New Harry Potter stories revealed: Short story on Dolores Umbridge

JK Rowling has delved into the world of Harry Potter once again and revealed new secrets about some of her most hated characters and sets in the fifth book, The Order Of The Phoenix.

As we learned last week, J.K. Rowling has written a new story on Dolores Umbridge, arguably one of the most disliked characters in the series, as part of Pottermore’s Trick or Treat Celebration. Today, that new story has been released along with the opening of Order of the Phoenix!

Here’s a teaser of the new information released by Jo:

Dolores […] is one of the characters for whom I feel the purest dislike…” writes J.K. Rowling in a note at the entry’s conclusion. “Her desire to control, to punish, and to inflict pain, all in the name of law and order, are, I think, every bit as reprehensible as Lord Voldemort’s unvarnished espousal of evil.”

Plenty of information was revealed, including details from her childhood and the fact that Umbridge was indeed a Slytherin.

Head to Pottermore for the whole story, and check out the full press release below.
In addition, Pottermore will hold an event on their Twitter featuring #UmbridgeFacts later today.
What did you think of this new piece?

The renowned author's own feelings have never been as obvious as in these new extracts, all of which need to be unlocked in a difficult maze of clues on the site - (which we have helpfully worked out and given away to all you lovely people below).

In direct contrast, Rowling shows a love for Divination teacher Professor Trelawney, and describes her kindly as she delves into her past and personality.

We also get an insight into the founding of Azkaban, the history of the Thestrals and the Ministry of Magic, and more about how wizards name their children.

1. Dolores Umbridge

PottermoreUmbridge as you've never seen her before  

Finding our way through Pottermore - the website dedicated to all things Harry Potter - is a bit like stepping into a complex maze.

JK Rowling has managed to hide each of the new chapters deep in the site, and it takes serious patience and concentration to find each.

The first is found in Book five, under a picture of Dolores Jane Umbridge - and it requires you to click on the door of her office, and then her, to unlock the words.

This chapter begins by clearly stating Dolores has a muggle mother and wizard father, putting into question her total belief in a 'Pure blood' wizarding world.

Dolores "secretly despised" both her parents, Rowling reveals, who were unhappily married - which is a surprising start to the book, as she spent most of The Order Of The Phoenix painting a disgusting picture of the witch - we're almost made to feel sorry for her.

Almost.

However it soon becomes clear she hates her father for his lack of ambition and her mother for her muggle blood line - making her despicable once again.

It's revealed Dolores and her father eventually abandoned her mother and squib brother - who disappeared into the muggle world - and they never met again. She pretended she was pure-blood from then on.

Rowling's hate of her character is apparent throughout.

And we finally get a clue at why she became such a monster at Hogwarts as High Inquisitor, as Rowling reveals Umbridge had a hard time at school herself.

The incredible author then reveals her inspiration for the character, admitting she once met a woman just like her, before going into real detail on how she loved frills and always wore a hair clip in her hair.

However she goes on to admit none of her views were founded, and in fact the woman was nothing like her character.

She admitted Dolores is "one of the characters for whom I feel purest dislike"

And she even reveals her inspiration for the name, as Dolores means "sorrow" and Umbridge is a play on "umbrage", meaning offence.

Umbridge, it's revealed, ended up being put on trial for co-operation with Lord Voldemort's regime, and convicted of the torture, imprisonment and deaths of several people. (some muggles didn't survive after she put them in Azkaban).

2. Ministers For Magic
Ministry For Magic
Again we are thrown into the maze of Pottermore, having to find our way to the next sneak preview into Potter World.

The secrets of the Ministry of Magic can be found by clicking on the picture of the red phone box, before finding a small gargoyle-type thing next to the fountain, which opens the chapter.

Rowling the reveals its history, and describes how it was formed in 1707 with the appointment of the first Minister, Ulick Gamp, and immediately hints it's only ever been men at the helm.

She reveals Ministers for Magic are often in office a lot longer than in the muggle world, and says it's usually easier to follow them as a community - signalling peace and harmony.

However she does hint that the order surrounding elections is, well, disordered - as someone can be chosen without an election at all - just like Albus Dumbledore was.

Just like in Hogwarts, a portrait hangs in the Minister's office of first Minister Ulick, who announces when an emergency meeting is needed with the muggle PM.

