Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Florean Fortescue

Overview
Florean Fortescue owns an ice-cream parlour in Diagon Alley.

Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry, due to having inflated his Aunt Marge under provocation, ends up staying in the Leaky Cauldron for the last fortnight of his school vacation. He spends his days in Diagon Alley, where he is able to work on his summer homework in the comfort of Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlour, receiving assistance with his essay, and free sundaes every half hour, from Florean himself.

He is briefly mentioned later on during Harry's History of Magic exam, in which Harry employs the knowledge Florean bestowed upon him.

Half-Blood Prince
It is mentioned in passing that Florean's place is abandoned and Florean himself is missing, though it looks as if he put up a fight. We never see him again.

Strengths
Fortescue has a vast knowledge about Medieval Wizardry. Due to the similarity in name, he could possibly be related to Dexter Fortescue, a former Hogwarts Headmaster. If this is true, it could indicate a strong academic trait that may run within the family.

He can, of course, make ice-cream sundaes, as that is his trade. Harry is very fond of them.

Weaknesses
Although apparently highly intelligent and well educated, for unknown reasons, he worked as a common merchant, running an ice-cream shop in Diagon Alley, though he appears to have an aptitude for teaching, as seen when he tutored Harry.

Relationships with Other Characters
Harry and Florean have an apparently unequal relationship, as Harry spends every afternoon of the fortnight before school opens in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban receiving free sundaes and academic help; however, Florean likely benefits from having "the boy who lived" seen at his establishment. He may, of course, have simply taken a liking to Harry, and being given a chance to show off his historical knowledge.

Harry himself thinks fondly of Florean during his exams in the school year, drawing on the information that Florean told him to help him pass his History of Magic exam. He also thinks wistfully of Florean's ice-cream during the exam, as it is taking place on a hot day.

Florean may be a descendant of Dexter Fortescue, a former Hogwarts Headmaster, though it is never mentioned when he served in that post. Dexter Fortescue's talking portrait hanging in Dumbledore's office is seen speaking out on several occasions.

Analysis
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Fortescue helped Harry with his homework essay on medieval witch-burnings. His expertise in Medieval Wizardry is a possible reason he was targeted by Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Voldemort had apparently looked to ancient magic to aid his resurrection and to understand why baby Harry was able to survive his Killing curse. Although Voldemort was fully restored to life and power by that point, and apparently believed that he understood what granted Harry the apparent immunity he retained, he may once again be looking to utilize ancient magic for some evil purpose.

It is never known, however, exactly why Death Eaters attacked Fortescue. His ultimate fate is never revealed - although his shop is abandoned, he may have been able to escape.

Questions

 * 1) What might Florean have gotten out of having Harry in his parlour every day?
 * 2) How does Florean know so much about medieval witch-burnings? Does he just have a curious interest in the topic?
 * 3) Why was his shop abandoned?
 * 4) What might have happened to Florean during the events of Voldemort's rise to power?

Greater Picture
Florean's being named in the books gives him more of a presence than many other Diagon Alley shopkeepers. While some, such as Madam Malkin and Ollivander, are named, many are not. Florean Fortescue has been given both a forename and surname, plus a trade in ice-cream, and the characteristic of being interested in history.

This is, of course, very similar to real life. Nobody is two-dimensional enough to only be defined by their job. Florean's special interest just happens to be useful to Harry.

It might be worth noting that Florean runs a Muggle-style business in a predominantly Wizarding area. It is natural that members of the magical community would have a want for establishments Muggles use, and may feel safer having them in Diagon Alley. An ice-cream shop is one such thing.