J.K. Rowling Site: Canon Tidbits Straight From Rowling

May 15, 2004

Posted by: Melissa Anelli

Uncategorized

J.K.Rowling.com has been intricately redesigned, by the company Lightmaker. Once a list of publishers, it is now a design of a cluttered desk strewn with gum wrappers, an empty teacup (points to the one who can divine the dregs), newspapers and of course a notebook – and the thing that’s of real interest to fans: all of the text is written by J.K. Rowling herself, and contains clues and tidbits about the books (which she interestingly calls “Potterania”).
Hint: The phone on the left is not just a prop.

Click around and enjoy; the author has promised the site will become a link between her and her fans for the dispelling of rumors (many of which she gives the old heave-ho to right off – no Green Flame Torch, it is officially said at last) and news about publication. She links to fan sites (with fan art, and reveals which artists’ art she’s had on her own desktop). She’s given the first FSA (Fan Site Award) Immeritus, a Sirius Black Fan Club. Be SURE to hit the “Extra Stuff” section for some great character background.

And of course, the whole thing is earmarked by her signature witty commentary.

For instance, in a hilarious news item marked “MUGGLENET CHATROOM UNINTERESTED BY JKR’S THEORIES,” she comments that she wandered into Mugglenet‘s chat room under a fake name and “Nobody was remotely interested in my theories about what’s going to happen in book seven…In the end, I gave up trying to impart any gems of wisdom and joined the discussion about SpongeBob SquarePants (don’t ask). … I would like to take this opportunity to say that the practise of calling Lord Voldemort ‘Voldie’ must stop, as is the insistence that with a bit of therapy ‘Voldie’ would be a real sweetheart. I might drop in again sometime to check that you’ve done as you’ve beeen told. Look out for ‘Squidward’.”

There really is too much information to report on all at once, so make sure you check it out. For a sample, click below. Thanks Tim for the heads up!
The site reveals that:
Ginny’s real name is Ginevra.
Fred and George were born on April Fool’s Day.
Sirius’ eyes are grey.
The lost Weasley cousin’s name is Mafalda, and is an unpleasant Slytherin child who is a match for Hermione’s talents.
The opening chapter of Book Six is a chapter she’s been mulling for 13 years.
Molly’s maiden name is Prewett – she has family members who were killed by Death Eaters.
Gilderoy Lockhart really is based on a real person.
Her editors wanted to cut the scene in PS where Hermione, Harry and Ron fight the troll, but she refused.
In the EDITS section, you get some backstory on Dean, a summary of a scene where Draco and Theodore Nott converse, an explanation of the “missing cousin” from Goblet of Fire and a tiny explanation about the first chapter of Book Six, which is called Book Six throughout the site, confirms even more conclusively that there is not yet an official title for book six.





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.