Charity Burbage

Charity Burbage was a witch and the Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A staunch advocate for Muggle rights and the tolerance of Muggle-borns, she was a vocal opponent of Lord Voldemort's pure-blood supremacist ideology. Her abduction and subsequent murder by Voldemort at the outset of the Second Wizarding War served as a brutal demonstration of the Death Eaters' power and cruelty after their takeover of the Ministry of Magic.

Professor Burbage taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts for an unknown number of years, working under Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Her curriculum and personal beliefs emphasized the similarities between the magical and non-magical communities and promoted the idea of peaceful coexistence and integration. Shortly before the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, with Voldemort's power growing, Professor Burbage wrote an impassioned editorial for the Daily Prophet. In her piece, she defended Muggle-born wizards and witches and argued that the concept of pure-blood supremacy was damaging to the wizarding world. She asserted that the intermarriage with Muggles was essential for the survival and strength of the magical community. This public stance made her a direct target of the Death Eaters. She was abducted from her home and taken to Malfoy Manor, where a Death Eater meeting was being held. Suspended upside down and magically bound, she was used as an object lesson by Lord Voldemort. He mocked her beliefs before the assembled Death Eaters, including Severus Snape, to whom she pleaded for help. Snape did not intervene, and Voldemort struck her with the Killing Curse. He then fed her body to his snake, Nagini. The Daily Prophet, now under Voldemort's control, later reported that Professor Burbage had “resigned” from her post at Hogwarts. Her position was filled by the Death Eater Alecto Carrow, who twisted the subject into a tool for anti-Muggle propaganda.

Professor Burbage's physical appearance is not described in the novels. Based on her writing and her final moments, she was a woman of immense courage and strong principles. She was willing to publicly voice her progressive and dangerous opinions in a time of great political turmoil. Her final act was to plead with her colleague, Severus Snape, demonstrating a misplaced trust that highlighted the tragic isolation of his position as a double agent. She was clearly compassionate and dedicated to the ideal of a tolerant and integrated society.

As a Professor at Hogwarts, Charity Burbage was undoubtedly a competent and knowledgeable witch. However, she was overpowered by Voldemort and his followers, and the books do not depict her performing any specific acts of magic.

• Severus Snape: Professor Burbage considered Snape a colleague and, evidently, a friend she could appeal to for help. She addressed him by his first name in her final moments, begging, “Severus… please… please…”. His impassive response was a necessary part of maintaining his cover within the Death Eaters' ranks, but it was a moment of profound betrayal from her perspective.
• Lord Voldemort: As the ultimate symbol of the ideology she opposed, Voldemort held a particular hatred for Professor Burbage. He murdered her personally, not just to silence her, but to make a terrifying example of her for his followers and to horrify anyone who might share her views.
• Albus Dumbledore: As her Headmaster, Dumbledore would have approved of Professor Burbage's hiring and her curriculum, as her views on Muggle equality aligned perfectly with his own.

• Charity: Her first name comes from the Latin caritas, meaning “benevolent goodwill and love towards humanity.” It is one of the three theological virtues in Christian tradition. This name perfectly reflects her character's compassionate and accepting worldview regarding Muggles.
• Burbage: This surname may be a reference to Richard Burbage, a renowned actor in the company of William Shakespeare. It is also a common English surname derived from various place names in Great Britain.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, the character of Charity Burbage is portrayed by actress Carolyn Pickles. Her death serves as the film's chilling opening scene, mirroring its function in the novel. (film)