Albert Runcorn

Albert Runcorn was a British wizard and an important member of the Ministry of Magic during the tenure of Pius Thicknesse. Albert Runcorn was made responsible for filtering Muggle-born wizards and witches and was known for revealing the Muggle ancestry of Dirk Cresswell, a Ministry official. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger try to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic to obtain Lord Voldemort’s Horcrux, which is in possession of Dolores Umbridge, Harry impersonates Albert Runcorn by disguising himself using the Polyjuice Potion.

Birth And Childhood

Very little is known about the birth and childhood of Albert Runcorn except that he was born in Great Britain to the Runcorn family before 1980. It is very likely that he was a Pure-blooded wizard as he openly supported the persecution of Muggle-born wizards during the Thicknesse administration which Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters backed. A political stand such as this is rarely the case for Half-blood or Muggle-born wizards or witches.

Appearance

He was a wizard that was over six feet tall and had a black beard that made him look very intimidating. He also had a deep voice which added to his intimidating features.

Education

It is highly likely that Albert Runcorn attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn magic, as it is the only magical school in the vicinity of his birthplace. It is also likely that Albert Runcorn was sorted into Slytherin house due to his views on blood purity. Alternatively, Albert may have been in one of the other three houses and may have only developed his views on blood purity later in life, which may explain why he was not a Death Eater. 

Ministry Of Magic

Albert Runcorn started working in the Ministry of Magic after he graduated from school. He is believed to have held lower positions earlier but might have quickly sprung up to positions of power alongside his colleague Dolores Umbridge who shared views very similar to his. Very little is known of what Albert Runcorn did in the Ministry of Magic before the death of Rufus Scrimgeour and the Ministry’s new stand against Muggle-borns. However, Albert was a feared man and many wizards and witches in the lower echelons were trying to ride his coattails. Most witches and wizards in high positions and the upper echelons of the wizarding world seemed to treat Albert as their near equal. He was definitely a Ministry of Magic employee of high rank, and as an investigator of alleged Muggle-borns, his chief function granted him great power within the Ministry.

However, it was unclear if Albert Runcorn was directly associated with Voldemort’s camp and with the Death Eaters and completely supported their cause or if his moral judgment and actions were just his tactics for the use of the upheaval to further his own aims and ambitions.

Appearances in the Harry Potter Series

Albert Runcorn first appears in the Harry Potter series when he is surveilled by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger during their planning process to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic to get the Horcrux that is with Dolores Umbridge in the form of a locket. It is eventually decided that Harry will impersonate Albert Runcorn, Hermione will impersonate Mafalda Hopkirk, and Ron will become Reginald Cattermole. 

After feeding Albert Runcorn some Nosebleed Nougat without his knowledge, the trio made sure that he went back home instead of going to the Ministry. Harry had taken some hair off Albert’s head and used it to create the Polyjuice Potion for him to look like Albert. As Harry entered the Atrium of the Ministry as Albert Runcorn, it became obvious that a lot of wizards and witches feared him. An unnamed wizard seemed to fear him as he greeted him nervously and ran away.  

Later when Harry, disguised as Albert, entered the elevator with Hermione as Mafalda and Ron as Reg Cattermole, Harry met Arthur Weasley, who didn’t seem to like Albert much. It is probably because of Runcorn’s revelation about Dirk Cresswell’s lineage. Arthur Weasley was close friends with Dirk, and therefore, he was displeased with Albert’s public revelation of Cresswell being a Muggle-born wizard, as this would put Cresswell’s life in danger.

Harry, disguised as Albert Runcorn, would then enter the office of Dolores Umbridge to search for the Horcrux. In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry uses a multiplying dungbomb to distract Ministry workers from seeing him go inside Umbridge’s office. However, he does not find the Horcrux there and eventually decides to go to the courtroom where Reg Cattermole’s wife is being questioned for being a Muggle-born witch. Although she claims that she is a witch only her folks back home are Muggles, Dolores Umbridge, who is presiding over the trial, claims that she is lying. Harry, disguised as Albert observes that Dolores Umbridge has the Horcrux and immediately attacks her with a spell and snatches it off her. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their respective disguises, along with Reginald Cattermole’s wife, whom they protect from the injustice that was occurring in the court, escape from the Ministry building. It is possible that after this event, at least some wizards or witches might have thought that Albert Runcorn was an accomplice to a plot to save Reginald Cattermole and his wife.

Later Life

Not much is known about Albert Runcorn’s later life. It is highly unlikely that Albert took part in the Battle of Hogwarts along with the Death Eater army. It is possible that all of Runcorn’s actions were motivated by a hefty paycheck and a productive day rather than to cause any harm to Muggle-borns. It is possible that he underwent imprisonment in Azkaban after the Battle of Hogwarts after his crimes against Muggle-born witches and wizards.

Umbridge and Runcorn – The Strange Harry Potter Character Archetype

One of the reasons that Dolores Umbridge and Albert Runcorn fall into a similar character archetype is that they are both not followers of Voldemort or Death Eaters. However, they both commit heinous crimes and fully support and endorse the ways of Voldemort. Furthermore, their actions help them advance in their ambition to accumulate limitless political power. In fact, several Harry Potter fans believe that they hate the character of Umbridge the most despite there being an entire battalion of evildoers in the form of Death Eaters on the list. If Albert Runcorn was known better, it is possible that a lot of fans would have hated him too, as despite not being directly associated with Voldemort or his cause, Albert Runcorn commits a lot of inhumane acts and endorses blood purity.

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