Basil Fronsac

Basil Fronsac
Biographical information
Born	Mid-19th century (most likely)
Died	Before 1992
Title(s)	Professor Headmaster
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Skin color	White
Affiliation
Occupation	Headmaster of Hogwarts School
House	Ravenclaw
Loyalty	Hogwarts School

"A healthy mind is an inquisitive mind."

—Basil Fronsac's portrait

Professor Basil Fronsac was a wizard. A scholar and a supporter of Ravenclaw, he was appointed as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sometime before Armando Dippet. There is a portrait of him hung in the Headmaster's office in order to give advice to the current Head, and several others of a younger him on the Castle's main halls.

Biography

File:Basil Fronsac.jpg

A middle-aged Fronsac.

Early life

Basil Fronsac attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in his youth and was Sorted into Ravenclaw. In his elderly years, Professor Fronsac was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts.

1993–1994 school year

In 1993, Professor Fronsac had several portraits hung at Hogwarts Castle; quite a few of them at the Grand Staircase.

1995–1996 school year

By 1995, his portrait was hung at the Grand Staircase. The portrait guarded a shortcut leading to the second-floor corridor, near the Library. He held a pocket watch and his password was "Studious Success". He would be happy to help any "inquisitive minds" that could find out where Rowena Ravenclaw came from.

1996–1997 school year

In the next school year the portrait was moved to the Dungeons. He still guarded a secret passage, this time leading to the Grand Staircase. His password became "Libraries Liberate".

Behind the scenes

• The portrait of the middle-aged Basil Fronsac appears to be a direct homage to a portrait of Henry James.

Etymology

The name "Basil" is from the Greek name Βασιλειος (Basileios) which was derived from βασιλευς (basileus) meaning "king". Saint Basil the Great was a 4th-century bishop of Caesarea and one of the fathers of the early Christian church. It was also borne by two Byzantine emperors.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Disc 2)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game) (Appears in portrait(s))
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Appears in portrait(s))

Notes and references

Hogwarts Castle
Locations on the second floor
Class 31 · Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor's office · Hall · No entry due to flooding · Second Floor Corridor · Potions storeroom · Foyer · Arcade area · Secret storeroom
Portraits, statues and other artwork located on the second floor
Anne Boleyn · Basil Fronsac · Temeritus Shanks · Apples · Map of Argyllshire · Medieval wizard · Wizarding family