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- "The Director isn't someone to be trifled with."
- — Merula Snyde to Jacob's sibling regarding her aunt Verucca[src]
Verucca Buckthorn-Snyde,[1] known as the Director,[2] was a Dark witch, who was a high-ranking member of a dangerous organisation known as 'R'.[7] She was also a Metamorphmagus who could change her appearance at will.[8]
Biography[]
Early life[]
- "Ah yes... Buckthorn is my married name. Verucca Buckthorn-Snyde."
- — Verucca to Jacob's sibling[src]
Verucca was born into the Snyde family. She later married into the Buckthorn family, taking the double-barrelled surname Buckthorn-Snyde.[1]
At an unspecified point in time, Verucca joined the enigmatic "R", a powerful and clandestine society of witches and wizards that opposed the British Ministry of Magic. She worked her way up through the ranks and assumed the alias of "the Director", named as such for her exultant rank in the cabal.[1]
1988–1989 school year[]
- Verucca: "Not so fast, dear... You and your friend still owe us something..."
- Jacob's sibling: "For what?"
- Verucca: "For safe passage through Knockturn Alley, of course. Terrible things have been known to happen in this place..."
- Jacob's sibling: "We don't have anything to give..."
- Verucca: "Everyone has something to give, dear... Blood, fingernails, eyes...are all quite valuable to the proper connoisseur."
- — Verucca threatening Jacob's sibling and their friend in Knockturn Alley[src]
Verucca approaching Jacob's sibling in Knockturn Alley
During the 1988–1989 school year, when Jacob's sibling and a friend visited Knockturn Alley, Verucca prevented them from entering Borgin and Burkes and asked for a sacrifice of their anatomy in order for them to enjoy safe passage in Knockturn Alley. She duelled them and attracted more Dark Witches and Wizards. However, Patricia Rakepick arrived in time and defeated them, including Verucca, whom she swiftly blasted to the floor with a spell.[4]
In the 1989 summer holidays, Merula made an Unbreakable Vow with Verucca, to ensure she remained loyal to her one "true" family, or die, promising her niece that she would teach her to defeat Patricia Rakepick. Merula was initially unaware Verucca was also a member of "R" and had to do everything her aunt told her to do.[9]
1989–1990 school year[]
- Verucca: "Late, as per usual. Regardless, it's time. Are you ready to join 'R', Merula?"
- Merula Snyde: "I am. I've done everything you asked, and I'm ready to leave Hogwarts behind. I'm ready for 'R' to be my real family."
- Verucca: "You know the truth and you have proven yourself worthy."
- Merula Snyde: "I am worthy. I'll finally get the power I deserve."
- Verucca: "Indeed, you'll have all the power you could possibly desire... if you do as promised."
- Merula Snyde: "I will. I'll bring [Jacob's sibling] into the fold. [They] will join 'R' just like I have."
- Verucca: "Oh, your journey is only beginning, Merula Snyde."
- — Verucca welcoming Merula Snyde into “R”[src]
During the 1989–1990 school year, Verucca was magically impersonated by Mundungus Fletcher as a disguise in Knockturn Alley. Jacob's sibling uncovered his disguise with the Revelio Charm to reveal him to Nymphadora Tonks and Ben Copper.[10]
At an unspecified period in time during this year, Verucca revealed to her niece her true identity as a high-ranking player in R's game and seemingly used the Unbreakable Vow made between them to manipulate Merula into becoming a follower - though not yet a member - of R.
