Harry Potter Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Harry Potter Wiki

"Dear Mr Potter, We have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine. As you know, under age wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spell work on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C). We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity that risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy. Enjoy your Holidays! Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk"
— Hopkirk's warning to Harry Potter[src]

Madam Mafalda Hopkirk (b. 19 February20 March,[1] in or before 1973)[2] was a British witch and an assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office at the Ministry of Magic. She issued notices to many of those who violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy or the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. This included Harry Potter on two occasions.[4][9]

Mafalda was still working in the Ministry on 2 September, 1997. She was incapacitated and impersonated by Hermione Granger, by way of Polyjuice Potion during the trio's Infiltration of the Ministry of Magic.[6]

Biography[]

Assistant at the Ministry[]

"Ah, Mafalda! Travers sent you, did he?"
Dolores Umbridge to Hermione Granger disguised as Mafalda[src]
Mafalda Hopkirk OOTP

Mafalda Hopkirk sends Harry Potter a message

By 1992, she was working in the Improper Use of Magic Office of the British Ministry of Magic. When Dobby the house-elf used a Hover Charm, it was Mafalda Hopkirk who sent a notice to Harry Potter regarding "his" illegal use of magic at 4 Privet Drive in the presence of Muggles.[4] She was still working in the Improper Use of Magic Office, when on 2 August, 1995, the Ministry received intelligence via The Trace that Harry Potter had once again used magic.[9] Under the orders of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, she sent a notice to Harry expelling him from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his use of the Patronus Charm in front of his cousin Dudley, a Muggle. Later that same evening, when cooler heads had prevailed, she sent Harry a notice withdrawing his expulsion and ordering him to attend a hearing ten days later.[9]

Infiltration

Hermione (far left) disguised as Mafalda with Harry and Ron (also disguised as Ministry workers)

On 1 August, 1997 the Ministry of Magic, having been infiltrated by the Death Eaters, was taken over in a virtually silent coup d'etat. Hopkirk continued to work for the new regime, still as an assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office. However, it was acceptable for her to be set aside for record-keeping.[8] A month later, when Hopkirk Apparated to work, she was ambushed by Hermione Granger and subsequently stunned and locked away.[6] Some of her hair was pulled to use in Polyjuice Potion. Hermione took the potion and assumed the appearance of Hopkirk in order to gain entry to the Ministry. The impostor Hopkirk was used as a stenographer for the Muggle-Born Registration Commission and helped free the innocent Muggle-borns.[8]

Physical appearance[]

Mafalda was described as being a "wispy" witch with flyaway grey hair. She was also small in stature and wore spectacles.[6]

Personality and traits[]

Given the courtesy and formality shown in her warning notices,[4][9] and that Hopkirk's Polyjuice Potion was described as having a "pleasant heliotrope colour",[6] it is presumed that she was a kind and good-natured witch.

However, she was assumed to be sent by Travers, a Death Eater with pro-pure-blood supremacy ideals, to keep record for the Muggle-Born Registration Commission.[8] Given her personality as shown on her Polyjuice Potion's colour, it is unlikely that she was a pure-blood supremacist herself. Since Hermione Granger, when disguised as her, became deeply frightened of Dolores Umbridge's and Yaxley's trial on Muggle-borns, but neither of them suspected anything,[8] it can be presumed that she was forced against her own free will in aiding the Ministry of Magic under Voldemort.

Magical abilities and skills[]

  • Apparition: Like most accomplished adult wizards and witches, Mafalda was capable of apparating at will. She used apparition to travel to work at the British Ministry of Magic.[6]
  • Charms: Mafalda was capable of conjuring a non-corporeal Patronus,[7] a highly advanced piece of magic and a mark of superior magical skill.

Etymology[]

"Mafalda" is the Portuguese form of Matilda. It means "strength in battle" or "mighty sword", from the Germanic macht (might; strength) and hild (battle; sword). This was the name of the wife of William the Conqueror. In Argentina, "Mafalda" is better known as the name of a comic strip character created by famed cartoonist Quino.

Behind the scenes[]

LEGO Mafalda

Hermione disguised as Mafalda in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 9 images related to Mafalda Hopkirk.

