J.K. Rowling wrote a real person into "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

In the book, Natalie McDonald is a first-year student at Hogwarts, who dons the Sorting Hat and becomes a member of House Gryffindor.

In real life, Natalie was a 9-year-old girl with terminal leukemia.

BACKSTORY (Thread):

Natalie McDonald& #39;s family friend contacted J.K. Rowling& #39;s publisher with one request: a preview of "Goblet& #39;s" end.

The Harry Potter series had been Natalie& #39;s "respite from the hell of leukemia," and she wouldn& #39;t have lived long enough to read the book.

Rowling was on vacation when the message arrived and emailed Natalie& #39;s mother on August 4, 1999. The email described the fate of the main characters, eleven months before the book& #39;s release.

Sadly, Natalie died the day before getting the message.

Nonetheless, Natalie& #39;s mother and Rowling became friends that day forward.

Rowling ultimately honored Natalie& #39;s memory in the best way she could… by making Natalie part of the story.