Dexter Fortescue

Dexter Fortescue
Biographical information
Died	Before 1995
Title(s)	Professor Headmaster
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Relationship information
Family members	Florean Fortescue (possibly)
Affiliation
Occupation	Headmaster of Hogwarts (formerly)
Loyalty	Hogwarts Fortescue family

Professor Dexter Fortescue was a Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not much is known about his time at Hogwarts.

Biography

As Headmaster of Hogwarts

Dexter was made Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in an unknown time period. After his death, his portrait was hung at the Headmaster's office, in order to offer advice to the current Head.

Attack on Arthur Weasley

"Insubordination sir! Dereliction of duty!"

—Fortescue to Phineas Nigellus

Shortly after Arthur Weasley was attacked by Nagini at the Department of Mysteries, in 1995, Professor Albus Dumbledore attempted to wake up the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black, to tell Sirius Black that Harry Potter and the Weasley children were going to 12 Grimmauld Place. As Phineas expressed unwillingness to help, the portrait of Dexter Fortescue was particularly vocal, as was Armando Dippet and a portrait of an unidentified female Head.

Busting of Dumbledore's Army

"Blatant corruption! The Ministry did not cut deals with petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!"

—Fortescue to Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge

In 1995, he roared his disapproval at Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge when the latter explained to the former how she had learned of the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army in the Hog's Head. She explained that Willy Widdershins had been there and had reported back. Minerva McGonagall, also present, commented that she had wondered how Willy had gotten off so lightly after all those regurgitating toilets, and Fortescue erupted, saying that they did not cut deals with petty criminals in his day.

Voldemort's defeat

When Harry Potter went to the Headmaster's office, shortly after Lord Voldemort's defeat and the end of the Second Wizarding War, Fortescue joined the ovation made by the previous Hogwarts Headmaster, waving him his ear trumpet.

Personality and traits

Fortescue believed in honour and duty, reprimanding Phineas Nigellus for "dereliction of duty" and bellowing at Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge, John Dawlish, and Kingsley Shacklebolt for cutting deals with petty criminals.

In life, he was hard of hearing, necessitating the use of an ear trumpet before his death, a trait passed along to his portrait self who is seen using it to listen to private conversations in the Headmaster's office and speaking loudly when addressing observers or other portraits.

Behind the scenes

• He may be related to Florean Fortescue, who ran an ice cream parlour in Diagon Alley.

Etymology

The name "Dexter" comes from an occupational surname meaning "one who dyes" in Old English. It also coincides with the Latin word dexter meaning "right-handed, skilled".

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Appears in portrait(s))

Notes and references

Hogwarts Faculty