J.K. Rowling's Official Website Thread v.14

Maybe the favicon means they're updating! Or planning to update! Or thinking about updating!

*nods furiously*

Who wants to check the site at midnight? :p
The favicon was there yesterday when I went to the site.

I must say this wait is stretching the definition of "a few months time". Maybe next week... :sigh:

Runes, you officially rock for creating this song!

My moment of glory :rotfl: Thanks.

Don't be sad! It'll be okay!

Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay! :rockon:

It rhymes! :p

Runes, you officially rock for creating this song! :D

Yes Runes should get an user title: official composer of the waiting song.




Don't be sad! It'll be okay!

Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay!

I don't know why but I was so sure that today we'd have an update from Jo site. Why she's keeping us in such suspense???
Well...

Some day will be WOMBAT day!
Yay! Some day will be WOMBAT day! Yay Yay!

Don't be sad! It'll be okay!
Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay! :rockon:


Yes Runes should get an user title: official composer of the waiting song.
Don't be sad! It'll be okay!

Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay!

WOMBAT Rock: Like Wizard Rock, but with WOMBATs! Oh man, I see T-Shirts in the near future...

The favicon was there yesterday when I went to the site.

Oh no, so it was put there yesterday? Maybe I'm going to have to lose my optimism... *clings* It doesn't help that I had a very ominous dream last night about the release date :scared: We'd all better hope I'm not a Seer.

Some day will be WOMBAT day!
Yay! Some day will be WOMBAT day! Yay Yay!

Some day before DH, I hope, at least :rockon:

Don't be sad! It'll be okay!
Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay! :rockon:

WOMBAT Rock: Like Wizard Rock, but with WOMBATs! Oh man, I see T-Shirts in the near future...

Maybe we should found our own band. At least we already have our own composer. And there are other bands in Hogsmeade. :huh:
And when we`re famous, we`re overall on the radio, Jo will hear us, listen to the song and updates her site!



Oh no, so it was put there yesterday? Maybe I'm going to have to lose my optimism... *clings* It doesn't help that I had a very ominous dream last night about the release date :scared: We'd all better hope I'm not a Seer.

I think it came with the update of the WotM.

There is a announcement thread in the common room, you haven`t to read all those whining if you would know if there is an update.

Just kidding! I like reading this thread! But if it really does degenerate into 200 posts a day of "Yay - next Friday is WOMBAT day!" I might take you up on that! ;)

I'm on Internet Explorer, and I don't think this "favicon" thingy means anything except that JKR's site is compatible with Firefox, perhaps?

And yeah - nothing's really happening, and unlikely to happen. :) So I'll see you all next Friday.

:wave:

All the cool sites (like CoS) have an icon that shows up in your favourites and on the Firefox (and IE7) tabs.

So I'll see you all next Friday. :wave:

Next Friday:

Because it will be Wombat Day. Yay! Next Friday is Wombat Day. Yay Yay!

Sorry, couldn't resist. :)

I'm on Internet Explorer, and I don't think this "favicon" thingy means anything except that JKR's site is compatible with Firefox, perhaps?


i know that the "favicon thingy" can show on either internet explorer or firefox. i was on internet explorer until very recently, and then switched over to firefox. anyway, when i was on internet explorer, i could get those little icons. i got them for all different kinds of sites [including cos]. strange thing is that mine only worked for some sites sometimes. i mean, cos' would show up one day and not the next. same thing with other sites. i don't know what was up with that. either way, as far as i can tell, they have all worked continuously [at least the ones that have them] since i went to firefox.

ODE TO THE WOMBAT:

Full of sorrow,
My heart is troubled
My pain is so hard to bear
To the Room of Requirement
I journeyed, with a hopeful heart
But with anguish, saw the
"DO NOT DISTURB" sign still there.

:)

The candle flame seems to be getting bigger again. Also, the dark cloud still won't go away.

All the cool sites (like CoS) have an icon that shows up in your favourites and on the Firefox (and IE7) tabs.

That might be it. I have IE7, and JKR's site has a favicon now, even though I don't have it favourited. Maybe you need to have a newer version? (It's obvious we're bored now, isn't it? *sigh* )

It's very pretty, though. The icon, I mean *jealous of Lightmaker and their mad skillz*

I think it came with the update of the WotM.

I didn't see it then, but maybe I was wrapped up in the excitement of such a cool WotM :blush:

Fantastic TonytheTerrible. I like it.

ODE TO THE WOMBAT:

Full of sorrow,
My heart is troubled
My pain is so hard to bear
To the Room of Requirement
I journeyed, with a hopeful heart
But with anguish, saw the
"DO NOT DISTURB" sign still there.

:)

a work of pure genius. it brings a tear to my eye. have you considered attempting to get it published?


:lol:

That might be it. I have IE7, and JKR's site has a favicon now, even though I don't have it favourited. Maybe you need to have a newer version?


:agree: that might be it. at least for some of them. i mean, when i was using ie it wasn't version 7, and that might explain why the icon didn't work as either a favorite or in the tabs. other icons worked, but that one still doesn't [i just checked].

(It's obvious we're bored now, isn't it? *sigh* )

how right you are. :shrug:

Good God! Six new pages in under 36 hours?! Geez, I thought we'd got the next WOMBAT or something! :p

Good God! Six new pages in under 36 hours?! Geez, I thought we'd got the next WOMBAT or something! :p

And here was me thinking that you were to here to inform us of a midnight update! Gah, Friday was so not our WOMBAT day.

But um, yeah, about the six pages... I had nothing to do with it. Really. It was all Annett! :D

ODE TO THE WOMBAT:

Full of sorrow,
My heart is troubled
My pain is so hard to bear
To the Room of Requirement
I journeyed, with a hopeful heart
But with anguish, saw the
"DO NOT DISTURB" sign still there.


:lol: Man, it's like you know me, you know?

:lol: Man, it's like you know me, you know?

Hey, we are all in this together. Just trying to express some of my frustrations creatively, instead of my normal incessant whining. Who knows? Maybe some creativity like a poem (or song) might bring the Wombat to us faster. :)

By the way, does anyone else ever feel like the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is mocking you? :lol:

Fantastic TonytheTerrible. I like it.

Thanks! :)

a work of pure genius. it brings a tear to my eye. have you considered attempting to get it published?

Why yes, actually, its going to be published in Mugglenet's new book, entitled Mugglenet.com's Complete Guide to Everything Wombat.:D

:lol:

But um, yeah, about the six pages... I had nothing to do with it. Really. It was all Annett! :D


:angel:

Don't be sad! It'll be okay!
Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay! :p

yes I agree

Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay yay!

I spend a day in the hospital and come back to 11 pages! I was sure there was an update. :(

How do we know that next Friday is W.O.M.B.A.T. day?

We don't as yet. our decision was to sing this rhyme and other variations to hopefully get JK's attention and then she will give us the WOMBAT. Hope you are ok MrsLupin.

Does anyone else ever feel like the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is mocking you? :lol:

Okay, good.. not as many new posts since yesterday, we're settling back to normal again. We got a bit carried away yesterday with excitement, didn't we? :lol:

Was that dark cloud outside her window always there? I had the feeling that it was.. but some people are saying that it's new. Is it? And the candle is still burning bright.

Maybe if we all not post in here, we'll get the WOMBAT? We've tried everything: whining, begging, nagging, singing.. how about try and stay quiet for a while? :elaugh: That's a joke, actually.

Was that dark cloud outside her window always there? I had the feeling that it was.. but some people are saying that it's new. Is it? And the candle is still burning bright.

I think the cloud has always been there, but it appears to be darker now. Maybe it's just because we're paying attention to every little thing on Jo's site. :lol:

I'm going on vacation now, you all can have the WOMBAT, after I get back.

Please Jo, hold off for two weeks now. :scared: :upset: :scared:

I think the cloud has always been there, but it appears to be darker now. Maybe it's just because we're paying attention to every little thing on Jo's site. :lol:

I'm going on vacation now, you all can have the WOMBAT, after I get back.

Please Jo, hold off for two weeks now. :scared: :upset: :scared:
Well, that's rather selfish of you! ;)

The candle flame seems to be getting bigger again. Also, the dark cloud still won't go away.Just a sign of the dark times that lie ahead, I suppose :lol:...waiting for ANY update! Does anyone else ever feel like the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is mocking you? :lol::agree: ...and the candle keeps flickering...the cloud keeps rolling...aaahhhh! :rotfl:

I'm going on vacation now, you all can have the WOMBAT, after I get back.

Please Jo, hold off for two weeks now. :scared: :upset: :scared:Ooh, enjoy your vacation! We will still be here when you get back.....waiting, begging, whining, singing.....

