Olympe Maxime

"I am big boned!"

- Olympe Maxime.

Olympe Maxime is the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Maxime's preferred mode of transportation when travelling with her students is a great powder-blue carriage drawn by twelve winged palominos (seven in the film adaptation), Abraxan winged horses, which Madame Maxime breeds.

1994-1995
Olympe Maxime first appeared in 1994, when she and some of her students arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the Triwizard Tournament. She made on Hagrid that he immediately started trying to impress her: he tried to tame his hair, wore his best ill-fitting clothes, and even showed her the Triwizard Tournament dragons while they were still meant to be a secret. Given his lack of social graces, however, this wasn't so successful.It's unclear whether she was impressed by this, but either way, Hagrid well and truly blew it at the Yule Ball. It was here that he put it to Olympe that she was a half-giant just like him - he was right of course, but she was not impressed that she'd been rumbled.

During the summer of 1995 Hagrid and Madame Maxime visited the giants to send envoys to them. Hagrid described her spellwork as "brilliant." She separated from Hagrid during the return journey, however, because he would not abandon his half-brother Grawp, who proves to be a highly taxing travelling companion; she returned to Beauxbatons alone.

1997
In 1997, Madame Maxime was among those paying respects at Dumbledore's funeral. Hagrid and her comforted each other during the occasion. It may have been inspired by the emotion of the moment; it is as yet unknown whether they have intentions of pursuing a romantic relationship.

Physical Appearance
"I don't know who Maxime thinks she's kidding, If Hagrid's halfgiant, she definitely is. Big bones... the only thing that's got bigger bones than her is a dinosaur."

- Harry Potter on Madam Maxime

She was described as being elegant and wearing black satin robes.She is graceful despite her size (and reputedly an excellent dancer), with handsome olive-skinned features, huge black eyes, and sleek hair drawn back from her face. She dresses from top to toe in black satin, and is laden with opal jewellery.

It is revealed that Maxime's huge size is due to her half-giant background. She fiercely denies this claiming that she has "big bones", although she is around the same height as fellow half-giant Hagrid (even larger in the film).

Name Etymology
Olympe is the French word for Olympus, the mountain home of the Greek gods. Maxime is French for "principle." It is derived from the Latin "maxima", the feminine form of "maximus," meaning "greatest" or "biggest."

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince