"Harry Potter has a proven educational virtue and, through this internationally recognized saga, you inspired young people to read, but also write. Thanks to you, they understand that reading is not a punishment but a source of pleasure," said the president while presenting J.K. Rowling with the Légion d'Honneur.

In front of the students of a college in Bois-Guillaume (Seine-Maritime) who had won a contest organized by the French editor Gallimard, Nicolas Sarkozy described J.K. Rowling as a "woman impassioned by her profession" and "a woman with exceptional talent." He also emphasized the "initiatory universe" that she created "which makes it possible for the reader to decipher the world and grow as a person" and which "one does not underline it enough, carries great moral principles and values."

"For all that you brought to youth in general, and to the French children in particular, you amply deserve that the French Republic honours you this evening," concluded the president.

My great-grandfather was French, and was decorated with the Legion of honor in 1924 for [his] courage at the time of the battle of Verdun.” J.K. Rowling was also [sorry] to have chosen a “French name with (its) character malefic,” Voldemort. “I can ensure you that no feeling anti-French is at the origin of this choice,” she pled, “but I needed at the same time a name which evokes the capacity and exoticism.”

Mister President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to excuse myself in advance for my accent and for all the grammatical mistakes which I am about to make. My French is rusty, although I formerly taught in Scotland. But I have enough memories to be embarrassed by my errors!

First of all, I thank you from the bottom of the heart for having granted me this extraordinary and unexpected distinction. I cannot say that I think I'm deserving of it really, but the Legion of Honour has for me a quite particular and very personal meaning, as I shall explain it to you shortly. Having said that, the chance to visit the Elysee and to receive this medal from your President was amply sufficient to convince me to accept the invitation! I am particularly delighted to receive this medal in front of so many young French fans of Harry Potter because of their profound attachment and numerous letters have enchanted me for years.

As I said to you, the Legion of Honour has quite particular and very personal connotations for me. Indeed, my great-grandfather was French. He was called Louis Volant, and he was decorated with the Legion of Honour in 1924 for his courage during the battle of Verdun.

It goes without saying that my work is in no way comparable with the acts of men who undergo terrible injuries or sacrifice their lives in the name of freedom and justice. However, Louis is an ancestor of which I was always particularly proud; I thus like to believe that he would be happy knowing that there was a second Legion of Honor in his family, and that books written by its descendents caused pleasure in its native land.

I would like to take this occasion to express my gratitude with my French editor, Gallimard. Thank you for all the support which you brought to Harry and its creative for so many years. Gallimard was, if I am not mistaken, the first foreign editor to export Harry Potter out of the United Kingdom and for this reason you have a very particular place in my heart. I also want to make a point of thanking my French readers in general, for not wanting me to have given a French name to my character malefic. I can ensure you that no anti-French feeling is at the origin of this choice. As a francophile, I was always proud of my French blood, but I needed a name which evoked at the same time capacity and exoticism. I, on the other hand, regret to say to you that Voldemort itself is 100 percent English.

I doubt extremely that the books that I will publish thereafter can be as successful as Harry Potter, which exceeded my most insane dreams. I was filled by the reception which it received throughout the world, and one of my greater prides is that, thanks to Harry, young people discovered the pleasure of the reading. I will never forget the years during which the seven Harry Potter books were published; they will remain most extraordinary of my life, and an evening as this one only confirms the magic transformation once again that Harry Potter made in the life of its author.

Mr. President, thank you for this immense honor. This will remain for me an extremely invaluable memory, just as this marvellous evening.