J.K. Rowling reveals that Harry Potter character Moaning Myrtle has a surprising – and unintentional – connection to a United States senator!
Today, we learned a surprising new fact about the Harry Potter series. It didn’t come via the fabled Harry Potter Encyclopaedia – it didn’t even come via Pottermore – but rather from J.K. Rowling’s Twitter page.
Related: J.K. Rowling slams Twitter user by implying they have a small dick
Have we mentioned how much we love Rowling’s new social media obsession? Just five times so far today? Okay, then.
Replying to a curious fan, Rowling revealed Hogwarts ghost Moaning Myrtle’s full name:
.@HotmHayles @lankytwat Moaning Myrtle's full name was Myrtle Elizabeth Warren.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 11, 2015
Article Continues Below
This is the first time we’ve been told this particular fact about one of the series’ most annoying (yet oddly endearing) characters.
Moaning Myrtle was born in 1929 and died in 1943, killed by the basilisk Tom Riddle set loose on the school. J.K. Rowling has previously stated that the character was Muggle-born, and that she was sorted into Ravenclaw House.
Watch this classic clip from Goblet of Fire in which Myrtle and Harry share a moment in the bath:
After Rowling revealed Moaning Myrtle’s full name on Twitter, fans were quick to point out that Elizabeth Warren, of course, is a current U.S. Senator (who was at one time a rumored 2016 presidential candidate, but she has since denied the claims.)
Rowling sent out a further couple of tweets, to clarify how she came up with the name, and that the connection is unintentional:
Nothing to do with the United States Elizabeth Warren I hasten to add! 'Elizabeth' is just one of those classic British middle names.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 11, 2015
.@pableshiff @HotmHayles @lankytwat I'm laughing here… I already knew her surname was 'Warren' but I just thought 1/2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 11, 2015
.@pableshiff @HotmHayles @lankytwat 'What's a good middle name of the period?' Then, the moment I'd committed myself, I thought: uh oh :)
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 11, 2015
.@BrendanPart @lankytwat I didn't make up 'Warren' on the spot. I already knew Warren.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 11, 2015
We wonder if Elizabeth Warren is a Harry Potter fan! If she is… well, we suppose Moaning Myrtle isn’t the worst character to share a name with?
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.