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In the fictional world of the Harry Potter series, the Death Eaters constitute a group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, the chief antagonist of the series, who seeks to purify the Wizarding community by eliminating the Muggle-borns. They also try to create a new order through the Ministry of Magic and cause fear among the Wizarding community by terrorising and killing important officials and their enemies, chiefly the members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Death Eaters recognise one another by the Dark Mark on their left forearm, a sign created by Voldemort to summon them instantly to him.
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Encyclopedia
In the fictional world of the Harry Potter series, the Death Eaters constitute a group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, the chief antagonist of the series, who seeks to purify the Wizarding community by eliminating the Muggle-borns. They also try to create a new order through the Ministry of Magic and cause fear among the Wizarding community by terrorising and killing important officials and their enemies, chiefly the members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Death Eaters recognise one another by the Dark Mark on their left forearm, a sign created by Voldemort to summon them instantly to him. Their typical work attire includes black, hooded robes and masks, as seen in the film version of Goblet of Fire (skull masks and black robes with pointed hats) and Order of the Phoenix (metal masks and more elaborate purple robes).
According to author J. K. Rowling, the original working title for the Death Eaters was "The Knights of Walpurgis".
Synopsis
Pre-Harry Potter
The Death Eaters existed some twenty years before the events of the series proper. Ten years after that, two boys who fit the prophecy of Sybill Trelawney were born in July. The prophecy predicted that "The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal" and "neither can live while the other survives," so Voldemort went hunting for the boy who was proclaimed to be his eventual downfall, Harry Potter. The Death Eaters tortured and murdered hundreds of innocent people for information. Anyone who was a Muggle, opposed them, or was believed to have information, was likely to be tortured or murdered. Acting on information from the James and Lily Potter's Secret-Keeper Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort attempted to complete the prophecy and kill his infant rival. Due to Harry's mother's sacrifice to save her son, Voldemort's deadly curse rebounded off Harry and disembodied Voldemort.
With Voldemort vanquished after failing to kill Harry, the Death Eaters largely disbanded. The Ministry rounded many of them up and imprisoned them in Azkaban, the Wizarding prison, but some eluded justice by claiming they were bewitched by the Imperius Curse or by turning in other Death Eaters, as Igor Karkaroff did; Harry witnesses Karkaroff's testimony against former Death Eaters in Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve during the course of the series.
Re-emergence
Lord Voldemort, having regained his full strength at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, summoned his followers to him by touching Peter Pettigrew's Dark Mark. Except for those dead, imprisoned, or afraid to return, the majority returned to his service as Lord Voldemort began his second attempt to claim power.
The Minister for Magic (Cornelius Fudge) deluded himself into believing that Voldemort could not have come back and that it was all a lie cooked up by Dumbledore, whom Fudge believed had designs on his political office. The Death Eaters use this tactical advantage throughout Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to maintain their secrecy. Because of the Ministry's refusal to remove the Dementors from Azkaban, which Dumbledore advised immediately following Voldemort's return, the Death Eaters recruited the Dementors to their cause and made similar progress with the giants; the Dementors' revolt against the Ministry of Magic also allowed the Death Eaters to bolster their ranks with the mass breakout of several imprisoned Death Eaters.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort sent a group of twelve Death Eaters, led by Lucius Malfoy, into the Department of Mysteries, where he expected them to secure a Prophecy of vital importance to him: having originally attacked Harry based upon a partial recounting of it, he now wanted to hear the full version in order to better, or even fully, understand the connection between Harry and himself. The raid on the Department failed, however; Harry and his friends delayed the Death Eaters and kept the Prophecy out of their hands, finally destroying it, and were eventually aided by Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore captured eleven of the twelve Death Eaters, sending Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange fleeing after a fierce duel with the former, and ending the Death Eaters' enjoyed secrecy. Lucius, who had been important both to the Death Eaters and within the Ministry, was captured and imprisoned. However, the Death Eaters regrouped, assassinating and kidnapping important wizards, killed Muggles, and in general spread terror and chaos through the Wizarding world.
