The following changes were released by Rowling’s publishers in the summer of 2004. As of summer, 2005, they had not been included in Scholastic editions. However, both Bloomsbury and Raincoast editions now incorporate the changes. The translators, who work from the Bloomsbury text, are incorporating these changes into their editions of the book as well.
UK p28, line 5:
were > was
Typographical error (grammar).
UK p28, 8 lines from bottom
Artifacts > Artefacts
In this instance, the U.K. edition had used the U.S. spelling rather than the U.K. spelling.
UK p29, line 2
beserk > berserk
Typographical error (spelling).
UK p31, last line:
George > Fred
UK p32, line 6:
Fred > George
UK p32, line 14:
Geoge > George
Typographical error (spelling).
UK p40, line 13:
wizard’s > wizards’
UK p77, line 24:
Honourary > Honorary
UK p78/US p99:
“And a few of you need to read Weekend With A Werewolf more carefully–” > “And a few of you need to read Wanderings With Werewolves more carefully–” This is an error in the UK version of the book. The title of the book given elsewhere is Wanderings With Werewolves.
UK p88/US p115
UK p91/US p116:
“He’s the only man for the job,” said Hagrid, offering them a plate of treacle fudge… Hagrid’s treacle fudge had cemented his jaws together. > “He’s the only man for the job,” said Hagrid, offering them a plate of treacle toffee… Hagrid’s treacle toffee had cemented his jaws together.
Toffee, much more than fudge, has a sticky consistency. It would appear that Hagrid’s version of this toffee is particularly dangerous.
UK p90, 11 lines from bottom:
Hagid > Hagrid
Typographical error (spelling).
UK p98, paragraph 4, line 6:
envelope. Harry > envelope, Harry
Typographical error.
UK p102, line 12:
though > through
Typographical error.
UK p110, line 9:
Madam Sprout > Professor Sprout
UK p115, line 12:
can only opened > can only be opened
UK p125, 9 lines from bottom:
checking the coast > checking that the coast
UK p128, line 12 (CS10):
Delete said Harry insert full stop after sleeve and remove end quote mark.
UK p140, 8 lines from bottom:
Draft > Draught
Typographical error (the U.K. edition was using the U.S. spelling).
UK p161, line 3:
Crabbe, > Crabbe
Typographical error (punctuation).
UK p170, 2 lines from bottom:
Honourary >Honorary
UK p176, line 7:
became > become
UK p180, 8 lines from bottom:
miniscule > minuscule
UK p187, line 2
than the study > Study
UK p189, 12 lines from bottom
releasd > released
UK p190/US p257:
Madam Pomfrey was bending over a fifth-year girl with long, curly hair. > Madam Pomfrey was bending over a sixth-year girl with long, curly hair.
This slight change puts Penelope Clearwater in the same year as Percy Weasley, her boyfriend.
UK p199, 6 lines from bottom:
Professor Snape > Professor Sprout
UK p203, line 10:
heard. Fang!’ > heard Fang!’
UK p211, line 3:
as though he’d been just been > as though he’d just been
UK p216, paragraph 2:
Amend first sentence to ‘The Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it!’ and amend the last line of the paragraph to: Spiders flee before the Basilisk!
UK p220/US p297:
“…And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a harelip. I mean, come on–” > “…And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a hairy chin. I mean, come on–”
The reference to “harelip” spoken in such derogatory fashion, even by a villain like Lockhart, is rather insensitive. I suppose that women with hairy chins might be offended by the new version, but apparently this wasn’t deemed as likely to be a problem.
UK p239, 7 lines from bottom:
floor > bathroom
UK p245/US p332:
“You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,” said Dumbledore calmly, “because Lord Voldemort — who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin — can speak Parseltongue…” > “You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,” said Dumbledore calmly, “because Lord Voldemort — who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin — can speak Parseltongue…”
Oh, the troubles this mistake has caused. Rowling compounded the confusion when she was asked about this in an interview and she called it a “deliberate error,” whatever that was supposed to mean. Now we know…it’s officially supposed to read “descendant.” There go ten or twelve really clever fan theories right out the window.
