======Skirmish at Malfoy Manor======
=====Event Information=====
  * **Type:** Skirmish, Hostage Situation, Prison Break
  * **Date:** Late March, 1998
  * **Location:** [[Malfoy Manor]]
  * **Combatants:**
    * **Captives/Resistance:** [[Harry Potter]], [[Hermione Granger]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Luna Lovegood]], [[Dean Thomas]], [[Mr. Ollivander]], [[Griphook]], [[Dobby]]
    * **Death Eaters/Allies:** [[Lucius Malfoy]], [[Narcissa Malfoy]], [[Draco Malfoy]], [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], [[Fenrir Greyback]], [[Peter Pettigrew]], various [[Snatcher]]s
  * **Outcome:** Successful escape of all captives; death of [[Dobby]] and [[Peter Pettigrew]]; [[Harry Potter]] captured the [[wand]]s of [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] and [[Draco Malfoy]], unknowingly becoming the master of the [[Elder Wand]].
=====Chronology of the Skirmish=====
The Skirmish at [[Malfoy Manor]] was a brief but pivotal conflict during the [[Second Wizarding War]]. It began after [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] were captured by a group of [[Snatcher]]s led by the [[werewolf]] [[Fenrir Greyback]]. The capture was a direct result of Harry saying the name “[[Voldemort]]” aloud, which at the time was protected by a [[Taboo]] [[curse]] that broke protective enchantments and alerted [[Death Eater]]s to the speaker's location. To conceal Harry's identity, Hermione had quickly disfigured his face using a [[Stinging Jinx]].
Upon arrival at [[Malfoy Manor]], the [[Malfoy]] family—[[Lucius Malfoy|Lucius]], [[Narcissa Malfoy|Narcissa]], and [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]]—were hesitant to positively identify the disfigured Harry, fearing [[Lord Voldemort]]'s wrath should they be mistaken. The situation escalated with the arrival of [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]. She halted any attempt to summon [[Voldemort]] upon noticing that the [[Snatcher]]s were in possession of the [[Sword of Gryffindor]], an [[object]] she believed was secured in her [[Gringotts]] vault.
Fearing that the trio had broken into her vault, Bellatrix stunned the [[Snatcher]]s and isolated [[Hermione Granger]] for interrogation, torturing her with the [[Cruciatus Curse]]. Harry and Ron were taken to the cellar, where they discovered other prisoners: [[Luna Lovegood]], [[Dean Thomas]], the [[wand]]maker [[Mr. Ollivander]], and the [[goblin]] [[Griphook]].
Desperate, Harry used a shard of the two-way [[mirror]] given to him by his godfather, [[Sirius Black]], and pleaded for help, seeing a flash of a brilliant blue eye. In response, the [[house-elf]] [[Dobby]] appeared in the cellar via [[Apparition]]. Harry instructed [[Dobby]] to first take [[Luna Lovegood|Luna]], [[Dean Thomas|Dean]], and [[Mr. Ollivander]] to [[Shell Cottage]], the home of [[Bill Weasley]] and [[Fleur Delacour]].
The sound of [[Dobby]]'s [[Disapparition]] alerted the [[Death Eater]]s upstairs. [[Peter Pettigrew]] was sent to investigate the cellar. When he attempted to strangle Harry, Harry reminded him of the life debt he owed. Pettigrew's momentary hesitation caused the enchanted silver hand given to him by [[Voldemort]] to turn against him, fatally strangling him.
Harry and Ron then fought their way upstairs to rescue Hermione. A frantic duel broke out in the drawing room, during which Ron disarmed [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] and Harry physically wrestled three [[wand]]s away from [[Draco Malfoy]]. [[Dobby]] reappeared and caused a large chandelier to crash down, creating a critical diversion. As the group seized the opportunity to [[Disapparate]], a furious Bellatrix threw her silver knife. They arrived safely on the beach outside [[Shell Cottage]], but the knife had found its mark, mortally wounding [[Dobby]], who died moments later in Harry's arms.
=====Aftermath and Significance=====
The skirmish had several profound consequences for the remainder of the [[Second Wizarding War]].
  * **Fatalities:** The conflict resulted in the deaths of two individuals. [[Peter Pettigrew]] was killed by the magical hand gifted to him by [[Voldemort]], and the loyal [[house-elf]] [[Dobby]] was killed by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]].
  * **Mastery of the Elder Wand:** By forcibly disarming [[Draco Malfoy]], [[Harry Potter]] unknowingly became the new master of the [[Elder Wand]], one of the three [[Deathly Hallows]]. This act was the single most important factor in Harry's eventual defeat of [[Lord Voldemort]].
  * **Acquisition of New Wands:** Having lost his own holly and phoenix feather [[wand]], Harry acquired and used [[Draco Malfoy]]'s hawthorn [[wand]] for the rest of his quest. He also took possession of [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]'s and [[Peter Pettigrew]]'s [[wand]]s.
  * **Crucial Intelligence:** Bellatrix's terrified reaction to seeing the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] provided Harry with the vital clue that another [[Horcrux]] was hidden within her [[Gringotts]] vault. Furthermore, conversations with the rescued [[Griphook]] and [[Mr. Ollivander]] at [[Shell Cottage]] provided the trio with essential information about [[Gringotts]] security and [[wandlore]], respectively.
  * **Strengthened Resolve:** [[Dobby]]'s death and heroic sacrifice deeply affected Harry. He chose to bury the [[house-elf]] himself, without using [[magic]], an act which helped to clarify his purpose and strengthen his resolve for the final stages of the war against [[Voldemort]].
=====Participants=====
  * **Captives:**
    * [[Harry Potter]]
    * [[Hermione Granger]]
    * [[Ron Weasley]]
    * [[Luna Lovegood]]
    * [[Dean Thomas]]
    * [[Mr. Ollivander]]
    * [[Griphook]]
  * **Rescuer:**
    * [[Dobby]]
  * **Captors:**
    * [[Lucius Malfoy]]
    * [[Narcissa Malfoy]]
    * [[Draco Malfoy]]
    * [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]
    * [[Peter Pettigrew]]
    * [[Fenrir Greyback]]
=====Behind the Scenes=====
In the film adaptation, //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1//, several details of the skirmish are altered.
  * The lead [[Snatcher]] is a named character, Scabior, who does not appear in the novel (film).
  * The torture of Hermione is depicted more graphically, with Bellatrix shown carving the word "Mudblood" into Hermione's arm with her knife. This does not happen in the book (film).
  * [[Peter Pettigrew]] is not killed by his silver hand; he is simply stunned by [[Dobby]] during the rescue from the cellar (film).
  * The final duel in the drawing room is longer and more elaborate than the brief, chaotic struggle described in the novel (film).