Towards the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts for the first time, murdering Dumbledore and injuring several people who were defending the school. A second, more deadly attack near the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows caused the death of over 50 people including Voldemort, who was killed after his own killing curse, directed at Harry, rebounded because the Elder Wand truly belonged to Harry. Voldemort's death signalled the end of the Death Eaters.
Ideology
The Death Eaters seek the total destruction of wizarding families of Muggle lineage, and complete power and control over the entire Wizarding world, restoring leadership in the magical community to the pure-bloods. The Death Eaters not only seek the restoration of pure-blood rule over the Wizarding community, but also the eventual subjugation of the Muggle community under Wizarding rule. Claims that Voldemort himself is a half-blood are dismissed because he is also Heir of Slytherin and in any case exercised complete control over the minds of his followers. It was also unlikely within the context of the series that all of them could be pure-bloods, as very few pure-blood wizards still exist; J.K. Rowling has stated on her website that there are no true pure-blood families left, but that those who call themselves such simply strike Muggles, Squibs and Half-bloods from their family records.
The Death Eaters have also attacked pure-bloods who oppose them. Examples of this are pure-blooded members of the Order of the Phoenix such as Sirius Black or the Prewett brothers who were murdered because of their loyalties. On the other hand, Rowling has said that a Muggle-born wizard can become a Death Eater "in rare circumstances".
Death Eaters and their crimes
The following fictional characters are Death Eaters identified by name during the series, and the crimes they committed.
| Character | Background and known crimes |
|---|
| Avery | Claimed to have been under the Imperius curse to avoid prison. Voldemort tortured him during his rebirth ritual. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped Azkaban. | | Regulus Black | Aided Voldemort with the hiding of a Horcrux. | | Alecto and Amycus Carrow | Assaulted persons within Hogwarts. Tortured students while teaching at Hogwarts. | | Crabbe Sr | Vincent Crabbe's father. Present at Voldemort's rebirth. Participated in the break in at the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped Azkaban. | | Barty Crouch Jr | Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom using the Cruciatus Curse. Escaped Azkaban after the latter crime. Delivered Harry Potter to Lord Voldemort. Impersonated Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody using Polyjuice Potion. Murdered his father, Barty Crouch Senior. Performed the Imperius Curse on Viktor Krum, and, through him, performed the Cruciatus Curse on Cedric Diggory and attacked Fleur Delacour. | | Antonin Dolohov | Helped murder Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Igor Karkaroff states he also "tortured countless Muggles and non-supporters of Voldemort". Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Participated in the break in at the Department of Mysteries, where he seriously injured Hermione and Alastor Moody with unknown curses, and later escaped Azkaban. Attacked Harry, Ron and Hermione in Tottenham Court Road, but failed. Murdered Remus Lupin during the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Gibbon | Assaulted persons within Hogwarts. Accidentally killed by fellow Death Eater Thorfinn Rowle. | | Goyle Sr | Gregory Goyle's father. Present at Voldemort's rebirth. | | Fenrir Greyback | Known werewolf, favoured attacking young children. Bit and infected child Remus Lupin and seriously maimed Bill Weasley. Captured Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Participated in the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Jugson | Participated at the battle in the Department of Mysteries. Later escaped Azkaban. | | Igor Karkaroff | Tortured Muggles. | | Bellatrix Lestrange | Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom using the Cruciatus Curse. Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries. Caused the death of her cousin Sirius Black at the Chamber of Death. Tortured Hermione Granger and Griphook, and murdered Dobby at Malfoy Manor. Attempted to murder Ginny Weasley during the Battle of Hogwarts. Murdered Tonks during the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange | Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom using the Cruciatus Curse. Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and again escaped from Azkaban. | | Walden Macnair | Employed as an executioner for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures; attempted to execute Buckbeak but failed as the hippogriff was freed. Present at Voldemort's rebirth. Persuaded the giants to join forces with the Death Eaters. Participated at a break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped Azkaban after the latter crime. Also participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Draco Malfoy | Two failed assassination attempts on Albus Dumbledore; unintentionally poisoning Ron Weasley with mead and injuring Katie Bell with a cursed necklace. Provided the means for Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts. Tortured fellow Death Eater Thorfinn Rowle on Voldemort's orders. Participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Lucius Malfoy | Gave Voldemort's school diary to Ginny Weasley. Threatened school governors. Attempted to attack Harry Potter after losing his house-elf. Tortured a Muggle family and participated in a violent rampage at the Quidditch World Cup. Present for Voldemort's rebirth. Placed Order of the Phoenix member Sturgis Podmore and Department of Mysteries employee Broderick Bode under the Imperius Curse in order to attempt to capture the prophecy for his master. Headed the operation in the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped Azkaban after the latter crime. Numerous counts of bribery. | | Mulciber | Specialised in the Imperius Curse. Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and again escaped from Azkaban. | | Nott Sr | Theodore Nott's father. Rowling mentions on her website that he is an elderly widower. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped Azkaban after the latter crime. | | Peter Pettigrew | Spied on the Order of the Phoenix for Voldemort. Betrayed the Potters as their Secret-Keeper. Framed Sirius Black for the betrayal of, and, therefore, death of, James and Lily Potter, murdering twelve Muggles in the process and faking his own death. Murdered Cedric Diggory. Assisted Voldemort in procuring a new body. | | Augustus Rookwood | A former Unspeakable that acted as though he was aiding the anti-Voldemort cause, but was revealed as a double agent, gaining information from Ludo Bagman and other unwitting agents throughout the Ministry. Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Informed his master that Avery's information about Bode being able to steal the prophecy is incorrect. Participated in the break-in at the Department of Mysteries, and later escaped from Azkaban. Also participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Evan Rosier | Destroyed part of Alastor Moody's nose during a fight with Aurors. Killed in the fight. | | Thorfinn Rowle | Assaulted persons within Hogwarts and accidentally murdered the Death Eater Gibbon. Attacked Harry, Ron and Hermione in Tottenham Court Road, but failed, after using an unknown spell to bind Ron's body with shining black ropes. Also participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Selwyn | Attacked Rubeus Hagrid and Harry Potter over the Dursleys' house. Tortured Xenophilius Lovegood. | | Severus Snape | Gave Voldemort information about Sybill Trelawney's prophecy, which led to the deaths of James and Lily Potter. | | Travers | Helped murder the McKinnons. Escaped prison fourteen years later to rejoin Voldemort. Tortured Xenophilius Lovegood. Accompanied Hermione, who was disguised as Bellatrix, to Gringotts. Also participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. | | Wilkes | Killed by Aurors during the first Wizarding war. | | Yaxley | Assaulted persons within Hogwarts. Placed Imperius curse on Pius Thicknesse. Also participated at the Battle of Hogwarts. |
Notable Death Eaters
Regulus Black
Regulus Arcturus Black is the younger brother of Sirius Black. According to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, he died "some fifteen years previously" as seen from the perspective of August 1995. As it is common in the Black family, Regulus is named after a bright star, in this case the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Before publication of the final volume of the series, Rowling stated that Regulus was dead, but did not comment on the nature of his demise. She also remarked in an interview: "Regulus got in a little too deep. Like Draco. He was attracted to it, but the reality of what it meant was way too much to handle." Sirius described him as his parents' favourite son because he accepted their ideas about blood purity. Regulus is sorted into the Slytherin House and played Seeker on its Quidditch team. He joins the Death Eaters at the age of sixteen but later had a change of heart.
The Blacks' house-elf, Kreacher, relates to Harry and his friends in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that he was ordered by Regulus to assist Voldemort in hiding a locket. Kreacher was forced to drink the potion to test its effectiveness, and was saved only by the fact that house-elf Apparition works differently from wizard Apparition. When Kreacher tells Regulus what has transpired, Regulus forces him to bring him to the cave where Regulus himself drinks the entire potion and switches the locket for a fake one and, while being dragged underwater by Inferi, orders Kreacher to destroy the original locket. Regulus deduces that the locket is a Horcrux due to Voldemort dropping various hints about having made them, in his arrogance believing that nobody will hunt them down and destroy them. Many years after his sacrifice, Kreacher revealed that he was still loyal to Regulus' memory, even leading the House-Elves of Hogwarts in the Battle of Hogwarts in Regulus' name.
Regulus will appear in a flashback in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and will be portrayed by Tom Moorcroft.
