Podcasts by The Forbidden Forest

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Seer from 2022-01-09T21:17:51

A seer is born in a catholic parish on an island in the North Irish sea and the marauders get their tea leaves read. 

James and Rho talk about art shows, world building, ...

Chapter Twenty-Three: Hallowed be thy Name from 2021-09-27T18:48:24

The little prince is born. Rho and James are academic for five minutes and then everything devolves at an absolutely alarming pace.  cw: peripartum psychosis, substance induced psychosis, discussi...

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Knight Bus from 2021-09-27T12:05:40

Remus takes the Knight Bus Godric Hallow. Rho and James discuss writing styles, spoilers, and how much one should breath on their bonsais.

11 Years from 2021-08-23T06:33:09

James fumbles through an ode to Rho for their 11 year anniversary as ducks and dogs make a ruckus in the background. 

Chapter Twenty One: Walburga Black (née Black) from 2021-06-20T14:36:58

Two births and two deaths, and Walburga Black’s story is told. Sirius is caught unawares. Rho and James talk about burnout, going back to school, changing professions in a pandemic and round out th...

Chapter Twenty: The Summer of the Fae from 2021-04-06T21:04:53

Remus shows Sirius the magic of the muggle world and Sirius discovers safety amidst toasters, lawn mowers, and motorcycles.  Rho and James try very hard to have a real discussion about the HP unive...

Chapter Nineteen: Elhaz from 2021-03-21T05:26:21

Sirius Orion Black leaves Grimmauld Place. There's graffiti, Jack and Cricket, learning to jump turnstiles and finding his way to a poplar lined avenue with a yellow house and a red mailbox. We ...

Chapter Eighteen: Some Things, Sacrificed from 2021-03-14T17:20:53

Remus is acquainted with death a second time. He's nostalgic and sad, and in the middle of all of that, he's found out and judged by a young pack of werewolves. Rho and James talk about James (most...

Chapter Seventeen: Rhiannon from 2021-02-20T06:18:53

Sirius Black is confronted with a whole manner of things, including his second invitation to Ishtar, whom Remus names Freya. Rho and James have their usual chat, and there's a lot of peeping in ...

Chapter Sixteen: The Badger and the Wolf from 2021-01-11T06:36:49

Remus forgets he’s a werewolf and then gets whomped by the willow. Rho and James get wildly off topic and discuss art, the creative process, and the statistical safety of aircrafts.

Chapter Fifteen: Laguz from 2020-12-13T11:22:31

Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew make enemies of cats. Sirius and Lily are at odds, and Lily suffers consequences. Rho and James talk about scenes Rho almost wrote into the chapter, fandom, cats...

Chapter Fourteen: Osler's Moon from 2020-11-23T12:39:06

Remus has a gay panic and Sirius is a good friend. Rho and James talk about sex ed and breaking through writer's block. 

Chapter Thirteen: Yule King from 2020-11-19T21:46:42

Sirius Black retakes the Yuletide. Remus stays mad about it. Rho and James talk about the last six weeks, including Rho nearly dying and James getting back on SSRIs. 

Chapter Twelve: They Stumble That Run Fast from 2020-09-17T17:29:02

During their gruelling detention, the marauders find a mysterious room that may or may not enjoy Romeo and Juliet.  Rho and James are sunburnt and talk about the room of requirement and James's unn...

Ten years from 2020-08-22T06:04:42

It’s my ten year anniversary with James, so I wrote a letter.

Chapter Eleven: Osler's Fire from 2020-08-09T14:48:37

Sirius Black turns fourteen, the boys go for a midnight stroll to find rare algae, and Voldemort asks Dumbledore for a job. Rho and James talk about survival strategies, how circumstances shape ...

Chapter Ten: Secrets, Safe and Sound from 2020-08-09T10:31:15

Remus tries to be a grown up while struggling to wrap his head around his new classes and Sirius’s cryptic secret life. Rho and James discuss international wizarding politics, ethics in magic, and ...

Chapter Nine: Hebridean Blacks from 2020-08-07T14:20:25

Sirius summers in Wales.  Turner, Shunpike and Dowd get up to no good, and there's dragons in Snowdonia National Park. Rho and James talk about our hilarious dogs, living in the wilderness ...

