Belvina Burke

Belvina Burke (née Black) was a pure-blood witch and a member of the noble House of Black. Born in the late 19th century, her primary significance to wizarding history stems from her marriage to Herbert Burke, which connected the esteemed Black Family to the Burke family, who were co-founders of the notorious Dark Arts shop, Borgin and Burkes. All known information about her is derived from the Black Family Tree and she is not mentioned in the original seven novels.

Born in 1886, Belvina was the eldest daughter of Phineas Nigellus Black, a former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and his wife, Ursula Flint. She grew up in a family that ardently supported pure-blood supremacy, an ideology she appeared to embrace, as she, unlike two of her brothers, was never disowned or blasted from the family tapestry. At some point in her life, Belvina married Herbert Burke. This union was significant as it allied the Blacks with a family deeply involved in the trade and collection of dark magical artefacts. Together, they had three children: two sons and one daughter. Belvina lived to the age of 76, passing away in 1962. Her life and choices reflect the traditional path of a pure-blood witch from a prominent family during her era, upholding family values and securing advantageous alliances through marriage.

There is no known description of Belvina Burke's physical appearance. Her personality is also undocumented. However, the fact that she was not disowned by her family, unlike her brothers Sirius Black II and Phineas Black, strongly suggests that she adhered to the Black Family's strict pure-blood ideology and did not defy their expectations. Her marriage into the Burke family further implies an acceptance of, or at least tolerance for, the Dark Arts.

As a witch from a powerful and ancient magical family, it is presumed that Belvina attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was a competent magic user. However, no specific magical abilities, skills, or achievements are recorded.

There is no information regarding any specific magical items or other possessions owned by Belvina Burke.

• Parents: Her father was Phineas Nigellus Black and her mother was Ursula Flint.
• Siblings: She had four brothers: Sirius Black II, Phineas Black, Arcturus Black II, and Cygnus Black II. Her relationships with them are unknown, but it is notable that Sirius was disowned for running away from home and Phineas was disowned for supporting Muggle rights, indicating a significant ideological divide within the family.
• Spouse and Children: Belvina married Herbert Burke and they had two sons and one daughter, whose names are not recorded on the Black Family Tree.
• Extended Family: Through her lineage, Belvina was the great-aunt of Walburga Black and Orion Black, making her the great-great-aunt of Sirius Black III and Regulus Arcturus Black. She was also the great-great-aunt of the Black sisters: Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, and Narcissa Malfoy.

• Belvina: The name is of uncertain origin. It may be a variant of the Latin name Belva, meaning “beautiful view.” It could also be a feminine form of the Welsh name Bevin. Unlike most members of her family, her name does not appear to be derived from a star or constellation.
• Burke: An Anglo-Norman surname of Old German origin, from the element “burg,” meaning “fortress” or “castle.” In modern history, the name is infamously associated with William Burke of the “Burke and Hare murders,” providing a sinister connotation fitting for a family connected to Borgin and Burkes.

All known information about Belvina Burke comes from the Black Family Tree tapestry. This family tree was first shown in the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* (film). The most detailed and canonical version, which includes her birth and death dates, was a hand-drawn family tree created by J.K. Rowling for a charity auction in 2006 (J.K. Rowling supplementary material). She is never mentioned by name in the text of the seven primary novels.