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The Harry Potter books are one of the most iconic series of all time. Bookworms from all around the world adore the wizarding world and we can see why.

The books transport you to a magical and mysterious world that helps you forget about your worries and fears.

Reading is one of the best forms of escapism, no matter what age you are.

However, we did not realise that reading certain books actually made us better human beings. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, J.K Rowling's tales about Harry, Ron and Hermione can actually help children to understand the social stigmatism of minority groups. 

The research focused on how people view stigmatised members of  society, which led them to discover that people who have read the Harry Potter books had a better understand of disenfranchised people. 

Yes, Harry Potter has the power to influence people’s world views and their perception of minority groups in a positive way, no matter who they are. Muggles and all!

So, if you haven't picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone then we suggest you do.

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Harry Potter was a key part of our childhood.

Fond memories of awaiting the release of the movies or books that would open up a world of magic – gives us those nostalgic feels. 

And for one of our all-time favourite characters, Luna Lovegood, played by Evanna Lynch, the series didn't just make her a household name, it changed her life.

The 27-year-old revealed how the franchise and in particular J.K. Rowling helped her through "a really difficult time” as she battled an eating disorder.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Evanna Lynch (@msevylynch) on

While making moves on Monday's Dancing with the Stars episode, the actress opened up about her most memorable year, 2006.

Evanna secured the role of Luna in January 2006 and she revealed that she was "the biggest fan" of Harry Potter.

“It was just my great love at that time. So then suddenly I was in the world, living the dream," she said.

“I just adored the Harry Potter franchise and Luna Lovegood was my favourite character, so it was just like a lot of things to process at once.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Harry Potter Film (@harrypotterfilm) on

Though the role was a huge deal for Evanna's career, Harry Potter meant so much more to her, as it offered a positive feeling through the darkness of an eating disorder.

“When I was like 11, 12, I was battling an eating disorder. Anyone who’s had an eating disorder knows it completely takes over your life,” she said.

And this is where the author came in to lend a hand, as the books were the only thing that could take Evanna's attention.

“I started writing to J.K. Rowling and she wrote back and we became pen friends after that,” said Lynch. “I was in and out of hospital and I would be getting these letters.”

The interaction with J.K. Rowling began to build up the actress' desire to fight.

The “books and her kindness really made me want to live again.” 

“Being in Harry Potter changed my life because it proved to me that I could do something, that I had something to offer the world,” she added.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Evanna Lynch (@msevylynch) on

Now before you start with any speculation, Evanna made it clear that the author had no influence when she secured the role of Luna. 

“We were pen pals. We were writing to each other for years, but then when the open audition happened, it happened within two weeks from the audition to getting the part and I didn’t have a chance to tell her,” she explained.

If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, there's a wealth of information here.

What an incredible story.

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It may have been over 10 years since the last Harry Potter book hit the shelves, but that hasn't stopped hardcore fans from keeping the the story alive.

From Harry's suspected immortality to claims that Draco Malfoy is actually a werewolf, fans of the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry are never short of a far-fetched theory to add another dimension to the much-loved series.

And while most of these anecdotes have absolutely zero truth behind them, every now and again a theory comes along that makes us believe there could be more to the story after all.

Unfortunately, this is not one of those.

A popular belief among fans is that the Leaky Cauldron, a pub located in the magical world, was inspired by a pub called The Old Firehouse in Exeter, where J.K Rowling attended university.

And while it seems like a perfectly legitimate assumption, the reality isn't quite so idyllic.

The author was quick to shut down the theory after an article published on Devon Live suggested the pub, which is now up for sale, inspired the fantasy bar.

“Never visited this pub in my life,” she tweeted.

She then went on to offer the names of the pubs she did visit, suggesting that perhaps the Leaky Cauldron could have been modelled after one of them.

However, some Twitter users were quick to tell the J.K about the pub's legendary “pizza and cider selection”, so we're guessing it's worth a visit either way.

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Believe it or not, it's been 20 years since J.K Rowling let us in to her magical world of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and for that, we are forever grateful.

However, as any self-proclaimed Harry Potter super fan will know, there was a time when it looked like the series might not be published at all.

In fact, as an unknown author, J.K had her debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, rejected by not one, not two, but 12 publishers, before it was eventually picked up by the clever folk at Bloomsbury.

We know what you're thinking.

How on earth did this worldwide phenomenon slip through the cracks so many times?

How could they not see its unlimited potential?