Well, that's rather selfish of you! ;)

You think it's really going to make any difference, at all.:lol:

We have all been whining since Mar 30th, it hasn't done any good. We've even come up with a "mind numbing" song. :rockon:

Why should she mess up my vacation because the rest of the COS posters don't have a life?:p So, there!!

Don't be sad! It'll be okay!
Next Friday is WOMBAT day!
Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay Yay!

(Needs more sparkly text! Maybe then Jo will pay attention! *nodnodnod*)


Does anyone else ever feel like the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is mocking you? :lol:

Why are you laughing...? I do feel like it's mocking me :sigh: But then, I also hold a rather personal grudge against the months between February and July... :p

Edit: I just checked my stats counter for nevilleandluna.com and yesterday I got 77 visits exactly. I am absolutely not kidding. Coincidence? Or something more? *does the spooky hand thing*

ODE TO THE WOMBAT:

Full of sorrow,
My heart is troubled
My pain is so hard to bear
To the Room of Requirement
I journeyed, with a hopeful heart
But with anguish, saw the
"DO NOT DISTURB" sign still there.

:)

Do you have Seer blood?:lol:

Does anyone else ever feel like the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is mocking you? :lol:

I really am thinking that you DO have SEER blood:scared:

Okay, good.. not as many new posts since yesterday, we're settling back to normal again. We got a bit carried away yesterday with excitement, didn't we? :lol:

Was that dark cloud outside her window always there? I had the feeling that it was.. but some people are saying that it's new. Is it? And the candle is still burning bright.

Maybe if we all not post in here, we'll get the WOMBAT? We've tried everything: whining, begging, nagging, singing.. how about try and stay quiet for a while? :elaugh: That's a joke, actually.

I will not be quiet because then she WON"T be able to SEE me sat here tirelessly at the computer letting life go on without me, hoping, praying, begging and even meditating for some sort of update. Even if we stage a peaceful sit in we need to chat about it!:p

Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay yay!:rockon:

Yes I think so too. It would be nice to have an update, a diary entry perhaps.

Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay yay!

Oh Jo, see how we're begging you,
and what we all are asking you
is to hear some news from you.
Please Jo, give us just one clue
and let us take one WOMBAT test
before spring comes to it's ends...

I hope Jo you will like it and we'll hear some news fro you...

Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay! Next Friday is WOMBAT day! Yay yay

okay...so still nothing. Gee this is getting dull!

You're all jinxing it! How can the site get updated when all of you keep on refreshing it! :p

You're all jinxing it! How can the site get updated when all of you keep on refreshing it!

You have a point...but they could "disable" the site like they do on these forums when they need to update it if that did cause problems....now wouldn't that cause excitement.

We can't enter JK's site, how exciting ... and for anyone who hasn't read the above post...no she hasn't, I'm just hypothesising!!!

Okay, good.. not as many new posts since yesterday, we're settling back to normal again. We got a bit carried away yesterday with excitement, didn't we? :lol:

Was that dark cloud outside her window always there? I had the feeling that it was.. but some people are saying that it's new. Is it? And the candle is still burning bright.

Maybe if we all not post in here, we'll get the WOMBAT? We've tried everything: whining, begging, nagging, singing.. how about try and stay quiet for a while? :elaugh: That's a joke, actually.I'm not sure, it might be new that dark cloud. Normally the cloud is much whiter than that.

No it has been there for a while a few weeks ago.

My eyes have practically dried up from staring at the screen so much but...in my humble opinion I honesty think the clouds have got much darker over the last few days.

Ps. Useless bit of information for the day: I think they're probably nimbus clouds :D

I suggest that everyone keep the chatter about the WOMBAT song/poems to a BARE minimum. Or at the very least, take it to the Quidditch Pitch please.

Thank you

I suggest that everyone keep the chatter about the WOMBAT song/poems to a BARE minimum. Or at the very least, take it to the Quidditch Pitch please.

Thank you

But Jo would not see them in the Quidditch Pitch. :)
(Not that she necessarily sees them here, but this is the thread dedicated to her site, afterall.)

The premise behind them is to "attempt" to annoy Jo into updating her site, because I am sure she occasionally might check fan sites. Annoyances are probably no more effective than anything else, but it makes us feel better knowing we are trying something new. :)

I thought the point of this thread was to complain (or discuss) about updates, or lack there of, to Jo's official site. If that is the case, why can't the expression of frustration not be displayed in mediums other than just rambling? Aren't songs and poems about JKRowling.com/Wombat just more creative expressions of those frustrations? Isn't creativity and imagination THE whole point of the Harry Potter Fandom, and for that matter, the COS Forums?

If that is true, which I know it is, it seems to me that poems and/or songs about J.K. Rowling's Official Site, or the Wombat, which is part of the Official Site, are just as relevant as any discussion in this thread, because they adhere to the guidelines of this thread by containing the required subject matter. :)

I humbly submit my opinion about Wombat poem/song rights,

TonytheTerrible
Wombat Warrior

Sorry, rant over! :)

My eyes have practically dried up from staring at the screen so much but...in my humble opinion I honesty think the clouds have got much darker over the last few days.

Ps. Useless bit of information for the day: I think they're probably nimbus clouds :D

:relax: Same here!

Maybe she could let the clouds rain - clear the air a bit :lol: then we could discuss if it was light drizzle, a shower, a storm, a gale etc and the significance this could possible hold....oooooooooo or maybe a mist creeping in from afar:err:

But Jo would not see them in the Quidditch Pitch. :)
(Not that she necessarily sees them here, but this is the thread dedicated to her site, afterall.)

The premise behind them is to "attempt" to annoy Jo into updating her site, because I am sure she occasionally might check fan sites. Annoyances are probably no more effective than anything else, but it makes us feel better knowing we are trying something new. :)

I thought the point of this thread was to complain (or discuss) about updates, or lack there of, to Jo's official site. If that is the case, why can't the expression of frustration not be displayed in mediums other than just rambling? Aren't songs and poems about JKRowling.com/Wombat just more creative expressions of those frustrations? Isn't creativity and imagination THE whole point of the Harry Potter Fandom, and for that matter, the COS Forums?

If that is true, which I know it is, it seems to me that poems and/or songs about J.K. Rowling's Official Site, or the Wombat, which is part of the Official Site, are just as relevant as any discussion in this thread, because they adhere to the guidelines of this thread by containing the required subject matter. :)

I humbly submit my opinion about Wombat poem/song rights,

TonytheTerrible
Wombat Warrior

Sorry, rant over! :)

I don't for a second believe that annoying her is a good policy. And the more chatter you produce, the lesser the chance that she would waste her time reading it.

Originally this thread was about what is on her site, not about what we wish there was. But longing for more has always been a subtopic here. Anyway SageThyme is right, this thread has lately blown all proportions. I'm seriously thinking about moving the whole thread into the Quidditch Pitch. :)

The premise behind them is to "attempt" to annoy Jo into updating her site, because I am sure she occasionally might check fan sites. Annoyances are probably no more effective than anything else, but it makes us feel better knowing we are trying something new.
There have been very few times when "annoying" JKR has led to anything on her Official Site. People have made up rumors, fake titles, and downright weird stuff and she has responded, but I wouldn't say that's a positive way to get an update. You might say it's actually disprespectful.

Most of her updates are about things she cares about, or questions people have asked about the books. Some updates are obviously planned in advance, such as door openings and Wombats. No one can tease her into opening the door - it doesn't work that way.
I thought the point of this thread was to complain (or discuss) about updates, or lack there of, to Jo's official site. If that is the case, why can't the expression of frustration not be displayed in mediums other than just rambling?
The point of this thread, in my opinion and as I've been on here for years now, is to discuss the Official Site when things appear. Most of the time, people just wander off to other threads when there is a lull in activity. Sometimes, people drop by and ask questions about the Easter Eggs or the birthdays. It's really just a general information thread about the Official Site.

The problem, as some have already stated, is that alot of people subscribe to this thread so they will get an e-mail when there is news or a Wombat. When it turns into a whine-fest or a song-fest, our mailboxes are full of posts with no substance, and people get disappointed.

I see the need for a fandom pressure valve, but I'm not even sure how these rumors about dates and times get started. There was very little logical reason for all the anticipation the other day, in my opinion. No one has ever been able to predict exactly when JKR will update, except for Christmas decorations or Book release dates.

The silly songs and stuff don't bother me too much, but I can see why some people are complaining, and why SageThyme requested that things calm down a little bit. People just need to chill out here.

There may not be that many updates between now and Deathly Hallows, since JKR doesn't want to give too much away, and that is her privilege as the author! :agree:

Very nicely said, Silver Ink Pot.

Although I think the song is cute, I don't want to annoy anyone. I thought is was playful and optimistic.

