JK Rowling's Harry Potter Prequel now online!
UPDATE: Some readers are saying they're having a hard time reading Jo's handwriting. If that is the case, click the "Read More..." link at the bottom of this post to read a typed version. Thanks, Jessica!At long last, JK Rowling's Harry Potter prequel, which raised nearly $50,000 for charity, is now online! To view the works of Jo and 12 other authors, click here, then click "Read our authors' stories".
If you're having a problem viewing it on their site, you can see page one here and page two here. Enjoy!
The Story:
The speeding motorcycle took the sharp corner so fast in the darkness that both policemen in the pursuing car shouted,"Whoa!" Sergeant Fisher slammed his large foot on the brake, thinking that the boy who was riding pillion was sure to be flung under his wheels; however, the motorbike made the turn without unseating either of its riders, and with a wink of its red tail lights, vanished up the narrow side street.
"We've got 'em now!" cried PC Anderson excitedly. "That's a dead end!"
Leaning hard on the steering wheel and crashing his gears, Fisher scraped half the paint off the flank of the car as he forced it up the alleyway in pursuit.
There in the headlights sat their quarry, stationary at last after a quarter of an hour's chase. The two riders were trapped between a towering brickwall and the police car, which was now crawling towards them like some growling luminous-eyes predator.
There was so little space between the car doors and the walls of the alley that Fisher and Anderson had difficulty extricating themselves from the vehicle. It injured their dignity to have to inch, crab-like, towards the miscreants. Fisher dragged his generous belly along the wall, tearing buttons off his shirt as he went, and finally snapping off the wing mirror with his backside.
"Get off the bike!" he bellowed at the smirking youths, who sat basking in the flashing blue light as though enjoying it.
They did as they were told, finally pulling free from the broken wing mirror, Fisher glared at them. They seemed to be in their late teens. The one who had been driving had long black hair, his insolent good looks reminded Fisher unpleasantly of his daughter's guitar-playing, layabout boyfriend. The second boy also had black hair, though his was short and stuck up in all directions; he wore glasses and a broad grin. Both were dressed in t-shirts emblazoned with a large golden bird; the emblem, no doubt, of some deafening, timeless rock band.
"No helmet!" Fisher yelled, pointing from one uncovered head to the other. "Exceeding the speed limit by-by a considerable amount!" (In fact, the speed registered had been greater than Fisher was prepared to accept that any motorcycle could travel.) "Failure to stop for the police!"
"We'd have loved to stop for a chat," said the boy in glasses,"only we were trying--"
"Don't get smart-you two are in a heap of trouble!" snarled Anderson. "Names!"
"Names?" repeated the long-haired driver."Er-Well, let's see. There's Wilberforce...Bathsheba...Elvendork..."
"And what's nice about that one is, you can use it for a boy OR a girl," said the boy in glasses.
"Oh, our names, did you mean?" asked the first, as Anderson spluttered with rage."You should've said! This here is James Potter, and I'm Sirius Black!"
"Things'll be seriously black for you in a minute, you cheeky little-"
But neither James nor Sirius was paying attention. They were suddenly as alert as gundogs, staring past Fisher and Anderson, over the roof of the police car, at the dark mouth of the alley. Then, with identical, fluid movements, they reached into their back pockets.
For the space of a heartbeat both policemen imagined guns gleaming at them, but a second later they saw that the motorcyclists had drawn nothing more than-
"Drumsticks?" jeered Anderson. "Right pair of jokers, aren't you? Right, we're arresting you on a charge of--"
But Anderson never got to name the charge. James and Sirius had shouted something incomprehensible, and the beams from the headlights had moved.
The policemen wheeled around, then staggered backwards. Three men were flying-actually flying- up the alley on broomsticks-and at the same moment,the police car was rearing up on its back wheels.
Fisher's knee bucked; as he sat down hard; Anderson tripped over Fisher's legs and fell on top of him, as flump-bang-crunch- they heard the mean on brooms slam into the suspended car and fall, apparently insensible, to the ground, while broken bits of broomstick clattered down around them.
The motorbike had roared into life again. His mouth hanging open, Fisher mustered the strength to look back at the two teenagers.