Alecto and Amycus Carrow
Alecto and Amycus Carrow (often referred as "The Carrows") are siblings who participate in the assault on Hogwarts at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Amycus is described as being squat and lumpy, with a lopsided leer and a wheezy giggle; Alecto is described as a "stocky little woman" and shares her brother's squatness and laugh. It is said that after Voldemort's first downfall, they believed that he was gone forever.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Alecto and Amycus become "teachers" at Hogwarts, severely disciplining students who oppose Voldemort. Amycus teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts, but as Neville Longbottom puts it, it becomes just "The Dark Arts" in which students are forced to perform the Cruciatus Curse against each other in detention. Alecto teaches Muggle Studies, which becomes a compulsory subject, and teaches students that Muggles are like animals. Right before the Battle of Hogwarts, Alecto waits in Ravenclaw Tower on Voldemort's orders, preparing to capture Harry, but is stunned by Luna Lovegood after touching her Dark Mark to summon Voldemort. Amycus, after seeing what happened, tries to conspire with Minerva McGonagall to offer some Ravenclaw students as sacrifices to Voldemort while planning to use the lie that Ravenclaws had ambushed Alecto and forced her to press her Dark Mark. McGonagall refuses and argues with Amycus, who spits in her face. Enraged at this, Harry casts the Cruciatus Curse, with such power that Amycus passes out. Later, McGonagall places the Imperius Curse on him and then binds the Carrows in invisible ropes.
In the film adaptation of Half-Blood Prince, Ralph Ineson will be playing Amycus, and Suzanne Toase will appear as Alecto.
Barty Crouch, Jr
Bartemius "Barty" Crouch, Junior is a Death Eater who is captured with the Lestranges, who are responsible for torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom, parents of Neville Longbottom. His father, who headed the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the time, sentenced him to life imprisonment in Azkaban. However, Crouch Sr. later rescues his son as a favour to his dying wife. When they visit him in Azkaban, Mrs. Crouch used Polyjuice Potion to switch appearances with her son, enabling him to escape while she remains in his place. When she dies, she is buried under his identity.
To prevent him from returning to Voldemort's service, Crouch Sr controls him with the Imperius Curse and keeps him hidden under an invisibility cloak. Crouch Jr is nursed back to health by Winky, the family's house-elf. When Bertha Jorkins discovers the truth, it reaches Voldemort, who rescues Crouch Jr and puts Crouch Sr under the Imperius Curse. Crouch Jr. then kidnaps Mad-Eye Moody and, using Polyjuice Potion, assumes Moody's appearance and position as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to infiltrate Hogwarts. Despite being an imposter, Crouch does a fair job of teaching the students; even student Dean Thomas says that "Moody" is not entirely sane, but the class still learns vast amounts from him. Crouch Sr. escapes and reaches Hogwarts to tell Dumbledore about Voldemort's return, but he is exhausted and delirious from escaping the Imperious Curse. His son murders him on Hogwarts grounds.
The revived Triwizard Tournament is held at Hogwarts, and Crouch Jr is tasked with making sure Harry wins. When Harry, along with Cedric Diggory, touches the Triwizard Cup, it transports them to a graveyard, via portkey. There, Harry's blood is used in a ritual to bring Voldemort back to power. The plan succeeds, but Harry escapes. When Harry returns to Hogwarts, the still-disguised Crouch hopes to succeed where his master failed, but he also is unable to kill Harry, his plot foiled by Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall. Under the effect of Veritaserum, a powerful truth potion, he recounts his plan to them. Although he is closely guarded so he can later repeat his testimony, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has Crouch's soul sucked out by a Dementor before he can be brought to trial, which prevents him from confirming Voldemort's return. He lives, but few would dare to identify his present condition as "alive" as he has no memories or sense of self.
David Tennant appears as Barty Crouch, Jr. in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Antonin Dolohov
Antonin Dolohov has a long, pale and twisted face. He is confirmed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to be one of Voldemort's first Death Eaters, being present at the Hog's Head when Voldemort comes to Hogwarts to request a teaching position and hide the diadem Horcrux, c. 1956. This makes him at least sixty years old at the time of the battle in the Department of Mysteries. Dolohov is one of the five Death Eaters who murders Gideon and Fabian Prewett (Molly Weasley's brothers). He also tortures many Muggles and opponents of Voldemort during the first war. Dolohov is imprisoned in Azkaban but escapes during the mass breakout.
