Guide

“Navigating around J K Rowling.com will uncover different areas and rooms. The experience starts on the desk. From here there are “portkeys” to different environments, such as a library, trophy room or even the contents of the rubbish bin.

There are magical items around the site available for collection. Certain items will add bonus content to your scrapbook for safe keeping.

Please explore the site and see what you can find.”

 

What follows is a basic guide to Rowling’s website.

More in depth guides can be found online if needed. Here are some examples:
The Harry Potter Lexicon
On JKR’s Desk
12 Grimmauld Place (archived)
Harry Potter Quick Reference
La Gazette du Sorcier (French)

Easily visible on the Rowling’s desk are:

  • A newsletter of articles written by J.K. Rowling.
  • A tabloid of rumours that Rowling is denouncing.
  • A scrapbook style biography of Rowling’s life.
  • A notebook with JK Rowling’s diary
  • A wizard of the month calendar
  • An empty “scrapbook” for the bonus content you unlock (more on this later)

A bit less obvious but still clearly labeled are a bunch of answered FAQs that fly in when you click on the paper clips, and a few portkeys to other parts of the website.

  • The binder clip will bring you to the trophy room of Fan Sites Awards.
  • The pencil sharpener will bring you to the rubbish bin of false news stories.
  • The hairbrush brings you to a bulletin board where Rowling pins up short extra essays about stuff from her notes.
  • The eyeglasses bring you to the library of links.
  • The W.O.M.B.A.T. Student ID card brings you to the mailroom where your results get delivered (more on this later)
  • The pink eraser brings you to the secret door. (more on this later)

Clicking on any portkey again returns you to JK Rowling’s desk.

While most of the site is just a regular author’s website with a non-conventional setup, what makes it really cool is the secret content. There are various puzzles hidden throughout the side that upon being solved will unlock a page of Rowling’s notes or illustrations to your scrapbook. Most of the other random interactive stuff scattered throughout the site are all part of these elaborate puzzles.

The most memorable part of the website though, is the door that you see when you click the pink eraser. This door would usually be locked with a “Do Not Disturb” sign, but every so often the sign would get removed for a few days and the door could be opened by solving some hidden puzzle. Behind the door would either be a sneak peek at the next book (the titles for books six and seven were first released this way) or a hard WOMBAT exam. There is now a time turner next to the door that lets you go back in time to access all past openings.

Throughout the site Peeves will appear if you wait around. He causes mischief and knocks over things, changing the setup.

If you visit the website on the day of a character’s birthday, the Wizard of the Month calendar will be replaced with a birthday message.

Clues

What follows are some clues to each piece of secret content and past door opening. These clues are designed to show you the first step of the puzzle without giving away the whole thing. For the ones which are really just one or two steps only the relevant part of the site is listed without any further clues. Nevertheless if you want to go spoiler free you should probably stop reading. If you need more help then these clues read past them for the full solutions.

Secret Content #1 – On the “Extra Stuff” page there is a blue eraser that can be moved. See what you reveal with it.

Secret Content #2 – Hidden on the “Fans Sites” page.

Secret Content #3 – This puzzle involves the phone on the main desk.

Secret Content #4 – Hidden on the “Links” page.

Secret Content #5 – Hidden on the main desk when Peeves shows up.

Secret Content #6 – This puzzle involves the phone on the main desk.

Secret Content #7 – Click one of the pens in the Rubbish Bin section.

Secret Content #8 – The typed words on the bottom of the Rubbish Bin section can be rearranged to form a riddle.

Secret Content #9 – You can turn the radio in the Extra Stuff section off and on again to listen to “Toots, Shoots, ‘n’ Roots”.

Secret Content #10 – Look at the book “Ancient Runes Made Easy” in the Links section.

Secret Content #11 – Look at the Links section after Peeves shows up.

Secret Content #12 – Stir the cup in the Rubbish Bin section a few times clockwise.

Secret Content #13 – Hold your mouse over the sneakoscope in the Rubbish Bin section for a few seconds.

Secret Content #14 – Try turning off the lights in the room with the secret door.

Door Opening 28/06/04 – Some of the bricks do stuff when you click them.

Door Opening 16/08/04 – Look at the Extra Stuff section after Peeves shows up. (yeah, this isn’t a great hint, as you won’t need that until the end of the puzzle, but if you wait till then you’ll just have to restart the whole thing.)

Door Opening 31/10/04 – Wait for peeves to show up.

Door Opening 20/12/04 – Think about the fact that Half-Blood Prince was the eagerly anticipated book at the time.

Door Opening 31/03/06 – There is a rock hidden behind the plant basket.

Door Opening 29/09/06 – You gotta click the things in a specific order, but not everything ends up getting clicked.

Door Opening 21/12/06 – You gotta click on various parts of the page in order. The objects are less obvious, but the things don’t reset if you click out of order.

Door Opening 13/06/07 – This time the fly doesn’t move away when you go near it.

Door Opening 20/07/07 – This isn’t a puzzle. The door’s already unlocked.

