Susan Bones

Susan Bones
Biographical information
Born	Between 1 September 1979 and 31 August 1980
Blood status	Half-blood
Nationality	British or Irish
Signature
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Relationship information
Family members	Amelia Bones (aunt) † Edgar Bones (uncle) † Aunt by marriage † First cousins † Grandfather † Grandmother † Seraphina Bones (possible relative) Effie Bones (possible relative) Bones family
Magical characteristics
Boggart	Lord Voldemort
Wand	Unknown length, wood and core
Affiliation
House	Hufflepuff
Loyalty	Bones family Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hufflepuff Dumbledore's Army

"There were relatives of their victims among the Hogwarts students, who now found themselves the unwilling objects of a gruesome sort of reflected fame as they walked the corridors: Susan Bones, whose uncle, aunt, and cousins had all died at the hands of one of the ten, said miserably during Herbology that she now had a good idea what it felt like to be Harry."

— Susan as the subject of much unwanted attention

Susan Bones (b. 1979/1980) was a half-blood witch and a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1991 to 1998. She was a member of the prominent Bones family, a family with strong connections to the British Ministry of Magic.

Most of Susan's extended family, including her grandparents, uncle, aunt, and cousins were all murdered personally by Lord Voldemort during the First Wizarding War, and her other aunt Amelia Bones was murdered by Voldemort in July of 1996. In her fifth year, Susan became a member of Dumbledore's Army, an organisation taught and led by Harry Potter. Susan fought along side her fellow D.A. members in the Battle of Hogwarts.

It can be assumed that Susan survived the Second Wizarding War, as her name was not listed amongst the casualties of the fallen deceased. What happened to Susan afterwards is unknown.

Biography

Early life

Little is known about Susan's early life, other than the fact that she was born to at least one wizard parent, and presumably named after her aunt Amelia's middle name. Susan came from a largely magical family background, and also a rather powerful and respected family.

Due to her family's position, they were sought after during the First Wizarding War by Death Eaters and a large majority were killed. Susan was born in or around 1980, a year before the war ended.

During the 1990–1991 school year, the year before Susan started at Hogwarts, her aunt Amelia had her personal assistant at the Ministry sent to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries with Spattergroit; since she was assigned a seventh-year Hogwarts student in the Ministry of Magic student programme to replace the assistant, she found it easier to spend more time with her niece.

Hogwarts years (1991–1998)

First year

Minerva McGonagall: "Bones, Susan."

Sorting Hat: "HUFFLEPUFF!"

— Susan Bones being sorted

Susan being Sorted into Hufflepuff House

Susan Bones started her education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991, the same year as the famous Harry Potter. Susan shared a boat with Seamus Finnigan and Hermione Granger. She was the second student to be called upon by Minerva McGonagall for the Sorting Ceremony and was Sorted into Hufflepuff House.

The Head of Hufflepuff House at the time was Pomona Sprout, the Herbology Professor. She was sorted into this house along with Hannah Abbott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, and Ernie Macmillan all of whom she presumably became friends with. It is also assumed that Hufflepuff house is the house that many of her relatives were Sorted into as well.

Susan in class sitting next to Ron Weasley

During her first year, Susan would learn all about the basics of magic and spell performance, like her other classmates. She was also present at the End-of-Term Feast during which Gryffindor won the House Cup breaking Slytherin's seven year winning streak.

Second year

"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue."

— Ernie Macmillan sharing his opinion of Harry with the Hufflepuffs

Susan with fellow students during the first and last meeting of the Duelling Club

During her second year, Susan seemed to develop a crush on then-Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, which caused her to be off-task daydreaming during his lessons. She participated in the Duelling Club, as a precaution due to the Basilisk attacks that occurred after the Chamber of Secrets had been opened.

At the meeting, Susan witnessed her fellow Hufflepuff Justin Finch-Fletchley almost attacked by a serpent, including Harry Potter giving it orders in Parseltongue. Like most present, she did not have the ability to understand the language, and may have assumed that Harry was egging the snake on, as several other students did. In reality, he had successfully ordered it not to attack Justin.

