From the entire MuggleNet family, Happy New Year to you all! While 2008 was a pretty exciting year, 2009 will welcome the release of Half-Blood Prince, the opening of Harry Potter: the Exhibition, and who knows what other surprises (I'm holding out for a new line of Harry Potter yarn).

What are your hopes for 2009? Have any Potter-related New Years resolutions? Share 'em in the comments!

Warner Brothers has passed along some new high-res photos from the most recent CineLive magazine featuring Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

- Slughorn and young Tom Riddle
- Harry and Dumbledore on the rocks
- Ron Weasley
- Snape and McGonagall inspect opal necklace
- Harry and Ron peer around corner
- Ginny Weasley

Jason Issacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Potter films, has given a new interview to Ain't It Cool News where he discusses how he prepares for his roles in Potter:

And then HARRY POTTER, it's been such an enormous part of my life for years now, and almost everything else I do, I knock myself out to try and make things real--I research them, I over-research them. I steep myself in it and torture myself at night trying to make something interesting and believable and human. But then you suddenly get handed a wand and full-length velvet cape, and you're sharing scenes with some of the biggest and best scene stealers who have ever lived. You really have to hit the ground running. To give that much joy to so many people and to have such a laugh doing it feels like an embarrassment of riches.

Jason also notes that his character does not have a role in Half-Blood Prince and may only appear in a moving painting.

Broadway.com has published their annual Year End Wrap-Up, and the Potter and Equus lead takes their Star of the Year. The award was chosen by the site's readers:

Told of his big win, the charming young Harry Potter star said, “That’s really, really amazing! The Broadway community has been incredibly welcoming and this sort of sums it up, really. In a year when there have been some really big performances on Broadway, to have been nominated and win is really, really cool!”

In related news, a re-run from his August appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien airs tonight at 12:35 AM on NBC. Thanks to Ali for the tip!

Yesterday we told you about Empire Magazine's upcoming preview of Half-Blood Prince. As it turns out, the February issue came a little sooner than expected, and now a scan from the magazine can be seen right here.

In it, there are a couple of new behind the scenes photos during filming. They include a nice picture of director David Yates speaking with the Phelps twins on set of their Wizard Wheezes shop.

Earlier today MuggleNet released its 2008 Year in Review feature, and now it's time to reminisce over it all! Join Eric, Laura, Micah, Matt and I for a great discussion on the stories that'll define 2008 in the Potter history books. Plus:

- The latest news. Or lack of it.
- MuggleMail addresses last week's hot topics.
- We countdown the top seven stories of 2008.
- Twitter responses: What did YOU think was the top story?
- The 1st Annual MuggleCasties Awards!
- ... all while looking at the best show moments from this year.

All that and a LOT more can be found in this week's episode! To download for free, we recommend subscribing through Apple iTunes. Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop. Enjoy!

Back in July, Empire Magazine had a fall preview issue which included Half-Blood Prince (see thumbnail). This was, of course, before anyone knew about the film's 8 month delay.

Now, Empire Magazine is gonna give previewing HBP another shot; this time in their 2009 Must-See Movies feature. A scan of the February '09 cover is already available right here, but does not reveal any new media in the way of the sixth film. We'll let you know when the issue hits newsstands, in case there's some new stuff in side! Thanks to Oclumencia for the tip.

As we've done every year for the past several, it's once again time to take a look back and reflect! This year brought several big stories, such as the Half-Blood Prince delay, the Deathly Hallows movie split, the JKR vs RDR court trial, and a new book from Jo earlier this month.

You can check out our Year in Review RIGHT HERE! We also would like to know which story YOU thought was the biggest of the year. Just pick one of the seven stories we listed in our new poll.

In related news, MuggleCast Episode 167 will be our annual Year in Review show, and it will be released later tonight! Stay tuned for a great discussion on the top stories, best MuggleCast moments, and much more.

Thus far our “real world Dumbledore's Army” have raised over $5400 through the Harry Potter Alliance since October! This amount could fund either the protection of about 8 entire villages in Burma (1083 families) OR the protection of over 1800 Darfuri women.

In total, with the help of events like Wrock for Darfur the HP Alliance has raised over $15,000 for Civilian Protection in Darfur and Burma! Andrew Slack writes, “The generosity of this community, including the Whomping Willows raising $1600 for Haiti from his recent tour is amazing.”

Don’t forget that you can continue to donate toward Civilian Protection until January 31, 2009 as part of this project. You can give right here.

All of us here at MuggleNet hope you have the most joyful of holidays, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Eid, or you worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster (we believe in tolerance of all types here).

The Pickle Pack Reindeer has a personal message for all of you: 'ubbuuh hhaaww gauw auubaa aiuwh gnuhhh ahda' ... I don't speak reindeer (I speak whale) so I'll leave you to translate.

