Rachel was introduced to Harry Potter by her girlfriend, Jaquie, so she knew that when she wanted to pop the question, she’d be doing it in a certain style. Quidditch style, that is, with a custom made Quidditch set, complete with an openable-snitch containing an engagement ring. You can read the story of the proposal over at Custom Made, but click on for more pictures of the set.

Now, don’t get your howler stationary out just yet. Kazu Kibuishi‘s lovely illustrations aren’t going to be replacing Mary GrandPré‘s iconic dust jackets on the US hardcover editions of the Harry Potter books. They’re going on the 15th anniversary paperbacks, which will begin their release with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone this fall. Which I note is still going to be called “Sorcerer” and not “Philosopher” because sigh.

Said Kibuishi of the opportunity to illustrate Harry Potter:

Recently the UK video firm LoveFilm conducted a survey of 1000 children, asking them to pick who they thought the best film rolemodel was, of a selection of child characters in movies that ranged from Kevin McAllister of Home Alone to Charlie Bucket of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And you’ll never guess who came out on top, with 19% of the vote.

Oh, you thought you’d already shelled out a mountain of cash for the finale, deluxe, boxed edition of the Harry Potter movies? Well if you act now, like, right now, you can preorder this set of eight books for $600, 40% off the normal price. Yes, that means the normal price is one grand. The books themselves are mostly indepth looks at the making of the Harry Potter movies, with the others being an indepth look at the relationships between the main cast, and the last, that fangéd replica of The Monster Book of Monsters, is a false book ready for the hiding of things within it.

Because if you have a friend over, they’re not going to totally attempt to open a replica of The Monster Book of Monsters as soon as they see it on your shelf and then find your Horcrux.

Previously in Harry Potter

Yeah, that’s right – Quidditch beer pong. Yeah, that’s right – Snitch for last cup. Yeah, that’s right - THERE ARE RULES. Bring on the butterbeer.

(via The FW)

Are you following The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?

You know, quiet books. No?

Come on, I think I at least had a quiet cube when I was a kid. It’s a way of entertaining small children while at the same time teaching them the basics of clothing fasteners. So probably something that Petunia Dursley would never have allowed Harry to have, which is probably why Julie, nerdy quiet book creator extraordinaire, made one just for him.

I’m just saying I prefer toilets to be one way methods of transportation.

(Decal available on Etsy, of course.)

Previously in Harry Potter

I assume, as good students, you’ve already got your text books for the new year, right? After all, there haven’t been any switch ups in how many OWLs you have to get to take advanced potions this time. You should have prepared beforehand.

If I have one complaint about Allysah’s gorgeous designs for Hogwarts textbooks, its that they all look way too cool. Where’s the bad photoshop, the staged photos of a multicultural array of students looking suspiciously happy to be learning, the weird pictures of animals? That seal, though. Of course every book used by the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry would want to show off on the cover. Much better than a Newberry Medal.

Unsatisfied with the rose-colored-glasses of the Deathly Hallows epilogue? Think everything wrapped up just a little too neatly? Never fear, the internet is here! Furious Molecules have created a new webseries called Harry Potter and the Ten Years Later, in which things are a little different for Harry and company. Harry doesn’t have any more bad guys to beat (yet), Ginny’s gotten a little one-track in the mind area, and Hermione’s a wildcat divorcee with a…bone to pick with Harry.

Things are a bit different than the “all was well” of Jo Rowling‘s imagined future for the characters, but when it comes with as many laughs as this episode gave us we’re OK with that. Looks like Harry’s joining the rest of us in our post-Potter depression.

(via io9)

Furious Molecules has been working on a seven-part web series that takes a look at the time in Harry Potter’s magical life that will surely turn out to be less magical than he’d hoped: his late 20s. Set to premiere on July 20, Harry Potter and the Ten Years Later will deal with everything before that heartwarming epilogue at the end of Deathly Hallows, like Ginny getting antsy for little James, Albus, and Lily, but also — working at a desk job. Above is a preview, which gives us some reason to worry about all those ambitions those kids had that have been completely — and hilariously — dashed.

Okay, I will note that going by the books, Harry and Ginny have had all their children by the time they hit their late 20s. But do we have to be this technical when something looks this great? Here, I’ll just make you forget: Obliviate!

(Furious Molecules on YouTube via tipster Dana — thanks, Dana!)

Previously in Harry Potter