JKR came out to loud and long cheers. She read from HBP, specifically Dumbledore's visit (as observed by Harry and Dumbledore in the pensieve) to Tom Riddle's orphanage. Then she took some preselected questions (though the questions were asked by their authors, rather than a moderator). The first question was "What would Hermione see in the mirror of Erised?" JKR said that, at the moment, she would see the three of them, still alive and unscathed with Voldemort defeated. She also added that Hermione would see herself "closely entwined with another person."

Next, someone wanted to know whether Muggles could brew potions. (I've actually wondered this myself occasionally.) The answer is apparently no, because there's always some point at which there is some magic involved. (Though, given Snape's comments early on about "foolish wand waving," I'm not sure how the magic comes into it...) She also said that people had wondered what would happen if a Muggle got his/her hands on a wand. I think she said that there would probably be an accident, but I don't seem to have gotten that down in my notes.

The third question referenced the old comment about Snape and a redemptive pattern to ask whether Draco could/would redeem himself and whether anyone else would change sides. She didn't address the second part of the question, but in response to the first she said that redemption was not a possibility for all characters (giving Voldemort as an example) but it was for most of her characters. She agrees with Harry that, even given unlimited time, Draco would not have killed Dumbledore. As to what this means for his future, she said we'd have to wait 'til book seven to find out.

Fourth was "why did Ollivander choose the particular wand cores that he did (since we have seen that there are others)?" JKR said that she had a whole list of wand cores and she had Ollivander use her three favorites (which he considers to be the most magically powerful). Other wandmakers may choose cores individual to their particular country.

The next question (and last of this segment) was about writing in general (I think) rather than Harry specifically, though she did interpret it to be about the HP series. In any case, it was about the process of writing, rather about the content of the books -- "How do you know when to stop?" JKR joked about how some of her reviews suggest that she doesn't know when to stop. Then she talked about how she'd had a plan for 16 years. She said that even though she's pretty far in, she still has a lot to explain and she does think that she may leave some loose ends (but hopefully nothing important).

Then the other two authors came back onstage to join JKR (along with Soledad O'Brien as a moderator, though mostly she just introduced the audience members who's questions had been chosen) and answer some further (still pre-chosen) questions. Of these questions, only two were for JKR. These were about how the internet has influenced her writing or writing process (not quite sure which) and did she ever think of giving up when Harry was getting rejected and what would she been doing if she had. (The latter was from a girl and was paired with a compliment to JKR from her dad about getting a new generation of kids to read and how Hermione was a great role model). To answer the first of these questions, she talked about the temptation to look up negative reviews on Amazon. Then she talked about discovering the fan communities and shipping. (There was an amusing moment there when some Harry and Hermione shippers in the audience made their presence known and JKR said something like "and you're still out there.") She summed it up by saying that Jane Austen probably got less feedback, but that overall it (the internet) was exciting if used wisely.

As to giving up and what else she would be doing. She said that because she'd gotten an agent fairly quickly and because she loved the story so much that she couldn't believe her luck, she never really considered giving up. But that if it hadn't sold by now she probably would have and that if she was doing something else it would be teaching.

Written by Miriam.

VISITOR JOSH SENT US THESE REBUTTALS TO THE ABOVE REPORT

I was at the reading last night, and the person who wrote the report got the details mostly right. There are only a few things I'd like to add. I believe that JKR, when talking about potion-making, mentioned that wands must be used at some point. This leads me to believe that when a wizard or witch stirs the potion, he or she is stirring it with their wand. This provides the magical elements neccessary for the potion to work. JKR did say that a Muggle would probably have a nasty accident if he came into contact with a wand. She explained this being due to the fact that she views a wand as an extension of its wizard owner, or a focus of the wizard's powers (or something along those lines).

A little later on, in reference to the internet question, after the H/Hr fans screamed, she asked if there were any R/Hr fans out there. There was a lot more screaming, at which she seemed grateful. Then she mentioned that there were also other stranger pairs she'd discovered on the webs that she wouldn't discuss on the stage (at this point, someone shouted what I believe was Dobby/Giant Squid, at which she laughed, but I can't be completely sure what was shouted).

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