The Death Eaters

"How many will be brave enough to return when they feel [the Dark Mark on their arms turn black]? And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?"
     -- Lord Voldemort

"When a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em anymore..."
     -- Rubeus Hagrid

The Death Eaters are those wizards who followed Voldemort. There seems to be a fairly small number of them, although the ones that apparate to Voldemort's side when the Dark Mark on their arms summons them may be the inner circle of his strongest supporters only. Some of the Death Eaters have children at Hogwarts.

The Death Eaters have been around in the Wizarding World for some years. Originally, they bore the name 'the Knights of Walpurgis' (1).

• Avery
  The first Death Eater to crack and grovel at Voldemort's feet during the reunion at the Riddle House, having escaped Azkaban by claiming he'd acted under the Imperius Curse. Voldemort responded with the Cruciatus Curse, saying that he wanted 13 years repayment before forgiving the Death Eaters for their lack of belief in him (GF33). When Voldemort later learned from Rookwood that Avery's information about the Department of Mysteries had been wrong - that only he himself or Harry Potter could safely take the prophecy sphere from its resting place - Voldemort punished Avery again (OP26). Avery survived to fight in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Bagman, Ludovic
  Suspected of being a Death Eater but cleared, Bagman was an unwitting part of Rookwood's intelligence network within the Ministry (GF30).
• Black, Regulus
  Cousin of Bellatrix, younger brother of Sirius. Regulus, who shared his parents' pureblood prejudices, joined the Death Eaters willingly because he agreed with their general philosophy, but tried to back out when he realized how far they were prepared to go. He was consequently killed on Voldemort's orders not long before Voldemort's fall (OP6).
• Crabbe
  A large, somewhat dim fellow, father of Vincent Crabbe (GF33). Fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Crouch, Barty (Jr.)
  Participated in the torture of the Longbottoms, for which he was given a life sentence in Azkaban (GF30). Through his family's efforts, he escaped Azkaban Fortress only to be held prisoner by his own father, as he had to be restrained from searching for his old master. Voldemort, learning through a third party of Crouch's survival, rescued him with Wormtail's help. Crouch was given the delicate task of infiltrating Hogwarts, using Polyjuice potion to impersonate Moody, to get at Harry. Crouch was given the Dementor's Kiss before he could be made to give official testimony about Voldemort's return and activities (GF)
• Dolohov, Antonin
  One of the five Death Eaters who murdered Gideon and Fabian Prewett (OP9,35), and who tortured many Muggles and opponents of Voldemort during the first war (GF30). Dolohov was caught shortly after Karkaroff, who named him during his own trial (GF30). Dolohov was sent to Azkaban, but escaped during the mass breakout of January 1996 (OP). Dolohov fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, during which he severely injured Hermione and was only just prevented from killing her (OP35).
• Goyle
  A large, somewhat dim fellow, father of Gregory Goyle (GF33).
• Jugson
  Fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35)
• Karkaroff, Igor
  Captured by "Mad-Eye" Moody after six months' pursuit, by the time Karkaroff came to trial Voldemort had fallen. Facing a life sentence in Azkaban, Karkaroff recanted his allegiance and sold out several other Death Eaters (including Rookwood and Snape) in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Karkaroff became headmaster of Durmstrang Institute (GF). When he realized that Voldemort had returned, Karkaroff fled for his life; his whereabouts are currently unknown (GF30).
• Lestrange, Bellatrix Black
  A member of the pureblood Black family, sister of Narcissa Black Malfoy and Andromeda Black Tonks, married to Rodolphus Lestrange (OP6) She is Sirius Black's first cousin. Voldemort calls her "Bella."
• Lestrange, Rabastan
  Brother of Rodolphus, Rabastan participated in the torture of the Longbottoms, for which he was given a life sentence in in Azkaban (GF27, GF33); he escaped in the mass breakout of January 1996 (OP25). Rabastan fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Lestrange, Rodolphus
  Married to Bellatrix, brother of Rabastan, Rodolphus was one of the Death Eaters who tortured the Longbottoms, for which he was given a life sentence in Azkaban (GF27, GF33). He escaped in the mass breakout of January 1996 along with his wife and brother. Fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Macnair, Walden
  Macnair's respectable front for years was that he was an executioner for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures (PA16). He served as one of Voldemort's envoys to the giants, and appears to have succeeded in persuading them to join forces with his master (OP20). Macnair fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Malfoy, Lucius
  Brother-in-law of Bellatrix Black Lestrange through his wife Narcissa (OP6), Lucius escaped justice after Voldemort's downfall by claiming to have acted under the Imperius Curse (CS), and thereafter worked at maintaining a respectable front. Lucius tormented Muggles for fun at the Quidditch World Cup, but fled in panic when Crouch jr. fired the Dark Mark into the sky (GF). When Voldemort returned in June 1995, Malfoy returned to his old master (GF33).
  