And while you might never find the answers to these questions, you can now make up your own mind, because in celebration of Harry Potter's 20th anniversary, J.K Rowling’s original pitch has gone on display at the new Harry Potter: A History Of Magic exhibition at London’s British Library.

It reads: 

"Harry Potter lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin because his parents died in a car-crash—or so he has been told. The Dursleys don't like Harry asking questions; in fact, they don't seem to like anything about him, especially the very odd things that keep happening around him (which Harry himself can't explain).

The Dursleys' greatest fear is that Harry will discover the truth about himself, so when letters start arriving for him near his eleventh birthday, he isn't allowed to read them. However, the Dursleys aren't dealing with an ordinary postman, and at midnight on Harry's birthday the gigantic Rubeus Hagrid breaks down the door to make sure Harry gets to read his post at last. Ignoring the horrified Dursleys, Hagrid informs Harry that he is a wizard, and the letter he gives Harry explains that he is expected at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a month's time

To the Dursleys' fury, Hagrid also reveals the truth about Harry's past. Harry did not receive the scar on his forehead in a car-crash; it is really the mark of the great dark sorcerer Voldemort, who killed Harry's mother and father but mysteriously couldn't kill him, even though he was a baby at the time. Harry is famous among the witches and wizards who live in secret all over the country because Harry's miraculous survival marked Voldemort's downfall.

So Harry, who has never had friends or family worth the name, sets off for a new life in the wizarding world. He takes a trip to London with Hagrid to buy his Hogwarts equipment (robes, wand, cauldron, beginners' draft and potion kit) and shortly afterwards, sets off for Hogwarts from Kings Cross Station (platform nine and three quarters) to follow in his parents' footsteps.

Harry makes friends with Ronald Weasley (sixth in his family to go to Hogwarts and tired of having to use second-hand spellbooks) and Hermione Granger (cleverest girl in the year and the only person in the class to know all the uses of dragon's blood). Together, they have their first lessons in magic — astronomy up on the tallest tower at two in the morning, herbology out in the greenhouses where the…"

So, if you currently feel like the entire world is plotting against you, just remember that even one of the greatest writers of the 21st century faced her fair share of rejection. 

Oh, and one more thing while we have you! Don't forget that you can catch up on all your favourite shows for free for a month right here, so sign up now!

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We all know that J.K Rowling just wins at Twitter, but we have a new found respect for her after she shared some way harsh rejection letters she received from publishing houses for her work. 

And these letters were sent to her after the success of Harry Potter. 

Yep, J.K went on to write a number of detective novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith after she had finished her monumental magical series. 

When she sent these manuscripts into publishing houses under the 'unknown' name, she was rejected several times. 

So of course, she decided to share some of these pretty brutal letters to inspire other struggling authors. 

"I regret to inform you that we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we could not publish it with commercial success," reads the first paragraph of one such letter. 

The rejection continues with a number of tips by the publishing house on how to successfully get a book published, an area we reckon J.K may already know a thing or two about. 

Finally it finished with: "I regret we cannot reply individually or provide or provide constructive criticism (a writer's group writing course may help with the latter). May I wish you every success in placing your work elsewhere." 

Yikes. 

If J.K Rowling can't get a book published, then it's clear that most publishing houses probably don't know a good writer when they read one. 

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This is exciting news for Harry Potter fans! J.K. Rowling has announced that she is writing a new children's book. 

The author revealed the news during her first interview as her pseudonym Robert Galbraith on Radio 2 Book Club. 

"I have an idea for a children's book, actually I have written part of a children's book that I really love, so I'm definitely going to finish that, " she told presenter Simon Mayo. 

Ms Rowling was on the show to promote her new book, Career of Evil – a series about private investigator Cormoran Strike – which she is writing under her alter ego. She also said in the interview that writing under a pseudonym is "genuinely liberating."

"The deal was even if I am found out, Robert doesn't do publicity. I just like Robert's writing career to be less about the hype because I'd done so much of that with Potter," J.K. explained. 

"I'm the kind of writer who really does want to be alone writing in a room most of the time. With Robert, it feels like it's mostly about the writing, even though people know it's me."

She added that she will definitely continue to write books under her birth name, once she finds some time off from writing a new screenplay for her Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 

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It has been nearly a decade and a half since the first Harry Potter movie hit our screens. 

And yet J.K. Rowling dropped a major bomb on fans yesterday when she reminded people of how wrongly they are pronouncing the name of a very important character.

In an interview with Time, the author discussed Harry Potter trivia, and backed up a point made on Twitter: 

Ms Rowling responded accordingly to let all her fans know that yes, indeed, we have been saying Voldemort all wrong. 

