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"Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know, his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy..."
Ron Weasley regarding the photograph Penelope gave his brother Percy[src]

Penelope 'Penny' Clearwater (born c. 1975 or 1976) was a witch and Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1987 to 1994. In her later school years, she was a Prefect, and eventually started dating Percy Weasley, a Gryffindor student and a fellow Prefect.[5]

After she finished her education at Hogwarts, Penelope and Percy never married. It can be assumed that they broke up at some point. Percy married another woman named Audrey Weasley instead.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Penelope was born in 1975 or 1976 in Great Britain or Ireland. She was either from a Muggle family or had both Muggle and magical heritage.[1]

Hogwarts years (1987-1994)[]

Early years[]

Penelope Clearwater arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1987[citation needed] and upon her arrival was Sorted into Ravenclaw house.

Sixth year[]

Ron Weasley (as Vincent Crabbe): "Excuse me. We've forgotten the way to our common room."
Penelope Clearwater: "I beg your pardon? Our common room? I'm a Ravenclaw."
— Penelope's suspicions towards a disguised Ron Weasley[src]

In the summer of 1992, Percy Weasley wrote many letters to her and met up with her in secret throughout the next school year.[5] On 25 December 1992, Penelope[8] was asked for directions by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, who had disguised themselves as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle with Polyjuice Potion, while they were wandering around looking for the Slytherin common room. She did not trust them, and told them that being in Ravenclaw, she could not help them.[4]

Petrified

A petrified Penelope in the Hospital Wing

In the same year, the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, unleashing a 'monster' that was hunting down Muggle-born students. Hermione Granger deduced that it was a Basilisk, and as she rushed to inform her friends, she met Penelope on her way from the library, and told her to use her mirror to look around corners to spot the serpent.[9]

Penelope and Hermione made good use of Penelope's mirror to navigate the school hallways, but they looked the Basilisk in the eye through the reflection of the mirror, petrifying them both.[9] Penelope and Hermione were then hospitalised in the Hospital Wing, with the other petrified students.[8] Percy was known to be very upset with Penelope's unfortunate petrification.[8] Penelope was eventually revived with a draught prepared from Mandrake roots, along with Hermione and the other victims.[5]

Before the end of the school year, Ginny Weasley walked in on Penelope kissing Percy in an empty classroom. He told her to keep it secret, but she later told on them.[5]

Seventh year[]

By the summer of 1993, Penelope was still dating Percy who had a picture of her at home. When someone spilt tea on it, Percy was upset and blamed Ron, who said Penelope hid her face because she had a blotchy nose.[10]

In September 1993, while on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Penelope was approached by an excited Percy, wanting to show her the shiny new badge he had for being made Head Boy.[10]

Penelope appeared to be a serious Quidditch fan, having appreciated Harry Potter's new broomstick, a Firebolt, greatly, and betting ten galleons on the outcome of the Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor match with Percy. When she wanted to hold the broomstick, Percy heartily told her not to sabotage them by doing so.[3]

When Ravenclaw later lost, Percy congratulated Harry and then went to find Penelope to receive the ten galleons she owed him.[3] Penelope later listened to Percy, the only one to do so, when he explained he would make lots of proposals about the Magical Law Enforcement when he could.[11]

Sadly, she did not end up marrying her Hogwarts boyfriend, as Percy eventually married a woman named Audrey and had two children with her.

Physical description[]

Penelope was described as having long, curly hair.[4]

Possessions[]

PenelopeClearwaterMirror

Her personal mirror

Relationships[]

Percy Weasley[]

"He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was — you know — attacked. You won't tease him, will you?"
Ginny Weasley on Percy and Penelope's relationship[src]
Peciee

Percy Weasley, her ex-boyfriend

In the summer of 1992, Percy and Penelope wrote many letters to each other.[5] She began dating Percy Weasley in her fifth year, but they kept it secret. They would meet in deserted classrooms to kiss, but were caught once by Percy's sister, Ginny.[5]

Percy was distraught when Penelope was petrified in 1993[5], and immensely relieved when she was cured by the Mandrake Restorative Draught.[9] The secret came out when Ginny revealed the truth to her brothers, asking them not to tease Percy over the fact, which they did anyway.[5]

With the secret out, Percy and Penelope appeared in public together, and he kept a photo of her. During his stay at the Leaky Cauldron before the start of his seventh year, he accused Ron of dripping tea on it.[10]

Percy was excited to see her on Platform 9¾, wanting to show her the Head Boy badge he was given[10] and, later in the year, wagered ten Galleons on the outcome of the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw match, despite not actually having ten galleons. He playfully remarked to her about sabotaging Harry's Firebolt when she asked if she could touch it. He was unafraid of asking Penelope for the ten galleons she later owed him,[3] while she would be the only who cared to listen to him while he ranted at a later date.[11]

For unknown reasons, Percy and Penelope did not stay together, and Percy ended up marrying Audrey Weasley.

Etymology[]

  • In The Odyssey, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus. While he was away fighting the Trojan Wars, she was pursued by many suitors; to hold them off, Penelope told them she would choose one when she finished weaving a shroud, but unravelled her work every night to prevent this from occurring. The poetic sense of the name is a faithful, clever, woman, particularly a wife. It is derived from the Greek words pene, 'web', and ōps, meaning 'eye' or 'face', although it is questionable; the name can also mean 'weaver' or 'duck'.
  • The name is also possibly derived from the Greek name 'penelops' for a kind of duck that was said to have rescued and nurtured Penelope when she was exposed to die as an infant.
  • Clearwater is a descriptive place name that suggests her ancestors lived near a body of water (which could be why her name may mean 'duck').

Behind the scenes[]

Penelope Clearwater

Penelope Clearwater in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

Penelope Clearwater

Penelope Clearwater in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 12 images related to Penelope Clearwater.

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 There is some confusion over Penelope Clearwater's blood status. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Penelope was petrified along with Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hermione Granger, Nearly-Headless Nick, and Mrs Norris. The petrifications were described as a series of 'four attacks on Muggle-borns' in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge) and Ginny Weasley (possessed by Tom Riddle's memory) was described as having 'set the Serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the Squib's cat' in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17 (The Heir of Slytherin). However, it is possible that the fourth Muggle-born in addition to Colin, Hermione, and Justin (who are all definitively identified as Muggle-borns at some point) was Nearly-Headless Nick, and that Penelope was simply petrified because she was with Hermione when she encountered the Basilisk. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 23 (Malfoy Manor), Hermione posed as Penelope when under interrogation by Snatchers, and claimed to be half-blood. Although, Hermione may have only lied about Penelope's blood status because mentioning she's Muggle-born would have possibly made things worse.
  2. "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 13 (Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12 (The Polyjuice Potion)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18 (Dobby's Reward)
  6. 6.0 6.1 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 16 (The Chamber of Secrets)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5 (The Dementor)
  11. 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 22 (Owl Post Again)
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