======Pius Thicknesse======
=====Introduction=====
Pius Thicknesse was the Head of the [[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]] who was placed under the [[Imperius Curse]] by the [[Death Eaters]] during the [[Second Wizarding War]]. He was subsequently installed as the puppet [[Minister for Magic]] following the death of [[Rufus Scrimgeour]]. In this capacity, Thicknesse served as the public face of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s regime, lending a veneer of legitimacy to the [[Death Eaters]]' control over the [[Ministry of Magic]] and implementing their anti-[[Muggle-born]] policies.
=====Biography=====
====Second Wizarding War====
At the outset of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s return to power in mid-1997, Pius Thicknesse was the respected Head of the [[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]]. During a meeting of [[Death Eaters]] at [[Malfoy Manor]], the [[Death Eater]] [[Yaxley]] reported that he had successfully placed Thicknesse under the [[Imperius Curse]]. This was a crucial step in [[Voldemort]]'s plan to take over the [[Ministry of Magic]] from within, as Thicknesse's high-ranking position allowed [[Yaxley]] to use him to subvert other key department heads.
On 1 August 1997, the [[Ministry]] fell. [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] was murdered, and Pius Thicknesse was immediately named the new [[Minister for Magic]]. As [[Minister]], Thicknesse was a mere puppet, his every action dictated by [[Voldemort]] and his followers. He presided over a transformed [[Ministry]], which now openly persecuted [[Muggle-born]] witches and wizards through the newly formed [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]], headed by [[Dolores Umbridge]].
Under Thicknesse's puppet leadership, [[Harry Potter]] was declared "Undesirable Number One," and official [[Ministry]] propaganda, often broadcast on the [[Wizarding Wireless Network]], vilified him and the [[Order of the Phoenix]].
Thicknesse participated directly in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] on 2 May 1998, fighting alongside the [[Death Eaters]]. He was seen dueling with both [[Arthur Weasley]] and his son, [[Percy Weasley]]. During the final stages of the battle, [[Percy Weasley]] defeated Thicknesse, transfiguring him into a sea urchin-like creature with spikes erupting from his body. Following [[Voldemort]]'s defeat, it is presumed he was removed from the [[Imperius Curse]]'s influence and likely imprisoned in [[Azkaban]] for his actions while under the [[Death Eaters]]' control.
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
Pius Thicknesse is described as having long black hair and a beard, both heavily streaked with silver. He had a great, overhanging forehead and glinting eyes. When [[Harry Potter]] observed him at the [[Ministry of Magic]], he thought Thicknesse resembled "a crab peering from beneath a rock."
His true personality is unknown, as he is only ever seen while under the effects of the [[Imperius Curse]]. In this state, he appeared cold, authoritative, and utterly loyal to [[Voldemort]]'s cause. He spoke with a cold, ringing voice that carried an air of absolute, albeit false, authority.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
As the Head of the [[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]], Thicknesse would have been a highly skilled and powerful wizard. His magical proficiency was demonstrated during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], where he was a formidable duelist, capable of holding his own against two opponents, [[Arthur Weasley]] and [[Percy Weasley]], simultaneously before being bested.
=====Possessions=====
  * **[[Wand]]:** Thicknesse owned a [[wand]], though its specifications of wood, core, and length are unknown. He used it to fight during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]].
=====Relationships=====
  * **[[Lord Voldemort]] and [[Death Eaters]]:** Thicknesse was an unwilling servant to [[Voldemort]] and a key asset to the [[Death Eaters]]. Controlled by [[Yaxley]] via the [[Imperius Curse]], he was the instrument through which they seized and ran the [[Ministry of Magic]].
  * **[[Ministry of Magic]]:** Before the coup, he was a high-ranking official. After, he was the puppet [[Minister]] who gave their oppressive regime a false stamp of officialdom.
  * **[[Order of the Phoenix]]:** As [[Voldemort]]'s puppet, he was an enemy of the [[Order of the Phoenix]] and fought directly against its members during the final battle.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Pius:** A Latin name meaning "pious," "dutiful," or "devout." This is deeply ironic, as Thicknesse's "piety" is not to the law or justice, but is an enforced, artificial devotion to [[Lord Voldemort]]. The name may also be an allusion to historical figures of authority, such as popes, reflecting his position as the figurehead of a corrupt regime.
  * **Thicknesse:** This surname may suggest a "thickness" of mind or being "thick-headed," implying he was easily controlled or manipulated. Alternatively, it could refer to being in the "thick" of the action, at the very center of [[Voldemort]]'s plot. It could also hint at the mental fog or "thickness" brought on by the [[Imperius Curse]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptations, Pius Thicknesse was portrayed by actor Guy Henry.
  * The films depict Thicknesse's story with some significant changes. He is shown attending the [[Death Eater]] meeting at [[Malfoy Manor]] at the start of //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1//, implying he was already under the [[Imperius Curse]] at that point (film).
  * In //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2//, Thicknesse is killed by [[Lord Voldemort]] in a fit of rage when the protective enchantments around [[Hogwarts]] are broken. This is a departure from the novel, where he is non-lethally defeated by [[Percy Weasley]] (film).