A rare first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” took a massive price at charity auction in aid of the English Pen writers’ association in London on May 21. Featuring J.K. Rowling’s handwritten notes as well as original illustrations, the 1997 book was sold to an anonymous bidder, who bid for it over the telephone, for $228,000.

The “Harry Potter” book appeared along with books from other notable names at the auction hosted by Sotheby’s. Among them were a copy of “Life of Pi“, which got $3,900 and has author Yann Martel’s notes on why the chapters were switched from the original Canadian edition, and a first edition of Margaret Atwood’s “The Blind Assassin”, which fetched $5,460.

“This is a triumphant conclusion to a wonderful project, which has involved the hard work and good will of so many people,” said Rick Gekoski, who curated the collection of annotated first editions for the sale. “I am sure that the buyers of the individual books will be thrilled with their purchases.”

Source: Ace Showbiz

The book contains Rowling’s handwritten thoughts and commentary about the book and the film adaptation, as well as 22 hand-drawn illustrations including one of a sleeping baby Harry and another of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore

“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was first published in 1997, and is the rarest of the series as only 500 copies were printed.

The book is one of many being put up for the English PEN Organization charity auction. The auction, to be held at Sotheby’s, is expected even more than another 1st edition of the book that sold in October 2007 for over 19,700 pounds ($29,878 USD).

Thanks to Piya Sinha-Roy at Reuters.com for alerting us of the auction! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!

Harry Potter Honest Trailer|Screen Junkies

Everything Wrong with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 3 Minutes or Less|Cinema Sins

Here’s a link to a larger, clearer image.

The image was found via Buzzfeed!

Entertainment Weekly gave us a few pointers on why it should have worked, and why it didn’t.

Why it SHOULD have worked:

Fun idea, and the Harry Potter star seems like a natural for a TV sitcom.

Why it DIDN’T work:

CBS was high on Grint, and still is. But the concept was deemed off-brand for the network and the net’s other comedies came in strong. Plus, successful comedy blocks are about creating flow, and there was also nothing compatible that CBS had to pair it with.

What do you think? Would you have watched Super Clyde? Tell us in the comments below!

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for the heads up!

Devon is famous for starring in the Harry Potter movies as Seamus Finnigan, Harry’s (pyromaniac) classmate.

Will you be at LeakyCon to hear Devon speak? Tell us in the comments below!

You can see the entire special guest list and other information on LeakyCon Portland here!

Thanks to MuggleNet.com for altering us of this new development!

They’re two adults who end up taking an internship at Google after they lose their sales jobs.  What’s interesting is that apparently, at Google, they play a certain game that you may all be familiar with.  Check out the trailer below (around the 1:36 mark)!

Universal Orlando Resort sent out this image in a promotional email to their online community, advertising the upcoming Harry Potter attractions in the park! This is some of the first official information released, and it definitely looks promising! I’m curious about the “innovative attraction based on Gringotts bank…” how about you?

This outstanding work of art was created by YouTube user AVbyte, and it’s really worth watching!

(Thanks to the folks at Harrymedia.com for this awesome photo!)

May 1, 1998

-Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger arrive in Hogsmeade. They set off the curfew set by the Death Eaters.

-They are taken in by Aberforth Dumbledore, propreitor of the Hog’s Head, where they learn the fully truth about Ariana Dumbledore.

-Ariana’s portrait brings Neville, who sneaks Harry, Ron, and Hermione into Hogwarts safely.

-Many former members of the Order of the Phoenix arrive, offering their help and experience to Harry.

-Luna Lovegood takes Harry to the Ravenclaw common room, where she shows him the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.

-They are caught by Alecto Carrow, whom they thwart. Professor McGonagall arrives and offers them help.

-Headmaster Severus Snape is thwarted and escapes from the castle

-Preparations for battle begin. All wizards under the age of 17 are ordered to evacuate, though many choose to stay, and magical protection, such as McGonagall’s suits of armor, are set up.

-Voldemort broadcasts his voice over Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the surrounding area. He promises Harry that if he gives himself up quietly, he will let his friends go free. Harry is stopped from accepting by all of the students, excepting the Slytherins.

-The battle commences. Many students are killed.

-Harry continues to search for the Horcrux. He is led to the Grey Lady by Nearly Headless Nick.

-The Grey Lady, the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, reveals the story of the Diadem.

-Harry realizes the location of the diadem, and returns to the Room of Requirement, where Ron and Hermione share a passionate kiss. They also reveal that they have destroyed Helga Hufflepuff’s cup.

-They empty out the Room of Requirement, and it transforms into the room for Hidden Objects.

-Upon finally locating the diadem, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are set upon by Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.  Crabbe accidentally sets off Fiendfyre.

-Though the Fiendfyre kills Crabbe, it also destroys the diadem, leaving Nagini and Harry as the only Horcruxes left.

May 2, 1998

-Lord Voldemort announces that his Death Eaters are to retreat, and he gives the fighters for Hogwarts one hour to peaceably mourn their dead. He again promises to Harry that if he gives himself up, he will save his friends.

-Harry uses his special connection with Lord Voldemort’s mind to find out where he is. He realizes that he is in the Shrieking Shack.

-Harry, Ron, and Hermione witness Snape’s murder at the hands of Lord Voldemort. In his last dying breath, he entrusts his memory to Harry.

-Harry sprints to the headmaster’s office, where he views the memories in the pensive, and discovers Snape’s unconditional love for his mother.

-Harry also realizes that he has to die before Lord Voldemort can fall. He proceeds, by himself, to the Forbidden Forest, where Lord Voldemort has relocated to.

-He discovers the secrets of the Snitch, and inside finds the Resurrection Stone. He uses it to reincarnate images of his mother, Lily, his father, James, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, who protect him on his way to Lord Voldemort.

-Lord Voldemort, upon toying with Harry, proceeds to kill him.

-Harry wakes up in a white room, which is later revealed to look like King’s Cross Station. He locates the remnants of Lord Voldemort’s soul.

-He has a long and meaningful chat with Albus Dumbledore, who explains to him why Harry had to die, and tells Harry that he must return.

-Harry returns, it seems, from the dead, with Narcissa Malfoy leaning over him, asking if Draco is alive. When he says yes, she lies to Lord Voldemort, saying that Harry is dead.

-Harry is taken back to the castle by Hagrid, who weeps over his seemingly dead body. Lord Voldemort continues to terrorize the survivors of the Battle, but his powers have no hold on him.

-Neville proceeds to kill Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor, which being emdowed with basilisk venom, destroys Voldemort’s last horcrux.

-The battle recommences, and Harry escapes in all the chaos.

-In a final battle to the death, Harry gives Tom Riddle one last chance to give up Lord Voldemort for good. He refuses, and is killed by his own backfiring Killing Curse.

-Peeves sings a memorable victory song

“We did it! We bashed them, wee Potter’s the one! And Voldy’s gone moldy, so now let’s have fun!“

MEMORABLE DEATHS

Fred Weasley

Nymphadora Tonks

Remus Lupin

Colin Creevey

Vincent Crabbe

Bellatrix Lestrange

Nagini

Lord Voldemort