An 800-word, untitled short story, unofficially known as theHarry Potter prequel, was written byJ. K. Rowling in 2008 as part of a charity auction event, for which it fetched £25,000. It was published as part ofWhat's Your Story Postcard Collection.[1] The story recounts an encounter with Muggle police experienced bySirius Black andJames Potter, taking place before the events of theHarry Potter series. The manuscript was stolen in 2017, and has not been located as of 2024.[citation needed]
Thefull manuscript can be found atMuggleNet, a Harry Potterfan website.
TwoMuggle policemen chase a speedingmotorbike into a dead-end alley, cornering its riders: Sirius Black and James Potter. As the policemen confront the pair, three men fly down the alley onbroomsticks. James and Sirius magically upend the policemen's car and the broomsticks crash into it, rendering their ridersinsensible. As the policemen clutch at each other in fear, Sirius and James return to their motorbike, which flies away.
Rowling concludes the story card with the words, "From the prequel I amnot working on – but that was fun!"[2]
On 11 June 2008,Waterstones held a charity event called "What's Your Story?". Thirteen authors, including Rowling, were invited to write stories on anA5 card forauction with proceeds going toEnglish PEN andDyslexia Action. Rowling's card was sold for £25,000[a] to Hira Digpal, president of Tokyo-based investment-banking consulting company Red-33. The total raised from the sale of all thirteen cards was £47,150.[b][3]
In April 2017, the manuscript of the prequel was stolen during a burglary in Birmingham. Rowling tweeted about the incident, asking fans not to buy the work if offered it, and West Midlands Police appealed for information.[4] The burglary victim told the BBC that the work was "priceless" and had the potential to raise money for additional good causes, if it were to be sold again legitimately. "I don't think whoever took it or stole it or who might purchase it will really understand the benefits to people out there, what it can do," he said. "If it's destroyed, or if it's lost, it's a great loss."[5] As of June 2024, there is no reporting about the whereabouts of the manuscript.
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