Rowling pens Potter prequel to benefit charity

[member_of_SPEW]

Well, once I came here and realized the article was probably tongue in cheek, I thought it was pretty funny too. It was just so very understated that it was hard to tell. I can still see someone thinking those things in earnest.

But anyway, back to the prequel ...

My guess is that it will involve James visiting Lily in the Muggle world with Sirius tagging along, and doing something magical that's noticable enough for a policeman to want an explination. What does everybody else think?

[alwayssilverdoe]

The "article" *Ahem!* - Immature, pathetic, angry, jealous and evidently written by the Queen of Insecurity.

We're all "crackheads" for liking a book? I hope the writer is found with a PS2 controller half-snorted up their nose and mobile phone charger injected into their arm.

Being serious now, *breathes* I've already pre-ordered, can't wait to make a countdown to stick on my wall for the release of the actual book to the public, and of course, since I'm a YouTuber now, a 10 day video countdown!

Anyone else pre-ordered yet?

[LoonyMagic]

I haven't pre-ordered - I'm just going to read online.

I'm unsure whether this is going to be an actual short story, or if it's just going to be a plan of a prequel. I hope it's a proper short story, or else many of us will be sorely disappointed. . I'm looking forward to reading more James and Sirius, though!

[JamesPotter17]

whoa whoa what is going on? what has happened? the only thing i have heard of that has to do with any HP character is that the Encyclopedia is probably being made at this very moment.

[ladyblack23]

Originally Posted by JamesPotter17

whoa whoa what is going on? what has happened? the only thing i have heard of that has to do with any HP character is that the Encyclopedia is probably being made at this very moment.

Hi JamesPotter17 welcome to CoS!

Jo is writing a 800 word excerpt from "a prequel she is not working on". Its for charity, and will go on auction in a book with a collection of other authors contributions. On the 11th June it will be available to read online, and in August will be available to purchase. So far, the information we have about it indicates that it is a scene involving James, Sirius and a policeman, and is set 3 years before Harry is born.

Theres more information on Jo's website, or here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-05-28-harry-potter-prequel_N.htm

[Raven_Girly]

Originally Posted by member_of_SPEW

My guess is that it will involve James visiting Lily in the Muggle world with Sirius tagging along, and doing something magical that's noticable enough for a policeman to want an explination. What does everybody else think?

That's exactly what I thought.

Originally Posted by LoonyMagic

I'm unsure whether this is going to be an actual short story, or if it's just going to be a plan of a prequel. I hope it's a proper short story, or else many of us will be sorely disappointed. . I'm looking forward to reading more James and Sirius, though!

I originally heard it was just an outline but the common assumption here seems to be that it is a short story.

Originally Posted by JamesPotter17

whoa whoa what is going on? what has happened? the only thing i have heard of that has to do with any HP character is that the Encyclopedia is probably being made at this very moment.

Take a look a the first post in this thread.

ETA: Never mind, ladyblack23 beat me to it!

[MrSleepyHead]

Originally Posted by LoonyMagic

I hope it's a proper short story, or else many of us will be sorely disappointed.

I think, then, you will be disappointed. JKR said she "decided to write a short (for me!) excerpt from a prequel to the Potter series." While she could format this into a short story, it is implied that she trusts her readers to know something about the Wizarding World's past, and thus will write without including the background usually necessary for a "proper" short story.

While I am not nearly as interested in the Marauders as many on these forums, I am incredibly excited. I am curious as to plot the excerpt will revolve around, considering all of the Marauders (and Snape and Lily) are in their seventh year at Hogwarts! Although I would prefer a story more related to Harry's time at Hogwarts, anything that JKR writes that is related to Harry Potter is fine with me (and I will hopefully be getting my wish with the encyclopedia)!

[gottriplets]

I wrote elsewhere that perhaps the prequel might show us how they made the Marauder's Map. That'd be awesome, but at the time I didn't know a policeman was involved.

So, maybe it involves a cool police chase involving James and Sirius on the flying motorcycle (but then that might be too much like Harry and Ron in the Ford Anglia)....

Anyone else care to speculate?

