It all started last June, when Scotland resident Johnnie Blue reached out to J.K. Rowling on Twitter like so many of her fans often do.
Anyone else feel like an orphaned boy wizard when @jk_rowling tweets other fans but not you?
But to his surprise, Rowling actually responded.
@AshleyCompton_ @Johnnie_Rowling OK, but only because of the Dobby eyes.
Then in July, Johnnie also had the chance to meet Rowling at a book signing for The Silkworm, which she wrote under her pen name, Robert Galbraith.
Johnnie gave Rowling a notebook that was personally designed by Jason Cockcroft (who did the cover art for UK Bloomsbury Harry Potter books). Inside the notebook he left a handwritten letter for the author about how she changed Johnnie's life.
When he came home from school on Aug. 20, Johnnie had been sent an envelope with a Chamber of Secrets stamp on it.
"I opened the purple tissue-lined envelope to find J.K. Rowling's signature letterhead," he recalled.
Here's a picture of the letter, which Johnnie sent to BuzzFeed:
Here's what it said:
Dear Johnny,
You have fantastic handwriting. That's not the most important thing I've got to say to you, but I thought I'd mention it — I'm a connoisseur.
On to more important things:
What you say about Harry helping you at what was clearly a dreadful time in your life means more to me than I can easily express. I freely confess that I loathe bullying and the way it is still so often "handled" in schools. Your experience is shocking and disturbing and that you have turned out to be a compassionate, moral, highly motivated person is high testimony to your courage. Gryffindor for you, my lad...
Thank you so much for the stunningly beautiful notebook. I love it.
This letter seems to be a series of non-sequiturs, but why break the pattern: I have family roots in Ayrshire — Arran, to be precise. And I've never been there. Embarrassing, isn't it? Don't tell the Nationalists.
I'm sure we'll see each other again. In the meantime, I'll watch out for you on Twitter.
Love from Jo
Rowling kept her promise to watch out for Johnnie on Twitter and has responded to even more of his tweets since they met.
@jk_rowling tried to take a Jo-style header photo! Does it meet your standard? Xx
.@Johnnie_Rowling Let's face it, that's better than mine.
.@Johnnie_Rowling Calling me Bob or calling Bob Bob? Bob is fine with being called Bob, though I usually call him Rob.
"J.K. Rowling to me, is a hero," Johnnie told BuzzFeed. "She's saved so many peoples lives, along with mine, something I will be eternally grateful for."
Accio tissues for ALL THE TEARS.