He participates in the battle of the Department of Mysteries, but is imprisoned again, and returns to Azkaban prison. He escapes once more some time before the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He tracks Harry, Ron and Hermione to a Muggle cafe after they use Voldemort's name (which had recently been made a Taboo). He and his companion Rowle are stunned, and have their memories erased by Hermione and then punished by Voldemort. Dolohov participates in the Battle of Hogwarts, killing Remus Lupin, whom Aberforth Dumbledore last sees fighting with him. He is also seen duelling with Dean Thomas until Parvati Patil uses a body-bind curse on him. Dolohov and Yaxley are later sent to look for Harry, and they mistakenly thought the boy would not give himself up. When the battle recommences, Professor Flitwick finally defeats him.
Fenrir Greyback
Fenrir Greyback is a werewolf aligned with the Death Eaters but who does not rank highly enough to carry the Dark Mark. Greyback once bit the child Remus Lupin, transforming him into a werewolf. Greyback thirsts for blood even when he is not in his wolf form, attacking even while in his human form. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Greyback first appears on the night of Dumbledore's death, when he attacks Harry and Bill Weasley, Bill being permanently scarred in the face, and though Greyback does not transmit his lycanthropy since he is not in wolf form, the attack slightly alters Bill's personality, causing him to prefer eating rare meat.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Greyback plays the role of a Snatcher. The Snatchers are wizards looking for Muggle-borns and "Undesirables" in exchange for gold. He finds Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their camp when Harry accidentally uses Voldemort's name after it has been made taboo. Greyback and his fellow Snatchers take the three to Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix Lestrange promises Greyback Hermione in return for his services, but the prisoners fight their way out and escape, Greyback being hit by a triple Stunning Spell. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione, using a stunning spell, prevents Greyback from attacking injured Lavender Brown, and a crystal ball thrown by Professor Trelawney stuns him. He rejoins the battle in time for the Death Eaters' last stand, when Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom combine forces to stun him by magic.
Dave Legeno will portray Greyback in the film adaptation of Half-Blood Prince.
Igor Karkaroff
Professor Igor Karkaroff (Cyrillic: ????? ????????) is the Headmaster at Durmstrang Institute, one of the three schools (together with Hogwarts and Beauxbatons Academy) that enter the Triwizard Tournament. As Headmaster, Karkaroff is also one of the judges. He is described as a neat, fussy-looking man with an oily voice and manner who sports a small grey goatee. While unctuously pleasant most of the time, he is capable of violent rage. He is also described as a man with yellowish teeth whose smile does not reach his cold stare. Karkaroff is angered and threatens to withdraw from the tournament when Harry is selected as a fourth champion and second representative for Hogwarts. Although he is talked down and agrees to stay, he nevertheless shows evident favouritism towards the Durmstrang champion, Bulgarian Quidditch player Viktor Krum.
Sirius Black later identifies Karkaroff as a former Death Eater. Karkaroff was captured by Auror Alastor Moody and imprisoned in Azkaban. Karkaroff later told the Ministry of Magic that he had seen the error of his ways, and "named names", putting many people in Azkaban in exchange for his freedom. Karkaroff is thus also hated by the Death Eaters. Karkaroff's history gives him a connection with Snape, also a former Death Eater. Karkaroff interrupts a Potions lesson demanding to talk to Snape, and shows him his Dark Mark reappearing. At the end of the novel, following Voldemort's return, Karkaroff goes into hiding, leaving behind his student charges at Durmstrang. In the sixth novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Remus Lupin states that Karkaroff was found dead in a shack with the Dark Mark hovering over it, an indication that he was killed by other Death Eaters.
