Eulalie "Lally" Hicks

Eulalie “Lally” Hicks is an American witch, a highly accomplished duellist, and the Charms professor at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A trusted friend and ally of Albus Dumbledore, she played a crucial role in the global wizarding war by joining the fight against the Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Professor Hicks is a character who appears exclusively in the Fantastic Beasts film series and is not mentioned in the original seven Harry Potter novels.

Professor Hicks's history is primarily established outside of the original book series. She is a graduate of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Pottermore). By the 1930s, she had become the school's Charms professor. During Gellert Grindelwald's rise to power, Albus Dumbledore recognized her exceptional magical abilities and steadfast character, entrusting her with a critical mission. Lally was tasked with recruiting the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski back into the fight against Grindelwald. She accomplished this by gifting him a wand and magically transporting him from his bakery to a train bound for Berlin. (film) In Germany, she joined Dumbledore's first army, working alongside Newt Scamander, Theseus Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, and Yusuf Kama. She was instrumental in carrying out Dumbledore's plan to confuse Grindelwald by having multiple teams carry identical enchanted suitcases, making it impossible for Grindelwald's followers to know their true intentions. Lally later participated in the pivotal events in Bhutan during the Walk of the Qilin ceremony, duelling against Grindelwald's acolytes to protect Dumbledore and the integrity of the election for the new Supreme Head of the International Confederation of Wizards. (film)

As depicted in the films, Lally Hicks is a tall, elegant African-American witch with a confident and commanding presence. She dresses in the stylish fashion of the 1930s wizarding world. (film) Professor Hicks is exceptionally intelligent, resourceful, and quick-witted. She is a brave and loyal witch who does not hesitate to stand up against Dark Magic. Her personality is characterized by a calm and collected demeanor, even in dangerous situations, which is balanced with a warm sense of humor. She is a natural leader and a brilliant magical strategist, able to think on her feet and inspire confidence in others like Jacob Kowalski. (film)

• Charms Master: As the Charms professor at Ilvermorny, Lally possesses an expert-level understanding and application of Charms. Her ingenuity is demonstrated when she enchants a book to serve as a fast-acting Portkey for Jacob Kowalski. (film)
• Duelling: Lally is a formidable duellist with remarkable reflexes and a wide arsenal of spells. She capably defended herself and her allies against multiple opponents during the conflicts in Berlin and Bhutan. (film)
• Defensive Magic: She demonstrates proficiency in defensive spells, capable of creating powerful shields to protect herself and others during magical combat. (film)
• Non-Verbal Magic: Lally is often seen casting spells non-verbally, a sign of a highly skilled and disciplined witch. (film)

• Wand: Lally wields a long, dark, and elegant wand with a distinctive spiral design at the handle. Its core and wood type are unknown. (film)
• Enchanted Book: She used a specific book, Magical Artefacts of the Ancient World, which she enchanted to act as a unique transportational device to bring Jacob Kowalski to her. (film)

• Albus Dumbledore: Professor Hicks is a close and trusted friend of Albus Dumbledore. He held her magical abilities and judgment in the highest esteem, selecting her as one of the key figures in his counter-movement against Grindelwald. They communicated regularly and worked together seamlessly. (film)
• Newt Scamander's Team: She was a vital member of the team assembled by Dumbledore, functioning as a strategist and powerful combatant. She developed a strong camaraderie with Newt Scamander, Theseus Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, and Yusuf Kama. (film)
• Jacob Kowalski: Lally held a particular fondness and respect for Jacob, recognizing his bravery and the importance of having a good man in their fight. She personally recruited him and showed great faith in his abilities. (film)

• Eulalie: The name is of Greek origin, derived from eulalos, which means “sweetly speaking” or “well-spoken.” This reflects her articulate and intelligent nature. It is also a popular name in France.
• Lally: A common diminutive of Eulalie.
• Hicks: An English patronymic surname meaning “son of Hick,” which was a common medieval nickname for the name Richard.

• Professor Eulalie Hicks was created for the Fantastic Beasts film series and does not appear in the original Harry Potter novels.
• Her name was first introduced to the canon in a 2018 article on the Pottermore website, which listed her as a notable alumna of Ilvermorny. (Pottermore)
• In the films, she is portrayed by American actress Jessica Williams.
• While her first full appearance is in The Secrets of Dumbledore, a version of her character makes a very brief, non-speaking cameo in a magical book in The Crimes of Grindelwald. (film)