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AUGUST 15, 2004 at 3:08 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: JKRowling.com
Earlier today JK Rowling appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and now her official web site has been updated with the transcript
, in which she answers fans' questions.
Here is an excerpt:
Question: All the paintings we have seen at Hogwarts are of dead people. They seem to be living through their portraits. How is this so? If there was a painting of Harry’s parents, would he be able to obtain advice from them?
Rowling: That is a very good question. They are all of dead people; they are not as fully realised as ghosts, as you have probably noticed. The place where you see them really talk is in Dumbledore’s office, primarily; the idea is that the previous headmasters and headmistresses leave behind a faint imprint of themselves. They leave their aura, almost, in the office and they can give some counsel to the present occupant, but it is not like being a ghost. They repeat catchphrases, almost. The portrait of Sirius' mother is not a very 3D personality; she is not very fully realised. She repeats catchphrases that she had when she was alive. If Harry had a portrait of his parents it would not help him a great deal. If he could meet them as ghosts, that would be a much more meaningful interaction, but as Nick explained at the end of Phoenix - I am straying into dangerous territory, but I think you probably know what he explained—there are some people who would not come back as ghosts because they are unafraid, or less afraid, of death.
Read the rest of the transcript HERE.
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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1390
you_know_who34 says:
Yeah same here... I am so glad she got a chance to explain that to us... but I sort of figured that after reading book 5... I wish Sirius would come back as a ghost if he REALLy is dead... because he has to come back... hopefully by book 7 at least...
-Liz-
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:14 PM EST
Points: 15101
xeon says:
Ive wondered about the portrates in the School, that was a good question!
Oh well, it sounded like it was a good day for some fans!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:20 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2577
Fallen Bomb says:
Wow. This is so interesting. I was hoping she'd give away the date of publication but this is good also.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 273
sourapplekicker says:
I read this this morning when my dad woke me up... He found it on another site, I was really surprised he found the article and actually took the time to read it...
♥
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 833
Purplelicious Star says:
yeah!!!!!
I thought of that question too...
glad she answered it.. hee hee
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:27 PM EST
Honeydukes Princess
Points: 6925
Wakko says:
oOoO, this is good stuff!!! She answers alot of questions even though the font and color that the link used is absoultely horrible! Its YELLOW on BLACK! talk about going blind!!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:30 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
duckumu says:
Wow, that was a great question. Congrats to whomever thought that one up and asked, because I never thought about that before. I still think there's more there that she's not telling us, though!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:32 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1246
HPkidd189 says:
This transcript although not that revealing was quite interesting. It confirmed alot of good theorys such as aberforth.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:36 PM EST
Witch
Points: 818
ElizabethRG says:
AWesome question! You know, I've been wondering that.. at the end of the Order of the Pheonix, when he was going to ask Nick about the ghost thing, I thought he'd be asking someone else how he'd be able to talk to Sirius in a portrait, or find a picture or something of him and talk to him there. I'm glad that question got answered after a lot of my confusion! Thank you very much to whoever asked that question and JK for answering it for everyone!
-- P.S. Did anyone here go to it?!?! Let us know how it went please!! And did you meet Ms. Rowling?!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:40 PM EST
Points: 6760
Zarry Sotter says:
That was a good question... Interesting....
I think I'll go read the entire thing right now. :D
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:42 PM EST
Student
Points: 245
beaglebabe86 says:
Interesting, I never even thought about the whole possible connection between Harry's parents and the portraits. Good catch!!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 518
tonks06 says:
I have always wondered about that too. Glad she cleared that up for us. Can't wait to check out the other questions..if there are more that is. I hope so!!! :)
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 878
Grayline says:
Very interesting. I, too, do not understand the attractions to Snape and Malfoy. They're sort of interesting, I guess, but I wouldn't want to meet them... Anywho, this was all very enlightening, and I'm glad we are finally confirmed on that Aberforth thing.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:50 PM EST
Points: 351
~Aurora~ says:
That was a good question to ask. I'm glad she clarified that. I'm going off to read the other qestions now.
Yea Tom_M_Riddle was right a lot of those questions that were asked i could have answered. I wish i could've been there to have some of my questions answered.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:51 PM EST
Mistress of Animagi
Points: 3712
Aunt Minerva says:
The transcript does not give too many clues, but at least it puts an end to the whole Dudley being the HBP theroy- I was hopping for a release date, but we can't have everything we want
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:55 PM EST
He-Who-Must-Be-Emma's
Points: 7724
emma's#1fan&lover says:
WOW!!! Thats a lot of imformation that Jk has given us...:) I cant wait for the sixth book...Thanks JK!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:55 PM EST
Student
Points: 232
TerribleBeautyX says:
That's awesome! I'm going to read it now....
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 3:58 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1588
SeamusFinnigan says:
Whoa, thats wicked info right there,I'm glad I read that. Im going to go to J.K. Rowlings site and read more of her answers. Maybe theres more info there that is useful, I shall see, **laughs**
~ZACK~
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:04 PM EST
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Points: 2606
hplover234 says:
That is so awsome.
Now I have a strong earge to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix.
NOOOOOOOO!!!! My friend borrowed it, I forgot.
I guess it will just have to wait.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:11 PM EST
Lady of the Rings
Points: 4116
Padfoot4387 says:
Awesome- I just read the whole thing on the Half Blood Prince forum and it gave me a lot of insight... little hints dropped inadverently here and there... I am off to JKR's website as soon as I post this.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 577
SiriusLupinGirl says:
I can't wait to read the rest of the transcript. It seems as though people asked the kind of questions everyone wants to know the answers to : )
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:14 PM EST
Witch
Points: 556
hpbri says:
That was a good question and a good answer, i've always wondered about that. Very, very, interesting...
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:25 PM EST
Witch
Points: 532
Ronald_Weasley says:
Hey thats AWESOME!!!!!!!!
sHE SEEMS TO BE SAYING ALOT OF THINGS ABOUT HP!!!!
I'm gonna read the whole transcript rigth now
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:28 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1659
Dobbygirl says:
This great, I've only read part of it. But I like what I've read so far.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 554
Theodora says:
Why's even Rowling hating on Snape? Please...
But seriously, that was so incredibly helpful and now I've got even more HP information to fill up my summer vacation. Hoorah!
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:37 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 487
RickyRicardo says:
Well now we know why they talk sometimes and why they move. That's a good thing that someone asked that question because now we have something else answered.
Posted Aug 15, 2004 at 4:40 PM EST
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