Door Opening 29/12/07 – Also not a puzzle. The door’s already unlocked.

Door Opening current date – Door is locked and won’t open.

Solutions

While the above were some brief clues, some of these puzzles are pretty hard and you may still find yourself stuck. Below are the full solutions but it is strongly advised that you try solving the puzzles yourself. Remember that the only way this solution guide can exist is because fans were able to solve them. Some of them may be hard, but they are all solvable.

Secret Content #1 – PS typescript page

Optional: Click and drag the blue eraser in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush) over the torn page to reveal a potion recipe with four ingredients.

The four ingredients can be found in any order. (If you can’t find one you may have already clicked on it.)

  1. The blue feather is in “Fan Sites” (binder clip), on the shelf near the ‘2nd’ ribbon
  2. The flask is in “Links” (eyeglasses) on the lower shelf.
  3. The spider can be found crawling across the main desk.
  4. The leaves are in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush). They’re near the top of the page behind the string.

Secret Content #2 – “The Midnight Duel” Drawing

On “Fans Sites” (binder clip) there are two oval shaped medals near empty display boxes. Drag each metal into its box

Secret Content #3 – PS Manuscript Page with Flamel

Type 6-2-4-4-2 (“M-A-G-I-C”) into the telephone on the top left corner of the main desk and click the blue call button (This was the code used to get into the visitors entrance of the Ministry for Magic in book five.)

Secret Content #4 – Sorting Hat doodles

  1. In “Links” (eyeglasses), there is a book with a question mark on the spine on the upper shelf. Drag it to the left to reveal a key hanging on a hook behind it.
  2. Drag the key over to the locked box on the right of the bookcase. The box will open and a glowing bubble will pop out
  3. Click the bubble.

Secret Content #5 – Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit illustration

  1. On the main desk wait for Peeves to show up. This takes a few minutes. When he appears the marble (near the cup of pens) will begin to glow.
  2. Click the marble while it is still glowing (you only have a few seconds to do this).

Secret Content #6 – Peeves illustration

Type 7-3-3-8-3-7 (“P-E-E-V-E-S”) into the telephone on the top left corner of the main desk and click the blue call button.

Secret Content #7 – Nearly Headless Nick illustration

Optional: Click on the blue pen on the left hand side of “Rubbish Bin” (pencil sharpener). It will break and the ink will show a potion recipe with three ingredients.

The three ingredients can be found in any order. (If you can’t find one you may have already clicked on it.)

  1. The quills are in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush). They’re taped under the torn paper.
  2. The stones is in “Fan Sites” (binder clip), on the top shelf near. Drag the display case to the side to see it.
  3. The eggshells are is in “Rubbish Bin” (pencil sharpener) on the right of the waste bin.

Secret Content #8 – PS8 manuscript page 2

Optional: You can rearrange the cut up words on the bottom of “Rubbish Bin” (pencil sharpener) to form the clue “Here I am no ring within, tap five times and you get in.”

  1. On the far right of “Fan Sites” (binder clip) there is a ring box. Click on it five times and it will open and a glowing bubble will pop out.
  2. Click on the bubble.

Secret Content #9 – Hogwarts professors notes

Optional: One of the adverts that appears in the rumours tabloid mentions Tilden Toots’ radio show

  1. Turn the radio off and on again in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush) to listen “Toots, Shoots, ‘n’ Roots”. You’ll hear Tilden Toots describe how to how to revive a dead plant by using “six drops of the red Rejuicer followed by three drops of the green Regerminator”
  2. Go to the Secret Door (pink eraser) and drag the red bottle over the plant until six drops come out.
  3. Drag the green bottle over the plant until three drops come out

Secret Content #10 – PS manuscript page 1

Optional: Look at the book titled “Ancient Runes Made Easy” on the bottom shelf in “Links” (eyeglasses) and then use it to dichepher the ten runes scattered across the top of “Rubbish Bin” (pencil sharpener). They spell out 31-07-1965 (Rowling’s birthday).

  1. Type 3-1-0-7-1-9-6-5 into the telephone on the top left corner of the main desk and click the blue call button.

Secret Content #11 – Order of the Phoenix plan

  1. Wait around in “Links” (eyeglasses) until Peeves shows up. (This will take a few minutes.) Peeves will knock down the left painting, revealing a lightning shaped mark.
  2. Click on the hanging pen in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush) to pick it up, and then draw the symbol onto the square paper (not the torn one) This might take a few tries.

Secret Content #12 – PS Author’s Synopsis

  1. Swirl the cup in Rubbish Bin (pencil sharpener) four times clockwise. The dregs should form a circle.
  2. Click on the Circle Interior Designers business card in “Extra Stuff”. It’s under the main paper.

Secret Content #13 – Hogwarts school subjects notes

  1. Hold your mouse over the sneakoscope in the top left corner of “Rubbish Bin” (pencil sharpener) for a few seconds. It will spin and then move to the side, revealing a question mark shaped mark.
  2. Click on the hanging pen in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush) to pick it up, and then draw the symbol onto the square paper (not the torn one) This might take a few tries.