Chapter Eight: Lupus Crescente from 2020-08-06T09:10:31

Remus Lupin is a werewolf, and that's a fact he can't avoid forever. Rho and James talk about privilege, bigotry, and the nature of jealousy.

Chapter Seven: Ishtar Rites from 2020-08-02T13:07:27

Sirius Black celebrates spring with the old gods. Rho and James discuss cults of power, demon horse birds, how they’re gatvol with dissociative amnesia, and, of course, Dumbledore’s pocket dimension.

Chapter Six: Holidays, Cold and Hungry from 2020-07-31T16:38:12

Hope dies. 

Rho and James talk most impactful deaths of the series, what we'd turn into horcruxes and what wizarding afterlife might be like. We get cut off because we talk too much,...

Chapter Five: Wood on Iron on Flesh and Bone from 2020-07-25T19:27:26

Sirius Black is a beater. Rho and James talk about why teams are important and how jealously and hubris are perfectly human.

Chapter Four: The Kitchens at Night from 2020-07-25T15:36:16

Remus Lupin is lost amid the chaos of a changing world. His mother says her own goodbye, his father seems to disappear into a bottle, and suddenly it's just him and the wolf left.  And the wolf got...

Chapter Three: Baudelaire, Baudelaire from 2020-07-23T07:17:34

Content Warning: Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Animal Abuse, Animal Death Sirius Black travels to the north of France over the Christmas holidays of his first year.  Rho and James talk about the fri...

Chapter Two: Hogwarts, a History from 2020-07-22T14:16:46

We travel back in time to meet Remus Lupin as an eleven year old, just finding out that he's on his way to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. A sheltered boy, Remus is soon swept up into ...

Death and Other Origin Stories Chapter One: A Nightjar Calls from 2020-07-21T15:33:40

To make a Grim, you bury a live dog in a churchyard before any person is laid to rest there.  But first, he was a young man named Sirius Black. In chapter one, we meet our protagonists during their...

Chapter Sixty-Five: Epilogue from 2020-05-27T17:34:40

10 Years Later. Rho and James wrote this on their honeymoon.

Chapter Sixty-Four: Balance from 2020-05-27T08:32:12

Lucius can’t see thestrals. Draco hides in a cave. Luna and Greg become parents. Rho and James lament and rejoice at the last chapter and talk about redemption arcs, empathy, moral philosophy, and ...

Chapter Sixty-Three: Eidolon from 2020-05-24T10:18:49

THE DRAGON CHAPTER. 

Chapter Sixty-Two: Fidelius from 2020-05-23T18:08

Old, dark [blood] magic, only to be defeated by even stronger bonds of friendship and trust. And our aims are identical and our hearts open. Rho and James talk about forgiveness, acceptance, and sa...

Chapter Sixty-One: The Forest, Again from 2020-05-22T05:31:11

Neither of them drowns, but not everyone survives. In the wake of his grief, Harry finds himself back at Hogwarts. Rho and James talk about Draco's poshest possums draped decadently about his pocke...

Chapter Sixty: Guarded and Unguarded from 2020-05-17T09:44:46

Pansy Parkinson and Portrait!Dumbledore make appearances. Draco has unexpected and unwelcome visitors. James and Rho talk about death magic and Sirius and how much James dislikes Dumbledore.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Twins from 2020-05-16T18:09:12

Hestia and Flora. Fred and George. Teddy and no one. James cries and Rho talks about Harry finding solid ground. 

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Stranger at the Door from 2020-05-16T13:15:47

Draco gets oral sex. Rho and James talk writing sex scenes and fan-fiction versions of sex that contrast with mainstream pornography. 

Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Grim from 2020-05-15T10:23:19

Harry is dreaming of a big, black dog. What could that mean? 

Chapter Fifty-Six: Death Herders from 2020-05-14T20:06:08

A lot happens. Harry and Draco come to terms with being death omens. Harry names his thestral Fleabag. The discussion that follows is more Grindledore crack fic allusions and Rho avoiding all th...

Chapter Fifty-Five: Between Rays of Sunlight from 2020-05-14T17:37:03

Harry delivers his finished memorial to Hogwarts. Luna breaks the news of moving meetings and her maternity leave. Harry and Draco are in a small argument, so it ends with Harry naked. Rho and J...

