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"I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave — I 'ave big bones!"
— Maxime's embarrassment over her half-giant heritage[src]

Madame Olympe Maxime was a French half-giant witch and was the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Maxime's preferred mode of transportation was to travel with her students in a powder-blue carriage drawn by twelve winged Abraxan horses, which were bred at Beauxbatons Academy.[4][9]

Madame Maxime was a half-giantess, although she claimed merely to have "big bones."[2] This was a necessity, however, as the approach to giants (or part-giants) was generally hostile in the wizarding world.[10]

Biography[]

Early life[]

Olympe Maxime was born to one magical parent and one giant, making her a half-giantess. She kept this heritage hidden, out of fear of the prejudice that would strike her were it to be revealed.[2] She was likely educated at Beauxbatons in France, as she would later become the establishment's Headmistress.[4] It is unknown exactly when she became Headmistress of Beauxbatons.

1980s[]

In the 1985–1986 school year, she visited Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry along with Beauxbatons student Aurélie Dumont. At Hogwarts, she met Penny Haywood and Jacob's sibling, the latter of whom almost offended her by accident due to remarking on her height, managing to disguise it as a more flattering remark at the last second.

Maxime was highly impressed with the student's rendition of the standard Beauxbatons student grand entrance as well as their ability to handle her rather unruly Abraxan steeds.[8]

1994-1995[]

Maxime: "My steeds require — er — forceful 'andling. Zey are very strong...."
Dumbledore: "I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job."
Maxime: "Very well. Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?"
— Dumbledore and Maxime discussing the caring of her Abraxan horses at Hogwarts[src]

In August 1994, Madame Maxime attended the final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in England with some of her students.[11] When the Dark Mark was conjured by Barty Crouch Jnr, they got separated. While trying to find her, her students asked Ronald Weasley if he had seen her. Ron, who did not speak any French, did not understand the question and was therefore unable to help them.[12]

Yull ball dancing

Maxime at the Yule Ball dancing with Hagrid

Maxime and some of her students went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in October of 1994 for the Triwizard Tournament.[4] She made such an impact on Professor Rubeus Hagrid that he immediately started trying to impress her. Since he was another half-giant like her, he thought she would understand his feelings. He tried to tame his hair, wore his best ill-fitting clothes, and even showed her the Triwizard Tournament dragons while they were still meant to be a secret.[13]

Given his lack of social graces, however, this was not so successful. It is unclear whether she was impressed by this, but either way, Hagrid scuppered any chance he might have had at the Yule Ball. It was here that he put it to Olympe that she was a half-giant just like him he was right, of course, but she was not inclined to concede such a point.[2] Because of this line of questioning she avoided his company. However, Harry noticed that she did attempt to re-initiate contact with Hagrid, while he dug in his garden. Apparently Hagrid did not warmly greet her and she left soon after.[10] However the two reconciled eventually.[14]

When Harry returned clutching the body of Cedric Diggory, Olympe was one of the first to realise that he was dead and clutched her heart in shock,[15] after he had been murdered by Peter Pettigrew in the Little Hangleton graveyard on Voldemort's orders, after he and Harry were transported there via the Triwizard Cup (which had been turned into a Portkey) she also tried comforting Fleur who was also first to noticed and screamed at the sight of Cedric's corpse. She was also present during the memorial feast of Cedric Diggory after the end of the Tournament. Afterwards, she and her students returned to France to Beauxtbatons.[14]

Giant Colony

Hagrid and Madame Maxime at the giant colony

During the summer of 1995 Rubeus Hagrid and Madame Maxime visited the giants as envoys for Albus Dumbledore. The outreach did not go well, however, due to the deposition of the incumbent Gurg in favour of a more Death Eater friendly one and Madame Maxime was forced to use magic in order to prevent harm from coming to Hagrid, scuppering any chances of stating their case. Hagrid described her spellwork as "brilliant". She separated from Hagrid during the return journey, however, because he would not abandon his half-brother Grawp, who proved to be a highly taxing travelling companion; she returned to Beauxbatons alone.[3]