For those of you who were wondering, the Pickle Pack Reindeer's storied history goes way back to last Christmas when, moments before making my Christmas post, I decided Pickle Pack could use a reindeer after I found this ridiculous pic on Google.

The warm and fuzzy Christmas layout is a present from Dylan, our graphics designer. Don't you just want to dive in to that photo?

Yesterday MuggleNet gave you the gift of MuggleSpace, and today the Half-Blood Prince photo leakers wanted to join in on the Holiday fun with these two photos:

- Neville and Hermione share a moment in Slughorn's club
- A shot of Luna, Sanguini, and an unnamed vampire that we've seen before at a different angle.

Thanks to Scar Potter for the tip!

We are SO proud to announce our newest, greatest, and latest time-wasting project is now complete: MuggleSpace!

Create your profile, meet new people, and discuss your love for the books with other crazy Potter people!

We've all had at least one moment where we declined to add more HP stuff (gasp) to our Myspace or Facebook profile for fear of scaring our non-HP friends. But now it is time to come out of our proverbial spider-infested cupboards and be, for the first time, as HP as we want to be!

P.S. You should all definitely add Andrew Sims as a friend and spam and stalk him like crazy. He likes it, I promise. We should totally make him the Tom of MuggleSpace.

UPDATE: Four hours into the opening, and already 1,400 members! We're thrilled to see everyone enjoying it.

Last week, we told you about some nice holiday updates to the Hermione Granger actress' official site.

There has now been another great update from Emma, including this holiday message, these new photos, and a new contest to win one of five Tale of Despereaux photos signed by Emma Watson. To enter, simply register and then click the mouse image.

The kinks have been worked out, the bugs have been fixed, and MuggleNet Topsites is back online! Let us send you free traffic - add your Harry Potter site today.

The Jerusalem Post has a new interview up with the actor who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Potter films. In it, Jason Issacs discusses his love for being a part of the franchise and the Deathly Hallows split:

"We had a ridiculously good time making them," he says, recalling specific scenes with Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes and, of course, Harry himself, Daniel Radcliffe.

Talking about how the last book is set to be made into two films, he says ominously, "I think that's a mistake."

After a beat, he adds, "It should be made into 10 films so I can do it for the rest of my life."

Read the rest right here. Thanks to HPANA for the tip!

The latest episode of our Harry Potter podcast is now available for your listening pleasure! In this week's episode, we get back to our regular format (after hosting a couple of great Beedle-centric shows) and talk about the latest news, Deathly Hallows, and much more:

- Happy Birthday, Laura!
- MuggleMail addresses our Beedle show.
- Book Discussion: Was the final battle between Harry and Voldemort a disappointment?
- We look at why some people were hoping for more.
- A cool parallel between Snape's lessons to Harry and the final battle.
- Lupin's influence on Harry throughout Deathly Hallows.
- Holiday Discussion! Questions sent in via Twitter.
- Voicemails address various topics.

All that and a LOT more can be found in this week's episode with Laura, Micah, Mikey, myself, and the latest addition to our panel: Penny! To download for free, we recommend subscribing through Apple iTunes. Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop. Enjoy!

UPDATE: UHP has two more scans from the magazine: this one of the cover with Harry on it and this one of Ginny.

UniversHarryPotter.com has a scan from French Magazine Cinelive, which depicts a new photo of Harry and Ron peering around a corner within Hogwarts like they did in their early school years. According to their article, they're checking out something that Slughorn is up to.

You can view it right here.

We continue to hear more Potter talk from producer David Heyman thanks to lots of sites covering the film Yes Man. Collider.com has passed along their interview with David, where he discusses Deathly Hallows for a few minutes.

Prior to coming to Los Angeles for the Yes Man premiere, David said he'd been in London for Deathly Hallows script meetings with Steve Kloves. He also says that they're still debating where to split parts one and two of the film, but they may have found a spot.

You can see the full video interview right here. Thanks to Collider.com's Steve for the tip!

Speaking at the premiere of Yes Man in Los Angeles, Potter producer David Heyman talked briefly with The Press Assocation about the film franchise and what they're planning for Deathly Hallows:

David revealed work is about to begin in the new year on the seventh movie in the series.

"We finished the sixth film which'll be coming out next summer and we start filming the seventh which we'll be breaking into two parts for a 54 week shoot starting in February."

You can read the rest of the interview, including his thoughts on the cast as a whole, right here.

Scholastic has issued a press release this morning, detailing the first official international sales figures for The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which has sold 2.6 million copies and grossed roughly $8.5 million in its first full week for the The Childiren's High Level Group.

J.K. Rowling has expressed her thanks today to all those who have bought a copy of her charity book, making it the fastest selling title of 2008 and raising millions of pounds for children suffering in institutions.