Chapter Fifty-Four: Forest Lore and Magical Theory from 2020-05-14T08:04:22

Greg has a panicked announcement to make, Harry has a birthday dinner, Draco has an orgasm, and Hermione is confronted with systems of magic she can't wrap her head around. 

Afterwar...

Chapter Fifty-Three: Reclaiming from 2020-05-13T15:06:17

Harry does the work. Dennis relapses. Wolfstar. Rho and James talk relapse and recovery, world building and The born and die people.

Chapter Fifty-Two: You Wanted to Know my Weaknesses from 2020-05-13T15:05:24

Draco was dead. Or being kissed? One or the other. Rho and James talk about intimacy, and James does some unintentionally performative exhibitionist recovery work during the discussion. 

Chapter Fifty-One: Can't Have You Falling for Me Just Yet from 2020-05-13T10:17:06

Harry struggles with moderating his desire, but takes Draco on a date anyway. It involves greenhouses, Indian food and a kiss! Rho and James talk a bit about creating a space of safety and the d...

Chapter Fifty: Hiss Hiss from 2020-05-11T18:52:39

Draco at the trial of Rudolphus Lestrange. Slytherin solidarity. Hiss hiss. Rho and James have an hour long discussion about everything. EVERYTHING. Severus Snape. Dumbledore. Death. Dement...

Chapter Forty- Nine: Dopamine, a Fickle Friend from 2020-05-10T12:09:12

Harry gets into the more frustrating parts of recovery, and right before Draco sends him wizarding porn. Eventually, he makes his first public appearance at Lestrange's trial. Rho hates doing th...

Chapter Forty-Eight: Do You Ever See Thestrals? from 2020-05-09T10:30:36

Draco quits his job. It's glorious, but also terrifying. He heads to the Ministry of Magic to meet Auror Weasley and others testifying in the Lestrange trial. Rho and James have a very disjointe...

Chapter Forty-Seven: Goddess of Hearth, Home and Fire from 2020-05-08T19:30

Hestia Carrow makes herself known. Harry grows through the pain and comes out as gay to Ron and Hermione. Rho and James talk about recovery as a whole person, the mirroring of Hestia and Draco a...

Chapter Forty-Six: The Death Chamber from 2020-05-08T18:20:25

Draco tells his therapist he's having thestral-related hallucinations, meets Hermione in the bowels of the DoM, and finally flees to Luna's house. Eventually, he responds to Harry's letter. Rho ...

Chapter Forty-Five: Number 12 from 2020-05-07T05:22:21

Harry celebrates one year sober. Rho and James chat about the new characters they're introducing. 

Chapter Forty-Four: Fairy Tales Aren't Real from 2020-05-06T15:07:50

Draco hates everything. He hates it. Luckily, Luna is a wonderful friend, and so are Neville and Greg. Rho and James talk about moderating who you spend time around in recovery, and touch on a few ...

Chapter Forty-Three: Four Hundred Days of Sobriety from 2020-05-05T20:36:08

Harry insists on honesty and accountability at the Granger-Weasley's and starts meetings at Luna's. Rho and James talk recovery, group counselling, solidarity and mom!Ron. 

Chapter Forty-Two: Prologue for Misunderstood Creatures from 2020-05-05T18:55:31

Harry leaves the forest. No discussion here, we're apparating straight on into Chapter 43!

Chapter Forty-One: Run, Just Run from 2020-05-05T18:31:51

Draco leaves the forest. Rho and James sort of talk about it but mostly tell you some teasers about upcomming part three, Misunderstood Creatures as a way of avoiding dealing with this traumatic cl...

Chapter Forty: All of the Goodbyes from 2020-05-05T14:52:20

Draco and Harry prepare to leave. Draco panics. Rho and James are sorry.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: In the Light of Day from 2020-05-05T14:12:15

Draco shores up his options for working with the Department of Mysteries and one Unspeakable Granger. He, too, struggles to come to terms with what may happen after they leave the forest. J...

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Under the Moon from 2020-05-05T13:36:56

Harry struggles with the looming threat of leaving the forest and re-entering the outside world. Rho talks about the discomfort of revisiting a Harry that isn't handling things well. 

Chapter Thirty-Seven: New Years Resolution from 2020-05-05T12:09:15

Draco confronts Narcissa at the Manor and his own hang-ups around intimacy (yes, still). Rho and James talk shop and James confronts so many unresolved feelings around their own mother. 