Predrag Bjelac appeared as Karkaroff in the film adaptation of Goblet of Fire.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) is the first female Death Eater introduced in the books, and one of the most faithful members of Voldemort's inner circle. She is described as having been very attractive in her youth, but her patrician good looks are hollowed during her years in Azkaban, and she is left a remnant of her former beauty. Bellatrix is often portrayed as looking slightly mad and, more than once, it is implied that she is paranoid, mentally unstable and fanatically devoted to Voldemort. Despite her apparent mental instability, she is a witch of prodigious ability, as demonstrated by all her victories in duels against other characters, and as noted by Harry in the final book.
Bellatrix was born to Cygnus Black and Druella Rosier in 1951, and has two younger sisters, Andromeda and Narcissa. She is also a first cousin to Sirius and Regulus Black, and an aunt to Draco Malfoy and Nymphadora Tonks. Bellatrix marries Rodolphus Lestrange a few years after leaving Hogwarts "because it was expected of her" to marry a pure-blood. However, Rowling stated in an interview that Bellatrix truly loved Voldemort. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rowling uses Dumbledore's Pensieve as a plot device to reveal that Bellatrix, rather than deserting Voldemort after his downfall like many other Death Eaters, is part of the group of dark wizards – along with Barty Crouch Jr, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange – that torture well-known Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom in an attempt to gain information about Voldemort's location. For using the Unforgivable Cruciatus Curse to torture the Longbottoms until they go insane, Bellatrix and her three associates are sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
Fourteen years after Voldemort's fall, Bellatrix is one of the many Death Eaters who escaped Azkaban and rejoined him. She is present at the battle of the Department of Mysteries in the climax of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in which a group of Death Eaters attempt to steal Sybill Trelawney's prophecy pertaining to Voldemort's downfall. Rowling let Bellatrix prove her magical powers during the mission when she overpowers her niece Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt in one-on-one duels, kills her cousin Sirius by blasting him through the veil in the Death Chamber, and deflects one of Dumbledore's spells as she makes her escape. Harry attempts to use the Cruciatus Curse on her in revenge for killing Sirius, but the curse is ineffective due to the lack of real cruelty behind it. Before she can do any more, Bellatrix is subdued by Dumbledore in the Ministry of Magic's Atrium while he duels Voldemort. Voldemort intercedes on Bellatrix's behalf, grabbing her and taking her with him as he Disapparates, though not before being glimpsed by Ministry officials.
In the beginning of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Bellatrix attempts to keep Narcissa from confiding Draco's secret mission to Snape at Spinner's End. Rowling used the conversation between Snape and Bellatrix to imply that Voldemort is still furious at Bellatrix's failure in the past book. That conversation also suggests that Bellatrix mistrusts Snape not only because of his low birth, but also for many valid questions about his loyalty to the Dark Lord. Snape surprises Bellatrix by replying to her with arguments and by agreeing to create an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa to assist Draco in his mission to kill Dumbledore.
The first chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows implies that Voldemort is still angry at Bellatrix, as evidenced when he makes fun of the fact that her niece Tonks married werewolf Remus Lupin. However, Voldemort gives Bellatrix a chance to "trim" her family tree during the Death Eaters' attempt to capture Harry as the boy departs from the Dursleys' home, in which Bellatrix unsuccessfully tried to kill Tonks. In this book, Rowling reveals that Bellatrix is the guardian of Helga Hufflepuff's cup (though she is unaware of its true nature), which Voldemort has entrusted the Lestranges to keep in their Gringotts vault. Bellatrix and the Malfoys detain Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Malfoy Manor, and Hermione is tortured by Bellatrix when she suspects the trio has broken into her vault, but Dobby appears and saves the prisoners, though not before being hit by a knife thrown by Bellatrix as they Disapparate to safety. Later in the book, Harry, Ron and Hermione use a stray hair of Bellatrix's to disguise Hermione as Bellatrix using the Polyjuice Potion, to get into the vault. Though Voldemort apparently punishes Bellatrix and the Malfoys severely for interrupting his Elder Wand side quest only to have Potter escape and steal the cup, she nevertheless fights for her master in the Battle of Hogwarts towards the end of the novel. Rowling stated in an interview that, during the battle, it was Bellatrix who killed Tonks. When the battle resumes inside the Great Hall after Harry's supposed death, Bellatrix simultaneously duels Hermione, Ginny and Luna, none of whom is a match for Bellatrix, who nearly kills Ginny with a Killing Curse. An enraged Molly Weasley engages Bellatrix in a duel and fires a curse that finally kills Bellatrix.
