Antonin Dolohov

Antonin Dolohov was a wizard and one of the earliest and most devoted Death Eaters loyal to Lord Voldemort. Renowned for his cruelty and proficiency in the Dark Arts, Dolohov was a key figure in both the First Wizarding War and the Second Wizarding War. He was responsible for the murders of several members of the Order of the Phoenix, including Gideon Prewett, Fabian Prewett, and Remus Lupin. His signature magical attack was a unique, non-verbal curse that caused severe internal injury.

Dolohov was one of Lord Voldemort's original followers and gained a reputation for his sadism. He participated in numerous atrocities, most notably the brutal murders of Gideon Prewett and Fabian Prewett, formidable wizards who, according to 'Mad-Eye' Moody, “fought like heroes” and required five Death Eaters, including Dolohov, to be taken down. Following Lord Voldemort's first defeat in 1981, Dolohov was captured. His name was given to the Council of Magical Law by a captured Igor Karkaroff, who offered information in exchange for his own freedom. Dolohov was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.

In January 1996, Dolohov was among the ten high-security Death Eaters who staged a mass breakout from Azkaban. He rejoined Lord Voldemort and participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in June of that year. During the battle, he duelled Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom. He broke Harry's nose and Neville's wand before striking Hermione with a unique purple flame curse. Because Dolohov had been struck by a Silencing Charm just moments before, the curse was not fully potent, but it still incapacitated Hermione. Dolohov was eventually stunned by Harry and recaptured by the Ministry of Magic, returning him to Azkaban. Dolohov escaped Azkaban for a second time in the summer of 1997 and was present at the Death Eater meeting held at Malfoy Manor. Shortly after, he and fellow Death Eater Thorfinn Rowle tracked Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione to a café on Tottenham Court Road. In the ensuing duel, Dolohov was stunned by Harry. Hermione then wiped both his and Rowle's memories of the encounter before they could report back to Voldemort. Dolohov's final significant action was his participation in the Battle of Hogwarts on 2 May 1998. During the fighting, he murdered Remus Lupin. He was last seen duelling Professor Flitwick and was ultimately defeated. His fate after the battle is unknown, but he was likely killed or captured and returned to Azkaban.

Antonin Dolohov is described as having a long, pale, and twisted face. During his first imprisonment, his Azkaban number, visible in a Daily Prophet photograph, was “ninety-seven”. He often wore a sneering or taunting expression in battle. Dolohov was a deeply cruel and sadistic wizard who appeared to take pleasure in torturing and murdering his opponents. He was also fiercely loyal to Lord Voldemort, rejoining his master immediately after both of his escapes from Azkaban. Despite his loyalty, he was not immune to Voldemort's wrath, who was said to have punished him severely for his failure to capture Harry Potter in the Tottenham Court Road ambush. He was a confident and highly skilled duellist, though his arrogance sometimes led to his defeat.

• Dark Arts: Dolohov was an exceptionally powerful wizard with a mastery of the Dark Arts. His knowledge extended to creating his own unique and dangerous curses.
• Duelling: He was a formidable duellist, capable of holding his own against multiple opponents and defeating powerful wizards like the Prewett brothers and Remus Lupin.
• Non-Verbal Magic: Dolohov was highly proficient in casting spells non-verbally, a mark of a very skilled and disciplined wizard. He used this ability to great effect during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
• Signature Curse: Dolohov's most notable spell was a curse that manifested as a jet of purple flame. It caused no visible external injuries but inflicted catastrophic internal damage. When he used it on Hermione Granger, she was only saved from death because Dolohov had been magically silenced, which weakened the curse's effect.

• Wand: Dolohov's only known possession was his wand. The original was taken by Harry Potter after the duel in the café on Tottenham Court Road. Dolohov presumably acquired a new wand before the Battle of Hogwarts. The specifications of either wand are unknown.

Dolohov was a senior and respected member within the ranks of the Death Eaters. He often fought alongside comrades like Augustus Rookwood and Thorfinn Rowle. His primary relationship was with Lord Voldemort, whom he served with unwavering loyalty. His greatest enemies were the members of the Order of the Phoenix, many of whom he fought and killed.

• Antonin: A name of Slavic origin, common in Eastern Europe.
• Dolohov: The surname is likely a reference to Fyodor Dolokhov, a character from Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. Tolstoy's Dolokhov is a cold, ruthless, and violent soldier known for his cruelty and skill in duelling, traits that parallel Antonin Dolohov's character.

• In the film adaptations, Antonin Dolohov is portrayed by actor Arben Bajraktaraj in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. (film)
• While the book does not explicitly state who killed Remus Lupin, J.K. Rowling confirmed in an interview after the publication of Deathly Hallows that it was Antonin Dolohov who murdered him. (J.K. Rowling interview)