The Harry Potter Compendium
Evangeline Orpington
Biographical information
Born

Before 1832

Blood status

Pure-blood or Half-blood[1]

Physical information
Species

Human

Gender

Female

Family information
Family members

Nerys Orpington (possibly)

Magical characteristics
Wand

Poplar, unknown core and length

Affiliation
Occupation

Minister for Magic

Evangeline Orpington was a witch and a celebrated Minister for Magic, in office from 1849 to 1855. She is remembered for being the one who first thought of creating a concealed platform at King's Cross Station, to house the Hogwarts Express.[2]

Biography[]

Early life[]

Evangeline Orpington was born no later than 1832, into a wizarding family.[1] In her younger years, she purchased her wand, made of poplar wood, from Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley.[3]

Garrick Ollivander, the famous wandmaker, went on to write that the "tired old joke" among lesser wandmakers that no poplar wand had ever chosen a politician was utterly unsubstantiated, given that two of the most accomplished Ministers for Magic had fine, Ollivander-made poplar wands: Evangeline Orpington, and Eldritch Diggory.[3]

Later life[]

File:Platform 9¾.png

The concealed entrance to Platform 9¾.

Ms. Orpington was appointed Minister for Magic in 1849.[2]

When her predecessor, Ottaline Gambol, authorised an operation to acquire the Hogwarts Express, the Ministry had seen fit to build a railway station at Hogsmeade. The Ministry was not so keen, however, on building another station, in plain sight, in Muggle London, as it would be in all likelihood a serious breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.[2]

King's Cross Station was opened in 1852,[4] during Orpington's time in office. It was only after its opening that the Minister hit upon the idea of adding a concealed platform at King's Cross Station that could only be accessed by witches and wizards: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.[2]

Minister Orpington left the office in 1855, to be regarded as one of the most accomplished Ministers in British history.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 According to Pottermore, Nobby Leach (Minister for Magic between 1962 and 1968) was the first Muggle-born wizard ever to be appointed to the office)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pottermore - New from J.K. Rowling: "King's Cross Station"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Pottermore - New from J.K. Rowling: "Wand Woods"
  4. "London King's Cross railway station" at Wikipedia


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