Pottermore Rated: Dumbledore's Army Reunites

Pottermore is a touch-and-go website; meaning that when the hype is high, us fans ride the waves over and over again. When nothing is chugging out, the news and excitement dissipate as fast as an emptying Quidditch stadium after a game. Most recently, and what should-be-exciting, author JK Rowling posted the sequel that should've never been - a return of our favorite gossipy journalist Rita Skeeter reporting on Dumbledore's Army Reuniting at the Quidditch World Cup in a quick short story / collumn.

When the announcement was made online, I really should have felt elated about the prospect of Rowling's new dish via Skeeter about the golden trio. Yet, and I didn't really go through any fandom feels at all. If anything, doubts arose if I should read it or not. One question popped up in my head the most: Do we need to know about Harry Potter and co. adult life?

Depending on your outlook on the Deathly Hallows epilogue, there are ways to satiate your lingering curiosity and love for the series post-Voldemort. The fandom is alive and happy spouting dreams of canon, AU, and shipping with delicately crafted details of the Marauder's Map, the second wizarding war, and so on. Gifs circulating on tumblr analyze the most minute detail that gives an entire new appreciation of every single scene from the eight films. Universal Studios just opened Diagon Alley, and two more Harry Potter themed lands are about to open in California and Japan. There is plenty of Potter buzz to go around, and yet there is still a void that is left by the seventh book's finale.

For me, it was all right. I wish that it had been longer and we had found more about the characters we grew to love. Sprinkled throughout the nineteen page ending, there were glimpses of what our fellow Gryffindor friends were up to nineteen years later after Voldemort's final demise, but there wasn't really enough. It was poetic, tied up some of the loose strings, but not enough to understand wherever everyone was at after the Battle of Hogwarts. Our hero Harry had survived the war to live well with Ginny and their children becoming an Auror alongside Ron. The Weasley son now married to Hermione Granger had children of their own, and reuniting on Platform 9 3/4 we assumed their lives were well off enough.

 I finally succumbed to reading the latest Pottermore installment, and again - it was all right. Skeeter shared her "insight" on the golden trio, Luna Lovegood (seems to be doing all right), and Neville Longbottom (might be a drunk). She hinted that it is not all paradise in both camps for the Potters nor Weasleys. Conflicts in relationships and the magical society following the seventh book is natural for Rowling to continue, however, some of it felt entertaining, other sections forced (that every marriage is crumbling). Our characters are grown up and mature, and the part of me that was always curious about what took place during Potter's post second wizarding war days were all at once over. It was entertaining but not necessarily enough.

We had been finally been given a sliver of outcomes by our favorite characters, and it was hard for me to rejoice. Being spoonfed conflict, and untrustworthy trite by Skeeter at that, did very little to resolve what I had felt was missing from the epilogue. And, part of me - like when Rowling confessed that Ron and Hermione might not have been a good match after all, felt this short story should've been omitted too.

Because after all - her voice is the confirmation of what's taken place in the wizarding world. We are aware that Skeeter is a manipulator of truth and gossip instigator, so her story shouldn't be taken as gospel - but then there is the big nut of the problem - the details we are getting are too playfully masked as fiction rather than fact; leaving blurbs to be released here and there to never really be enough to feel complete.

Where Pottermore suffers the most is not content but gossip. You don't even have to visit the site anymore to get exclusive content - sites freely post the fresh stories in their entirety for everyone to enjoy freely. Whichever gets the content out there faster and more shareable is better, I guess. However, Pottermore continues to lose the community it once strove to bring together. It's extremely lucky but also ill-fated that short stories and background information is the main gateway to get fans talking about the series on every site except Pottermore. Any news is potentially good news and gets our Hogwarts-colored hearts fluttering again. I just wish big stories like Dumbledore's Army reuniting had been a bit more tangible and less heresy.

Overall Review: 3 out of 5 owls

Pottermore Rated: GOF Chapters 12-16

Pottermore explores the Harry Potter series by renowned and imaginative author JK Rowling. Each book has been released in sequence. Early January 2014, chapters 12-20 from the fourth Harry Potter bookHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was added.

