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"I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave — I 'ave big bones!"
— Olympe Maxime to Rubeus Hagrid after he states that she is half-giant[src]

Madame Olympe Maxime (fl. 1994-2010) is a French half-giant witch and was the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Maxime's preferred mode of transportation is to travel with her students in a powder-blue carriage drawn by twelve winged Abraxan horses, which are bred at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Madame Maxime is a half-giantess, although she claims merely to have "big bones." This is a necessity, however, as the approach to giants (or part-giants) is generally hostile.

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. She was likely educated at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France, where she later became Headmistress. It is unknown exactly when she became Headmistress of Beauxbatons.

1994-1995

In August 1994, Madame Maxime attended the final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in England with some of her students. When the Dark Mark was conjured 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 no help.

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. She made such an impact on Professor Rubeus Hagrid that he immediately started trying to impress her: 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. 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-giantess just like him he was right, of course, but she was not inclined to concede such a point. 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. However the two reconciled eventually.

Giant Colony

Hagrid and Madame Maxime at the Giant Colony

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. She was also present during the memorial feast of Cedric Diggory after he was murdered by Peter Pettigrew during the third task.

During the summer of 1995 Rubeus Hagrid and Madame Maxime visited the giants as envoys for Albus Dumbledore. 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.

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. She also attended the wedding of Bill Weasley and former Beauxbatons student Fleur Delacour later on that same year.[3]

Later life

It is unknown if she and Hagrid ever rekindled their relationship, although ultimately they never married.[4]

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 Madam Maxime[src]
File:Olumpemaxime.jpg

Madame Olympe Maxime

Madam Maxime was described to be a handsome 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 dresses from head to foot in black satin, and is laden with opal jewellery. Despite her size, she is elegant and graceful, and Dumbledore once stated that she was a wonderful dancer. She is also a swift duellist, being able to cast two Conjunctivitis Curses within seconds of each other.

Maxime's huge size is due to her half-giant background. Initially, she fiercely denied this, claiming that she merely had "big bones". 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".

Personality and traits

Hagridandolympe

Rubeus Hagrid and Olympe

Madam Maxime appeared to have a good relationship with her students. 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. 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). Later on, she willingly gave Harry full marks in the second task for moral fibre, despite Karkaroff only awarding him half marks.

However, Olympe was ashamed of being a half-giant, and claimed that she was simply "big-boned". Though Hagrid described as 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.

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, Madam Olympe Maxime is a competent witch deserving of the title bestowed upon her.

  • Duelling: Though she was never shown actually fighting, Maxime has proven to be a capable duellist, since Rubeus Hagrid claimed that Madam 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.
  • Care of Magical Creatures: At Beauxbatons, Maxime bred Abraxans.
  • Spell resistance: As a half-giant, Maxime had inherited the passive ability to resist many spells.

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!"
— Hagrid and Madame Maxime conversing about being half-giant[src]
File:Hagrid olympe.jpg

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. Though the two had a minor falling-out when Hagrid implied (correctly) that Maxime, like him, was part giant, they eventually reconciled and travelled together to appeal to the giants of the Northern colonies and dissuade them from joining forces with Voldemort. Maxime was also seen comforting Hagrid during Albus Dumbledore's funeral. 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.[4] However, they likely remained good friends.

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

File:Olympe Maxime.jpg

Olympe Maxime in Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4

Appearances

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

Notes and references

  1. 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.
  2. 2.0 2.1 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.
  3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
  4. 4.0 4.1 J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall
Order of the Phoenix
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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)
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