year period for various Christian periodicals. At first, I had no interest in reading the Harry Potter novels, and indeed felt that I had already expended considerable time researching the field of fantasy literature when writing a book on the subject in the mid-1990’s. Moreover, the constant reviews of the Potter series had given me a general sense about the stories and the popular opinions. Oceans of spilled ink and electronic text seemed...

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed his latest role – as an adviser to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. The 20-year-old self-confessed Lib Dem supporter met Mr Clegg in December and the pair often talk politics on the phone. During the meeting, Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard in the film adaptations of the J.K. Rowling books, agreed publicly to support the Lib Dems to help attract young voters.

The director of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" - the two-part final cinematic chapter based on the series of seven books - says Daniel Radcliffe will do several nude scenes in the upcoming movie, one of them of the steamy variety....a monster tortures Harry's friend Ron (Rupert Grint) with images of Harry in some sort of tryst with Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), with whom Ron is passionately in love.

It is no secret that people have long protested not only the Harry Potter books but the movies as well. Many of those people who protest do so with their religious conviction in mind. Back in 1999, an Associated Press writer reported that a group of parents wanted the books kept from classrooms. One parent, Elizabeth Mounce, was quoted as saying, "'The books have a serious tone of death, hate, lack of respect and sheer evil.'" At the time, the school principal, Jerry Locke, asked teachers to stop reading the books in classrooms until the issue was resolved. He...

We have some troubling news to report tonight regarding one of the actors in the Harry Potter films. Stemming originally from a UK tabloid, world wide media have now carried the story that actor Jamie Waylett, who portrays actor Vincent Crabbe in the beloved film series, was arrested on charges of possessing an illegal substance. A rep for Scotland Yard told the BBC that police made the arrest after searching a car carrying 19 year old Jamie and a friend. "The car was searched and officers found eight bags of a substance believed to be cannabis," he said. The report...

In this trailer released by WB, Dumbledore narrates the story of Tom Riddle. We see glimpses of the inferi, more orphanage footage, the gates of Hogwarts as Harry and Luna travel up to them, Harry under his invisibility cloak on the train, Dumbledore grabbing a chain from the cave, a close shot of Narcissa, Draco working on the wardrobe, explosions in Diagon Alley and fire at the Burrow, Harry battling off the Inferi, Fenrir Greyback, Harry shouting at Snape, the bridge collapsing, and another "Once again, I must ask too much of you, Harry."

UK tabloid The Mirror is reporting tonight that a stuntman "who doubles for Harry star Daniel Radcliffe," was injured as part of prep work for filming on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The paper says that the accident with the stuntman happened while "rehearsing a flying sequence using a harness when he was sent plummeting by the blast, which was part of the stunt. He was conscious after smashing to the ground but told horrified colleagues: “I can’t feel my legs.” The paper continues: A source said: “The stunt double was badly hurt. He was rehearsing a flying scene...

The sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, originally scheduled for a November 21 release, has now been moved to July 17, 2009 in the US and major international markets, according to MarketWatch.com. WB has confirmed the move to TLC. The press release says the reason for the move was two-fold: First, the studio says summer releases are better for "family tentpole" events, and second, they are still feeling the aftereffects of the writers' strike and need the time to make sure the film reaches the widest audience possible. The new date, said Jeff Robinov, president of...

Muggles Rejoice! 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' A young Dark Wizard emerges in this exclusive first look. Watch the 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' trailer in HD: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 114 Days to Theater Premiere Fri Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2008 Synopsis Adolescent wizard-in-training Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for another year of schooling and learns more about the dark past of the boy who grew up to become Lord Voldemort in this, the sixth installment of the film series Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is...

The Telegraph has reported today that Dame Maggie Smith, known to Potter film fans as Prof. McGonagall, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had a tumor removed and has undergone a course of chemotherapy; the prognosis “looks good,” a friend of hers told the paper. Everyone on staff at, and, we’re sure, reading Leaky wishes this fine actress a double measure of luck and health to counteract this difficult turn of events. You can write to Dame Maggie Smith at Leavesden Studios: c/o Harry Potter Production Leavesden Studios P.O. Box 3000 Leavesden, HertfordshireWD25 7LT United Kingdom

Potter Author JK Rowling Equates Christians Who Avoid Potter with Islamic Fundamentalists Says "fundamentalists across all the major religions, if you put them in a room, they'd have bags in common! They hate all the same things" By John-Henry Westen EDINBURGH, March 12, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The newly released edition of the Edinburgh University Student newspaper, the oldest student newspaper in the UK, includes an interview with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.  In the interview Rowling claims to have received death threats from Christians opposed to her novels, calling Christian 'fundamentalists' "dangerous" and comparing them by inference to Islamic fundamentalists....

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The final "Harry Potter" book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will be adapted into two films, Warner Bros. said Wednesday. Titled "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," the movies are set to be released in November 2010 and May 2011. They will be shot back-to-back by David Yates, who is directing the adaptation of the sixth novel, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," due in theatres November 21. Steve Kloves, who has written all but one of the "Potter" movies, also is returning...

(IsraelNN.com) British actor Daniel Radcliffe, who is best known for his role as the famously-bespectacled magical prodigy "Harry Potter," will donate the first pair of glasses he wore as a child to a Liverpool exhibition remembering those who died in the Holocaust. The glasses will be linked with others to form the shape of a railway track, reminiscent of those upon which Jews were transported to concentration camps throughout Europe. The 18 year-old actor, whose mother is Jewish, sent the oval, gray metal-framed glasses he wore as a 6 year-old to be part of the memorial. Former British Prime Minister...