Melinda Bobbin

Melinda Bobbin was a female witch who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the same time as Harry Potter. She is primarily known for being selected by Professor Horace Slughorn to be a member of his exclusive Slug Club during the 1996-1997 school year. Her invitation was based on her family's influential standing in the wizarding world, as they owned a large chain of apothecaries.

Melinda Bobbin's only appearance in the series occurs in Harry Potter's sixth year. On 1 September 1996, while travelling to Hogwarts aboard the Hogwarts Express, Melinda received an invitation from Horace Slughorn to join him in his compartment for a small luncheon. She attended this first meeting of the revived Slug Club alongside other selected students, including Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Blaise Zabini, and Cormac McLaggen. During the gathering, Professor Slughorn went around the compartment introducing the students and explaining why he had chosen them. When he got to Melinda, he noted that her family owned a large chain of apothecaries, a connection he clearly found impressive. Melinda's subsequent activities at Hogwarts or her involvement in the Second Wizarding War are unknown.

The novels provide no description of Melinda Bobbin's physical appearance or personality. She does not have any lines of dialogue, and her actions are limited to simply being present at the Slug Club meeting on the Hogwarts Express.

As a Hogwarts student, Melinda was a capable witch, but no specific magical abilities, skills, or proficiencies are ever mentioned. Details about her wand, academic performance, or specialized talents remain unknown.

No specific possessions of Melinda Bobbin are described in the novels, though she would have owned a wand and other standard school supplies.

• Family: Melinda's family is her primary source of significance in the story. They are noted to be very successful, owning a large chain of apothecaries. This connection made Melinda a person of interest to Horace Slughorn.
• Horace Slughorn: As the Head of Slytherin and Potions master, Professor Slughorn personally selected Melinda for his Slug Club to cultivate a relationship with her potentially influential family.
• Fellow Slug Club Members: She was an acquaintance of the other students Slughorn invited to his compartment, including Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.

• Melinda: The name is of Greek origin, derived from meli, meaning “honey.” This could be a subtle reference to Potions ingredients that might be sold at an Apothecary.
• Bobbin: A bobbin is a spindle or cylinder on which thread is wound, used in weaving, sewing, and lacemaking. This may suggest a more mundane, industrious, or “well-connected” nature, reflecting her family's business success and her role as a connection Slughorn wished to “wind” into his network.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Melinda Bobbin is portrayed by actress Jemma Powell. She appears as a background character in the Slug Club scenes but has no lines. (film)