However, I am wondering about something. Since I am relatively new, has JKR ever gone this long without an update?

In the last update she sounds really down. I hope she is okay. She has eluded to the fact that she will need some mourning time after she finishes writing book 7 (from several interviews). Maybe she could use our support right now.

It's not unusual for months to pass with no updates except the "Wizards of the Month" and "Birthdays".

HP-Lexicon (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com-timeline.html) provides an accurate timeline of her site since it was revamped and opened May 2004.

PhoenixEnflame: Just looking through the Lexicon's timeline Here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com-timeline.html), there have been many times that we went months and months with very little. I'm not saying that people enjoyed that, and there was alot of begging that went on, as I recall. :)

This is a long dry spell but not the longest so far. There are two other times that have been longer.

Math isn't my thing, so forgive me if I make a mistake, but the timeline says we last had an update on Feb. 6, 2007:

Days without an update:

Feb - 23 days
Mar - 31 days
April -30 days
May - 6 days so far
_________________
= 90 days with no update at this time

The longest time I can find was just last year. We went all summer with no update.

May 10, 2006 ~ Sept. 11, 2006

May - 21 days
June - 30
July - 31
Aug - 31
Sept - 11
___________
= 124 days with no update, except a link added on Aug. 3

It didn't seem that long because we had JKR's reading in New York City, and all the information from that. I thought she wrote a Diary Entry at the first of August, but the Lexicon doesn't have one, so I must be thinking of her question-answer thingy in New York.

She debunked a rumor on Sept. 11 about the book being 750 pages long, and then on the 13th, she wrote quite a few entries in various sections (see the timeline)

Then next longest was the Fall of 2005, after HBP came out:

Sept. 12, 2005 ~ Dec. 25, 2005 = 104 days


Other Times:

Jan 31, 2005~ April 6, 2005 = 67 days

Oct. 31, 2006 ~ Dec. 19, 2006 = 49 days

Look at dry time like this:

We have already survived 90 days without an update, it`s only one month to go until we achieve the longest dry periode. That means it isn`t likely, that we have to stay without an update until the release of DH, that were 164 days. Before the release of HBP, there was only one update (FAQ poll) in the half year between christmas and release. And we have something to look forward to, the next to Wizards of the Month. Remember how interesting the last was, and the greatest is always the surprise. Therefore I`m thankful, that Jo isn`t predictable, neither with her updates, nor with the plot.

Some FAQ questions

Jk has given us several FAQ quesions about the books. What the properties Of Darco's wand are. What House Tonks was in and a few others

There's nothing particularly earth-shattering that will change our thoughts about DH but some interesting stuff regardless! And it's nice to get an update on the site! :D

What is the wand chart she mentions? Is it one of those easter egg rewards?

No It's in the extra stuff under Wands

Okay, so let me get this right...there's an update under FAQ - about Draco's wand? and this site hasn't exploded!???

I've moved temporarily from my normal computer to a lap top so I'm not sure what are "Easter Eggs" and what is an addition - has there always been a spider crawling over the home page? I know there's a fly and Peeves but I don't recall seeing a spider.

I can't find the wand thing under Extra Stuff - I'm there now, but nothing that says wands is jumping out at me

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Tonks is a hufflepuff!! I knew it :)

There are loads of new FAQs!!!!!!

Finally! :clap:

Hmmm is Tonks Ravenclaw or Myrtle? :hmm:

Myrtle is Ravenclaw!!

I've moved temporarily from my normal computer to a lap top so I'm not sure what are "Easter Eggs" and what is an addition - has there always been a spider crawling over the home page? I know there's a fly and Peeves but I don't recall seeing a spider.
Easter Eggs are little tidbits that you can find, there's someone who has a list of them on here, I think it's Nicole, but look in the J.K. FAQs. Once you get them, the huge spider will go away and another one will take it's place, I think, but it will be smaller.

Edit: I just found out what everyone was talking about. :D Yay....

That makes no sense to me, but whatever. :rolleyes:

So, Tonks was in Hufflepuff and Myrtle in Ravenclaw.

Really wish I could find the wand chart so that I could work out what she means about Draco's being the "right" one.

Glad that Tom Riddle's date of birth has been decided.

Wonder whether Draco will ever need to produce a patronus, I'm assuming not as she didn't even hint that he might.

And Voldemort was born on the 31st of Dec...just like my mum!

Glad that Tom Riddle's date of birth has been decided. Wonder whether Draco will ever need to produce a patronus, I'm assuming not as she didn't even hint that he might.
I always thought it's clear that he as born on the 31th. :shrug:

Don't think he will ever produce a Patronus.

I wonder what Voldemort's patronus is, if he has one.
Edit: could someone take screenshots?

Just realised that I always knew that Voldie was born on 31 December - it's listed on Mugglenet's birthday list as that so I've always assumed that to be the case and never thought it might be 1 January.

An update without an explosion of posts? I never thought I'd see that! :D

Nice to get this new info, anyway! :)

Something new - :clap: which means that we haven't been completely forgotten. :lol:

Draco should have joined the DA. :rotfl:

BTW- Thanks for the update Jo. :clap:

So, Tonks was in Hufflepuff and Myrtle in Ravenclaw.

Really wish I could find the wand chart so that I could work out what she means about Draco's being the "right" one.


Here (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=18) is the wand chart.

I always thought it's clear that he as born on the 31th. :shrug:



It was the most likely, but there was also the possibility for January the first. Merope came late at night and gave him birth within an hour. It depends on what you call late at night, but I`m glad that Jo has specified it.

Really wish I could find the wand chart so that I could work out what she means about Draco's being the "right" one.
I believe she was speaking about her being "right" when she assigned Draco his wand and then when she did the chart, or looked at the chart, it ended up being the correct wand for Draco's birthday.

Really wish I could find the wand chart so that I could work out what she means about Draco's being the "right" one.

You must go on Extra Stuff, Miscellaneous and the last chapter is called Wands.

Here (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=18) is the wand chart.



Oooo sorry for going OT, but that wand chart would make Ginny's wand made of Hazel, and her eyes are Hazel coloured too. Wow you learn a new thing everyday. Or in this case a new thing every couple of months :lol:

It was the most likely, but there was also the possibility for January the first. Merope came late at night and gave him birth within an hour. It depends on what you call late at night, but I`m glad that Jo has specified it.
I had guessed that Decemeber 31st was more likely since January 1st would be the new year and more indicative of hope. It's nice to have it cleared up.

Thank you everyone for your help with the wand thing, I thought it was a new update but okay...now I know.

Oh, and while it is always wonderful to get any update, I think we can see that we aren't going to get anything too substantial. I don't think Jo wants to spoil anything.

Oooo sorry for going OT, but that wand chart would make Ginny's wand made of Hazel, and her eyes are Hazel coloured too. Wow you learn a new thing everyday. Or in this case a new thing every couple of months :lol:

I`m not sure about it. If I remember right, Jo said once in an interview that only the trio had a wand fitting that chart (from a celtic wood chart). Now Draco fits also. :hmm:

I had guessed that Decemeber 31st was more likely since January 1st would be the new year and more indicative of hope. It's nice to have it cleared up.

Indeed, more likely was the 31st, but not sure until now.

Oh, and while it is always wonderful to get any update, I think we can see that we aren't going to get anything too substantial. I don't think Jo wants to spoil anything.I agree...even I knew that the Carrows must be those delightful brother/sister Death Eaters.

I`m not sure about it. If I remember right, Jo said once in an interview that only the trio had a wand fitting that chart (from a celtic wood chart). Now Draco fits also.

I think what she meant was that she used the chart for Harry, Hermione and Ron so that she could have some sort of link between the three wands. She didn't use what she should have for Hagrid because "oak" fitted him better. Then when she had decided what Draco's wand should be, she realised that it was what the chart would have said.

Last year I bought a book that Jo showed once in an interview (I think it was the 60 minutes one) because of it`s use for her for all the plants and potion ingediences. It is called Culpeper`s Complete Herbal and wasfirst released in 1653.

There is written about Hawthorn (bolding by me):
It is not my intention to trouble you with adescription of this tree, which is so well known that it needs none. It is ordinarily but a hedge bush, although being pruned and dressed, it grows to a tree of reasonable height.
As for the Hawthorn Tree at Glastobury, which is saidto flower yearly on Christmas-day, it rather shews the superstition of those that observe it for the time of its flowering, than any great wonder, since the like may be found in divers other places of this land; as in Whey-street in Romney Marsh, and near unto Nantwich in Cheshire, by a place called White Green, where it flowers about Christmas and May. If the weather be frosty, it flowers not until January, or that the hard weather be over.
(Government and virtues) It is a tree of Mars. The seeds in the berries beaten to powder being drank in wine, are held singularly good against the stone, and are good for the dropsy. The distilled water of the flowers stay the lask. The seed cleared from the down, bruised and boiled in wine, and drank, is good for inward tormenting pains. If cloths or sponges be wet in the distilled water, and applied to any place wherein thorns and splinters, or the like, do abide in the flesh, it will notably draw them forth.
And thus you see the thorn gives a medicine for its own pricking, and so doth almost every thing else.

