Augustus Rookwood

Augustus Rookwood was a loyal and high-ranking Death Eater in the service of Lord Voldemort. During the First Wizarding War, he served as a crucial spy, using his position as an Unspeakable within the Department of Mysteries to pass vital information to his master. After being imprisoned following a betrayal by Igor Karkaroff, Rookwood escaped and fought in major battles of the Second Wizarding War. He is most infamous for his role in the Battle of Hogwarts, where a curse he cast caused the explosion that killed Fred Weasley.

During the first rise of Lord Voldemort, Rookwood secured a position as an Unspeakable at the Ministry of Magic, working deep within the Department of Mysteries. From this post, he acted as a spy, funnelling secrets and intelligence directly to Voldemort. He was acquainted with the father of Ludo Bagman, and he used this connection to get information from Ludo himself, who later claimed he was unaware of Rookwood's true allegiance. Following Voldemort's initial defeat in 1981, many Death Eaters were rounded up. During his trial before the Wizengamot, a captured Igor Karkaroff offered information in exchange for a lighter sentence, naming Rookwood as a Death Eater and spy. Based on this testimony, Rookwood was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.

In January 1996, Rookwood was part of a mass breakout from Azkaban, escaping alongside Bellatrix Lestrange and eight other high-security Death Eaters. He immediately rejoined Lord Voldemort. In June of that year, he participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where he and a group of Death Eaters ambushed Harry Potter and members of Dumbledore's Army in an attempt to retrieve a prophecy. Harry recognised Rookwood from having viewed Karkaroff's trial in Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve. During the fight, Rookwood, a tall figure, was seen advising Lucius Malfoy that the Stunning Spells cast by the students would not have a lasting effect. He was recaptured by members of the Order of the Phoenix at the conclusion of the battle and sent back to Azkaban.

Rookwood escaped Azkaban for a second time after the Ministry of Magic fell to Voldemort's control in the summer of 1997. He remained a free and active Death Eater until the final confrontation of the war. On 2 May 1998, Rookwood fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. He was last seen duelling Percy Weasley, who was fighting alongside his brother, Fred Weasley. Rookwood cast a powerful curse that missed its target and struck the corridor wall, causing a massive explosion. The blast killed Fred instantly and threw Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger to the ground. Rookwood was later defeated in the battle when he was stunned by Aberforth Dumbledore. His ultimate fate is not explicitly stated, but it is presumed he was sent to Azkaban for life following Voldemort's final defeat.

Rookwood was described as a tall man with a pockmarked face and greasy hair. He was a cunning, ruthless, and loyal follower of Lord Voldemort. His ability to work undetected as an Unspeakable for a prolonged period demonstrates his capacity for duplicity and secrecy. He was a competent and dangerous wizard, showing no hesitation in using lethal force, as evidenced by his actions during the Battle of Hogwarts.

• Dark Arts: As a Death Eater, Rookwood was highly proficient in the Dark Arts. The curse he used that resulted in Fred Weasley's death was powerful enough to cause a structural explosion.
• Duelling: Rookwood was a skilled duellist who participated in two of the most significant battles of the Second Wizarding War. He was able to hold his own against capable opponents like Percy Weasley and was part of the elite group sent to the Department of Mysteries.
• Espionage: Rookwood's greatest asset to Voldemort was his skill as a spy. He successfully infiltrated the most secret division of the Ministry of Magic and relayed information for a considerable time before his exposure.
• Specialised Magical Knowledge: His employment as an Unspeakable implies that Rookwood possessed a deep and advanced understanding of esoteric branches of magic, such as those concerning love, space, thought, time, and death.

• Wand: Rookwood owned a wand, the specifications of which are unknown. He used this wand to cast the fatal curse during the Battle of Hogwarts.

• Lord Voldemort: Rookwood was a loyal and valued servant to Lord Voldemort, who depended on the intelligence he supplied from within the Ministry of Magic.
• Death Eaters: He operated alongside other prominent Death Eaters like Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. His first imprisonment was a direct result of being betrayed by his former comrade, Igor Karkaroff.
• Ludo Bagman: Bagman unknowingly passed information to Rookwood, whom he considered a friend of his father's. This nearly led to Bagman's own imprisonment in Azkaban.
• Weasley family: By killing Fred Weasley, Rookwood became a figure of intense hatred for the Weasley family, particularly for Percy Weasley, who witnessed his brother's death firsthand while duelling Rookwood.

• Augustus: A Latin name meaning “majestic” or “venerable.” It was a title used by Roman emperors, lending an air of importance that ironically contrasts with his dark and treacherous nature.
• Rookwood: 'Rook' is a type of black bird from the crow family, often seen as an omen of death in folklore, which is fitting for a Death Eater. The 'rook' is also a powerful piece in chess that moves in straight lines, which could be symbolic of his role as a direct operative for Voldemort.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Augustus Rookwood is portrayed by actor Richard Trinder in the Pensieve scene (film).
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, an uncredited actor portrays Rookwood during the Battle of Hogwarts (film).
• The specific incantation for the curse that killed Fred Weasley is not mentioned in the books; its effect is simply described as an explosion.