The 800-word story, written in the author’s own hand, will be auctioned off for charity in London on June 10. Proceeds will go to the writers’ association English PEN and to Dyslexia Action.

Fans will be able to read the prequel for themselves when it’s published by Waterstone’s in August.

In her sign-off to the story (written on a piece of paper not much bigger than a postcard), Rowling said, “That was fun!”

JK Rowling, whose books have also been turned into a series of record-breaking films, said in 2007 that if she did write another Potter tale, it would not be for another ten years.

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