"Thanks very much!" called Sirius over the throb of the engine."We owe you one!"
"Yeah, nice meeting you!" said James. "And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!"
There was an earth-shaking crash, and Fisher and Anderson threw their arms around each other in fright; their car had just fallen back to the ground. Now it was the motorcycle's turn to rear. Before the policemen's disbelieving eyes, it took off into thin air: James and Sirius zoomed away into the night sky, their tail light twinkling behind them like a vanishing ruby.
From the prequel I am not working on-but that was fun! J.K. Rowling.2008
The speeding motorcycle took the sharp corner so fast in the darkness that both policemen in the pursuing car shouted,"Whoa!" Sergeant Fisher slammed his large foot on the brake, thinking that the boy who was riding pillion was sure to be flung under his wheels; however, the motorbike made the turn without unseating either of its riders, and with a wink of its red tail lights, vanished up the narrow side street.
"We've got 'em now!" cried PC Anderson excitedly. "That's a dead end!"
Leaning hard on the steering wheel and crashing his gears, Fisher scraped half the paint off the flank of the car as he forced it up the alleyway in pursuit.
There in the headlights sat their quarry, stationary at last after a quarter of an hour's chase. The two riders were trapped between a towering brickwall and the police car, which was now crawling towards them like some growling luminous-eyes predator.
There was so little space between the car doors and the walls of the alley that Fisher and Anderson had difficulty extricating themselves from the vehicle. It injured their dignity to have to inch, crab-like, towards the miscreants. Fisher dragged his generous belly along the wall, tearing buttons off his shirt as he went, and finally snapping off the wing mirror with his backside.
"Get off the bike!" he bellowed at the smirking youths, who sat basking in the flashing blue light as though enjoying it.
They did as they were told, finally pulling free from the broken wing mirror, Fisher glared at them. They seemed to be in their late teens. The one who had been driving had long black hair, his insolent good looks reminded Fisher unpleasantly of his daughter's guitar-playing, layabout boyfriend. The second boy also had black hair, though his was short and stuck up in all directions; he wore glasses and a broad grin. Both were dressed in t-shirts emblazoned with a large golden bird; the emblem, no doubt, of some deafening, timeless rock band.
"No helmet!" Fisher yelled, pointing from one uncovered head to the other. "Exceeding the speed limit by-by a considerable amount!" (In fact, the speed registered had been greater than Fisher was prepared to accept that any motorcycle could travel.) "Failure to stop for the police!"
"We'd have loved to stop for a chat," said the boy in glasses,"only we were trying--"
"Don't get smart-you two are in a heap of trouble!" snarled Anderson. "Names!"
"Names?" repeated the long-haired driver."Er-Well, let's see. There's Wilberforce...Bathsheba...Elvendork..."
"And what's nice about that one is, you can use it for a boy OR a girl," said the boy in glasses.
"Oh, our names, did you mean?" asked the first, as Anderson spluttered with rage."You should've said! This here is James Potter, and I'm Sirius Black!"
"Things'll be seriously black for you in a minute, you cheeky little-"
But neither James nor Sirius was paying attention. They were suddenly as alert as gundogs, staring past Fisher and Anderson, over the roof of the police car, at the dark mouth of the alley. Then, with identical, fluid movements, they reached into their back pockets.
For the space of a heartbeat both policemen imagined guns gleaming at them, but a second later they saw that the motorcyclists had drawn nothing more than-
"Drumsticks?" jeered Anderson. "Right pair of jokers, aren't you? Right, we're arresting you on a charge of--"
But Anderson never got to name the charge. James and Sirius had shouted something incomprehensible, and the beams from the headlights had moved.
The policemen wheeled around, then staggered backwards. Three men were flying-actually flying- up the alley on broomsticks-and at the same moment,the police car was rearing up on its back wheels.
Fisher's knee bucked; as he sat down hard; Anderson tripped over Fisher's legs and fell on top of him, as flump-bang-crunch- they heard the mean on brooms slam into the suspended car and fall, apparently insensible, to the ground, while broken bits of broomstick clattered down around them.
The motorbike had roared into life again. His mouth hanging open, Fisher mustered the strength to look back at the two teenagers.
