Today is the day that Universal Orlando's Diagon Alley is open to the public, and you better believe that the attendance in that area has swelled! For those of you won't be able to make it today, we have you covered, with an exclusive look at the land right here. Coinciding nicely with the event, J.K. Rowling has written and released a new short story that not only takes place in the Potter-verse, but also catches up with the classic characters as well!
The 1500-word short is actually an article, written from the perspective of Daily Prophet scribe Rita Skeeter, while in attendance of the Quidditch World Cup. Taking into account what we know about Ms. Skeeter and her ability to twist words into the story that she desires, her comments are to be taken with a grain of salt. She does go into some detail about out characters though, noting that a 33-year-old Harry Potter still wears glasses "better suited to a style-deficient twelve-year-old", and that a couple threads of silver adorn his black hair, alongside a scar on his cheek, that may be telling of his role as an Auror (a defender against the Dark Arts). His wife, Ginny, is a journalist also covering the World Cup final, although in a biting bit of satire, Skeeter insists that "cracks" are beginning to show in an otherwise blissful union. Ron now co-manages his borthers' joke shop at Diagon Alley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and Hermione serves as deputy in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Those are just some of the highlights, but you can check out the whole story here. If you plan on braving the crowds at Diagon Alley today or within the next couple of weeks, good luck, and let us know about your experience! Just remember that when you're pressed up against your fellow tourist and Harry Potter enthusiast alike, the goal is authenticity, not spatial awareness!
For those awaiting the next cinematic entry into the Potter-verse, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, with an original screenplay by Rowling, is set to hit theaters November 18, 2016.