FULL PROGRAMMING SCHEDULEMonday, July 16, 2012

Well folks, this is it! You hold in your hand (or more likely, scroll on your screen) the official Programming Schedule for LeakyCon 2012! We have over 150 amazing events this year—everything from dance lessons to discussions of canon and fanon, from costumes to Quidditch!

Print it. Highlight it. Create elaborate multi-page spreadsheet time tables from it! But whatever you do, don’t miss out on it! If you haven’t already, register today by visiting LeakyCon.com.

We should note that, as is true for any conference, there may be tiny tweaks and adjustments to the schedule but, for the most part, we will stay true to this document.

Now…feast your eyes!

We’ll see you in August! The Leaky Con Staff

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 9

Mainstage Programming – International Ballroom

6:00 pm–7:30 pm LeakyCon Opening Festivities

8:30 pm–Midnight Rock Concert Meghan Tonjes Tonks and the Aurors Alex Carpenter Ministry of Magic

12:30 am–2:30 am Maureen’s Midnight Movie

General Programming

1:00 pm–1:50 pm LeakyCon 2011 Alumni Reunion – Northwest 5 Have you been waiting for LeakyCon 2012 since the second you came home from 2011? Reminisce and reunite with your LeakyCon friends here!

2:00 pm–2:50 pm Fanfic Lovers Meetup – Nothwest 1 Do you spend your days looking for Snape fanfiction? Are you addicted to alternate universes? Then this is the meetup for you. Come and gather with others just like you who enjoy a good, non–canon fan fiction to quench the lack of new Harry Potter reading material. Readers, writers and Betas are welcome!

Fans from Europe Meetup – Northwest 2 For those amazing fans who travel across the pond to join us at LeakyCon. Meet others who have made the same journey!

Tumblr Meetup – Northwest 3 Tumbl on over to meet some of the fans who make this online community so vibrant, hilarious and animated. “Party of One” Meetup: Attending LeakyCon by Yourself – Northwest 5 For those brave souls who traveled to Chicago on their own, this is a great place to meet those who did the same. Find a new friend (or two) to share the LeakyCon experience or get advice from those who like to experience LeakyCon solo.

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3:00 pm–3:50 pm Slash Meetup – Northwest 1 This meetup is for those who love canon or fanon slash ships. This will be a great place for slashers to talk about their favorite ships and the fanfics that made them great.

Aussie/Kiwi Meetup – Northwest 2 If you are a native of the lands of the Antipodean Opaleye or the Wagga Wagga Werewolf, this meet–up is for you! Swing by to meet some fellow Woollongong Warriors or Thundelarra Thunderer fans (or even just some Muggle footy fans)! This gathering may be followed by a journey to the nearest watering hole for a bevvie and some tucker. Only jandals or thongs allowed! Beware: lifelong friendship may evolve. You have been warned.

Rockstar Meetup – Northwest 5 Share your LeakyCon excitement with other Rockstar con–goers at this meetup.

4:00 pm–4:50 pm Harry/Hermione Shipper Meetup – Northwest 1 Still convinced that Hermione ended up with the wrong guy? Come share your thoughts with other Harmony shippers and discuss the world as it could have been.

Wizard Rock Meetup – Northwest 2 This is your chance to meet your favorite wrockers in a more intimate setting. Hang out with other fans and talk before things get loud and crazy at the show.

First–Time LeakyCon Attendees – Northwest 3 Is this your first time at a conference? Are you here alone? Come to this gathering of other ickle firsties. Get some tips and tricks on what to do from an experienced congoer. Meet new friends and have fun!

Presenter Meetup – Northwest 5 Whether you’re a first–time presenter or a seasoned pro, this is the place to meet the people who make our formal programming so special. Share tips on speaking, preparing and interacting with your audience and make new friends. Maybe you’ll even find a co–presenter for the next LeakyCon.

5:00 pm–8:00 pm Vendor Room and Leaky Lounge are open

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7:30 pm–8:20 pm Pottermore Discussion – Northwest 1 Whether a beta–tester or a new member, this is the place to go to talk about Jo’s wonderful gift to her fans. Got any dueling or potions tips to share? Excited about what we’ll find when Chamber of Secrets is added? Come and share with the group!

Books vs. Movies Discussion – Northwest 2 Loved the books more than the movies? Loved the movies more than the books? Discuss them both! Discuss why the filmmakers chose to change certain scenes and why they chose to exclude certain characters. Discuss film vs. literature here.

Inside the Age Line Meetup – Northwest 3 A meet–up for the more seasoned crowd. Come along if you want to meet mature fans like yourself. Open to individuals 30 and above.

What are you reading? – Northwest 4 It’s been five years since Deathly Hallows. What have you been reading to fill the Rowling void in your life? Share with others your favorite books and discuss how they compare (or don’t) to your favorite book series.

Pinterest Addicts Anonymous – Northwest 5 Are you one of those people who find their whole afternoon has been sucked away by Pinterest? Find fellow addicts here and discuss your favorite Harry Potter crafts, recipes and other gems that you have found on this website sensation.

Signings – Southwest Exhibit Hall

1:00 pm–3:00 pm Team StarKid

3:00 pm–4:30 pm Harry Potter Actors Louis Cordice Evanna Lynch Robbie Jarvis William Melling

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 10

Mainstage Programming

10:00 am – 10:50 am Joe Moses One Man Showses In a special performance designed exclusively for Leaky Con, Team Starkid’s Joe Moses (Snape, Krayonder) presents a unique adaptation of his much–raved about JMOMS live for you! Featuring : sketches, music, characters (some new, some ABSUURD–ly familiar) and special guests from Team StarKid, Broadway, and your favorite TV shows!

11:00 am–12:50 pm Real For Us How long have YOU been a Harry Potter fan? “Real for Us” is a documentary about Fandom, Friendship, and the Boy Who Lived. Join us as we talk to Harry Potter fans, share in their stories about how they found the series, how it has impacted their lives, and what they think will happen next for the fandom.

1:00 pm – 1:50 pm MuggleCast Join the hosts of this Harry Potter podcast as they discuss this year since the last movie and how things have changed – or maybe how it hasn’t changed at all.

2:00 pm– 3:50 pm Living the Luna Way (The Wrackspurt Wrave) Being Luna is not just about having a sweet voice and a wacky disposition. Come and learn what it’s really like to embody the spirit of our favorite Lovegood with Evanna Lynch and Andrew Slack. At the end we’re having the much–touted Wrackspurt Wrave!

4:00 pm–4:50 pm Potter Puppet Pals Come experience the YouTube sensation live on our mainstage! Meet the humans behind the puppets and prepare to laugh until you cry.

5:00 pm– 6:30 pm An Afternoon with HP Alumni Evanna, Louis, Will and Robbie will be on hand to talk about their experiences on the Harry Potter set and beyond. We’ll learn what they’ve been up to since their last trip down the Harry Potter red carpet. We will have a time for audience questions so come prepared to step up to the microphone. A special pass is required to attend this event.

