Harry Potter author JK Rowling says Wiccans 'cannot co-exist' with witches and wizards at Hogwarts

Wicca is the only belief system or religion which doesn't feature in her bestselling books, the author reveals

Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has defended herself against suggestions that her fictional school of witchcraft and wizardry doesn’t reflect a diversity of belief systems - revealing that the only religion not represented at Hogwarts is Wicca.

Responding to questions as to why Wicca, a modern pagan religion that also uses the words “witch” and “wizard” to describe its members, was not represented at Hogwarts, Rowling said: “It's a different concept of magic to the one laid out in the books, so I don't really see how they can co-exist.”

During a Twitter question and answer session the novelist was asked why there were no Jewish students in her bestselling children’s books. She revealed that to the contrary a Ravenclaw pupil, Anthony Goldstein, was a Jewish wizard.

Goldstein was among the original 40 students Rowling created in Harry’s year, Rowling added. Rowling has been engaging with Harry Potter fans a lot lately having promised to post new content on fansite Pottermore for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

Yesterday’s post, a short riddle, was met with annoyance from fans who are eager for more original stories after the author published a slew of new writing on the site last month and earlier this week.

Yesterday’s riddle reads: In an orphanage in London where Tom Riddle resides; A suited wizard visits him, it’s quite a surprise. After showing the boy magical tricks of all sorts, Which future Headmaster offers him a place at Hogwarts?

Rowling revealed that the one wizard she regrets having killed off by Voldemort Florean FortesqueThe Prisoner of Azkaban

In the fifth Harry Potter book, The Order of the Phoenix, Fortesque is described as having been “dragged off” by Voldemort’s Death Eaters.

“I seem to have him kidnapped and killed for no good reason,” she admitted. “He is not the first wizard whom Voldemort murdered because he knew too much (or too little), but he is the only one I feel guilty about, because it was all my fault.”

A trio of spin-off Harry Potter films which predate the characters by 80 years are being made by Warner with Rowling writing the screenplay.

They will be centred around the character Newt Scamander whose book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is a set text for pupils at Hogwarts.

The BBC is also collaborating with Rowling on a TV adaptation of her Robert Galbraith mysteries.

An adaptation of her first novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy, will be broadcast early next year.