Madam Malkin

Madam Malkin is a squat, smiling witch and the proprietor of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, a prominent shop in Diagon Alley. She serves as the primary outfitter for students attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as providing robes for other formal wizarding events. Though a minor character, her shop is the setting for several significant early interactions between Harry Potter and his rival, Draco Malfoy.

Madam Malkin was the owner and manager of her robes shop in Diagon Alley during the 1990s. In 1991, she met Harry Potter for the first time when Rubeus Hagrid brought him to her shop to be fitted for his first set of Hogwarts school robes. It was here that Harry also had his first, unpleasant conversation with Draco Malfoy, who was being fitted at the same time. Madam Malkin maintained a professional and pleasant demeanor, despite Malfoy's prejudiced remarks. In 1994, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger visited her shop again to purchase dress robes for the Yule Ball. Madam Malkin showed Ron a set of dated, frilly robes, much to his dismay, before he ultimately settled on a different set. By 1996, her business was still operating, though under the growing tension of Lord Voldemort's return. Harry, Ron, and Hermione encountered Draco Malfoy and his mother, Narcissa Malfoy, in her shop. The meeting quickly devolved into a heated argument, with Draco and Narcissa making threats and insulting Hermione's heritage. A flustered Madam Malkin and her assistant attempted to intervene, urging them to behave, but the Malfoys left for the rival shop, Twilfitt and Tatting's. Her fate during the height of the Second Wizarding War, when Diagon Alley fell under the control of Death Eaters, is unknown.

Madam Malkin is consistently described as a squat, smiling witch. In her first appearance, she is dressed entirely in mauve. Her personality is generally good-natured, patient, and businesslike. She handles her customers, including difficult ones like the Malfoys, with professional courtesy. However, she can become flustered and anxious when open conflict breaks out in her establishment, as her primary concern is running her business peacefully.

• Seamstress and Tailoring: Madam Malkin is an accomplished seamstress, specializing in wizarding wear. Her shop is the go-to destination for Hogwarts uniforms, indicating a high level of skill and a strong reputation.
• Enchantments: She utilizes magic in her work. When fitting Harry, she used an enchanted tape measure that measured him on its own and pins that presumably held the fabric in place magically. This suggests a proficiency in basic household and occupational Charms.

• Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions: Her shop in Diagon Alley, which she owned and operated.
• Enchanted Tailoring Equipment: She owned and used magical tools, such as a self-operating tape measure, to assist in her work.

Madam Malkin's relationships were primarily professional. She served a wide array of customers, from prominent pure-blood families like the Malfoys to Muggle-born witches and wizards like Hermione Granger. She appeared to have a cordial relationship with Hagrid and was a familiar, reliable figure for Hogwarts students. She also had a business rivalry with Twilfitt and Tatting's, which was presented by Narcissa Malfoy as a more exclusive and pure-blood-friendly alternative. By 1996, she was known to have at least one assistant witch working in her shop.

The name Malkin is an archaic English term with several meanings. It can be a diminutive of names like Maud or Matilda. It was also a term for a cat, particularly an old she-cat, and was sometimes used to refer to a lower-class or untidy woman. Significantly, during the era of witch trials, “malkin” was sometimes used as a name for a witch's familiar or a demon, giving the name a subtle but fitting magical connotation.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Madam Malkin was portrayed by actress Zoë Wanamaker. (film)
• The character and her shop are featured in several video games, including Hogwarts Legacy, where players can purchase various robes and outfits. (video game)