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6:30 pm–7:30 pm Cast Photo Booth Stick around after the keynote to take group pictures with the cast.

9:00 pm – 1:00 am Rock Concert II Gred and Forge Lauren Fairweather The Whomping Willows Hank Green Harry and the Potters

Signings – Southwest Exhibit Hall

11:00 am–12:00 pm Mugglecast Andrew Sims Micah Tannenbaum Eric Scull Selina Wilkes

1:00–2:00 pm Mark Oshiro TV Actors Dominic Barnes Titus Makin Jr. Riker Lynch Curt Mega

Potter Puppet Pals

2:00–4:00 pm Team StarKid 4:00–5:00 pm Rockers Alex Carpenter Harry & the Potters Tonks & the Aurors Lauren Fairweather Ministry of Magic The Whomping Willows Gred & Forge Meghan Tonjes

4:00–6:00 pm Hank Green

6:00–7:00 pm Lizzie Bennett Diaries Julia Cho Bernie Su Ashley Clements Mary Kate Wiles Laura Spencer

7:00–9:00 pm Harry Potter Actors Louis Cordice Evanna Lynch Robbie Jarvis William Melling

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Leaky Lit

All day The Figment Writing Room – PDR 2

10:00 am – 10:50 am Dark Deeds — Waldorf (Panelists: Holly Black, Margaret Stohl, Amanda Hocking & Rebecca Sherman; Moderated by Daviel Ehrenhaft) – Waldorf Sometimes, you must kill. (Well, in books.) Bad stuff has to happen in stories. Our panelists discuss the dark side: writing about murder and things that go bump in the night.

John Green and Lev Grossman in Conversation – Williford

The D Word: Diversity – Boulevard This is a big one. Is the YA world too limited in terms of how it represents race, sexual orientation, and gender identification? What is cover “whitewashing” and why does it happen? These are hard topics, but our panelists are going to take them on.

11:00 am–11:50 am Let’s Talk About Self–Publishing (Panelists: Amanda Hocking Kate Schafer Testerman & Maureen Johnson; Moderated by Rebecca Sherman) – Waldorf The book world is on fire with talk of self–publishing. But what does that really mean, and what does it entail? Our expert panel talks about the realities and the pros and cons of doing it all yourself.

How Not to Write a Book (Panelists: Holly Black, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Taylor & Megan Whalen Turner; Moderated by Daniel Ehrenhaft) – Williford Sometimes, the most valuable advice you can get is what not to do. In this panel, writers talk about their mistakes small and large. Learn about pitfalls to avoid, and why you shouldn’t give up even if you think you are doing things wrong.

12:00 pm–12:50 pm Holly Black and Megan Whalen Turner in Conversation – Boulevard

How Not to Get Published (Panelists: Kate Schafer Testerman, Rebecca Sherman & Jennifer Laughran; Moderated by Robin Wasserman) – Waldorf “Oh hello. I know you’re in the bathroom, but I’ll just slide this manuscript under the stall door!” Similar to the that, agents and editors share stories about weird ways they’ve been approached and all the wrong ways to try to get the attention of the publishing world.

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12:00 pm–12:50 pm Come to this Panel if You Think You Hate Romance (Panelists: Stephanie Perkins, Laini Taylor, Maureen Johnson & Daniel Ehrenhaft; Moderated by Margaret Stohl) – Williford Why do some people hate love stories? Why do some people love to read about love?

1:00 pm–1:50 pm LeakyCon Lit Signing – Boulevard LeakyCon Lit Signing – Williford

2:00 pm–2:50 pm Is This Panel Too Dirty? – Waldorf For many, sex is a tricky and sometimes squicky business. How do you write a sex scene? Should there be sex in YA novels? Our panelists discuss the pros and cons and talk about how its done. (Possible graphic content.)

Bad Books and Why We Love Them (Panelists: John Green, Holly Black, Margaret Stohl, Robin Wasserman & Megan Whalen Turner; Moderated by Maureen Johnson) – Williford What is a bad book, anyway? Does it bite? Did it pee on the floor? Is it right to judge books or the people who love them? This panel names names and throws down.

3:00 pm–3:50 pm I Make Worlds! (Panelists: Holly Black, Amanda Hocking & Laini Taylor; Moderated by Margaret Stohl) – Boulevard Worldbuilding is a critical element in writing fiction, particularly in fantasy and science fiction. The world has to be internally consistent and detailed. Our panelists talk about the art and science of making your own story world. Girl Books and Boy Books (Panelists: Megan Whalen Turner, Robin Wasserman, Stephanie Perkins, Lev Grossman & John Green; Moderated by Maureen Johnson) – Williford What is a “girl book” or a “boy book,” anyway? Is it true that boys don’t read? Why is “chick lit” a derogatory term? Our panelists come to grips with the thorny subject of the role gender plays in publishing.

4:00 pm–4:50 pm Help, My Boyfriend is a Vampire! (Panelists: John Green, Lev Grossman, Laini Taylor, Amanda Hocking & Stephanie Perkins; Moderated by Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman) – Williford Ever read a paranormal romance and considered the real logistical difficulties of dating the undead? We have obtained a pile of letters from lovesick people in this position, and our panelists will give advice, live.

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6:00 pm–6:50 pm The Game Show (Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman) – Grand Ballroom Maureen and Robin are creating a more literary version of “Family Feud.” Or at least the one with the Whammies.

8:00 pm–8:50 pm MJ & Robin’s Lounge (Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman) – Boulevard In which the LeakyCon Lit organizers take over a room and sit around all casual. There will be talking. There will be lounging. Maureen might read from the sequel to The Name of the Star. Basically, anything can happen. Join us.

General ProgrammingBeginning 9:00am The Battle for the Leaky Cup Begins — Continental Ballroom Watch teams chase, keep, beat, & seek their way to the Championship Match tomorrow!

9:00am – 9:50am Yoga with Evy – Grand Ballroom Evanna Lynch is also a secret yoga ninja, and she and StarKid’s Devin Lytle are here to show you some basic poses and get your morning started in the proper way. If you have them, bring a towel and a yoga mat. Please be advised you must be over 13 to attend, and you must sign a waiver before participating.

Morning Meditation (David Michaels) – Northwest 1 Vedic Meditation is a relaxing, natural mental practice, which delivers benefits to the body and mind. The technique is fun, easy to pick up and learn. Benefits include relaxation, energy infusion and stress relief. Come take a break, try a real–life meditation sitting and enjoy the camaraderie of the group.

9:00am – 9:50am IQA: A History (Logan Anbinder, Austin Booher) – Northwest 3 So much more than the sport from Harry Potter, Muggle Quidditch has grown from a simple game played on a lazy afternoon at Middlebury College to an interscholastic phenomenon, spanning over 700 teams worldwide. Logan and Austin will present on the history of this new sport, and will also explain everything you need to know to start forming your own high school, college, or community quidditch team, and to make sure it successfully gets off the ground (no pun intended!) Afterwards, spectators are welcome to join us in the Continental Ballroom for a demo match between real IQA teams.

