J.K. Rowling is serving up another dose of Harry Potter for her die-hard fans, this time in the form of a biography of one of her favorite, albeit lesser-known characters in the Harry Potter universe. The story comes from Pottermore.com, the online home for the world of Harry Potter, which shared her latest story exclusively with TODAY.com.
Celestina Warbeck is one of my favourite 'off-stage' characters in the Harry Potter series, and has been part of the Potter world ever since its inception, making an early appearance in the short-lived 'Daily Prophet' series I produced for members of the equally short-lived fan club run by my British publisher, Bloomsbury. Although we never lay eyes on Celestina during the whole seven volumes of the Potter books, I always imagined her to resemble Shirley Bassey in both looks and style. I stole her first name from a friend with whom I worked, years ago, at Amnesty International's Headquarters in London; 'Celestina' was simply begging to be scooped up and attached to a glamorous witch.
Celestina Warbeck
Birthday: August 18
Wand: Larch and phoenix feather, 10 1/2 inches long, flexible
Hogwarts House: Gryffindor
Special abilities: Ability to drown out a chorus of banshees, tap-dancing, fancy baking
Parentage: Wizard father, Muggle mother
Family: Has married three times; one son
Hobbies: Travelling in fabulous style, breeding rough-coated Crups, relaxing in any of her eight homes
Internationally-acclaimed singing sensation Celestina Warbeck (sometimes known as 'the Singing Sorceress’) hails from Wales. Her father, a minor functionary in the Muggle Liaison Office, met her Muggle mother (a failed actress) when the latter was attacked by a Lethifold disguised as a stage curtain.
Celestina's extraordinary voice was apparent from an early age. Disappointed to learn that there was no such thing as a wizarding stage school, Mrs Warbeck reluctantly consented to her daughter's enrollment at Hogwarts, but subsequently bombarded the school with letters urging the creation of a choir, theatre club and dancing class to showcase her daughter's talents.
To read the complete story by J. K. Rowling, visit the "Floo Powder" moment in Book 2, Chapter 4, on Pottermore.com (registration required)