"I am absolutely delighted that so much money has been raised," she said, "and would like to thank everyone who has so far purchased a copy of the book. All royalties will be going to help children without families, many of them with disabilities, whose voices have been unheard for many years."

Read the rest of the press release below.

The actresses' official website has been updated with a lovely holiday theme and a special gift for fans. By visiting this special area, you'll be able to download a holiday desktop background for your computer.

Thanks to Brianna for the tip!

ScarPotter.com has sent us this new photo of Hermione in The Great Hall reading the latest issue of The Daily Prophet. She's looking up from the paper though - what could she possibly be reacting to?

Thanks again to Scar Potter!

Looking for the coolest way to rock out to Wizard Rock this summer? HPEF's Azktraz 2009 has just announced Wrock Around the Rock - a four hour cruise around Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay with Wizard Rock bands playing on board! From HPEF:

There will be food, an open bar (three hour open bar with alcohol available for a small additional fee), and music from Brian from the Draco Malfoys, The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, The House of Black, Ministry of Magic and more!

Also, we'll have one deck on the yacht that's music-free, with space for games, conversation and, of course, food!

For full details, click here. Don't forget: MuggleCast will be hosting a LIVE podcast right after the midnight premiere of Half-Blood Prince at Azkatraz 2009. You can see more details on that at this link. If you're registering, be sure to put 'MuggleCast' in the referral area so they know who sent you!

Last week, we told you about some rumors that revealed Warner Brother's interest in creating a film based off of The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Now, the Los Angeles Times has an interesting piece about what WB could do to make it a successful film. For example:

Expand "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" -- and don't fuss with the ending. The darkest of the stories is also the most ripe for fleshing out into a two-hour movie, should Rowling be interested in picking the unconventional fairy tale back up. We'd need to see the Warlock before he decided to stow away his heart, lest we watch the selfish wretch for two hours straight, it'd be kind of gory, and without a happy ending. But there are directors who know a thing or two about dark fantasies. ("Pan's Labyrinth" anyone? Looking at you, Guillermo del Toro.)

Do you think WB could pull it off? Tell us your answer in our latest Beedle poll, on the right side of this page.

** UPDATE: There are less than 50 shirts left! **

Hey guys, for a limited time, if you spent $25 or more at Alivan's, they'll send you a highly fashionable MuggleNet t-shirt for free. Make sure you use the coupon "FREETEE" when you're checking out. Unfortunately, we only have one size left - small. So this is a giveaway for little people!

Hold back your tears: these are the last MuggleNet shirts ever printed.

Back in January, I had the opportunity to visit the Half-Blood Prince set for MuggleNet. While myself and other fansite representatives can't release our full reports yet, Warner Brothers has allowed us to post small previews to let you know what is coming in several months.

Check the teaser out right here.

UPDATE: You can also check out this online report from Rotten Tomatoes.

The Potter and Equus star appeared at the 2008 Gypsy of the Year event, which benefits the Broadway Cares charity.

Broadway Cares interviewed him while he was at Gypsy of the Year, and that video can be seen here on YouTube. Dan discusses the importance of Broadway Cares and puts on a hilarious little Equus spoof with his fellow cast members.

Thanks to Sasha for the tip!

Maxim Magazine has released their list of the Hot 100 Girls of 2008, and Emma Watson comes in at #94:

One of the Harry Potter stars has appeared nude onstage. Sadly, it wasn’t 18-year-old Emma (though you looked hot, Daniel!). Next up, Emma lends her voice to The Tale of Despereaux.

The actor who gives us the brilliant portrayal of Severus Snape in the Potter films has been interviewed by Uinterview.com. It can be seen right here on YouTube.

Rickman answers a couple of Potter questions and also goes into what appeals him to the roles he takes. Thanks to HPANA for the tip.

The Hermione Granger actress recently spoke with MTV about her upcoming work for Deathly Hallows and her favorite scene:

The relationship between Ron and Hermione is obviously something near and dear to Watson – the “Deathly Hallows” scene she is most eager to film is a volatile moment between the couple.

“The scene that really touched me is Ron’s betrayal of Hermione, him leaving her. There’s that wonderful scene where he comes back and Hermione just launches herself at him and starts hitting him and is uncontrollably angry at him and disappointed in him for abandoning her. I’m looking forward to that because it felt very real when I read it.”

Read more at this link!

UPDATE: Video of this morning's announcement is now available via MyFox Chicago. In it, the Phelps twins take part in the announcement. Thanks, Lauren!

UPDATE 2: Another video of the press conference, this time from NBC.

