Yahoo News This Harry Potter character's creation story is so sad
For JK Rowling, all the Harry Potter characters she created in that magical world must have a unique back story when it comes to their development, origin and growth as a character. But one which is particularly poignant for JK Rowling is Professor Sprout.
Professor Pomona Sprout is the herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff, played by Miriam Margolyes in the movies.
In a new BBC documentary airing this weekend, to coincide with the Harry Potter exhibition in London, Rowling explains why she particularly remembers sketching the professor for the first time in December, 1990.
She was staying at a friend's house and had been writing the first Harry Potter for about six months. Rowling decided to stay up, draw and watch a film while her friend went to bed.
RELATED: Harry Potter pumpkins are ultimate Halloween nod to Hogwarts
"The reason I can be incredibly precise about when I drew this is because at some point during the time I was watching that movie and drawing this picture, my mother died 250 miles away.
"I got the phone call the next day to say that she had died. So, this obviously means a great deal to me, this picture."
Rowling describes Sprout as a very lovable character and the "most maternal or parental" of the four heads of houses at Hogwarts.
She added that Harry Potter has themes of loss running through it and that if her mother hadn't died – at the age of 45 after having multiple sclerosis (MS) – the stories probably would have turned out differently.
The sketch of Sprout, along with many other original notes and drawings by JK Rowling, are currently on display at the 'History Of Magic' exhibition at the British Library to celebrate 20 years since the first book, The Philosopher's Stone, was released.
The documentary, A History of Magic, is on BBC Two on Saturday 28th October at 9pm.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
You Might Also Like
