Emmeline Vance

**Emmeline Vance** (11 December, 1957 - 5 July, 1996) was an English pure-blood witch and a member of the first and second Order of the Phoenix. She fought in several battles in both the First and Second Wizarding Wars with the Order, and was also a member of the Advance Guard. In July of 1996, Emmeline was murdered by Death Eaters. She was considered a highly talented and prodigious witch and her death was a significant and devastating loss to the Order.

## Biography

### Early life (1957-1976)

Emmeline Vance was born on 11 December, 1957, into the Vance family, who lived in Normanby le Wold, Lincolnshire, a village in the East Midlands. She was a pure-blood witch, and a descendant of the Prince family on her mother's side.

She began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on 1 September, 1969, where she was sorted into Ravenclaw House. She was in the same year as fellow Order member Caradoc Dearborn. She was taught Potions by Professor Horace Slughorn and was considered one of his best students. She was a member of the Slug Club.

#### First Wizarding War (1976-1981)

Emmeline completed her education in 1976. At some point after leaving school, she became a member of the original Order of the Phoenix, an organisation constructed by Albus Dumbledore in order to oppose Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. She fought in the First Wizarding War and unlike many others ultimately survived, living well past Voldemort's first fall.

### Later life (1981-1995)

She worked in and funded a charitable organisation which helped sick children after the war, but this was only a side project. Her main occupation was working for the Ministry of Magic.

#### Second Wizarding War (1995-1998)

When Lord Voldemort returned to power in 1995, Vance became a member of the reconstituted Order of the Phoenix. One of Vance's more important duties was to serve as a member of the Advance Guard that acted as protectors of Harry Potter after they extracted him from 4 Privet Drive and took him to the safety of the Order's headquarters at 12 Grimmauld Place. During the flight, Vance and the other Order members constantly changed their positions and Harry glimpsed Vance with her wand out, alert and waiting for signs of danger.

Emmeline's long distinguished service to the Order ended however, when she was attacked and murdered by Death Eaters near the residence of the Muggle Prime Minister in the second week of July, 1996. Her loss was considered a significant and devastating loss for the Order, and her murder was publicised in Muggle newspapers, most likely because of the place of her murder being so close to the Prime Minister. Severus Snape claimed to have given information to Voldemort that led to Vance's death, but considering he was in fact a double agent ultimately loyal to the Order, it is unknown if he actually did so.

## Etymology

The name "Emmeline" comes from an Old French form of the Germanic name *Amelina*, originally a diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the element *amal* meaning "work". It was introduced to England by the Normans.

The surname Vance was used for someone who lived by a marsh of fen. The name derives from the Old English word '*fenn*', translating as 'a low-lying marshy area'.