The Harry Potter Compendium
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The Harry Potter Compendium
The Harry Potter Compendium
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in: British individuals, Females, Hogwarts corridor namesakes,
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Fat Lady

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The Fat Lady was a portrait who guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts Castle. She asks for a password before she let anyone in, then swung her picture backward so that students could enter through a portrait hole.

Biography[]

Lifetime[]

Next to nothing is known about the Fat Lady's early life or what her name was when she was alive. She presumably was educated at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was Sorted into Gryffindor house.

It is unknown when or how she died, but it was by some time in the 1960s at the very latest (since her portrait already guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower by then).

As a portrait[]

File:Fat lady.JPG

The Fat Lady's portrait

After the Fat Lady died, a painting depicting her was hung at Hogwarts Castle, guarding the Gryffindor Common Room. It is also unknown who or what, if anything, guarded the common room before her. The Fat Lady was a dutiful guardian to the Gryffindor Tower, only granting entrance to those who produce the correct password. She had, however, been known for reprimanding students when they returned late, annoyed that they woke her up from her sleep. She had been known to move about occasionally and had a friend, Violet, who visited her, especially during such holidays as Christmas break. The two drank together frequently, once consuming several vats of wine that were in a picture of some drunk monks.

1960s[]

When Molly Prewett was a student, she returned to Gryffindor Tower at four o'clock in the morning after taking a late night stroll with her then boyfriend (now husband), Arthur Weasley, and they both got a telling-off from the Fat Lady.

1975[]

After the end of their friendship, Severus Snape remained outside the Gryffindor Common Room until Lily came out to talk to him.

1991–1992 school year[]

"Where on earth have you all been?"
—The Fat Lady scolding first year Gryffindors for being out late[src]

In 1991, the Fat Lady allowed first year Gryffindors into Gryffindor tower with the correct password. When Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley had left the dormitory late one night to duel Draco Malfoy at the third floor, she went off for a nightime visit, therefore meaning they, Hermione Granger (who had tried to stop them leaving) and Neville Longbottom (who had forgotten the password), could not enter, resulting in all four of them heading down to the third floor. By the time she had returned to her portrait and the four of them had returned back to the dormitory, she questioned them on where they had been. Later in December 1991, when Harry Potter left the dormitory at night under his Invisbility Cloak, she questioned who was there when Harry came through her portrait, as she could not see him due to him being fully invisible.

1992–1993 school year[]

At the start of the school year when Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley arrived late to the castle, due to missing the Hogwarts Express and being forced to drive the Flying Ford Anglia to school (and crashing it into the Whomping Willow), the two initially did not know the password to enter. However, their friend Hermione Granger soon arrived to tell them the password.

1993–1994 school year[]

Percy Weasley: "And the Fat Lady, sir?"
Albus Dumbledore: "Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She’s still very distressed, but once she’s calmed down, I’ll have Mr Filch restore her."
— Albus Dumbledore telling Percy Weasley about the Fat Lady's mental state after the attack[src]
File:Attack on the Fat Lady.png

Sirus Black's attack on the Fat Lady

On Hallowe'en 1993, the Fat Lady's portrait was ruined by Sirius Black and pulled off the wall. She was temporarily replaced by Sir Cadogan because nobody else wanted the job. After Sir Cadogan was fired when Sirius Black used the list of passwords he somehow obtained from Neville Longbottom and returned to the seventh floor, the Fat Lady's portrait was restored by Argus Filch at this time. She agreed returned to her original location and duties in exchange for protection. This causes several Security trolls to be hired to patrol the hallways to prevent further vandalism and fight off any intruders.

1994–1995 school year[]

"Well, well, well, Violet’s just told me everything. Who’s just been chosen as school champion, then?"
—The Fat Lady congratulating Harry Potter[src]

In 1994, when Harry Potter had been chosen as the fourth Triwizard champion, the Fat Lady was informed of this by her friend and fellow portrait Violet, and she seemed very eager to meet Harry when he went back to the common room, even bringing her friends from portraits with her.

When Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were called by Hermione Granger to go to the kitchen, the Fat Lady was annoyed that she had to open the door just after they planned to not use it. Later that year, after the Yule Ball ended, the Fat Lady and Violet were both drunk, and Harry Potter had some trouble getting her to open the door. Again, when Harry tried to enter the tower, the Fat Lady was asleep and he had to yell the password to wake her up, much to her irritation.

1995–1996 school year[]

"Are you going to give me the password or will I have to stay awake all night waiting for you to finish your conversation?"
—The Fat Lady's annoyance at the trio[src]

At the start of the school year, the Fat Lady initally refused to allow Harry to enter as he did know the password, but Neville Longbottom arrived and gave the correct password Mimbulus mimbletonia and she allowed them entry. When Harry, Ron and Hermione were discussing Dolores Umbridge's draconian detentions for Harry outside the common room, the Fat Lady was annoyed at them for waking her up with their talking. At the end of the school year, when Harry Potter sprinted out of the common room, she called upon him not to miss the End-of-Term Feast.

1996–1997 school year[]

Fat Lady: "What sort of time do you call this?"
Harry Potter: "I’m really sorry — I had to go out for something important —"
Fat Lady: "Well, the password changed at midnight, so you’ll just have to sleep in the corridor, won’t you?"
Harry Potter: "You’re joking! Why did it have to change at midnight?"
Fat Lady: "That’s the way it is. If you’re angry, go and take it up with the headmaster, he’s the one who’s tightened security."
— Harry Potter arguing with the Fat Lady[src]

After she and her friend Violet had overindulged on an entire vat of five-hundred year old wine over Christmas 1996, meaning she was rather hungover and pale looking when Harry and Ron returned to Hogwarts in the castle a few days after new year in 1997.

Once, when Harry Potter returned late and woke her up, she refused to let him in, claiming that the password changed overnight. When Harry ran off to see Dumbledore regarding Slughorn's memory, she called after him and admitted that she was just kidding, though Harry proceeded to Dumbledore's office anyway.

Later that year, when Dumbledore was seemingly murdered by Severus Snape, the Fat Lady was in sorrow and she allowed Harry to enter the Tower without the password, while she cried. She presumably continued to carry out her same role after the war.

Known passwords used to enter the Gryffindor Common Room[]

To be added

Physical Appearance[]

To be added

Personality and traits[]

To be added

Behind the scenes[]

To be added

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

To be added


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