Secret Content #14 – PS draft page with Nearly Headless Nick

Optional: Turn off the lights in “Secret Room” (pink eraser)

  1. Peel back the wallpaper from the top right corner of the switch. (It’s easier to see where to click when the lights are off.) This will reveal a potion recipe with two ingredients. The two ingredients can be found in any order.
  2. The egg will be found on the main desk after Peeves shows up (This will take a few minutes.) Peeves knocks over the cup and the egg rolls out.
  3. Wait in “Fan Sites” (binder clip) for the long-legged fly to show up. (This will take a few minutes.)

Door Opening 28/06/04 – Title reveal of Book Six

  1. The door opens easily, but there’s a brick wall behind it. If you play around you’ll notice that five bricks recess when clicked. Click them in the following order.
    1. The first brick is in the upper right section. It’s about two layers under the light switch.
    2. The second brick is in the bottom portion one row above the time-turner.
    3. The third brick is in the upper left section two rows above brick #1
    4. The fourth brick is in the bottom section three rows below brick #3 (about level with the date on the time-turner)
    5. The final brick is in the upper left, directly above brick #4
  2. After you do the five bricks the wall will slide down. Click the fan to turn it on and blow the scraps of paper from the bottom shelf into view.

Door Opening 16/08/04 – Excerpt of book six

Optional: Before starting on the door, wait around in “Extra Stuff” (hairbrush) for Peeves to show up. He’ll knock away a Street Cars business card, showing one underneath it for “Gobb Lynn Security Specialists – Suppliers of high quality vaults and safes. Tel: 30-27-23”.

  1.  Click to open the door. You’ll notice everything is pitch black.
  2. If you feel around there is a light switch to turn on. It’s level with the bottom of the door handle piece, about a third of the way across. It’s very small.
  3. Move the three darts onto 7, 1, and 3 (the Gringotts vault number where the Philosopher’s Stone was kept.) The dart board will move aside showing a safe.
  4. Type in 3-0-2-7-2-3 (the number from the Gobb Lynn business card) and the safe will open.
  5. Click the little slip of paper on the lower shelf.

Door Opening 31/10/04 – Book six chapter titles

  1. Wait around for Peeves to show up. He’ll knock over the vase, letting loose a bunch of flying keys.
  2. Grab the right key and put it into the lock. (There doesn’t seem to be any way of determining the right key, so just keep on trying them.)
  3. Now you can click the handle to open the door.
  4. Drag open the desk draw by its handle.
  5. Drag the magnifying glass onto the the folder to see the riddle.
  6. Type in C-H-A-P-T-E-R-S

Door Opening 20/12/04 – Christmas Message

  1. Click on the open door in the mirror to open the actual door.
  2. You’ll see six presents. Each has a riddle on the tag. The order of the riddles is random, but the answers are Bristol, corned beef, otter, half, blood, and prince.
  3. After you finish all six, a star will light up on top of the tree. Click the card hanging on the wall with the same star.

Door Opening 31/03/06 – W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 1

  1. Drag the rock from behind the plant to the mirror to smash it. You’ll see two shelves behind it.
  2. Drag the key from the lower shelf to the lock.
  3. Click on the paper to read the riddle.
  4. Type R-E-P-A-R-O. The mirror will fix itself.
  5. Click on the open door in the mirror to open the actual door.
  6. Drag the tassel on the hat until it is oriented straight up. The hat will move aside.
  7. Click on the exam to start.

Door Opening 29/09/06 – W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 2

  1. Click the door handle to open the door
  2. Click the candle
  3. Click the feather
  4. Click the open book
  5. Click the four-leaf clover. It will transform into a key.
  6. Drag the key to the drawer handle. The drawer will unlock and pop open.
  7. Click the hourglass to start the exam

Door Opening 21/12/06 – Book Seven title reveal

  1. Click the open door in the mirror
  2. Click the top part of the door
  3. Click the ceiling in the mirror
  4. Click on either of the spider webs
  5. Click on the second rightmost wind chime. It will turn into a key.
  6. Drag the key to the lock. The door will open.
  7. Click the wrapped present. It will open.
  8. Click the hangman game to start.
  9. Type D-E-A-T-H-L-Y-L-O-W-S in any order.

Door Opening 13/06/07 – W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 3

  1. Drag the fly (which will turn into a key) to the lock. The door will open.
  2. Drag the circle onto the line.
  3. Drag the triangle onto those to complete the Deathly Hallows symbol. It will move to the side.
  4. Click on the exam to start.

Door Opening 20/07/07 – Acknowledgements

This isn’t a puzzle. The door’s already unlocked.

Door Opening 29/12/07 – Potter-Weasley Family Tree

Also not a puzzle. The door’s already unlocked.

Door Opening current date – Do Not Disturb

This door is locked and won’t open. This was the usual state of the secret door until they set up the time turner.