J. K. Rowling launches Harry Potter at Home to keep kids entertained ✨
They're 'casting a Banishing Charm on boredom!'
Last updated 1st Apr 2020
J. K. Rowling has launched an online hub called Harry Potter at Home to help children and adults during the Coronavirus. As we've all been told to stay at home to help prevent it, parents and guardians have been doing a fantastic job of home schooling their children and keeping them entertained - and now Harry Potter is here to help too.
Rowling, who wrote the series, announced on Twitter that her brand new Potter hub was launching today (1st April), writing, 'Parents, teachers and carers working to keep children amused and interested while we’re on lockdown might need a bit of magic, so I’m delighted to launch harrypotterathome.com.'
What is Harry Potter at Home?
The Potter team have joined together with Audible, Bloomsbury, OverDrive, Pottermore Publishing and Scholastic to create a hub, made up of quizzes, news, a shop and plenty of schooling elements to help keep children in a routine.
The site explains, 'Welcome to the Harry Potter At Home hub where you’ll find all the latest magical treats to keep you occupied - including special contributions from Bloomsbury and Scholastic, nifty magical craft videos (teach your friends how to draw a Niffler!), fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and plenty more for first-time readers, as well as those already familiar with the wizarding world. We’re casting a Banishing Charm on boredom!'
The team have also explained that there's a 'special, open licence for teachers to read the seven Harry Potter books aloud to their pupils in virtual read-a-long sessions on video.'
They've also made the audiobook for the first in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, free on Audible.
Fans have been loving the announcement, taking to Twitter with comments of joy. One wrote, 'This is DEFINITELY going to be a source of entertainment for me as well. I'm neither a parent, teacher or caregiver! Thank you for releasing this, you're helping a lot of people. Off to draw a Niffler now ❤.'
Another added, 'As a teacher I am always encouraging the children to read, but never having time to myself. I’ve spent my days off rota re-reading the Harry Potter books for the first time since I was young - a whole new meaning has been taken from it as an adult.'
Scroll through to see the Harry Potter child cast then and now:
Scroll through to see what the child cast of Harry Potter look like now...
Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe
The last Harry Potter film was released in 2011. Here's what the main cast of children look like all grown up!
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe had already starred in David Copperfield when he was cast as the most famous boy in the UK, Harry Potter.
Daniel Radcliffe
Since Harry Potter ended, Daniel has starred in a number of stage productions and films.
Rupert Grint
Rupert had only starred in school plays when he was cast as Harry Potter's best friend Ron Weasley.
Rupert Grint
Rupert has starred in a number of films including, Moonwalkers, he also appeared on screen in the A.B.C. Murders. He's now also a proud dad, welcoming his first daughter in 2020.
Tom Felton
Tom was cast as Harry's school nemesis Draco Malfoy. He had already starred in a number of commercials and the film 'The Borrowers'.
Tom Felton
Most recently Tom starred as CSI Julian Albert / Doctor Alchemy on the third series of The Flash.
Emma Watson
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001 was Emma's debut screen performance.
Emma Watson
Emma has starred in a number of films and took on the role of Belle in the live action version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Matthew Lewis
Matthew Lewis starred as Neville Longbottom, who ended up being one of heroes of the story.
Matthew Lewis
The term 'Longbottoming' was coined to describe people who became extremely attractive when they grew up after Matthew Lewis turned into a hunk!