Agnes

Agnes was a witch and a long-term patient in the Janus Thickey Ward for Spell Damage at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Her unfortunate and permanent condition, which resulted from a Werewolf bite, left her with a dog-like head and animalistic behaviors. She is encountered by Harry Potter and his friends during a visit to the hospital, serving as a poignant example of the severe and unusual magical maladies that wizards and witches can suffer.

Almost nothing is known about Agnes's life before her injury. At some point prior to Christmas 1995, she was bitten by a Werewolf. While she did not become a true Werewolf herself, the bite resulted in what a Healer described as a “peculiar case of… lycanthropy contamination.” This affliction caused permanent, irreparable damage, leading to her institutionalization at St. Mungo's. On Christmas Day, 1995, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley accidentally entered the Janus Thickey Ward while trying to leave the hospital after visiting Arthur Weasley. There, they observed Agnes, who was sitting on her bed, barking softly at her reflection in a teaspoon. An unnamed visitor was attempting to give her a Christmas present, but a Healer explained that Agnes was “quite beyond” understanding or communication. Her ultimate fate is unknown, but her condition was considered permanent.

Agnes is described as a witch with a “hairy face.” Her attending Healer elaborated that her head had become “that of a dog.” Due to the “lycanthropy contamination,” her personality appears to have been completely submerged by animalistic traits. She was seen “barking softly” and was seemingly mesmerized by her own reflection. The Healer's assessment that she was “quite beyond it” indicates a profound loss of her original self and cognitive functions, rendering her unable to interact in a meaningful human way.

As a witch, Agnes presumably possessed magical abilities before her injury. However, in her current state at St. Mungo's, she showed no signs of being able to control or use magic.

• Teaspoon: When seen in the Janus Thickey Ward, Agnes was holding a teaspoon, which she was using as a makeshift mirror to gaze at her reflection.

Agnes had an unnamed visitor on Christmas Day, suggesting she was not completely forgotten by friends or family. This individual tried to give her a “flaming-red bonnet with a fluffy white bobble,” indicating continued care and affection despite her condition. She was also under the care of an unnamed Healer at St. Mungo's.

The name Agnes is of Greek origin (Ἁγνή, Hagnē), meaning “pure,” “chaste,” or “holy.” This is likely an ironic name choice by the author, as the character's state is one of “contamination” from a Dark Creature. The purity implied by her name stands in stark contrast to her beastly affliction. The name is also associated with Saint Agnes of Rome, who is a patron saint often depicted with a lamb, creating a subtle link between the name and an animal.

• Agnes is omitted from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as the scene in the Janus Thickey Ward is significantly shortened and focuses only on Gilderoy Lockhart and the Longbottoms.
• A character named Agnes Monkleigh was mentioned in a Daily Prophet newsletter written by J.K. Rowling for the official fan club in 2002. This Agnes was the subject of a gossip column, accused of attempting to market hag-related beauty products. There is no canonical information to suggest she is the same person as the patient in St. Mungo's, and they are generally considered to be separate characters. (J.K. Rowling Fan Club)