JK Rowling has helped design a Harry Potter inspired tattoo for a self-harm survivor.
The millionaire author responded to a heartfelt message from the struggling fan yesterday who pleaded with Rowling to help her recover.
The young girl, known only as Kate, told the writer how she has struggled for years cutting her wrists and had attempted suicide several times.
She then told Rowling it was her “dream” to get “Expecto Patronum”, a famous spell from the wizarding series that evokes positive energy, inked on her in the famous author’s handwriting.
Almost immediately Rowling responded by posting a photograph of “Expecto Patronum” scrawled in black ink.
Kate’s message to Rowling read: “I’ve been through, and still going through, a lot of things in my life. From sexual assault to bullying to attempted suicide eight times. I’m not proud of these things, but they are who I am.
“I’m also trying my hardest to stop self harming. It hurts my body, but it hurts my soul more.I know you won’t judge, that’s why I’m telling you this.
“Another reason I’m telling you this is because through all the ups and downs in my life, you helped me get through every single thing one way or another.
“You gave me a second, third chance, you gave me so many chances in life and not taking them seriously wouldn’t be fair to you.
“I will never be able to thank you enough Jo. I wanna get ‘expecto patronum’ tattooed on the wrist I usually cut the most, or somewhere else, I don’t know yet exactly, because I know that’s going to help me stop even if it takes a while.
“Please Jo, I know I can slowly start to recover but I need your help to do so. You’ve always been there and I know you always will be.”
While posting her handwritten spell, Rowling responded: “I love that you’re working to heal and protect yourself. You deserve this. I hope it helps.”
Within 16 hours, the post received over 3,000 retweets and 13,000 likes.
Ecstatic Kate later took to Twitter to thank Rowling for her support and several hours later couldn’t believe her luck.
She wrote: “This has such a deep meaning. Thank you @jk_rowling. getting it soon and may others get strength from it as well.
“Now that the patronus charm is its way to my arm, the way it’s written especially, it all seems so real to me. Recovery might be coming.
“I’m still crying as hard as I was when it first happened. This is too good to be true, I can’t process it in my head it’s too much. As of last night, recovery seems possible.”
Dozens of Potter fans messaged Kate to show support and also ask permission to use the image for replica tattoos.
Chelsea Anne wrote: May get this tattoo on myself as well? I have been battling depression and heavily contemplating self harm as well.”
Nuno Fernands said: “This is so powerful. I’d love to tattoo it also but I’m afraid you’d think I was stealing.”
And Kayleigh Davra wrote: “Would it be weird if I wanted to get this too? This is so special.”
This is not the first time Kate has had one-to-one contact with Rowling over Twitter.
In September last year Rowling tweeted Kate saying “Cyberhug. Everything’s going to be okay. Promise” after she wrote a post saying she needed a hug.
