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Death Eater

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The Death Eaters
The Dark Mark of Lord Voldemort
The Death Eaters logo
First appearanceTerm first used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, though other followers of Voldemort had been previously met.
LocationThe Riddle House
PurposePreservation of blood purity and serving Lord Voldemort
EnemiesOrder of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army, and the Ministry of Magic

In the fictional Harry Potter series, a Death Eater is a British wizard terrorist. The organisation Death Eaters serve in the innermost circle of founder Lord Voldemort's terrorists in his war against the British Wizarding Government Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore's anti-terrorist group Order of the Phoenix.

Their tasks include doing battle against the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix, and reducing the resistance by those who oppose Voldemort by threatening, kidnapping, blackmailing or physically harming their families, particularly the children. After joining, Death Eaters are required to exhibit loyalty and obedience until death. Failure to do so results in punishment, often in the form of torture or death.

All Death Eaters are branded with the Dark Mark on their left forearm. The Dark Mark, Voldemort's sign (a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth) is used to summon the Death Eaters - when Voldemort touches any Death Eater's mark, the others' marks would burn, and the Death Eaters were expected to apparate next to their master. The standard Death Eater attire is a black, hooded robe and an white skull mask, concealing the upper half of the face.

The film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire features the Death Eaters in skull masks and black robes with pointed hats, reminiscent of the robes worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

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Several sons and daughters of Death Eaters attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - the school itself has never had any political or ideological allegiance, although its various Heads did. According to J.K. Rowling, although the Slytherins we most often hear from are the children of Death Eaters, they are only part of the Slytherin population and there are some students connected to the Death Eaters in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw as well.

The Fall and Second Rise of Lord Voldemort

When Lord Voldemort was vanquished after failing to kill Harry Potter, the Death Eaters largely disbanded. The Ministry rounded many of them up and imprisoned them in Azkaban, but some eluded justice by claiming they were bewitched or by turning in other Death Eaters, as Igor Karkaroff did; Harry witnesses Karkaroff's testimony against former Death Eaters in Dumbledore's Pensieve.

As Lord Voldemort regains a full-strength corporeal existence at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he summons his followers to him by touching Peter Pettigrew's Dark Mark. Some who have betrayed him are too afraid to return to him, and others are dead or imprisoned, but many return to his service as Lord Voldemort begins his second attempt to claim power.

File:Death Eater.jpg
A Death Eater, as seen behind his skull mask in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and most of the Ministry of Magic originally refuse to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned. Though Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore serve as dissenting voices, the majority of the public chooses to believe the Ministry's position. This gives the Death Eaters an advantage, and for much of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the group keeps a low profile in order 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 are able to recruit the dementors to their cause and make similar progress with the giants; the quiet revolt of the dementors also allowed the Death Eaters to bolster their ranks by allowing the mass breakout of several surviving imprisoned members.

In an attempt by the Death Eaters to learn the entirety of a prophecy made about the connection between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort - which led to the latter's decision to murder the Potters - fails at the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries, and eleven of the twelve Death Eaters present are captured, including strong Ministry influence Lucius Malfoy (and not including former Azkaban prisoner Bellatrix Lestrange, who escaped the Ministry with Voldemort). They also blow their cover as the Minister of Magic, after being alerted by Dumbledore's enchanted statues, sees Lord Voldemort in the Ministry and is forced to acknowledge his return. With no reason to stay covert, the Death Eaters wage another war to serve their master's ends, employing the assassination and kidnap of several important wizards as well as mass Muggle killings.

Death Eater Tally

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we learn that a "dozen-odd" Death Eaters appeared at the summons. Counting them, the ten mentioned as being broken out of Azkaban in the same book, the three said by Voldemort to be dead in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and the three in that book named by Voldemort as not present but not imprisoned, it is certain there were at least twenty-eight Death Eaters at the time of Voldemort's fall. During his duel with Voldemort in Goblet of Fire, Harry contemplates using Expelliarmus, but at first sees no need for it, as he sees himself as outnumbered "at least thirty to one".

It is unknown how many followers Voldemort has outside of Britain, but two known non-British Death Eaters are Antonin Dolohov (ukrainian)and Igor Karkaroff (unspecified eastern european, possibly german or bulgarian), indicating that the Death Eaters aren't just dangerous to Britain, and that they are present in some foreign countries as well.