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9:00am – 9:50am “StarKid Affirmation” Group ( Jocelyn Hannusch) – Northwest 5 The Starkid Affirmation Meetup is a chance for the many members of the Starkid Affirmation facebook family who are attending LeakyCon 2012 to come together to meet in person. We will also be premiering a video project that we’ve been working on that you do not want to miss! There will be some food (provided by Jocelyn) and maybe some crazy dancing, and it’s just going to be a great time for all of us to finally meet face–to–face. We are the Starkid Affirmation and we believe in Team Starkid!

10:00am – 10:50am Fandom on YouTube Panel (Alex Carpenter, Hank Green, Kristina Horner & Jason Munday) – Grand Ballroom These YouTubers express their fandom – be it Harry Potter, My Little Pony, Buffy, Hunger Games, or general nerddom – on YouTube. They’ll talk about how they execute their most nerdy ideas and what it’s like being such a loud–and proud geek.

Buffy, Katniss & Korra: Action Girls in the Media (Robin Whittle, Maggie Brevig) – Northwest 1 The fictional teenage heroines of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” The Hunger Games, and “Avatar: Legend of Korra” have more than these central conflicts to tackle. By exploring these three young women thrust into leadership positions and expected to fight for (or against) a larger cause, we can discern what common threads tie them together, as well as the complexities that make them such diverse, unique, and relatable characters. We aim to discuss several key themes such as how they take on their role and their leadership styles once accepted; relationships and romance; and the place of media and fandom in creating perceptions of the “Action Girl” (as well as the dreaded “Mary Sue” insult). Whether you favor a stake, bow and arrow, or natural element, be sure to bring an open mind. Harvey Putter: A Feature Film Made by Fans for Fans (Sunny Williams, Bryce Cone) – Northwest 2 Harvey Putter and the Ridiculous Premise is a full–length feature film by Richardson Productions. It is a spoof film made with love, by fans and for fans, starring Bryce Cone, Sunny Williams, and Joe Scheibelhut. The film was released in 2010 and made its debut at Infinitus in Orlando. Since then, it has screened at Leaky Con in 2011 to a wonderful crowd. We look forward to continuing our tradition at Leaky Con 2012! harveyputter.com

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10:00am – 10:50am Male Bonding in HP (Lesley Hathorn, Mary–Louis Hathorn) – Northwest 4 We will discuss male relationships that are less personal and intimate, such as those of Crabbe, Goyle, and their leader Malfoy, and their utility bond. They bonded together, not in the hopes of developing a friendship as the golden trio did, but instead sticking together only insofar as they were still useful to each other. In this category falls Wormtail, the scourge of the Marauders. We will also discuss Harry’s relationships with the three most prevalent teachers in his life: Hagrid, Dumbledore, and Snape. We will also discuss the relationship between the Weasley brothers. We will compare their family dynamics to the only biological family Harry remembered, the relationship that Harry has with Dudley. Door prizes and chocolate frogs will be shared.

House Elves – Special Magic Indeed (Lauraine Woods) – Lake Huron(8th Floor) Dobby and Kreacher are such original and memorable characters, but why? And the special magic they can work –– for the plot, for the other characters, for JKR –– may make them among the most powerful creatures in the wizarding world. For such small beings, they affected the story in ways that left mere wizards behind, literally. This round table discussion would ask participants to recall incidents where house elf magic was most magical –– and will help show how their magic (both a creation and testament to the skill of JKR) made them unstoppable plot devices AND beloved and unforgettable characters.

10:00 am – 3:00 pm Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Every Single Harry Potter Novel! ( John Granger) – Lake Michigan (8th Floor) John Granger, aka ‘The Hogwarts Professor,’ has been dubbed the “Dean of Harry Potter Scholars” by TIME magazine because of his eight books on the subject and consistent insights into the Saga’s artistry and meaning. At Leaky Con 3 John will be giving a two day series of eight classes on each of the Harry Potter novels – Literary Alchemy, Ring Composition, Christian symbolism, Soul Triptychs, the Eyeball imagery – all of it in a Granger Firehose Hermione would love. Certificates for those attending four or more of the series in this Leaky exclusive spectacular!

11:00 am–11:50 am Nerdfighter Meetup ( John Green & Hank Green) – Grand Ballroom If you know what DFTBA means, you belong at this meet–up. This is a LeakyCon tradition: John and Hank Green take an hour to play some songs, tell some jokes, and talk nerdy to you. If you’ve ever needed Harry Potter like a Grindylow needs water, we’ll see you there!

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11:00 am–11:50 am Making Harry Legit: HP Courses in College (Cathy Leongrande) – Northwest 1 Does Harry Potter belong in college courses? Is such a course legitimate, or just a sign of colleges dumbing down the curriculum? This session will explore the benefits and challenges of advocating for Potter–based courses within liberal arts & science majors, as well as core curricula. Participants will examine specific syllabi from various disciplines, academic resources for learning opportunities, and valid rationales for proposing such courses. There will be opportunity for participants to interact and formulate specific strategies to advocate for the benefits of using Potter–related materials in their own settings.

42 Wallaby Way Writing Workshop (Erin Swimmy, Laura Waterstone) – Northwest 3 This sequel to last year’s self esteem workshop called Just Keep Swimming is for writers. We will work in groups to provide constructive feedback on your work so that you know which way to swim to get to Sydney. Newcomers are more than welcome. To participate fully you need to email a five page writing sample to Erin “Swimmy” Sweeney at enws@mac.com. You may also bring your sample or just show up and listen. In our group no one gets trapped on the sand bar... we’ll find something to keep everyone involved.

Quick Quotes Quilting (Courtney Stratton) – Northwest 4 In this workshop, fans will be welcome to contribute to a community quilt documenting the amazing history and love of the Harry Potter fandom. Squares of fabric will be pre–cut and laid out for fans to write or draw on with permanent markers, showing or telling how Harry Potter and this fandom has impacted them. The quilt will be sewn together to create a unique, one of a kind finished product that tells the story of us!

12:00 pm–12:50 pm A Week at Hogwarts: How to Program for Harry Potter (Leigh Davis) – Lake Huron (8th Floor) Still wish you were going to Hogwarts instead of a university? Come to this workshop to learn how you can bring Hogwarts to YOU! We’ll brainstorm ideas where academics and social activities meet, talk about planning programs on a small budget, and you’ll learn different approaches for how you can get other students excited and involved. This workshop is open to anyone who would like to learn about program planning within their community.

