Yaxley

Yaxley was a pure-blood wizard and a prominent, ruthless Death Eater who served Lord Voldemort during both the First and Second Wizarding Wars. Known for his cruelty and strong belief in pure-blood supremacy, he played a critical role in the Death Eater takeover of the Ministry of Magic during the Second Wizarding War by placing Pius Thicknesse under the Imperius Curse. He was a high-ranking and active follower of the Dark Lord, participating in several key battles and operations.

Yaxley was one of the original Death Eaters who followed Lord Voldemort during his first rise to power. When Igor Karkaroff was captured and tried before the Wizengamot, he named Yaxley as a fellow Death Eater in a desperate attempt to bargain for his own freedom. Despite this, Yaxley managed to evade capture and imprisonment in Azkaban following Voldemort's initial downfall, maintaining his position within wizarding society.

Yaxley was among the loyal followers who answered Lord Voldemort's summons and returned to him at the cemetery in Little Hangleton following the Dark Lord's rebirth. He was present at the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, where he was seen duelling with Filius Flitwick after the death of Albus Dumbledore. His most significant contribution to Voldemort's cause was the successful infiltration of the Ministry of Magic. Yaxley placed Pius Thicknesse, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, under a powerful Imperius Curse. This allowed the Death Eaters to control Thicknesse, who was subsequently made Minister for Magic after the murder of Rufus Scrimgeour. With the Ministry under their control, Yaxley was appointed as the new Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In this capacity, he worked alongside Dolores Umbridge to lead the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, presiding over cruel interrogations and show trials of Muggle-born witches and wizards. When Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger infiltrated the Ministry to retrieve Salazar Slytherin's Locket, Yaxley pursued them relentlessly. As Hermione Disapparated with Harry and Ron, Yaxley managed to grab hold of her arm, forcing him along with them via Side-Along Apparition to their secret headquarters at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Although he was shaken off before he could fully see where he was, his presence broke the Fidelius Charm on the location, compromising its safety and forcing the trio to abandon it as a hideout. Yaxley later fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, where he was defeated in a duel by the combined efforts of George Weasley and Lee Jordan.

Yaxley is described as having a “brutally coarse face.” He was a cruel, arrogant, and highly prejudiced individual, utterly convinced of the superiority of pure-blood wizards. He demonstrated a ruthless dedication to Lord Voldemort's cause and showed no hesitation in tormenting or persecuting those he deemed inferior, particularly Muggle-borns. He also displayed a degree of rivalry with other Death Eaters, such as his open questioning of Severus Snape's allegiance and value to the Dark Lord.

• Dark Arts: As a Death Eater, Yaxley was highly proficient in the Dark Arts.
• Imperius Curse: He was exceptionally skilled with the Imperius Curse, capable of maintaining it on a powerful wizard like Pius Thicknesse for an extended period, which proved crucial to Voldemort's takeover of the Ministry.
• Duelling: Yaxley was a competent duellist, having fought against formidable opponents like Filius Flitwick at the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and participating in the final Battle of Hogwarts.
• Apparition: He was able to perform Side-Along Apparition by force, latching onto Hermione Granger as she Disapparated from the Ministry of Magic.

• Wand: Yaxley possessed a wand, though its wood, core, and length are unknown.
• Dark Mark: As a sworn follower of Lord Voldemort, he bore the Dark Mark on his left forearm.

• Lord Voldemort: Yaxley was a loyal and subservient follower of Lord Voldemort, eager to prove his worth and carry out his master's commands.
• Severus Snape: Yaxley was openly suspicious of Snape, questioning him at a Death Eater meeting about Harry Potter's removal from the Dursleys' home and expressing doubt about Snape's information.
• Dolores Umbridge: He worked closely with Umbridge at the Ministry of Magic, sharing a cruel and sadistic pleasure in persecuting Muggle-borns through the Muggle-Born Registration Commission.
• Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger: Yaxley was a dedicated enemy of the trio. He actively hunted them and was responsible for revealing the location of their headquarters at Grimmauld Place.

“Yaxley” is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from a place name. It is composed of the Old English geac (cuckoo) or gæc and leah (wood, clearing). The name translates to “cuckoo's wood” or “cuckoo's clearing.” There is no known direct symbolism connecting this to the character's nature.

• In the film adaptations, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2, Yaxley is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Mullan.
• In the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Yaxley's role is expanded. He is shown to be the one who breaks the protective enchantments around The Burrow during the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, leading to the Death Eater attack, an event that does not occur in the novel. (film)
• In the same film, Yaxley is also shown stopping the Hogwarts Express to search for Harry Potter, which is another scene created for the movie. (film)