[xFluerDelacourx]

I read that yesterday and its exciting that we'll finally see something from Jo written on the Marauders.
I really have no idea what it could be about. Maybe it will be about how they created the map like the perosn above said or James attempting to ask Lily out (with the rest of the Marauders tagging along) and she finally gives in.

I'm just going to read it online since I don't have the money to order it.

[Mugglewizard]

I believe it will be something to do with a daredevil act by James and Sirius in the Muggle world.

[ignisia]

Originally Posted by Mugglewizard

I believe it will be something to do with a daredevil act by James and Sirius in the Muggle world.

That's my guess. Wizards don't have "police". In fact, Amos Diggory couldn't even get the name right: "Please-men".

I'm kind of bothered, though, by my own guess. I dislike James, since I kind of hoped to see him being mature and was disappointed. This prequel may not show us a grown-up James. Breaching the statute of secrecy doesn't sound very mature to me.

[Pearl_Took]

Originally Posted by ignisia

Breaching the statute of secrecy doesn't sound very mature to me.

Yes, indeed: isn't James Head Boy in his seventh year???? (His seventh year would be 1977-8, right?) What would a Head Boy be doing, breaking the statute of secrecy?

I'm just saying.

[gottriplets]

Originally Posted by Pearl_Took

What would a Head Boy be doing, breaking the statute of secrecy?

Maybe being a true marauder and trying to impress Sirius or out-do him...just pondering Was James Head boy or was it Lupin? (My brain cells are misfiring again)

BTW...how much will this novelette be in U.S. $$??

[alwayssilverdoe]

Originally Posted by ignisia

Breaching the statute of secrecy doesn't sound very mature to me.

Depends on whether people find out or not though doesn't it? I mean he might appear mature because people don't know what they get up to all the time.

Just an idea. Bit far stretched but so are lots of things.

[fattoad]

What?? There's a prequel? First i've heard...

Can't believe I missed this.

Well deffo going to read it when it comes out!

[Klio]

Originally Posted by Pearl_Took

Yes, indeed: isn't James Head Boy in his seventh year???? (His seventh year would be 1977-8, right?) What would a Head Boy be doing, breaking the statute of secrecy?

I'm just saying.

I don't think that james WAS head boy. Harry found out at some stage that Dumbledore never made James prefect - Remus got the badgem because DD thought that he might rein in the other Marauders. I am assuming that you can't become head boy without having been prefect?

Anyway - perhaps they are running around in their animal forms? A stag in a city would be quite an unusual sight.... hmmm... not sure whether that would be a good story line...

[ignisia]

No, James was Head Boy. At least, according to Hagrid in PS/SS. I think it's possible to be Head Boy without having been Prefect.

Originally Posted by alwayssilverdoe

Depends on whether people find out or not though doesn't it? I mean he might appear mature because people don't know what they get up to all the time.

Good point.
Of course, if James did fool everyone into thinking he had grown up, then that depresses me even more. Everyone deserves redemption, and I really wish James had been redeemed.

[meesha1971]

Such negative thinking! Why would the involvement of a policemen automatically be something bad? For all we know James and Sirius could be saving this policeman's life from a Death Eater, helping him catch a criminal, or leading some poor, lost little girl to him so she can get home safely. It could also be something completely insignificant like passing my and saying "Top of the morning!"

The presence of a policemen really doesn't tell us much apart from strongly indicating that this excerpt might be set in the muggle world.

[alwayssilverdoe]

Originally Posted by ignisia

No, James was Head Boy. At least, according to Hagrid in PS/SS. I think it's possible to be Head Boy without having been Prefect.



Good point.
Of course, if James did fool everyone into thinking he had grown up, then that depresses me even more. Everyone deserves redemption, and I really wish James had been redeemed.

I'm pretty sure than even if he had 'grown up' he would still have been up to his old ways whenever he could. As long as Lily never found out. I'm sure there was something about him still taunting Snape, but only when Lily wasn't there.

[gottriplets]

Originally Posted by meesha1971

Such negative thinking! Why would the involvement of a policemen automatically be something bad?

After 16 years in law enforcement and seeing the underbelly of mischief and evil on a daily basis...it's hard to see positive sometimes. You are absolutely right though meesha...it could be something good!