Susan and Hermione Granger sitting next to each other in DADA

Susan seemed to become good friends this year with Hermione Granger, a Gryffindor. The two shared an interest in the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart. They usually sat together in their Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, listening intently to Lockhart's every word. Both appeared quite giddy when Lockhart passed out his pop quiz at the beginning of the first lesson, giggling to each other when he walked away.

Susan in her second-year Herbology class with Hermione Granger

In Herbology, she and Hermione also worked next to one another when potting Mandrakes. It must have come as a shock when her friends Hermione and Justin Finch-Fletchley, along with Colin Creevey, were all petrified by the Basilisk living in the Chamber of Secrets.

Later in the year, Lockhart was exposed as a fraud. Presumably, after learning the truth that Lockhart was not a great and heroic wizard in the end of the school year, she lost her interest in him. When Hagrid returned to Hogwarts, Susan applauded him along with a majority of the school as they celebrated the close of a terrifying year.

Third year

During her third year, she would have started taking elective subjects. The school was also believed to be in danger from Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black, who was suspected to be looking for Harry Potter.

Fourth year

During Susan's fourth year, Hogwarts held the Triwizard Tournament and Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory was one of the Triwizard champions. It is likely that Susan Bones supported Diggory in favour of Harry Potter, as he was in her house and both her best friends Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan were strong supporters of Diggory.

Susan attending the third task with fellow Hufflepuffs

Cedric Diggory was technically the joint-winner of the Tournament with Harry Potter after he and Harry both reached the Triwizard Cup, thus making them the champions. Sadly, Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort after being taken to Little Hangleton along with Potter. This signified the beginning of the Second Wizarding War. Susan was most likely in the stands when Harry returned with Cedric's body.

The memorial feast of Cedric Diggory that Susan attended

The students were horrified to learn of Cedric's death, especially those of Hufflepuff, who were closest to him. Whether Susan had any closer relationship with Diggory is unknown, but it is more than likely that Susan attended the Memorial feast to Cedric Diggory at the end of the school year. She most likely attended with her Hufflepuff friends Hannah and Ernie.

Fifth year

Susan: "My aunt says you can produce a fully corporeal Patronus, is that true?"

Harry Potter: "Er — you don't know Madam Bones, do you?"

Susan: "She's my auntie. I'm Susan Bones."

— Susan Bones asking Harry about his Patronus

In 1995, Hogwarts was to be under the watchful eye of the Minister and his personally appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge worked with Susan's aunt in the Ministry, and both served on the court for Harry Potter's trial. When Umbridge came to Hogwarts, she ensured that no practical defensive spells would be taught in her lessons, despite the claims that Lord Voldemort had returned. Thus she did not teach anything worth learning.

Susan in the Room of Requirement after a D.A. meeting

With the students looking for a teacher, and Harry with the best knowledge of defensive and offensive spells, Hermione Granger pledged the idea of forming an alliance to learn spells and rebel against Umbridge. This organisation would be called Dumbledore's Army, which Susan would become a member of. During the first meeting, Susan was curious to know whether Harry could produce a corporeal Patronus, a fact which she had been told by her aunt; when Harry asked if she knew Madam Bones, Susan confirmed the familial relationship.

Susan present for the D.A. Patronus lesson

Harry later gave lessons on Patronuses, but it is unknown whether Susan produced one or what form it took. Later on in the year, the Death Eaters who murdered her uncle Edgar and his family escaped from Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and many students questioned Susan for information about this.

After the Death Eaters' escape, Susan told Harry that she understood how he felt, knowing that the person who had murdered his family was at large and constantly being asked questions about it. Harry finally had someone who could almost relate to his state of mind. Susan was pestered throughout the year by students asking about her family and its murdered members, which she found distressing.

On top of dealing with the murders of her family members, this year was also her O.W.L. year at Hogwarts, which left her in even greater stress as she attempted to keep it all together and do well in her exams.

Susan being bullied by Crabbe and Goyle for being a Bones

Also, on at least one occasion Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle took it upon themselves to bully Susan, making fun of her aunt and complaining that she was interfering with the Ministry of Magic's agenda. They went so far as to take her wand, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione had to come to her aid. The trio duelled the two Slytherins, defeating them and forcing them to leave Susan alone. Susan got her wand back and learned about the D.A. meeting in the Room of Requirement.

