Witch with the Dimples

The Witch with the Dimples is an unidentified witch who briefly appears in Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley. Her significance in the narrative is primarily to introduce the cursed Opal Necklace to the reader, an object that becomes a crucial plot device in a later book. She serves as a vehicle to establish the dangerous nature of the artifacts sold in the shop.

The only known appearance of this witch occurs in the summer of 1992. After accidentally traveling to Knockturn Alley via the Floo Network, Harry Potter hides inside a large black cabinet in Borgin and Burkes to avoid being seen by Draco Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy. From his hiding place, Harry observes the dimpled witch browsing the shop's wares. She engaged Mr. Borgin in conversation about a cursed Opal Necklace, which he stated had claimed the lives of nineteen Muggle owners. She also examined a glass eye. Despite her apparent interest in the necklace, she ultimately decided against purchasing it, stating that the price was too high. She then left the shop, and her subsequent activities are unknown.

The witch is described in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as having “a nasty smile” that transformed into a “pretty, dimpled” one when she spoke to Mr. Borgin. This suggests she may have been attempting to appear charming to negotiate a better price. Her presence in Borgin and Burkes and her interest in dangerous and cursed items, such as the Opal Necklace, indicate a curiosity about or an affinity for the Dark Arts. However, she is also shown to be practical or frugal, as she was unwilling to pay the high price for the necklace.

Her magical abilities and skills are entirely unknown.

The witch is not known to own any significant items. She considered purchasing the Opal Necklace from Borgin and Burkes but did not complete the transaction.

Her only known interaction is with Mr. Borgin, the proprietor of the shop she visited. This relationship was purely that of a shopkeeper and a potential customer. She was also unknowingly observed by Harry Potter.

As the character is unnamed, there is no etymology to analyze. She is known only by the brief physical description given by the narrator.

• In a deleted scene from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a character matching the witch's description appears in Borgin and Burkes. In this version, she is shown examining the Hand of Glory instead of the Opal Necklace (film, deleted scene).