Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody

Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody was a legendary Pure-blood wizard, widely regarded as the most famous and effective Auror of modern times. A key member of the original and reconstituted Order of the Phoenix, Moody was a staunch opponent of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He was defined by his extreme paranoia, his motto of “Constant vigilance!”, and the extensive injuries he sustained during the First Wizarding War, most notably his magical, electric blue eye. Though he was scheduled to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1994, he was imprisoned and impersonated for the entire school year by Barty Crouch Jr.. After his rescue, he served as a vital leader within the Order of the Phoenix during the Second Wizarding War until his death.

Alastor Moody was a highly respected Auror for the Ministry of Magic. He was renowned for his skill and dedication, and it was said that he was responsible for filling half the cells in Azkaban with Dark wizards he had captured. His career was marked by numerous dangerous encounters, which left him heavily scarred, with a chunk of his nose missing, a missing leg, and the loss of one of his natural eyes. He was a pivotal figure in the fight against Lord Voldemort during the First Wizarding War, working alongside Albus Dumbledore in the original Order of the Phoenix. His methods were sometimes considered ruthless, but they were highly effective.

After the First Wizarding War, Moody retired from the Ministry of Magic, his battle-worn body and deepening paranoia making active duty untenable. In 1994, Albus Dumbledore persuaded him to leave retirement to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. However, before he could take up the post, he was attacked and subdued at his home by Barty Crouch Jr. and Peter Pettigrew. For the entire school year, Moody was held captive at the bottom of his own seven-locked magical trunk. Barty Crouch Jr. used Polyjuice Potion to assume Moody's appearance, successfully infiltrating Hogwarts and manipulating the Triwizard Tournament to ensure Harry Potter would be transported to Lord Voldemort. Crouch's impersonation was so convincing that he deceived everyone, including Albus Dumbledore. The real Moody was kept alive to supply hair for the Polyjuice Potion and to be interrogated for information about his habits and personality. He was rescued by Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape at the end of the school year after Crouch's plot was fulfilled.

Upon his liberation, Moody immediately rejoined the Order of the Phoenix and became one of its most active and important members. He was part of the Advance Guard that escorted Harry Potter from Number Four, Privet Drive in the summer of 1995. He fought bravely in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where he was injured by Antonin Dolohov but survived. Moody's final act was participating in the plan to move Harry Potter from the Dursleys' home to safety, an event that became known as the Battle of the Seven Potters. He acted as a protector for Mundungus Fletcher, who was disguised as Harry. During their flight, they were intercepted by Lord Voldemort himself. A terrified Mundungus Fletcher Disapparated, leaving Moody to face Voldemort alone. He was struck by a Killing Curse and fell from his broomstick. His body was never recovered. His magical eye, however, was salvaged by Death Eaters and later affixed to the office door of Dolores Umbridge at the Ministry of Magic. Harry Potter later retrieved the eye during the infiltration of the Ministry and gave it a proper burial in the forest near the Quidditch World Cup campsite.

Alastor Moody had a face that was heavily scarred and described as looking as though it were carved from a piece of weathered wood. A large chunk of his nose was missing. His most striking feature was his mismatched eyes: one was small, dark, and beady, while the other was a large, round, vivid electric blue magical eye that whizzed and spun in its socket, allowing him to see through almost anything, including walls, doors, and the back of his own head. He walked with a pronounced limp due to a prosthetic leg that ended in a clawed foot, and often leaned on a gnarled walking staff. Moody's personality was defined by his unwavering vigilance and deep-seated paranoia, born from years of fighting Dark wizards. He was gruff, cantankerous, and trusted very few people. He refused to eat or drink anything he had not prepared himself, fearing poison. Despite his harsh exterior, Moody was incredibly brave, fiercely loyal to the cause, and deeply protective of his allies, particularly Harry Potter and his protégée, Nymphadora Tonks.

• Master Duellist: As a veteran Auror, Moody was an exceptionally skilled and powerful duellist, capable of holding his own against numerous Death Eaters.
• Expert in Defensive Magic: His chosen profession required an expert-level knowledge of defensive magic, counter-curses, and charms.
• Extensive Knowledge of the Dark Arts: To effectively combat Dark wizards, Moody possessed a comprehensive understanding of the Dark Arts, a fact Barty Crouch Jr. exploited to teach the subject authentically.
• Non-Verbal Magic: As a highly accomplished wizard, Moody was proficient in casting spells non-verbally.
• Patronus Charm: The form of Moody's Patronus, if he could cast a corporeal one, is unknown and never mentioned in the novels. (Pottermore suggests his paranoia prevented him from producing a corporeal Patronus).

• Magical Eye: Moody's signature possession. This electric blue orb could rotate 360 degrees and see through solid objects, including wood and Invisibility Cloaks.
• Prosthetic Leg: A charmed wooden leg with a clawed foot.
• Walking Staff: A large, gnarled staff that he always carried. It is presumed to be enchanted, though its specific properties are not detailed.
• Magical Trunk: A heavily enchanted trunk requiring seven different keys for its seven compartments. The seventh compartment was magically expanded to a room-sized depth, where he was imprisoned by Barty Crouch Jr..
• Foe-Glass: A magical mirror that shows the images of the owner's enemies. The figures become clearer as the enemies draw nearer.
• Secrecy Sensor: A complex, spindly silver instrument that whirred and vibrated in the presence of concealment and lies.
• Invisibility Cloaks: Moody owned at least two Invisibility Cloaks, which he often lent to other Order of the Phoenix members for missions.

• Albus Dumbledore: Moody was one of Dumbledore's oldest friends and most trusted allies. Dumbledore held Moody's skills and loyalty in the highest regard, entrusting him with the Defense Against the Dark Arts post and a leadership role in the Order of the Phoenix.
• Nymphadora Tonks: Moody was a mentor to Nymphadora Tonks during her time as an Auror trainee. He was her superior at the Ministry of Magic and later her comrade in the Order. Despite his gruff nature, they shared a close, respectful bond, with Tonks often affectionately referring to him as “Mad-Eye”.
• Harry Potter: Moody was fiercely protective of Harry Potter, viewing him as essential to winning the war. He was a central figure in multiple operations to protect Harry. Harry, in turn, deeply respected Moody's courage and dedication, and was devastated by his death.
• Mundungus Fletcher: Moody held an open disdain for the petty criminal Mundungus Fletcher, whom he considered unreliable and cowardly. His distrust was tragically vindicated when Fletcher's cowardice directly led to his death.

• Alastor: The name is of Greek origin (Ἀλάστωρ) and means “avenger” or “persecutor.” In Greek mythology, Alastor was a spirit of vengeance who punished those guilty of familial bloodshed, fitting for an Auror who relentlessly hunted down and punished Dark wizards.
• Moody: A common English surname that can mean “courageous” or “brave,” but also refers to being temperamental or gloomy. This duality reflects his courageous nature as well as his gruff and paranoid personality.
• “Mad-Eye”: A descriptive and literal nickname referring to his constantly moving, all-seeing magical eye.

• In the Warner Bros. film adaptations, Alastor Moody is portrayed by Irish actor Brendan Gleeson.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Moody's magical eye is not shown to see through Harry's Invisibility Cloak, a key capability mentioned in the novel.
• In the film version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it is Moody who shows Harry Potter the photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix, a scene that belongs to Sirius Black in the book.
• According to supplementary information released on Pottermore, Moody came from a long line of accomplished Aurors. His intense hatred of the Dark Arts and his demanding career meant he never married or had children. (Pottermore)