At the end of the year, Susan was among the D.A. members who came to Harry's aid when he was attacked on the Hogwarts Express by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, her own erstwhile bullies. Susan and her friends all unleashed a volley of jinxes and hexes which reduced the three to gigantic slugs.

Sixth year

Girl 1: "Did you hear about her aunt? Poor Susan!"

Girl 2: "Yes, it's awful, I didn't want to leave my family behind this summer."

— Two students conversing about Susan Bones

During the summer holidays before her sixth year at Hogwarts, one of Susan's last living relatives and one of the greatest witches of her time, Amelia Bones, was personally murdered by Lord Voldemort in her own home, though to her credit she did not go down without a fight. Losing her aunt this way would have been especially shocking and tragic for Susan and her parents after most of her extended family had already been killed during the First Wizarding War. With the Second Wizarding War now being fought openly, the remaining members of her family were also under threat of being sought out by Death Eaters.

Susan Bones Splinching herself in an Apparition lesson

When Susan returned to Hogwarts, she took the Apparition lessons offered to all students of her year. On one occasion she Splinched herself during a lessons, losing one of her legs. Her leg was successfully reattached, but the incident appeared to leave Susan somewhat shaken.

Later on in the school year, Hogwarts fell under attack by Death Eaters. The D.A. members were called to arms via their coins, and despite the murder of her aunt, Susan did not show up for battle. It is possible that since the D.A. meetings were no longer held, Susan no longer carried her coin around with her and did not notice the summons.

Seventh year

"We have already placed protection around the castle, but it is unlikely to hold for very long unless we reinforce it. I must ask you therefore to —"

— McGonagall preps the students before battle

Susan returned to Hogwarts for her seventh year, at which point the school was under the indirect control of Lord Voldemort. If she dropped out, she would have been a fugitive. Attendance was compulsory for children of magical families that year. Susan would have been in danger anyway, with her being a member of the Bones family. A wizarding family high on Voldemort's list to eliminate, as most of them were staunch supporters of Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.

D.A. members in 1998

While under the control of Lord Voldemort and his followers, students were brutally punished and taught different subjects. For example, how to use dark magic instead of defending against it. Sensing the need for rebellion yet again, Susan joined the reconstituted Dumbledore's Army. She and fellow D.A. members stood up against Death Eater control of Hogwarts.

Susan may have participated in spray painting the walls or helping fellow students who were also suffering. She would hide in the Room of Requirement, as the room had become a sort of sanctuary for D.A. members. She was in the room when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger returned to Hogwarts.

Battle of Hogwarts

Susan and the other defenders of Hogwarts witnessing Harry Potter's final defeat of Voldemort

She rejoined Dumbledore's Army, which had been reformed in a protest against Snape and the Carrows and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts alongside members of the D.A. and her professors.

She was most likely in the Great Hall during the second half of the battle and witnessed Harry Potter's final defeat of Lord Voldemort and therefore the end to the Second Wizarding War, as she was not listed among the deceased.

Later life (1998–?)

After the battle, she most likely kept her D.A. coin, as a badge of honour, as did other D.A. members. It can be assumed that she attended the 2014 reunion of Dumbledore's Army.

Physical description

Susan was known for wearing her hair in a long plait down her back. In 1996, Susan splinched herself whilst practising Apparition, and in doing so she lost one of her legs. However Susan was able to have her leg successfully reattached by the Heads of Houses but the ordeal left her confidence somewhat shaken.

Magical abilities and skills

• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Susan was a member of Dumbledore's Army in her fifth year, and learned how to cast many defensive and offensive spells under Harry Potter's exemplary teaching.
• Duelling: Susan had a level of skill in martial magic. Striking preemptively, she and her friends cursed Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe with a variety of dark charms that made them resemble slugs. She also fought in, and most likely survived, the Battle of Hogwarts, given how her name was not among those of the fallen.

Possessions

• Wand: Like all British wizards and witches, it can be assumed that Susan's wand was among her most valued possessions and that she purchased it from Ollivanders at the age of eleven. Her wand was of unknown length, wood and core material.

