| Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Character | |
| Rodolphus Lestrange | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Dark |
| Eye color | Dark |
| Related Family | Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange |
| Loyalty | Lord Voldemort |
Overview
Rodolphus Lestrange is the husband of Bellatrix Lestrange and brother to Rabastan Lestrange.
Role in the Books
Goblet of Fire
Rodolphus is first mentioned as being a member of a gang of future Death Eaters with his future wife and Severus Snape.
He is seen when Harry, viewing Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve, witnesses Lestrange and other Death Eaters as they are on trial.
Shortly after Lord Voldemort's disappearance, Rodolphus and three other young Death Eaters (his wife, Bellatrix Lestrange, his brother, Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Jr.) attacked Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom, torturing them using the Cruciatus Curse until both lost most of their mental faculties. All four Death Eaters were sentenced to Azkaban prison.
After his rebirth, Voldemort informs the other Death Eaters that the Lestranges will be honored above the others once they are broken out of Azkaban.
Order of the Phoenix
Rodolphus is among the ten Death Eaters to escape from Azkaban around Christmas time. Though his name isn't mentioned his presence later in the book implies that he was one of the escapees.
Later, when the Death Eaters invade the Ministry Lucius Malfoy tells Rodolphus to go with Bellatrix Lestrange to find Harry and the Prophecy once he and his friends escape from their clutches. Though he does not do anything noteworthy it is presumed that he takes part in the chase and likely battled against the Order of the Phoenix. It can be assumed that he was captured and sent back to Azkaban following the battle.
Half-Blood Prince
Twice, Professor Dumbledore and Harry visit Horace Slughorn's memories of one particular night when Slughorn is meeting with Tom Riddle and his associates. In both memories, Slughorn notes it is eleven o'clock, and says that it is time for the gathered students to head off to bed. He remarks to an Avery and a Lestrange that an essay is due, and they would be given detention if it is turned in late. Note that we mention this Lestrange here because of the name; however, both Rodolphus and Rabastan were born a generation after Voldemort was at Hogwarts. The Lestrange mentioned would therefore most likely be their father.
Deathly Hallows
Rodolphus is only mentioned once in Deathly Hallows, when Nymphadora Tonks (his niece by marriage) says they injured him during her and Ron's flight to the portkey at the Weasleys' Aunt Muriel's.
Harry later mentions to Ron and Hermione that both Bellatrix and Rodolphus were among Voldemort's closest supporters during his first reign of terror.
Strengths
If this can be considered a strength, Rodolphus is aware of the Dark Arts, and exhibits a willingness to use them, as seen when he tortures Alice and Frank Longbottom.
Weaknesses
Relationships with Other Characters
As noted above, he is the husband of Bellatrix (née Black). It is mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that he stood high in the ranks of the Death Eaters during Voldemort's first rise to power.