Urquhart Rackharrow

Urquhart Rackharrow (1612–1697) was a wizard infamous for inventing the Entrail-Expelling Curse. He is a minor historical figure in the wizarding world, whose portrait hangs in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. His association with dangerous magic is further evidenced by his inclusion in the book Magick Moste Evile.

Urquhart Rackharrow lived from 1612 to 1697. His primary contribution to wizarding history was the invention of the dangerous and gruesome Entrail-Expelling Curse. Despite the nature of his famous invention, a portrait of Rackharrow was hung in the “Portrait Gallery of Healers” on the fourth floor of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, which houses the Spell Damage ward. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger observed his portrait in December 1995 while visiting Arthur Weasley, who was recovering from Nagini's attack. Years later, while researching Horcruxes in the Hogwarts Library, Hermione Granger discovered Rackharrow's name in the introduction of the dark magic book Magick Moste Evile, further cementing his reputation as a practitioner of the Dark Arts.

The only known depiction of Urquhart Rackharrow is his portrait in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. The portrait shows him with a “pockmarked” face and is described as “warlocky-looking,” suggesting a sinister or severe appearance. While his personality is not directly described, his invention of the Entrail-Expelling Curse implies a morbid or cruel nature, or at the very least a profound interest in malevolent magic.

• Spell Invention: Rackharrow's most significant magical accomplishment was the creation of the Entrail-Expelling Curse. This demonstrates considerable skill in spell creation and a deep understanding of human anatomy and Dark Arts.
• Dark Arts Knowledge: His mention in Magick Moste Evile confirms that he was a recognized figure in the field of Dark Arts.

There are no known possessions of Urquhart Rackharrow mentioned in the canonical texts.

There are no known relationships of Urquhart Rackharrow mentioned in the canonical texts.

• Urquhart: This is a Scottish surname and clan name, derived from a Gaelic place name. It lends the character an old and somewhat formidable quality.
• Rackharrow: This surname is a compound of two words associated with extreme suffering. A “rack” is a historical torture device, while to “harrow” is to cause great distress. The name directly reflects the gruesome effect of the curse he invented.

• The irony of Rackharrow's portrait hanging in a hospital's “Portrait Gallery of Healers” has been noted by fans. Given that the gallery is in the Spell Damage ward, his inclusion may serve as a historical reference to a major cause of such injuries, or it may simply be an example of the wizarding world's dark sense of humour.
• A portrait of Urquhart Rackharrow appears in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix during the scenes in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. (film)
• In the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix video game, the player can interact with Rackharrow's portrait, which will complain about modern Healers and their methods. (video game)