Harry Potter: New scars, old friends and a Quidditch World Cup

JK Rowling pens 1,500-word new story about Harry Potter and his friends in their mid-30s.

KARACHI: The Boy Who Lived is still very much alive. The Harry Potter series may be over, but author J K Rowling posted a story on the Pottermore website, giving Harry Potter fans (commonly known as Potterheads) insight into his later life.

It must be known, however, that Rowling’s spokesperson, Marck Hutchinson, has said that the author has “no plans” for a new Harry Potter novel.

We know Harry married Ginny Weasley, his best friend Ronald (also known as Ron) Weasley’s sister. And we’re also aware that Ron and girl-genius Hermione Granger are married.

In the new story posted on the website made for crazed fans, Rowling describes, in 1, 500 words, how Potter is about to turn 34 years old, attend a Quidditch World Cup final with his family and friends, not to mention a new scar the non-graduate-turned-Auror has acquired on his cheekbone from a “top secret” mission.

Seems his top secret missions will be ongoing from the time he was an 11-year-old student to now an almost 34-year-old "greying", married man.

The 1,500 word story is written in the form of a column for the wizarding world’s newspaper, The Daily Prophet, by none other than the infamous Rita Skeeter, who exploited Harry during the competition Hogwarts hosted in the fourth book The Goblet of Fire.

In this newsy-gossip column, Skeeter writes that the entrance of Potter and his friends during the world cup creates excitement, and thousands of 'fans' rush to where he may be sighted, “desperate above all else for a glimpse of the man they still call the Chosen One.”

Also, Skeeter’s overly-observant and ridiculing nature begs her to notice how Potter and his friends are “no longer the fresh-faced teenagers they were in their heyday.” He still wears his “distinctive round glasses” though.

Apparently, Harry's kids are there too – James and Albus (named after his father and beloved headmaster, respectively) – whom he takes to meet star Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum.

The column also probes a bit into Harry and Ginny’s marriage. Skeeter seemingly makes a judgment of whether there’s trouble in paradise as Ginny is not present with her husband and children, but has chosen to stay back in London to report on the tournament.

Ron, who wanted to be an Auror as much as Harry did, only managed to do so for two years. He now manages his brothers’ magical joke shop Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.

His genius wife, on the other hand, is Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement – thereby sticking to her love for rules.

The pair have two children, making it seem as though they’re the perfect family – especially Hermione. Skeeter chooses to reflect on this, saying “does Hermione Granger prove that a witch really can have it all? (No – look at her hair)."

The column gives glimses into the lives of others from the wizarding world and who attended Hogwarts. There are mentions of Neville Longbottom and the eccentric but lovable Luna Lovegood, as well as a mention of how respected Dumbledore’s Army still is.