JK Rowling has revealed that her own son was left devastated after discovering she had killed off Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter books. The author, 60, shared the anecdote in response to a fan's heartfelt message on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The Emotional Discovery
Rowling recounted finding her nine-year-old son in bed reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. When she went to wish him goodnight, he looked up and asked solemnly, 'Why did you kill Dumbledore?' The writer explained that he had the book face down on his duvet, clearly upset by the turn of events.
Fan Interaction Sparks Memory
The story emerged after US-based Christine Harrington posted about her sixth-grade daughter's reaction to the same book. Harrington wrote: 'My sixth grade daughter is reading Harry Potter, she finished the sixth book very late the other night so I was already asleep. I awoke to a post it on the kitchen counter, "Mom, Dumbledore died! I'm so sad". This small note made my heart explode. Reading great books is magical and moving and heartbreaking. Thanks @jk-rowling for writing this world for kids to love and live in. Parents, too many kids today haven't read all the Harry Potter books. Start reading this series with them. I promise it will be one of your most cherished memories.'
Rowling replied directly to Harrington, sharing her own personal experience. Harrington was stunned by the response, writing: 'Wow! Thank you so much for this heartfelt message. My daughter is in shock that THE JK ROWLING replied!!! You've truly just given her a lifetime memory. I hope she reads your novels to her children someday and when they reach the end of book six she shares this story and shows them your reply! And then she can give them my advice: keep reading, it turns out to be a happy ending...I promise.'
The Fate of Dumbledore
In the sixth book, Dumbledore is killed by Professor Severus Snape. It is later revealed that the death was pre-planned, as the Hogwarts headmaster was already dying from a curse. The moment remains one of the most emotional in the series, which has sold over 500 million copies worldwide.
