The Surprising Way JK Rowling Came Up With Quidditch in 'Harry Potter'

We always forget that Quidditch isn't a real sport--at least not in our muggle world.

J.K. Rowling, the author and mastermind behind the Harry Potter series, once opened up in a commentary book about the way she came up with the unique fantasy sport involving broomsticks and snitches--and it's kind of surprising how much it makes sense.

After a fight with her now-ex-boyfriend, Rowling came up with the idea while at a hotel.

"[Quidditch] was invented in a small hotel in Manchester after a row with my then boyfriend," the author noted in the annotated first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. "I had been pondering the things that hold a society together, cause it to congregate and signify its particular character and knew I needed a sport."

Rowling went on to add, "It infuriates men...which is quite satisfying given my state of mind when I invented it."

The book, which contains this and other insider comments and illustrations from Rowling, went up for auction in 2016 as part of a Sotheby's London sale.

We hope for more opportunities like this to hear more of Rowling's thoughts on one of our favorite book series.