The fourquel brings the terrifying and death-defying Harry Potter villain closer to meeting Harry Potter. The Gryffindor student is incidentally and mysteriously chosen to participate in the Twi-Wizard tournament alongside foreign exchange wizards and Hufflepuff's very own Cedric Diggory. Today we are showcasing Pottermore and its recent installment of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Let's rate!

Chapter 12 - The Twi-Wizard Tournament

This should be a wildly exciting chapter considering that is the first appearance of Mad-Eye Moody - however, it is considerably tame. Every reader or movie goer remembers the thunder striking above the castle and the ominous feeling of something coming around the corner. The only thing of notice in this chapter is Mad-Eyes' frail stature coming through The Great Hall doorway...and little else.

To note, you don't unlock him for his background story to be shared. There is little to no special information on his character page, except the scenes he participates in throughout the fourth book. You can collect a pepper imp, a Bertie's Blott Prawn flavored bean and five galleons. Waving your mouse across the shadowed portraits causing them to move. However, that's it.


Chapter 13 - Mad-Eye Moody

Occurring in the Great Hall with all the students present, Mad-Eye Moody transforms Draco Malfoy into a white ferret. The ferret bounces around the page - which is the most animation for this illustrated moment. You can take a closer look at the Daily Prophet by clicking on it, collect a fanged frisbee and a galleon.


Chapter 14 - The Unforgivable Curses
Another round of Defense Against The Dark Arts, and new teacher Mad-Eye Moody teaches the fourth years some unforgivable curses. I don't know if it bothers any other Pottermore users, but I never depicted or pictured Mad-Eye to hide behind a cape during his entire tenure at Hogwarts or the wizarding world - just a word of annoyance with the illustration.

Usually on individual illustrations, if you double click you can zoom in and out of the page to see different views. This and similar to the pure white ferret moment above, you cannot do this. Ron Weasley and his desk seem to move further away from Mad-Eyes desk, and occasionally there is a blast of green light - however, the only significant activity on this page is collecting the Queen Maeve Chocolate Frog Card, a Busy and Hexes for the Busy and Vexed book can be collected.


Chapter 14 - The Unforgivable Curses

This is the second moment of Chapter 12 titled A Letter from Sirius. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are studying in the Gryffindor common room, as Hedwig flies onto their window sill with a letter from Snuffles. You can take a closer look at both Harry and Ron's homework for Professor Trelawney's Divination class by clicking on highlighted passages, and Sirius' letter to Harry. Collect a S.P.E.W. badge, a whizzing horn, five galleons. Voice talent Jim Dale adds narration audio to the page


Chapter 15 - The Beaubaxtons and Durmstrang
In Goblet of Fire, we are acquainted with other wizarding schools from Europe: The Beaubaxtons Academy from France and Durmstrang from Russia. Two of their students will join Hogwarts in a series of challenges to win the Tri-wizard cup. The first illustration shown above does not have much activity. Wave your mouse across the trees and you can collect poison ivy and wormwood. Click on the seal of the chariot and unlock new information by JK Rowling about the academy.

The Durmstrang illustration is much more impressive. Their skeletal ship loudly rocks in the lake against the tide under a full moon. Feels like a memorable scene from Disneys' Pirates of the Carribean. Click on the haul of the ship to unlock information about their wizarding school. The new information presented about the Beaubaxtons and Durmstrang provides new meaning behind their names and a brief history about their wizarding schools.

Overall Review: 3 out of 5 owls
The activity for these chapters was quite disappointing. Besides being able to collect items for my trunk, there weren't animated illustrations. Sometimes I expect a bit more sound effects - though that might hog a lot of the websites' server space and force Pottermore to operate at a slower speed. The illustrations themselves are always amazing but it's chapters like the Unforgivable curses where I'd like more interactivity.

Pottermore Rated: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Pottermore explores the Harry Potter series by renowned and imaginative author JK Rowling. Each book has been released in sequence, and at the end of summer 2013, one of the most popular books Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was added.

The fourquel brings the terrifying and death-defying Harry Potter villain closer to meeting Harry Potter. The Gryffindor student is incidentally and mysteriously chosen to participate in the Twi-Wizard tournament alongside foreign exchange wizards and Hufflepuff's very own Cedric Diggory. Today we are showcasing Pottermore and its recent installment of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Let's rate!


