Igor Karkaroff

Igor Karkaroff was a wizard, the High Master of Durmstrang Institute, and a former Death Eater. He avoided a life sentence in Azkaban by turning informant for the Ministry of Magic after the First Wizarding War. Karkaroff's primary role in the series occurs during the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts, where his cowardice, prejudice, and overwhelming fear of Lord Voldemort's return drive his actions. His eventual flight and subsequent murder serve as a stark reminder of the Dark Lord's unforgiving nature and the fatal consequences of betrayal.

During the First Wizarding War, Karkaroff served as a Death Eater under Lord Voldemort. He was eventually captured by the renowned Auror, Alastor Moody, and put on trial before the Wizengamot. In a memory Harry Potter witnesses in Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve, Karkaroff, desperate to avoid imprisonment in Azkaban, offered the Ministry of Magic information in exchange for his freedom. He provided the names of several fellow Death Eaters, including Antonin Dolohov, Travers, Mulciber, and Augustus Rookwood, the latter of whom was a significant catch as he worked as an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. When he offered the name of Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore had already vouched for Snape's change of allegiance. Karkaroff was subsequently released from custody by Barty Crouch Sr. for his cooperation.

Following his release, Karkaroff became the High Master of the Durmstrang Institute, a wizarding school with a reputation for teaching the Dark Arts. In 1994, he traveled to Hogwarts aboard the Durmstrang Ship with his students, including his champion Viktor Krum, to participate in the revived Triwizard Tournament. Throughout the tournament, Karkaroff acted as a judge, showing blatant favoritism towards Krum while giving unfairly low scores to the other champions, particularly Harry Potter and Fleur Delacour.

As the school year progressed, Karkaroff grew increasingly panicked as his Dark Mark began to grow darker and clearer, signaling Lord Voldemort's impending return to power. He repeatedly confronted Severus Snape, another former Death Eater, about the Mark, but Snape remained dismissive and contemptuous of his fear. Following Voldemort's full restoration to power in the Little Hangleton graveyard, Karkaroff fled, abandoning his position, his champion, and the rest of the Durmstrang delegation at Hogwarts. Voldemort noted his desertion to the gathered Death Eaters, promising that Karkaroff would be hunted down and made to pay for his cowardice and betrayal. Karkaroff managed to evade Voldemort's followers for approximately one year. In the summer of 1996, his body was found in a shack “up north” with the Dark Mark conjured above it, a clear sign that Death Eaters had found and murdered him. Remus Lupin remarked that it was surprising he had survived even that long after deserting the Dark Lord.

Igor Karkaroff was described as a thin, nervous-looking man with a neat, white goatee that did little to conceal his weak chin. He had pouched eyes and an unctuous, oily voice. He typically dressed in sleek, silver furs. Karkaroff's personality was defined by his cowardice and self-interest. He was sycophantic towards people he perceived as powerful, such as Albus Dumbledore, but was cruel and dismissive to others. His fear of Lord Voldemort and Azkaban was his primary motivation. He was also prejudiced and unsporting, as demonstrated by his biased judging during the Triwizard Tournament. As his Dark Mark darkened, he became increasingly agitated and paranoid, ultimately choosing to flee rather than face his former master.

• Dark Arts: As a former Death Eater and the High Master of Durmstrang Institute, which openly taught the Dark Arts, Karkaroff was presumably proficient in this branch of magic.
• Leadership: He held the high-ranking position of High Master, indicating he possessed the authority and magical prowess necessary to lead a major wizarding school.
• Dark Mark: Like other Death Eaters, he bore the Dark Mark on his left forearm. This tattoo-like brand served as a connection to Lord Voldemort, burning and darkening upon his master's return to power.

• Wand: The specifics of Karkaroff's wand, such as its wood, core, and length, are unknown.
• Silver Furs: He was consistently described as wearing expensive, sleek silver furs.
• Durmstrang Ship: He commanded the magical ship that transported the Durmstrang delegation to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament.

• Lord Voldemort: Karkaroff was Voldemort's subordinate during the First Wizarding War. He later betrayed the Dark Lord and many of his followers to save himself, earning Voldemort's eternal wrath. He was executed by Death Eaters on Voldemort's orders.
• Severus Snape: Karkaroff shared a history with Snape as a Death Eater. He sought a fearful alliance with Snape when the Dark Mark began to return, but Snape treated him with cold disdain and showed him no sympathy.
• Alastor Moody: Karkaroff was terrified of the Auror who had originally captured him. This fear was so profound that it was exploited by Barty Crouch Jr., who impersonated Moody using Polyjuice Potion for an entire school year without Karkaroff suspecting the deception.
• Viktor Krum: As Durmstrang's champion, Krum was the subject of Karkaroff's immense pride and favoritism. However, Karkaroff's ultimate act of cowardice was abandoning Krum and his other students at Hogwarts when he fled.

• Igor: A common name in Eastern Europe, particularly Russia. It is derived from the Old Norse name Ingvar, potentially meaning “warrior of Ing,” fitting the headmaster of a school from that region.
• Karkaroff: The suffix “-off” is a common element in Russian surnames. The root, “Karkar,” may be an allusion to the Latin word carcer, meaning “prison” or “jail.” This is highly symbolic of Karkaroff's past imprisonment, his trial, and his defining fear of being sent to Azkaban.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Igor Karkaroff was portrayed by Serbian actor Predrag Bjelac. His appearance in the film is notably different from the books; he is depicted with a shaved head and a more severe, militaristic demeanor, lacking the described goatee (film). The Pensieve scene detailing his trial is omitted from the film, though his past as a Death Eater remains a central part of his character arc (film).