The Fat Lady

The Fat Lady is the subject of a magical portrait that hangs over the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her primary role is to act as the guardian of the Gryffindor Common Room, granting access only to those who provide the correct, changing password. Though often irritable, especially when disturbed, she is fundamentally loyal to Gryffindor house and its headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. She is a constant and familiar presence in the lives of Gryffindor students throughout the series.

The Fat Lady's origins and the date her portrait was created are unknown, but she was already guarding the Gryffindor Tower long before Harry Potter's arrival at Hogwarts.

• First Year: She is first introduced when the Gryffindor first-years arrive at the tower. She demands the password — Caput Draconis — before swinging her frame forward to reveal the entrance. She is often shown as being annoyed by late-night disturbances.
• Second Year: The Fat Lady scolds Harry Potter and Ron Weasley for their late arrival via the Flying Ford Anglia, only reluctantly letting them in after they are vouched for by Percy Weasley.
• Third Year: This year marked the most dramatic event in the Fat Lady's tenure. After she refused entry to Sirius Black, who did not know the password, he furiously attacked her portrait, slashing the canvas with a knife. Terrified, she fled her frame and hid in a painted map of Argyllshire. Peeves the Poltergeist reported her location to Albus Dumbledore, who had her found and repaired by Mr. Filch. Traumatized by the event, she was temporarily replaced as guardian by the overzealous Sir Cadogan. Upon her return, she was extremely nervous and was initially accompanied by a pair of security trolls for protection.
• Fourth Year: The Fat Lady develops a friendship with another portrait subject, Violet. The two are seen sharing chocolates and, during the Christmas holidays, become quite tipsy on enchanted wine from a portrait of festive monks.
• Sixth Year: She complains about the late hour but allows a distraught Harry Potter into the Common Room after he overhears a tense conversation between Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape in the corridors.
• Seventh Year: During the Battle of Hogwarts, the Fat Lady demonstrates her loyalty and courage by refusing entry to Amycus and Alecto Carrow, who were attempting to force their way into Gryffindor Tower to find Harry Potter.

The Fat Lady is described as a “very fat woman in a pink silk dress.” She has a rather vain and proud personality, particularly regarding her singing voice, though Harry Potter notes she cannot hold a tune and her attempts at hitting high notes are powerful enough to shatter a wine glass. She takes her duties as a guardian very seriously and can be stern and short-tempered with students who forget the password or try to enter after hours. Despite her often-irritable demeanor, she is capable of great fear, as shown by her reaction to Sirius Black's attack. She is also loyal and enjoys socialising with her friend Violet, sharing gossip and drinks.

As the subject of a magical portrait, the Fat Lady possesses a range of abilities common to such enchanted objects.

• Consciousness: She is sentient, capable of independent thought, conversation, and emotion.
• Mobility: She can move freely within her own canvas and can travel to other portraits within Hogwarts Castle to visit friends or to hide, as she did after her attack.
• Guardianship: Her primary magical function is to guard an entrance, a duty she is magically bound to perform. She cannot be physically forced to open unless the correct password is spoken.
• Vocal Power: Her singing, while musically poor, has the magical or physical force to shatter glass.

• Pink Silk Dress: Her constant attire within the portrait.
• Canvas Frame: The physical frame of her portrait, which serves as her home and the door to the Gryffindor Common Room.

• Violet: The Fat Lady's closest friend, the subject of a nearby portrait. They are often seen together, sharing drinks and conversation.
• Gryffindor Students: She maintains a relationship of a guardian to her charges. While she can be stern, she is a familiar and constant part of their Hogwarts experience.
• Albus Dumbledore: She is deeply loyal to Dumbledore and respects his authority, readily following his instructions for her restoration and protection after she was attacked.
• Sir Cadogan: Her temporary replacement as guardian. While not explicitly stated, her more cautious and duty-bound nature contrasts sharply with his reckless enthusiasm.
• Sirius Black: She was terrified of Sirius Black after he attacked her portrait in his attempts to enter Gryffindor Tower.

Her name, “The Fat Lady,” is purely descriptive, referring to her physical appearance in the painting. Her true name, if she has one, is never revealed in the original novels.

• Film Portrayal: In the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Fat Lady was portrayed by actress Elizabeth Spriggs. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the role was recast and played by comedian Dawn French, who gave a more comedic and operatic performance, frequently attempting to sing and interacting more animatedly with the students (film).
• Video Games: The Fat Lady appears in numerous Harry Potter video games, where her function as a password-keeper is a common gameplay mechanic (video game).