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SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Posted by JEREMY
Source: Harry, A History
In a new interview
conducted by Melissa Anelli as part of her preparations for writing her new book, Harry, A History, J.K. Rowling talked briefly about the Death Veil in the Department of Mysteries.
JKR: Everyone wanted to go beyond the veil.
MA: This is very canon-based, but there are some things that as a fan, there are things I just gotta know. A lot of fans see the veil as that separation -
JKR: It's the divide between life and death. I tried to do a nod to that in The Tale of Three Brothers - she was separate from them as though through a veil. You can't go back if you pass through that veil, you cannot come back. Or you can't come back in any form that will make either person happy anyway.
But when they surround that veil [in Order of the Phoenix], I was trying to show that depending on their degree of skepticism or belief about what lay beyond - because Luna, of course, is a very skeptical character. Luna believes firmly in an afterlife. She's very clear on that. And she feels them speaking or hears them speaking much more clearly than Harry does. This is the idea of faith. Harry thinks he can hear them; he's drawn on. But Harry's had a life that has been so imbued with death that he now has an uncharacteristically strong curiosity about the afterlife, especially for a boy of 15, as he is in Phoenix. Ron's just scared, as I think Ron would be - he just knows this is something he doesn't want to dabble with. Hermione, hyper-rational Hermione - 'can't hear anything, get away from the Veil.' So if you walk through the veil, you're dead. You're dead. What you find on the other side, well, that's the question.
Do I believe you go on? Yes, I do believe you go on. I do believe in an afterlife, although I'm absolutely doubt-ridden and always have been but there you are.
I had not anticipated, though really I should have done, how interested people would be to go beyond the veil. And lots of people, including Dan [Radcliffe], wanted to go through the veil. But then that shouldn't surprise me because teenagers are very interested.
MA: Dan sort of does get to go beyond the veil.
JKR: Yeah, he does, but not literally through the veil
MA: Not charging through. Ginny, Ginny can hear it because she's been...
JKR: I think women are more likely to hear than men. [Ginny and Harry] really are soulmates. I think she's like Harry. She's got an intellectual curiosity and she's got something of belief. Hermione [is] totally rational. "Let's all back away from the Veil and let's pretend we heard nothing."
You can purchase the book, Harry, a History at this link via Amazon.
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Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1909
Hermione5 says:
Wow, for a fleeting moment, I thought JK was going to write a new book titled Harry, a History...
I liked the idea of the veil in the books, and I liked JK elaborating on it, and how the characters react to it and why. :)
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 2:44 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 55
Amy S says:
Kissing Draco:
I liked reading your post. It reminded me of what Dumbledore said about death. Thanks!
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 2:48 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2218
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
Very interesting! I should like to read that book when it comes out!
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 3:41 PM EST
Student
Points: 230
Twilight/HarryPotter-<3 says:
Awesome, that sounds neat, so I will probably end up purchasing this one. Gotta stop by the bookstore:) God, every time I look on this website I get more depressed about the stupid dte switch. ugh
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 4:39 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1823
zues says:
Nice interview, I think I'd like to read that book one day.
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 6:40 PM EST
Squib
Points: 163
OceanBaBY says:
I have to say the veil is my favorite part of all of the books. It is interesting. Although the interveiw did make me almost jump out of my seat with amazement and excitement, I still wish I knew more. Or maybe I don't want to know...
Posted Sep 26, 2008 at 7:32 PM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4400
ILoveHP! says:
Oh so THAT makes Harry and Ginny soulmates right? *laughs* And that's what make Harry and Hermione not fit for each other? *more laughter* Wow. I'm totally convinced now *dripping with sarcasm*.
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 12:35 AM EST
Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4666
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
Well that answers my question; Sirius is dead. Kidding, I knew that, but still. I'm glad she finally talked about the drape! I was wondering why it was in there. This totally makes sense now.