Warner Brothers has just passed along a press release officially announcing Harry Potter: the Exhibition's international tour. It will be opening in Chicago on April 30th, 2009 at the Museum of Science and Industry:

“We are proud to present this unique exhibition, which captures the magic of Harry Potter and will give fans of all ages a front row seat to some of the most iconic artifacts and scenic elements from the beloved films,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We are pleased to debut this very special exhibit in Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry.”

“Since 2000, when we began production on the adaptation of the first of Jo Rowling’s remarkable books, we have had the great privilege of working with some of the most talented artists and craftsman in the world,” said David Heyman, the producer of the Harry Potter films. “We are delighted that fans will finally have the opportunity to see, in person, some of their favorite props and costumes. We are looking forward to audiences enjoying the care, creativity and attention to detail involved in their making, just as we do each and every day on set.”

Tickets are now on sale, exclusively at the museum's website. Combination admission into the Museum and Harry Potter: The Exhibition during the day is $26 for adults; $25 for seniors and $19 for children ages 3-11. After the Museum closes, evening hour tickets are $18 for adults and seniors and $15 for children ages 3-11.

WB also released three pictures: concept sketch of Great Hall exhibit, concept sketch of Common Room exhibit, promotional poster for Chicago opening.

Sources say that the Phelps twins will be present for the official announcement at the museum. We'll update you if any pics or video become available!

Read the full press release at the link below!

IESB.net has a great new interview with Potter producer David Heyman, who talks about, among other films, Deathly Hallows:

IESB: I have to ask the obligitory Harry Potter questions, is it a good thing they split up the upcoming films?

Heyman: Yes, I didn't want to do it initially. I was like, "This is crazy." And then the decision rested ultimately with the filmmakers. The studio said you do whatever you think is right and initially I was like, "This is crazy!" And then I started going through the book and the thought of doing it in one film is insane. This is the story where so much is resolved. In previous films we've been able to remove certain things that didn't relate to Harry, we took Harry's journey. And in this one it was nothing, I mean, it was so much harder to remove things. The think we could have removed would have been the Deathly Hallows, but the book is called The Deathly Hallows and that would have been slightly problematic. And so we made the decision and I was speaking with Steve the other day, Clovis [sic] the writer, and he says, "you know there are times I think we could have done three movies..." There is so much material and it's such great material that now I feel very positive about the two film approach.

Heyman also talks about working on Potter-related movies after Deathly Hallows, and specifically says that he would not work on Beedle the Bard. This is particularly interesting because just the other day we showed you a rumor saying WB was considering a Beedle film.

Christmas is just two weeks away! If you have a loved one who also happens to be a Harry Potter fan, you need look nowhere else for the perfect gift: MuggleShop.

Whether you're looking for Harry Potter books, DVDs, toys, or costumes, you'll find it here.

We also have a special offer for you - enter the code TENHARRY until December 19th to save 10% on all orders over $75 at Warner Bros. shop.

Home to a few Potter premieres in New York City, starting next Friday the historic Ziegfeld Theater will be playing all five Potter films!

You can get full details, including ticket information, right here.

Marks & Spencer, a UK retail company, is holding a competition in which the winner will receive a trip to Los Angeles for a VIP tour of the Warner Bros. studios. Plus the winner will receive tickets to the Half-Blood Prince movie and may even be one of the first to see it.

Click here for terms, conditions, and information on how to enter.

Thanks, UHP, for the tip.

On top of this morning's news of The Tales of Beedle the Bard becoming the fastest selling book of 2008, USA Today now reports that it's holding the #1 spot on their bestseller list:

Stephenie Meyer, the American author who is often called the new J.K. Rowling, has been bumped from the top of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list — by J.K. Rowling.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Rowling's collection of five fairy tales, will enter the list Thursday at No. 1.

Even though Rowling has loosened Meyer's iron grip on the top spot, Meyer's teen vampire novels remain sizzling hot, thanks to the hit movie adaptation of Twilight, the first book in the series.

The Telegraph is reporting that JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard has become the fastest selling book of 2008:

The Tales of Beedle the Bard – mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the latest book in wizard boy series – sold 367,625 copies in the first three days after publication on December 4.

Next on the list was Guinness World Records 2008, which sold 73,000 over the same time period, according to market analysts Nielsen BookScan.

Philip Stone, charts editor at The Bookseller magazine, commented: "None of the other big releases managed to get near the sales figure for Beedle the Bard. I would be very surprised if it is not Christmas number one, but it's not a dead cert."

Congratulations, Jo!

In promoting her new film The Tales of Desparaux, the actress who plays Hermione Granger appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter the other day.

You can see video of the appearance right here on YouTube. Emma talks about her new film and helps make a Christmas card. Thanks to Rhod for the tip!

The semi-finalists for the MuggleNet and Magical Tours Fan Photo Contest have been chosen! We received many great entries! Now it's up to you to pick the winners!

