Harry Potter prequel

An 800-word, untitled short story, unofficially known as the Harry Potter prequel, was written by J. K. Rowling in 2008 as part of a charity auction event, for which it fetched £25,000. It was published as part of What's Your Story Postcard Collection.^[1] The story recounts an encounter with Muggle police experienced by Sirius Black and James Potter, taking place before the events of the Harry Potter series. The manuscript was stolen in 2017, and has not been located as of 2024.

Synopsis

Two Muggle policemen chase a speeding motorbike into a dead-end alley, cornering its riders: Sirius Black and James Potter. As the policemen confront the pair, three men fly down the alley on broomsticks. James and Sirius magically upend the policemen's car and the broomsticks crash into it, rendering their riders insensible. As the policemen clutch at each other in fear, Sirius and James return to their motorbike, which flies away.

Rowling concludes the story card with the words, "From the prequel I am not working on – but that was fun!"^[2]

History

Background

On 11 June 2008, Waterstones held a charity event called "What's Your Story?". Thirteen authors, including Rowling, were invited to write stories on an A5 card for auction with proceeds going to English PEN and Dyslexia Action. Rowling's card was sold for £25,000^[a] to Hira Digpal, president of Tokyo-based investment-banking consulting company Red-33. The total raised from the sale of all thirteen cards was £47,150.^[b]^[3]

Theft

In April 2017, the manuscript of the prequel was stolen during a burglary in Birmingham. Rowling tweeted about the incident, asking fans not to buy the work if offered it, and West Midlands Police appealed for information.^[4] The burglary victim told the BBC that the work was "priceless" and had the potential to raise money for additional good causes, if it were to be sold again legitimately. "I don't think whoever took it or stole it or who might purchase it will really understand the benefits to people out there, what it can do," he said. "If it's destroyed, or if it's lost, it's a great loss."^[5] As of 2024, the manuscript has not been located.

Footnotes

^ equivalent to £42,138 in 2023
^ equivalent to £79,473 in 2023

References

^ O'Toole, Kevin (12 May 2017). "One-of-a-kind handwritten Harry Potter prequel story stolen in burglary". ABC News10 Albany NY. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
^ "Potter 'prequel' sold at auction". BBC News. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^ Irvine, Lindesay (11 June 2008). "Potter prequel earns £25,000 for PEN and dyslexia". Arts: Books. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015.
^ "Harry Potter prequel stolen in Birmingham burglary". BBC News. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^ Sard, Nadine (12 May 2017). "Rare 'Harry Potter' prequel vanishes after U.K. home burglary". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

External links

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[3] quivalent to £42,138 in 2023

[4] quivalent to £79,473 in 2023

[Waterstones-1] O'Toole, Kevin (12 May 2017). "One-of-a-kind handwritten Harry Potter prequel story stolen in burglary". ABC News10 Albany NY. Retrieved 9 January 2022.

[2] "Potter 'prequel' sold at auction". BBC News. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

[5] Irvine, Lindesay (11 June 2008). "Potter prequel earns £25,000 for PEN and dyslexia". Arts: Books. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015.

[6] "Harry Potter prequel stolen in Birmingham burglary". BBC News. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

[7] Sard, Nadine (12 May 2017). "Rare 'Harry Potter' prequel vanishes after U.K. home burglary". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

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