James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing
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James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing is a 360 page web-based novel written by American computer animator George Norman Lippert. It is an unofficial continuation of J.K. Rowling's highly successful Harry Potter book series. Written as a fan fiction project for Lippert's wife and sons, the novel is set eighteen years after the end of the last official installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and describes the adventures of Harry Potter's son, James Potter II, during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1]
Lippert has said of his novel, "I am a little worried that people will be angry when they find out it's not Rowling. But I hope Harry Potter fans will enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it."[1]
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[edit] Website
The novel has gained significant attention and media coverage due to the professional-quality design and sophisticated Flash animation on the high-band version of the website, designed by Lippert, on which it is hosted. After the site first appeared in early November 2007, many Harry Potter fans on the internet initially speculated that the site might be part of an elaborate viral marketing campaign for an official continuation or spinoff of Harry Potter, one either written or at least approved by Rowling herself.[2] Some news sites originally speculated it was about Harry's father James and not Harry's child James.[3] However, on November 9, 2007, Rowling's agent Neil Blair denied that Rowling was in any way involved with the purported project. [4]
That same day, Warner Bros., the studio which owns the rights to the Harry Potter film series, also denied that Elders' Crossing was in any way connected to the official Harry Potter franchise.[5] A search via Google of "James Potter and the Hall of Elders" supported the inital speculation that the website was fan fiction, as shown on this compilation of Google searches. The website is registered through Schlund & Partner AG, a European registrar service, to a firm in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, with a phone number and address that match a gaming firm called The Purple Sphere. Lippert himself is based in Missouri.[1]
[edit] Layout
The page that allows visitors to select whether they wish to visit the high-band ("Wizard") or low-band ("Muggle") version of the site includes a stylized "JP" logo with the words "James Potter II" written across it, confirming that the story deals with Harry Potter's son rather than his father, and is therefore a sequel rather than a prequel.
The high-band version of the website also features an animated timer that counted down to 12:00 noon Central Standard Time on December 1, 2007. Since then the timer now reads "THE HALL IS OPEN" and allows visitors to enter the site to access the chapters of the novel itself. The main page also features pencil-drawings of characters and scenes from the new novel, accessible via a link on the left side of the page.
The music for the opening animation (where "Harry Potter" turns into "James Potter") was originally the main opening theme music from the Harry Potter film series, but it has since been changed to a new, stylized string-based theme written specifically for the new novel.
[edit] Passwords
Visitors who register with the website can gain access to additional clues about the project by means of special passwords that are issued each week. As of December 1, 2007, four passwords have been released:
- Clicking on the image of the Seeker at the bottom of the page and entering the first password, Genisolaris, reveals pages from a Flash "Wizard textbook" called Technomancy, History, and Magical Policies by Theodore Herschall Jackson III. These pages provide information about "Peruvian ballistic beans" as well as the history of under-age broomstick flight regulation. Additionally, this password is required to access the chapters of the novel itself, and in the story genisolaris is the password that James must give the Fat Lady in order to be allowed to enter the Gryffindor common room.
- Clicking on the image of the Golden Snitch and entering the second password, Corsica, shows a humorous Flash animation ("sponsored" by Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes) celebrating the demise of Lord Voldemort and providing an official disclaimer stating that the site is not in any way associated with the official Harry Potter franchise. The animation also claims that the site "will disappear if the lawyers wish it" but laments that this might make George Weasley sad.
- Clicking on the image of the spellbook and answering the question it poses with the third password, Poink, reveals additional pages from Technomancy, History, and Magical Policies, including sections on the "transfiguration of food and masses" and the "Sylvven Tower."
- Clicking on the image of the can of Wymnot's Wand Polish opens a blank field asking for the missing word in the sentence, "Ancient wars were often ended with meetings on the ______ Tower." The correct answer is Sylvven, and filling it in reveals a preview image of what would be the book's cover. The cover shows three boys ̶ James Potter II, along with his friends, Ralph Deedle and Zane Walker ̶ nervously entering the mouth of a dragon's head that appears to be formed from fallen trees. Additionally, clicking on the wand-tip of the lead character in the image reveals a preliminary sketch of the artwork.
