Harry Potter fans, hold onto your broomsticks, the Pottermore website has set off for flight and the new e-book has landed. So prepare yourself for the next phase in the Potter phenomenon. Step aside kindle for one spell-bounding site that’s set to be the ultimate interactive book experience and ecommerce store, Pottermore.com.
Fans have been flocking to the mysterious site since Sunday, 31st July, for more of the wizard boy that this summers cinemas say Goodbye too. The series may have ended but the ‘boy who lived’ carries on in the virtual sphere. Crucially, Pottermore.com will be used to sell e-book versions of the seven fantasy novels through a property platform (though- not quite 9 and three quaters) but in a bold move J. K. Rowling has written extensive material which will be revealed in the interactive experience Pottermore.com offers its users. Fans range from 8 to 80 and now Rowling seeks a digital generation. The unique online reading experience is set to put a spell on its users as fans will be allowed to share and participate in stories, read new material and showcase their own potter productions.
On your very first visit to the interactive portal Rowling warmly greets you in a video to fans. Dressed in green wellies the author talks about giving back to her loyal readers and explains the eagerly anticipated project: “Pottermore is a unique online reading experience built around the Harry Potter books. You will be able to share and participate in the stories, showcase your own Potter-related creativity, and discover additional information about the world of Harry Potter. It’s called Pottermore. It’s the same story with a few crucial additions. The most important one is you”
Rowling explains how registration for exclusive access to the Pottermore site will be set underway this week in a seven day quest. The week for registration began Sunday 31st July and fans in a Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-esque style try daily to get through to the Pottermore site. Fans are challenged with one clue a day corresponding with the 7 books for the 7 day registration. The '7 Books, 7 Days, 7 Chances' will run until Saturday the 6th of August. Each day the Pottermore homepage releases a Magical Quill clue. Each clue will relate to a different book in the Harry Potter series.
Day one's clue was based around the first book – 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' the site asked “How many Owls are on the Eeylops Owl Emporium sign? Multiply by 49” the site was taken by storm by hopeful wizarding fans and it took 2 hours before registration closed for the day. After guessing the clue correctly fans were directed to day ones challenge where fans had to show an air of Harry about them in a challenge that harkened back to the first book- but, instead of choosing a key to find your way to Professor Quirell users were asked to choose the magical quill floating amongst others to gain access to Pottermore’s privilege’s.
Day two’s clue for the magical quill was taken from Rowlings second book in the series - ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ it stated “What is the number of the chapter in which Professor Mcgonagall cancels the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff? Multiply this number by 42.” For those who were lucky enough (and quick enough, given the registration closed after 1.5hours) the challenge was to find the magical quill which had been hidden in a sea of Deathly Hallows-Part 2 images.
On day three the book to be at hand was “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and the website clue read “In the Gryffindor versus Slytherin quidditch match in Harrys third year, how many points is Gryffindor leading by before Harry catches the golden snitch? Multiply this by 35.” Then in true “wingardium Leviosa” style the third day challenge was to levitate the quill out of an ad space using your magical mouse.
Wednesdays clue appeared at 3pm and potter fans puzzled over the question: “How many students take part in the triwizard tournament during Harry’s fourth year? Multiply this number by 28.”Upon solving the clue on the inundated site, Pttermore.com, The Magical Quill challenge crashed and instead users were sent directly to the Pottermore early access registration page, to begin their magical account.
On Day 5, Pottermore released the fifth clue at 6pm: "What is the house number of the Headquarters for The Order of the Phoenix in Grimmauld Place? Multiply this number by 21." Users were redirected to Scholastic's Harry Potter page, where they had to capture the quill in an ad space. Registration on the fifth day closed 56 minutes after the post
Today Pottermore fans who got to the site at 2pm read the clue "How many chapters are there in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Multiply this number by 14." The number of chapters was 30, making the answer 420, those who answered correctly were redirected to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's official page, where users had to click on the quill in a magical map.
Olivia Grimshaw: is it weird that i feel like i've got my letter from hogwarts because i got my email from pottermore saying i'm one of the lucky few.
TheWatsonator Legilimens:
I'm so happy for my Twitter friends who got in Pottermore today. We’re all magical now, yay! See you at Hogwarts! <3
Roonil Wazlib:
I feel like my Pottermore username is my ID card.
worldlovesHP:
No. I am not willing to wake up at 7:00am for school. Yes. I am willing to wake up at 6:30am for Pottermore.
And its not just Twitter users after the coveted VIP spots at Pottermore.com actors of the Harry Potter movies are casting their eyes on the webpage too. Celebrity gossip tells me Tom Felton and Evannah Lynch, who play Draco and Luna, respectively, have both got Pottermore accounts.
By clicking on anything from an animated sock users will be able to unveil new Rowling writing and the book meets the game as users will be given keys and wizard currency while they read about Gringotts bank and each budding witch and wizard will be issued their own wand along the journey. The sorting hat will appear to ask the user questions and to assign them to one of the four houses; Hufflepuff, Grffyndor, Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Doing everything from mixing potions to challenging duels and interacting with characters, pottermore guests will grow and progress interactively with the books that have bewitched the world.
But fear not fans, if your more of an Eril than an early bird - public will be given access to the site in early October, but if you just can’t wait- poise your broomsticks Potter fans for tomorrows final challenge set to appear between Midnight and 3am at Pottermore.com.
-ZB
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