Rowling then goes on to list every single Minister's name, their dates in office, and a little about them.

It's an insight many may never have known or wished for, but it gives a new depth of knowledge in the stories.

3. Thestrals
Thestrals
The chapter on Thestrals is a lot shorter but no less insightful, and can be found this time by going back to book five and this time clicking on the picture of 'The Carriages' - when there is an option to double click the screen, and hit one of the Thestrals to open the chapter.

The magical creatures are really revealed in the fifth book, when Harry discovers they can only be seen if that wizard or witch has seen death.

But JK Rowling now goes into their history, saying they have long been hunted, but shows an admiration of them through her writing as she says they mean no harm and are "gentle" creatures.

Many readers may have questioned why it took Harry so long to see them, having seen his mum and Cedric Diggory die, but Rowling explains it takes time to process what you've seen, and make sense of it.

4. Trelawney is sacked
Trelawney sacked
In sharp contrast to Dolores Umbridge, we see a kind-hearted and thoughful side to Rowling's characters here.

Finding this chapter at long last, we simply clicked on the picture saying 'Trelawney Is Sacked' (each of these have a red quill above them to make it - er, easier), and once there we can double click the screen, zoom in, and hit Trelawney to begin.

Quite shocking to many readers is the revelation Trelawney was once married, but it fell apart when she refused to accept the new name 'Higglebottom'.

While Rowling admits Trelwney is "90% fraud", she says the teacher has picked up more of her skill than even she understands.

She goes on to say: "Most of the time she is full of hot air and self-importance."

And while it's clear in the books and films, Rowling expands more on Trelawney's alcohol addiction, adding: "Unsurprisingly, perhaps, she has developed an over-reliance on alcohol."

She then admits she would find the character irritating in real life, but said there's a "pathos" about her - seen by McGonagall when she defends her to Umbridge.

In her own words, Rowling admits she didn't paint a picture of Trelawney's past, as she did with other characters, simply assuming she had roamed the wizarding world before Hogwarts.

She chose the name Trelawney because it is "impressive and attractive" - showing her love of this lesser known character.

5.  Naming Seers
Row Ninety Seven
A much shorter extract describes the naming process in the wizarding world, and can be found on the picture of the orbs, entitled 'Row ninety-Seven'.

In it, this one takes a long time, but you can double click the screen again, and hit the orb on the third shelf up on the right to unlock the chapter.

Anyone would think JK Rowling didn't want us to read this new content?

She reveals wizards have a great variety of names they can give to their children, some muggle-like, like Harry, others more out-there like Remus.

Some wizards consult a Naming Seer however, who take money to predict that child's future and offer a name accordingly.

This tradition isn't as popular now, and Rowling reveals many families have worried on their way home from the Seer, that they have heard something dark in their child's future - which paints them more like muggles than ever before in the books.

6. Azkaban

The Tattered Veil
Finally we get a journey back in time to the start of Azkaban, and to find this, we click on the image entitled 'The Tattered Veil, before zooming in again (by double clicking the screen), and hitting Bellatrix Lestrange.

And in we go to a whole new world or dark magic.

The notorious and terrifying prison has existed since the fifteenth century, but was once just an island - known to both muggles and wizards - in the North Sea.

Which is a little close to home.

Rowling reveals it is then believed to have been enlarged by magic. We note, even here, she lets people imagine themselves, and doesn't dictate exactly how it happened.

She reveals a dark magician, Ekrizdis, once lived there - and would capture muggle sailors to torture them.

He had made concealing charms, and they faded as he died - revealing his dark history and the prison building he built.

The Dementors made it their home themselves, and many feared to go there or upset them. (They feared the building itself would take revenge if anyone tried to destroy it, so it was left alone for years).

Prisons used to exist in smaller towns and villages, but an island was then preferred when Damocles Rowle became Minister for Magic - a dark wizard - who scrapped the initial plans, and chose Azkaban.

When Diggory took over, it was too late and the security was there to stay - when he visited the conditions were awful, with most inmates insane or already dead.

Athough he called for its closure, he died before and no other Minister pursued it.

While it still exists - there are no Dementors now, Rowling writes, and Aurors guard it instead - with the author this time painting a much happier picture to end her dark tale.Read more about the new chapters here, and discover HOW to read them for yourselves by seeing our clues in bold:

Which character are you dying to know more about?