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. He fought in 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, the Ambush at the Lovegood House and the Battle of Hogwarts. His ultimate fate is uncertain.

First Wizarding War
During the First Wizarding War, Travers murdered the family of Marlene McKinnon, according to Igor Karkaroff. He could not escape imprisonment and was sentenced to Azkaban sometime in, or prior to, 1981 for this crime.

According to Karkaroff, Travers was among Lord Voldemort's most important supporters.

Early war


Travers escaped from Azkaban in the mass breakout in early 1996. He participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and held Ginny Weasley captive during the Death Chamber stand off. He was likely arrested afterwards and escaped in the 1997 mass break-out with Stan Shunpike before the summer of 1997, in a breakout that was hushed up by the Ministry of Magic as Kingsley Shacklebolt said that Travers should be in Azkaban in 1997.

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 hushed 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."

- 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. After Travers checked the area, they threatened to kill his daughter if he summoned them under false pretences, only to see Harry escape.

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. While there 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 and Dean Thomas with the help of Dolohov and another Death Eater. His ultimate fate is uncertain.

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. As a Death Eater, he bears the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm, which has faded to a mere scar since Voldemort's death.

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"), as well as goblins, whom he didn't like to associate with. He was also something of a xenophobe: 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. His hatred towards Muggles lead him to hate blood traitors as well, as he brutally murdered a member of the Order of the Phoenix and her entire family.

Possessions

 * Wand: Travers's wand was of unknown length, wood, and core material. He used it to cast the Human-presence-revealing spell to detect the presence of Harry Potter during the ambush at the Lovegood House in 1998.
 * Gringotts vault: It is likely that Travers had a vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, 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.

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

 * In, Travers is portrayed by Tav MacDougall . Travers participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in the film.
 * It's possible that he participated in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and was one of the Death Eaters who duelled either Ron or Lupin. If this is true this may explain why he was sent back to Azkaban before the final break out.
 * In, Travers is absent from the scene of the Break-in of Gringotts and, as such, is never placed under the Imperius Curse.

Notes and references
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