Mary Cattermole

Mary Elizabeth Cattermole was a Muggle-born witch and the wife of Reginald Cattermole, a Ministry of Magic employee. During the height of Lord Voldemort's power in 1997, she was unjustly put on trial by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission on the charge of having “stolen” her magic. Her harrowing experience in the Ministry dungeons and subsequent rescue by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger served as a stark illustration of the cruelty and prejudice of the new regime.

Mary Cattermole was married to Reginald Cattermole and they had three children together: Maisie, Ellie, and Alfred. As a Muggle-born, her life and family were thrown into peril when Lord Voldemort took control of the Ministry of Magic in August 1997. The new administration, led by puppet Minister for Magic Pius Thicknesse, immediately began persecuting witches and wizards of Muggle parentage. On 1 September 1997, Mary was summoned to the Ministry for an “enquiry” into her blood status, a process orchestrated by the newly formed Muggle-Born Registration Commission, headed by Dolores Umbridge. Her husband Reg was meant to accompany her, but he was intercepted by Ron Weasley, who used his identity as a disguise to infiltrate the Ministry. A terrified Mary was found by Hermione Granger (disguised as Mafalda Hopkirk) in a courtroom anteroom, huddled beside Ron (disguised as her husband). She was clutching a leaflet titled MUDBLOODS and the Dangers They Pose to a Peaceful Pure-Blood Society. She tearfully explained to Hermione her fear for her children and that she had been instructed to lie, claiming her father was a wizard. Mary was then led into a courtroom in the Ministry of Magic Dungeons for her trial. The chamber was patrolled by two Dementors, and her interrogators were Dolores Umbridge and Yaxley. Umbridge, wearing Salazar Slytherin's Locket as a display of power, accused Mary of stealing her wand and magic from a real witch. Under the cover of his Invisibility Cloak, Harry Potter became enraged by the injustice. He cast a Patronus to drive away the Dementors and then stunned both Umbridge and Yaxley. After retrieving the locket, Harry revealed himself to a shocked Mary. He urged her to take her husband and children and flee the country, warning her that the Ministry had fallen and she would not be safe. Mary and the other freed Muggle-born prisoners were then guided out of the Ministry by Harry and Hermione, escaping into the Atrium just as the trio Disapparated. Her ultimate fate is unknown, but it is presumed she followed Harry's advice and went into hiding abroad with her family.

Mary Cattermole is described as a small, scared-looking woman with dark hair bundled into a net. During her appearance at the Ministry, she was pale and trembling, her face stained with tears. Her personality is defined by her overwhelming fear for her family's safety. She is portrayed as a loving mother, whose primary concern is being separated from her three young children. Despite her terror, she tried to follow the instructions given to her, demonstrating a submissive and desperate nature in the face of the oppressive regime. She was quick to trust Harry Potter and Hermione Granger once they revealed their intent to help her.

As a qualified witch, Mary Cattermole possessed magical ability, though the extent of her skills is unknown as she is never seen casting a spell. Her ownership of a wand confirms her status as a witch.

• Wand: Mary's wand was ten and a quarter inches long, made of cherry wood, and had a unicorn hair core. Dolores Umbridge used these details during her trial to accuse her of having stolen it.

• Reginald Cattermole: Mary was the wife of Reg Cattermole. Their relationship appeared to be a loving one, and she relied on him for support. She expressed concern when he seemed unwell, unaware that he was actually Ron Weasley in disguise.
• Maisie, Ellie, and Alfred Cattermole: Mary was the devoted mother of three young children. The thought of them being left alone or taken from her was her greatest fear during her interrogation.
• Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger: Mary was the beneficiary of the trio's compassion and bravery. They rescued her from a terrible fate at great personal risk, and she placed her trust in them completely, following their instructions to escape to safety.

• Mary: A traditional and common Hebrew name, Miryam, which has several proposed meanings, including “bitterness” or “rebellion.” However, it is most famously associated with the Virgin Mary, a figure of maternal love, suffering, and grace, which reflects Mrs. Cattermole's role as a persecuted but loving mother.
• Cattermole: An English surname of obscure origin. It could be a portmanteau of “cater,” meaning to provide, and “mole,” a small animal known for burrowing. This could be a subtle nod to the family's status as ordinary providers who are forced to go “underground” or into hiding to survive.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Mary Cattermole is portrayed by actress Kate Fleetwood. Her trial scene is a faithful and dramatic depiction of the events in the novel, visually emphasizing the terror inflicted by the Dementors and the cold cruelty of Dolores Umbridge. (film)