Does this tell us anything about Draco? I only find two things interesting: maybe Draco will grow above something and that there was a thorn in him because of it`s longing for attention.

Draco`s wood is under the influence of Mars, whereas Harry`s and Voldemort`s under Saturn.

I'm loving the Tonks answer, allthough that means that the thread "Which house was Tonks in? (version 2 ) will be closed probably :lol:

I don't understand much the wood thing on Dracos wand. Is there something already on her site regarding wood and significance?

Oh, and while it is always wonderful to get any update, I think we can see that we aren't going to get anything too substantial. I don't think Jo wants to spoil anything.

You are right... seeing that she is not going to give us the other two titles she had in mind until after the books are released.

Amycus and Alecto are the Carrows? Wow, didn't know that until I looked on there. I forgot about the Carrows.

Tonks is Hufflepuff? Wow... I didn't expect that! lol...

Here's the link again for people just arriving:
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq.cfm?ref=aboutthebooks

That's so cool about Tonks and Myrtle! So this will stop the speculation about Tonks in Slytherin. Myrtle's "moaning" is reminiscent of Cho Chang's crying, since they are both in Ravenclaw. That's very interesting!

I was just writing about Snape's possible wand wood - the Birch - on the Snape's Loyalty thread Here (Post 222) (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=4497041#post449704) the other day, wondering if there was any point in discussing it. This gives me hope. :)

Though Snape and Voldemort technically should have the same wand considering their birthdays (Dec. 31 and Jan 9), Voldemort has a Yew Wand, signifying death/graveyards/poison.

Snape's wand wood according to the chart is supposed to be Birch, whose Celtic symbol is the "stag with seven tines."
http://www.novareinna.com/constellation/birch.html

HGHPRW I wonder what Voldemort's patronus is, if he has one.
Edit: could someone take screenshots?
Don't you suppose Voldemort's would be a basilisk or snake, considering who he is? :)

There's nothing to take a screenshot of - just lists of questions and answers.

I like this link with the birthdays as we can theroise about the types of wands the people whom have had birthdays on her site use.

I love it when we get unexpected updates.

ON the Extra Stuff area is NAQ new? Don't recall seeing it before.

No that has been there for a while. It was after the reading in New York in september.

I love it when we get unexpected updates.

ON the Extra Stuff area is NAQ new? Don't recall seeing it before.

NAQ = Never asked question
I think it came with one of the updates in September last year. Jo was asked about a question she was never asked in New York and that were her reply after she came back from holiday.

No that has been there for a while. It was after the reading in New York in september.

Thanks.. must have missed it or just not remember it from before. *sleepy too early in the morning*

The NAQ? Can someone tell me where that is, but not from the text only site, please? :)

but nothing else new apart from that :-( was hoping for a new FAQ poll but alas :-( oh well, only 73 days left till we know it all!

The NAQ is in the extra stuff and then on Miscellaneous tab and it is about halfway down that page.

The NAQ? Can someone tell me where that is, but not from the text only site, please? :)On the desk use the Brush to Extra Stuff and then the yellow paper to Miscellaneous.

Hum, why all these questions about Draco? Do we think she's giving us a hint. If you notice she doesnt actually state what Dracos patronus is...i.e. she has never had to give him one since maybe he won't turn to the good side and maybe wont survive the next book?

OK got it, thanks guys :)


She has explained that Draco is too inexperianced to have cast a patronus yet, that's why he hasn't got one..at the moment.

OK got it, thanks guys :)


She has explained that Draco is too inexperianced to have cast a patronus yet, that's why he hasn't got one..at the moment.

That`s exactly what I was thinking while reading that bit.

That`s exactly what I was thinking while reading that bit.
Me too, Annett. Maybe Snape will teach Draco how to cast a Patronus, since Dumbledore taught him? :)

According to my calculations Fred and George should have elder if JK has gone by the celtic chart.

I'm not sure that Draco needs to have a patronus...we've seen them used to protect against Dementors and send messages.

I think the fact that she didn't even hint about a patronus means that she won't be giving him one and as for Voldemort, I doubt he could conjure up a happy enough thought to have a patronus appear!

I'm not sure that Draco needs to have a patronus...we've seen them used to protect against Dementors and send messages.

I think the fact that she didn't even hint about a patronus means that she won't be giving him one and as for Voldemort, I doubt he could conjure up a happy enough thought to have a patronus appear!

Often it is more important what Jo didn`t tell us when she answered a question. In telling something about the past, she avoided trouble to give something away of the future, I think. But we will see in DH. :relax:

Leaky Cauldron is reporting that some of these questions come from the Open Letter to JKR posted on Harry Potter FanZone:
Letter (http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=openlettertojo)

Leaky Cauldron is reporting that some of these questions come from the Open Letter to JKR posted on Harry Potter FanZone:
Letter (http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=openlettertojo)

That`s interesting. Jo aswered nearly half of their questions. Maybe we should write an open letter to, there`s time enough for an other update in the next 73 days.

i think it was interesting to learn a bit about draco!

can someone explain the celtic chart, i don't think i have ever heard of it before now?

I'm not sure that Draco needs to have a patronus...we've seen them used to protect against Dementors and send messages.

I think the fact that she didn't even hint about a patronus means that she won't be giving him one

I agree that Draco doesn't need to have a patronus...I don't see how useful that would be for him (he hasn't been attacked by Dementors and he is not aware of the fact that they can be used to send messages).

as for Voldemort, I doubt he could conjure up a happy enough thought to have a patronus appear!

As for Voldemort's patronus...he must have been truly happy on at least one occasion (the number of times he has killed and obtained his trophies or when Harry saw him extremely happy in one of his visions). But he doesn't really need a patronus.

As for the other updates, I am actually quite surprised that Tonks is a Hufflepuff. For some reason, I always thought she was a Ravenclaw.

I think we may still see Draco performa patronus charm. JK said that "as of the end of book 6" he did not have one, but that doesn't mean he won't have one in the final book. Not saying what his patronus is or would be doesn't neccessarily mean she's not intending to give him one. Telling us what that patronus might be might give away whether or not Draco turns away from evil. Guess we'll just have to wait and see... (story of my life, atm!!)

How long has the butterfly been on the page? and the butterfly loves sitting on the WOMBAT... do you think this is a sign we are getting one soon?

(if so can we sing the Wombat Day song if we just sing quietly?)

How long has the butterfly been on the page? and the butterfly loves sitting on the WOMBAT... do you think this is a sign we are getting one soon?

The butterfly has been there since day 1 of the site. It used to sit on the keyboard, I think.. and since the card is leaning against the keyboard, its the same place.

It was nice to get these updates :agree: I wasn't at all curious about the Carrows though. Did people speculate that the sibling DEs were the Carrows? They could just have easily been the Yaxleys?

Thanks... obviously missed it! :lol:

Does anyone know where I can find a list of the Easter Eggs?

The butterfly has been there since day 1 of the site. It used to sit on the keyboard, I think.. and since the card is leaning against the keyboard, its the same place.

It was nice to get these updates :agree: I wasn't at all curious about the Carrows though. Did people speculate that the sibling DEs were the Carrows? They could just have easily been the Yaxleys?

Those questions are exactly the one that were asked on that open letter SIP gave the link. And they asked about the Carrows, not the Yaxleys. Probably the reason is, that we are only know one Yaxley. Snape talked about Carrows in plural, but about Yaxley in singular in Spinners End.

Here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=90143) you can find a list about the Easter Eggs. There are 12 at the moment.

Thanks Annett... I'll go sort out my scrapbook and make sure ...

ooooooooo and I have finally been able to draw the lightening correctly! that has only taken a couple of years! :rotfl:

Yay an update! And an update I am not afraid to read since it's not DH chapters or bits from the book.

That's really cool about Tonks and Myrtle. Now that we know, I can see why they are in those houses. Very fitting.

As for Draco's wand, I think it is fascinating. And the fact that he can't yet produce a patronus is both telling and not at the same time. The only people who can were in the DA but that doesn't mean had Draco stayed at Hogwarts, that he would be unable to produce one.

