Rowling releases ALL-NEW magical information about Quidditch World Cup on Pottermore – PART 1

by · March 14, 2014

pottermore-quidditch-world-cup

Recently, author J.K. Rowling challenged us all on Twitter to use the hashtag #wizards4scotlandrugby in order to receive a special reward on Pottermore. We did as she requested and were given a wonderful reward: the history of the Quidditch World Cup – Part 1.

Rowling has now shared with us the rules and regulations of the tournament and how it is governed by the International Confederation of Wizards’ Quidditch Committee. She also shared the structure of the tournamnet, the history of the games, and even some of the more unusual and controversial entries in the rule book.

For example, here is the entry on an unusual event that occurred in 1809 between Romania and New Spain:

“The ghastly climax of the 1809 final between Romania and New Spain (what is now known as Mexico) has gone down in wizarding history as the worst exhibition of temper ever given by an individual player. Niko Nenad’s teammates had become so concerned by his ferocious outbursts during the quarter- and semi-finals that they tried to persuade their manager to substitute him for the final, advice that was sadly ignored by the ambitious old wizard. After the game, Nenad’s teammate Ivan Popa (winner of an International Wizarding Order of Merit for his life-saving actions during the catastrophe) told an international inquiry, ‘over the preceding weeks we’d seen Niko beat himself over the head with his broom and set fire to his own feet in frustration. I’d personally stopped him strangling two referees. However, I had no suspicion about what he was planning to do if the final didn’t go our way. I mean, who’d suspect that? You’d have to be as mental as he was.’ Precisely when and how Nenad managed to jinx an entire forest on the edge of the West Siberian Plain is open to speculation, although he is thought to have had accomplices among unprincipled fans and was later proven to have paid local Dark wizards substantial sums. After two hours of play, Romania were behind on points and looking tired. It was then that Nenad deliberately hit a Bludger out of the stadium into the forest beyond the pitch. The effect was instantaneous and murderous. The trees sprang to life, wrenched their roots out of the ground and marched upon the stadium, flattening everything in their path, causing numerous injuries and several fatalities. What had been a Quidditch match turned swiftly into a human versus tree battle, which the wizards won only after seven hours’ hard fighting. Nenad was not prosecuted [since] he had been killed early on by a particularly violent spruce.”

Rowling shared many more events and stories that are really worth the trip over to Pottermore. You will find all of the information by heading to the “Campsite” moment in Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Part 2 will be released sometime over the next week. In the meantime, tell us what other items on the Quidditch World Cup you hope J.K. Rowling shares with us in the next installment by commenting below.