Relationships

Family

"Susan Bones' grandparents were killed by Voldemort."

— J. K. Rowling in a interview

Susan's aunt, Amelia Bones

Not much is known about the relationship of Susan with her family. Susan was a member of the Bones family, a family of many great witches and wizards. The Bones family supported the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. That was the reason why the most of them were murdered by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Susan's grandparents, her uncle, Edgar, his wife and their children were all murdered. Amelia Bones, who participated in Harry Potter's hearing, was Susan's aunt. They seemed to have a close relationship until Amelia was murdered by Voldemort in 1996.

Dumbledore's Army

Gregory Goyle : "My father reckons your aunt's a troublemaker, someone will teach her a lesson!"

Susan: "What do you want? Harry! Hermione, Ron hey! Please, help!"

Vincent Crabbe: "Aw look, they've come to save their ickle friend."

— The Trio rushing to Susan's defence

Dumbledore's Army, Susan's allies

Dumbledore's Army was an organisation founded by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and led by Harry. Susan became a member during her fifth year, in order to be taught Defence Against the Dark Arts by Harry, as Dolores Umbridge, the new D.A.D.A. professor, didn't teach them how to properly defend themselves, thinking they would oppose the Ministry of Magic.

Susan became a member, along with her fellow Hufflepuffs Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Zacharias Smith. Susan shared a dormitory with Hannah Abbott (a fellow Hufflepuff) and was most probably invited to join Dumbledore's Army by her. She may have been also a close friend of Ernie and Justin. It is unknown if she was a friend of Zacharias, too. Susan and her fellow housemates (except Zacharias) fought for Hogwarts at the Battle of Hogwarts.

She was very impressed by learning that Harry could cast a Patronus, and she also told him how she felt about her relatives' deaths during the First Wizarding War.

She was also seemed to be a friend of Seamus Finnigan, whom she shared a boat with on her first year and was often seen talking to him in lessons and in Dumbledore's Army meetings.

Other members of the army she possibly knew are Ginny Weasley, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Fred and George Weasley, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Terry Boot, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe. The majority of them fought at the Battle of Hogwarts and their fate is ambiguous.

Etymology

• 'Susan' is the Anglicised form of Susanna, meaning Lily or Rose. The lily is often a symbol of purity. It is noted that Susan is most likely named after her Aunt Amelia Bones, whose middle name is Susan.
• 'Bones' is the word for the skeletal form of a being, many members of Susan's family are murdered or have been killed during the books and this may be in reference to this.

Behind the scenes

Susan Bones as depicted on Pottermore by Owen Davey

Susan Bones as a LEGO mini-figure

Susan Bones as she appears in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

• In the first two films, she was played by Eleanor Columbus, the daughter of director Chris Columbus, making her one of the few American actresses to appear in the films as one of the students. The casting was allowed by J. K. Rowling for the purpose of 'director's trademark'. However, Susan Bones had no dialogue and was a non-speaking role whenever Eleanor played the part; this was because of Rowling's 'strictly British and Irish cast' rule. British actress Emma-Jayne Corboz later portrayed her in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
• She is one of the Original Forty students listed by J. K. Rowling along with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley.
• In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Susan was voiced by Alex Tregear.
• Susan wears her hair in a long plait down her back, however in the films and video games she is shown to leave her hair down.
• The middle name of Amelia Bones is Susan, which could imply that Susan was named after her aunt, or that the name Susan runs in the Bones family.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Susan is omitted and one of her lines is spoken instead by Luna Lovegood.
  • Susan appears in the earliest draft of the fifth film where she says ‍'‍That is most remarkable, Mr Potter‍'‍.
• In the books, the sorting is done in alphabetical order, but in the films, it is not, and in 1991, Susan is the third sorted. She shows relief when put into Hufflepuff, suggesting that her family may all be in Hufflepuff. Susan is the only non-major character in the series whose Sorting is shown onscreen (the others being Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Lily, though the latter was in another year and shown in a memory.)

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Name appears on Parchment) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Quidditch Through the Ages (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter and Me
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)