Charity Burbage

Charity Burbage was a witch and the Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during Harry Potter's time at the school. A vocal proponent of Muggle-wizard equality and tolerance, her public defense of Muggle-borns led to her abduction and murder by Lord Voldemort at the outset of his final rise to power. Her death served as a grim demonstration of the new, brutal regime being established and the extreme danger faced by those who opposed the Death Eater ideology.

Professor Burbage's early life is not detailed in the novels. By the 1990s, she was the established Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. Her curriculum focused on educating young witches and wizards about the non-magical world in a positive and factual manner, aiming to foster understanding between the two communities. During the Second Wizarding War, as Lord Voldemort's influence grew, Professor Burbage took a courageous and public stand against his pure-blood doctrine. She wrote a passionate article for the Daily Prophet arguing that Muggle-borns were not “stealing” magic and that the decline of the pure-blood lines would lead to the extinction of wizards. She advocated for wizards to embrace Muggles and Muggle-borns. This open defiance made her a prime target. In July of 1997, shortly before Voldemort's takeover of the Ministry of Magic, she was abducted from her home. She was held captive at Malfoy Manor, where she was suspended upside down over a table during a Death Eater meeting. She pleaded with Severus Snape, who was in attendance, for help, but he remained impassive. Lord Voldemort mocked her views on Muggles before striking her with the Killing Curse. Her body was then fed to his snake, Nagini. Her murder was a clear message to anyone who dared to sympathize with Muggles. Following her death, the subject of Muggle Studies was made compulsory at Hogwarts but was twisted into a tool for anti-Muggle propaganda, taught by the Death Eater Alecto Carrow.

The novels provide no description of Charity Burbage's physical appearance. Her personality is revealed through her actions and writings. She was exceptionally brave, principled, and compassionate. Her willingness to publish an article in the Daily Prophet that directly contradicted the increasingly powerful dark regime shows immense courage. She held a deep-seated belief in equality and understanding, viewing the separation of the wizarding and Muggle worlds as unnatural and detrimental. Her final, desperate plea to Severus Snape suggests she may have considered him a colleague she could appeal to, highlighting her tragic vulnerability in her final moments.

As a professor at Hogwarts, Charity Burbage was a fully qualified and competent witch. Her main area of expertise was her comprehensive, academic knowledge of Muggle life, culture, and history. No specific spells cast by her are mentioned in the series.

No specific possessions are mentioned, though as a witch, she would have owned a wand.

Professor Burbage was a colleague to the other members of the Hogwarts staff, including Minerva McGonagall and Horace Slughorn. Her final words, “Severus… please… please…”, indicate a collegial relationship with Severus Snape, whom she seemingly believed might intervene to save her. Her philosophical opponent was Lord Voldemort, whose ideology of pure-blood supremacy stood in stark contrast to her beliefs. He ultimately murdered her for her defense of Muggles and Muggle-borns.

• Charity: The name is derived from the Latin caritas, meaning “generous love.” It is one of the three theological virtues in Christianity and represents selfless, unconditional love for others. This name reflects her character's compassionate and altruistic stance on Muggle-wizard relations, a cause for which she gave her life.
• Burbage: This surname is likely a reference to Richard Burbage, one of the most renowned actors of the Elizabethan era and a lead player in William Shakespeare's company. Linking her to a famous figure from the world of Muggle arts and culture reinforces her role as a specialist in that field.

• In the film adaptation Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Charity Burbage is portrayed by actress Carolyn Pickles. (film)
• Her murder is the opening scene of the film, immediately establishing the dark tone of the story and Voldemort's complete control over his followers. (film)