Bem

This article is non-canon. This article covers a character that has been deemed non-canon by either the author or the Harry Potter licensees, and thus should not be taken as a part of the "real" Harry Potter universe.

Bem
Biographical information
Born	Between 1 September 1979 and 31 August 1980
Nationality	British or Irish
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Black
Eye colour	Dark
Skin colour	Brown
Affiliation
House	Gryffindor
Loyalty	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Gryffindor

"It's like trying to catch smoke... like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands."

— Bem on trying to catch Sirius Black

Bem (born c. 1979–1980) was a wizard of Nigerian descent who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1991 to 1998. He was Sorted into Gryffindor and was in Harry Potter's year.

Biography

Hogwarts education

Early years

Being Nigerian in descent, Bem began his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991, along with students Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. He was Sorted into the house of Gryffindor, but would not share a dormitory with the other known Gryffindor boys in his year.

Third year

Seamus Finnigan: "The Grin? What's the Grin?"

Bem: "Not the Grin, you idiot. The Grim. "Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it's among the darkest omens in our world. It's an omen...of death.""

— Bem explains the meaning of the Grim

Bem and other students learn that Sirius Black has been sighted

Bem chose Care of Magical Creatures and Divination as electives in his third year. Bem explains the meaning after Sybill Trelawney found a grim in Harry's teacup. He is seen again in the Main Hall studying as Seamus told everyone that Sirius Black was sighted at an area close to Hogwarts. He agreed with Seamus that Sirius can get passed the Dementors and believed that he would do it again.

Physical appearance

He was a black boy with dark eyes and a round face. He was also slightly overweight with a lisp.

Etymology

The name Bem means "peace" in the language of the Tiv, of Nigeria and Cameroon and also means "good" or "well" in Portuguese. "BEM" is also an abbreviation for British Empire Medal, a medal received from British royalty for meritorious civil or military service, which possibly reflects Bem being sorted into Gryffindor.

Behind the scenes

Possibly Bem in front of Fred and George Weasley in the Room of Requirement

• Like the character Nigel Wolpert, Bem is not mentioned in the books, but is credited in the films. Played by Ekow Quartey, the character is listed in the credits for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as simply "Boy 1". However, on the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD, the closed captions identify the character as "Bem" during the Divination class scene.
• Bem cannot be considered canon, as the books identify in several places that there are only five Gryffindor boys in Harry's year: Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
• For its part, the film's shooting script only includes Bem's appearance in the Great Hall, therefore giving no implication that he's meant to be in the same year as Harry. The line he speaks in the Divination class was intended for Lavender Brown in the shooting script.
• Ekow Quartey appears as a Ravenclaw boy in Dumbledore's Army in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, who is possibly Bem, the same character from the third film. He appears in the credits as "Ravenclaw boy". However, this may be a different character entirely, as this student is not named. It is possible that he is the same character, whose House was changed to correct the mistake of him being Gryffindor prior.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Possible appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)

See also

• Nigel Wolpert
• Igor Karkaroff's aide
• Kellah