Magical makeover: J.K. Rowling treats fans to original story about Harry Potter's family origins and unveils brand new Pottermore website design
Pottermore is the go-to online destination for Harry Potter superfans everywhere.
And the bestselling books' author J.K. Rowling treated her loyal readers to an original short story on Tuesday to help celebrate the grand unveiling of the website's brand new redesign.
Several surprising revelations were made about the history of Potter family in the short piece, including its origins in the 12th century and where their wealth comes from.
Scroll down for video
Fresh revelations: J.K. Rowling celebrated online fan destination Pottermore.com's redesign by publishing a short story about Harry Potter's family origins
'The new writing from J.K. Rowling sheds unexpected new light on the origins of the Potter family name, delves into Harry's ancestry, explains how his grandfather quadrupled the family's fortune and how the Invisibility Cloak became a family heirloom,' a statement read.
According to Rowling, the name - which was originally Potterer - dates back to an 'eccentric' wizard named Linfred of Stinchcombe.
The 50-year-old author reveals that Linfred made his fortune coming up with magical cures for the common cold and broken bones, which later became the subject of Potions, taught at Hogwarts.
Blast from the past: Fans can read all about Harry's family tree in the new story. Pictured are Daniel Radcliffe as Harry (R) and Rupert Grint as his sidelkick Ron Weasley (L) in the film franchise
The short story was accompanied by a complete sleek and sophisticated new site look, which fits Rowling's hopes of it remaining the 'digital heart' of the wizarding world.
The statement continued: 'Pottermore.com now includes more content than ever before and is designed to be consumed in a completely different way to the original site, which was launched in 2012.
'The new site contains entertaining features, commentary and articles about the Harry Potter series and the wider Wizarding World.'
History: The Potter family dates back to an 'eccentric' wizard named Linfred of Stinchcombe, who is credited with inventing the wizarding world's famous potions
It also announced the appointment of a 'Pottermore Correspondent', a journalist whose job is to keep fans up to date with all the magical news, including gossip about the forthcoming Warner Bros. film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, starring Eddie Redmayne.
The redesign hasn't gone down well with some fans, however, with many complaining that they miss the old interactive experience and games and some even launching online petitions to change it.
While some were enthusiastic about the new features, with one enthusing, 'I feel so blessed with this new @pottermore', others lamented, 'How much can I cry about Pottermore's new design?'.
Mixed reviews: Fans are divided about the website's complete redesign, with many mourning the loss of the interatcive features
- Bully beating on blind teen gets serious payback
- Airbus A380 caught up in terrifying crosswind landing
- 'King of gypsy music' beats pregnant girlfriend on live TV
- GRAPHIC: Police shoot and kill Delaware man in wheelchair
- NFL star's wife pulled over for 'driving while black' in NJ
- What is THAT bro? Guy spots a sunfish and goes nuts
- Enraged wife beats her husband's mistress in the street
- Trump-baiting new South Park 'Where My Country Gone' preview
- John Boehner cannot contain emotion as Pope speaks
- Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper give hearing aids in Rio
- Saudi prince arrested for alleged sex crime in Beverly Hills
- Dashcam captures UFO and the shock car crash that followed
- High school teen who defended a blind classmate who was...
- Holy water: Congressman steals Pope Francis' glass after...
- Saudi prince is arrested on suspicion of a sex crime after...
- Having a ball! Stunning Michelle Obama and pregnant...
- Grief-stricken tennis coach gets engaged to his student...
- 'It's the right time to do it': John Boehner resigns as...
- Rape and child abuse 'are rife in German refugee camps':...
- UCLA sorority girl found murdered and her apartment set on...
- What's eating Posh & Becks? She's tipsy. He's stony-faced....
- The pope honors the 3,000 9/11 victims with interfaith...
- Germany in a state of SIEGE: Merkel was cheered when she...
- 'Gypsy king' beats his pregnant girlfriend on live TV after...