Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour’s untold sacrifice in Harry Potter

By Joseph Hayes | Aug 15, 2018

A look at the untold and very brave sacrifice Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour made in order to help save Harry Potter and ultimately defeat evil.

There are some moments in the Harry Potter series where the illustrious trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron understand how the Wizarding War affects those they never really knew. One example of this is Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff student who had all of her relatives murdered over the course of the Wizarding War, with her aunt, Amelia Bones, who was at Harry’s Wizengamot hearing being personally murdered by Voldemort himself because of her great skill.

Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour is arguably another example. He is described in the books as weather-beaten and looking “rather like an old lion”. It is also noted that by the time of the Seventh book he has considerably aged in appearance no doubt by the stress of having to deal with combating arguably the most dangerous Dark Wizard of all time!

More from Harry Potter

Scrimgeour takes over the Ministry of Magic after his predecessor Cornelius Fudge and is far-more proactive against the dark forces of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, with even the Muggle Prime Minister noting this. Unlike Fudge, Scrimgeour never denies that Voldemort has returned and in fact sought Harry’s help several times. Although he does this at rather tactless moments such as Dumbledore’s funeral!

Scrimgeour was not without fault, like Fudge he was suspicious of Dumbledore, although this mistrust was not returned with Dumbledore commentating to Harry that Scrimgeour was more “decisive and forceful” than his predecessor.

Nevertheless, Scrimgeour could be very gruff at times particularly when he distributed Dumbledore’s possessions to Harry, Hermione, and Ron, acting in a rather rude manner to the three of them. However, given the dangerous situation, Scrimgeour was in, this was understandable. When the Minister did let his emotions get the best of him, in his arguments with Harry, he did show remorse for this outburst.

More: Learn how to make your very own Harry Potter Lego Chocolate Frog Card

However, where Scrimgeour truly showed his character was in his last moments. Voldemort had himself recognized Scrimgeour posed a formidable threat that was perhaps impervious to the Imperius Curse and had to undermine the Minister of Magic from within to destroy Scrimgeour. The fact that Voldemort had to, it seems, kill Scrimgeour himself is a testament to his courage.

The books do not detail Scrimgeour downfall but just Kingsley Shacklebolt’s public declaration via Patronus that this had indeed occurred. What is however certain is that Scrimgeour refused to yield to Voldemort and according to Arthur Weasley despite torture, the Minister never betrayed Harry.

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

It goes without saying that Voldemort was incredibly powerful and knew a vast array of evil curses to match his sadistic personality. Yet in the face of all of this Scrimgeour refused to give in. This perhaps ranks his sheer resilience even higher than the Longbottoms who had held out considerably against Bellatrix Lestrange.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron, despite not having had an agreeable relationship with the Minister, do acknowledge this. It is noted in The Deathly Hallows that they ‘had never liked Scrimgeour much, but if what Lupin said was true, the man’s final act had been to try to protect Harry.’

Next. Deadpool is a Hufflepuff. dark

So, although Scrimgeour was a flawed character that had been secretive and gruff, his life, and particularly his death, were as brave as any of those in the Order of the Phoenix. Like Amelia Bones, the Death Eaters needed Voldemort to kill Scrimgeour.

Home/Harry Potter