1997[]

Rubeus Hagrid Olympe Maxime D H Wedding 1

Maxime with Hagrid at Bill and Fleur's wedding

In 1997, Madame Maxime was among those paying respects at Dumbledore's funeral. She and Hagrid comforted each other during this occasion, though this may have been inspired solely by the emotion of the moment.[9] She also attended the wedding of Bill Weasley and former Beauxbatons student Fleur Delacour later on that same year.[16]

Later life[]

It is unknown if she and Hagrid ever rekindled their relationship, although ultimately they never married.[17]

During the Calamity, Maxime helped members of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force who took a short sabbatical to Beauxbatons to study her transformative duelling style to increase the amount of damage they could inflict in combat. She also appeared as a Foundable alongside Hagrid as they appeared together at the Yule Ball, being pelted by snowballs from a Pixie Confoundable. The Foundable of her and Hagrid could be overpowered and released with the Knockback Jinx.[18]

Physical appearance[]

"I don't know who Maxime thinks she's kidding, If Hagrid's half-giant, she definitely is. Big bones... the only thing that's got bigger bones than her is a dinosaur."
Harry Potter regarding Madame Maxime[src]
Maxime

Madame Olympe Maxime

Madame Maxime was described to be a beautiful woman: an olive-skinned face with a beak-like nose and large, black, liquid-looking eyes. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She dressed from head to foot in black satin, and also wore opal jewellery.[4] Despite her size, she was elegant and graceful, and Dumbledore once stated that she was a wonderful dancer.[10]

Maxime's huge size was due to her half-giant background. Initially, she fiercely denied this, claiming that she merely had "big bones".[2] Harry noted he "had only ever seen one person as large as this woman in his life, and that was Hagrid; he doubted whether there was an inch difference in their heights".[4]

Personality and traits[]

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?.... C’est impossible. ’Ogwarts cannot ’ave two champions. It is most injust."
— Madame Maxime's belief in fair play[src]
Hagridandolympe

Rubeus Hagrid and Olympe

Madame Maxime appeared to have a good relationship with her students.[12][4] She was also shown to have a sense of fair play: she felt it was unjust that Harry Potter had also been chosen for the Triwizard Tournament (which gave Hogwarts two champions), and at first she refused to believe that Harry had not actually put his name in the Goblet of Fire.[19]

However, she did not judge Harry unfairly during the Triwizard Tournament's tasks, giving him an 8 out of 10 (though slightly lower than most of the others', it was far fairer than Karkaroff's four) in the first task.[7] Later on, she willingly gave Harry full marks in the second task for moral fibre, despite Karkaroff only awarding him half marks,[20] showing she was a very impartial and reasonable judge of character.

"Yeh know, she’s a fine, well-dressed woman, an’ knowin’ where we was goin’ I wondered ’ow she’d feel abou’ clamberin’ over boulders an’ sleepin’ in caves an’ tha’, bu’ she never complained once."
— Hagrid describing Maxime's strong-willed personality[src]

However, Olympe was ashamed of being a half-giant, and claimed that she was simply "big-boned".[2] Though Hagrid described her as a fine, well-dressed woman, Maxime did not complain once about having to climb over boulders or sleep in caves during her and Hagrid's mission to visit the giants, which in turn implies that — despite her denial of her heritage — she was still a realistic woman who knew how to accept her circumstances for what they were.

She also had a fiery temper and Hagrid had to restrain her from attacking two Death Eaters during the mission, leading him to speculate that this may be due to the French in her,[3] though it is possible that her hatred and anger towards them stemmed from a dislike of prejudicial beliefs that they had and which she had likely been forced to endure throughout her life.