Vote for the photo that you feel best represents what it is to be a Harry Potter fan. These photos were taken at Harry Potter events far and wide and each represents a unique angle on the fandom!

Click here to vote and view the 12 semi-finalists. Voting will be open for 1 week.

For more fandom fun, don't forget to check out the summer 2009 Magical Tours. The tours are filling up fast! Don't miss your chance to visit the filming locations of the movies! To read more about the filming locations visit FindHogwarts.com and then learn about the tours at Magicaltours.org

The MTV Movies Blog has a small new interview up with the actress who plays Hermione Granger in the Potter films. In it, she discusses her upcoming work on the two-part Deathly Hallows:

The split didn’t just surprise fans – it was unexpected to the film’s cast as well. When MTV spoke to Emma Watson (read her full Potter-filled interview here), we asked her if she could update us on how the film will be divided. “I don’t know. I am as intrigued as you are. I am waiting at the moment to receive the script. It’s a tough call. I’m sure it will be some cruel cliffhanger.”

The delays of the next three films means that Watson will be saying a long goodbye to Hermione Granger – but she is emotional when it comes to leaving the character behind. “It’s really mixed feelings. It will be bittersweet. It will be very scary because it’s been such a massive part of my life. It will have been nearly over a decade that I’d been playing Hermione. It’ll be tough but I’ll be ready to go I think. I’ll be ready to take on other projects. It will be exciting.”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park's official website has been updated with a new poll question: Which is your favorite broomstick?

The options are the Nimbus Two Thousand, the Nimbus Two Thous and One, or the Firebolt.

The theme park is scheduled to open in 2010. Thanks to Chris for the tip!

According to a report earlier today from CinemaBlend.com, Warner Brothers is looking into making The Tales of Beedle the Bard a major motion picture.

"Knowing that the magical gravy train is coming to an end, the WB is looking for ways to squeeze more out of Potter."

According to their sources, WB is still trying to figure out exactly how the book would translate into a film.

Please remember that this is pure speculation and should be treated as a rumor until more info becomes available!

Thanks to Kat for the tip!

The actress who plays Emma Watson in the Potter films was in Los Angeles last night for the premiere of her new film, The Tales of Despereaux. Emma is the voice of Princess Pea and the film opens in theaters on December 19th.

You can see pictures of Emma at the premiere right here, courtesy Snitch Seeker and Getty Images.

Emma has also conducted a couple of interviews to promote the film. You can see one here with MTV and another one here with The Sunday Times.

Thanks to Cella and Andres for the tips!

The latest episode of our Harry Potter podcast is now available! This week's show is all about The Tales of Beedle the Bard as we discuss:

- What was our favorite tale?
- Would Laura Mallory approve of the tales?
- Our thoughts on Dumbledore's commentary.
- We discuss the timing of when Dumbledore wrote these notes and their significance.
- We go Tale by Tale through the book, pointing out the most interesting tidbits.
- Parallels between Beedle tales and the Potter books.
- New MuggleCast interaction: we read questions sent in via Twitter!

All that and a LOT more can be found in this week's episode with Jamie, Micah, Laura, Matt, and I. To download for free, we recommend subscribing through Apple iTunes. Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop. Enjoy!

Have you ever wanted to go to Hogwarts? Magical Tours is currently registering for their summer 2009 tours but they are filling up fast! This is your chance to join other MuggleNet visitors on a once in a lifetime trip to see the filming locations of the movies! To read more about the filming locations visit FindHogwarts.com and then learn about the tours at Magicaltours.org

To celebrate the release of JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Magical Tours is giving away one Collector's Edition of the book to the person who submits the best Harry Potter fan photo! There are other great prizes as well including wands from Alivan's! Upload your best fan photograph from a Harry Potter related event - whether it's a tour, a book release party, or just waiting to see the movie with friends! We want to see pictures that best capture the Harry Potter phenomenon!

Entries are due Monday, December 8th. Click Here for more details and the complete rules.

There are a few more sneak peeks from ABC Family's Harry Potter weekend that aired during today's presentations of Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. You can check them out below:

Sneak Peek #5: Comedy - includes commentary with Dan Radcliffe, David Yates, David Heyman, Rupert Grint, Matthew Lewis and Emma Watson. Heyman calls it the "funniest of films" and Yates says we get a taste of "comedy quidditch". We also get a first look inside Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Sneak Peek #4: The Story of Tom Riddle - details Voldemort's past and has interviews with Dan Radcliffe, David Heyman and Michael Gambon.

Sneak Peek #3: Meet Professor Slughorn - includes commentary from David Yates, Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Jim Broadbent, and David Barron.

Sneak Peek #2: Love is in the Air - includes commentary from Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown).

Sneak Peek #1: The Story (aired last night)

Be sure to keep checking back during the weekend as more clips will be posted as they become available!

