Notable Practitioners
There is no one type of dark practitioner. A Dark Wizard or Witch is “any magical person who primarily studies and/or practices the Dark Arts.” Many dark wizards practice the use of the Unforgiveable curses, discussed in a previous lesson, use/create dark objects such as Horcruxes or dark potions. Others that could be included in the category of Dark Wizards are owners and customers of shops on Knockturn Alley, and many would argue that the students of Durmstrang Institute, as they base their curriculum on Dark Arts. However, we also know that generally "good" witches and wizards, such as Harry Potter himself, practiced dark magic. For today's lesson, though, we will focus on those who made significant contributions to the field or were otherwise noteworthy (typically people who dedicated their lives to the practice rather than occasional use).
Herpo the Foul
Herpo the Foul was an Ancient Greek wizard, of the Dark variety. Herpo was one of the first known Dark Wizards, and did a lot in the field of dark magic. The first ever successfully hatched Basilisk was hatched by him, and he also is credited with inventing many vile curses. Herpo was a Parselmouth. In Ancient Greek, Herpo’s name literally translates to “creeping animal,” and would have been pronounced “Herpoton.”
Herpo the Foul is also the first wizard known to create a Horcrux (likely murdering someone in the process) and most likely invented the process to do so. It is more than plausible that the creation would have left his soul very unstable. The circumstances of Herpo’s death are unknown. For him to die his Horcrux would have had to been destroyed as well, and that information is also unknown.
As Herpo was a Parselmouth, we can safely assume that Salazar Slytherin was a descendent of his, as it is mentioned that most Parselmouths are related to Slytherin in some way. Slytherin and Herpo also share other similarities, such as their breeding of Basilisks, and their similarity in appearance.
Gellert Grindelwald
Considered the second most powerful dark wizard (only behind Tom Riddle), Grindelwald was born in 1882, and schooled at Durmstrang Institute until he was expelled for, in the words of Albus Dumbledore, ‘twisted experiments.’ He was friends with Dumbledore, and the two had plans to find the Deathly Hallows and become masters of death. Their friendship fell apart after they were involved in a three-way duel, the third member being Aberforth Dumbledore, that resulted in the Dumbledore’s sister, Ariana’s, death.
Grindelwald didn’t stop searching for the Deathly Hallows after that, and stole the Elder Wand from Gregorovitch. He did not kill or torture people for fun, but was wanted for numerous other crimes along with his followers.
In 1945, Albus Dumbledore confronted and defeated him in a duel, causing Dumbledore to become the Elder Wand’s master. Grindelwald was put under ‘house arrest’ in his own fortress for decades after that. His death came in 1998 when Tom Riddle, now known as Voldemort, came after him in search for the Elder Wand. Grindelwald had refused to give up any information.
Tom Marvolo Riddle
Ah, yes. Here we are, at the most notable dark wizard in centuries....
Tom Marvolo riddle was born in December of 1926, a half-blood wizard, to Tom Riddle Sr., a muggle, and Merope Gaunt, a pure-blood wizard. Due to complications, his mother died shortly after his birth. Tom Riddle Sr. was tricked into the relationship by Merope Gaunt, who used love potions on him regularly. She stopped using them at some point, most likely in hopes that he had fallen in love with her or would stay for the sake of their child. It did not work, and Tom Marvolo Riddle was forced to grow up in an orphanage. The orphanage had no idea that Tom Riddle was magical, but Riddle did to an extent and had a good grasp on the understanding of his abilities. He regularly used these abilities to manipulate animals and cause them to inflict pain on other orphans in the orphanage.
Dumbledore approached the orphanage when Riddle was 11 years of age and informed him of his wizardry. After disbelief of the boy, Dumbledore demonstrated by using a flame-freezing charm on his cupboard. Dumbledore commented on how “it was clear Tom displayed a desire to be different…. From others.”
Tom went to Hogwarts from 1938-1945, in the house of Slytherin. During those years, he opened the Chamber of Secrets, specifically in his 5th year and discovered the basilisk inside. It injured many during that year, including killing a young girl by the name of Myrtle Warren. Because of this incident, Hogwarts was deemed that Hogwarts would be closed. Tom had wanted to stay at Hogwarts over Summer break, but if Hogwarts was to be closed, then he would not be able too. He immediately found a way to fix it, and this way was blaming Rubeus Hagrid, who was then expelled.