Later during this school year, Verucca attended a secret meeting of “R” outside Borgin and Burkes with Kazuhiro Shiratori to discuss R's next courses of actions, which Jacob's sibling infiltrated impersonating Patricia Rakepick using Polyjuice Potion. Along with Shiratori, Verucca questioned the presence of 'Rakepick', who had informed R that her appearance so early after taking the life of a Hogwarts student might endanger the group, which Verucca brought up in her inquiry. Verucca and Kazuhiro were apparently expecting other members of the Cabal, but the disguised Jacob's sibling pushed the discussion ahead and the three discuss how their mole in Hogwarts (Merula) was providing them with a great source of information, Verucca assuring her associates she and their spy were in constant contact. When the real Rakepick Apparated onto the scene and exposed Jacob's sibling, Verucca helped her fight Jacob's sibling's team, deflecting a spell fired by Nymphadora Tonks (who had been standing by in the form of a dark witch), then walking to join Patricia in the wake of Jacob and Alastor Moody's arrival and Disapparating away after Rakepick assured R's foes their fight was not over, though Kazuhiro was captured.[6]
Verucca having revealed her true appearance in Knockturn Alley
At some point near the end of the school year, Verucca was seen in the Hog's Head Inn and was what appeared at the time to be unknowingly eavesdropped by Jacob's sibling and Mundungus Fletcher while talking about meeting someone later. In Knockturn Alley, she met Merula Snyde, who was ready to join R. Then she transformed into her original look and took Merula with her.[5] Because of Merula's place as a student at Hogwarts who was assisting in seeking out the Cursed Vault, Verucca had initially given her two tasks: persuade Jacob's sibling to join the ranks of R and to secure Crown of Mneme located in the Sunken Vault. The crown's powers were needed in R's plan to rid the Ministry of corruption by forcing officials they considered corrupt via mind control. To achieve the latter, Verucca gave her niece a potion that, when drunk, rendered her immune to the effects of the Vault and when Merula stole the artefact, she presumably gave it to her aunt.[11]
1990–1991 school year[]
- "And as to that proof ... where's the wand? And you'd be wise to remember how I repay incompetency."
- — Verucca demanding the stolen wand from Zenith Xeep[src]
Zenith Xeep giving Verucca the stolen wand
During the 1990–1991 school year, originally disguised as Wilkie Twycross, Verucca revealed herself during a meeting with Zenith Xeep in Knockturn Alley and talked about Xeep's Luscious Locks Solution and the wand Zenith had stolen from Ollivanders, the former of which's name she found ridiculous while inquiring of its potency. During the meeting, Verucca demonstrated the authority and power her rank gave her over Xeep, who showed immediate deference towards her, as well as subtly threatening Zenith, reminding the opera singer that she would be wise to remember how Verucca answered to incompetence. When Zenith was about to give her the wand, Ben Copper, who had been secretly watching with Jacob's sibling, rashly interrupted them, and Verucca instantly used the Stunning Spell on him. When Jacob's sibling also emerged, they and Verucca exchanged a brief look before she Disapparated, leaving Xeep to be defeated, then lose her memory via her own potion.[3]
Later during the school year, when Jacob's sibling accused Merula Snyde of being a member of R by the Hogwarts Whomping Willow after a wandless duel, Merula explained she only attacked them as she feared they were Verucca in disguise.[8] Prior to this event, Verucca had let slip the presence of a R infiltrator within St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries whilst scolding her niece for her failure to as of yet convince Jacob's sibling to embrace R as she had been commanded to, telling Merula it now no longer mattered, as, in her words, "Burke's idea [was] no laughing matter".[12]
- Jacobs's sibling: "You! Who are you and what do you want?!"
- Verucca: "It's not time."
- — Jacob's sibling confronting Verucca in St Mungo's[src]
Verucca in St Mungo's
After Jacob's sibling defeated the R agent and Healer Eustace Burke in a St Mungo's ward in a duel, Verucca appeared on the scene via Apparition, knocked Jacob's sibling over with a spell, refused to divulge her identity to them when asked and Disapparated away, taking Burke with her.[13]
Later at the shore of the Black Lake, Merula Snyde told Jacob's sibling more about Verucca, telling them she was commonly called the "Director" by other members of R and that she was powerful and fearsome.[2]
Verucca in the Shrieking Shack
After Merula had kidnapped Corey Hayden and taken them to the Shrieking Shack, Jacob's sibling followed Merula there, where they encountered Verucca, who revealed her name to Jacob's sibling, and that she was Merula's aunt. She informed that Rakepick, Kazuhiro Shiratori and Eustace Burke were merely pawns in the plan to bring them to R, and that she had arranged the meeting she had with Merula in Knockturn Alley the year prior so they would witness it, making sure to behave suspiciously around Mundungus Fletcher so they would seek her out. She also told them it was finally time for them to know their purpose and why they were destined to lead R, and introduced them to Peregrine, the leader of R and their long lost father.[1] She was present with Merula while Peregrine was telling Corey and their child that their organisation was not evil, but that it supposedly sought good, giving only a smile when Peregrine noted that while the methods Verucca utilised were extreme, they were undoubtedly effective.[11]
- "I spent weeks brewing that potion. Don't think it was easy!"
