J.K. Rowling Tweets on ‘Battle of Hogwarts’ Anniversary This Year – ‘It Feels Inappropriate’
Each May 2nd, J.K. Rowling commemorates the “Battle of Hogwarts,” the final battle of the Second Wizarding War depicted by the author in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final title in her now-classic Harry Potter book series.
The author normally tweets about the anniversary of the fictional conflict, and has in recent years, “apologized” for the death of a beloved character.
This year, however, is different and her 2020 tweet was spot-on.
‘The Battle of Hogwarts’ – J.K. Rowling’s annual ritual
In years past, Rowling has apologized for the deaths of beloved characters from the Harry Potter book series. Many of the characters that fans grew up with and became attached to, as Rowling churned out each of the seven Potter series books through the years, perished in the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
And so, on May 2nd of each year, the author has at times, tongue in cheek, tweeted her apologies for the demise of a Hogwarts character.
In 2016, for example, she tweeted, “Once again, it’s the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts so, as promised, I shall apologise for a death. This year: Remus Lupin.”
‘The Battle of Hogwarts’ isn’t the same this year to J.K. Rowling
With the world navigating the ongoing pandemic, the 54-year-old author just didn’t feel it was right to memorialize fictionalized deaths with so much loss actually taking place daily on a global scale.
In a series of tweets, the English writer said, “Today’s the 22nd anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, but I’m going to be honest and say that it feels inappropriate to talk about fictional deaths today. Too many people are losing loved ones in the real world.”
“So on this anniversary of a great wizarding victory,” she continued, “I’m thinking of the people who’re out there doing their jobs to protect us and our way of life. I have 3 key workers in my immediate family, and like all such relatives, I’m torn between pride and anxiety.”
Rowling announced in her tweets that she would be making a financial donation to help out crisis workers and agencies providing aid to those experience domestic abuse in England.
“As ever in a crisis of this sort,” she said, “the poorest and most vulnerable are hit hardest, so in honour of the Battle of Hogwarts, I’ll be making a donation of £1m, half of which will go to https://crisis.org.uk, who’re helping the homeless during the pandemic and half of which will go to https://refuge.org.uk, because we know that domestic abuse has, sadly, increased hugely during the lockdown.”
Her fans couldn’t agree more, and are donating as well
Rowling’s act of generosity inspired her fans to do the same.
One fan tweeted, “I couldn’t give that much but I just followed suit and donated £100. Hope it’ll help. Thanks for teaching us the right way, Jo. More than ever, I’m proud to be one of your most devoted fans”
Another expressed their admiration of her generosity saying “I couldn’t love you anymore for this. Not only did you give us one of the best stories ever told, you are helping those most vulnerable.”