"Thanks very much!" called Sirius over the throb of the engine."We owe you one!"
"Yeah, nice meeting you!" said James. "And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!"
There was an earth-shaking crash, and Fisher and Anderson threw their arms around each other in fright; their car had just fallen back to the ground. Now it was the motorcycle's turn to rear. Before the policemen's disbelieving eyes, it took off into thin air: James and Sirius zoomed away into the night sky, their tail light twinkling behind them like a vanishing ruby.
From the prequel I am not working on-but that was fun! J.K. Rowling.2008
Posted by Andrew on Jun 11th |
238 Comments
Visitor Comments
Thank you elvendork~ I appreciate the transcript.. It was great for what it was..It was I brief glimpse into the trouble that you knew those two got into. I liked it a lot. No it didn't reveal anything spectacular; but it wasn't suppose to. It was suppose to be a short story the fans would enjoy..So thanks JK, Thanks Waterstone for being kind enough to share this with everyone. Now good night!
You're welcome! Also, I am a girl, for the unisex confused (I was OBVIOUSLY using the name in a female context, ClintonDickinson) ;)
Thanks Elvendork! Good story, wish it were longer. Anyone have any clue as to who the 3 men on broomsticks were? Curious... very curious
Thank you Elvendork for typing that out. Really. I appreciate it. Now I'm about to read all that you typed out. I thought my comments were worse. You guys are the ones. But I'm glad I don't have to feel bad anymore. hahaha! Let's not talk too much about it, because we don't want her read this and retreat and not write by hand anymore. We might hurt her feelings and make her red-faced. lol!
That was really good, or atleast I thought it was. My favorite bit was when James yelled "Don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!" Kudos Jo and perhaps you should reconsider the "not writing a prequel" idea ;).
I couldn't read most of it, gah.
The more i reread it (As in the typed version) the more i like it. The people on the broomsticks are who I imagined to be deatheaters, it fits. Jo should really write a prequel. Not really from when they were in school (though that would be good) but from around this time to when James and Lily died. There's nothing wrong with going Star Wars style (she mentioned something like this in an interview about how she didnt want to copy star wars or something).
Yay! Oh, I am excited!
I think I managed to decipher all the words haha. Was really cool! :D
lol that was funny. hard to read but when you've mannaged it's good. :) 'elvendork' lol
Thanks Elvendork. Love you :)
"For the prequal I am NOT [underlined] working on!". Haha, I love you Jo. That was very entertaining!
How is it hard to read? It's just standard handwriting :S
Ok that was good thanks to JK for writing it, was hoping for a little something different marauders interacting a bit more and someting about Lily. But then again Jk didn't have to write this and I'm so glad she did!!!
I want one of those t-shirts! Order of the Phoenix rock band...ha!!!This was soooooo cooooooooooooool!!! I love Sirius and James! Elvendork??? James has horrible taste in namegiving!!! Imagine what names he suggested for Harry!!! Elvendork Potter The Boy(/Girl) Who Lived!!! I'm surprised that didn't happen! I want a PREQUEL!!!!!!!!!!!NOW!!!! !!!!!!!!!
She does have a hard to read handwriting but I managed for the most part. LOL Elvendork that's so awsome the story's been out for a few hours and you already adopted the name ahaha thanks for the transcript. I too wish it was longer but it's definately better than nothing. Wonder who the 3 guys that tried to atack them were? someone we know maybe? Were they death eaters? I mean it says 3 years before Harry was born that's when Volders was rising to power right?
Those 3 on brooms were Death Eaters right?
I'm going to analyse her handwriting. She writes like my crazy mum.
After reading the comments above I'm glad that I waited until someone had re-typed JK's prequel (thank you ever so much). I always enjoy her stories and I wish this one was alot longer. I bet James and Sirius got into so much trouble when they were teenagers. It would make interesting reading if JK was to expand this little story. She could call it "The Adventures of Potter and Black". lol.