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12:00 pm–12:50 pm The Wonderful World of Whedon ( John David Hounihan, Anna Leigh Stephenson) – Northwest 1 An open, round–table discussion of all things Whedon. From Buffy and Angel to Dr. Horrible and The Avengers. Questions may include: When did you first start watching Whedon work? What would you like Joss to do next? Who would win in a fight, Captain Hammer or Spike? And many many more. So grab your stakes, hit the laundromat, and come join in on the fun! Harvey Putter and the Ridiculous Premise with Q&A (Sunny Williams, Bryce Cone) – Northwest 2 A screening of the award–winning fan favorite feature film “Harvey Putter and the Ridiculous Premise” and Q&A by lead actress Sunny Williams (Hernia Grunger). The film has screened previously at LeakyCon, Infinitus, Whimsic Alley, and 20 other conventions and theatres worldwide, and will air during PotterCon2012.

12:00 pm–12:50 pm Fan Journalism– Expanding Beyond HP (LeakyNews.com Editors: Melissa Anelli, Zach Jaydon, Rosianna Halse–Rojas, Jennifer McIntire, Catherine Williams & Josh Wittge) – Northwest 5 We all come from our shared love of Harry Potter, and our passions led us to create a site that is based around reporting on that which is most dear to us. In this panel we’ll talk about the challenges and possibilities that open up when you take things past The Boy Who Lived.

1:00 pm – 2:50 pm Sirius Black and the Secret Keeper(Adam VillaSenor)–Northwest 2 The Death Eaters are closing in and The Order of the Phoenix are fighting on the losing side of the first Wizarding war. Lord Voldemort will stop at nothing to capture James and Lily Potter who are in hiding with their newborn son, Harry. A life changing fatal mistake is made when Sirius Black over hears only a part prophecy from his deranged cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange and suggests to his best friend James Potter that he change their secret keeper, forever twisting the fabric of wizarding history.

1:00 pm–1:50 pm Real For Us Question and Answer Panel (Rob Ciano, Brent Clark) – Grand Ballroom The creators of Real For Us will be on hand to answer your questions about their amazing project.

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1:00 pm–1:50 pm From Harry to Katniss and back to Pottermore (Cathy Leogrande) – Northwest 1 Together, presenter & participants will discuss the definition and key components of transmedia storytelling; how the Potter novels set the stage for transmedia activities within fandom and popular culture; and explore how other fandoms and franchises have done this in similar and different ways. Due to the serendipitous convergence of circumstances, technology, and love, Rowling and her fans were pioneers as they together melded and extended text and other formats to create new narratives. We will examine how and why Rowling and Warner Brothers set the stage for other fandoms and franchises to support, allow or limit new content in similar and different ways, including the role of corporations, copyright, and original author throughout the process.

1:00 pm–1:50 pm HP Fanfiction Workshop ( Jami Nakamura Lin, Kristi Lin) – Northwest 4 This program will be half presentation, half hands–on workshop. The presentation section will be a brief overview of the history of Harry Potter fanfiction and outlets for fanfiction today–– places like fanfiction.net, Deviant Art, etc. We will discuss how to best get your fanfiction noticed and how to garner readers. We will show examples of interesting, imaginative Harry Potter fanfiction and also examples of tired, overwrought fanfic, so that writers know what to avoid. The second half of this program will be a workshop. Everyone will come away from this program with both a sense of how truly deep and fascinating fanfiction can be, and with a beginning of a piece of fanfiction that they can finish on their own.

StarKid Sing–A–Long – Northwest 5 How much do you love singing along with your favorite StarKid music? This is your chance to join your best StarKid friends and show the world just how much you love StarKid.

2:00 pm–2:50 pm Mark Reads Harry Potter – Grand Ballroom The Mark Reads Harry Potter series, started in 2010, has now been read by millions of people. Since then, series writer Mark Oshiro has started two websites, released numerous eBook compilations of his reviews, and has toured to promote himself. Join Mark as he discusses how MRHP changed his life, the process of self–publishing, and what he has has planned for the future.

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2:00 pm–2:50 pm Self Publishing, Tradition Publishing, and Self–Promotion: How to do it all (Valerie Frankel) – Northwest 1 Valerie Estelle Frankel has done all three, from successful query letters, book proposals, and finding an agent to formatting her own advanced review copies, books, and ebooks. She’s sold thousands of her self–published Harry Potter parodies, mostly through targeted sales, reviews, and social media. Today, she sells books each week on eBay and Smashwords, while thousands visit her website. Bring your questions and discover how to do it all yourself.

2:00 pm–2:50 pm About the HPA (Andrew Slack, Taekia Blackwell, Sara Danver) – Northwest 3 This panel will offer a snapshot look at this magical nonprofit organization, it’s current successes, and insight into the next stages in its development. Attendees will be able to learn more and help brainstorm the campaigns we all love, the campaigns you’ve never heard of, and it’s Imagine Better Project.

2:00 pm – 2:50 pm So You Want to NaNaWriMo? (Krista Domin) – Northwest 4 NaNoWriMo, is National Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words in 30 days? It sounds impossible, but it isn’t! NaNoWriMo is a fun and eye opening challenge. While this may seem daunting, this roundtable will help those new and old succeed in the NaNoWriMo goal. How to start your novel, how to deal with writers block, how to find inspiration will all be discussed as well as the what now you feel after completing NaNoWriMo. Tools and tips will be given, and there will be writing activities to help stir up creativity and inspiration.

Boy Heroes By Girl Authors ( Julie Cross) – Northwest 5 Julie Cross discusses how Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling inspired her to write a boy as the lead in Tempest, her newly released young adult time travel trilogy. What do Jackson Meyer and Harry Potter have in common? What makes them likable and why is it so interesting to follow a story through their eyes? If Jackson Meyer went to Hogwarts, what house would he be sorted into? Would he make friends with Ron Weasley or Draco Malfoy on the first day? Does he have Quidditch potential, can he easily conjure a perfect Patronus, or is time travel his only cool trick? Come meet author Julie Cross and discuss the Tempest series and other random things related and not related to her novel.

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3:00 pm – 7:50 pm Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Northwest 2 Come take a break from the crowds and experience the fifth and sixth films with fellow Harry Potter fans. Feel free to express your opinions and observations while the movie is running and expect some hilarious comments from your fellow movie watchers.

3:00 pm – 3:50 pm CO Training (HPA Chapters 102) (Sara Denver, Taekia Blackwell) – Northwest 3 50% Meet–up, 50% intensive training, this program will allow current chapter organizers to work on engagement strategies, campaign planning, and creating long–term organization structure. Chapter Organizers will meet in small groups with HPA staff members and their fellow Organizers, in order to gain further insight into future HPA campaigns and how their chapters can participate. 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm Pottermore Sorted Me into the Wrong House (Leigh Davis) – Northwest 4 Did Pottermore sort you into the wrong house? Or maybe just the unexpected one? Let’s talk about it. Or maybe it wasn’t Pottermore – maybe it was your best friend or your followers on tumblr or an online quiz. We’ll discuss how we sort ourselves versus how others sort us and how each sorting affects what personality traits we discover in each of us. Finally, should how others sort us change our House allegiance? Exploring the “Controversial Theory” in a world post–Potter – A close reading of Harry Potter (Noah Fried) – Northwest 5 At this roundtable, we will discuss the most controversial and popular essays we’ve gathered (the “Quibbles of the Week” at the top, which have collectively yielded thousands of comments and shares through Facebook and Twitter) and a Quibble–writing workshop. For this particular workshop I would channel the strategies of Dr. Rosenwasser for “close–reading” as seen in his new book, “Writing Analytically,” to show conference–goers a very cool method to think about Harry Potter critically, and then formulate intuitive Quibbles from those ideas.

