Douglas McPhail

Douglas McPhail was a wizard and a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a contemporary of Harry Potter. He is notable for being mentioned during the practical portion of the Charms O.W.L. examination in 1996, where his case of boils was a topic of discussion between the examiners.

McPhail's only appearance in the series occurs during his fifth year at Hogwarts. In June of 1996, he sat his Ordinary Wizarding Levels (O.W.L.s) alongside Harry Potter's year group. During the Charms practical exam in the Great Hall, one of the examiners, Professor Tofty, brought McPhail to the attention of the Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, Griselda Marchbanks. Professor Tofty noted that McPhail had a “nasty case of boils on the nose” and questioned whether a Blemish-Blasting Curse would be the appropriate remedy. Professor Marchbanks, however, dismissed this and stated she would simply use a Pimple Jinx.

The only known detail of McPhail's physical appearance is that he suffered from a severe case of boils on his nose during his O.W.L. examinations. Nothing is known about his personality or character.

As a fifth-year student sitting his O.W.L.s, McPhail would have possessed a standard level of magical ability for a wizard of his age. He was studying Charms at the O.W.L. level, indicating a foundational proficiency in that branch of magic.

As a student at Hogwarts, McPhail would have owned a wand, though no details about it are known.

McPhail was a fellow student of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, though no direct interactions between them are recorded. He was examined by Professor Tofty and Griselda Marchbanks during his O.W.L.s.

• Douglas: A traditional Scottish given name and surname, derived from the Gaelic dubh glas, which means “dark water” or “dark stream”.
• McPhail: An Anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic name MacPhàil, meaning “son of Paul”.
• The combination of his names strongly suggests Scottish ancestry, a common trait for many students at Hogwarts.

A character also named Douglas McPhail was listed as a Chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers Quidditch team in a Daily Prophet newsletter on J.K. Rowling's original website. It is possible, though unconfirmed, that this is the same individual who went on to a professional Quidditch career after graduating from Hogwarts. (J.K. Rowling's Official Website)