Bryonia Abbott

## Bryonia Evandra Abbott (née Greengrass)

**Bryonia Evandra Abbott** (née **Greengrass**) (17 Apr 1676 - 29 Nov 1701) was a pure-blood witch who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries, the second child and first daughter of Lysander Greengrass VI and Evandra Greengrass (née Ollivander). Bryonia had one older brother, Cyrillus Greengrass, and eight younger siblings, including Corinda Prewett (née Greengrass), Achilles Greengrass I, and Antheia Malfoy (née Greengrass). Bryonia attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1 September 1687 to June of 1694. She was the first wife of Gideon Abbott, whom she married on 25 Dec 1694, at the age of eighteen. She was the mother of their four children. She is a direct ancestor of Hannah Abbott, Terence Higgs, and Susan Bones.

## Biography

#### Early life

Bryonia was born at the Greengrass Estate in 17 Feb 1676 as the first daughter and second child of Lysander Greengrass II and his wife Evandra Greengrass (née Ollivander). Her family was one of the oldest pure-blood families and was more of a neutral family. She was ten months younger than her older brother Cyrillus. She was a year and a half older than her younger sister, Corinda. Seven more siblings would be born after her: twins Achilles and Antheia (1680), Phaedra (1682), Isander (1683), Maximos (1684), Hyperion (1686), and Jocasta (1687). She was close with Cyrillus and Corinda while growing up. Cyrillus had often protected both sisters from a young age. When Cyrillus passed away on 19 Aug 1687 at the age of twelve, she and Corinda were both devastated. Shortly thereafter, the two sisters had become even closer and even shared a room together until both sisters were married.

#### Hogwarts Years

Bryonia attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on 1 September 1687 and was sorted into Slytherin House. She owned a wand made of rowan and unicorn hair.

During her fifth year, she became good friends with Gideon Abbott, who was three years her senior. Nonetheless, she developed a crush on the older boy. Both fathers gave their permission for a courtship during Bryonia's sixth year. She completed her education in June of 1694.

#### Marriage and issue

Bryonia married Gideon in a lovely ceremony on 25 Dec, Christmas Day, in 1694, when she was eighteen and he was twenty-one. They had a very fruitful and loving marriage, and together they had four children.

* Nicholas Gideon Abbott (12 Oct 1695 - 5 Nov 1789)
* Catherine Prunella Abbott (3 May 1697 - 19 Sep 1774)
* Margaret Helena Abbott (7 Aug 1699 - 28 Dec 1793)
* Edward Dorian Abbott (11 July 1701 - 11 July 1701), stillborn

#### Later life

Bryonia grew accustomed to married life and raising her children. She especially loved carrying the family tradition of pulling pranks on each other. It was no surprise when her younger sister, Corinda gave birth to her first daughter on 3 Aug 1700 and named her after her aunt. Bryonia was also made the child's godmother shortly thereafter.

#### Death

Bryonia died giving birth to her and Gideon's fourth child and second son, on 11 July 1701. The son, named Edward was stillborn and was buried alongside his mother. Her family was quite devastated by her passing, especially her husband and sister, Corinda. She was only 25 years old.

#### Legacy

Bryonia's eldest son, who was five years old when his mother died, would gain very faint memories of her later in life. Both of her daughters would take after their mother in different ways. Gideon would always remember Bryonia as the love of his life. While he did remarry and have three children with his second wife, he never loved any other woman the same as he loved Bryonia.

## Etymology

Bryonia is a Latin flower name meaning “to sprout.” It is the Greek variation of Bryony.

The surname Greengrass is of English topographical origins and would have denoted one who lived at a hamlet so named. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century words 'grene,' meaning 'green' and 'groes,' meaning grass.