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm “Wrong House!” Potter Product Swap – Vendor Room (Southeast Exhibit Hall) What in the world are you going to do with that Gryffindor robe now that Pottermore has put you in Ravenclaw? Here’s the chance to find others in the same boat and swap out your costume pieces. Bring your items with you and find other Potterheads to love and wear your items while coming away decked out in garb from your new house.

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4:00 pm–5:0 pm Costume Contest – Grand Ballroom Here’s your chance to show off your costuming skills! Come early to line up for a walk across the stage as your favorite Harry Potter character. For those who may not have sewing skills, come cheer for your favorite costumes and enjoy the amazing craftsmanship.

4:00 pm – 4:50 pm The Heroine’s Journey (Valerie Estelle Frankel) – Northwest 1 Many are familiar with Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey, the idea that every man through myth and literature grows to adulthood while battling his dark alter–ego. Valerie explores the universal heroine’s journey in ancient myths and epics from the bow–wielding Anat to the crone–goddess Spider Grandmother, upsetting popular notions of the passive, helpless girl. We’ll mostly look at modern children’s fantasy, one of the best places to find the journey. Coraline, The Hunger Games, The Golden Compass, A Wrinkle in Time, the works of Tamora Pierce, and The Wizard of Oz are wonderful places to find this classic pattern. Like the hero’s journey, this pattern is useful for those who enjoy reading and analyzing literature, and also those who want to write it, especially fantasy and coming of age stories.

Accio Books (Andrew Slack, Taekia Blackwell) – Northwest 3 This program will serve as the kick–off to the 2012 Accio Books campaign and offer a unique look at the future of this amazing campaign. Accio Books! is the yearly book drive run by the Harry Potter Alliance. For the past three years, the HPA has donated nearly 90,000 books to children and schools in need.

PotterProv (Damian White) – Northwest 4 PotterProv is a long form improv/sketch group based in Chicago that takes one suggestion and improvises an entire show set in the world of Harry Potter. There will be laughs, tears and some of every emotion that people feel when reading the Potter books Come join original characters and maybe even some favorites, on a journey that is made up right before your very eyes. The Potterprov cast is Damian White, Emma Pope, Ray Gordon, Brit Belsheim, Dylan Hacksworth, Alec McPherson, Rob Gregory, Andy Bolduc and Josh Lanzet. Directed and Coached by: Colleen Doyle.

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5:00 pm – 5:50 pm Harry Potter: Still Recruiting Party (Valerie Estelle Frankel) – Northwest 3 Harry Potter: Still Recruiting has just been released from Zossima Press. Through interviews and articles, this book explores less publicized areas of Potter fandom: RPGs, college Quidditch, fanfiction, Wizard Rock, and parody, with contributions by a spectrum of awesome fans. For the first time, as many contributors as we can gather will be on hand to sign, to answer questions, and to celebrate. Please join us for treats, giveaways, and a moment of fan history.

5:00 pm-5:50pm Minorities in Harry Potter (Krista Domin) — Northwest 3 This will be a roundtable discussion on minorities in Harry Potter. It will be focused on disabilities and LGBTQ characters. Discussion of what a disability is to a wizard, how muggle disabilities are represented in the novels, can wizards cure muggle disabilities, what about the Longbottoms will all be discussed. The LGBTQ culture will be discussed focusing on Dumbedore, and if the announcement of his sexual preference was an afterthought or was it intended all along? Is the LGBTQ culture large in the wizard world, why is it not discussed more, will also be covered. We will brush over racial minorities as well. 7:00pm-7:50pm The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: Modern Fandom and Books on Screen — Grand Ballroom Pride and Prejudice fans have had new reason to cheer ever since the debut of “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” the YouTube Web series that supposes that Jane Austen’s famous heroine was a video blogger living in today’s day and age. Forget Keira Knightley and misty moors: this Lizzie is a modern girl trying to figure out a lot more than her love life. Our guests as they discuss what it takes to bring an age-old fandom onto the cutting edge. They will also debut exclusive footage from upcoming episodes!

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6:00pm – 6:50pm Dance Against the Dark Arts: Dumbledore Army’s Edition (Madeline Wilson, Alicia Wilson) – Northwest 1 It’s no secret that Harry Potter fans are a creative and inventive bunch. As avid fans who are also life–long dancers, we feel that dance is an underutilized storytelling medium. We therefore propose a workshop very similar to the one that two of us co–presented last year. This program would emphasize using movement to develop characters, as well as effective ways to employ improvisation, tying these topics into the theme of resistance against Voldemort. The workshop would consist of activities to explore characters’ physical characteristics and movement, a guided improv exercise (possibly in relation to dueling), and teaching a brief but awesome piece of choreography.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Crafter & Fan Art Sale – Vendor Room (Southeast Exhibit Hall) Are you a crafter? Want to meet other crafters? Come along and share your creations with others. Discuss different crafts.

8:00pm – 9:30pm LeakyCon Team Quiz – Northwest 4 Which character did Joss Whedon resurrect in Astonishing X-Men? What form does Justin Finch-Fletchley’s patronus take? If you can answer these questions, you’re well on your way to prepping for the LeakyCon Team Quiz! Teams of up to six will compete for fabulous LeakyCon Prizes! Early sign-ups at Registration.

9:00 pm–9:50 pm The Casual Vacancy – Northwest 1 We will discuss the much anticipated release of J.K. Rowling’s adult novel. What are you looking forward to with this new book? What are your reservations about this whole new experience?

9:00 pm–9:50 pm Pottermore Discussion – Northwest 2 Whether a beta–tester or a new member, this is the place to go to talk about Jo’s wonderful gift to her fans. Got any dueling or potions tips to share? Excited about what we’ll find when Chamber of Secrets is added? Come and share with the group!

Harry Potter Travel – Northwest 3 There are so many ways to experience Harry Potter in the real world– from fan trips to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Come share your experiences here with other travelers or those who would are planning trips.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 11Main Stage Programming

12:00 pm–3:00 pm A Very StarKid Event II Featuring A Very Potter Musical 3D: A Very Potter Senior Year It’s true: Team StarKid will debut their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals “A Very Potter Musical” and “A Very Potter Sequel,” right here and right now. It will feature book by Matt Lang, Nick Lang and Brian Holden. You will need a special pass to attend this event

3:30 pm–4:30 pm PotterCast Right after StarKid? We must know someone who runs this conference. Join John and Melissa (and Frak via Skype) for an hour of our usual shenanigans, and we’ll try and snatch up some special guests to come and talk about certain events that may or may not have just happened at the conference.

