- "Well, that's why we were arguing. She came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding it, said it was a surprise for somebody at Hogwarts and she had to deliver it. She looked all funny when she said it.... Oh no, oh no, I bet she'd been Imperiused and I didn't realise!"
- — Leanne realising Katie Bell was cursed[src]
Leanne (c. 1979–1980) was a witch who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was a friend of Katie Bell during her time at Hogwarts. She was sorted into Hufflepuff[5] and attended Hogwarts around the same time as the famous Harry Potter.[4]
Leanne was a member of Dumbledore's Army and later fought in the Battle of Hogwarts against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. She witnessed Harry's final defeat of Voldemort and survived the Second Wizarding War. Her later life is currently unknown.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Leanne was born in or around 1980 in Great Britain or Ireland.
Hogwarts years (1991–1998)[]
Early years[]
Leanne started her magical education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991 and was sorted into Hufflepuff House. Her Head of House was the Herbology Professor, Pomona Sprout.[1] Despite being in separate Houses, she became good friends with Gryffindor student Katie Bell.[4] It is unknown if Leanne joined Dumbledore's Army in 1995, as Katie did, but she joined the group in late 1997, when Neville Longbottom assumed the group.[6]
Sixth year[]
In her sixth year, she and Katie went on a weekend trip to Hogsmeade, and they stopped off for a drink in the Three Broomsticks Inn. Katie excused herself and went to the lavatory whilst Leanne sat alone in the pub. After some time, she was spotted by Harry Potter sitting tapping her glass anxiously awaiting Katie's return.
Finally, when she and Katie were returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after their visit to Hogsmeade, she and Katie got in an argument over a package that Katie had been given in the pub to take to the castle. Leanne did not want Katie to take it, as its origins were unknown and thereby suspicious. The argument caused the girls to fight over the package and Katie to accidentally touch the cursed Opal Necklace that was given to her by Madam Rosmerta, who was under the Imperius Curse at the time, when the package's wrapping tore.[4]
Leanne was very distraught when Katie was put under the curse, trying to pull her down from the sky in which she floated above from and was seen crying. Harry, Ron and Hermione got to the scene and, with the help of Rubeus Hagrid, they got back to Hogwarts with Katie. When they got back inside the castle, Leanne broke down crying when telling Professor McGonagall what happened and was sent to Madam Pomfrey to get something for the shock.[4] After Katie was healed and returned to Hogwarts, Leanne was present with her when Katie told Harry she did not know who gave her the package.[7]
Seventh year[]
- "Well, it's not really like Hogwarts any more."
- — Neville Longbottom speaking of the school under the reign of Snape[src]
In Leanne's seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, her education would take a turn for the worst. With the former headmaster Albus Dumbledore dead, Severus Snape took to the position of head and employed Death Eaters, Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow as new members of his staff.
Any resistance against the war and defiance against their teaching methods had the student brutally punished, as demonstrated numerous times with Neville Longbottom, the leader of the reformed Dumbledore's Army, which she eventually joined in that year.[6]
On the Hogwarts Express journey to the school that year, she sat amongst Romilda Vane, Lavender Brown and Cormac McLaggen, as was present when the Death Eaters raided and searched the train for Harry Potter.[8]
Battle of Hogwarts[]
Late into the academic year, the climax of the Second Wizarding War broke out and the Battle of Hogwarts took place. Leanne courageously joined her fellow students and DA comrades in fighting against the Death Eaters and Dark Forces which threatened their school. During the first part of the battle she was also seen fighting along side: Aberforth Dumbledore, Ginny Weasley, Padma Patil, Romilda Vane, Seamus Finnigan, and Katie Bell.
She survived the battle and was later seen sitting in the Great Hall with Katie, Padma, and Cho Chang.[6] However, what Leanne did after surviving the Second Wizarding War, is currently unknown.
Personality and traits[]
Leanne was evidently an intelligent and observant girl, as she warned Katie against touching Draco's necklace and later correctly deduced that she was acting under the influence of the Imperius Curse. She was also very concerned for her friends' well-being and safety, showing her loyalty and kindness as a Hufflepuff.[4]
In addition, Leanne was also highly courageous, as she bravely participated and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts against the Death Eaters, and even survived.[6]
Magical abilities and skills[]
- Duelling: Leanne was shown to have been a skilled duellist, as she courageously fought in the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998 as a member of Dumbledore's Army, fighting against many highly dangerous Death Eaters, and even survived the battle.[6]
Relationships[]
Katie Bell[]
Leanne was good friends with Katie Bell, chatting with her on the Hogwarts Express and attending Hogsmeade together. When Katie was bewitched with the Imperius Curse and came into possession of the cursed Opal Necklace, she tried to stop her friend from carrying the necklace to Hogwarts, with great effort. Leanne had a horrible reaction after Katie was harmed and nearly killed by the cursed necklace, showing her concern and worry over her friend's life, showing her to have been a very loyal and genuine friend to Katie.[4]
Romilda Vane[]
Leanne seemed to get along well with Romilda Vane, a bold and vivacious student two years younger than she was. They fought bravely together in the Battle of Hogwarts against the Death Eaters to protect their school. Romilda sat with Leanne on the Hogwarts Express on the way to school,[8] and much later they kept each other company and rested either during or after the Battle of Hogwarts.[6] Romilda also likely got along with Katie, given her personality, most likely as a result.
Behind the scenes[]
- Leanne is portrayed by Isabella Laughland in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.[9] Based on screenshots from the film, she is a Hufflepuff who is potentially in the same year as Harry, although neither her house nor age is revealed in the book. She reprised her role in both parts of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.[10]
- In the book, it appears that Leanne was likely a Gryffindor in Katie Bell's year, since Katie said "Leanne was just telling me about McLaggen and the last match" right after Harry saw her speaking with her fellow seventh-years in the Gryffindor common room.[7]
- In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Leanne has blonde hair during play mode, but during a cut scene she has brown hair, like in the film.
- In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Katie Bell's cursing is omitted and, due to this, Leanne is absent from all the console versions of the game. However, Leanne is playable in the portable versions.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Portable version only)
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 In the sixth film, Leanne is shown in a Potions class with Harry Potter. While the fact that she attended NEWT level Potions class is not considered canon (as there was only one Hufflepuff), her being in Harry's year is considered canon, as her year was not given in the book.
- ↑ As Leanne was not imprisoned in 1997 by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission nor forced to leave Hogwarts, this is proof that she was not a Muggle-born.
- ↑ "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
- ↑ 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 12 (Silver and Opals)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 24 (Sectumsempra)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- ↑ CBBC Newsround reveals new Half-Blood Prince casting
- ↑ Isabella Laughland at the Internet Movie Database