Hobart

Biodata

Background / History

Hobart is Edward Philanthus Howard’s youngest brother and Will Behrens’s paternal uncle. Raised in an aristocratic household, he resisted its expectations from childhood. After attending Hogwarts in Gryffindor, he spent two years travelling before returning to live under the protection of people high in the English government 39 40. Professor McGonagall introduced him to the wizarding world and later served as his Head of House 42.

The Howard family has few wizards. Hobart describes two others as his friends: one protects the Duke of Norfolk, while Cree brews potions for the family. Hobart himself serves as a link between the family and the wizarding world 39 40. Including Will, the family’s magical circle later numbers four wizards; the other wizard besides Hobart and Cree is named Gavin 324 727.

As a child, Hobart disrupted etiquette lessons and aristocratic occasions with his informal behavior. During his Hogwarts holidays, his magical pranks sometimes required Ministry officials to erase servants’ memories 39. He describes himself as having been an average student, though he later says he nearly made the Quidditch team 40 323. He once dreamed of becoming the greatest wizard, but abandoned that ambition after discovering how difficult it was 324.

Supporting Will and Searching in Egypt

Hobart warmly welcomed Will during the winter holiday of his first Hogwarts year and defended him when Edward proposed controlling him for the family’s benefit 39 40. When Will was excluded from the Christmas dinner attended by Edward’s prospective wife, Hobart took him to Diagon Alley and paid for his books. He encouraged Will to accept Sylvia Lestrange’s Christmas invitation rather than spend the holiday alone 41 42. Miles later recalls that Hobart was so upset by Will’s exclusion that he refused to attend the dinner himself 684.

During the following summer, Hobart took Will to Tahiti aboard his private yacht, inviting a wizard friend who could Apparate to assist with travel. There, he explained the family’s proposal that Will could return in twenty years as Edward’s second son, with inheritance rights, financial support, and a choice of university. Will accepted the prospect on the condition that the family leave him alone beforehand 71.

When Will disappeared in Egypt, Hobart sought help from the Howard family and personally pressed the Egyptian Wizards’ Council to intensify its search. The family applied pressure through the Egyptian Muggle government, and Hobart and Snape each spent more than ten hours a day searching for clues 123 124 125. After Will was recovered, Hobart kept him company in hospital and thanked the Council for arranging to remove his curses 124 125. On their return to England, he gave Will a wallet containing several hundred Galleons before the boy went back to Hogwarts 126.

When the wizarding world subsequently believed that Harry Potter had died, Hobart sent Will an anxious letter 151.

Travel and Business Ambitions

Hobart regularly collected Will from King’s Cross and arranged extravagant outings. After Will’s second year, he planned a party at the Roman Baths in Bath, greeting Will’s friends before taking him away in a luxury convertible 180.

He also arranged a Muggle hotel for Will during a later Christmas visit to London, allowing him to stay independently while shopping in Diagon Alley 254.

In 1994, Hobart took Will to Germany partly to escape Miles’s efforts to push him into politics under Edward’s guidance 323. He explained the family’s concealed wealth and political influence, urged Will to socialize more, and advised him to use the family’s resources rather than become a Dark Wizard 323.

Hobart also discussed his ambition to start a video-game company, an idea he had been considering for about a year. He invited Will to become his right-hand man after graduation, while promising to support him if he preferred to remain in the wizarding world 324. During their German travels, Hobart met Lina von Ahrns, introduced her as his girlfriend, and brought her along on the trip 326 327.

The “Galleon Charm” and St. Mungo’s

Hobart attended the Triwizard Tournament and enthusiastically celebrated Will’s victory over Sophie Robert. He proudly told a nearby spectator that Will was his nephew and had always been closest to him, but avoided explaining Will’s family circumstances when asked about his parents 426.

After Dumbledore returned with Harry following the Triwizard Tournament, Hobart realized that Will was missing and went to Dumbledore for information. Receiving no clear explanation, he posted notices offering a thousand Galleons to anyone who found his nephew. This so-called “Galleon Charm” was a financial reward, not a magical spell 482.

The healer Suren claimed the reward after recognizing the badly injured Will at St. Mungo’s. Hobart remained at Will’s bedside for a full day and night before Will awoke 482. When Ministry officials questioned Will and he appeared to suffer a violent coughing fit, Hobart pointed his wand at them and demanded that they leave. He also offered to pay any price for effective treatment 483.

Will hoped that learning of the danger would persuade Hobart to retreat somewhere safe, but Hobart refused to leave him behind after his apparent escape from the Death Eaters 483. He proposed taking Will abroad as well, even if that required arranging a leave of absence from Hogwarts or withdrawing him from school. When Will argued that Hogwarts was safe under Dumbledore’s protection, Hobart insisted on remaining nearby in the Muggle world so that he could help quickly if necessary 483.

Will kept Hobart out of his subsequent dealings with Lucius Malfoy and Rock Rowle, explicitly stating that he did not want his uncle to know about his connection to Voldemort 484. When Rowle arrived with a hooded Lucius, Will put Hobart to sleep with a charm and cushioned his fall 483. Hobart awoke that evening and accepted Will’s explanation that he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. During the following days, he remained concerned about Will’s rest, although the arrival of numerous female admirers also prompted him to offer dating advice 485.

