Fat Lady

The Fat Lady was a portrait who guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts Castle. She asked for passwords before she let anyone in, then swung her picture forwards so that students could enter through a portrait hole. She was a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

Early life
Little was known about her early life or what her name was when she was alive. She presumably was educated at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was sorted into Gryffindor house.

Death
It was unknown when or how she died, but it was by at least some time in the 1960s and she began guarding the Gryffindor Common Room. It is also unknown who or what guarded the common room before her. The Fat Lady was a dutiful guardian to the Gryffindor Tower, only granting entrance to those who produced the correct password. She had, however, been known for reprimanding students when they returned late, annoyed that they woke her up from her sleep. She had been known to move about occasionally and had a friend, Violet, who visited her, especially during the holidays such as Christmas break. The two drank together frequently, including once consuming several vats of wine that were in a picture of some drunk monks.

1960s
When Molly Weasley was still a student, she returned to Gryffindor Tower at 4 a.m. in the morning after taking a late night stroll with her then boyfriend (now husband), Arthur Weasley, and they both got a telling-off from the Fat Lady.

1993–1994 school year
In 1993 the Fat Lady's portrait was ruined by Sirius Black and pulled off the wall, although Argus Filch, the caretaker, restored her. She was temporarily replaced by Sir Cadogan, but after he was fired she returned to her original location with security trolls stationed in the hallway to prevent further vandalism.

1994–1995 school year
When Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were called by Hermione Granger to go to the kitchen, the Fat Lady was annoyed that she had to open the door just after they planned to not use it. Later that year, after the Yule Ball ended, the Fat Lady and Violet were both drunk, and Harry Potter had some trouble getting her to open the door. Again, when Harry tried to enter the tower, the Fat Lady was asleep, and he had to shout the password to wake her up, much to her irritation.

1996–1997 school year
Once when Harry Potter returned late and woke her up, she refused to let him in, claiming that the password changed overnight. When Harry ran off to see Dumbledore regarding Slughorn's memory, she called after him and admitted that she was just kidding, though Harry proceeded to Dumbledore's office anyway.

Later that year, when Dumbledore was murdered by Severus Snape, the Fat Lady was in sorrow, and she allowed Harry to enter the Tower without the password, while she cried.

Known passwords used to enter the Gryffindor Common Room

 * Abstinence
 * Balderdash
 * Banana Fritters
 * Baubles
 * Caput Draconis (Latin for "dragon's head")
 * Dilligrout
 * Fairy Lights
 * Flibbertigibbet
 * Fortuna Major (Latin for "greater fortune")
 * Mimbulus Mimbletonia (The only one that Neville Longbottom was able to remember)
 * Oddsbodikins
 * Pig Snout
 * Quid Agis? (Latin for "How are you?")
 * Scurvy Cur
 * Tapeworm
 * Wattlebird

Behind the scenes

 * In the film adaptation, of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Fat Lady is played by Elizabeth Spriggs. She is shown with black hair and a pink silk dress and she doesn't seem to have much personality. Her portrait is located at the end of a corridor somewhere in the castle, but its location is never specified.
 * In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, she is played by Dawn French, who portrays the character with a more humorous side, such as giving her a bad singing voice. By this time, her portrait has been moved to the seventh floor of the Grand Staircase Tower.
 * In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it is suggested that the Fat Lady's portrait may actually be a hidden passageway or shortcut. This is because the Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory is shown to be located in a small tower at the corner of the Paved Courtyard close to the Clock Tower and it is presumed the Fat Lady's portrait remains located in the Grand Staircase.
 * It is possible that the two characters shown in the films are completely different people, but this is never mentioned in the books.
 * It can also be noted that although the location of the portrait changes, the shape of the actual Gryffindor Common Room remains the same.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
 * Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4

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