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"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]
Order-of-the-phoenix-movie-screencaps

Travers threatening Ginny Weasley in the Death Chamber

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]
File:HP7-FP-IDS4.jpg

Death Eaters meeting held at Malfoy Manor during the height of the Second Wizarding War

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

Selwyn: "Didn't I tell you there was no need to hurry, Travers? Didn't I tell you this nutter was just raving as usual?"
Xenophilius Lovegood: "No... no... upstairs... Potter!"
Selwyn and Travers doubt Xenophilius is saying the truth about Harry Potter[src]
Ambush lovegood

Death Eaters Travers and Selwyn ambush the Lovegood home

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]
File:Tumblr lu5g1eMI0y1qgt0vro1 250.gif

Ron and Hermione (disguised as Dragomir Despard and Bellatrix Lestrange) break into Gringotts 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; 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.

Possessions

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

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. 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. 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. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
  4. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pure-Blood" at Pottermore
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 5 (Fallen Warrior)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 8 (The Wedding)
  9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 13 (The Muggle-Born Registration Commission)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21 (The Tale of the Three Brothers)
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 26 (Gringotts)
  12. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 32 (The Elder Wand)
  13. Behind the Name: French Surnames
  14. Picardie, Justine. "Was P L Travers the real Mary Poppins?". The Daily Telegraph, 28 October 2008.
  15. 15.0 15.1 See Forum:Incorrectly identified Death Eaters
Death Eaters
Dark Mark Pottermore
Leader: Lord Voldemort
Death Eaters

Avery II · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Crabbe · Bartemius Crouch Junior † · Antonin Dolohov · Gibbon † · Goyle · Gareth Greengrass's brother · Jugson · Barnaby Lee's father · Barnaby Lee's mother · Bellatrix Lestrange † · Rabastan Lestrange · Rodolphus Lestrange · Walden Macnair · Mulciber I · Mulciber II · Nott · Pyrites (possibly) · Augustus Rookwood · Rosier · Evan Rosier † · Thorfinn Rowle · Selwyn · Merula Snyde's father · Merula Snyde's mother · Travers · Wilkes † · Corban Yaxley · Unidentified Death Eaters

Death Eater defectors

Regulus Black † · Igor Karkaroff † · Draco Malfoy · Lucius Malfoy · Peter Pettigrew † · Severus Snape

Death Eater allies

Borgin · Vincent Crabbe · John Dawlish · Delphini · Golgomath · Gregory Goyle · Fenrir Greyback · Mafalda Hopkirk · Narcissa Malfoy (defected) · Ismelda Murk (unofficially, supposedly) · Nagini · Mr Padgett · Mrs Padgett · Pansy Parkinson · Quirinus Quirrell · Albert Runcorn · Stanley Shunpike (Imperiused) · Scabior · Serpent of Slytherin · Pius Thicknesse (Imperiused) · Dolores Umbridge

Other affiliations

British Ministry of Magic (under Voldemort's control) · Daily Prophet (under Voldemort's control) · Dementors · Draco Malfoy's gang · Kreacher (formerly) · Tom Riddle's gang · Gang of Slytherins · Giants (Golgomath's control) · Inferi · Charmed skeletons · Muggle-Born Registration Commission · Theodore Nott (possibly) · Snatchers · Werewolf army · The Unforgivable

Death Eater establishments

Abandoned nuclear power plant · Borgin and Burkes · British Ministry of Magic Headquarters (under Voldemort's control) · The Cave · Chamber of Secrets · Forbidden Forest · Gaunt Shack · Lee family house · Lestrange Vault · Little Hangleton graveyard · Malfoy Manor · Misty Dell · Riddle House · Snatcher Camp · Spinner's End (Severus Snape's house) · The Abandoned Substation · The Ruins · The Quarry

Department of Magical Law Enforcement employees
Department of Magical Law Enforcement logo
Heads of Department
Justus Pilliwickle · Torquil Travers · Bartemius Crouch Senior · Amelia Bones · Pius Thicknesse · Corban Yaxley · Arthur Weasley · Harry Potter
Auror Office
Heads: Theseus Scamander · Rufus Scrimgeour · Gawain Robards · Harry Potter
Mordecai Berrycloth · John Dawlish · Penelope Fawley · Dorian Fungbury · Timothy Hale · Alice Longbottom · Frank Longbottom · Neville Longbottom · Patricia McManners · Alastor Moody · Alastor Moody's father · Riya Patel · Proudfoot · Savage · Kingsley Shacklebolt · Nymphadora Tonks · Ronald Weasley · Williamson · Unidentified Aurors · Helen Thistlewood · Solomon Sallow · Aesop Sharp · Aesop Sharp's partner · Unidentified male Auror at Hogwarts · Director of the Investigation Department No. 61042
Improper Use of Magic Office
Heads: Travers · Dolores Umbridge
Mafalda Hopkirk · Honoria's fiancé · Mafalda Hopkirk's Ministerial Superior · Rufus Fudge · Orabella Nuttley · Chester Davies · Linderina Crane
Other personnel
Council of Magical Law guards · Leta Lestrange · Minerva McGonagall · Elphinstone Urquart · Elton Elderberry · Alastor Gumboil · Arnold Peasegood · Arthur Weasley · Perkins · Bilius Finbok · Cerberus Langarm · Hermione Granger · Bob Ogden · Constance Pickering · Ruth Singer · Tulip Karasu's mother · Tulip Karasu's father · Dempster Wiggleswade · Amelia Bones's assistant · Arthur Weasley's ten subordinates · Unidentified Hit Wizard · Unidentified Wizengamot clerk · Director of the Investigation Department and Ministry Police
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