  Lucius served as one of Hogwarts' school governors until 1993, when a complex scheme to discredit Arthur Weasley through one of his children backfired (CS). Lucius still keeps tabs on Hogwarts - far more than most parents seem to - through his son Draco Malfoy, who entered Slytherin in 1991. Indirectly, in fact, Lucius appears to be something of a security risk to Voldemort, since his son has a tendency to be indiscreet when attempting to score off rivals. Lucius was in command of the Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries in his master's absence, reining in his companions to avoid accidental damage to the prophecy sphere. He was captured and sent to Azkaban (OP).
• Mulciber
  Imperius Curse specialist, who had already been captured by the time Karkaroff came to trial - much to Karkaroff's dismay, who was busy trying to trade Mulciber's name for his own freedom (GF30). Fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Nott
  Avoided Azkaban after Voldemort's fall, but attended the "rebirthing party" in June 1995 (GF33). His son Theodore entered Slytherin in 1991 (OP26). Nott fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Pettigrew, Peter "Wormtail"
  This rat Animagus sacrificed his right hand as part of the potion that restored Voldemort to a body, and was given a much stronger silver hand as a replacement (GF33).
• Rookwood, Augustus
  Spy in the Ministry, worked for the Department of Mysteries but had agents throughout the Ministry, not all of whom knew who they were really working for. (For example, Rookwood was an old friend of Ludo Bagman's father, and Bagman passed him information, apparently quite innocently.) Karkaroff named Rookwood during his own trial (GF30), and Rookwood was sent to Azkaban but escaped in the mass breakout of January 1996 (OP25). Rookwood fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35).
• Rosier, Evan
  Killed by Aurors c. 1980, shortly after Karkaroff's capture, while resisting arrest, taking a big chunk out of "Mad-Eye" Moody's nose in the process (GF27, 30).
  Evan = Greek, 'of noble birth', appropriate for a typical Death Eater with pureblood prejudices.
  Rosier is the name of a fallen angel (formerly holding the rank of Dominion in the angelic hierarchy). This demon may appear as either a man or a woman, and is a kind of patron devil of tainted love and seduction, especially noted for assuming a human form of great physical beauty.
• Snape, Severus
  Turned spy for the Order of the Phoenix, having apparently completely broken away from Death Eaters (GF30).
• Travers
  Murdered the McKinnons, according to Karkaroff during his own trial (GF30).
• Wilkes
  Killed by Aurors c. 1980 (GF27)
  
  [1] JKR made this comment during the Jeremy Paxman interview on the BBC, Thursday night, June 19, 2003, while looking at some of her notes on the books: "...here is the history of the Death Eaters and I don't know that I'll ever actually need it -- but at some point -- which were once called something different -- they were called the Knights of Walpurgis. I don't know if I'll need it. But I like knowing it. I like to keep that sort of stuff on hand."
  
  This is a play on "Walpurgis Night" -- April 30th, named for Saint Walpurga (whose feast day is the next day, 1 May, and who is the protectress against witchcraft and sorcery). On Walpurgis Night, witches are supposed to meet in the Harz mountains, especially near the highest point. Incidentally, Walpurgis Night stands opposite the calendar from Halloween. -- MLW

Dumbledore's Army

When Professor Umbridge refused to allow her students to actually perform any magic but merely to read the theory behind it, Hermione came up with the idea of Harry teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to a group of willing students outside of class. He agreed somewhat reluctantly and the group held an initial meeting at the Hog's Head tavern in Hogsmeade. After that, Dobby helped Harry find a room called the Room of Requirement and the group began to hold regular training sessions. They decided to call themselves the DA, which initially stood for Defense Association but which quickly was changed to Dumbledore's Army. 

The members of the group signed a parchment which, unbeknowst to them, was jinxed. If any of them revealed what was happening, they would suffer a serious attack of pimples on their faces. In order to alert the members to an upcoming meeting, each person was given a fake Galleon. The serial numbers of the fake Galleon would change to show the date and time of the upcoming session and the Galleon would become warm.

Over the course of the year, the members of the DA learned a variety of spells, jinxes, and charms, including the simple ones like Expelliarmus, and some very difficult ones, like the Patronus Charm. Even Neville and the Creevey brothers became quite accomplished, thanks to careful teaching by Harry. When several members of the DA accompanied Harry, Ron, and Hermione to London on thestrals to attempt to rescue Sirius Black, the found themselves engaged in a pitched battle with a group of Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. They fought bravely and well, suffering a number of injuries while defending Harry. None of the group was killed, thankfully, due to the timely arrival of members of the Order of the Phoenix. 

Members of Dumbledore's Army

• Abbott, Hannah
• Brown, Lavender
• Bell, Katie
• Bones, Susan
  Had heard about Harry's Patronus from her Aunt, Amelia Bones. 
• Boot, Terry
• Chang, Cho
• Corner, Michael
  Only came in the first place because he was going out with Ginny. Complimented Harry on his performance in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. 
• Creevey, Colin
• Creevey, Dennis
  Who as a second-year student should not have been able to go to Hogsmeade and visit the Hog's Head, nor able to do the spells! 
• Edgecombe, Marietta
  Turned traitor and reported the group to Umbridge and suffered for it. 
• Finch-Fletchley, Justin
• Finnegan, Seamus
  Joined later. 
• Goldstein, Anthony
• Granger, Hermione
  Organized things and created the clever charms and jinxes which protected them. Wounded in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. 
• Johnson, Angelina
• Jordan, Lee
• Longbottom, Neville
  Suffered a broken wand and a broken nose in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. 
• Lovegood, Luna
  Fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, the only non-Gryffindor D.A. member to do so. 
• Macmillan, Ernie
  Considered this to be the most important thing they were doing this year, not excepting O.W.L.s 
• Patil, Padma
• Patil, Parvati
• Potter, Harry
  Served as the leader and the teacher for the group. 
• Smith, Zacharias
  Initially reluctant but he came around. 
• Spinnet, Alicia
• Thomas, Dean
• Weasley, Fred
• Weasley, George
• Weasley, Ginny
  Wounded in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. 
• Weasley, Ron
  Wounded in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.