5:30 pm–7:00 pm LeakyStars Cheer on the finalists as they compete for the title of first–ever Leaky Stars winner! Because there were so many amazing submissions, we will also have performances by other acts that are too good to miss. This will be a true celebration of the talent abundant in fandom and cannot be missed!

9:00 pm–2:00 am 2nd Annual Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball

Signings – Southwest Exhibit Hall

9:00–10:00 am Harry Potter Actors Louis Cordice William Melling Robbie Jarvis

11:00 am–12:00 pm Julie Cross, Mark Oshiro, Tessa Netting

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5:00 pm–7:00 pm LeakyCon Lit Holly Black Jennifer Laughran Laini Taylor Daniel Ehrenhaft Stephanie Perkins Kate Schafer Testerman John Green Rebecca Sherman Megan Whalen Turner Lev Grossman Margaret Stohl Robin Wasserman Maureen Johnson

LeakyLit Programming

10:00 am – 11:50 am I Was A Teenage Writer (Panelists: Margaret Stohl, Holly Black, John Green, Robin Wasserman, Kate Schafer Testerman; Moderated by Maureen Johnson) – Williford In which a panel of brave YA authors bring the hilariously embarrassing scribblings of their youth to light (because everyone has to start somewhere).

3:00 pm–4:30 pm The Debate – Grand Ballroom Resolved: Slytherin should be kicked out of Hogwarts. Two teams of panelists will argue the case for and against our snakey friends. There will also be audience participation. Let’s get to the bottom of this “send them to the basement” thing.

5:00 pm–5:50 pm Ask Me Anything (Panelists: Kate Schafer Testerman, Jennifer Laughran, Rebecca Sherman) – Waldorf Our agents and editors will be available in this extended panel and are open to any questions about publishing. Now is your chance!

7:00 pm–9:00 pm Lit Reception – Williford Have a LeakyCon Lit badge and are over 18 years old? You are invited to this private reception for LeakyCon Lit guests and attendees. Food, drinks, and authors. Enjoy!

General Programming

Beginning 9:00am The Leaky Cup Finals — Continental Ballroom (Commentated by Evanna Lynch)

Beginning 9:00am The Figment Writing Room Opens — 3rd Floor PDR 2 The Figment Writing Room is opened all day today. Stop in and put your inspiration on page

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9:00am – 9:50am Yoga Class (Erin Sweeney) – Rooftop This unique yoga class joins the worldwide obsession with Harry Potter to the world wide fascination with yoga! The Yoga Witch will teach you poses such as hippogriff pose and belatrixasana to strengthen your body. Plus many others including breathing exercises and Harry Potter based visualizations. Bring a towel and a yoga mat. If you have a wand you can bring that too because some wand work will be incorporated into the vinyasas.

9:00am – 9:50am Morning Meditation (David Michaels) – Northwest 1 Vedic Meditation is a relaxing, natural mental practise, which delivers benefits to the body and mind. The technique is fun, easy to pick up and learn. Benefits include relaxation, energy infusion and stress relief. Come take a break, try a real–life meditation sitting and enjoy the camaraderie of the group.

Sacrificing for our Children, the Importance of Parents and Parental Figures in Harry Potter (Lee Pigg) – Northwest 2 The Harry Potter series begins with the death of James and Lilly Potter and ends with the death of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks Lupin. Throughout, there is quite a bit of emphasis on the ideas that parents and their fates shape that of their children and the people around them. Looking at the different parents within the series, I will focus on the ways that the parents and their actions (or lack of action) have a profound effect upon their children.

Shipwrecked (Nancee Lee–Allen) – Northwest 3 For many fans the Deathly Hallows Epilogue sunk their ship, whether they chose to admit it or not. SS OBHWF (One Big Happy Weasley Family) prevailed while the HMS Drarry and HMS Pumpkin Pie sank – or did it? I am proposing a support group for all who still believe that there is a chance for Harry to love someone other than Ginny and for Hermione to not be a Weasley. We will also look at other ships that may or may not have sunk including Sirius/Remus, Lily/Severus and Bellatrix/The Dark Lord.

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10:00 am – 10:50 am Buffy & Harry Potter (Sarah Steelman, Mark Oshiro) – Northwest 1 If there’s anything I love as much as Harry Potter, it’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Last year at LeakyCon myself and my partner in crime, Kali, lead the Buffy vs. Harry Potter parallel panel which was a huge success! However, both of these series are so rich and supermegafoxyawesomehot that we didn’t ever get to cover half of the commonalities these two share. Come join me again, or for the first time, to hear about parallels between seasons/books, characters, scenes, plots, etc.

How to Start a HPA Chapter (HPA Chapters 101) (Sara Danver) – Northwest 2 This program is for anyone interested in bringing the magic back to their own communities by starting an HPA chapter. This will include explaining the HPA to new members, finding a meeting space, planning their first programs, communicating with the HPA staff, finding an adult/faculty sponsor, problem–solving potential roadblocks, and other steps to ensure attendees are ready to start their own chapter right after LeakyCon. 10:00 am – 10:50 am The Real Deathly Hallows and Harry Potter’s Origins (Valerie Estelle Frankel) – Northwest 3 The Thirteen Hallows of Britain in Arthurian Legend, included an invisibility cloak and a surcoat, that, like the Sorting Hat, could identify those of noble birth. These items represent many others we’ve seen in the books: between the Hallows, the Horcruxes, the spare wands, the new spells, and other items (Sorting Hat, Sword of Godric Gryffindor, beaded bag, basilisk fangs) Harry has at least thirteen treasures aiding him on his sacred quest to destroy Voldemort. Only one who is truly worthy, a symbolic king or those who he’s appointed to aid him, can wield these items.

10:00 am – 10:50 am The Ethics of Severus Snape (Nancee Lee–Allen) – Northwest 4 Snape lived and died dedicated to Lily Evans and the promise he made to Dumbledore. He protected Lily’s son at all cost while despising Harry’s father. This roundtable with discuss in–depth Snape’s ethics or possible lack thereof including his treatment of Neville, Hermione and all non–Slytherins. Did the loss of Lily to his schoolboy enemy destroy his sense of fair play? Did his early years leave him with an inability to find happiness or was it his dedication to the dark arts? Was Severus Snape a truly ethical man forced to play the part of oppressive professor in order to keep secret his role as double–agent?

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10:00 am – 10:50 am Hogwarts Radio – Northwest 5 Hogwarts Radio is the official HP podcast of HPANA – come talk about the latest developments in the Harry Potter fandom with these experts!

