is a
Fictional Character in the ''
Harry Potter '' series of books, an ex-
Auror working for the
Order Of The Phoenix .
Moody is perhaps the most famous
Auror in modern times, single-handedly responsible for capturing numerous wizard criminals. He has lost several body parts, including an
Eye ,
Leg , and part of his
Nose in fighting practitioners of the Dark Arts, and is cautious—some might say paranoid— he refuses to eat or drink anything which he himself has not prepared 'as it is all too easy to poison an unattended cup.' He is particularly conspicuous because of his peculiar magical eye which can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees and see through walls, doors, and the back of his own head (hence the nickname "Mad-Eye").
Brendan Gleeson plays Moody on screen in ''
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire '' and in ''
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix. ''
in ''
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire ''.]]
In ''
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire '', Moody was appointed as the
Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher at
Hogwarts . Before the school year began, however, he was locked up in a chest by
Barty Crouch Jr , a faithful follower of
Voldemort , who used a
Polyjuice Potion to take his form in order to replace him. Moody owes his life to the fact that one ingredient of the Polyjuice Potion is a part of the person whose form is to be assumed, such as a tuft of hair. Crouch Jr. needed to keep him alive, under the Imperius Curse, so he would be able to use his hair in the potion and question him. Moody's habit of carrying his own drink in a private hip flask allowed Crouch to take the Potion regularly without raising suspicion.
On the night of the final task, Crouch attempted to kill
Harry , but was stopped by
Albus Dumbledore ,
Minerva McGonagall and
Severus Snape . Having neglected to take his hourly dose of potion, Crouch returned to his own appearance and, under the influence of
Veritaserum , he admitted everything, and Dumbledore rescued the real Moody who was locked in his own magical trunk. A
Dementor takes Crouch's soul before he can repeat his story to
Cornelius Fudge .
Harry first meets the genuine Moody just prior to his fifth year at
Hogwarts , in ''
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix ''. In that book, Moody has joined the newly re-formed
Order Of The Phoenix , and is usually accompanied by fellow Order members
Nymphadora Tonks and
Remus Lupin , especially while protecting Harry. He appears at the climax of that book, along with Lupin, Tonks,
Kingsley Shacklebolt and
Sirius Black . He also appears with Lupin and Tonks at the very end, when they give the Dursleys a severe talking-to.
His only appearance in
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince is at the end, when he attends
Albus Dumbledore 's funeral.
Alastor ("avenger") is a household god in
Greek Myth called on by families to visit fury upon those who have wronged them.
In a slight alteration made for the film, Moody's nose is still intact. In the book, he blames
Evan Rosier for the loss of the end of his nose. In the film, he blames Rosier for the loss of his eye instead. In such cases, Rowling's version of the events (written in the books) are always considered canon, or correct.
His name may derive from
Aleister Crowley , as there are similarities between them.