Magical abilities and skills[]

Cornelius Fudge: "But did you say it was just past the Beauxbatons Carriage? Dumbledore, do you know what that woman is?"
Albus Dumbledore: "I consider her a very able Headmistress... and an excellent dancer."
— Cornelius Fudge and Albus Dumbledore[src]

As the Headmistress of a prominent European Wizarding school, Madame Olympe Maxime was a highly competent and accomplished witch deserving of the title bestowed upon her.

"Wouldn'ta done if Olympe hadn' bin there. She pulled out her wand an' did some o' the fastes' spellwork I've ever seen. Ruddy marvellous. Hit the two holdin' me right in the eyes with Conjunctivitus Curses an' they dropped me straightaway —"
— Madame Maxime's talent for combative spell-casting[src]
  • Magical mastery: Given her position as headmistress of Beauxbatons, it is safe to say that Madame Maxime was a highly accomplished witch, with her spell-work and prowess in martial magic greatly impressing Rubeus Hagrid.[3]
  • Martial magic: Though her skills as a duellist remains unknown, Maxime had proven herself to be highly proficient with combative magic, since Rubeus Hagrid claimed that Madame Maxime performed an excellent Conjunctivitis Curse during their mission to rescue him when he was ambushed by the giants under Golgomath's command. He also said that she was able to do very fast spell-work.[3]
  • Care of Magical Creatures: At Beauxbatons, Maxime bred Abraxans (winged horses), showing she was talented and experienced in the field of Magizoology and with the handling of magical beasts.[4] This was again shown when she and Hagrid were tasked by Albus Dumbledore to recruit the giants to fight against Voldemort and most likely would have succeeded if not for the Death Eaters' interference and Golgomath's usurpation of the current Gurg, Karkus.[3]
  • Spell resistance: As a half-giant, Maxime had inherited the passive ability to resist many spells.
  • Superhuman strength: In addition to spell resistance, Maxime also possessed superhuman strength due to her giant blood and managed to restrain Fleur Delacour when she panicked over her sister's safety after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, although with great difficulty. Hagrid, a fellow half-giant, was also forced to restrain her when she tried to attack two Death Eaters during their attempt to recruit the giants, a further indication of her great strength.
  • Nonverbal magic: Maxime was also proficient in nonverbal magic and conjured ribbon from the end of her wand without uttering an incantation. Her talent in nonverbal magic was testament to her superior magical abilities as a witch, given the high level of difficulty required in the casting of nonverbal spells.[7]
  • Transfiguration: Maxime was capaple of performing Conjuration, a highly advanced and difficult branch of transfiguration, conjuring a ribbon to give Harry Potter a score of eight out of ten after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.[7]
  • Bilingualism: Maxime spoke fluent English alongside her native French, although with a strong French accent in the former.
  • Leadership skills: Albus Dumbledore voiced the belief that Madame Maxime was a very able headmistress to Cornelius Fudge.[21]

Relationships[]

Rubeus Hagrid[]

Hagrid: "So... anyway... enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"
Madame Maxime: "It is chilly. I think I will go in now"
Hagrid: "Eh? No, don' go! I've — I've never met another one before"
Madame Maxime: "Anuzzer what, precisely?"
Hagrid: "Another half-giant, o' course"
Madame Maxime: "'Ow dare you! I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave — I 'ave big bones!"
— Hagrid and Madame Maxime conversing about being half-giants[src]
MaximeHagridDance PM

Hagrid and Olympe at the Yule Ball

During the Triwizard Tournament, Hagrid began a romantic relationship with Madame Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy. They were often seen together, talking and walking around the grounds, and they danced together at the Yule Ball.[2] Though the two had a minor falling-out when Hagrid implied (correctly) that Maxime, like him, was part giant,[2] they eventually reconciled and travelled together to appeal to the giants of the Northern colonies and dissuade them from joining forces with Voldemort.[3]

Maxime was also seen comforting Hagrid during Albus Dumbledore's funeral.[9] The current status of their relationship is unknown, but as Hagrid never got married, it can be assumed that their relationship did not work out.[17] However, they likely remained good friends.

