J.K. Rowling teases Harry Potter fans with cryptic tweets
It's almost like magic -- J.K. Rowling sends a few cryptic tweets and the entire Harry Potter fandom gets whipped into a riddle-guessing frenzy.
It all began when the author took to Twitter to explain why she's been quieter as of late, telling followers she's been busy with her Lumos charity and, oh, also some other projects like "tweaking a screenplay," possibly the one for Potter spinoff film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
Very busy at the moment working on a novel, tweaking a screenplay and being involved in @lumos campaigns. Back when I've finished something!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 5, 2014
That certainly piqued fans' interests -- and it only grew from there when Rowling said she was tempted to post a riddle or anagram and then did just that.
Cry, foe! Run amok! Fa awry! My wand won’t tolerate this nonsense.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 6, 2014
Something to ponder while I'm away X
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 6, 2014
So far, a few fans have gotten close to solving the puzzle.
"Newt Scamander's History of New York Fauna: One town, my tale" Warmer.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
.@VikiCarter_ Much warmer.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
Rowling followed up with a hint -- and provided more a few hours later:
#helpfulhint The solution is the first sentence of a synopsis of Newt's story. It isn't part of the script, but sets the scene.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
#Hint2 There's only one sentence hidden in the anagram, it is written in natural English and it concerns Newt Scamandar. #3hintsreally
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
Typo alert: ScamandEr, not ScamandAr (long day). Now take out 'Newt Scamander' and 'New York' and see what you can make of the rest! #hint3
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
.@Austinterlude Ooo, I like that. It's not right, but it's the kind of thing Newt would say. #hint4 Let's examine the 'depart' part...
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
New hint, because you're coming up with really good suggestions: the sentence begins "Newt Scamander only" #correctedbecauseoftypo
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
No invented words, that wouldn't be fair. "Newt Scamander only went to New York to find a Pulkmahjkk". Not that.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
One more clue...
"Newt Scamander only meant..."
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
While we were still pushing letters around trying to solve the puzzle, another intrepid fan cracked Rowling's code: "Newt Scamander only meant to stay in New York for a few hours." And, she admitted, some fans were close to guessing other points about the story.
.@EmyBemy2 YES!!!!!!!!!!!! People, we have a winner!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
Well, I'm limp, frankly - limp. A few suggestions were spookily close to the script!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014
Tell us: What do you think of Rowling's teaser tweets?