Augustus Rookwood is a minor antagonist in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He is a Death Eater and a former agent of the Department of Mysteries.
He was portrayed by Richard Trinder.
Biography
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Although Rookwood does not appear in this story, he is mentioned in Igor Karkaroff's hearing when Karkaroff gives his name as a spy for Lord Voldemort, resulting in Barty Crouch Sr. ordering his arrest off-page. He is also mentioned in Ludo Bagman's trial for spying when Bagman claims that Rookwood tricked him into passing him secrets.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
After the Dementors defect from Azkaban, Rookwood, Bellatrix Lestrange and several other Death Eaters escape and rejoin the newly reformed Death Eaters. Rookwood is responsible for putting the Imperius Curse on the Department of Mysteries worker Boderick Bode to have him break into the Department so he can steal a Prophecy concerning Voldemort. Bode fails at this, and is assassinated by the Death Eaters shortly thereafter. Rookwood is accused of being responsible for the failure by Voldemort, but he blames Avery as it was his plan, resulting in Voldemort sending him to find Avery and bring him in for punishment. Rookwood is also present at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, during which Order of the Phoenix member Kingsley Shacklebolt engages him in a duel and defeats him, resulting in his arrest when Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge arrives with a team of Aurors.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Rookwood is among the Death Eaters who escape from Azkaban off-page.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rookwood appears during the Battle of Hogwarts, most notably killing Fred Weasly through a explosion followed by his brother Percy screaming his name and running towards him, preventing him from attacking some students. Rookwood is later stunned by Aberforth Dumbledore while trying to enter the Great Hall. What happens to him afterwards is unknown, but he was likely arrested and sent back to Azkaban.
Trivia
- Despite his minor role in the series he has a significant impact on several events in the franchise.
- He is said to have run a huge networks of informants and double agents during the first war against Voldemort.
- Karkaroff (in the books at least) mainly gets released from prison due to outing him as a mole.
- He informs Voldemort of the prophecy stored in the Ministry of Magic which makes him partly responsible for much of the plot of Order of the Phoenix.
- He may have been the Death Eater who killed Fred Weasley, who was a major character throughout all books and movies.
