Hepzibah Smith

From Harry Potter Wiki

Hepzibah Smith was a very old and very rich witch who collected magical antiques. Two of her most prized possessions were a cup belonging to Helga Hufflepuff and a locket belonging to Salazar Slytherin, the latter of which she expensively bought from Caractacus Burke. She was also related to Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

While working at Borgin and Burkes, Tom Riddle befriended Hepzibah, who doted upon him. While Riddle was visiting her on behalf of Mr. Burke, she imprudently showed him Hufflepuff's cup and Slytherin's locket. Two days later, she was found dead; poison was found mixed with her cocoa. Riddle was never suspected; Hepzibah's house-elf, Hokey, confessed to the crime. However, Albus Dumbledore tracked Hokey down several years later and extracted a memory from her that cast doubt on her guilt. The cup and the locket had also gone missing; they became two of Riddle/Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, and Hepzibah's murder was the murder used on the Horcrux cup as she was a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff herself. Hepzibah may also be related to Zacharias Smith.

[edit] Characteristics

In the Pensieve, she was "an immensely fat old lady wearing an elaborate ginger wig and a brilliant pink set of robes that flowed all around her, giving her the look of a melting iced cake" and Hokey the house elf was lacing "her fleshy feet into tight satin slippers". Hepzibah was looking into a mirror and putting rouge on her "already scarlet" cheeks. She was also very proud, as to she didn't tell anybody where she had hidden her antiques.

[edit] Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Appears in flashback(s))
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)