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J.K. Rowling to publish short Harry Potter story online
Rowling
J.K. Rowling is writing a new Harry Potter story that will be published to her website Pottermore on Halloween. - photo by Chip Somodevilla, istockphoto.com/EdStock

HOGWARTS — J.K. Rowling is writing a new Harry Potter story that will be published to her website Pottermore on Halloween.

The 1,700-word tale will highlight the back story of the cruel, toad-like character Dolores Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, according to The Independent.

Rowling will also provide first-person thoughts on the character, who debuts in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

According to a statement on Pottermore, "Umbridge is not only one of the most malicious Potter characters, she is the only person other than Lord Voldemort to leave a permanent physical scar."

The statement is referring to the recurring detentions Umbridge invoked on Harry Potter, when she'd force him to carve "I must not tell lies" onto his hand in his own blood.

Rowling released another short story earlier this year on the same website, featuring an update on the characters at the Quidditch World Cup written from the perspective of gossip columnist Rita Skeeter.