Robyn Thistlethwaite

Robyn Thistlethwaite was a witch and a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1991 to 1998. She was sorted into Hufflepuff house and was in the same year as Harry Potter. Thistlethwaite is mentioned only once in the series, during her Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. examination, where her performance on the Patronus Charm was used as a point of comparison for Harry's own advanced magical ability.

Robyn Thistlethwaite's time at Hogwarts is largely undocumented, with a single recorded event during her fifth year. In June 1996, Thistlethwaite sat for her Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) examinations. During the practical portion of the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam, she was examined by Professor Tofty immediately before Harry Potter. One of the tasks was to produce a Patronus Charm. Thistlethwaite's attempt resulted in what Professor Tofty later dismissed as a “nasty little puff of smoke,” indicating she was unable to produce a corporeal or even a substantial non-corporeal Patronus. This performance was then contrasted sharply with Harry's, who produced a fully-formed stag Patronus that earned him full marks on that section of the exam. Her academic performance in other subjects and her activities during the Second Wizarding War, including her potential participation in the Battle of Hogwarts, are unknown.

The novels provide no description of Robyn Thistlethwaite's physical appearance or personality traits.

Little is known about Thistlethwaite's overall magical proficiency. The only demonstrated piece of magic is her attempt at the Patronus Charm.

• Patronus Charm: During her O.W.L. exam, her attempt to cast the Patronus Charm produced only a small wisp of silver smoke. This shows a rudimentary ability to perform the incantation but a lack of sufficient power or focus to create a guardian. It should be noted that the Patronus Charm is considered exceptionally advanced magic, far beyond the level expected of a typical fifth-year student, so her inability to master it is not necessarily an indication of poor magical skill in general.

While not explicitly mentioned, as a Hogwarts student, Thistlethwaite would have owned a wand, a cauldron, school robes, and various textbooks. No specific details about any of her possessions are known.

No specific friendships or rivalries involving Robyn Thistlethwaite are mentioned in the books. As a Hufflepuff in her year, she was a housemate and classmate of Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ernie Macmillan. She was also a classmate of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Her brief interaction with Professor Tofty during her exam is her only recorded direct encounter with a named character.

• Robyn: A name of German origin, meaning “bright fame.” It is also the name of a common songbird, the robin, which is often associated with the arrival of spring and new beginnings.
• Thistlethwaite: A locational surname of Old Norse origin, common in northwestern England. It is derived from thistel (“thistle”) and þveit (“clearing, meadow”). The name therefore means “a clearing where thistles grow.”

Robyn Thistlethwaite is a character exclusive to the novels and does not appear in the film adaptations or video games. Her brief mention serves a narrative purpose in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to establish a baseline of student performance on the Patronus Charm, thereby highlighting the exceptional nature of Harry Potter's ability to cast a fully corporeal Patronus at his age and under exam conditions.