Dorothea Pruitt

Penelope Pruitt is an American witch who briefly taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, taking over from Professor Binns as the History of Magic professor between 2015-2022. She is also the main, secret antagonist of Harry Potter and the Cursed Blood.

It was later revealed that she was one of the original witches who was burnt at the stake in Salem, causing her to dislike muggles. She came to Hogwarts hoping to perfect a blood curse she'd been working on for centuries, needing a single book from the restricted section. To do this, Pruitt created a poison ink designed to infect the blood of muggle-borns, slowly killing them. In 2021, Emily Sherman found this ink and began to use it. As she did her magic improved but slowly, the ink seeped into her veins. It got worse, resulting in her suffering a violent attack where she began to vomit blood and collapsed on the library floor. Emily was discovered by some of the other students, including James Sirius Potter, who found the ink and took it for himself. James began using the ink. At first, it caused him no problems but due to the curses imperfections, when James tried to use the ink to cheat on his N.E.W.T's, it became too much and he too collapsed. The ink was then discovered as Emily tried to steal it back. The true nature of it was then revealed. When questioned about it, Pruitt claimed it was dark magic. When Albus recalled seeing Professor Dagworth entering Borgin & Burkes, he and some others began to suspect him. Through confronting him, they realised that Pruitt had lied and realised it was her. They found her in McGonogall's office and confronted her, which is when she revealed the truth.