JK Rowling’s new short story deals with the segregation of the magic and non-magic communities in America.
Entitled “Rappaport’s Law,” the story on Pottermore details why the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) was forced to institute laws that would keep the two worlds separate.
In the story, a young witch named Dorcus Twelvetrees, who is said to “[concentrate] mainly on her clothes, the arrangement of her hair and parties,” made the mistake of becoming smitten with a young man who harbored a secret hatred of magic.
Without thinking, she told him about MACUSA, the American wizarding school Ilvermorny, and ways that the magical community hid itself within the United States.
This man used the information to print up leaflets detailing what Twelvetrees told him, along with the addresses of Ilvermony and suspected witches and wizards.
Not many gave credence to the man’s claims, however, and he was eventually arrested when he shot at a group of people he mistook for witches and wizards. Nevertheless, the damage was already done.
Emily Rappaport, head of MACUSA at the time, instituted Rappaport’s Law to stop the damage. The law states that stated that the magical community could no longer associate with No-Majs (the American equivalent of muggles).
“Wizards were no longer allowed to befriend or marry No-Majs,” the story reads. “Penalties for fraternising with No-Majs were harsh. Communication with No-Majs was limited to that necessary to perform daily activities.”
“Rappaport’s Law” is the third of four planned stories Rowling will release to establish a backstory for the upcoming film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
The film, based on the fictional textbook of the same name, follows wizard and magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he travels to New York in the 1920’s.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be released on Nov. 18.