Bathilda Bagshot Character Analysis in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

An elderly magic historian who lived in Godric's Hollow, along with the Dumbledore family and the Potters. She was a generation or so older than Dumbledore himself and sought to make friends with the Dumbledore family when they moved to town. Lily Potter also reveals in a letter to Sirius that she was in regular communication with Bagshot. Bagshot is best known for writing Harry's History of Magic textbook. In the weeks after Dumbledore's death, Rita Skeeter preyed on Bagshot's old age and failing mind to conduct invasive interviews on the Dumbledore family. Though Bagshot died sometime in the weeks following the book's publication, her death goes unremarked and unnoticed until after Christmas, when Harry and Hermione discover that Voldemort used her home and her body to lure Harry to him.

Bathilda Bagshot Character Timeline in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The timeline below shows where the character Bathilda Bagshot appears in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...cruelty in his home. Muriel hiccups that Rita Skeeter surely got the inside scoop from Bathilda Bagshot, who was a close friend of the Dumbledores in Godric's Hollow. Harry chokes on... (full context)

Friendship, Community, and Resistance Theme Icon

...for a toy broomstick that he sent Harry for his first birthday. She writes that Bathilda came for birthday tea and that James is going stir crazy since Dumbledore has his... (full context)

...discuss who ransacked the house. Harry suggests they go to Godric's Hollow to speak to Bathilda Bagshot, but Hermione points out that she can't help them with the Horcruxes. Harry shares... (full context)

...Harry thinks that the draw of Godric's Hollow is his parents' graves, their house, and Bathilda Bagshot. He mentions that Bagshot still lives there, and Hermione gasps and wonders if she... (full context)

The woman beckons to them, and Harry asks if she's Bathilda. She nods. They begin to follow her down the lane and into a cottage that... (full context)

...apologizes for insisting on going to Godric's Hollow and tells Hermione that Nagini was inside Bathilda's long-dead body. He sits up, insists on keeping watch, and asks for his wand. Hermione... (full context)

...stay. She gives him The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, which she stole from Bathilda's house. Harry feels angry seeing Dumbledore's photo, but Hermione asks if he's angry at her.... (full context)

Choices, Redemption, and Morality Theme Icon

...Aberforth and Ariana. Rita Skeeter writes that thanks to Veritaserum, she was able to interview Bathilda Bagshot, who was friendly with Dumbledore. Bathilda spilled how Grindelwald, her great-nephew, came to visit... (full context)

...Tonks, Dirk Cresswell, and Gornuk have been murdered, along with a Muggle family. He mentions Bathilda's death and holds a moment of silence. Kingsley encourages listeners to protect their Muggle neighbors,... (full context)