In a stunningly misguided program implemented by the British government, all children's book authors who visit schools must register with a national database intended to protect children from pedophiles, and they must pay a fee to do so. Beginning October 12, 2009, the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will require that all adults who work with children, including authors such as J.K. Rowling and Philip Pullman if they make special visits to schools, will be required to register with the database for a fee of £64 ($105). The Independent reports that as a result, several well-known authors will boycott schools in protest of the requirement. Philip Pullman, Anne Fine, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, and Quentin Blake have all publicly stated that they object to having their names listed in the database. Pullman, author of the popular fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, called the policy "corrosive and poisonous to every kind of healthy social interaction." He eloquently adds, "This reinforces the culture of suspicion, fear and mistrust that underlies a great deal of present-day society. It teaches children that they should regard every adult as a potential murderer or rapist." Anne Fine, the former Children's Laureate for the U.K. and author of over 50 children's books, labelled the requirement "government idiocy." "When it [the VBS] becomes essential, I shall continue to work only in foreign schools, where sanity prevails," she said. "The whole idea of vetting an adult who visits many schools, but each only for a day, and then always in the presence of other adults, is deeply offensive. Our children will become further impoverished by this tiresome and ill-considered scheme, and yet another gulf will be created between young people and the rest of society."
The VBS was set up in 2002 following the tragic murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells by the janitor at their school, Ian Huntley. A government spokesperson defended the new rigorous regulation, saying, "The new scheme means every individual working in a field that requires more than a tiny amount of contact with children and/or vulnerable adults will have to be vetted. If they are passed, they will be placed on a register that says they are allowed to work in a regulated field. If they are barred, they will go on a separate register and it will be a criminal offence for them to try and obtain work in a regulated field, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison. It will also be illegal for anyone to employ them."
Indeed, while such reasoning seems to make sense, the ramifications are far from sensible and grossly unfair to children and adults alike. This policy borders on hysteria and panders to the public's basest fears by assuming the worst of everybody. While none of these authors wants to see any child harmed, they point to the damage such a policy has on society as a whole. In an editorial in the Independent, Anthony Horowitz, author of the The Alex Rider Collection (Alex Rider Adventures) and the Power of Five book series, perhaps put it best: "This is a law made by people with a bleak and twisted view of society. And such people, quite simply, should not be making laws."

It should be obvious, at this point, to any observer: the world loves Harry Potter. Not just America, or even the Western World, but the whole World – Planet Earth. The first of the last three movies based on the successful series by British author JK Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, came out last week, leaving only two more movies to cover the final book in this epic saga of magic. It will be another two years before the movies are released to the public and the mixed tears of both unrelenting sadness and joy are shed, which gives both Rowling and the studio (Warner Bros.) time to consider the all-important question: what’s next?

After the last book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, was released two years ago, JK Rowling stated in many different interviews that the series would not continue – she felt the characters had been brought to completion, and included a halfhearted “look at the characters in the future!” epilogue as if to prove she was serious. However, she’s not likely to stay away forever, and the reasons are simple: the world adores her work, she’s made millions from the series, and, most importantly, this magical realm lives inside her head in a very real way.

The best authors, when creating imaginary worlds, construct them in their heads piece-by-piece and treat it as if it were real – J.R.R. Tolkien and Rowling have this trait in common. But when these imaginary worlds become a part of the author’s life for so long, Tolkien for the better part of his, and Rowling for the last twelve years, their very existence becomes entwined. Evidence of this can easily be seen in the fact that Tolkien could not leave Middle Earth, even after all the books were completed, or that Rowling will offhandedly refer to a previously-unknown fact like “Dumbledore is gay” as if it were obvious to the outside world.

Rowling has already revisited the magical land of Harry Potter once, to write “The Tales of Beetle the Bard” and a few more times as a consultant for the production of the movies – who’s to say she can stay away for good? The options for her to return to the series are many and varied, with most of them being great ideas in and of themselves. A few storyarcs come to mind almost immediately:

• Voldemort’s first ascent to power, just prior to Harry’s being born, with the original Order of the Phoenix
• James, Sirius, and the rest of the gang as they grow up through Hogwart’s themselves
• “parallel” novels following important, but not central, characters such as Luna Lovegood or Neville Longbottom, intertwining plotlines with the existing books
• Dumbledore’s past, including the adventures (and eventual battle) with Grindelwald

The options for the growth of the world are nearly endless, and it can be done delicately and appropriately without offending fans of the current series or appearing to continue the “Harry Potter grows up” storyline past its already obvious end.

Additionally, these movies have been a huge source of fame and fortune for Rowling, so much so that it’s easy to question whether she can financially leave the world. Without ever writing again, she will be able to live comfortably and without much thought for finances, but she will eventually get bored with having nothing to do – as everyone does. When that time comes, she may consider finding a job to occupy her time, and will know that she lives as she does thanks to her writing career. Logic follows that she will pick up the pen and word processor once again, with the legions of Harry Potter devotees hoping she result is another chapter in the series.

Harry Potter has become an international, multigenerational sensation that will live on forever in the hearts and minds of its fans, future readers, and the halls of literary greats. Other modern commercial successes, such as Twilight, do not and cannot live up to the precedent that Rowling has set for young adult fantasy novels, no matter how hard book publishers or movie studios try - pure genius is self-evident. An intelligent, creative woman at the age of 43, JK Rowling has many years ahead of her to decide what the future holds for Harry Potter – and whether or not to continue the largest love affair the modern world has ever seen.