Oooo sorry for going OT, but that wand chart would make Ginny's wand made of Hazel, and her eyes are Hazel coloured too. Wow you learn a new thing everyday. Or in this case a new thing every couple of months :lol:

Actually Ginny's eyes are Brown, James' eyes were Hazel.
I was quite suprised to see Tonks as a Hufflepuff. Myrtle as a Ravenclaw somehow makes sense.
Draco may or may not be able to produce a Patronus. His only likely teacher on it would be Snape. Guess we will see in DH.
According to that chart my wand would be Hawthorne as well, since Draco was born a day after me. :eeep:

YEAH! JO ROCKS!

Thanks Jo. We may be ungrateful, whiny, spoiled rotten little brats, but you still love us!

I'm so happy for you guys!!! Next stop WOMBATS!

Tonks was a Hufflepuff? Yay! Thank you so much, Jo! *dances* Hufflepuff pride!

It's interesting that there are two Draco questions as well. Is that because it's important, unimportant (and thus not a spoiler), or just what people really wanted to know?

And I knew we'd get an update soon :D Optimism, guys!

Tonks was a Hufflepuff? Yay! Thank you so much, Jo! *dances* Hufflepuff pride!

It's interesting that there are two Draco questions as well. Is that because it's important, unimportant (and thus not a spoiler), or just what people really wanted to know?

And I knew we'd get an update soon :D Optimism, guys!


All 5 questions were from an open letter. Here (http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=openlettertojo) you can read the open letter, the link SIP posted earlier on this thread. They asked 14 question, Jo answered 5 from the first 7.

an update!! great!! thanks jo!! though i guess it was nothing all too big its still great.

i really dont think draco will ever get a patronus.

tonks isnt in ravenclaw?? for some reason i always thought she was.

All 5 questions were from an open letter. Here (http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=openlettertojo) you can read the open letter, the link SIP posted earlier on this thread. They asked 14 question, Jo answered 5 from the first 7.

This is exciting to me, because it looks at though JK is in a "place" were she can breathe, i.e. everything is done, she is relaxed and now she can read some boards, and answer some questions in the buildup to the release of the movie and more importantly the book!

Wonder what she will be doing while the world is reading her last book for the first time?

All 5 questions were from an open letter. Here (http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=openlettertojo) you can read the open letter, the link SIP posted earlier on this thread. They asked 14 question, Jo answered 5 from the first 7.

Thanks! But still, doesn't that mean they must be quite unimportant to the outcome, since she answered them at all?

Thanks! But still, doesn't that mean they must be quite unimportant to the outcome, since she answered them at all?

But if you read the questions and answers carefully, especially the one about Draco and Patronus, you will find that she hasn`t said something about the future. I`m grateful she gave us something to talk about without giving to much away and stoping our speculations. :lol:

Yes It's nice to know she hasn't forgotten about us and 5 FAQ questions are better than all this waiting and we also had Helga Hufflepuff a week ago which was also very nice.

i really just cant wait till july!! hope we keep on getting updates like this where she tells us stuff that is interesting, but wont spoil the book. though a few chapter titles or an excpert wouldnt be hated....

but im happy for now!! (until tomorrow at least hehe)

i really just cant wait till july!! hope we keep on getting updates like this where she tells us stuff that is interesting, but wont spoil the book. though a few chapter titles or an excpert wouldnt be hated....

but im happy for now!! (until tomorrow at least hehe)

I`m not expecting anything before the release, because we didn`t got anything in the last 90 days and there are only 72 days to go. Maybe she`ll give us the WOMBAT, maybe she saved that for after the release.

i really dont think draco will ever get a patronus.

I actually think the opposite. The way she worded it "As of the end of Half-Blood Prince, he has no idea how to produce one..." seems to me that the possibility of his producing one in DH is quite high. She simply could have said that he will never have one, but instead she said as of the end of HBP. I think it's very possible he will in Deathly Hallows.

I actually think the opposite. The way she worded it "As of the end of Half-Blood Prince, he has no idea how to produce one..." seems to me that the possibility of his producing one in DH is quite high. She simply could have said that he will never have one, but instead she said as of the end of HBP. I think it's very possible he will in Deathly Hallows.
I agree. JKR chooses her words very carefully.

Yay! Updates! Hands up anyone who thinks this might be the start of a series of updates, like we got last time! Maybe Jo's finished the editing now, and has time for other stuff?

Yay! Updates! Hands up anyone who thinks this might be the start of a series of updates, like we got last time! Maybe Jo's finished the editing now, and has time for other stuff?

I would love that, but the smallness of this one indicates to me thta he deosn't want to say much at all, so I doubt we'll get much more :shrug:. I do hope we do though!

Its a wild shot in the dark, but maybe she will give us a small update on the Tuesdays we do not get a question from Scholastic. That way we would have something new to talk about every week.

I can dream, right? :)

I would love that, but the smallness of this one indicates to me thta he deosn't want to say much at all, so I doubt we'll get much more . I do hope we do though!


Maybe it's just a taster, while she prepares the 3rd WOMBAT?

I agree. JKR chooses her words very carefully.

She does, well ever since the Mark Evans fiasco that is!:err:

I do think all her answers have been well crafted this time... The say enough but don't rule out anything...

I need to find the Tonks thread because I think it is incredibly interesting that she was a Hufflepuff.

Its getting so exciting - just hope I don't burst before July!:rotfl:

As for Voldemort's patronus...he must have been truly happy on at least one occasion (the number of times he has killed and obtained his trophies or when Harry saw him extremely happy in one of his visions). But he doesn't really need a patronus.

If a Dementor decides to turn on him, he will wish he knew how to produce a Patronus. Or maybe he knows the method Snape had, that Harry disagreed with. :lol:

I was wondering if it is significant that Myrtle was in Ravenclaw. Tom Riddle did kill her via the Basilisk. Maybe he got a Ravenclaw relic from her. :hmm:

I agree with everyone who said that just because Draco hasn't produced a Patronus, it doesn't mean he won't in Deathly Hallows.

I agree. JKR chooses her words very carefully.

She does, doesn't she! On a number of occasions she has said (i.e. prophacy) Dumbledore and I have chosen our words very carefully (or words to that effect.)

All this stuff about WOMBAT...I want to do it!
I tried on Jo's site but i guess it was "once upon a time" and I cannot join now...is there any possible way I could?!

All this stuff about WOMBAT...I want to do it!
I tried on Jo's site but i guess it was "once upon a time" and I cannot join now...is there any possible way I could?!

Sorry, the WOMBATs are closed. I know there are a couple of members on this site who have copies of the test questions, but you cannot take it through the website anymore. Keep you eyes peeled for the next one.

Oh, I forgot to say....THANKS JO!:clap:

Yay! Updates! Hands up anyone who thinks this might be the start of a series of updates, like we got last time! Maybe Jo's finished the editing now, and has time for other stuff?
That is exactly what I was thinking, that this might be the start of something promising :lol:

All this stuff about WOMBAT...I want to do it!
I tried on Jo's site but i guess it was "once upon a time" and I cannot join now...is there any possible way I could?!

yes, cemour was right. you will be unable to take the first two wombats through jo's site. i feel your pain, i missed them, also. you should still look for the questions, though, and try it for yourself, anyway. it was still quite fun/interesting.

and have no fear, you [and i! :D] should still be able to take the third one, if and when we ever get it. at least, that was the case with the second one. there was the option to use your student identification number from the first one, and to enroll and take the second one with a new student identification number. so we should not be left out. :tu:

All this stuff about WOMBAT...I want to do it!
I tried on Jo's site but i guess it was "once upon a time" and I cannot join now...is there any possible way I could?!


For those who might not have had the opportunity to take the WOMBAT tests’ before, here is a link to WOMBAT test 1 - http://wc6.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de127c0

And WOMBAT test 2 - http://wc6.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de1261b/0 (http://wc6.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de1261b/0) . They not only include questions, but a commentary as well.

If you want to brush up on your HP knowledge, but don’t know where to start…..I ran across something interesting while visiting Scholastic’s new HP web site with my son. He wanted a new screensaver and they have a new (REALLY COOL) one, here: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/downloads/screensaver.htm (http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/downloads/screensaver.htm). The preview shows some of it, but not all, it is a loooooooong screensaver. Anyway, it gives little bits of trivia with every picture and then shows you which book and chapters to learn even more about the subject.


EDIT: P.S. Thank you very much Mrs. Murray.

Don't forget our own FAQ thread.

J.K. Rowling's Official Website FAQs (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=90143) :)

Don't forget our own FAQ thread.

J.K. Rowling's Official Website FAQs (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=90143) :)

COOL - you guys think of everything.

Mugglenet is run better than most Fortune 500 companies.

Hey, I was reading the Lexicon comments and someone pointed out a shadow across both Jo's diary and the locked door. Has that always been there? Like I said, I'm not really very observant... :shrug: But I can definitely see a shadow, more obviously across the diary than the door.