In the film series, Bellatrix is portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
Draco Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater and head of a pure-blood Wizarding family; he lives with his wife Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and their son Draco at the Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire. Lucius is a school governor of Hogwarts before he is sacked, and has very close connections at the Ministry of Magic. He certainly donates to funds such as the Ministry, St Mungo's Hospital and others. He was educated at Hogwarts, where he was a prefect in Slytherin House.
Just before Draco and Harry's second year at Hogwarts, Lucius plants Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny Weasley's potions cauldron while she is shopping for school supplies at Flourish & Blotts, in a plot to use her to reopen the Chamber of Secrets, which would lead to attacks on Muggle-born students. Lucius knows the diary is cleverly enchanted, but is not aware that it contained a part of Voldemort's soul. Lucius intends to use the opening of the Chamber of Secrets by Ginny to discredit her father, Arthur Weasley. Lucius's plans are ultimately thwarted with the help of the Malfoys' house-elf Dobby, and Harry, but not before the Chamber is opened and Lucius uses the ensuing terror (and threats to attack their families) to influence the school's Board of Governors to discredit and dismiss Dumbledore as Headmaster. Subsequently, Harry tricks Lucius into setting Dobby free. Upon this, Lucius attempts to attack Harry with his wand but Dobby disarms him before he can do any harm.
Lucius next appears in the beginning of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire during the Quidditch World Cup, sharing prime seats in the Top Box with Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. Later in that book, when Voldemort rises again and summons his Death Eaters, Malfoy rejoins him, claiming that he had done everything he could all along to find Voldemort and help him rise again (though Voldemort knows he is lying). Harry, who witnesses Malfoy's declaration of loyalty to Voldemort, tells Minister Fudge, who refuses to believe him, and the wealthy Malfoy maintains strong ties with the Ministry. During the climax of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Malfoy is the leader of the Death Eaters who are to retrieve the prophecy from Harry in the Hall of Prophecy. Lucius tries several ways to get the prophecy from Harry without breaking it, but the boy and his friends manage to escape from the Hall. Malfoy finally meets him in the Death Chamber, where Harry is about to give it to Malfoy when the Order of the Phoenix breaks into the Ministry and begins to duel the Death Eaters. Dumbledore himself arrives at the end of the battle and Malfoy is captured and sent to Azkaban.
By the final book, Voldemort has given Malfoy his freedom, though he looks significantly worse for the wear. Voldemort treats him with great contempt, has hijacked his house for Headquarters, and is forcing his son to do Dark deeds against his nature, sparking sympathy for the notorious family for the first time in the series. Later in the book, Lucius, along with his wife and sister-in-law, accidentally allow Harry and his friends to escape from Malfoy Manor. Voldemort punishes them severely, eventually putting them under house arrest. Despite his long-standing position as a Death Eater and Voldemort's advocate of pure-blood supremacy, Lucius has decided his love for his family is more important than his involvement in the war. During the Battle of Hogwarts, he pleads with Voldemort into letting him into the battlefield to locate his son. He and the rest of his family are reunited at the end of the book. Following Voldemort's death, Lucius, Narcissa and Draco all manage to "weasel their way" out of being sent to Azkaban due to Narcissa aiding Harry in the Forbidden Forest.
According to Forbes magazine, Lucius Malfoy is currently number 12 on their Forbes Fictional 15 list.
In the film series, Lucius is portrayed by Jason Isaacs as an adult, and by Tony Coburn as a teenager.