- — Verucca regarding Dai Ryusaki's mind-enhancing potion[src]
Verucca standing in Jacob's sibling's way in the Shrieking Shack
Verucca spent the year brewing Dai Ryusaki's mind-enhancing potion for "R", with her forcing Merula to tell her the ingredients. After Merula returned from collecting Jacob's sibling per Verucca's instructions, Verucca herself was present when Peregrine tested "R"'s mind control plan in the Shrieking Shack, involving Jacob wearing the Crown of Mneme enhanced with the potion to control their friend's mind, and tried to stop Jacob's sibling from interfering, moving in front of them as they started forwards to warn them with a smile that she would be observing their every movement during the testing. Listening wordlessly as Peregrine addressed the wizards and witches present, Verucca, included, welcoming them to what he called the "dawn of a new era for wizardkind", after which Verucca boasted at her accomplishment in recreating Dai Ryusaki's potion to enhance the mind, which she noted to not be without it' difficulties. When Peregrine revealed that R had learnt of the potion's full recipe from Merula, Verucca encouraged Jacob's sibling not to judge her niece to harshly, declaring that it was not as if she had a choice in the matter, and soon after, she reminded them of how she had met with Zenith Xeep previously to obtain the wand Peregrine had displayed to them. Diverting her gaze from Merula and her friend to stand by Peregrine as the two members of R watched as Jacob initiated the ritual, which Verucca beheld with delight, vowing that now that R's plans were coming into blossom, the Ministry of Magic would regret crossing them. The plan was unsuccessful as wearing the cursed Crown pained Jacob, and Jacob's sibling knocked the Crown away before Jacob took them away with Apparition, which Verucca and Peregrine went to retrieve.[14]
- "Very good, Merula. You've done just as I asked. Almost as if your life depended on it... Now go to Tallow and Hemp and fetch me some poisonous candles."
- — Verucca to Merula in Knockturn Alley[src]
Verucca meeting with Jacob's sibling in Knockturn Alley
Later, Merula told Jacob's sibling in the Boathouse that Verucca wanted to privately meet with them in Knockturn Alley, much to their surprise shock. Although very reluctant at first, they met with Verucca, where she told them that she thought Peregrine, her leader was behaving erratically, not like the Peregrine she once knew, and he risked derailing the entire organisation's plans. They informed her that he was wearing Dai Ryusaki's amulet, which she acknowledged as a potent cursed artefact. She then told them they had a shared common goal of helping their father, and that she had to work with her to steal the amulet off him to return him to normal. Although they agreed (with hesitancy) to her deal, they later informed Alastor Moody in the Ministry of her offer, and he agreed he would intercept Verucca while doing so, as she was a wanted criminal. Merula later told the student Verucca was a difficult woman to please with no time for small talk, while giving them advise on how to best deal with her, while still maintaining the Unbreakable Vow with her.[15]
Verucca meeting with Jacob and his sibling in the Hog's Head Inn
Verucca met with Jacob and their sibling in the Hog's Head Inn, where she disguised herself as a witch with red hair to avoid detection in public, along with her distrust of Jacob's family. While discussing their plan, she told them that they would act as bait, and then she would make Peregrine hand over the amulet with the Imperius Curse. However when they both refused using an Unforgivable Curse on their dad, Jacob's sibling proposed Verucca meet with Peregrine, with the two of them striking when Verucca signalled Jacob's arrival via Apparition. Verucca told them if the plan fell through, she would take matters into her own hands.[16]
Verucca and Peregrine in Knockturn Alley
Verucca met with Peregrine in Knockturn Alley as planned. Peregrine blamed Verucca for the failure of their experiment with the Crown of Mneme, with Jacob then arriving on the scene to confront his dad. Jacob's sibling tried sneaking on their dad with the Invisibility Cloak but failed, with Verucca then taking matters into her own hands, with Verucca casting a powerful purple spell at Peregrine, but Jacob intercepted it and was knocked out. Verucca then Disapparated from the scene as soon as Moody and his Aurors arrived.[16]
Merula later told Jacob's sibling that Verucca suspected that the two would double-cross her with Aurors. The spell Verucca had cast was a powerful variation of the Conjunctivitis Curse that completely blinded Jacob, with Peregrine swearing vegeance against her for having cursed his son.[17]
Verucca and Merula at the Viaduct
After the Circle of Khanna defeated most of 'R' at the Viaduct during their attack against Hogwarts, Verucca appeared on the scene with Merula by her side. Upon the Viaduct, Verucca confronted Peregrine, informing him that she was intending to take over as the group's leader, and demanding for to hand over the amulet, swiftly disarming Peregrine with a smile. Verucca then duelled again with Jacob's sibling and lost, being disarmed of her wand and falling to the floor before Merula, who she demanded defend her, insulting in the process her relation's intelligence as she reminded her of her vow. Merula abandoned her aunt, but did not break her Unbreakable Vow, as her friends at Hogwarts served as a true family, leading Verucca to denounce her as an ungrateful brat.[18]
