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The Boy Who Lived Returns In New J.K. Rowling Short Story

Lauren Eissler Contributor
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The Boy Who Lived is back.

Three years after the second installment of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” premiered, and six since her last Potter writings (a prequel to the series), J.K. Rowling has once again written about the wizarding world. (RELATED: Will Harry Potter (And J.K. Rowling) Make A Comeback?)

This time, Harry Potter isn’t a teenager.

A column was posted on Rowling’s Pottermore site as part of the Quidditch World Cup coverage. The Daily Prophet (the wizarding world’s primary newspaper) deviated from their standard coverage for gossip correspondent Rita Skeeter’s column, “Dumbledore’s Army Reunites At Quidditch World Cup Final.”

It reveals some of what Potter has done since the Platform 9 3/4 epilogue, as well as hints about other beloved characters, such as Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Luna and Neville.

A 33-year-old Potter visited the World Cup with his family. His wife, Ginny, was already at the tournament covering it for The Daily Prophet. He met with his old friend and opponent in the Triwizard Tournament, Viktor Krum, who was still playing Seeker for the Bulgarian team.

In keeping with her interests, Skeeter focuses on Potter’s appearance — there are “threads of silver in the famous Auror’s black hair,” with his glasses possibly “better suited to a style-deficient twelve-year-old.” She also notes a new scar on his right cheekbone that accompanies his oh-so-familiar lightning scar, and speculates on how he got it (personal or work life?) because the Ministry of Magic has refused to comment on it yet again.

But Skeeter’s speculations weren’t focused only on the wizarding world’s wonder boy. She spread her gaze to his closest friends — Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who married after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Weasley worked at the Ministry of Magic with Potter for two years before leaving to help his brother George manage the exceedingly popular joke shop “Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.” But since he obviously couldn’t be going just to help his brother, Skeeter speculates about the real reason. Could he be tired of living in Potter’s shadow? Was being an Auror too much? Did he have a mental illness, though there weren’t any obvious signs?

And Hermione Granger was not left out, of course. Skeeter mentions her two children, and that Granger rose through the ranks at the Ministry to be the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Skeeter questions if Granger really can have it all but said “No — look at her hair.”

The other most notable members of Dumbledore’s Army were covered in the same speculatory and gossipy tone. Neville Longbottom married Hannah Abbott and became the Herbology teacher at Hogwarts, and she said that Abbott is applying to be the Matron at Hogwarts. Skeeter went on to repeat gossip about how much the couple enjoys Ogden’s Old Firewhiskey.

Other members of the Army are mentioned, such as Luna who married Rolf Scamander (grandson of Magizoologist Newt Scamander) and various other Weasleys (George, Percy, Charlie and Bill).

Skeeter closes off her column with a lengthy discussion on Potter’s godson Teddy Lupin and a note on how “one always hesitates to invade the privacy of young people.” But she justifies her intrusion by saying that “the fact is that anyone closely connected with Harry Potter reaps the benefits and must pay the penalty of public interest.”

Skeeter announces her latest book “Dumbledore’s Army: The Dark Side of the Demob,” which will be available from Flourish and Blotts July 31. It has yet to be seen whether Muggles will be able to get a copy or read portions on Pottermore.

[h/t: Mirror]

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