Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Natalie McDonald

Overview
Natalie McDonald is a Gryffindor who arrived at Hogwarts in Harry's fourth year.

Goblet of Fire
Natalie McDonald was Sorted into Gryffindor House.

Analysis
Natalie McDonald is the only real-world character to appear in the Harry Potter series. A family friend had written to ask what was going to happen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because Natalie, then 9 years old, was dying of leukemia and was not expected to survive the 11 months until the publication date. Due to a breakdown in communications, the author did not receive the request until the day after Natalie had passed. However, a friendship between the McDonald family and the author did result, and the author added this character to the book in Natalie's honor. (Story in Maclean's, 6 November 2000, by Brian Bethune, thanks to Accio Quote)