Chapter Thirty-Six: Christmas Eve in Tenebris Hollow from 2020-05-04T16:13:06

Harry cuts down a Christmas tree and they decorate it together, eventually falling into bed and finding solace in one another. Rho and James talk Christmas, alternate relationship dynamics and love...

Chapter Thirty-Five: A Cauldron, Simmering from 2020-05-04T15:03:20

Draco visits Beatrice for therapy and his research is off for submission at the Department of Mysteries. Rho and James talk about therapy!

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Little Dipper from 2020-05-04T06:57:30

Harry helps Draco to cast his patronus. After a storm in the hollow, Harry comes across a creature in need, stuck in the snow.  *Sorry for the added noise on the recording, but it's pouring rain u...

Chapter Thirty-Three: Voileami from 2020-05-03T13:30:45

Draco finds his way to the thestral cave. Rho and James talk about world-building and a bit of mythology, but mostly Rho just talks about how much they love these scenes. 

Chapter Thirty-Two: Death-Beasts from 2020-05-02T18:22:14

A new patronus and new confusing feelings of attraction lead to the first sex scene of the podcast. Rho and James talk attraction, the forced proximity trope and what to do with overwhelming fee...

Chapter Thirty-One: Threads Bound Together from 2020-05-02T15:42

Thestral research is paying off, so Draco takes a day to visit Hogwarts and speak to Headmistress McGonagall and Portrait!Severus Snape. He returns to chaos and Harry's many crises. James mispro...

Chapter Thirty: Protego Totalum from 2020-05-02T00:00

Harry reinforces the hollow with protective magic, and gives both Draco and Hermione carvings he's made since coming to the forest. James cries through the episode and the discussion is minimal. 

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Night Terrors from 2020-05-01T12:43:06

Nightmares upon nightmares. Draco and Harry trek off to a swimming hole further in the forest than they've been, and are interrupted by unwelcome visitors. Rho and James talk narratives of sexua...

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Quintessence of Debauchery from 2020-04-30T11:40:31

Harry finds and then decides to do an open-air reading of some 1600s gay erotica he found under the floor of a cupboard. Painfully frank discussions of sexuality and sexual feeling ensue, and th...

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Trouble with Intimacy from 2020-04-30T10:07:26

Draco wakes up and runs into the forest. Literally. Just flees. Bye. The thestrals and Harry eventually catch up. Rho and James talk a bit about the Harry/Draco dynamic. 

Chapter Twenty-Six: Remnants of Cruciatus from 2020-04-29T19:24:35

Harry chooses vulnerability. Rho has regerts. 

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Bonfire from 2020-04-29T18:39:57

Porcupine-induced panic leads to a frank discussion about how the deathly hallows are real and Harry died in the very forest they're sitting in. Three thestrals observe. Later, there's a fire an...

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Rowan Grove from 2020-04-29T16:13:58

Harry heads to the circle of Rowan trees in the west, where he idles and is beholden to nothing and no one. Nights later, he wakes from a dream. Rho and James talk about the intrinsic magic of o...

Chapter Twenty-Three: Breakthroughs from 2020-04-29T09:02:56

Draco finally gets some unicorn blood and it goes absolutely pear shaped. Fortunately, thestrals and the garden and Harry shirtless chopping wood serve as good distractions. Rho and James get re...

Chapter Twenty-Two: Night Magic from 2020-04-28T13:41:49

Nightmares wake both of them, and Harry does magic over a cup of tea! And we finally get introduced to Edna. Rho and James chat about early moments of recovery and the wonders of snakes. 

Chapter Twenty-One: Roses and Agapanthus from 2020-04-28T09:45:53

Draco is disappointed by unicorns (that's definitely a theme here). He comes back to find Harry in the garden, and they share small, insignificant details about themselves with each other. Rho a...

Chapter Twenty: Two Masters of the House of Black from 2020-04-27T15:10:30

A return trip to Grimmauld Place builds trust between Harry and Draco. James outs Rho as a pathological top. 

Episode Nineteen: Small Victory from 2020-04-27T11:08:10

Draco convinces Harry not to let the thestrals eat him, but it takes the whole chapter to do it. Rho and James look into the duality and similarities between Draco and Harry. 