It was during this year that Riddle was trying to learn about his wizard roots. He came to the conclusion that his father was the muggle parent, and in disdain, found something else to be referred to as. Specifically, “I am Lord Voldemort.”
Lord Voldemort spent many years gathering followers for the next Wizard War. They were called “Death Eaters.” Members joined for many reasons: hate for Muggles and Muggle-born wizards, greed, wealth and fame, and some out of fear.
Herpo the Foul
Herpo the Foul was an Ancient Greek wizard, of the Dark variety. Herpo was one of the first known Dark Wizards, and did a lot in the field of dark magic. The first ever successfully hatched Basilisk was hatched by him, and he also is credited with inventing many vile curses. Herpo was a Parselmouth. In Ancient Greek, Herpo’s name literally translates to “creeping animal,” and would have been pronounced “Herpoton.”
Herpo the Foul is also the first wizard known to create a Horcrux (likely murdering someone in the process) and most likely invented the process to do so. It is more than plausible that the creation would have left his soul very unstable. The circumstances of Herpo’s death are unknown. For him to die his Horcrux would have had to been destroyed as well, and that information is also unknown.
As Herpo was a Parselmouth, we can safely assume that Salazar Slytherin was a descendent of his, as it is mentioned that most Parselmouths are related to Slytherin in some way. Slytherin and Herpo also share other similarities, such as their breeding of Basilisks, and their similarity in appearance.
Gellert Grindelwald
Considered the second most powerful dark wizard (only behind Tom Riddle), Grindelwald was born in 1882, and schooled at Durmstrang Institute until he was expelled for, in the words of Albus Dumbledore, ‘twisted experiments.’ He was friends with Dumbledore, and the two had plans to find the Deathly Hallows and become masters of death. Their friendship fell apart after they were involved in a three-way duel, the third member being Aberforth Dumbledore, that resulted in the Dumbledore’s sister, Ariana’s, death.
Grindelwald didn’t stop searching for the Deathly Hallows after that, and stole the Elder Wand from Gregorovitch. He did not kill or torture people for fun, but was wanted for numerous other crimes along with his followers.
In 1945, Albus Dumbledore confronted and defeated him in a duel, causing Dumbledore to become the Elder Wand’s master. Grindelwald was put under ‘house arrest’ in his own fortress for decades after that. His death came in 1998 when Tom Riddle, now known as Voldemort, came after him in search for the Elder Wand. Grindelwald had refused to give up any information.
Tom Marvolo Riddle
Ah, yes. Here we are, at the most notable dark wizard in centuries....
Tom Marvolo riddle was born in December of 1926, a half-blood wizard, to Tom Riddle Sr., a muggle, and Merope Gaunt, a pure-blood wizard. Due to complications, his mother died shortly after his birth. Tom Riddle Sr. was tricked into the relationship by Merope Gaunt, who used love potions on him regularly. She stopped using them at some point, most likely in hopes that he had fallen in love with her or would stay for the sake of their child. It did not work, and Tom Marvolo Riddle was forced to grow up in an orphanage. The orphanage had no idea that Tom Riddle was magical, but Riddle did to an extent and had a good grasp on the understanding of his abilities. He regularly used these abilities to manipulate animals and cause them to inflict pain on other orphans in the orphanage.
Dumbledore approached the orphanage when Riddle was 11 years of age and informed him of his wizardry. After disbelief of the boy, Dumbledore demonstrated by using a flame-freezing charm on his cupboard. Dumbledore commented on how “it was clear Tom displayed a desire to be different…. From others.”
Tom went to Hogwarts from 1938-1945, in the house of Slytherin. During those years, he opened the Chamber of Secrets, specifically in his 5th year and discovered the basilisk inside. It injured many during that year, including killing a young girl by the name of Myrtle Warren. Because of this incident, Hogwarts was deemed that Hogwarts would be closed. Tom had wanted to stay at Hogwarts over Summer break, but if Hogwarts was to be closed, then he would not be able too. He immediately found a way to fix it, and this way was blaming Rubeus Hagrid, who was then expelled.
It was during this year that Riddle was trying to learn about his wizard roots. He came to the conclusion that his father was the muggle parent, and in disdain, found something else to be referred to as. Specifically, “I am Lord Voldemort.”
