Harry Potter: The Prequel

Harry Potter: The Prequel is Book Number 0.5 in the Series Harry Potter

"Harry Potter: The Prequel" is not a full-length book but rather an 800-word short story written by J.K. Rowling in 2008 for a charity auction organized by Waterstones to benefit English PEN and the Dyslexia Society. Set approximately three years before the birth of Harry Potter, around 1977, it offers a brief glimpse into the lives of two beloved characters from the Harry Potter series: Sirius Black and James Potter, Harry’s father, during their teenage years.

The story follows Sirius and James, who are riding a magical motorcycle at high speed, leading to a chase by two Muggle (non-magical) policemen, PC Anderson and Sergeant Fisher, into a dead-end alley. As the officers confront the pair, three additional figures on broomsticks swoop in, escalating the situation. Using their wands, Sirius and James magically upend the police car and cause the broomstick riders to crash into it, knocking them out. The two young wizards then escape on the motorcycle, leaving the bewildered policemen behind. The tale captures their youthful rebellion, quick thinking, and flair for magic, ending with Rowling’s handwritten note: "From the prequel I am NOT working on – but that was fun!" This lighthearted adventure highlights the daring camaraderie between Sirius and James before the darker events of the Harry Potter saga unfold.

View this book on Amazon 📚