Ideology

File:Death eaters worldcup.JPG
Death Eaters go on a rampage at the Quidditch World Cup massacre in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In short, the Death Eaters seek to destroy wizarding families of Muggle lineage, to destroy the Muggle world and gain complete power and control over the entire wizarding world, and restore the magical community to the pure-bloods. The Death Eaters are supporters of pure-blood heritage, or wizards who have no Muggle ancestors (ironic, as their leader, Lord Voldemort, is a half-blood who has a Muggle father). It is unlikely that all of them are pure-bloods, as very few pure-bloods still exist; it is noted that possibly many of them are half-bloods clinging to their pure-blood ancestors, such as Severus Snape, a current Death Eater. A half-blood, Snape called himself (although few knew it) 'The Half Blood Prince' while at school, a reference to his mother's pure-blood family, the Princes. It is also stated, by JKR herself, that a Muggle-born wizard can become a Death Eater "in rare circumstances". [1]

The Ministry of Magic has an elite unit of Dark Wizard catchers known as the Aurors, a squad of the most accomplished trackers and Dark Wizard hunters in existence. Aurors are responsible for hunting and capturing - or killing, if necessary - Death Eaters and other Dark Wizards and Dark Creatures, including foreign Death Eaters like Igor Karkaroff, who was originally caught by Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. The British Ministry is not the only group resisting the Death Eaters; The Order of the Phoenix, an organisation (consisting of a few Aurors itself) set up by Albus Dumbledore to combat Lord Voldemort and his followers, plants spies among the Death Eaters and recruits international help. While in his fifth year at school, Harry Potter and his best friends Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, started an organisation called Dumbledore's Army. Initially Dumbledore's Army was conceptualised as a rebel study group where the members were secretly taught the use of Defence Against the Dark Arts magic by Harry, but it was also formed, as stated by Hermione during their initial meeting, as a method of learning to fight the forces of Voldemort. Later, several members of the group help Harry fight the Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic massacre, and a year later when the Battle of Hogwarts takes place, several members again fight against them.

Known Death Eaters

Those with no explicitly listed crimes, in most cases, participated in the battle at the Department of Mysteries, or are known to be Death Eaters for other reasons. Current Status indicates the wizard's status as of the end of the sixth book. Among the known Death Eaters are:

At Large

  • Alecto and Amycus
    • Known Crimes: Assaulted persons within Hogwarts school.
    • Current Status: At large
  • Bellatrix "Bella" Black-Lestrange
  • Draco Malfoy
    • Known Crimes: Led the Death Eater assault on Hogwarts school with the intention to murder Albus Dumbledore; placed Madam Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse, used her to distribute a deadly, cursed necklace with intention to kill, distribute poisoned mead with intention to poison Dumbledore, instead nearly killed Katie Bell and Ron Weasley with the necklace and mead, respectively; attempted to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry Potter. (It is debated by fans whether or not Draco is a willing Death Eater; as Lord Voldemort threatens to destroy his family, his friends, etc. Voldemort, in turn, is using him with the intention of getting him killed; for revenge on Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater whom Voldemort is angry with.)
    • Current Status: At large
  • Narcissa "Cissy" Black-Malfoy
    • Known Crimes: None, in canon. It is debated whether or not she is an "actual" Death Eater as she did not actually go with Lucius to the "meeting" of Death Eaters at the end of HP4, but she is undoubtedly a supporter. In HP6, she does not seem to wholeheartedly support Voldemort because he gave her son, Draco, a task that he would almost certainly fail in: assasinate Albus Dumbledore.
    • Current Status: At large
  • Peter Pettigrew
    • Known Crimes: Framed Sirius Black for the betrayal of James and Lily Potter and the deaths of twelve innocent Muggles and himself; actually betrayed the Potters as their Secret-Keeper; murdered Cedric Diggory, led Bertha Jorkins to her death at the hands of Lord Voldemort; assisted Voldemort in procuring a new body. (It is unknown whether or not Pettigrew is a willing Death Eater; he does not seem to wholeheartedly support Voldemort but instead does so out of fear. )
    • Current Status: At large, last mentioned living in Spinner's End
  • Severus Snape
    • Known Crimes: Revealed to Voldemort the prophecy that a boy with the power to defeat him would soon be born. Served as a double agent for many years. Murdered Albus Dumbledore using the Avada Kedavra Curse. Fled with several other Death Eaters after Dumbledore's death; true loyalty is a matter of intense speculation and debate.
    • Current Status: At large
  • "Massive Blond Death Eater"
    • Known Crimes: Assaulted persons within Hogwarts school.
    • Current Status: At large