Lord Voldemort spent many years gathering followers for the next Wizard War. They were called “Death Eaters.” Members joined for many reasons: hate for Muggles and Muggle-born wizards, greed, wealth and fame, and some out of fear.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…And the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...."
—Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy
At the time, when Riddle heard this prophecy, there were two children born to fulfill that prophecy: Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter. Voldemort targeted Harry Potter. The Potters went into hiding, with a secret keeper to keep them hidden: Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew gave up where they were and Voldemort went after them. James and Lily Potter both were killed, but Harry, due to protection from his mother, survived with just a scar on his forehead. Voldemort, with an unstable soul, was defeated and sent into hiding.
Years later, in 1994, Peter Pettigrew helped Lord Voldemort create first a rudimentary body until they could acquire the materials to create a real body. He obtained that body at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and unfortunately, Cedric Diggory was killed in the process.
One of Voldemort’s ultimate goals was finding and acquiring possession of the Elder Wand. He first went to Grindelwald in Nurmengard to gain information, but didn’t get any information and killed Grindelwald in rage. He did, however, deduct that Dumbledore had been in possession, and Voldemort received the wand by breaking into Dumbledore’s tomb.
I’m not going to go into detail about the Battle of Hogwarts, as that is for another class. In simple terms, Voldemort accidentally killed himself by trying to kill Harry Potter, the new master of the Elder Wand, with the Elder Wand.
Death Eaters
The Death Eaters were loyal followers of Lord Voldemort. They mostly consisted of wizards and witches who were pure blood supremacists, and practiced Dark Arts without fear of the law. Voldemort used this group of people in both Wizard Wars.
Notable members include:
· Bartimous Crouch Jr.
· Bellatrix Lestrange
· Draco Malfoy (defected)
· Lucius Malfoy (defected)
· Severus Snape (defected)
· Yaxley
· And imperiused members such as Pius Thicknesse and Stanley Shunpike.
Morgan le Fay - Morgan le Fay was a witch born in the Middle Ages, the half- sister of King Arthur. She was a monarch, and ruled over the island of Avalon. Besides her knowledge in the Dark Arts, she was a very skilled Healer and an animagus. It is unknown exactly when she died, and she is on Chocolate Frog card #17.
Merwyn the Malicious
Merwyn the Malicious was a medieval Dark Wizard. He is credited with creating many, many unpleasant jinxes and hexes. He had a hooked wand, and appeared on a bronze Chocolate Frog card. There is a portrait of him at Hogwarts, guarding a secret passageway in which the password is “Malevolence.”
Years later, in 1994, Peter Pettigrew helped Lord Voldemort create first a rudimentary body until they could acquire the materials to create a real body. He obtained that body at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and unfortunately, Cedric Diggory was killed in the process.
One of Voldemort’s ultimate goals was finding and acquiring possession of the Elder Wand. He first went to Grindelwald in Nurmengard to gain information, but didn’t get any information and killed Grindelwald in rage. He did, however, deduct that Dumbledore had been in possession, and Voldemort received the wand by breaking into Dumbledore’s tomb.
I’m not going to go into detail about the Battle of Hogwarts, as that is for another class. In simple terms, Voldemort accidentally killed himself by trying to kill Harry Potter, the new master of the Elder Wand, with the Elder Wand.
Death Eaters
The Death Eaters were loyal followers of Lord Voldemort. They mostly consisted of wizards and witches who were pure blood supremacists, and practiced Dark Arts without fear of the law. Voldemort used this group of people in both Wizard Wars.
Notable members include:
· Bartimous Crouch Jr.
· Bellatrix Lestrange
· Draco Malfoy (defected)
· Lucius Malfoy (defected)
· Severus Snape (defected)
· Yaxley
· And imperiused members such as Pius Thicknesse and Stanley Shunpike.
Morgan le Fay - Morgan le Fay was a witch born in the Middle Ages, the half- sister of King Arthur. She was a monarch, and ruled over the island of Avalon. Besides her knowledge in the Dark Arts, she was a very skilled Healer and an animagus. It is unknown exactly when she died, and she is on Chocolate Frog card #17.
Merwyn the Malicious
Merwyn the Malicious was a medieval Dark Wizard. He is credited with creating many, many unpleasant jinxes and hexes. He had a hooked wand, and appeared on a bronze Chocolate Frog card. There is a portrait of him at Hogwarts, guarding a secret passageway in which the password is “Malevolence.”