Hey guys, I have bad news and good news. First, the good news: if you're one of the many people who has asked us how you can get your own highly fashionable MuggleNet shirt, here's your chance. If you spent $25 or more at Alivan's, they'll send you a free t-shirt! Make sure you use the coupon "FREETEE" when you're checking out.

Now for the bad news: we only have one size - small. So think of this is a giveaway... for little people!

I am sad to report these are the last MuggleNet shirts ever printed (tear).

MuggleNet reader Emily was one of the lucky winners of Scholastic's Beedle the Bard essay competition, and she filed this report for us from within Jo's tea party held on Thursday. You can read the full report at the link below.

The event started off with J.K. Rowling reading “The Fountain of Fair-Fortune”. It was entrancing the way she read the story out loud. After she finished reading, Barry started off a question and answer session, where kids asked pre-submitted questions that were picked to be asked. One very moving question was about how Jo came up with the idea for her charity. She read in the newspaper about a boy who was kept in a cage bed at an institution for children in Europe; literally, a bed with a cage on top. Also, she addressed what her charity is for and what the money raised is used for.

Our friends at HP Fan Trips have announced their schedule of upcoming tours for next year! There are four to choose from, and they all occur around July's Half-Blood Prince movie release.

Definitely check out the tours if you're looking for a great way to experience the world of Harry Potter in England.

As mentioned previously, during ABC Family's Potter weekend, there would be a few sneak peaks at the upcoming Half-Blood Prince film. The first one aired tonight during Sorcerer's Stone. You can watch the segment entitled "The Story" right here. Below is a brief synopsis of the clip.

The first look at Half-Blood Prince is a compilation of scenes with explanations of the main plot by Dan, Emma and Rupert. David Heyman discusses the return of Voldemort and the Death Eaters attacking London, as we see footage of the Millennium Bridge breaking apart and the storefronts exploding. He notes that in this film "Dumbeldore is preparing Harry for the ultimate battle." We also get some brief commentary from director David Yates.

More clips are to come this weekend so be sure to check back often.

The winners of the MuggleNet and Alivans Create Your Own Beedle Tale contest are now here! We received lots of entries and believed all of the stories were great tales. However, here are our top three, who will be winning fabulous prizes from Alivans, Master Wandmakers:

- 1st Place: The Little Star by S. Rothe
- 2nd Place: The Wizard of the Glen by Clint W.
- 3rd Place: Tale of the Four Muggles by Ami P.

Congrats to the winners, and thanks again to Alivans once again for supplying the great prizes! We hope our visitors enjoy the stories as much as we did.

Everyone's favorite half-giant is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday, Rubeus! We hope your cake is as delicious as the one you made for Harry on his 11th birthday.

The holidays are upon us, and Warner Brothers wants to help you pick out some Harry Potter merchandise for your wishlist. They've just informed us of their new Harry Potter Wish List site! Simply browse through the products on the site, click your favorites to create the list, and let WB owl it away to friends and family.

WB has also kicked off a cool new sweepstakes: Click here to enter for your chance to win a trip to London and a tour of the Deathly Hallows set! The contest runs between now and December 31st.

And finally, there is a new widget available right here which holds the latest news, a holiday game (get the questions right and win a discount at the WB store), and much more. Wanna see it in action? We put it on our site right here!

With all the news concerning The Tales of Beedle the Bard there have been a few other things of note going on:

- Alan Rickman, who plays Severus Snape in the Potter series appeared Wednesday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He also did an interview with SciFi.com where he discussed his filming schedule and the impact of the final film:

"Well, it'll be a big finish, won't it? That's true, and appropriately. You can feel it now, the size of the undertaking."

The online magazine also got a hold of producer David Heyman where he discussed the delay of the sixth film and the impact of the decision to split Deathly Hallows.

- On Thursday, RDR Books officially withdrew its appeal of U.S. District Judge Patterson's decision to publish an unauthorized companion novel to the Potter series. J.K. Rowling's public relations agency issued the following statement:

"We are delighted that this matter is finally and favorably resolved and that J.K. Rowling's rights -- and indeed the rights of all authors of creative works -- have been protected," the statement said. "We are also pleased to hear that rather than continue to litigate, RDR have themselves decided to publish a different book prepared with reference to Judge Patterson's decision."

The Muskegon Chronicle goes on to say that in the new book the words "An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials" appears boldly below "The Lexicon" title and above author Steve Vander Ark's name. There is further explanation that neither Rowling nor a host of others with trademarks and other interests in the Harry Potter series had any part in the book.

- Finally, USA Today has written up a preview of ABC Family's Potter weekend which begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. You can expect to see deleted scenes from Goblet of Fire as well as a look into Half-Blood Prince. The paper quotes producer David Heyman on the sixth film:

"It's different than the other films. It's not the non-stop action that some of the others are, although there is some action. It's more of an emotional film."

