11 Ways J.K. Rowling Has Kept Us Interested

It may be nearly ten years since the last book in the Harry Potter series was released, but the fascination with J.K. Rowling's wonderful wizarding world still doesn't show any signs of stopping. Over the years, fans have had new movies to keep our obsessions going strong, but even since the final film was released in 2011, there are plenty of ways J.K. Rowling has kept us interested in her magical series.

Harry Potter fans are unlike any other kind of fans, and our dedication knows no bounds. No matter how many times we've read the books or watched the movies, we can never get enough of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. Luckily for us, though, the series creator doesn't seem to be quite done with it yet, either.

From her social media accounts to Pottermore, J.K. Rowling has used every tool in her arsenal to keep Potterheads hooked. Whether she is answering fan question during a Twitter chat, shared new character back stories, or revealing secrets about the series, Rowling has never stopped sharing Harry Potter tidbits with hungry fans.

Just in case you missed any yourself, here are 11 ways J.K. Rowling as kept us interested over the years, because this is one fandom that will never die.

1. When She Launched Pottermore

It is every Potterheads dream to be immersed in the magical world of Harry Potter, and in 2011, J.K. Rowling made that dream closer to coming true by announcing the launch of Pottermore, a completely inclusive, all-things-Harry Potter website that features news, shopping, games, and new Harry Potter stories. "Enrolling" at Pottermore means doing an interactive Sorting Hat ceremony, playing potion and spell games, and accessing exclusive new stories. Not to mention, new features and writings are being added all the time. It has certainly kept readers interested over the years.

2. When She Answered Fan Theories On Twitter

Fans of any book or series love creating theories of their own to explain things, and while some of them might seem to hold water, there's one person who can truly set the record straight — and she does, all the time. Using her Twitter account, which has over 7.3 million followers, Rowling has answered Harry Potter fan theories. From the absurd to the believable and everything in between, Rowling has let fans know when they're on to something, or when they're truly far off.

3. When She Revealed Dumbledore Was Gay

In a 2007 reading of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at New York's Carnegie Hall, Rowling revealed that Dumbledore is gay, and that he had been in love with his once closest friend turned dark wizard, Grindelwald. While feelings among fans were mixed, many were thrilled at the inclusion of a gay character in the series.

4. When She Explained Some Characters Were Based On Real-Life People

It's always fascinating when Rowling reveals facts about the fictional characters in her series, but when she started revealing the real life people her characters were based off of, readers became even more interested. Who is Rowling's friend that Ron is based off of, and how bad was the real teacher that she modeled Dolores Umbridge after? The more Rowling reveals, the more questions readers have, and longer we stay interested. Well played, Rowling, well played.

5. When She Told Us We've Been Pronouncing "Voldemort" Wrong All This Time

In a tweet in September 2015, J.K. Rowling blew our minds by telling us the correct way to pronounce Voldemort — with a silent "t" at the end. And with that simple confirmation, readers everywhere have been wondering: what other lies have we been telling ourselves from childhood?

6. When She Revealed Harry And Voldemort Are Related

Wise readers had already picked up the hints, but during a 2007 web chat, Rowling confirmed that Harry and Voldemort are blood relatives through their relation to the Peverells. Rowling also said, however, that most wizard families are related if you go back that far, so don't hold it against Harry. He can't help who is family is.

7. When She Admitted Ron And Hermione Shouldn't Have Ended Up Together

For some fans, Rowling's admission that she didn't think Ron and Hermione should have ended up together was a heartbreaking blow, but to others, it was a welcome statement. No matter how readers felt, however, the revelation certainly brought fans back into the world of Harry Potter to dissect, discuss, and make peace with the fact that Harry and Hermione may have been meant to be.

8. When She Announced Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Was Becoming A Movie

In 2013, Warner Bros. announced that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was going the be adapted into a movie. The best part of the amazing announcement? J.K. Rowling was the screenwriter for the project. Just when Potterfans thought things were slowing down, Rowling found another way to keep us on our toes.

9. ... And Then Again When She Said It Would Be A Trilogy

As if one other Harry Potter movie wasn't enough (fact: nothing will ever be enough for Potterheads), Rowling confirmed in March 2016 that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will have three movies. That's right, we get to watch Eddie Redmayne play the lead role of Newt Scamander for not one, not two, but three amazing films. Yeah, I'd say that will keep fans interested for a while longer.

10. When She Shared New Wizarding Schools

As if it wasn't bad enough that you never got your Hogwarts letter, Rowling shared with readers that there were actually new wizarding schools across the globe, and now you know you didn't get accepted into those either. Though she has only released information about seven of the 11 total schools, including the newest ones of Castelobruxo in Brazil, Mahoutokoto in Japan, Uagadou in Africa, and Ilvermorny in the United States, Rowling has enthralled readers again this the opportunity to learn about these magical places, and left them waited on baited breath for the reveal of the remaining four.

11. When She Announced Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Although we may never get another full-blown story about Harry Potter and his time at Hogwarts, J.K. Rowling has reeled us back in again with a different wizards story, the one of Harry and Ginny's son, Albus, as he struggles to deal with his father's legacy. A stage production that will premier in July, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is also being released in book form as the eighth installment in the Harry Potter canon. Now, can it please be July already?

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