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"A healthy mind is an inquisitive mind."
— Basil Fronsac's portrait[src]

Professor Basil Fronsac was a wizard. A scholar and a strong supporter of Ravenclaw house, he was appointed as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sometime before Armando Dippet. There is a portrait of him hung in the Headmaster's office, in order to give advice to the current Head,[4] and several others of a younger him on the Castle's main halls.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Basil Fronsac attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in his youth and was sorted into Ravenclaw.[5] In his elderly years, Professor Fronsac was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts.[4]

Portrait at Hogwarts[]

"Another day's education."
— Basil Fronsac's portrait[src]
Basil Fronsac

A middle-aged Fronsac

In 1993, Professor Fronsac had several portraits hung at Hogwarts Castle; quite a few of them at the Grand Staircase.[6]

By 1995, his portrait was hung at the Grand Staircase. The portrait guarded a shortcut leading to the second-floor corridor, near the Library. He held a pocket watch and his password was "Studious Success". He would be happy to help any "inquisitive minds" that could find out where Rowena Ravenclaw came from.[5]

In the next school year, the portrait was moved to the Dungeons. He still guarded a secret passage, this time leading to the Grand Staircase. His password became "Libraries Liberate".[7]

Etymology[]

The name "Basil" is from the Greek name "Βασιλειος" ("Vasileios"), which was derived from "βασιλευς" ("Basileus"), meaning "king". Saint Basil the Great was a 4th-century bishop of Caesarea and one of the fathers of the early Christian church. It was also borne by two Byzantine emperors.

"Fronsac" is a French surname denoting a person who came from the town of Fronsac, which dates back to Gaulish times. In modern times, it is most notable for its namesake wine.

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

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The Harry Potter Wiki has 2 images related to Basil Fronsac.

Notes and references[]

  1. The clothing worn by Basil on his portrait reveals that he was portrayed during the 1910s. By the 1910s he was already a middle-aged wizard, as evidenced by his sparse, white hair.
  2. J. K. Rowling stated at the Edinburgh Book Festival on 15 August 2004 (source) that all portraits at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are of deceased individuals. Thus, Fronsac must have died sometime in or before 1992, given his portrait's appearance in the Headmaster's office in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
  3. "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
  6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
  7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
  8. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw03436/Henry-James
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