Peter Pettigrew
Peter Pettigrew, nicknamed Wormtail, is the only Death Eater known to have been in a House other than Slytherin while at Hogwarts. After leaving Hogwarts, Pettigrew joins forces with Voldemort, and in exchange for his own life becomes Voldemort's spy within the Order of the Phoenix, of which Pettigrew is a member. When the Potters know that their son Harry is Voldemort's target, Sirius suggests them to use Pettigrew as Secret-Keeper because he does not believe Voldemort would ever suspect a “weak, talentless thing” like Pettigrew. Pettigrew betrays the secret to Voldemort, an act that ultimately leads to James and Lily's death. Sirius decided to get revenge on Pettigrew but, during the confrontation, Pettigrew publicly accuses Sirius of the Potters' deaths, kills twelve Muggles, and then cut off his own index finger before turning into a rat, thereby framing Sirius for the betrayal of the Potters, as well as of his own murder and that of the bystanders. Pettigrew is "posthumously" awarded the Order of Merlin, and hides during the next twelve years, masquerading as Scabbers, Ron's pet rat.
Although Pettigrew appears in the first two books in the form of Scabbers, his identity is not revealed until Prisoner of Azkaban. When a photograph of the Weasley family appears in the Daily Prophet, Sirius recognizes him, prompting Sirius's escape from Azkaban. The two eventually confront each other in the Shrieking Shack, where Lupin and Sirius force Pettigrew to resume his human form. Pettigrew confesses his treachery, claiming to have committed it only to save his own life. When Sirius and Lupin are about to take their revenge, Harry intervenes and begs Sirius to turn Pettigrew over to the Ministry of Magic instead, by which device to prove Sirius's innocence. Pettigrew manages to escape as he is being led out of the Shack when Lupin begins to transform into a werewolf. Harry's actions, however, result in Pettigrew owing him a life-debt.
Pettigrew then returns to the service of Voldemort, and helps keep him alive prior to his return to full corporeal form, and assists Barty Crouch Jr in overpowering Mad-Eye Moody, setting up the events in the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In the climactic confrontation in that book, Pettigrew kills Cedric Diggory on Voldemort's orders, and performs the complex spell to regenerate Voldemort, mutilating his hand in the process as a sacrifice. Upon his return to full corporeal form, Voldemort replaces Pettigrew's severed hand with a silver hand that possessed five intact fingers. Despite his role in the return of Voldemort, Pettigrew's fortunes remain low; in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Snape treats him as a servant, and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows he is tasked with keeping watch over prisoners in the cellar of Malfoy Manor. While Harry and Ron are being kept there, Pettigrew checks on the prisoners and is unsuccessfully attacked. Pettigrew begins to strangle Harry with the silver hand, but when reminded by Harry that the latter once saved his life, he hesitates for a moment to think of the life-debt. During the moment of hesitation, the silver hand turns against him and strangles him to death in retribution for his pity.
Pettigrew is portrayed by Timothy Spall as an adult, and by Charles Hughes as a teenager in the films.
Severus Snape
Yaxley
Yaxley (first name unknown) is the brutal-faced Death Eater that is present in the battle in which Snape killed Dumbledore. He is one of the more prominent Death Eaters, one of Voldemort's spies in the Ministry of Magic; apparently, he is a leading figure in the Death Eater coup at the Ministry. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Yaxley argues with Snape about the correct date of Harry's departure from the Dursley’s, but John Dawlish, an Auror who is tricked by an Order member, gives him incorrect information. Yaxley announces to an impressed assemblage of Death Eaters that he has placed the Imperius Curse upon Pius Thicknesse, the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. He uses Thicknesse to Imperius the other major department heads and they allow Voldemort to murder Rufus Scrimgeour; thus Thicknesse becomes Minister for Magic.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione enter the Ministry to find Slytherin's locket, it is revealed that Yaxley has become Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and that he assists Dolores Umbridge in leading the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, and the two seem to have a good relationship, together humiliating the Muggle-borns. Both are immobilised by Harry, but Yaxley recovers and grabs Hermione while she is Apparating her friends to safety. Yaxley arrives with them at Grimmauld Place, allowing him to reveal their headquarters to the Death Eaters, but not to the location that the trio immediately Apparate to.
He participates in the Battle of Hogwarts, where he duels Professor Flitwick and is later seen among those who wait with Voldemort for Harry Potter to come to him, mistakenly believing that Harry would not come within the allotted time. When the battle resumes, he is defeated by George Weasley and Lee Jordan.
Johnpaul Castrianni will appear as Yaxley in the film adaptation of Half-Blood Prince.
External links
- at the official Scholastic website
- - A podcast debating Bellatrix's role in the series
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