You've reached the fourth month of the class so it's time to study:
Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump
A long time ago, in a land far away, there was a kingdom ruled by a foolish King who decided that he should be the only one to have magical powers. He formed an army, which he called the Brigade of Witch-Hunters, and armed them with black hounds. At the same time, he wanted an Instructor in Magic, so he made calls for a wizard or witch from one of the nearby villages to teach him. Of course, nobody dared to volunteer, except for a cunning charlatan who had no magical powers. He convinced the foolish King that he would be able to teach him by performing a few simple tricks. He was then appointed as the Grand Sorcerer in Chief, the King's Private Magic Master.
Once in position, the
charlatan told the King that he needed money so that he could purchase a magic wand, precious rubies for casting charms and silver chalices for storing potions. This was another trick; the charlaton only wanted the treasures for himself. He stored them in his house and returned to the palace, unaware that he was being watched. Babbitty, the King's washerwoman, saw
the charlatan snapping two twigs from one of the King's trees and disappearing into the palace.
The charlatan gave one of the twigs to the King, assuring him that it was a powerful wand. A wand, however, that would only work when the King was worthy of its powers.
Each morning the King and the charlatan practiced in the grounds, shouting nonsense whilst waving around their wands. One morning Babbitty was watching their foolishness from the window of her little cottage. She laughed so loud that the King could hear her, which made him very upset and instantly stop his chanting. He was fed up of practising and wanted results. The King decided that the next day he would invite all the court to watch him performing magic with the help of his teacher. The charlatan tried to back off by saying that he had to go out of town but the King threatened to send the Brigade of Witch-Hunters after him. The King went back to his palace leaving the charlaton alone and afraid, knowing that the King would not be able to perform magic and he could not help him. Looking to vent his anger and fear he turned to the washerwoman's window.
The charlatan gave one of the twigs to the King, assuring him that it was a powerful wand. A wand, however, that would only work when the King was worthy of its powers.
Each morning the King and the charlatan practiced in the grounds, shouting nonsense whilst waving around their wands. One morning Babbitty was watching their foolishness from the window of her little cottage. She laughed so loud that the King could hear her, which made him very upset and instantly stop his chanting. He was fed up of practising and wanted results. The King decided that the next day he would invite all the court to watch him performing magic with the help of his teacher. The charlatan tried to back off by saying that he had to go out of town but the King threatened to send the Brigade of Witch-Hunters after him. The King went back to his palace leaving the charlaton alone and afraid, knowing that the King would not be able to perform magic and he could not help him. Looking to vent his anger and fear he turned to the washerwoman's window.
When he saw her (and the King's sheets washing themselves in the wooden tub behind her) he knew at once that she was a real witch. He threatened Babbitty that if she did not help him, he would reveal to the King that she was a witch and the Brigade would then hunt her down. Babbitty smiled and agreed to do all she could to help. The charlatan instructed her to hide behind a bush while the King tried to perform magic.
The next morning all the Lords and Ladies assembled in the palace, coming to watch the King performing magic. The crowd was both amused and astonished by the disappearance of a hat and a levitating horse, all done with the help of Babbity. Then, the Captain of the Brigade of Witch-Hunters asked the King if he could revive his dead dog. The King waved his wand to perform a spell but nothing happened. Babbitty hadn't even bothered to raise her wand, knowing that magic couldn't bring the dead back to life. The crowd laughed at the King, and wanted to know why his magic was not working. The charlatan pointed at the bush and told the crowd that an evil witch was blocking the King's magic.
The next morning all the Lords and Ladies assembled in the palace, coming to watch the King performing magic. The crowd was both amused and astonished by the disappearance of a hat and a levitating horse, all done with the help of Babbity. Then, the Captain of the Brigade of Witch-Hunters asked the King if he could revive his dead dog. The King waved his wand to perform a spell but nothing happened. Babbitty hadn't even bothered to raise her wand, knowing that magic couldn't bring the dead back to life. The crowd laughed at the King, and wanted to know why his magic was not working. The charlatan pointed at the bush and told the crowd that an evil witch was blocking the King's magic.
When the Brigade released their hounds to chase her, Babbitty fled from the bush. She reached a low hedge and vanished from sight. When the assembled crowd caught up, they found the hounds barking and scrabbling around a tree. The charlatan told the crowd that Babbitty had turned herself into a tree, and that they should cut down the tree. While the tree was being cut down, the crowd started to leave, but suddenly there was a cackling coming from the stump. Babbitty told all of them that a true wizard or witch cannot be cut in half, and she suggested that they should cut the charlatan to prove it. The charlatan confessed all of his wickedness, and he was brought to the dungeon to be punished.
Babbitty told them that because they had cut a witch in half the King was now cursed; he would feel an axe stroke him every time the Brigade harmed a witch or wizard. Fearing the curse, the King declared that no harm would be brought to any wizard or witch again. Babbitty asked the King to build a statue of herself as a reminder of his foolishness. The King promised it would be done and ordered for a statue of her, which would be made of gold, to be erected. After the crowdhad dispersed, a rabbit appeared out of a hole in the stump with a wand in its mouth. Babbity had been hiding in the stump the whole time. She left the kingdom but forever after the statue of Babbitty remained on top of the stump, and no witch or wizard was hurt in that kingdom ever again.
Babbitty told them that because they had cut a witch in half the King was now cursed; he would feel an axe stroke him every time the Brigade harmed a witch or wizard. Fearing the curse, the King declared that no harm would be brought to any wizard or witch again. Babbitty asked the King to build a statue of herself as a reminder of his foolishness. The King promised it would be done and ordered for a statue of her, which would be made of gold, to be erected. After the crowdhad dispersed, a rabbit appeared out of a hole in the stump with a wand in its mouth. Babbity had been hiding in the stump the whole time. She left the kingdom but forever after the statue of Babbitty remained on top of the stump, and no witch or wizard was hurt in that kingdom ever again.
Professor Dumbledore's Notes
The story of Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump, as we know, brings great disappointment to children because through this story, they learn that magic cannot bring back the dead. This story is one of the most "real" of Beedle's tales, because it describes magic -almost- correctly. This story also gives us an early literary mention about Animagi. The only strange part of the story is when Babbitty spoke while she was in her animal form. We know that being an Animagus means that we can change our physical body into an animal whilst still possesing our human mind. But humans have completely different vocal cords to animals, so it is impossible to speak when one is in animal form. It is still unknown whether Beedle was inspired by the sorceress Lisette de Lapin, who was convicted of witchcraft in Paris in 1422.
Sources
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (ISBN 978-0-7475-9987-6)