10:30 am–11:50 am How Harry Got Its Style (Miraphora Mina & Eduardo Lima) – Grand Ballroom Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima have led all elements of the graphic design for the Harry Potter films. They created the Marauder’s Map, the Daily Prophet, and every other graphic prop in the film series. After ten years collaborating on Harry Potter, their expertise is still sought after, and their LeakyCon appearance is a great opportunity to meet the artists who helped shape the visual world that we all know so well. Mira and Eduardo will share how they created “hero props” as well as show some of the lesser–known graphic pieces which only were seen in the background of the films! They also have some exciting news for HP fans and want YOU to be involved. All shall be revealed…

10:00 am–3:00 pm Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Every Single Harry Potter Novel! Lake Michigan (8th Floor) John Granger, aka ‘The Hogwarts Professor,’ has been dubbed the “Dean of Harry Potter Scholars” by TIME magazine because of his eight books on the subject and consistent insights into the Saga’s artistry and meaning. At Leaky Con 3 John will be giving a two day series of eight classes on each of the Harry Potter novels –– Literary Alchemy, Ring Composition, Christian symbolism, Soul Triptychs, the Eyeball imagery –– all of it in a Granger Firehose Hermione would love. Certificates for those attending four or more of the series in this Leaky exclusive spectacular.

11:00 am–11:50 am You’re a Jedi, Harry Potter (Nancee Lee–Allen) – Northwest 1 This roundtable will take an in–depth look at the heroic journeys of Harry Potter and Luke Skywalker from insignificant orphan to savior of their world. We will look at the similarities and differences in their stories and what we can learn from each to help us on our own journeys.

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11:00 am–11:50 am Paralells between HP and the Arab Spring (Danielle Ternes, Rachel Ternes) – Northwest 2 We will explore the parallels between events and characters in the Harry Potter books and the issues and participants of the Arab Spring uprisings. From our vantage point as American students in Saudi Arabia, we can clearly see many parallels between the two worlds. Dobby fighting for freedom, while other house elves accepted their situation is like the struggle for women’s rights and the autocratic rule of Dolores Umbridge mirrors the actions of several government leaders. These are only a few examples of the issues we’ll discuss while adding perspectives that aren’t easily available to people in the United States. 11:00 am–11:50 am Leaky News Comics Panel ( Josh Wittge, Brad Ausrotas, Rosie Halse– Rojas) – Northwest 3 Everyone at LeakyNews is a giant geek. Most of us are giant geeks about comics. We really just wanted a room where we could hang out with you and geek out about Batman, Iron–Man, Spider–Man – really, all –men, and the women who could do it better. We might also touch on the difference between DC and Marvel (and the fisticuffs that will commence as we argue which is superior), and whether Scarlett Johansson was given proper time to shine as the only female badass in The Avengers.

11:00 am–11:50 am HP: Phoenix Song & The Order of Virtues (David Gras) – Northwest 4 Harry Potter exemplifies courage as a major virtue throughout the seven book series. We shall explore the virtue of courage within Harry’s journey as it relates to the “Phoenix Song” referred to in the Harry Potter book series. We will discuss the various chapters from the Harry Potter book series that show us the sacrificial courage that Harry and his friends exemplify in the face of danger and death to protect the innocent and to eventually save the Wizarding world. Why “courage” was impossible for the Dark Lord to understand or accept. How the elements of courage and the suffering hero symbolized by Harry’s fictional journey affect our own choices on the path of life.

Tempest, Time Turners And Other T’s ( Julie Cross) – Northwest 5 Author Julie Cross talks about Tempest the first installment in her newly released young adult time travel trilogy. In addition, she’ll be discussing the many awesome (and failed) uses of time travel in fiction and movies. Great for sci–fi addicts, Prisoner of Azkaban lovers, and anyone looking for a fresh new series to read.

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12:00pm–2:30pm Deathly Hallows Part I – Northwest 1 Come take a break from the crowds and experience the first half of Deathly Hallows with fellow Harry Potter fans. Feel free to express your opinions and observations while the movie is running and expect some hilarious comments from your fellow movie watchers.

Deathly Hallows Part II – Northwest 2 If the second half of Deathly Hallows is your favorite, come watch the movie with your Harry Potter friends. Feel free to express your opinions and observations while the movie is running and expect some hilarious comments from your fellow movie watchers.

3:00pm – 3:50pm Stronger than Yesterday: How the Life of Lily Evans Potter Shaped the Entire Harry Potter Series (Rebecca Moore) – Northwest 1 There are many interesting characters that create the wonderful world that is the Harry Potter universe. There is one character that is responsible for the events that created the entire Harry Potter series. Harry Potter’s mother, Lily Evans Potter, is a character that is often overlooked in character analyses and series discussions, but she is a character that is behind the majority of the action in the series and is responsible for a great deal the events in the series.

3:00pm – 3:50pm “Sometimes I Think We Sort Too Soon” (Katy Herman, Meg Herman) – Northwest 3 Is the Sorting Hat always right? Does it consider who someone is at the age of eleven or does it predict who they will become? In this group discussion, we will examine characters who don’t seem to fit the houses they were assigned. We will also consider where characters who did not attend Hogwarts, like Krum or the Dursleys, and characters whose house is unknown, like Lockhart, Ollivander, or Cornelius Fudge. As we move through our list of questionably sorted characters, we hope that the group will be able to analyze the different facets of their personalities and ultimately vote on the house in which they belong.

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3:00pm – 3:50pm The Pantheon Among Hogwarts Professors (Valerie Estelle Frankel) – Northwest 5 All pantheons of ancient mythologies have similar archetypes. The Hogwarts teachers as they sit along their long table reflect these archetypes, from Dumbledore to Professor Sprout. Argus Filch is guardian of the gates at Hogwarts, Minerva is its font of wisdom. Dolores Umbridge might be Eris, Goddess of Discord. Slughorn is rather a Dionysus figure, obsessed with hedoinism and selfishness. Dour Snape, always excluded, has many correspondences to Hades as he lurks underground. Other teachers seem better linked to other traditions. But which archetypes are missing from the “Hogwarts Pantheon”? With names like Minerva, Argus, Pomona, Silvanus, Septima, and Sybill, are they just reenacting the Roman gods, or are there other, closer correspondences?

4:00pm – 4:50pm HP Trivia Game (Amelia Durbin) – Northwest 1 A Jeopardy–themed Harry Potter trivia game that incorporates the books, the movies, the various fan contributions to the community, and muggle facts. There will be easy questions and questions that would challenge the most die–hard of fans. The audience members would have the opportunity to win prizes.

