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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Hogwarts Legacy. |
- "I've always said that travel broadens the mind."
- — Ignatia Wildsmith plaque at Hogwarts[src]
Ignatia Wildsmith (1227–1320) was a witch and wizarding inventor, who was famously the creator of Floo powder. During her childhood, she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and was sorted into Ravenclaw.[2]
Biography[]
Early life[]
- "Ravenclaw house has an illustrious history. Most of the greatest wizarding inventors and innovators were in our house, including […] Ignatia Wildsmith, the inventor of Floo powder."
- — Robert Hilliard[src]
Ignatia Wildsmith was born in 1227,[3] somewhere in the British Isles.
In her youth, she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from around 1238 or 1239 to 1245 or 1246, where she was sorted into Ravenclaw.[2]
One night, she was faced with a particularly challenging riddle from the eagle door knocker and had to spend two days sleeping in the corridor outside the Ravenclaw common room. Tulip Karasu and Jacob's sibling later guessed that this was when she first had the idea to create a method of travel that allowed people to get around doors.[4]
Adulthood[]
After her graduation from Hogwarts School, Ms Wildsmith presumably studied further into Herbology and discovered the magical properties of the Floo plant. From it, she devised a magical powder, Floo powder, which, when thrown into a fire, could transport wizards from one fireplace to another via a network of fireplaces.[3]
Death and post-mortem[]
Ignatia Wildsmith immortalised on a Chocolate Frog Card
Ms Wildsmith died in 1320, aged around 93. In her honour, her achievement, the invention of the Floo powder, was recorded on a Chocolate Frog Card.[3]
In the 1890s, talking busts of Ignatia were placed around Hogwarts Castle with Floo Flames in front of them. They could talk to the students.[5]
By the 1989–1990 school year, Helena Ravenclaw had a biography of Ignatia in her personal archive.[4]
On 1 September 1991, Prefect Robert Hilliard welcomed the Ravenclaw first-years to Ravenclaw Tower with a short speech in which he mentioned inventor Ignatia Wildsmith as one of the many notable Hogwarts students who had been sorted, like them, into Ravenclaw.[2]
Etymology[]
Behind the scenes[]
- On her Famous Wizard Card, Ignatia's outfit bears a resemblance to Maleficent from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Throughout the film, Maleficent is associated with green flames, even using them to teleport herself. She also has a raven companion, though this may be coincidental, as Ignatia was not revealed to be a Ravenclaw at the time the card was designed.
- In Hogwarts Legacy, Ignatia appears as a statue, voiced by Helen Sadler.[6]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (First appearance) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- J. K. Rowling's official site
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- Hogwarts Legacy (Appears as statue)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pottermore introduction for Ravenclaws (transcription available here)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Side Quest "Out of Sorts"
- ↑ Hogwarts Legacy
- ↑
Helen Sadler at the Internet Movie Database
