The charlatan is a fictional character in both the real-world and in-universe version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
Story[]
The charlatan hears the King is looking for an instructor in magic. He decides to offer his services even though he doesn't really have magical abilities in return for riches. He tricks the King with a few simple tricks and is hired. In return, he receives rubies to cast spells with, one silver chalice to brew potions, gold to purchase wands and fame. Instead of acquiring these resources, he stashes these in his cottage unaware he is being watched by the palace's washerwoman, Babbitty Rabbitty.[1]
During their first lesson, the charlatan snaps a twig off a tree and break it in half. He tells the King they are "wands" and they practice magic in the palace gardens. They dance around, pointing their twigs in the air and saying nonsense spells to the amusement of Babbitty who is a real witch. He tells the King the wand will only work when he is worthy of it. The charlatan keeps performing simple tricks to prove the wands are real.[1]
One day, Babbitty laughs at their foolishness and upsets the King. He tells the charlatan he is fed up of learning and wants to perform in front of the kingdom to prove he has real magic. The charlatan is afraid because he knows it will reveal he is a fraud, so he tries to tell the King he suddenly has to leave for a faraway place and will not return for a while. The King warns the charlatan that if he tries to leave, he will have the Brigade of Witch-Hunters capture him and he will get beheaded. If the King fails to perform magic tomorrow, he will also be executed.[1]
The charlatan panics and goes to vent near Babbitty's cottage. When he looks through her window, he realises she is a true witch because the washing is cleaning itself in a wooden tub and she is polishing a wand. The charlatan shouts at Babbitty for laughing at the King and causing this problem, and tells her she will help the King perform magic tomorrow or he will reveal that she is a witch. Babbitty asks what she should do if she can't produce the spells the King is trying to perform, The charlatan says her magic is perfectly equal. Babbitty smiles and agrees to help.[1]
The next day, Babbitty hides in a nearby bush and produces spells for the King while he and the charlatan put on their magic show. At first, she is able to produce the spells which include vanishing a woman's hat and levitating a horse. However when the dead body of Sabre, the King's prized hound, is brought to them, Babbitty cannot bring him back to life because magic cannot revive the dead. The King tries in vain and is humiliated by his failure in front of his kingdom.[1]
The King is upset with the charlatan who then points out Babbitty and says she is an evil witch blocking their spell. The King has her chased by the Brigade of Witch-Hunters but she appears to run inside a tree. The charlatan says she has turned herself into the tree and they should chop it down. After the tree is felled, they try to leave when Babbitty's cackling voice is heard in the stump. She laughs that a witch and wizard can't be killed by getting chopped in half and invites them to chop the charlatan in two to prove it. The charlatan panics and admits he is a fraud, and the King has him dragged off to the castle dungeons. His fate is unknown.[1]