We've mentioned a few times tonight MuggleNet staff member Christie, who was in Scotland to check out what was going on at Jo's reading of Beedle the Bard. She's just filed this report for us, detailing what went on:

I was able to speak to several people as they came out of the National Library of Scotland after Jo's Beedle the Bard reading this evening. As it turns out, the event for children that has been advertised was held earlier in the afternoon in the Avocate's Library.

According to a library employee, this evening's events included a reading of The Fountain of Fair Fortune as well as speeches thanking the publishers and editors from throughout her career.

The first person I spoke to actually approached me. He was an older man who leaned in conspiratorially to whisper, "She's not just a good writer, she's also quite sexy."

Read the full report at the link below. Thanks again, Christie!

Reuters is one of the first to report on the tea party held earlier today by author J.K. Rowling for roughly 200 primary school students.

"During a question-and-answer session, the writer spoke about her favorite authors as a child and her love of Christmas, and revealed she has had a fear of spiders ever since she was young."

Rowling went on to say that the idea to publish Beedle the Bard came from Potter fans:

"There was quite a lot of high feeling from Harry Potter fans that only someone who had two million pounds could afford to read the book. I thought 'fair point', so I thought 'I'll publish it and then the charity can have that money too'."

There are also some photos available from the reading courtesy of Getty Images.

Earlier today, MuggleNet staffer Christie was able to take some great photos of Jo entering the National Library of Scotland just outside Advocate's Court.

Jo holding Beedle the Bard outside library

Additionally, she visited the library itself this afternoon and got some shots of Barry Cunningham's personal handwritten copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Cunningham was Rowling's first editor and a publisher at Bloomsbury when he received the manuscript for the first Potter book.

Last page of The Wizard and The Hopping Pot
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
Cunningham's front cover
Cunningham's front and back cover

Thanks again to Christie for the great photos! We will have more as it becomes available so keep checking back often!

BBC News covered our live podcast at Waterstone's last night and has this video online from when the books went on sale at midnight. The Scotsman has an article highlighting a midnight release party in Scotland, and they quote MuggleNet staff member Christie Roberts and her friend. The Telegraph also made note of the midnight release and quoted my first review from this morning.

As for reviews, those are surfacing through various press outlets: The Daily Mail, The Associated Press, and The Telegraph.

Much more to come later today! JK Rowling's Beedle release party will begin shortly in Edinburgh, and we hope to have pictures from the event.

It's finally here! JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard is now available in the United States and United Kingdom. Fans across the world have participated in midnight release parties (including ours) to celebrate the book.

Those of us in the UK right now have had a few hours to digest what we've just purchased for charity. The book is honestly a work of art - as precious as one of the original seven copies. The pages of the book feel so delicate, enclosed by a hardback cover with a soft texture. Each tale ends with a few pages of additional details from Albus Dumbledore, and JKR added a few (quite humorous) footnotes to each detail area so that we can understand some of the things Albus gets into.

What are YOUR thoughts on Beedle if you've gotten your hands on it? Leave 'em in the comments below! We're eager to see what the fandom thinks. MuggleCast will be recording a full review show in the next few days. If you want to participate, send an e-mail to mugglecast at staff dot mugglenet dot com with any questions or comments you have.

As Scholastic promised, a video of editor Arthur Levine reading his handwritten copy of the book can be found right here. Just scroll down to "Video Downloads" to see that and video of Wednesday's media unveiling at the New York Public Library!

Our live podcast from Waterstone's Piccadilly in the heart of London is now online! Just 90 minutes away from the release of the book, Jamie, Matt, Elysa and I discuss our expecations, what's next for Jo, and much more. Including:

- Hagrid and Dumbledore introduce the MuggleCasters.
- Will Dumbledore's notes be our favorite part?
- Which story are we looking forward to the most?
- Beedle the Bard trivia, with prizes sponsored by Alivans.com!
- Audience questions ranging from the books, to the films, and more.

To download for free, we recommend subscribing through Apple iTunes. Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop. Enjoy!

Earlier today, one of the seven original handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard was unveiled at the New York Public Library. Performing the honors were Arthur Levine, Scholastic co-editor of the Harry Potter series and Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library.

Levine, who has lent his own personal copy to the library for display discussed the importance of the Potter series as a whole and his enjoyment in working on The Tales of Beedle the Bard, particularly the back and forth commentary between author J.K. Rowling and Albus Dumbledore. He went on to say that his favorite tale was the "Fountain of Fair Fortune," which you can see him reading from later tonight. Video and pictures of Rowling and Levine reading from Beedle the Bard will be available right here at 12:01 AM EST.

