Harry Potter prequel under hammer

AN 800-word prequel to the Harry Potter series is expected to provoke a manic bidding session at a charity auction tonight.

Edinburgh author JK Rowling wrote the short piece especially for the event, which raises money for dyslexia charity PEN.

It comes a year after the last book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hit the shelves. The charity had asked a range of writers to produce something fresh for the auction, and were amazed when the Merchiston writer came up with the prequel idea.

Managing director of book giant Waterstones, which is involved in the auction, Gerry Johnson, said: "We never dreamed that JK Rowling would donate something so precious."