Gawain Robards

Gawain Robards is the Head of the Auror Office who, after the resignation of Cornelius Fudge, becomes the new Minister of Magic. He is a decisive and forceful personality, a man of action who has spent most of his working life fighting Dark wizards and does not underestimate Lord Voldemort. His appointment is largely greeted with enthusiasm by the Wizarding community, though rumors of a rift between him and Albus Dumbledore surface within hours of his taking office.

Career and Rise to Power

Robards previously served as the Head of the Auror Office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In this capacity, he is the successor to Rufus Scrimgeour, who himself rose from that position to become Minister. When Scrimgeour succeeds Fudge, Robards takes over the Auror office. His reputation as a tough, battle-scarred Auror precedes him, and he is seen as a more decisive and forceful leader than his predecessor. He is described as having a lionlike mane of thick hair and a rather ravaged face, and he walks with a slight limp.

Attempted Recruitment of Harry Potter

During a Christmas Day visit to the Burrow, Scrimgeour, accompanied by Percy Weasley, corners Harry Potter in the garden. Scrimgeour reveals that the Ministry wants Harry to be seen "popping in and out of the Ministry from time to time" to give the impression that he is working for them, thereby boosting public morale. He also offers to arrange Harry's ambition to become an Auror "very easily." Harry refuses, stating he does not like some of the Ministry's actions, specifically the imprisonment of Stan Shunpike. When Scrimgeour argues it is Harry's duty to be used by the Ministry, Harry retorts that it is Scrimgeour's duty to check that people really are Death Eaters before imprisoning them. The confrontation ends with Scrimgeour accusing Harry of being "Dumbledore's man through and through," a label Harry proudly accepts.

Relationship with Dumbledore and the Order

Scrimgeour's relationship with Dumbledore is fraught with tension. He demands that Dumbledore arrange a meeting with Harry, a request Dumbledore refuses, leading to a reported argument. Scrimgeour is also intensely curious about Dumbledore's absences from Hogwarts and has even attempted to have him followed, an effort that fails when Dumbledore jinxes the assigned Auror, Dawlish. Despite his hardline stance, Scrimgeour is not a Death Eater; he is a Ministry official trying to manage a war he does not fully understand, and his methods are seen by Dumbledore and Harry as misguided and politically motivated.

Significance and Legacy

Robards represents the Ministry's shift from Fudge's denial to a more aggressive, though still flawed, response to Voldemort's return. His attempt to use Harry as a mascot and his willingness to imprison suspects like Stan Shunpike without solid evidence highlight the Ministry's desperation and its failure to grasp the true nature of the conflict. He is a figure of authority who, despite his good intentions, is ultimately outmaneuvered by Dumbledore and Harry, who refuse to be co-opted into his political agenda.