The book will be on display in a free exhibit (within the library's Humanities and Social Sciences Library) from December 5th until January 4th. Scholastic also announced that they'll be donating three copies of the book to all 87 branches of the New York Public Library. Following its run at the library the book will reside at Brown University, Levine's alma mater.

I was able to capture a few photos at the event which you can see below:

Before the unveiling
Copy unveiled by Arthur Levine and Paul LeClerc
Full Beedle the Bard display
Poster in display case
Paul LeClerc with display, Beedle boxes and video
Close-up: Beedle the Bard
Close-up: Opening Page

Scholastic has also sent us the following three photos:

Scholastic 1
Scholastic 2
Scholastic 3

- The AP's London base has a new report about The Tales of Beedle the Bard online tonight, and we now know that 8 million copies have been printed for the initial worldwide release. 3.5 million of those copies are in the US alone.

- Lastly, one MuggleNet reader has reported seeing the book already on sale. From Michael: [My friend] was shopping at our local Kroger Supermarket when she surprisingly came across the new Tales of Beedle the Bard book. She was outraged because the book's release is not until Thursday December 4th. She refused to open and read the book, but took plenty of photos of her finding (with herself and the supermarket in plain view of the books on the shelf). I immediately notified the store manager about the dilemma but he was very rude about the matter. So, I made a phone call to Scholastic Inc. They were very helpful and are currently trying to solve this problem as we speak.

The release of JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a for-charity Potter fairy tale book, is just hours away.

If you're not heading to one of the many midnight release parties, you can order the book from Amazon for only $7.14! All proceeds go to the Children's High Level Group charity.

In addition to MuggleCast's live show at Waterstones Piccadilly and Whimsic Alley's release party, it has now been announced that most Borders and Waldenbooks stores will host release parties beginning at 6 p.m. on December 4.

The release notes that "the events will include trivia games, arts-and-crafts activities and a discussion of a crucial chapter from 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' that features one of the fables detailed in 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard.'"

Please contact your local Borders or Waldenbooks to find out their plans!

Tonight at 8:30 PM EST please join the Harry Potter Alliance at a real-world meeting of Dumbledore's Army. Paul DeGeoge, Melissa Anelli, John Noe, Andrew Slack, Micah Tannenbaum, Matt Maggiacomo, Alex Carpenter, and several other fantastic members of the Harry Potter fandom will be discussing tomorrow's event, STANDfast (the project in which participants abstain from purchasing one luxury item and donate the money they saved to supporting on-the-ground civilian protection efforts in Darfur and Burma).

The Harry Potter Alliance post reminds us: "This is an amazing opportunity to make a difference: every three dollars will go to protect one woman in Darfur from being raped for a whole week and every five dollars will go to protect a whole family in Eastern Burma." To listen in, please call 712-432-1001 and enter the code 453368027 plus the pound key to be transported to a room of requirement for the Dumbledore's Army meeting!

As part of their "Year in Review," Yahoo! Movies recently released their Top 10 Trailers of 2008 with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince coming in at No. 6. The list is headed by Dark Knight and includes other box office smashes such as Wanted, Twilight, Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. You can watch all the top 10's theatrical trailers at the link above.

Thanks to Jeremy for the tip!

E! Online has posted another clip from an interview they conducted with Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe where he dismisses rumors on the postponement of Half-Blood Prince as well as what it will be like to finish the final Potter film after spending nearly half his life working on it. Radcliffe also admits he is not sure how they will shoot the epilogue scene where the trio age 19 years.

The Equus and Harry Potter star will be appearing on Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio tonight at 8 PM EST. There have already been parts of the interview released over the past couple months.

To promote the interview, MTV has a new article up where they provide several interesting tidbits from the show:

And when Radcliffe got the part for Harry Potter, he didn’t have any comprehension what it was he got — his response to his dad when he heard the news was, “Great, can I stay up late and watch another episode of ‘Fawlty Towers’?” He didn’t consider himself or the other kids to be great actors out the gate: “We didn’t know what we were doing,” he admitted. But by the third film, he was starting to take acting seriously, which is what led to him taking on roles outside of Potter, including his current turn in “Equus.”

We're just a couple days away from our live podcast at Waterstone's Piccadilly in London, and a few tickets are still available! To grab 'em, visit this page and call the phone number provided in the hours listed. The book store will be taking payments by phone (5 pounds per ticket, which includes the book) through Wednesday morning.

Also, if you received a call back about tickets you reserved but you missed the call: don't fret! Visit this page and call the number. You'll be speaking with a Waterstone's representative who is handling the tickets.

In related news, we're happy to announce that Alivans, Master Wandmakers have provided us with a variety of prizes to give away during the podcast. We'll likely be giving away these prizes by having attendees answer trivia questions, so be sure to brush up on your Beedle and general Potter knowledge!