Edit: Pfft, it's always been on the diary, looking at screenshots. What about the door? :D

Hey, I was reading the Lexicon comments and someone pointed out a shadow across both Jo's diary and the locked door. Has that always been there? Like I said, I'm not really very observant... :shrug: But I can definitely see a shadow, more obviously across the diary than the door.

That is so spooky that you said that.
I took a screen capture of the door, because we have all been speculating about different things (clouds, candle, etc.) there and I wondered the same thing. I don't remember it.

I tried posting the picture, but I can't figure out how. It won't let me copy and paste it. I thought we could compare them (and also show what it was we were talking about).

Mugglenet is run better than most Fortune 500 companies.I dunno about them, but CoS Forums is run OK. :D

What about the door? :D

well, i just took a peek myself, and there is definitely a fairly large, dark shadow on the door...no question about that. and i never noticed it there before. however, i tend not to be very observant [i probably would not have even noticed the shadow at all, as 'large' and 'dark' as it is, had you guys not mentioned it]. i hope we can figure this out, though. :)

I dunno about them, but CoS Forums is run OK. :D

yeah, i guess you guys are all right... :D

Anyone else surprised about Tonks and Myrtle's houses? I definitely thought it would be the oppposite. (Myrtle in Hufflepuff, Tonks in Ravenclaw.)

well, i just took a peek myself, and there is definitely a fairly large, dark shadow on the door...no question about that. and i never noticed it there before. however, i tend not to be very observant [i probably would not have even noticed the shadow at all, as 'large' and 'dark' as it is, had you guys not mentioned it]. i hope we can figure this out, though. :)

I went and checked, too, and there is something strange on the door and diary... Hmmm... wonder what that could be! :hmm:

Silver Ink Pot, why are we not sleeping?
(just kidding)
How do I paste a screen capture on a post like this, please.

PhoenixEnflame: I was just asking myself why I am still up at this hour playing on the Official Site? :rolleyes: Maybe because I'm an insomniac? :lol:

I'm afraid you can't just copy and paste a picture here, you have to either "attach" it down where it says "additional options" under the reply box - "Attach Files" - or you can "host" the picture on another website and link to it, which is what I do. I use the website Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/) which allows me to upload pictures from my computer and then gives me an image link to use in a post.

Any picture you post needs to be small enough to fit on the forum page, too - around the same size as a sig picture, 300x300.

:) I'm not sure if this shadow is new or not, but I took some screencaptures just in case. It's taken me a long time because I was looking through my files for an old picture of her desk, and I can't find one! Doh! :grumble:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/sip44/JKR%20Site/JKR-DoorShadow5-8-07-50.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/sip44/JKR%20Site/JKR-DeskShadow5-8-07-50.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/sip44/JKR%20Site/JKR-DeskDiaryShadow.jpg

Silver Ink Pot, why are we not sleeping?
(just kidding)
How do I paste a screen capture on a post like this, please.

There are two possibilities.
First go to the advanced version of reply. There you will find a field Attach Files and underneath a button Manage Attachements. Push it and it will give you a new window where you could upload a picture.

The second way is host your picture somewhere in the net and copy the link in your post.

For those kind of questions we have the Ask the Staff thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=100790&page=16).




SIP, the shadows on the diary aren`t new, but I`m not sure about the door.

TA-DAAAA! I did it!
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

Posted by Silver Ink Pot:
Maybe because I'm an insomniac? Sadly, me too.

Anyway, here is what I originally wanted to post, even if it is a little redundant (I am still gonna post it, cause it took me 45 minutes to figure it out).

All the speculation of possible changes on JKR's web site (specifically the "Do not Disturb" room), was making me curious.
So, I captured the screen for future comparison.

In case anyone doesn' t know what we are talking about, we have been curious if there have been small changes to the room.

For instance:
The Dark Clouds - We are wondering if they were here before and are they getting any darker?

The Flickering Candle - Is it getting brighter (or the hall darker)? Does it get brighter when an update is approaching?

The Shadow across the Door - Has that always been there? Is it from a window across the room?

Peeves' Signature - I can answer that one. When your screen is left completely idle for a few minutes, Peeves will come by and sign the mirror. (You can hear the wind and then a cackle). He will also knock over the cup of pencils on her desktop. If your new, the door openings are very special and very rare! You must first solve a puzzle/or puzzle(s) to open the door to reveal special information from Jo.

If you know the answers to any of these, let us know, please.


http://knowyourharrypotter.com/images/jkr8.jpg



Good night,....good morning.....whatever, I must sleep now.

I looked at the door carefully a few days ago, and I'm almost sure that shadow wasn't there before.

Or maybe it was always there, and we just didn't notice.

However, the Lexicon shows a couple screenshots of the candle, and the flame does increase and decrease over time - we just need to figure out what the pattern is. Lately, the flame has been flickering really brightly.

Once again we talk about a pattern on Jo`s site. :lol:

I do not hope the shadow is the one of the Dark Lord entering her writing room. :err:

Some people just have too much time on their hands! I've just been to JK's site, and even though I know we're talking about a shadow being added to her door, it certainly doesn't leap out at me as being new...

but then I'm not the most observant person on the face of the planet!

well my thoughts on this are that yes there is a shadow on the door which I have not seen before. I think the dark clouds which are there are relatively new but I think they are arrived not long after the book cover was released as they are similar to the black clouds on the back of the UK children's edition. The candle I think has been flickering more than usual which I think relates with all the other things in the room of requirement towards Deathly Hallows.

Clearly, I am the least observant person in the world! I didn't see the shadow at all until you guys pointed it out! :lol:

I did notice the clouds and the flickering of the candle though...

Looks like a shadow of a tower or something similar. As well I have never noticed outside her window on the hill there are houses. *boggles*

:rotfl: do you think she is playing with us a bit?... seeing how many miniscule changes we can find?

By the way I do think the shadows are new... what on earth (or maybe not) could they be?

:rotfl: do you think she is playing with us a bit?... seeing how many miniscule changes we can find?
I often wonder about that! :rotfl: I imagine her sitting at home watching this thread and cackling! :rotfl: Can you say "obsessed"? :rotfl:

I often wonder about that! :rotfl: I imagine her sitting at home watching this thread and cackling! :rotfl: Can you say "obsessed"? :rotfl:

This is the woman who invented Fred and George!:lol: Also this is the Last Book Launch so why not have a bit of fun!

This is the woman who invented Fred and George!:lol: Also this is the Last Book Launch so why not have a bit of fun!
Well...absolutely! :lol:

Besides, we get plenty of enjoyment from analysing too! :D Well...I do anyway!

I will be truly impressed if she can do a Dumbledore and get a glass of mead to keep knocking me in the head (though I hasten to add I would accept my drink) :lol:

Maybe those shadows have been there before, but I don't remember them either. Maybe I just haven't looked at it at this time of day - it's approx. 9:30 EST, so that's approx 2:30 GMT, right? Early afternoon sunlight casting shadows and light?

Nice to have some updates, though - thanks, Jo! Only 10 weeks and 2 days to go!

Hmmmm ~ Despite our excitement, that shadow may have been there for a while, since it appears on Potterskeys.
http://www.potterskeys.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=20

On the HP Lexicon page, the picture at the top of the page has the shadow, but if you scroll to the bottom they have a screenshot of the original view of the desk, with different objects and no shadow.
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com.html

Hmmmm ~ Despite our excitement, that shadow may have been there for a while, since it appears on Potterskeys.
http://www.potterskeys.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=20

On the HP Lexicon page, the picture at the top of the page has the shadow, but if you scroll to the bottom they have a screenshot of the original view of the desk, with different objects and no shadow.
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com.html

Yeah, I checked some older screenshots too, and it's definitely been on the diary for a while. It looks like it didn't start out there, though, but that's not really telling us anything. The door was the one I couldn't figure out... I could only find caps with Christmas decorations obscuring everything.

And to me, it looks kind of like a tower. SN - I MEAN, JO KILLED DUMBLEDORE! PAGE 556!

...Wait, that's not news... :_:

Only 10 weeks and 2 days to go!

Wow, really? When you put it like that, it sounds like 2 and a half months, which isn't really that long...:( I just can't believe this is going to end! What will do if I can't find any shadows to analyse, or any clues to twist to suit my own needs? WHAT WILL I DO? *cries*

But I do like the irony of us getting an amazing update from Jo which answers a whole lot of questions, and then promptly we go on to stare at shadows on her diary instead. Yeah, I rock :rolleyes:

This is the woman who invented Fred and George! Also this is the Last Book Launch so why not have a bit of fun!
:rotfl: But it appears she doesn't need to do that! We can over-analyse anything, old or new!