Verucca controlling Fiendfyre at the Viaduct
Verucca then wandlessly summoned her wand to conjure Fiendfyre, vowing furiously to enact vengeance on all who stood before her and climbing to her feet as she controlled the flames to attack Peregrine. This caused Peregrine to fall from the Viaduct without his wand, forcing Jacob's sibling and Merula to flee while she watched, only to be confronted and held at wand-point by a member of the Auror Office. Verucca was subsequently arrested by Aurors on the scene led by Moody, and was taken into custody at Azkaban, along with all other 'R' members.[18]
Physical description[]
Verucca, in her most commonly assumed form, was a witch with short white hair with amber streaks and light skin, with brown eyes. She wore a long dark purple dress with a pin of the Evil Eye and a small black hat.[1]
Personality and traits[]
Verucca was a cunning dark witch who was not to be crossed.[2] Her niece Merula was frightened of disobeying her orders, given the Unbreakable Vow she established with her.[9] She was a strong-willed leader who was willing to take control of difficult situtations should others fail.[15] She considered herself more than capable of leading her organisation,[18] and was more than willing to betray her leader Peregrine when she considered him unfit for his role, proving that R was the only entity she was genuinely loyal to.[15] She also had a vicious, violent temper, summoning Fiendfyre in an attempt to kill Peregrine when everyone had turned against her.[18]
Magical abilities and skills[]
- "You won't be doing anything, but vomiting slugs..."
- — Verucca having used the Slug-vomiting Charm[src]
Verucca preparing to cast a powerful Conjunctivitis Curse
- Dark Arts: As a Dark witch, Verucca was proficient in Dark Magic and described as someone who was not to be faced lightly.[4][6] She was capable of performing the Slug-vomiting Charm proficiently[4] and could cast a purple variation of the Conjunctivitis Curse that completely blinded the victim.[16][17] She also claimed that she could cast the Imperius Curse.[16] Verucca in addition could conjure Fiendfyre, extremely dangerous cursed flames and direct them to attack an opponent.[18]
- Duelling: Verucca was an excellent duellist, as she held her own against Nymphadora Tonks.[6] She was able to swiftly use the Stunning Spell on Ben Copper without a flinch.[3]
- Charms: Verucca could swiftly cast simple charms such as the Stunning Spell,[3] Disarming Charm and Summoning Charm.[18]
- Apparition: Verucca was able to Apparate at will, a skill that most adults could accomplish.[6][5][3][13]
- Metamorphmagus: Verucca was a Metamorphmagus who could change her physical appearance at will.[8] She was able to transform herself into a different look instantly and reverse the transformation just as easily.[5] She was skilled at changing her appearance and impersonating others.[8]
- Nonverbal and wandless magic: Verucca was able to swiftly knock Jacob's sibling over with a silent spell in St Mungo's without saying an incantation,[13] which she repeated in the Shrieking Shack.[1] Verucca could also cast the Summoning Charm wandlessly to summon her wand.[18]
- Potions: Verucca was capable of brewing Dai Ryusaki's mind-enhancing potion, a powerful and advanced potion, taking her several weeks to complete.[14]
Behind the scenes[]
- It is possible that she was the same aunt that became the legal guardian of Merula Snyde after her parents were imprisoned in Azkaban, as Merula states that 'Aunt Verucca' is the only free member of her family she has left.
- It is very likely that she was the Metamorphmagus who infiltrated the Ministry of Magic in the 1990–1991 school year.
- Merula states that Verucca might feel less suspicion towards Barnaby for his status as a Slytherin,[14] implying that Verucca, assuming she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in her youth, might have been sorted into Slytherin as well.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (First appearance)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 39 (The Aftermath)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 30 (It All Falls Down)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 14 (The Search for Zenith Xeep)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 10 (Knockturn Alley)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 45 (The Messenger)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 35 (Infiltrating 'R')
- ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 15 (The Counter-Serum)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 27 (Now That's What I Call a Cursed CD)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 45 (The Fallout)
- ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 9 (Artefact Check)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 40 (Family Matters)
- ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 46 (Total Recall)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 29 (Mind of a Diva)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 51 (A Simple Demonstration)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 53 (An Unexpected Offer)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 54 (Best-Laid Plans)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 55 (The Broken Path)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 57 (The Final Battle)
