Olive Hawthorne

Olive Hawthorne was a white witch who lived in Devil's End.

Early life
Olive was born the elder of twin girls. She had trouble sleeping and had secret fears and phobias that she could not share even with her sister, Poppy. She dreamt of monsters invading the village. Shortly before she died, her grandmother had given her a necklace.

One night, Olive was awoken by a sound coming from the stables. She went downstairs and outside to investigate where she was confronted with a witch. She told Olive that her name was Lobelia, her great-aunt, and that the Hawthorne family's sole purpose was to protect Devil's End from the evil that it attracted and that becoming a white witch was Olive's birthright. Additionally, Lobelia handed Olive a grimoire that would help her and a bridel to aid in her sleep. Finally, she was told that she would have to choose between good and evil and that the right path would involve many sacrifices.

The next morning, she was awoken by her mother who asked her the whereabouts of Poppy. A large search of the village occurred for months but nothing was found. Olive was devastated. She remembered Lobelia's words regarding sacrifice and felt guilt that somehow she had caused her sister's disappearance.

Two years later during World War II, Olive met a Gypsy Witch who was selling luck charms. She offered Olive anything she wanted if she followed her master, including a reunion with Poppy. She heeded Lobelia's warnings and backed away but not before her eyes turned black. From this point she realised her apprenticeship was over and she was truly the guardian of Devil's End. (HOMEVID: White Witch of Devil's End: The Inheritance)

The guardian of Devil's End
Olive started having visions of a hazy silhouette; she knew he would be important and when she consulted the runes she learnt it was a warning. One night in the 1960s, Olive walked past The Cloven Hoof when she heard the sound of a violin from inside. When confronted with the violinist, Victor, Olive was in awe. He read her mind in regard to her desire for red wine. She returned to the bar the following morning to find out from Ned where he was staying. Once she found out, Olive visited him and the two had a deep conversation where the two sometimes seemingly read each other's minds.

That night, Olive dreamed of him, of his two sides: the calm elegant man she knew and a raging wild man in the mirror. She also dreamed of a baby crying which she interpreted to mean her child by Victor. The two got to know each other very well and they would often talk for hours every day. After a time, Olive suggested that he come and see her runes and crystal ball but he firmly told her to never invite him into her home. She was disappointed at his apparent rejection but assured her it was nothing of the kind and that she would understand in time.

After setting off early to meet him, Olive discovered Victor feasting on a dead deer in the church graveyard with teeth like a vampire. Although initially scared, Olive realised that Victor could have caught her at any moment and Victor assured her that she was safe and invited her to The Cloven Hoof to explain. He told her of his creation and when Olive suggested that he turn her to share guardianship of Devil's End he adamantly refused, telling her that they would represent it's greatest threat. He told her that there was an eclipse the next day and that Olive's charts predicting its occurrence the following month were incorrect. The next day, Olive met him outside and he took of his cloak, exposing his skin to the sunlight. He screamed in agony as he burned to death. Olive understood that he had done it to protect her. His death weighed on her heavily and she kept his ashes in a silver urn until her own death in 2017. (HOMEVID: White Witch of Devil's End: Half Light)

She spent weeks warning Professor Horner not to dig at the Devil's Hump tomb on Beltane, believing "the Prince himself is nigh". She was taken by the verger Garvin after failing to be hypnotised by and was tied up and put inside a chest in the village church. Sergeant Benton freed her, and they hid in the cavern beneath the church. Benton was rendered unconscious by a forcefield in the cavern, and Miss Hawthorne carried him to The Cloven Hoof pub when the Dæmon Azal killed Garvin. She saved Benton from an attacking Morris dancer by hitting him over the head with her reticule. Miss Hawthorne and Benton helped stop the villagers from burning the Doctor when they tricked them into believing he was a mighty wizard. (TV: The Dæmons)

Some time later she was present when the Master returned to his TARDIS following the Sea Devils incident. The Master threatened her with his TCE when the Doctor and Jo Grant arrived, before he made his get away, leaving her unharmed. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors)

Behind the scenes
The character was originally named Lady Olivia Featherstone. (INFO: The Dæmons)