Harry Potter Fever

The countdown is on: Only one week remains until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters. Chicago-based Potter buffs should buy their tickets now for the Museum of Science and Industry’s July 15 midnight premiere. And in the meantime, brush up on your Hogwarts lore with a review of the past eight years of films. It’s Harry Potter and the…

• Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): Harry’s living like a slave with his wicked aunt and uncle when owls begin notifying him nonstop that he’s been accepted to Hogwarts. He becomes best friends with Ron; Hermione is a know-it-all. Professor Snape hates Harry’s guts. He’s the youngest student to pay Quidditch, and a battle with a three-headed dog ensues. 
• Chamber of Secrets (2002): People are becoming petrified by the venom of a giant snake. Tom Riddle is Voldemort, and he has a secret diary. Harry speaks Parseltongue and becomes friends with Dumbledore’s phoenix, who later kills the snake. Gilderoy is cute and all the girls love him, but he lies a lot. Ron’s sister Ginny falls in love with Harry. 
• Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): Sirius Black has escaped from jail. It seems like he’s trying to kill Harry the whole time, but actually he’s his godfather and really just wants to be best friends. Also, he can turn into an animagus– in this case, a big dog. Hermoine has an obese cat that’s mortal enemies with Ron’s pet rat. Dementors are soulless creatures that suck the fun out of the room, and they abound.
• Goblet of Fire (2005): Death Eaters are everywhere. Harry is not old enough to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, but Voldemort sets it up so his name is in the goblet, along with a blonde French girl, Edward Cullen and Viktor Krum, who dates Hermione. There’s a dragon, swimming and a corn maze. Showdown with Voldemort ensues. 
• Order of the Phoenix (2007): The Ministry of Magic doesn’t believe Dumbledore that Voldemort has returned, and so all of the teachers give him the cold shoulder. Even though Dumbledore is avoiding Harry, HP still gets the other kids together to secretly form Dumbledore’s Army. Harry starts having visions whenever Voldemort gets too close and can see all of his plans. Sirius Black dies, oh no!