:rotfl: But it appears she doesn't need to do that! We can over-analyse anything, old or new!

:p who us? surely you jest! :rotfl:...

Well, as we think the shadows have been there for I while I won't say that the screen shot taken earlier looked like it was pointing to the Wizard of the Month! :rotfl: I sound like Hagrid in the CoS film!

If we shadows have offended
think but this and all is mended
that we have but slumbered here
while these updates didn't appear ...

Maybe those shadows have been there before, but I don't remember them either. Maybe I just haven't looked at it at this time of day - it's approx. 9:30 EST, so that's approx 2:30 GMT, right? Early afternoon sunlight casting shadows and light?
9:30 EST would be 1:30 GMT. We're on BST at the moment though so it would be 2:30 here while it's 9:30 EST.

The darkness times as seen in the window seem to be at set times dependant on your computer's clock though, try changing it to see it get dark and light (night appears to fall sometime between 7:30pm and 8:30pm - I wonder if that changes according to the time of year, I'll have to start fiddling with the calendar next).

9:30 EST would be 1:30 GMT. We're on BST at the moment though so it would be 2:30 here while it's 9:30 EST.

The darkness times as seen in the window seem to be at set times dependant on your computer's clock though, try changing it to see it get dark and light (night appears to fall sometime between 7:30pm and 8:30pm - I wonder if that changes according to the time of year, I'll have to start fiddling with the calendar next).

The Lexicon's page says it changes at 8pm. That sounds about right. I love Jo's site at night <3

But I do like the irony of us getting an amazing update from Jo which answers a whole lot of questions, and then promptly we go on to stare at shadows on her diary instead. Yeah, I rock

We are just so ungrateful! We get our prayers answered, we should have enough to keep us going until at least Sprout's birthday greeting (or lack thereof...which we can then analyse) but still we have to find something

I am having an enormously hard time of grasping what JKR is telling us in one of her FAQs.

In what way is 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' related to 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'?

I have been engulfed by an avalanche of questions on the subject of 'Prince' having once been a title of 'Chamber'. I am therefore attempting to answer most of them under this heading, which I think just about covers all the answerable variations (the unanswerable ones include questions such as 'who's the Half-Blood Prince?' 'what happens in the Half-Blood Prince?' and 'what does Half-Blood Prince mean?')

The plot of 'Prince' bears no resemblance whatsoever to the plot of 'Chamber', nor is it an off-cut of 'Chamber'. The story of 'Prince' takes off where 'Phoenix' ended and does not hark back to four years previously. True, mention is made to events that happened in 'Chamber,' but of course, mention is also made of events that happened in 'Stone', 'Azkaban', 'Goblet' and 'Phoenix'.

'The Half-Blood Prince' might be described as a strand of the overall plot. That strand could be used in a whole variety of ways and back in 1997 I considered weaving it into the story of 'Chamber'. It really didn't fit there, though; it was not part of the story of the basilisk and Riddle's diary, and before long I accepted that it would be better to do it justice in book six. I clung to the title for a while, even though all trace of the 'Prince' storyline had disappeared, because I liked it so much (yes, I really like this title!). I re-christened book two 'Chamber of Secrets' when I started the second draft.

The link I mentioned between books two and six does not, in fact, relate to the 'Half-Blood Prince' (because there is no trace left of the HBP storyline in 'Chamber'.) Rather, it relates to a discovery Harry made in 'Chamber' that foreshadows something that he finds out in 'Prince'.

I'm sorry if I'm just being daft, but is she saying that she was considering revealing who the Half-Blood Prince is to us in CoS, or is she saying that somebody else would have been a Half-Blood Prince in CoS? Because didn't we find out that Voldemort is half-blood in CoS? I think? When the title for HBP came out, my initial thought was that it would be Voldemort.

All in all, I'm quite confused about the above FAQ.

I am having an enormously hard time of grasping what JKR is telling us in one of her FAQs.

In what way is 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' related to 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'?

I have been engulfed by an avalanche of questions on the subject of 'Prince' having once been a title of 'Chamber'. I am therefore attempting to answer most of them under this heading, which I think just about covers all the answerable variations (the unanswerable ones include questions such as 'who's the Half-Blood Prince?' 'what happens in the Half-Blood Prince?' and 'what does Half-Blood Prince mean?')

The plot of 'Prince' bears no resemblance whatsoever to the plot of 'Chamber', nor is it an off-cut of 'Chamber'. The story of 'Prince' takes off where 'Phoenix' ended and does not hark back to four years previously. True, mention is made to events that happened in 'Chamber,' but of course, mention is also made of events that happened in 'Stone', 'Azkaban', 'Goblet' and 'Phoenix'.

'The Half-Blood Prince' might be described as a strand of the overall plot. That strand could be used in a whole variety of ways and back in 1997 I considered weaving it into the story of 'Chamber'. It really didn't fit there, though; it was not part of the story of the basilisk and Riddle's diary, and before long I accepted that it would be better to do it justice in book six. I clung to the title for a while, even though all trace of the 'Prince' storyline had disappeared, because I liked it so much (yes, I really like this title!). I re-christened book two 'Chamber of Secrets' when I started the second draft.

The link I mentioned between books two and six does not, in fact, relate to the 'Half-Blood Prince' (because there is no trace left of the HBP storyline in 'Chamber'.) Rather, it relates to a discovery Harry made in 'Chamber' that foreshadows something that he finds out in 'Prince'.

I'm sorry if I'm just being daft, but is she saying that she was considering revealing who the Half-Blood Prince is to us in CoS, or is she saying that somebody else would have been a Half-Blood Prince in CoS? Because didn't we find out that Voldemort is half-blood in CoS? I think? When the title for HBP came out, my initial thought was that it would be Voldemort.

All in all, I'm quite confused about the above FAQ.

I take it to read that firstly this was answered after we had the title for HBP but before it was released. Secondly that she wanted to introduce the HBP potions book and the storyline surrounding that in book two, and it didn't work.

Wow everyone's noticing the tiniest changes. We really need to get lives. I mean, the shadows outside her window are new? I didn't even notice that until someone said it! A bit too obsessed, if you ask me...

But I do like the irony of us getting an amazing update from Jo which answers a whole lot of questions, and then promptly we go on to stare at shadows on her diary instead. Yeah, I rock :rolleyes:

Yes, but at least we are not singing the "Friday is WOMBAT day song".:lol:


We are just so ungrateful! We get our prayers answered, we should have enough to keep us going until at least Sprout's birthday greeting (or lack thereof...which we can then analyse) but still we have to find something


True

I'm sorry if I'm just being daft, but is she saying that she was considering revealing who the Half-Blood Prince is to us in CoS, or is she saying that somebody else would have been a Half-Blood Prince in CoS? Because didn't we find out that Voldemort is half-blood in CoS? I think? When the title for HBP came out, my initial thought was that it would be Voldemort.

All in all, I'm quite confused about the above FAQ.

We do find out that Tom Riddle is a Half-Blood, but I don't think she ever meant for him to be the HBP - since his name isn't 'Prince.'

My theory is that JKR first envisioned CoS with a plot contrasting Tom Riddle's Diary and it's effects in possessing Ginny, with the HBP/Snape's Potions Book, which is just a book, but also becomes a "friend" to Harry. In other words, the Diary seems friendly but is totally negative, while the potions book is mostly positive, with certain dark spells written in it. Something like that.

However, as she writes in the FAQ, the two plot lines really don't entertwine, and it would have given away too much of Snape's backstory in Book 2, so I think she decided to concentrate on the similarities between Harry and Tom Riddle, and the whole Parseltongue thing.

Yes, but at least we are not singing the "Friday is WOMBAT day song".:lol:


:love: I lurve that song!:err:

So not to be ungrateful or anything but do we think Friday is WOMBAT day? :rotfl:

:love: I lurve that song!:err:

So not to be ungrateful or anything but do we think Friday is WOMBAT day? :rotfl:

There`s allways hope, but Jo remembered us recently that she isn`t predictable.

My theory is that JKR first envisioned CoS with a plot contrasting Tom Riddle's Diary and it's effects in possessing Ginny, with the HBP/Snape's Potions Book, which is just a book, but also becomes a "friend" to Harry. In other words, the Diary seems friendly but is totally negative, while the potions book is mostly positive, with certain dark spells written in it. Something like that.

Or perhaps it's more that both books seemed positive, but caused huge problems because the writers were not who they seemed to be. There is certainly a strong similarity between the two storylines - student gets second hand book, owned by previous, half-blood student with a fascination for Dark magic, student is charmed (not Charmed) by said book and trusts it, with evil consequences (Chamber, Sectumsempra).However, as she writes in the FAQ, the two plot lines really don't entertwine, and it would have given away too much of Snape's backstory in Book 2, so I think she decided to concentrate on the similarities between Harry and Tom Riddle, and the whole Parseltongue thing.Makes sense to me.

