Traitors
From UnknowableWiki
Betrayal is a recurring theme in the Harry Potter series. It usually has extremely serious consequences—the most important of which was, arguably, the death of Lily and James Potter.
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Peter Pettigrew
When the Potters found out that Voldemort knew about the Prophecy, they went into hiding in Godric's Hollow. Their first choice for a Secret Keeper was Sirius Black; Sirius, however, came up with a ruse: it would be the perfect bluff to choose somewhat unimpressive Peter Pettigrew as Secret Keeper instead, as Sirius was the obvious choice (PA19).
Unbeknownst to the other members of the Order of the Phoenix, Pettigrew had been a Death Eater for over a year by the time he was entrusted with the lives of the Potters. Soon after the Fidelius Charm was cast, Peter betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, leading to their murder, as well as the Dark Lord's temporary defeat (PA19).
Because of Voldemort's disappearance, most Death Eaters assumed that Peter had betrayed them. His fear of both the Death Eaters and Sirius Black (who wanted revenge for the Potters' murders) forced him to go into hiding; using his Animagus rat form to disguise himself, he spent twelve years as the pet of Percy Weasley and then Percy's younger brother Ron, bearing the name of Scabbers (PA19).
Pettigrew was the first Death Eater to search for Voldemort and helped the Dark Lord regain his powers, reinstating his status as a loyal servant (GF33).
Augustus Rookwood
Augustus Rookwood was an Unspeakable and a double agent, owing his true allegiance to Voldemort. He was turned in by Igor Karkaroff (see below) and remained in Azkaban until the breakout (GF30).
Igor Karkaroff
Igor Karkaroff was a Death Eater who, when imprisoned, escaped Azkaban by revealing the names of several Death Eaters, including that of Augustus Rookwood (GF30). When Voldemort returned, the Dark Lord branded him a traitor and declared that Karkaroff would be rewarded with death (GF33).
Karkaroff was found dead soon after the Second War began, with the Dark Mark hovering above his body (HBP6).
Percy Weasley
In the summer of 1995, when Cornelius Fudge was steadfastly trying to deny Voldemort's return, he promoted Percy Weasley to the position of Junior Assistant to the Minister. Arthur and Molly questioned the Minister's intentions for having made such an appointment, fearing that Fudge wanted to use Percy as a spy; this offended their son, who then severed ties with his family (OP4).
Percy moved to London, where he refused contact from all his relatives (OP4), with the exception of a a letter written to his brother Ron after having heard of the latter's appointment to the position of Prefect, in which Percy recommended that Ron avoid the company of Harry Potter, who was being black-labeled by the Ministry of Magic (OP14).
Marietta Edgecombe
Marietta Edgecombe is a friend of Cho Chang's and the daughter of Madam Edgecombe, an employee of the Department of Magical Transportation (OP27). Her father also works at the Ministry.
Marietta was a member of Dumbledore's Army; however, she only joined because Cho begged her to (OP18). Marietta eventually betrayed the group to Dolores Umbridge, who, as High Inquisitor, had forbidden the formation of unsanctioned student groups (OP17). However, due to the curse which Hermione Granger had placed upon the parchment which all D.A. members had signed upon the formation of the group, as soon as Marietta betrayed the D.A., several purple pustules formed up on her face, spelling the word "SNEAK". When Umbridge brought her to testify against Harry and the D.A., Kingsley Shacklebolt swiftly modified her memory without anyone noticing, saving Harry from incrimination (OP27).
Long after her betrayal, Marietta still bore traces of the pustules on her face, though she tried desperately to cover them with makeup (HBP7).
Severus Snape
Severus Snape's true allegiance is a mystery, and a hot issue among Harry Potter fans. Dumbledore's trust in him—the aging Headmaster has repeatedly vouched for his loyalty (GF30, OP37, HBP25)—seems to clash harshly with Severus' murder of the Hogwarts headmaster (HBP27). Either way, he is a traitor to either the Order of the Phoenix or the Death Eaters.