Chapter 1 - The House on the Hill. Narrated briefly by Jim Dale with sound effects of an owl cooing in the background, the first chapter of Goblet of Fire is decent enough. Though there isn't much to do except collect items for your trunk, there is a neat visual effect of Voldemort's wand casting the Avada Kedrava on the poor groundskeeper who tends to the abandoned Riddle House from inside the house.


Chapter 3 - The Tiny Owl - Not included in this chapter is narration by Jim Dale, however, we can still hear Hedwig cooing in the background. There are plenty of letters to read in this chapter such as Ron's invitation to the Quidditch World Cup. Items to collect include an Xaver Rastick chocolate frog card.

Chapter 4 - The Weasleys Arrive. Saving Harry from another terrible summer at the Dursleys, the Weasleys - Arthur and sons - come to his rescue by crashing through the Dursleys' fireplace. While Fred and George distract Dudley with an engorgement charm, Arthur tries to make peace with Harry's relatives. This chapter includes a neat animation captured above as well as information to unlock about The Floo Network. Don't skip this chapter if you'd like to hear JK Rowling narrate the history about the technique wizards use to travel.

Chapter 5 - Bill and Charlie Weasley. The Weasleys with Hermione Granger and Harry Potter "re-arrange" the outdoor furniture at the Burrows. The illustration includes a nifty animation of the furniture floating in the air. Not much activity to do here except collect frog spawn, flower heads, and dried nettles - to name a few.

Chapter 6 - the Misty Moor. Hermione, Ron, and Harry make a crash landing during their fight travel excursion of the Port Keys. Not much to say and do here EXCEPT clicking on the box items will unlock exclusive JK Rowling information about the Port Keys. You will learn not only the history of PortKeys and one muggle accident in particular but also Rowling is in possession of her very own key to a U.S. City. Also, you will find some ingredients to collect such as slugs and the portkey will open with a bit of slime.

Chapter 7 - The Campsite Double-clicking on various illustrations on Pottermore leads to a zoom-in. In this particular chapter, double click and you can wander over the campsite. Plenty of activity takes place below with roaring fires and flying birds. Click on a particular tent and you will unlock Colours - fascinating information on how colors play into the wizarding world. Also, hover your mouse and become 5 galleons richer!

Chapter 8 - The Quidditch World Cup. One of my favorite illustrations of the Goblet of Fire experience so far. Glistening in sparkling team colors, the illustration comes to life with a roaring of the crowd in attendance for the Quidditch World Cup. Some of the players whiz around the screen high above the field - where you can find some leprechaun gold.

Chapter 9 - Morsmorde Scratch that - Chapter 9 is perhaps my favorite illustration. Glowing grown in the night sky is the mark of the Dark Lord as Ron, Hermione, and Harry are frozen in place. There is some toadstool and poison ivy to collect - I'd hate to be the Pottermore friend who is gifted with that from a fellow member! Disappointingly, no information to unlock or uncover here, however, Jim Dale does briefly narrate the summary.

Chapter 10 - Dress Robes Ron embarrassingly holds up his ratty dress robes as Harry watches on. Nothing to uncover here, however, the posters around the room becomes animated with flying Qudditch players and there are items to add to your trunk such as galleons, Jocunda Sykes chocolate frog card, and Chudley Cannons badge.

Chapter 11 - A Hundred Horseless Carriages Squinting through the hardcore pouring of rain, a hundred horseless carriages waddle their way towards Hogwarts. If you hover over the carriages, they will bounce a bit. However, no new information can be found here except wormwood can be collected on the mountainside.

Overall Review: 3 out of 5 owls
While the activity for the fourth book is a bit tame for the first eleven chapters available on Pottermore, there are some beautiful illustrations. They remind me of the amazing cover and chapter art by Marie Grand Pre for the first release of the series' books - colorful, bold, and magical. Looking ahead I can't wait to see the artwork for the Twi-Wizard tournament but do not anticipate the grim death of Cedric Diggory.

Reading about portkeys and the floo network was interesting, and I enjoy the feature of hearing JK Rowling narrating the information she shares. If more information could be made available, I would have loved to read how she conjured up the dark mark insignia for Voldemort or even some background story to the Durmstrang school. The narration to Jim Dale is not available for every chapter, which is sometimes welcoming and sometimes missed. What's your favorite chapter of Goblet of Fire so far?