[edit] Novel
[edit] Chapters
The novel consists of 21 chapters, which were released one per day until December 19, 2007 (two days earlier than the expected December 21, 2007):
- The Shadow of Legends
- Arrival of the Alma Alerons
- The Ghost and the Intruder
- The Progressive Element
- The Book of Austramaddux
- Harry's Midnight Meeting
- Broken Loyalty
- The Grotto Keep
- The Debate Betrayal
- Holiday at Grimmauld Place
- The Three Relics
- Visum-Ineptio
- Revelation of the Robe
- The Hall of Elders' Crossing
- The Muggle Spy
- Disaster of the Merlin Staff
- Night of the Returning
- The Tower Assembly
- Secrets Unveiled
- Tale of the Traitor (originally "Traiter")
- The Gift of the Green Box
[edit] Plot
Taking place a year prior to the events of the Epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry's son James boards the Hogwarts Express on his way to begin his first year as a student at the famous school of magic. James is shy and nervous, deeply concerned about the tremendous Potter family legacy that he feels pressured to live up to. On the train, he makes two new friends: Zane Walker and Ralph Deedle. Both are Muggle-born, and Zane is an American, the son of a Hollywood movie producer temporarily living in Great Britain. Upon arriving at Hogwarts, James is sorted into Gryffindor House, Zane is sorted into Ravenclaw, and Ralph is sorted into Slytherin.
Teddy Lupin invites James and Zane to join the Gremlins, a club of pranksters that includes himself, Lupin's friend Noah Metzer, and several other students from across Hogwarts' houses. The Gremlins sneak out of the castle through a secret passageway and play a prank, called "raising the wocket," on a Muggle farmer, who later reports that "Martians" have been stealing his tomatoes.
That year at Hogwarts, the school plays host to representatives from the American school of magic, Alma Aleron. These include students, representatives of the American Department of Magical Administration, and three teachers. These teachers are Professor Franklyn (who is in fact the inventor, Benjamin Franklin), Professor Jackson, and Madame Delacroix.
Like his father before him, James gets into much trouble, and gets entangled in a larger plot to destabilize the magical and non-magical worlds. This involves an organization known as the Progressive Element, who wish to make the magical world known to the Muggles, and three relics which are believed to be able to bring Merlin to this day and age, at the Hall of Elders' Crossing.
[edit] Consent
On November 19, 2007, The Scotsman reported that Rowling had threatened legal action against Lippert for allegedly violating her intellectual property rights by producing and publishing the novel.[1] A specialist in intellectual property law at Strathclyde University commented that, "If an insubstantial character from a novel is taken and built up by another author in a new story, that can be a defence against copyright infringements."[1]
Clicking on the image of an issue of The Quibbler on the right side of the main page of the Hall of Elders' Crossing website pulls up an article, complete with a photograph of what would be a hardcover copy of the new novel, that lays out in precise detail the nature of the new project and states unequivocally that it is "unofficial." The article also claims that Lippert has been in contact with Rowling through her agent and that he has sent her an advance copy of the novel:
| “ | In response, Ms. Rowling assured all involved that she welcomed fan-written sequels such as James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing, so long as they were respectful and appropriate for all readers. | ” |
The article also reiterates the fact that, had Rowling in fact not given her approval, Lippert would have immediately terminated the project.
[edit] Sequel
Mr. Lippert has expressed interest in writing a sequel to his work, and because of the non-profit nature of fan fiction, started the "JPHEC Underground" store, to achieve the budget to produce a second novel. There has been much positive feedback to his story, and a large amount of enthusiasm for a possible series of James Potter books. Mr. Lippert recently announced on his website that he is currently writing the sequel, which is to be called James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper and will be released September 1, 2008.[6]
The "Elders' Crossing" website now shows a banner across the top stating "It's Official... James Potter II is coming... Click to find out more," with a link to this site, the new official website of James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper. It features a new trailer video, with the following:
Crucio...
There are three Unforgivable Curses...
Imperio...
But there is only one...
Avada Kedavra...
Curse of the Gatekeeper...
James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper...
September.
Also are a high definition trailer video, a link to a Digg article pertaining to the future novel, and a link to the Grotto Keep Forum, where visitors can learn more about the novel.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Ross, Shan (2007-11-19). Rowling goes Potty over US bid to post Harry's son's story on web. The Scotsman. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
- ^ Schliebs, Mark (2007-11-09). Web abuzz with Harry Potter sequel rumours. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Laura (2007-11-07). Harry Potter prequel rumors take flight. Syracuse.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
- ^ Maughan, Shannon (2007-11-09). RDR Books Agrees to Delay Potter Title. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
- ^ CHEESER (2007-11-09). Elder's Crossing, James Potter, Book 8, RIP. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Discussion forum. elderscrossing.com (2008-03-28). Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