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 She is born in Sun in Pisces (see this image), which means, according to this site, Feb 19–Mar 20
  2. 2.0 2.1 In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 7 (A New Curse), she is referred to as a Ministry worker in the 1990–1991 school year; she had to be at least 17 to be working for the Ministry of Magic, so had to be born, at the latest, in 1973.
  3. As Mafalda worked for the Ministry without being imprisoned in Azkaban by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission in 1997, this meant that she was not Muggle-born.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2 (Dobby's Warning)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
  7. 7.0 7.1 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 13 (The Muggle-Born Registration Commission)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls)
  10. Deathly Hallows casting updates: Aunt Muriel, Mafalda and Clemence confirmed
  11. Harry Potter Limited Edition (see this image)
Department of Magical Law Enforcement employees
Department of Magical Law Enforcement logo
Heads of Department
Justus Pilliwickle · Torquil Travers · Bartemius Crouch Senior · Amelia Bones · Pius Thicknesse · Corban Yaxley · Arthur Weasley · Harry Potter
Auror Office
Heads: Theseus Scamander · Rufus Scrimgeour · Gawain Robards · Harry Potter
Mordecai Berrycloth · John Dawlish · Penelope Fawley · Dorian Fungbury · Timothy Hale · Alice Longbottom · Frank Longbottom · Neville Longbottom · Patricia McManners · Alastor Moody · Alastor Moody's father · Riya Patel · Proudfoot · Savage · Kingsley Shacklebolt · Nymphadora Tonks · Ronald Weasley · Williamson · Unidentified Aurors · Helen Thistlewood · Solomon Sallow · Aesop Sharp · Aesop Sharp's partner · Unidentified male Auror at Hogwarts · Director of the Investigation Department No. 61042
Improper Use of Magic Office
Heads: Travers · Dolores Umbridge
Mafalda Hopkirk · Honoria's fiancé · Mafalda Hopkirk's Ministerial Superior · Rufus Fudge · Orabella Nuttley · Chester Davies · Linderina Crane
Other personnel
Council of Magical Law guards · Leta Lestrange · Minerva McGonagall · Elphinstone Urquart · Elton Elderberry · Alastor Gumboil · Arnold Peasegood · Arthur Weasley · Perkins · Bilius Finbok · Cerberus Langarm · Hermione Granger · Bob Ogden · Constance Pickering · Ruth Singer · Tulip Karasu's mother · Tulip Karasu's father · Dempster Wiggleswade · Amelia Bones's assistant · Arthur Weasley's ten subordinates · Unidentified Hit Wizard · Unidentified Wizengamot clerk · Director of the Investigation Department and Ministry Police
Death Eaters
Dark Mark Pottermore
Leader: Lord Voldemort
Death Eaters

Avery II · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Crabbe · Bartemius Crouch Junior † · Antonin Dolohov · Gibbon † · Goyle · Gareth Greengrass's brother · Jugson · Barnaby Lee's father · Barnaby Lee's mother · Bellatrix Lestrange † · Rabastan Lestrange · Rodolphus Lestrange · Walden Macnair · Mulciber I · Mulciber II · Nott · Pyrites (possibly) · Augustus Rookwood · Rosier · Evan Rosier † · Thorfinn Rowle · Selwyn · Merula Snyde's father · Merula Snyde's mother · Travers · Wilkes † · Corban Yaxley · Unidentified Death Eaters

Death Eater defectors

Regulus Black † · Igor Karkaroff † · Draco Malfoy · Lucius Malfoy · Peter Pettigrew † · Severus Snape

Death Eater allies

Borgin · Vincent Crabbe · John Dawlish · Delphini · Golgomath · Gregory Goyle · Fenrir Greyback · Mafalda Hopkirk · Narcissa Malfoy (defected) · Ismelda Murk (unofficially, supposedly) · Nagini · Mr Padgett · Mrs Padgett · Pansy Parkinson · Quirinus Quirrell · Albert Runcorn · Stanley Shunpike (Imperiused) · Scabior · Serpent of Slytherin · Pius Thicknesse (Imperiused) · Dolores Umbridge

Other affiliations

British Ministry of Magic (under Voldemort's control) · Daily Prophet (under Voldemort's control) · Dementors · Draco Malfoy's gang · Kreacher (formerly) · Tom Riddle's gang · Gang of Slytherins · Giants (Golgomath's control) · Inferi · Charmed skeletons · Muggle-Born Registration Commission · Theodore Nott (possibly) · Snatchers · Werewolf army · The Unforgivable

Death Eater establishments

Abandoned nuclear power plant · Borgin and Burkes · British Ministry of Magic Headquarters (under Voldemort's control) · The Cave · Chamber of Secrets · Forbidden Forest · Gaunt Shack · Lee family house · Lestrange Vault · Little Hangleton graveyard · Malfoy Manor · Misty Dell · Riddle House · Snatcher Camp · Spinner's End (Severus Snape's house) · The Abandoned Substation · The Ruins · The Quarry

Advertisement