The Howard Alliance

At the end of Will’s fifth year, Hobart planned another welcome party, but Will instead asked to visit the Howard family 682. Hobart initially feared that Will needed money, wanted reconciliation, or had caused a romantic scandal. He offered to obtain resources himself by using a business venture as a pretext, but ultimately trusted Will’s insistence that he needed to approach the family in person 683.

Three days later, Hobart brought Will to a gathering at Aldren Castle. He first secured Miles’s promise of a favor, then announced Will’s arrival and tried to moderate Edward’s hostility 683 684. Hobart became nervous when Will transported the gathering to Antarctica and demonstrated powers far beyond those of the family’s familiar wizards 684.

After Will negotiated privately with Miles, the duke announced that Will would be the family’s foremost ally rather than a returning family member. Miles also invited Hobart to submit a budget for his proposed game company 685. Hobart accompanied Will to the Behrens home in London, where Will explained that he had offered the Howards this opportunity partly out of consideration for him 685 686.

Despite his surprise at Will’s hidden abilities and methods, Hobart remained affectionate and accepted his nephew’s secrecy. He was pleased that the alliance had secured support for his game company and wanted to share the news with Lina 686. Will also told him that, without Hobart’s presence, he would have considered using the Imperius Curse on the entire Howard family 686.

Hobart later examined evidence concerning the disappearance of the Howard operation’s Connecticut representative and concluded that the unusually dressed visitors seen before the disappearance were probably American wizards 750.

Game Company and Christmas Reunion

By Christmas of Will’s sixth year, Hobart was busy managing affairs at his game company. His work and Will’s demanding schedule had reduced their correspondence, and they had not seen each other for some time 822.

During a visit to Aldren Castle to discuss the Howard family’s American operations, Will learned that Hobart was staying there and decided to remain for a reunion. Hobart arrived in an untidy dressing gown, greeted Will enthusiastically, and exchanged a fist bump and bear hug with him. His casual teasing initially alarmed Miles, whose own behavior toward Will had become deeply deferential, but Will welcomed the familiar treatment 822.

Hobart first assumed that romance explained Will’s unanswered letters, then expressed astonishment when Will described extra lessons with professors, several hours of experiments each night, and writing academic papers before sleep. He praised the strategy map Will had sent him and reported that he was making arrangements to acquire Valve and Blizzard Entertainment 822.

Concerned that Will’s routine would exhaust him, Hobart proposed lunch at the Savoy Hotel and a striptease show. Will declined the show and suggested a quiet restaurant meal instead, which Hobart accepted 822. Over lunch in London, Hobart mostly asked about Will’s well-being. Will reassured him that Hogwarts remained safe under Dumbledore and the professors, easing his concerns. Hobart was by then wholeheartedly focused on the gaming industry and knew little of the wizarding world’s hidden conflicts. That afternoon, Will returned him to Aldren Castle 823.

Appearance

Though in his thirties, Hobart initially appears to Will to be about twenty-four or twenty-five 39.

• Dresses flashily rather than in the formal clothes expected of his family; his first described outfit includes a leather jacket 39.
• Wears diamond studs in his ears 39.
• Attributes his youthful appearance to taking care of himself and maintaining his looks for London’s social scene; he offers to introduce Will to his private doctor 125.
• Attends the later Aldren Castle gathering in a plain T-shirt and casual jeans, contrasting with Edward’s black tailcoat 683.
• Greets Will at their sixth-year Christmas reunion in a rather untidy dressing gown 822.

Personality

Hobart is generous, informal, and openly affectionate toward Will. He rushes to meet his nephew with a present, offers to buy him books, and continues sending him money after Edward becomes displeased with Will’s behavior 39 40 41 49. His irreverence extends to joking with the eleven-year-old about courting girls 40 49.

He sharply opposes Edward’s view of Will as an asset to control. Hobart argues that Will needs support and rebukes his brother for treating both his son and Hobart’s wizard friends as tools 40.

Hobart is pleasure-seeking and resistant to political responsibility. He prefers travel, parties, romance, and games to the career Miles wants him to pursue 323. He openly describes himself as a playboy, but distinguishes his consensual relationships from Edward’s neglect of his illegitimate children 40. By the time of the Howard alliance, he is keeping in touch with eleven women at once 686.

His carefree manner gives way to seriousness when Will is endangered. He devotes long days to searching for him in Egypt, funds the large reward after his later disappearance, and confronts Ministry officials to protect his recovery 123 482 483. McGonagall regards him as overly fond of fun but otherwise a decent person 483.

Hobart sees himself and Will as kindred spirits within the Howard family. Although he encourages Will to enjoy the comfortable life available through their birth and magical abilities, he promises to support his nephew’s decisions rather than compel him to abandon magical study 324. His affection survives the revelation that Will has concealed much of his strength from him 686.