~Drish~
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 1:39 AM EST
Weaselette
Points: 3227
WickedLoz says:
Fantastic!! I'm on a super H/G high at the moment, something I haven't felt since reading DH!
Although techinically we didn't learn anything new, JK just cleared it up and reminded us of it.
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 4:25 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
Thanks for the interview. I was always very interested about the veil and was kinda sad we didnt get much info about it in the book
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 8:16 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1451
leeanne<3ron says:
Theres a book coming out ?
So i skip this site fro a few weeks and i find out loads of news.
Ive always wondered about that veil and now im sure :D
LEeanne x
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 1:56 PM EST
Lunarly challenged
Points: 2501
Grayback'sVictim says:
That's an interesting interview... I would certanly like to read Harry, A History. I think it would clear a lot of things.
I like when JK talks about Harry Potter.
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 5:47 PM EST
Antipodean Snow Goddess
Points: 3071
Tikihaha says:
A NEW BOOK?!! Since when has Jo penned a new book? I had to check that the date of this article wasn't 1 April!! I will get this book, as I think it explains much that went on "behind the scenes" that we only got glimpses of.
Posted Sep 28, 2008 at 1:35 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2492
JAYSTARR says:
Brilliant...But, what I want to here is how is the Encyclopedia is coming alone?
Posted Sep 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 671
draconifors says:
I have always noticed in the interviews that i have read with jk,that she speaks alot of detail.Thats good,not only can she write detail,but also talk in detail!
Posted Sep 29, 2008 at 8:23 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1181
princess165 says:
Always fun to read a new interview of JKR. Glad she talked about the veil; it definitely was a point of interest in the book. Interesting how she chose who heard voices beyond the veil and who did not; I never even really thought too much about that aspect of it.
Possibly should make title of this article more explicit; it is not clear at first that this is an interview from a book by Melissa A rather then an interview in anticipation of a new book from JKR.
Posted Sep 29, 2008 at 8:32 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3659
Anastasia Popovick says:
Excellent interview. Love seeing a little more inside the stories. Thanks for posting it.
Posted Sep 30, 2008 at 8:02 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1864
Bright Eyes says:
Wow - so the book is about to be in works? Sounds brilliant - it's going to be such an insight for HP fans!
Posted Sep 30, 2008 at 7:38 PM EST
Squib
Points: 119
Hogwartian says:
Yeah, we're back to the veil again. I expected more about in DH.
Posted Oct 2, 2008 at 4:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 588
Sexyjeans says:
What a smart idea JK has.. she is very uique writer/author.. A very interesting idea .. i'm curious about that veil
Posted Oct 3, 2008 at 12:47 PM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
The veil -- it's always been such an interesting topic of discussion! And I really like the way Jo talks about the characters -- as though they're real and she knows them personally.
Posted Oct 5, 2008 at 2:38 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2861
mad_eye muggle says:
Really interesting interview.Especially the comparison between Hermione and Ginny.The veil is indeed has that mistery in itself,that you can't help but be curious.
Posted Oct 7, 2008 at 6:01 AM EST
Squib
Points: 131
DonnaK says:
I think it makes sense that Ginny would be able to hear beyond the veil because she was almost there.
Also Hermione I think is to rational to believe if she can't makes sense of something she chooses to believe that it does not exist.
Posted Oct 19, 2008 at 2:24 AM EST
Squib
Points: 131
DonnaK says:
I just wondered if LV could hear beyond the veil?
Even before he 'died' he had the horcruxes which sort of meant that part of him was dead. Then he did die in a way. I think he would wither be able to hear it clearer than anyone or not at all becuase he shunned the world beyond so thoroughly.
Posted Oct 19, 2008 at 2:27 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2576
Mystique says:
Ahh, i always wanted to go back to discussing that veil! And this is exactly what i thought it was... the veil that seperates life and death... i like her reasoning for everyone's reaction to the veil. That's exactly what i thought Hermione was doing!
Posted Oct 23, 2008 at 9:59 PM EST
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