Imprisoned

  • Avery Sr.
    • Known Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • Vincent Crabbe Sr.
    • Known Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
    • Vincent Crabbe's father. Mentioned by Lord Voldemort in attendance of Death Eaters during his "rebirth". Named by Harry Potter as a Death Eater in his interview with The Quibbler.
  • Gregory Goyle Sr.
    • Known Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
    • Gregory Goyle's father. Mentioned by Lord Voldemort in attendance of Death Eaters during his "rebirth". Named by Harry Potter as a Death Eater in his interview with The Quibbler.
  • Antonin Dolohov
  • Jugson
    • Known Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • Rabastan Lestrange
    • Known Crimes: Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom via the Cruciatus Curse
    • Current Status: Escaped from Azkaban, but imprisoned again
  • Rodolphus Lestrange
    • Known Crimes: Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom via the Cruciatus Curse
    • Current Status: Escaped from Azkaban, but imprisoned again
  • Walden Macnair
    • Known Crimes: Unknown; worked as an executioner of dangerous animals for the Ministry of Magic, and was promised "better victims" by Voldemort.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • Lucius Malfoy
  • Mulciber
    • Known Crimes: None specified, but Igor Karkaroff stated that "he specialised in the Imperius Curse, forced countless people to do horrific things." (GOF p.640, British adult paperback edition)
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • Nott
    • Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • Augustus Rookwood
    • Known Crimes: Used his job as Ministry of Magic employee to spy for Voldemort.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned
  • "Brutal-Faced Death Eater"
    • Known Crimes Assaulted persons within Hogwarts school.
    • Current Status: Imprisoned

Deceased or Permanently Incapacitated

  • Regulus Black (possibly the mysterious R.A.B.)
    • Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities
    • Cause of death: Tried to back out of Death Eaters after realising exactly how far Voldemort was willing to go to gain power; killed, presumably by another Death Eater on Voldemort's orders, being "too unimportant for Voldemort to personally kill".
  • Barty Crouch Jr.
    • Crimes: Participated in the torture and the permanent incapacitation of the Longbottoms; delivered Harry Potter to Lord Voldemort; performed the Imperius Curse on Mad-Eye Moody and Viktor Krum; killed Barty Crouch Sr.; performed (through a Imperiused Viktor Krum) the Cruciatus Curse on Cedric Diggory
    • Cause of permanent incapacitation: "Kissed" (had his soul consumed) by a Dementor that was accompanying Cornelius Fudge to Crouch's investigation as a means of protection
    • Current Status: Soul destroyed, useless but technically living body remaining - a fate called "worse than dead" in the books
  • Gibbon
    • Crimes: Assaulted persons within Hogwarts school.
    • Cause of death: Hit by a Killing Curse, unintentionally fired by another Death Eater.
  • Igor Karkaroff
    • Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities (Alastor Moody alleged he helped torture Muggles)
    • Cause of death: Naturally stopped serving Voldemort when he was defeated and decided to abandon the Death Eaters, turning in Augustus Rookwood in the process. He was killed by Death Eaters loyal to Voldemort.
  • Quirinus Quirrell (canon sources differ on his given name, see his article)
    • Crimes: Served as a host for the bodiless Voldemort, attempted to steal the Philosopher's Stone and murder Harry Potter.
    • Cause of death: Died after being subjected to excruciating pain from touching Harry.
  • Evan Rosier
    • Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities.
    • Cause of death: Refused to be caught by the Aurors after Voldemort's fall and killed in battle by famous Auror Mad-Eye Moody
  • Wilkes
    • Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities
    • Cause of death: Killed by Aurors.

Unknown

  • The Carrows
    • Current Status: Unknown: two of the Death Eaters who believed Voldemort was gone forever. May be the same people as siblings Alecto and Amycus, whose last names are never explicitly given.
  • Fenrir Greyback
    • Known Crimes: Inflicted werewolf curse on Remus Lupin, among others, including children; serial killer and cannibal. Also mutilated Bill Weasley, scarring him with cursed, unhealing wounds.
    • Current Status: Unknown (was immobilised at Hogwarts, possibly imprisoned)
  • Travers
    • Known Crimes: Murdered the McKinnons according to Igor Karkaroff
    • Current Status: Unknown
  • Yaxley
    • Known Crimes: Unspecified Death Eater activities
    • Current Status: Unknown: one of the Death Eaters who believed Voldemort was gone forever.

