- "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[src]
Travers was a wizard and a Death Eater. He fought in the First Wizarding War, during which he helped murdered Marlene McKinnon and her family, and was imprisoned for committing this crime.[3] 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.
Biography
Travers was born into the Travers family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families published in the Pure-Blood Directory in the 1930s.[4]
First Wizarding War
During the First Wizarding War, Travers murdered the family of Marlene McKinnon, according to Igor Karkaroff. According to Karkaroff, Travers was among Lord Voldemort's most important supporters.[3] He could not escape imprisonment and was sentenced to Azkaban sometime in, or prior to, 1981 for this crime.
Second Wizarding War
Early war
- Hermione Granger: "But I thought Stan Shunpike was in Azkaban?"
- Kingsley Shacklebolt: "Hermione, there's obviously been a mass breakout which the Ministry has hushed up. Travers's hood fell off when I cursed him, he's supposed to be inside too."
- — Hermione and Kingsley after the Battle of the Seven Potters[src]
Travers escaped from Azkaban in the mass breakout in early 1996 and participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and held Ginny Weasley captive during the Death Chamber stand off.[5] 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.[6]
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.[6]
Before the beginning of August of the same year, Travers was convicted again for his Death Eater activities.[7]
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[src]
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.[8]
Travers was then released from Azkaban when the Death Eater-led Ministry hosted up a mass breakout.[7]
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.[9]
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.[10]
Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank
- Travers: "Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix."
- Hermione Granger (as Bellatrix Lestrange): "Really? Why?"
- Travers: "Well, I heard that the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the... ah... escape."
- Hermione Granger (as Bellatrix Lestrange): "The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past. Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers."
- — Travers and Hermione Granger (disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange)[src]
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; a Muggle-born witch had previously begged Travers to represent her case to insist she was magical, and requested his wand to prove it, which Travers refused and mocked. Harry placed him under the Imperius Curse to facilitate their breaking in to the Lestrange Vault and sent Travers off to hide.[11]
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.[12] 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.[2] As a Death Eater, he bears the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm, which had 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.[11] 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. He seemed quite calm, especially when compared to more unstable Death Eaters such as Bellatrix Lestrange or Selwyn.
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.[10] A convicted Muggle-born witch pleaded Travers to lend her his wand to prove she is a witch, but he refused and mocked her.[11]
- 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"[13].
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.[14]
Behind the scenes
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Travers is portrayed by Tav MacDougall[15]. 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 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Travers is absent from the scene of the Break-in of Gringotts and, as such, is never placed under the Imperius Curse.
- It is possible that he is Torquil Travers.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)[15]
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only) (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game) (Mentioned only) (Possible appearance)
Notes and references
- ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pure-Blood" at Pottermore - The Travers family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, so like the Malfoys, may have had pure-blood or half-blood members - see Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Malfoy Family" at Pottermore
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 26 (Gringotts) - "A tall, thin wizard with a crown of bushy grey hair and a long, sharp nose was striding toward them."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
- ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pure-Blood" at Pottermore
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 5 (Fallen Warrior)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 8 (The Wedding)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 13 (The Muggle-Born Registration Commission)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21 (The Tale of the Three Brothers)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 26 (Gringotts)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 32 (The Elder Wand)
- ↑ Behind the Name: French Surnames
- ↑ Picardie, Justine. "Was P L Travers the real Mary Poppins?". The Daily Telegraph, 28 October 2008.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 See Forum:Incorrectly identified Death Eaters