I think she might have been planning to introduce us to Horcruxes in CoS but realised that it was too early in the story and would give too much away so we were left with just the hint of the diary

I think she might have been planning to introduce us to Horcruxes in CoS but realised that it was too early in the story and would give too much away so we were left with just the hint of the diary

Now that's a really good suggestion!

I think she might have been planning to introduce us to Horcruxes in CoS but realised that it was too early in the story and would give too much away so we were left with just the hint of the diaryThis is what I thought, too.

Or perhaps it's more that both books seemed positive, but caused huge problems because the writers were not who they seemed to be. There is certainly a strong similarity between the two storylines - student gets second hand book, owned by previous, half-blood student with a fascination for Dark magic, student is charmed (not Charmed) by said book and trusts it, with evil consequences (Chamber, Sectumsempra).Makes sense to me.

I think she might have been planning to introduce us to Horcruxes in CoS but realised that it was too early in the story and would give too much away so we were left with just the hint of the diary

I think you are both right. :tu:

One thing about Ms. Rowling that frankly amazes me, is how much information she has given us, while somehow managing to keep the remaining key plot points undiscovered. I don't think many people quite understand how difficult it is, with six complete novels and dozens of detailed interviews, not to mention answering questions on her website, for Jo to still surprise us in the last book, Deathly Hallows.

Yet we may be sure that surprises will be there. Some shocking, some delightful, but fully believable, even obvious once we see them in context, yet on this side of the release we don't see them coming. Even calling Ms. Rowling a "master" (mistress?) of her art seems insufficient to describe how amazing her balance and discretion has been.

On a purely selfish note, however, once DH has been out for, say, a month or so I hope Jo will answer some of the huge questions which are bound to still be out there.

On a purely selfish note, however, once DH has been out for, say, a month or so I hope Jo will answer some of the huge questions which are bound to still be out there.
I really hope that she'll keep up the Faq sections, because allthough DH will be out, there will be a lot of questions.
I also think that she'll probably give interviews (like the leaky-mugglenet one)whhere she finally can speak freely, without fear of giving anything away. :)

Since tomorrow will be 70 days until DH, maybe an update (dare I say, Wombat) could be headed our way.

No matter how the evidence stacks against me, no matter how impossible the circumstances seem, no matter how unlikely it is to happen, I will remain optimistic, because thats what a true Harry Potter fan does! :)

i really hope you are right tony...things is im kinda lossin hope....i was really optimistic with last friday adn sitll nothing came...

i really hope you are right tony...things is im kinda lossin hope....i was really optimistic with last friday adn sitll nothing came...

Good! Just when we start to lose hope is when the update of all updates will arrive! :)

hopefully!!!

I also think that she'll probably give interviews (like the leaky-mugglenet one)whhere she finally can speak freely, without fear of giving anything away.

I'm looking forward to the post-book interviews. Frankly, I think I've had enough of "no comment" and "can't tell you that" answers. :lol:

Oh gee ... what if on July 22 she says "I've decided to write an 8th book"!

I think, between the escitement and the shock, that I would truly have a heart attack.

Do you think anything more will be said/ done about the WOMBAT's before Deathly Hallows is released?
Also, I was wondering why there have been so little teasers for the book? Maybe I just imagined it, but I feel like for Half-blood Prince and Order of The Phoenix, Jo gave away a good about of teasers, like chapter titles etc.
Is it still to early for that sort of stuff or is it because everyone is focused on the OoTP movie?

, I was wondering why there have been so little teasers for the book? Maybe I just imagined it, but I feel like for Half-blood Prince and Order of The Phoenix, Jo gave away a good about of teasers, like chapter titles etc.
She is trying to make us die from the curosity! :lol:

I didn't actually discover the JKR website until after HBP was released (shame on me!) so I don't know. But personally...I don't want to hear chapter titles.

A WOMBAT would be lovely though! :lol:

its not to early...but jo may decide that she dosnt want to give anything away this time....

we got stuff for HBP and OOTP but that does not mean we will get anything now

i hope so though

please jo

its not to early...but jo may decide that she dosnt want to give anything away this time....


I realised the other day that next month is June. Then it's July. "Time is making fools of us again" :sigh: It's a cliche now (I hate my keyboard), but I'm sure everyone knows what I mean - it's that feeling of being so excited and so scared at the same time. I just don't know which I am anymore!

Oh gee ... what if on July 22 she says "I've decided to write an 8th book"!

I don't even know how I would react to that. Kind of hoping Jo sticks with seven, though, like she's always said she will. Just so we can get an ending of some kind.


However, in more pressing matters: tomorrow might be WOMBAT day. Yay! *little smile*

I didn't actually discover the JKR website until after HBP was released (shame on me!) so I don't know. But personally...I don't want to hear chapter titles.

Me neither. It was only after reading HBP and being convinced that Snape was on orders to kill DD that I decided to investigate it a bit. I then found her site, and these forums! Hooray for the Half Blood Prince.

Kind of hoping Jo sticks with seven, though, like she's always said she will. Just so we can get an ending of some kind.

Me too, I would actually be disappointed if she added another one, particularly if it was totally linked to the first seven, because I really, really, just want an ending now. I wouldn't mind a book that talks about "in ten years time" or something, but aside from that, I don't want any more Harry Potter.

She is trying to make us die from the curosity! :lol:

I didn't actually discover the JKR website until after HBP was released (shame on me!) so I don't know. But personally...I don't want to hear chapter titles.

A WOMBAT would be lovely though! :lol:

I do and I don't want info... it's driven me insane waiting so long for DH, but at the same time I find it a little odd having NOTHING new to speculate about.

Me neither. It was only after reading HBP and being convinced that Snape was on orders to kill DD that I decided to investigate it a bit. I then found her site, and these forums! Hooray for the Half Blood Prince.
It was exactly the same for me! :lol:
I do and I don't want info... it's driven me insane waiting so long for DH, but at the same time I find it a little odd having NOTHING new to speculate about.
I know what you mean. The speculation is all part of the fun! I am GUTTED that it took me so long to get caught up in analysing every little thing! I can't believe I was so slow! I am still recovering from the excitement of analysing the book covers though! :rotfl:

I do and I don't want info... it's driven me insane waiting so long for DH, but at the same time I find it a little odd having NOTHING new to speculate about.

Remember, she did answer 5 new FAQ questions this week.:D


It just doesn't feel right, being Thursday and all, and no "Friday is WOMBAT day" song. :(

Remember, she did answer 5 new FAQ questions this week.:D

That was a great update. :agree:


It just doesn't feel right, being Thursday and all, and no "Friday is WOMBAT day" song. :(

Today is Friday. :huh:


*humming to herself*

I am glad that Alastor posted that thread for updates only. Then I can just glance there to see if the Wombats, or anything else for that matter, have been posted to the website.

But I am too busy at work today for the Wombats :lol: I hope the Wombats come anyway :lol:

I am glad that Alastor posted that thread for updates only. Then I can just glance there to see if the Wombats, or anything else for that matter, have been posted to the website.

I'm glad too...although with the last set, those of us who have access to our computers early enough found the updates before he did...!!

But very, very good for when you're away and suddenly realise that there are 50 more pages on this thread...and all it is, is begging, pleading and singing.

I'm glad too...although with the last set, those of us who have access to our computers early enough found the updates before he did...!! Yes. Of course. I don't watch the site, I check it only when I see an update mentioned here. :p

When there is an update I detect it within minutes after logging in, so please don't owl me about it. That would only block my inbox.

Hey, THERE IS AN UPDATE!!

Under fan sites, there is a new fan site award.

The new award goes to...drum roll..."HarryPotterFanZone.com (www.harrypotterfanzone.com)" :clap: :clap:

To quote Jo:

How could I not love a fansite whose contributors include people named Thaddeus and Aunna? This is a great Australian site with an impressively young staff who have produced some really insightful editorials; I wish I could highlight a couple of them, but that would be waaaay too revealing. If you head over to FAQs, however, you will see some of the open letter questions answered (at long last, yes, I know... but I had to finish "Deathly Hallows" first)

So congratulations and thanks, Andy, to you and all your talented colleagues.

:)

That's great. Congrats to HarryPotterFanZone. They are surely very excited now. :D


Just now you talked about possible updates and the update thread and then there is one. :lol:

Maybe it`s there since Tuesday but nobody realised it because of the FAQ-Update? The fan site is the one I visit fewest of all of Jo`s sites.

Don't think so. MN didn't mentioned it yet and also on the awared site it's only today in their news section. And they also say that Jo awarded them today.