Chicago HP Fandom (Annette Willman) – Northwest 2 Have you ever wished that a Harry Potter con would never end? Wish you could be surrounded by people who love Harry Potter as much as you do? Chicago Harry Potter fans fulfills that void after a con. We have monthly events all around the city. Any fans that are looking for events and fandom friends in the Chicagoland area (even if you’re just a visitor!) should not miss this panel. Those seeking to start meet–up groups in their own area are welcome to attend as well. Audience questions will be encouraged (but not required). For ages 18 and up. Mark Reads Fanfic (Mark Oshiro) – Northwest 4 The Mark Reads Harry Potter series, started in 2010, has now been read by millions of people. Since then, series writer Mark Oshiro has started two websites, released numerous eBook compilations of his reviews, and has toured to promote himself. Mark added the reading of Harry Potter fanfic to his last tour to much praise. He will continue this new tradition here at LeakyCon.

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4:00pm – 4:50pm Hagrid & Our Love for Animals (Lesley Hathorn, Mary–Louise Hathorn) – Northwest 5 We will discuss why our feelings toward Hagrid are mixed and rather complicated most of the time. We have a great amount of empathy toward people who have a great love of animals, as Hagrid does. However, we also have an evolutionary fear of certain types of animals, which are mostly the ones that Hagrid adores, such as spiders. To other animals our culture has taught us disgust, such as (let’s face it) flobberworms or fear, such as dragons. Hagrid has shown time and time again his devotion to these ‘gross’ animals, and his ability to think so highly of them, which many people will not be able to relate to. Yet we still think of his character as a sweet and occasional bumbling person.

5:00pm – 5:50pm Is Azkaban like the Can? (Valerie Estelle Frankel) – Northwest 1 The proposed presentation will explore how conditions at Azkaban relate to current prison circumstances in the United States. Appalling conditions continue to exist in many correction facilities in this country. Wardens and government officials perennially grapple with such issues as abuse by guards, rape (both prisoner to prisoner and guard to prisoner), sanitation issues (insects, filthy food trays, excrement–smeared walls), poor medical and mental health care (leaving the insane to scream incessantly without treatment), death penalty issues, the role of race and poverty, long prison terms for juveniles, and solitary confinement (the subject of a front page Sunday New York Times article, March 11, 2012).

Sorting Other Series (Erin Wert) – Northwest 2 As tried and true Potter fans, we know our sorting inside and out. Or do we? Come to this session for some applied learning of house traits as we try to sort the Hunger Games characters into appropriate Hogwarts Houses. It might not be as easy as you think, and you might be surprised by your neighbor’s opinion! This round table discussion will hopefully get every engaged in some exciting conversation as we spend some time dwelling on two fandoms we love!

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5:00pm – 5:50pm Potterverse Politics: Reading Harry Potter as an Allegory for Contemporary Socio–Political Issues (Sara Rasmussen, Mehera Noriemail, Claire Johnson) – Northwest 4 In this roundtable we will discuss how the Harry Potter series analogizes real–world political and social issues in order to present these themes to young audiences. We will also analyze a few examples and the ways in which they have been translated into corresponding, real–world projects such as Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice, Rocking Out Against Voldemedia, and, of course, the HPA. Finally, we will consider the challenges and benefits of using Harry Potter as a pedagogical tool to empower children and young adults to address contemporary social and political issues in their own lives and to embody the values of their beloved characters.

Divination 101 (Estelle Lupa) – Northwest 5 “Divination 101” will be like attending the class at Hogwarts (minus Professor Trelawney). You will learn the history of Divination as well as the art of Palm Reading, Numerology, Tasseomancy (reading tea leaves), and more. You may be one of the lucky few to get called upon to be used as an example!

6:00pm – 6:50pm “A New Hope” for the “Boy Who Lived” (Emily Clayton) – Northwest 1 Within the past forty years, two different sagas have captured the American consciousness and risen to such popularity that they can only be described as cultural icons: George Lucas’s film series Star Wars and J.K. Rowling’s novels about the boy wizard Harry Potter. Both sagas follow the story of a boy who was orphaned in infancy and raised far away from the world in which he was born, until a single pivotal moment reveals his destiny and sends him on a journey of self discovery and ultimate triumph over evil. Aside from parallels in story and characters, the two sagas have in common their cultural success. The core elements of each story, whether in the outward coverings of science fiction or magical fantasy, guarantee Harry Potter the same lasting status as Star Wars.

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6:00pm – 6:50pm Names and Symbols in the Hunger Games (Valerie Estelle Frankel) –Northwest 2 Who was Cinna? What do the hawthorn and primrose symbolize? Or President Snow’s roses and Peeta’s bread? As with series like Harry Potter, names have great significance in Suzanne Collins’s books, referencing sixteen characters out of Shakespeare, all from a particular era of Rome. Bringing details from myths, herbal guides, military histories, and the classics, English professor and award–winning pop culture author Valerie Estelle Frankel sheds light on the deeper meanings behind Panem’s heroes and villains in this hottest of YA trilogies. In her series, Collins unites the power of Shakespeare and Rome to retell an ancient epic of betrayal, violence, and glory on the stage of an apocalyptic future. 6:00pm – 6:50pm Sufficiently Advanced Technology: Fictional Magic Users in Technologically Advanced Societies (Robin Whittle, Maggie Brevig) – Northwest 3 While many fantasy stories are set entirely on different worlds or in alternate universes, authors who write about wizards, witches, and magicians living in contemporary Western societies must address the interaction – or lack thereof – between magic and technology. By examining the unique relationships that the central magical characters in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci novels have with the technologies that are ntimately connected to contemporary life in Little Winging, Chicago, Sunnydale, and Stallery, we can reach a better understanding of these characters’ roles in their societies, as well as their stories’ attitudes toward our own technologically–obsessed society.

6:00pm – 6:50pm This is not a Perfect World (Whitney Luna) – Northwest 4 In the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling introduces the reader to the wonderful magical realm of Hogwarts that is inhabited by various magical and non–magical beings. Although, the wizarding world is a fantastical and spectacular place to live it is still plagued by prejudices and racial stereotypes that correspond to the muggle world. There are many historical parallels that the author emulates from the muggle world to portray and prove that similar prejudices exist in both worlds like the goblins at Gringotts represent anti–Semitic stereotypes, the prejudices against the half–bloods and muggles parallels the beliefs of the Nazi regime and the treatment, and the enslavement of the house elves depicts the evil of American slavery.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 12

Mainstage – International Ballroom

Noon–3:00 pm Leaving Feast Well, this stinks. It’s the end already! At least there’s food and a chance to say goodbye to everyone you met at the conference. See you next year!

General Programming – Grand Ballroom

11:00 am–11:50 am StarKid Panel Need a little more StarKid before you head home? Of course you do! See the StarKid cast and crew as they discuss the process of making HP3D:SY. This panel promises to be a lot of fun – what else could happen when this awesome group gets together?

Signings – Southwest Exhibit Hall

10:00 –11:00 am Melissa Anelli John Green Hank Green John Noe

All speakers, performers, times and locations are subject to change. All special guest appearances are subject to availability and job commitments. Any changes made during the conference will be announced via the LeakyCon Mobile App as well as our Twitter (@LeakyCon).