Albus Dumbledore[]

Dumbledore: "My dear Madame Maxime. Welcome to Hogwarts."
Maxime: "Dumbly-dorr. I 'ope I find you well?"
Dumbledore: "In excellent form, I thank you"
— Dumbledore and Maxime warmly greeting each other in 1994[src]
Albus Dumbledore POA promo

Albus Dumbledore, a good friend

At the outset of the Triwizard Tournament, Madame Maxime was cordial and friendly with Albus Dumbledore.[4] The two later danced at the Yule Ball.[2] After meeting with Dumbledore, she agreed to help with his request to journey to the giant colonies[14] and ultimately attended his funeral.[9]

Etymology[]

Olympe is the French word for Olympus, the mountain home of the Greek gods. Maxime is French for "principle" (or "maxim"), a pun on "principal". It is derived from the Latin maxima, the feminine form of "maximus", meaning "greatest" or "biggest".

Behind the scenes[]

MadameMaxime WB F4 ConceptOfMadameMaximesClothes Illust 080615 Port

Maxime as she appears on Pottermore

  • "Madame" is French for "Mrs", which may imply that at some point, Maxime has been married. However, "madame" is also used in French for someone older than you, above you, or who commands respect, such as a teacher, so her marital status remains unclear. If the latter is the case, it may be that it is used in a similar sense to non-professor Hogwarts employees, such as Madam Pomfrey.
  • Olympe Maxime is portrayed by English actress Frances de la Tour in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows: Part 1. British basketball player Ian Whyte portrayed her for the full-body shots.
  • In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Maxime is described as roughly the same height as Hagrid, whereas in the film adaptation she is considerably taller than him. Robbie Coltrane explained in an interview that it was due to her high heels. Also, in the books she is described as having olive skin and black hair while in the films, she has pale skin and brown hair.
  • In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Olympe and Hagrid's relationship was testy, much as it was in the books and films.

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 43 images related to Olympe Maxime.
MaximeLEGO

Olympe Maxime as a LEGO mini-figure

Notes and references[]

  1. She would have to be of age, 17, at the start of the 1985-1986 school year, as she was the Headmistress when she visited Hogwarts.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23 (The Yule Ball)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 20 (Hagrid's Tale)
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  5. Rubeus Hagrid's file, as created for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and seen in Harry Potter Limited Edition, states that he is 11'6". Harry claims in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that there was only roughly an inch difference at most in the heights of Maxime and Hagrid.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang) - "As she stepped into the light flooding from the entrance hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose."
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 20 (The First Task)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "Hosting the Beauxbatons" Achievement
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 30 (The White Tomb)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 28 (The Madness of Mr Crouch)
  11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 8 (The Quidditch World Cup)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)
  13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19 (The Hungarian Horntail)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 37 (The Beginning)
  15. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35 (Veritaserum)
  16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
  17. 17.0 17.1 J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall
  18. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
  19. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 17 (The Four Champions)
  20. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 26 (The Second Task)
  21. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 29 (The Dream)
Order of the Phoenix
Fawkes WB F2 FawkesIllustration V2 Illust
Founder:
Albus Dumbledore
Leaders:
Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies:
Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus's wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Patrick Delaney-Podmore | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations:
Dumbledore's Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff |
Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | British Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus's control)
Giants and half-giants
Giant colony

Gurgs: Karkus (Former) · Golgomath
Fridwulfa · Grawp (Former) · Karkus's wife · Group of injured giants (Former)

Other giants

Bran the Bloodthirsty · Cyclops · Death Eaters' giant army in the First Wizarding War · Goliath · Grawp's father · Grawp's opponent · Hengist of Upper Barnton · Morholt · Morholt's brother · Unidentified giant in The Blind Pig
Unidentified giants at the Battle of Hogwarts: I · II · III · IV · V

Half-giants

Rubeus Hagrid · Olympe Maxime · Pronk

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