Bathilda Bagshot

**Bathilda Bagshot** was a character in the *Harry Potter book series* by J.K. Rowling. She was a witch and a celebrated wizarding historian and author who penned A History of Magic.

## Biography

### Philosopher's Stone

In 1947, Bathilda published a book, A History of Magic. The book was renowned for it's contribution to history and she was a celebrated historian. Every student had to bring the book each year to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting in their first-year.

### Deathly Hallows

In around 1890, Bathilda was living in Godric's Hollow when Kendra Dumbledore moved her family there, bringing Albus, Aberforth and Ariana Dumbledore. Kendra was not on good terms with her neighbours and they didn't know she had a daughter because Ariana was kept hidden. Bathilda took Cauldron Cakes to Kendra, but she wouldn't speak to her. She eventually struck a friendship with the Dumbledore family and was party to their secrets.

The friendship began when she sent an owl to Albus Dumbledore when she was impressed by the paper he wrote about trans-species Transfiguration for the scholarly journal Transfiguration Today. At the beginning of summer 1899, Bathilda was the only person on speaking terms with Kendra when she was killed by her daughter's uncontrollable magic.

Then the same summer, she took in her great-great nephew, Gellert Grindelwald who wanted to search for information about the Deathly Hallows. She introduced him to Albus Dumbledore. The two became friends and they planned to take over the wizarding world together, leading to the death of Ariana. Gellert run away, and Bathilda attended the funeral. She saw Aberforth punch Albus in the nose and shouting that he had caused her death. It's unknown how much Bathilda knew about the extent of their plans and what happened to Ariana, but she kept a letter they sent to each other about their plans.

In 1952, she gave a quote for the book Quidditch Through the Ages, stating it was a great read. Bathilda at one point knew or met Muriel because Muriel thought Bathilda was "gaga". By 1981, Bathilda was a good friend of Lily Potter and she attended Harry Potter's first birthday party.

Then in the summer of 1997, Bathilda was interviewed under the false pretence of Veritaserum by Rita Skeeter after the death of Albus Dumbledore. Skeeter was writing a book about Dumbledore and the family which was just half-true, and took advantage of Bathilda's poor mental state and age to get information. She found Bathilda "batty", and then took her words out of context. She took photographs of Dumbledore and Grindelwald out of her house, and one of their letters that they sent to each other.

#### Death

By 24 December 1997, Voldemort thought that Harry would stop by Godric's Hollow and wanted to put a spy in the village in case he arrived. He killed Bathilda and had Nagini inhabit her body at the height of the Second Wizarding War. Harry and Hermione Granger eventually stopped by Godric's Hollow and Nagini abandoned Bathilda's body. Her body was eventually found and reported by Potterwatch.

## Appearance

Bathilda was a small woman and her height was the same level of Harry Potter's chest when he was 17. In her elderly age, she had thick eyes because of her cataracts, and white hair that was very thin.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (A Brief History of Muggle Awareness of Fantastic Beasts)
2. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 5
3. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 11
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 18
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 8
6. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 10
7. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 17
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Chapter 22