Breakdown

  • 31 total (not counting the Carrows)
    • At large: 8 (25.81%)
      • At large and devoted: 4 (12.90%)
    • Imprisoned: 13 (41.94%)
    • Deceased or Permanently Incapacitated 7 (22.58%)
      • Dead 6 (19.35%)
      • Soul Removed 1 (3.23%)
      • Unknown 3 (9.68%)

Accused or Framed Innocents

The following are innocent people who were or are suspected of being Death Eaters, or aided them unknowingly or unintentionally.

  • Ludo Bagman
    • Supposed Crimes: Gave important Ministry of Magic secrets to the Death Eaters
    • Actual Course of Events: Gave Ministry secrets to Augustus Rookwood not knowing he was a Death Eater
    • Current Status: Cleared, fled after being unable to pay his debts to goblins
  • Sirius Black
    • Supposed Crimes: Betrayal of Lily and James Potter and the deaths of twelve innocent Muggles and one wizard, Peter Pettigrew
    • Actual Course of Events: Framed by Peter Pettigrew, who perpetrated the betrayal and Muggle murders, faking his own death in the process
    • Current Status: Cleared (though in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Cornelius Fudge comments that he was innocent to the Muggle Prime Minister). Died when he fell through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries's Death Chamber.
  • Broderick Bode
  • Rubeus Hagrid
    • Supposed Crimes: Opened the Chamber of Secrets in the times of Tom Riddle, and suspected to have opened it again in the times of Harry Potter.
    • Actual Course of Events: Framed by Tom Riddle and later by his diary
    • Current Status: Released from Azkaban, teacher for Care of Magical Creatures class at Hogwarts.
  • Viktor Krum
  • Sturgis Podmore
    • Supposed Crimes: Attempted to steal Harry's prophecy from the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic
    • Actual Course of Events: Under Imperius Curse, supposedly by Lucius Malfoy.
    • Current Status: Probably released from Azkaban.
  • Madam Rosmerta
    • Supposed Crimes: Passed on a cursed necklace and poisoned mead with the intention to kill Albus Dumbledore, instead caused near-fatal accidents in Katie Bell (necklace) and Ron Weasley (mead).
    • Actual Course of Events: Under Imperius Curse by Draco Malfoy.
    • Current Status: Probably cleared or never accused.
  • Stan Shunpike
    • Supposed Crimes: Having knowledge of the Death Eaters' plans
    • Actual Course of Events: Most people who have actually talked to him agree the chances of him being a Death Eater are very slim (which implies he was just pretending to know for boasting purposes)
    • Current Status: Imprisoned. Although the Ministry seem quite aware that he was boasting, they want to give the impression that they are making progress by making arrests.
  • Ginny Weasley
    • Supposed Crimes: Opened the Chamber of Secrets and petrified several Muggle-born students, strangled Hagrid's school roosters, and wrote several threatening messages on the walls using red paint.
    • Actual Course of Events: Possessed by Lord Voldemort by means of his school diary, (a Horcrux)
    • Current Status: Cleared, never accused
  • Winky
    • Supposed Crimes: Setting of the Dark Mark
    • Actual Course of Events: Barty Crouch Jr. set the Mark under his Invisibility Cloak.
    • Current Status: Cleared, but sacked by Barty Crouch Sr. for allowing Barty Crouch Jr. to escape from her control.

Knights of Walpurgis

Knights of Walpurgis is either the previous name of the Death Eaters, fictional characters from the Harry Potter books or the name JK Rowling originally called the Death Eaters in early drafts of the scripts. The only quotation makes it unclear whether they were originally called this in Rowling's manuscripts or if the Death Eaters actually called themselves this in the story.

JK Rowling revealed this information during an interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC Newsnight on 2003-06-19[1]:

"'…in here is the history of the Death Eaters and I don't know that I'll ever actually need it — but at some point — which were once called something different — they were called the Knights of Walpurgis…'"

Knights of Walpurgis is a play on Walpurgis Night, which is the night of April 30. In legend it is associated with witches' sabbats and black magic.

References

  1. ^ Jeremy Paxman (interviewer). ""JK's OOTP interview", BBC Newsnight, 19 June 2003". Quick Quotes Quill: Interviews with J.K.Rowling. Retrieved 2005-11-16. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)

See also

  • A Death Eater's Guide ([2])
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