Even after Will reaches the pinnacle of the wizarding world, Hobart continues treating him as a nephew rather than an imposing authority. He worries about Will overworking, remains more interested in his personal well-being than his academic accomplishments, and encourages him to relax. Will values this unchanged familial warmth 822. Despite his earlier aversion to political work, Hobart becomes deeply committed to his chosen work in the gaming industry 822 823.

Abilities & Skills

Magic

• Uses his wand to make fireplace flames shift between shapes 40.
• Has not learned Apparition; when Will asks to travel that way, Hobart instead takes him on the Knight Bus 41.
• Magically draws fish out of the sea while fishing in Tahiti, filling his bucket after his ordinary fishing proves unsuccessful 71.
• Uses a conspicuous sign displaying Will’s name in changing colors at King’s Cross, then makes it disappear with a wave of his wand 180.
• Will initially assesses Hobart’s magical power as comparable to that of ordinary wizards 40. Much later, Will privately judges that even Sylvia could probably defeat him 483.

Social Influence and Resources

• Uses wealth to provide gifts, books, spending money, travel, and medical support for Will 40 42 71 126 483.
• Can enlist the Howard family’s political influence, as demonstrated by the pressure applied to Egypt during Will’s disappearance 123 124 125.
• Understands the family’s concealed holdings, elite connections, and public respectability well enough to explain them to Will 323.
• Mobilizes a large search by offering a thousand-Galleon bounty, his figurative “Galleon Charm” 482.
• Recognizes likely wizard involvement in evidence gathered by the family’s American operation 750.
• Manages affairs at his game company and makes arrangements to acquire Valve and Blizzard Entertainment; the acquisitions are not stated to have been completed 822.

Hobart also understands some of the structural barriers separating wizarding and Muggle society. He explains that secrecy laws, the lack of wizarding universities, and inadequate Muggle educational qualifications make returning to ordinary Muggle employment difficult for many Hogwarts graduates 324.

Power Progression

Items

• Nimbus 2000 — Bought on a whim as a welcome gift for Will 40.
• Wand — Used for ordinary spellcasting and drawn when confronting Ministry officials at Will’s bedside 40 71 180 483.
• Private yacht — Used for the Tahiti holiday with Will 71.
• Luxury cars — Collects Will in a flashy convertible after his second year, a luxury sedan the following year, and another eye-catching sports car after his fifth year 180 322 683.
• Nintendo handheld console — Plays Dragon Quest II while discussing his father’s plans to involve him in politics 323.
• Strategy map — A gift from Will that Hobart praises during their Christmas reunion while discussing his game-industry plans 822.

Relationships

• Will Behrens — Nephew. Hobart welcomes him into the family, defends him against Edward, and offers continuing financial support 39 40 41 49. He searches for Will in Egypt, offers the thousand-Galleon reward after his later disappearance, and remains fiercely protective during his hospitalization 123 125 482 483. He considers them kindred spirits and offers Will a place in his proposed game company without demanding that he leave the wizarding world 324. Will regards Hobart as more genuinely familial than Edward, shields him from his Death Eater dealings, and partly credits his consideration for Hobart as the reason for offering the Howards an alliance 483 484 685 686. Their affection remains unchanged despite Will’s growing power and the reduced correspondence caused by their respective workloads. At their Christmas reunion, Hobart greets him with teasing and a hug, and Will explicitly continues to regard him as family 822. Over lunch afterward, Hobart is reassured by Will’s account of Hogwarts’ safety 823.
• Edward Philanthus Howard — Elder brother. They clash over Edward’s treatment of Will and of the family’s wizards 39 40. Hobart again tries to defuse Edward’s hostility when bringing Will to Aldren Castle 684.
• Cree — Wizard friend who brews potions for the Howard family 40. He was also Hobart’s classmate and later married one of Miles’s illegitimate daughters 727.
• Minerva McGonagall — Former teacher and Head of House. Hobart remains noticeably deferential around her 42.
• James Potter — Knew him while at Hogwarts 40. James was a year below him, and they were not particularly close. Hobart witnessed James using Levicorpus on Snape 125 180.
• Miles Francis Fitzalan-Howard — Father and Howard family patriarch. Miles indulges Hobart’s informal behavior but attempts to draw him into politics. After the alliance with Will, he agrees to consider funding Hobart’s game company 323 683 685. He later facilitates Hobart and Will’s Christmas reunion, recognizing the value of their close relationship, although Hobart’s irreverent treatment of Will briefly alarms him 822.
• Severus Snape — Hogwarts contemporary, one year below Hobart. They work together during the search for Will in Egypt, and Hobart explains to Snape that Will only met the Howard family during his first-year winter holiday 123 125.
• Lina von Ahrns — Girlfriend met during the German trip. She joins Hobart and Will’s travels and affectionately calls him “Hobie” 327. They remain in contact when Hobart gains support for his game company. Her family’s ties to the Ahrnsberg line prompt Will to wonder whether she is connected to the Saints 686. Hobart is still dating her at Christmas during Will’s sixth year 823.
• Harry Potter — Meets him through Will at King’s Cross and compliments his resemblance to James. Harry responds warmly and calls him “Uncle Hobart” when they encounter one another again beside the Dursleys’ car 180.

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