I can't wait to read it! Sadly, I don't have time to do it now cause I got to get ready for school, but It'll be the first thing I do when I get home.
awesome. totally awesome lol, and did u notice how even a 800-words very short prequel leaves us all curious and with a lot of questions? 'who were the men on the brooms?' 'why were james and sirius running from them?' 'were the death eaters?' awww, jo is awesome
So much for the reasonable restriction for underage magic and the international statute of secrecy!
OMB OMB OMB totally loved that, JK Rowling is amazing, i am so glad i am alive just to be able to read that! I hope she does some more short stories in the future! xoxo
BRILLANT!!why can't she write a not too long prequel like the size of Socerer's Stone i'd love that...
I also thought it was really good as a short-story. I wish she could have written a longer one. I miss Harry Potter so much:(
I just finished reading it.It was goood.Like a tiny little chapter in a book.
aww... i miss them all over again. thanks jo! :]
Yup they were arrogant weren't they xD Loved it!
I've seen much worse handwriting! Before I read it I hoped it would make me like the Marauders a bit more. I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and think that Severus was maybe exaggerating to some extent about their arrogance etc....but no, sorry they are w*****s
Just thought I'd add this - This story also give me a deeper insight as to why Sirius missed James so heavily. I mean, yeah we all knew they were best mates and all but reading about one of the things they got up to just makes me realise how unbearable it would have been for one to lose the other when they lived together and did all of this. I don't know, you can just see their strong bond through this short piece of writting.
i just love it. 'elvendork' that was surely amazing. i am already thriving for book eight. jk pls write harry potter book 8. you don't have to write about harry. pls write about the maurauders and life before harry was born. i love sirius and james
ok, so that was a bit harsh on Sirius, he at least does have redeeming characteristics.
OMG SO EXCITED im going to tell everyone i know to read it! I thought it was sooooo great FUNNY! but i was so sad when it ended... who were the ppl with no names! IM DYING TO KNOW
Jo, that was awesome a little vague though. I wish you were working on it but anything from you is great. I give it a thumbs up for one of the most creative short stories that I've read in a while!
Ahhh ... now all we need is three years AFTER the 7th book ...
There are typos in the typed version. It was okay. I do miss reading Harry Potter. Sigh
that was goood! elven dork is a funny name thanks for posting it..i only realised after i had spent 15 minutes trying to decipher her writing
I loved it! *squee* Of course I'm a huge marauder fan-girl, that may have something to do with it. This sort of reminded me of that old Beatles movie Hard Days Night. Kewl.
Interesting little short story from the prequel that she is not working on.
There is an error on the typed version. It says "timeless rock band" which doesn't make any sense in the context. It should say "tuneless rock band".
Hee! That was great! It was longer than I was expecting it be so I was chuffed. Don't forget Elvendork. It's unisex! I like the idea that James and Sirius would joke around and get serious in the face of danger. And the Order of Phoenix has special members T-shirts! Neil Gaiman's is really cool too :)
That was incredible and It was still Harry Potter... but very different. I can't wait for whatever she writes next. It is just so compelling.
Oh my gosh, that was amazing! I had a hard time reading her handwriting at some places, but then at the same time I didn't want to read the one posted here. it was such a short tory that I did everything to make it last longer. Ha-ha. I loved it, the image on James's t-shirt was a snich, right?
It's brilliant! I was so sad when the 7th came out becaue it wa the last Harry Potter but J.K has proven that she's true to all Harry Potter =) I hope she'll do more of this:D I love it the story, it's so funny:D
Eh, the story was just alright for me.
AMAZING...but short :( I WANT MORE!!!
That was awesome!! I have so many questions!!
I'd have to agree with Ophia, it was all right
WICKED! The handwriting is a bit hard to read sometimes, but you should see my handwriting...Or actually you shouldn't:P I love JK Rowlings handwriting! Ow, and yeah, it's tuneless. I expected something more with Lily and some other characters, but this is great too! Well, better than great :DYAY! But what was on the shirts? Someone mentioned a snitch..And the 3 flying men?And what does Lily think of this? JK Rowling PLEASE write another book! Or a lot of short stories:) "And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!" LOL, you could start every speech with "Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak!"and end it with "And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!" :P Anyway, I'm gonig to reread it now..
"Elvendork! It's unisex!" almost made me cry
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