Alexia Walkin Black[3] was a pure-blood witch. She was an early member of the House of Black, predating Arcturus Black I and Cygnus Black I, but her precise relationship to other known members of the Black family is unknown. She never married, according to the Black family tree tapestry, and was childless.[2]
Etymology
Alexia is the feminine form of Alexis. The Greek name Αλεξις (Alexis), which meant "helper" or "defender", is derived from Greek αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, to help". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet, and also of several saints. It is used somewhat interchangeably with the related name Αλεξιος or Alexius, borne by five Byzantine emperors.[4]
Behind the scenes
- This character appears only on the version of the Black family tree shown in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She was not included on the version of the tree which J. K. Rowling gave to a charity auction in 2006.[5] She was presumably created by the production team of the films, with her name being selected in honour of Alexandra Walker, an art director on Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix.
- Based on a statement of Horace Slughorn, Alexia Walkin probably graduated at Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin house. However, she attended Hogwarts in the 1820s, long before Slughorn was Potions teacher.
- Her siblings are probably Eduardus Limette, Phoebe, Licorus and Hester Black.
- On the scroll beneath Alexia's image on the family tree, there are no dates.
- It is possible that Walkin was a maiden name of Alexia's mother.[6]
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Appears on Black family tree tapestry)
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 37 (The Lost Prophecy). Phineas Nigellus says "Am I to understand that my great-great-grandson -- the last of the Blacks -- is dead?". This means that Alexia is dead by that date, 18 June, 1996, but her death was after 7th August 1995, as it is not shown on the tree.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- ↑ On the Black family tapestry in the Order of the Phoenix film, only Blacks by birth have portraits, and only their given names are listed on the scrolls beneath the portraits. This indicates that this character was a Black and that Alexia Walkin was her given name.
- ↑ Alexis on Behind the Name.
- ↑ "Black Family Tree" on The Harry Potter Lexicon
- ↑ See Talk:Eduardus Limette Black. The maiden name is sometimes given as a middle name or even as a first name on occasion. Examples include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Richard Milhous Nixon, Ronald Wilson Reagan.