Stebbins

Stebbins is the surname of at least one, and very likely two, students who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during Harry Potter's time there. The two known individuals are minor characters who appear in separate incidents. One is a Hufflepuff student in Harry Potter's year or a similar age, while the other is a student in the year below Harry Potter. It is unclear if they are related.

Due to the ambiguity in the text, the known appearances of students named Stebbins are detailed separately. Stebbins (Hufflepuff Student) During the Yule Ball in the 1994-1995 school year, this Stebbins was discovered in the prize-winning rose bushes on the Hogwarts grounds with Fawcett, a female student from Ravenclaw. They were caught by Professor Severus Snape, who was patrolling the grounds. As a result of their transgression, Professor Snape deducted ten points from Hufflepuff and ten from Ravenclaw. Stebbins (Younger Student) During the Astronomy practical section of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels (O.W.L.s) in June 1996, a younger student named Stebbins was taking his exam on the Astronomy Tower. He was in the year below Harry Potter, making him a third-year student at the time. He witnessed Professor Dolores Umbridge and a group of Ministry of Magic officials, including John Dawlish, attempt to sack Rubeus Hagrid. In the ensuing confrontation, Professor Minerva McGonagall was hit by four simultaneous Stunning Spells and collapsed. A distraught Stebbins was later overheard by Harry Potter telling his friends what happened, explaining that he saw them fire the spells at Professor McGonagall and that she had been taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

• Stebbins (Hufflepuff Student): No physical description is provided in the novels. His willingness to sneak into the bushes with a student from another house suggests a romantic or rebellious streak.
• Stebbins (Younger Student): He is described as a “small, mousy-haired boy.” He was clearly distressed and frightened by the violent attack he witnessed against Professor McGonagall, indicating a sensitive nature.

Very little is known about the magical abilities of either student. The younger Stebbins was taking his Ordinary Wizarding Level exam in Astronomy, indicating he had progressed to at least that level in the subject. No other specific magical talents are mentioned.

As students at Hogwarts, it is certain that both owned a wand. No other specific possessions are mentioned in the books.

• Family: It is a common fan speculation that the two Stebbins students were brothers, but this is not confirmed in the canon.
• Fawcett: The older Stebbins had a clandestine, likely romantic, relationship with Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw.
• Fellow Students: The younger Stebbins was in the same year as Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood. He was seen reporting the attack on McGonagall to his own circle of friends.

The name “Stebbins” is an English patronymic surname of medieval origin. It is a diminutive form of the name Stephen, effectively meaning “son of Stephen” or “son of Stibb” (a nickname for Stephen). It does not appear to have any specific magical connotations.

• It is a point of debate among fans whether the two appearances of “Stebbins” refer to the same character or two different ones. The description of the second Stebbins as being “from the year below” Harry Potter strongly suggests they are two separate individuals, as the first Stebbins was old enough to attend the Yule Ball, which was restricted to fourth years and above (or those invited by an older student).
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the younger Stebbins is portrayed by actor Ryan Nelson. (film)