Madam Rosmerta was the landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub in the village of Hogsmeade. She is a very pretty and "curvy" woman who has attracted many students despite the fact that she is old enough to be their mother. Rosmerta was put under the Imperius Curse, cast by Draco Malfoy in 1997, and helped him against her will to smuggle cursed items into Hogwarts Castle. It is likely she later redeemed herself by fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Biography
Early life
Nothing is known about Madam Rosmerta's origins, or of her life before Harry Potter went to Hogwarts. She is a popular figure among the wizarding community of Hogsmeade and an acquaintance of many of the Hogwarts teaching staff, including Albus Dumbledore.
Career as a bartender at The Three Broomsticks
Rosmerta outside her pub in the snow in 1993.
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Although still very attractive, she is a good deal older than the generation of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape, as she mentioned being the barmaid even when they were all still at school. Rosmerta lived and was the barmaid of the Three Broomstick's during the First Wizarding War; she was a listener of gossip and believed the rumours that Sirius Black had turned his friends, the Potter family, over to Lord Voldemort to be true when news broke out they had been murdered and that the war was over.
1993-1994
Rosmerta, Cornelius Fudge, and Minerva McGonagall meeting outside her pub to discuss Sirius Black
In 1993, Madam Rosmerta was angered when Dementors were in Hogsmeade to catch Sirius Black because their presence was scaring away many of her customers. She hosted an informal meeting between Minerva McGonagall, Cornelius Fudge, Filius Flitwick and Rubeus Hagrid discussing Sirius Black and his friends.
1996-1997
The Three Broomsticks, Rosmerta's inn.
In 1997, however, it emerged that Rosmerta had become an unwilling agent of the Death Eaters. In order to fulfil his mission to assassinate Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy had managed to place Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse. He used her to pass on a cursed opal necklace to Hogwarts student Katie Bell, who accidentally touched the necklace and was herself subjected to the very harmful curse intended for the Headmaster. Rosmerta also poisoned mead that was intended to be given to Dumbledore through Horace Slughorn in the guise as a Christmas present, but it was unintentionally drunk by Ron Weasley, who was saved by Harry Potter's quick thinking; Harry had shoved a Bezoar down Ron's throat to save his life. Malfoy communicated with Rosmerta through fake galleons like the ones Hermione Granger used for Dumbledore's Army.
After Harry and Dumbledore had been to the cave to retrieve a locket they believed to be one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, they apparated to Hogsmeade, where Madam Rosmerta alerted them to the presence of the Dark Mark above the school and gave them brooms on which they could travel rapidly back to Hogwarts, where Draco's plan could be brought to completion. Harry Potter eventually cleared her name as he felt that that investigation on Albus Dumbledore's death may link to her.
1998
Hogwarts Castle during the Battle of Hogwarts
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It is likely Madam Rosmerta was part of the Hogsmeade reinforcements that arrived at Hogwarts Castle during the second part of the Battle of Hogwarts. It is unkown how she participated in the war. This battle resulted in in the end of the Second Wizarding War.
Etymology
Rosmerta was the Romano-Celtic goddess of fertility and abundance, known as the "Great Provider". In Latin, it means "good purveyor" or "great provider".
Physical description
- Hermione Granger: "Ron, what are you looking at?"
- Ron Weasley: "Nothing"
- Hermione Granger: "I expect 'nothing's' in the back getting more firewhiskey"
- — Hermione Granger catches Ron Weasley trying to catch Madam Rosmerta's eye[src]
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Rosmerta is an attractive woman, described as "a curvy sort of woman with a pretty face". On one occasion, she was seen wearing glittery high-heels. Several Hogwarts pupils, including Ron Weasley, have fancied her. Ron Weasley is said to get unusually red when he is around her.
Behind the scenes
- Madam Rosmerta was portrayed by British actress Julie Christie in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, instead of apparating and disapparating from the Three Broomsticks Inn, Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter do so directly from and to the Astronomy Tower (explained by Dumbledore that he has certain freedoms as Headmaster).
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Flashback on Disc 2)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Notes and references
- ↑ As the Marauders' generation was in their mid-30s while Harry was at school, this would imply that Rosmerta was, at the very least, in her 40s, if not older.
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