Yup, it seems the 't' at the end of Voldemort's name is silent.

It comes from 'mort,' the French word for 'death' which is pronounced with a silent 't.'

This isn't the first time she's had to clarify the point though. In 1999, at a book singing in California, J.K. answered a fan who asked about the correct way to say He Who Shall Not Be Named's name. 

"I say 'Voldemor' but I'm the only one," she told the fan. 

J.K doesn't seem too bothered or hurt about the whole thing, so hey, no harm done. 

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It's official – Eddie Redmayne has been cast to play Newt Scamander in JK Rowling’s new Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

The 33 year-old Londoner won this year’s Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal as Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything.

He will now turn his attentions to playing the ‘magizoologist’ who writes a textbook that will be studied by Harry and his friends in Hogwarts, years later.

Warner Brothers made the announcement saying that Redmayne has “emerged as one of today’s most extraordinarily talented and acclaimed actors”.

The studio said they are “thrilled to welcome him into JK Rowling’s Wizarding World, where we know he will deliver a remarkable performance”.

With Redmayne secured in the role, now we wonder who will play his love interest.

Last year, The Guardian reported that Harry Styles was possibly being considered to star in the film. These reports haven't been confirmed as of yet so we will just have to wait and see. 

According to The Wrap, there are two leading ladies in the Harry Potter spin-off. It is reported that director, David Yates, has been eyeing up Kate Upton, Saoirse Ronan, Dakota Fanning, and a few others for the two roles.

We’re sure Eddie will deliver in this role and, starring alongside any of these women in a J.K. Rowling script sounds like a recipe for success to us. 

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Many of us grew up with Harry Potter on our shelves and if you were anything like us, you became emotionally involved in all seven books.

Yes, we shed a tear or two when Harry accidentally stumbled upon the Mirror of Erised and saw his mum and dad and when Dumbledore tragically died, but nothing prepared us for the tragic death of one of our favourite twins, Fred Weasley. 

And it seems, just like with us, the death of Fred during the Battle of Hogworts was the worst for J.K. Rowling.

Taking to Twitter on the day that marked the 17th Anniversary of the battle, the famed author wrote:

"Today I would just like to say: I'm really sorry about Fred. *Bows head in acceptance of your reasonable ire*"

However, it seems it wasn’t just Fred's death that the 49-year-old was distraught about, saying that she was going to “apologise for one death per anniversary.”

Sadly, however, no matter how sad she feels about the loss of our favourite characters, it doesn’t look like there is ever going to be another Harry Potter book.

"I think Harry Potter 8, as in, what happened next to Harry, Ron and Hermoine…I don't think that's going to happen."

Noooooo!

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The Harry Potter phenomenon may be almost eighteen years old now, but it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon!

Tom Felton has been proving his loyalty to Slytherin since he tweeted that he had been sorted into Gryffindor when he joined Pottermore. Clearly less than impressed, Tom tweeted: “Today was the day. I finally did it. I joined Pottermore and was sorted into…Gryffindor. Heart broken x #slytherinforlife.”

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling then joined in on the fun, telling Tom she knew all along he belonged in the same house as Harry Potter: “@TomFelton I could’ve told you that years ago. I just didn’t want to spoil your motivation.”

Oh, those two!

Tom then shared a photo of himself on Pottermore showing his house with the simple but telling caption: “Oh boll****! X”

 

Oh bollocks! x

A photo posted by Tom Felton (@t22felton) on

Now all we need to know is what house Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint would be sorted into! 

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This is just so heartbreaking.

Author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, has sent a letter to 15-year-old, Cassidy Stay, in the voice of Dumbledore.

The move comes after the teen’s mum, dad and siblings were all shot dead by her uncle in Texas at the beginning of July.

During a memorial service for her family, the brave girl took to the podium and quoted Dumbledore in her moving and inspirational tribute: “Happiness can be found in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

J.K. Rowling heard of the girl’s words through a social media campaign and sent Cassidy a handwritten letter from Dumbledore, and lots of Harry Potter items such as a wand and a signed book. 

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It’s a wonderful day to be a Harry Potter fan as J.K. Rowling today submitted her longest piece of original content to the fan website, Pottermore.com.

The 2,400 word entry by the author is entitled “History of the Quidditch World Cup”.

As well as providing a background to the epic games the piece also relives more famous past games such as The Tournament that Nobody Remembers which was held in Kazakhstan’s Ryn Desert back in 1877.

The first half of the work became available today while the second half will be uploaded on the 21st March.

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