Chapter Eighteen: Not a Prisoner from 2020-04-27T09:53:18

Harry stomps off into the forest with no magic and has thoughts on life, death and Draco Malfoy. Rho and James talk about the concept of a waiting room, death personified and the type of comfort...

Chapter Seventeen: Prologue to The Forest from 2020-04-27T09:15:08

Welcome to Season Two!
This episode is the introduction to Part Two of the Blood Magic series, The Forest. Harry wakes up in what is very similar to but not quite King's Cross Station. Ther...

Chapter Sixteen: Beginning from 2020-04-26T18:23:44

Draco has a serendipitous moment that leads him to Harry, and he saves Harry's life. What now? James and Rho discuss what happens next.

Just to be clear, I was being glib when I said the ...

Chapter Fifteen: Ending from 2020-04-26T14:03:36

Harry chooses to die. It's an ugly, sad thing, and James cries through Rho's reading. In 290,000 words, there is resolution. 

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of suicide...

Chapter Fourteen: Escape from 2020-04-26T13:35:47

Draco gets approval to take a one year sabbatical in the forbidden forest. Luna helps him celebrate. Everything seems to be looking up for Draco. Rho and James are cautiously optimistic. 

Chapter Thirteen: Claustrophobia from 2020-04-26T10:37:44

Harry hallucinates, and the first thestral of the story makes its appearance. Afterwards, Rho and James talk about Sirius and Regulus Black, Fred and George Weasley, the uncertainty of the after...

Chapter Twelve: Helped from 2020-04-26T09:48:56

Draco problem solves with everyone's favorite Headmistress, then gets curry at his favorite dive, which just happens to be a mainstay of the queer community. Who might he see there? Rho and Jame...

Chapter Eleven: Hooked from 2020-04-25T16:33:47

Harry is finding it more and more difficult to keep to his routine, and his efforts to curtail his habit only result in more and more uncontrolled magic. Rho and James talk about Indian!Harry an...

Chapter Ten: Self Care from 2020-04-25T13:30:40

Draco sweats through 15 minutes without his shirt on. Luna Lovegood is a therapist who treats both muggles and wizarding folk, as well as runs group sessions for those struggling with substance ...

Chapter Nine: Blood Magic from 2020-04-25T11:42:20

Harry's drug use escalates, and this chapter is so short because he spends most of it unconscious, missing Hermione giving birth to Rose. There's about a half a second where he shoves past Draco...

Chapter Eight: Affirmations from 2020-04-25T11:07:51

Draco tries to come up with affirmations for the post-it notes that are valiantly keeping his life together. Greg invites him to tea, and so does Hagrid. There's discussions of alcoholism and un...

Chapter Seven: The Fall from 2020-04-24T19:32:39

Harry gains experience with heroin. Don't listen to this episode if you're feeling iffy on your own recovery, feeling overwhelmed or might be on the edge of a relapse yourself. 

Rho ...

Chapter Six: Boundaries from 2020-04-24T17:52:13

Draco struggles. Neville is a good friend, Greg is an alcoholic and his mother is living in denial. Eventually, he rides the elevator with Harry Potter. James struggles to read latin, and we tal...

Chapter Five: Flashbacks from 2020-04-24T15:17:42

Harry struggles to function at work and in his personal life, seeking comfort in the form of a warm body and numbing substances at The Gallows instead. Afterwards, Rho reluctantly talks about escap...

Chapter Four: Unbroken from 2020-04-24T10:45:46

Draco does his best to move on to a functional life, while both overthinking and avoiding all his thoughts. Charlie Weasley doesn't help. Afterwards, James and Rho talk a bit about panic attacks...

Chapter Three: Untreated from 2020-04-23T13:52:42

Flashback to two years before the previous chapters, Harry is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the war. In our discussion, we talk functional depression and I make brief allusions to the...

Chapter Two: Off Call from 2020-04-23T12:35:39

James introduces their version of Draco Malfoy, Healer and specialist in blood magic and medicine at St. Mungo's. Afterwards, we discuss a bit about anxiety and therapy, in all it's permutations.  ...

Introduction and Chapter One: Withdrawal from 2020-04-22T21:56:18

This is our introduction, reading of the first chapter of the Blood Magic Series, and subsequent discussion. Come for the thestral lore, stay for the brutally honest discussions about life, death a...

The Forbidden Forest (Trailer) from 2020-04-22T16:50:15