Madam Malkin

Madam Malkin is a squat, smiling witch who is the proprietor of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, a popular shop in Diagon Alley. She is the primary outfitter for Hogwarts students' school robes and formal wizarding wear. While a minor character, her shop serves as the setting for Harry Potter's first interaction with Draco Malfoy, establishing their rivalry, and later for a tense confrontation that highlights the escalating social divisions preceding the Second Wizarding War.

Madam Malkin was the owner of her eponymous robe shop during Harry's time at Hogwarts. In the summer of 1991, she met Harry Potter for the first time when he came to purchase his school supplies. While Harry was being fitted for his robes, he was joined by Draco Malfoy, who was also getting his robes. The ensuing conversation gave Harry his first taste of wizarding prejudice and snobbery. Madam Malkin remained professional throughout the encounter, seemingly accustomed to dealing with all manner of wizarding families. In 1994, Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger visited her shop again to purchase dress robes for the Yule Ball. Madam Malkin was seen bustling around, attending to a flurry of students. It was here that Ron acquired his second-hand, maroon dress robes, much to his embarrassment. In August of 1996, her shop was the scene of a significant confrontation. While Harry, Ron, and Hermione were being fitted for their new school robes, Draco Malfoy entered with his mother, Narcissa Malfoy. An argument quickly broke out between Harry and Draco, with Narcissa intervening with veiled threats about Harry's association with Arthur Weasley and his safety. When Narcissa made a derogatory comment about Hermione's Mudblood status, the tension escalated. Madam Malkin became very nervous and requested that Narcissa Malfoy not draw her wand in the shop. Narcissa retorted that she would take her custom elsewhere, underscoring the growing and open hostility of Death Eater sympathizers. Madam Malkin's fate following the fall of the Ministry of Magic in 1997 is unknown.

Madam Malkin is described as a “squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.” She generally presents a cheerful and businesslike demeanor, focused on serving her customers efficiently. She is non-confrontational, preferring to maintain a neutral and safe environment in her shop. During the tense encounter with the Malfoys, she appeared flustered and anxious, prioritizing the de-escalation of the conflict over taking a political stance.

• Haberdashery and Seamstressy: Madam Malkin's primary skill is in the magical creation and tailoring of clothing. She runs one of the most successful robe shops in Diagon Alley, indicating a high level of expertise.
• Enchanting Objects: She uses enchanted tools to aid her work. Notably, the tape measures in her shop work autonomously, zipping around customers to take measurements without physical guidance.

• Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions: Her shop located in Diagon Alley, which sells school uniforms, dress robes, travelling cloaks, and other wizarding apparel.
• Magical Tape Measure: A key tool of her trade, this enchanted tape measure automatically measures customers for their robes.

As a prominent shopkeeper, Madam Malkin maintained professional relationships with a wide array of customers from across the wizarding world, including generations of Hogwarts students. Her interactions with Harry Potter were always polite and professional. Her relationship with the Malfoys, while likely long-standing, became severely strained by their open bigotry and threats in 1996, showing that the political turmoil of the time was beginning to affect even everyday commerce in Diagon Alley.

The name “Malkin” is an archaic English term that can refer to a cat, particularly an old she-cat. It was also used as a diminutive for names like Maud or Matilda. Historically, “malkin” could also be a term for a familiar, a supernatural entity believed to assist witches. This association with cats and witchcraft is common in folklore and literature, such as the mention of “Graymalkin” in Shakespeare's Macbeth.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Madam Malkin is portrayed by British actress Elizabeth Spriggs. (film)
• The tense scene in Madam Malkin's shop from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, featuring the confrontation between Harry's trio and the Malfoys, was omitted from the film adaptation. (film)