Mary Lou Barebone



"Hear my words and heed my warning and laugh if you dare: witches live among us!"

- Marry Lou's believe in the existence of wizards

Mary Lou Barebone (d. 7 December, 1926) was an American No-Maj who lived in the 20th century. She was born into the Barebone family, a family that descended from one of the Scourers who evaded justice in the late 17th century by integrating into No-Maj society.

Mary Lou was marked by a profound belief in the existence of magic and an equally deep hatred of it. She was the leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society, also known as the Second Salemers, an extremist group whose goal was to expose and eradicate witchcraft in the United States. She had three adoptive children: Chastity, Modesty, and Credence.

Mary Lou died on 7 December, 1926 at the hands of Credence's Obscurus. She was violently flung against the rafters in the chapel of the Second Salem Church and fell dead with formidable marks covering her face.

Early life
Mary Lou Barebone was born into the Barebone family. A family that descended from one of the Scourers who evaded justice in the late 17th century by integrating into No-Maj society. The Barebones are infamous for their profound believe in magic and their equally deep hatred of it.

At some point, Mary Lou became the leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society, an American No-Maj anti-witchcraft group located in New York. By December of 1926, Mary Lou had three adopted children.

At some point before December of 1926, Mary Lou was magically assaulted by Auror Porpentina Goldstein because she was physically abusing her son.

December 1926
"Something is stalking our city! Reaping destruction and then disappearing without a trace!"

- Mary Lou regarding the bizarre happenings within New York

On the steps of the Steen National Bank on 6 December 1926, Mary Lou, along with her children, preached to the public in a rally supporting the New Salem Philanthropic Society. After she praised the marvellous man-made inventions of New York, she insisted that the public heed her warnings of the presence of a mysterious force that's wreaking havoc in the city, and she implored the audience to join the Second Salemers in the fight against wizardkind. From the group of spectators, and unaware that he was a wizard, Mary Lou spoke directly to Newt Scamander, asking if he was a seeker of truth, before he ran into the bank.

Langdon Shaw, a believer in magic, brought Mary Lou and her children to his father, Henry Shaw Senior's, office in an attempt to garnish the support of his newspaper company and his elder son's reelection platform. The meeting escalated quickly as Henry Shaw Junior called her son Credence a freak. Understanding that the Shaw family was not going to support the Second Salemers, Mary Lou politely bid them a good bye.

Death
"As she moves, an almighty force explodes into her: A bestial, screeching, dark mass that consumes her. Her scream is bloodcurdling as the force throws her backward, striking a wooden beam, flinging her over the balcony. Mary Lou smashes down onto the floor of the main church, her body lifeless, her face bearing the same scars seen on the face of Senator Shaw."

- Mary Lou is killed by Credence's Obscurus

The next day, Mary Lou's son Credence found a seemingly real wand under her daughter Modesty's bed. As soon as the girl arrived to protest that it was just a toy, Mary Lou entered and was appalled to see what her son was holding. As Credence removed his belt so she could punish him, Mary Lou snapped the wand in half and Modesty confessed saying the wand was hers. But Mary Lou assumed it was his. the belt suddenly flung out of Mary Lou's grasp, injuring her hand, and as she went to pick it back up again, it again magically flew away. After she turned to confront her children, Mary Lou was attacked by Credence's Obscurus. She was flung against the rafters of the chapel and fell dead with formidable marks covering her face.

Physical appearance
Mary Lou Barebone was described as a handsome mid-western woman who wore 1920s versions of Puritanical dresses. She had brown hair in a styled bob haircut and a charismatic and earnest face with blue eyes.

Personality and traits
Mary Lou Barebone was a fanatical bigot against the magical community, and would raise her adopted children to hate witchcraft. Her utter intolerance against them bordered on the unhinged, as she regularly physically, verbally, and emotionally abused and tormented her adopted children. Mary Lou was a disciplinarian. The slightest infraction of her strict rules by her children would result in abuse.

On the other hand, Mary Lou showed an array of good mannerisms and an understanding of defeat as she displayed these qualities to Henry Shaw Jr when he decided not to support the Second Salemers.

Behind the scenes

 * Mary Lou is portrayed by Samantha Morton in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series.

Notes and references
Mary Lou Barebone Mary Lou Bellebosse Мэри Лу Бербон Mary Lou Barebone Мері Лу Бербон