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"Caractacus Burke was not famed for his generosity."
Albus Dumbledore describing Burke's greedy personality[src]

Caractacus Burke (fl. 1846) was a Dark wizard, who was one of the original founders of Borgin and Burkes.[1] Caractacus was one of the people Albus Dumbledore interviewed to find out more about Voldemort's past. Dumbledore learned from Caractacus's memory that Merope Gaunt came to him when she was destitute, and sold him Salazar Slytherin's Locket for ten Galleons. Dumbledore apparently had a low opinion of him. While not directly calling Burke a greedy man, he strongly implied it by saying that it had been the kind of reputation Burke had earned.[4]

After Tom Riddle had graduated from Hogwarts, Burke hired him to research and acquire items for him. Riddle had done a very good job at this, and Burke was very surprised when Tom Riddle disappeared out of the blue one day without tending any notice to him.[5]

What ultimately happened to Burke is unknown, but by 1992, the shop seemed to be exclusively operated by Mr. Borgin.[6]

Biography[]

Borgin and Burkes[]

In 1863, Burke founded the shop Borgin and Burkes with his partner Borgin. The shop was located in Knockturn Alley, an infamous street specialising in shops that sold Dark Arts items. When Burke ran the shop, he was known for taking advantage of people and driving hard bargains.

Merope's locket[]

"Yes, we acquired it in curious circumstances. It was brought in by a young witch just before Christmas, oh, many years ago now. She said she needed the gold badly, well, that much was obvious. Covered in rags and pretty far along ... going to have a baby, see. She said the locket had been Slytherin's. Well, we hear that sort of story all the time, 'Oh this was Merlin's, this was, his favourite teapot,' but when I looked at it, it had his mark all right, and a few simple spells were enough to tell me the truth. Of course, that made it near enough priceless. She didn't seem to have any idea how much it was worth. Happy to get ten Galleons for it. Best bargain we ever made!"
— Caractacus Burke on his encounter with Merope Gaunt[src]

In December 1926, he was visited by Merope Gaunt, a pure-blood descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Merope was destitute and heavily pregnant with Tom Riddle. She wished to sell an artefact, the locket that had belonged to her famous ancestor. Burke was hesitant to accept her claims, having heard many such tales, but a few spells were able to confirm that she was telling the truth. He took advantage of her ignorance and desperation and paid her much less than its true value, about 10 Galleons worth. Burke later sold the locket to Hepzibah Smith, though he was desperate to get it back due to the historical value.[4]

Hiring Tom Riddle[]

In 1945, Burke hired Tom Riddle, the son of the woman who sold Slytherin's locket to him (a fact Burke never knew). Burke tasked the young Riddle to persuade people to sell their valuable artefacts to the shop, a feat Tom was very skilled in. One such task was to persuade Hepzibah to sell a goblin-made armour, which Burke had to make an improved offer at 500 galleons. Shortly after this, Hepzibah died from an alleged accidental poisoning, and during the investigations, Riddle disappeared without so much as a resignation notice, much to Caractacus's astonishment.[5]

Later life[]

It's unknown what happened to Burke after Tom left, though by the 1990s, Borgin appeared to run the shop alone.[6] It's also unknown if he recognised Lord Voldemort as his former employee or if he was still alive to see him wage war. Though Dumbledore's speaking about Burke in past tense in 1997 is an indication that he was deceased by then.[4]

In the 1990–1991 school year, Alastor Moody suspected that Caractacus could have been the Dark wizard Jacob's sibling was seeking out known as "Burke", although the desired Dark wizard was in fact Eustace Burke.[7]

Etymology[]

Caratacus was a British hero who fought the Roman invaders. Burke is reportedly named after Irishman William Burke, a bizarre serial killer who, with help from a partner, murdered dozens of people in Edinburgh in the late 1820s, selling the bodies as fresh cadavers to a local medical school. 'Burk' or 'berk' is also a British term for an annoying and stupid person, with an original meaning in Cockney Rhyming Slang which is far stronger. Caractacus was also the first name of the character played by Dick Van Dyke in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13 (The Secret Riddle) - “Because of the evidence of one Caractacus Burke,” said Dumbledore, “who, by an odd coincidence, helped found the very shop whence came the necklace we have just been discussing.”
  2. He was, most likely, at least 17 when he helped established his shop in 1863.
  3. The Burke family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, but he could have had Muggle heritage as well.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13 (The Secret Riddle)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4 (At Flourish and Blotts)
  7. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 29 (Mind of a Diva)
London's wizarding quarter
England, Great Britain
Carkitt Market - Diagon Alley - Horizont Alley - Knockturn Alley
Knockturn Alley
Shops

13B Knockturn Alley · Beard Trimming · Betting shop · Borgin and Burkes · Chimney Sweep Elf · Cobb & Webb's · E.L.M and Wizards Undertakers & Embalmers · The Coffin House · Dystyl Phaelanges · Markus Scarrs Indelible Tattoos · Moribund's · McHavelock's Wizarding Headgear · Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary · Noggin and Bonce · Potage's Cauldron Shop · Priya Treadwell's shop · Shyverwretch's Venoms and Poisons · The Spiny Serpent · The Starry Prophesier · Wizarding Supplies · Ye Olde Curiosity Shop · Msaw Ætare · Tallow and Hemp Toxic Tapers · The White Wyvern · Trackleshanks Locksmith

Known residents and shop employees

Mr Borgin · Caractacus Burke · Cobb & Webb's shopkeeper · Madam Potage · Priya Treadwell · McHavelock · Moribund · Mr Mulpepper · Podric Batworthy · Tom Marvolo Riddle (formerly) · Ye Olde Curiosity Shop shopkeeper

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