Travers

"Some of these wandless can be troublesome. While they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case in the Ministry next week. 'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you'!"

- Travers mocks Muggle-borns reduced to begging on the streets by Voldemort's oppressive regime

Travers was a wizard and a Death Eater of Lord Voldemort. He fought at the First Wizarding War, during which he murdered Marlene McKinnon and her family, and was imprisoned for committing this crime. Travers escaped from Azkaban after Lord Voldemort's return in 1995, and fought in several battles of the Second Wizarding War, including the Battle of the Seven Potters and the Ambush at the Lovegood House. He also fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. After Voldemort's final defeat, Travers was presumably killed or imprisoned in Azkaban again.

First Wizarding War
During the First Wizarding War, Travers murdered the family of Marlene McKinnon, according to Igor Karkaroff. He was sentenced to Azkaban sometime in, or prior to, 1981 for this crime.

Early war
Travers escaped from Azkaban in the mass breakout in early 1996. Sometime after, Travers was arrested yet again but escaped along with Stan Shunpike before the summer of 1997, in a breakout that was hushed up by the Ministry of Magic, led at the time by Rufus Scrimgeour.

On 27 July, 1997, Travers participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, pursuing Hermione Granger, who was disguised as Harry Potter, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who cursed him.

Before the beginning of August of the same year, Travers was convicted again for his Death Eater activities.

Fall of the Ministry
"Many regular Potterwatch listeners will know that the Ministry's host up a mass breakout from Azkaban. Escapees include the infamous Death Eater Travers and Stan Shunpike, that you may have met on the Knight Bus."

- Rapier (Fred Weasley) during a Potterwatch broadcast.

On 1 August, 1997, the Ministry of Magic was taken by the Death Eaters and Pius Thicknesse (under the influence of the Imperius Curse) was made Minister for Magic.

Travers was then released from Azkaban when the Death Eater-led Ministry hosted up a mass breakout.

Now falsely cleared, Travers went on to work at the Ministry of Magic (at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement), as a superior to Mafalda Hopkirk. He also seemed to have some involvement with the recently created Muggle-Born Registration Commission, as he got to choose which Ministry employee could act as a stenographer for the Muggle-born trials.

Ambush at the Lovegood House
In early 1998, Travers and Selwyn came to Xenophilius Lovegood's home because he claimed, truthfully, that Harry Potter was there.

Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank


Later that year, Travers met Hermione Granger, disguised by means of the Polyjuice Potion as Bellatrix Lestrange, and went into Gringotts Wizarding Bank with her, where he expressed disdain towards Muggle-born beggars as well as goblins. Harry placed him under the Imperius Curse to facilitate their breaking in to the Lestrange Vault, and sent Travers off to hide.

Battle of Hogwarts
On 2 May, 1998 Travers took part in the Battle of Hogwarts. During the conflict, Travers fought Parvati Patil. It is unknown if he survived the war, but if he did, it is likely he was thrown into Azkaban again. Physical appearance Travers is described as a tall, thin wizard with a crown of bushy grey hair, a long sharp nose, and a cool voice.

Personality and traits
Travers was a Death Eater, obsessed with blood purity. In 1998, he expressed his disdain towards Muggle-born beggars, whom he laughed at (going as far as calling them "it"), and goblins, whom he didn't like to associate with. He was also some kind of a racist; when he was met with an apparently foreign wizard, Dragomir Despard (in truth Ron Weasley), Travers didn't shake hands with him with his entire hand, but instead just used two of his fingers, acting as though he feared he would be soiled.

Gringotts Vault
It can only be assumed that Travers had a vault at Gringotts because that's where he was going, when he met "Bellatrix Lestrange", actually Hermione, "Dragomir Despard" actually Ron, and Harry and Griphook under the Invisibility Cloak, in Diagon Alley, during 1998. He was also seen holding a key there, regarding his vault.

Etymology
Travers is an English and French surname that described a man who lived near a bridge or ford, or occasionally as an occupational name for the collector of tolls at such a location. It is derived from the Old French verb traverser, meaning "to cross". Travers also shares a surname with the writer P. L. Travers, author of the Mary Poppins books; J. K. Rowling is an admirer of P. L. Travers, and followed Travers in having her books published under her first two initials and surname rather than her full name.

Behind the scenes

 * Tav MacDougall was cast as "Death Eater Travers" in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
 * Tav MacDougall has black hair, instead of grey.
 * In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, he participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, but he does not in the book.
 * Though unconfirmed, Travers may have been the guard at the door of Gringotts slowly advancing on Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. If not, then he does not confront them in the film. Either way, he is not placed under the Imperius Curse as in the book. The guard in question is killed by Voldemort along with Griphook and other Death Eaters. If not, he likely participated in the Battle of Hogwarts, and may have been killed as he does not seem to be identified when Harry confronts Voldemort for the final time.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Notes and references
Travers