Pottermore: JK Rowling’s first new piece of Harry Potter writing focuses on Native American wizards

'The magic wand originated in Europe'

The illustration that accompanies the piece

The first piece of writing from JK Rowling’s new ‘History of Magic in North America’ online mini-series has been published on Pottermore, imagining a different context to the plight of the Native American tribes.

The series is being parcelled out in four parts this week, designed to give some context to upcoming Harry Potter spin-off movie, Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.

Rowling focuses on Native Americans in her first five paragraphs, to be considered canon, creating a distinction between the origins of magic in the Americas and Europe.

What we learned

Wizarding communities were aware of each other centuries back

"Various modes of magical travel – brooms and Apparition among them – not to mention visions and premonitions, meant that even far-flung wizarding communities were in contact with each other from the Middle Ages onwards."

Wizards are found in every corner of the globe

"The overall ratio of wizards to non-wizards seemed consistent across populations, as did the attitudes of No-Majs, wherever they were born."

Rowling imagines medicine men as early wizards

"In the Native American community, some witches and wizards were accepted and even lauded within their tribes, gaining reputations for healing as medicine men, or outstanding hunters. However, others were stigmatised for their beliefs, often on the basis that they were possessed by malevolent spirits."

Some tribesmen were Animagi, and, generally, North America was more gifted at potions, Europe, spells

"The Native American wizarding community was particularly gifted in animal and plant magic, its potions in particular being of a sophistication beyond much that was known in Europe. The most glaring difference between magic practised by Native Americans and the wizards of Europe was the absence of a wand. The magic wand originated in Europe."

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will star Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, a 'magizoologist' who accidentally unleashes a suitcase of magical beasts in 1920s New York.

Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell and Ron Perlman will all star in the film released 18 November, which Rowling recently confirmed will be a trilogy.