J.K. Rowling posts new Harry Potter short story online

J.K. Rowling has released a 1,500-word short story on the Harry Potter website, Pottermore, set at the 2014 Quidditch World Cup.

The short story is in the style of an article appearing in the fictional newspaper, The Daily Prophet, written by none other than reporter Rita Skeeter.

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Harry, accompanied by his wife Ginny and best pals Ron and Hermione, are attending the 2014 Quidditch World Cup together. Skeeter describes the now-adult wizard, “About to turn 34, there are a couple of threads of silver in the famous Auror’s black hair, but he continues to wear the distinctive round glasses that some might say are better suited to a style-deficient twelve-year-old.”

Skeeter also notes that Harry now has a mysterious scar on his cheekbone. Of course, it isn’t surprising the Auror — a highly trained officer who investigates the dark arts — has collected a few marks over the years.

Skeeter is one to talk at this point. Shouldn’t she be close to retirement by now? Though, we imagine the reporter will make it last as long as she can. She always did love digging up some good dirt and making Harry’s life difficult.

Photo credit WENN

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As if the digs at Harry’s appearance weren’t enough, her opinions on Ron are even worse. She notes the “famous ginger hair appears to be thinning slightly” and that he “shows no obvious signs of mental illness from a distance, but the public is not allowed close enough to make a proper assessment.”

Meanwhile, Hermione — who is now Mrs. Weasley — is described as the “femme fatale” of the group. She is working her way up the ranks of the Ministry of Magic.

This short story is part of a series written by Rowling on Pottermore to celebrate the 2014 Quidditch Cup, conveniently taking place at the same time as the 2014 FIFA World Cup. According to The Guardian, the final article in the series by Rowling will be posted on July 11, and will come from Ginny Weasley, who is now a journalist, covering the cup final between Brazil and Bulgaria. Hopefully, she’s nicer than Skeeter.

Read the full short story on the Pottermore website.