Issue 71; Vol. 2; October 24, 2007

Owl Post: Bringing you the best in Harry Potter

The Official Newsletter of LeakyNews.com!
Jo in Canada

J. K. Rowling Visits States for Open Book Tour, Reveals New Canon

This past week, Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling visited the United States for an Open Book Tour where she read to three audiences of 1,600 school children in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York City. Jo held a second event in New York City which was attended by 2,000 Scholastic contest winners from across the country. These events featured the author reading from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," answering questions about the entire series, and singing copies of Book Seven for all in attendance. Kicking off the tour in Los Angeles with a reading in at the Kodak Theater (photos from the event here), many fans described the experience to Leaky, relaying the very emotional moments they shared with Jo. During this event, Jo answered a few questions about a promised Hogwarts Encyclopedia by saying: "It's not coming along." She went on to explain further, noting: "I never said it was the next thing I'd do."

New canon and background came from a spoiler filled MTV article, which cited a number of Jo's answers to the dozen questions asked during the reading. In the Q & A Jo was asked about Professor Dumbledore ("he’s quite a Machiavellian figure, really"), Hedwig, and Severus Snape. In a second MTV article, Jo was interviewed as a part of a press conference held at the start of her tour and gave some frank new answers about the nature of Christian and religious themes which feature quite heavily in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." In this interview, Jo discussed her initial reluctance to bring religion in an open manner within the Harry Potter books, however her reasoning for this was that she was afraid that it might give away the plot and ending of the series.

JKR then continued her book tour in New Orleans where she again read, signed books, and answered twelve lucky student's questions. Photos from the signing can be seen in our Image Galleries right here. The fates of a number of characters were revealed in an article from the NOLA Blog, which has quotes from Jo given during the event. One of the questions asked was, "Do you believe that good always overcomes evil?" She answered:

"That depends on what you mean by ‘overcomes,’ " Rowling said, referring to Harry Potter’s battle against the evil Lord Voldemort. "But as long as people are prepared to keep fighting ... it’s amazing how small acts of kindness can add up, just living in a moral way, treating other people kindly."

Completing the final US leg of her Open Book Tour in New York City on October 19, Jo continued to reveal more in her answers to some of the most interesting and probing questions yet. Beginning in the morning with her final event for 1,600 New York City school children, Jo divulged many interesting tidbits on the subject of love and Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, as well as herself. You can read a full report on this tour stop, via this link.

Later that evening, Jo gave her final US reading before an audience of 2,000 at Carnegie Hall. At this event, Jo responded in great detail to a number of profound questions such as: 'Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself,' 'What did Dumbledore write in the letter to make the Dursleys take Harry,' 'Did Neville ever find love,' and 'What did Lily, James, Remus, Lupin and Sirius do after Hogwarts?' Answers to these questions and more can be found in Leaky's Carnegie Hall Report, which provides some very interesting (and spoiler filled) information from this event.

Finally, much discussion was sparked in regards to certain revelations about the character of Dumbledore. This prompted Jo, during a press conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to comment further on her decision to reveal the information. Complete details about this can be read here.

More Big News...

J.K. Rowling Honored with "Order of the Forest" Award
Location Photos for Upcoming "Half-Blood Prince" Filming
Chris Rankin: 'Unlikely' to return for HBP; Hopeful for "Deathly Hallows"
Emma Watson Knew the Most about Outcome of Hermione Granger, Says J.K. Rowling

What's HOT in the Leaky Lounge

Halloween is almost upon us and the Leaky Lounge has a special Trick or Treat event to celebrate this festive occasion. The Trick or Treat on the Lounge will feature fun, games and a special treats left by the Mods to lead to a grand all Hallows event! Check out this thread on the Lounge for more details and check back often for further updates. Happy Halloween!

New from PotterCast

This is a very special week for PotterCast as we talk about Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling's recent Open Book Tour stops in the States. We have a special report about her Carnegie Hall reading in New York City where we discuss many of the new revelations from the event. Sue is especially victorious this week as we also learn that the great leader of Hufflepuff House may not have enslaved the Hogwarts House Elves... maybe. We have this and so much more during this, the 122nd episode of PotterCast.

The latest in HP essays!

Scribbulus, Leaky's premier essay project, is new for the month of October and contains five splendid essays for your reading pleasure. To read this wonderful issue, click here. You will also find links to all of our previous issues and information on calls for future essays on a wide array of topics. Enjoy!

New and featured items

Halloween is little more than a week away and the Cauldron Shop has everything you need for your All Hallows Eve plans. Kids and Adults alike have limitless choices for costumes and accessories in the Costume section of the Cauldron Shop. We feature costumes ranging from Hermione Granger to a Dementor and everything in between. Adults need not worry, we have a whole selection of costumes for adults available for you too. We have a full array of Death Eater costumes and a number of hats for whatever your needs may be.

 

Jingle Spells: Leaky's Sixth Get A Clue Fundraiser Now Open

JS Leaky’s sixth Get a Clue fundraiser, our yearly efforts which have raised more than $30,000 to date to aid literacy around the world, is now under way, and it’s a doozy this year.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, so we asked 14 of the biggest and best wizard rock bands around to donate a Christmas or Holiday themed song for a very special compilation album. They all did so with enthusiasm, and what we now have to offer you for our fundraiser is one of the best holiday albums any of us has heard. It is all-new music, from 14 different bands, and buying the album is the only way you can hear the music on it. It’s a perfect gift for yourself or anyone else you know who loves Harry Potter. It’s for a good cause. It’s a holiday gift and a holiday good deed, all rolled into one. Every penny of profit on this album will be donated to Book Aid International, to aid in their effort to install libraries in the places in the world that need them most.

The album is selling for $15, including shipping (there is a $3 surcharge for orders outside the U.S.), and is now available for pre-order at this link. All pre-orders will be shipped out in mid-November, and the album will only be available (and only as a physical disc) through Dec. 10.

 
  New Pictures
JKR's Open Book Tour, New Orleans Pictures

J.K. Rowling Open Book Tour Hollywood Interview
Reader E-mails

Dear Leaky Cauldron,
Why did Jo Rowling announce after the series has ended that Professor Dumbledore was gay?

-A Devoted Reader



Dear Devoted Reader,

She was asked in a public forum if Dumbledore had ever been in love. She responded.

-Kristin for TLC