Alecto Carrow was a Dark Witch who practiced Dark Arts and was a Death Eater. Along with her, Amycus was chosen as a Deputy Headmistress when Severus Snape became the Headmaster of Hogwarts after the death of Dumbledore. She was also chosen to be the Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts after the death of Charity Burbage. Alecto Carrow joined the ranks of Death Eaters and helped Lord Voldemort during the First Wizarding War. However, she and her brother Amycus made no attempt to inquire about the Dark lord after his sudden disappearance in Godric’s Hollow in 1981. They later reunited with Voldemort when he returned in 1995, and they both took part in the Second Wizarding War.
Early Life
Alecto Carrow was born into the Carrow family in Great Britain. It is highly likely that the Carrow family was a Pure-blooded family that shared the Pure-blood supremacy values that made it easy for Alecto to join Voldemort’s cause. Alecto had a brother named Amycus, who was also a Death Eater. She attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry along with her brother Amycus. It is possible that they went to school at the same time. She was sorted into Slytherin house like her brother Amycus. After graduating from Hogwarts, Alecto, and Amycus joined Lord Voldemort and became Death Eaters.
Death Eater
Alecto Carrow was a Death Eater and helped Lord Voldemort and his cause during the First Wizarding War. However, after the disappearance and first downfall of Lord Voldemort under suspicious circumstances, no attempts were made by Alecto Carrow or her brother Amycus to find him. They weren’t arrested or sentenced to imprisonment in Azkaban as they were cleared of all charges. However, during Voldemort’s return in 1995, they joined the ranks with other Death Eaters. As the Second Wizarding War began, they actively participated in the war and were among the Death Eaters who helped kidnap and kill several wizards, witches, and Muggles.
Alecto was present in Hogwarts on the day of the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. She giggled at Albus Dumbledore after her brother Amycus made a remark about Dumbledore’s age. After Severus Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, Alecto tried to escape from the Astronomy Tower and fought Harry Potter on the castle grounds. Eventually, she escaped from the castle grounds with her brother Amycus and Thorfinn Rowle, another Death Eater.
Professor of Muggle Studies
Alecto Carrow was eventually made the Muggle Studies teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the death of Albus Dumbledore and the fall of the Ministry of Magic. During Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she and her brother Amycus were appointed Deputy Headmasters in Hogwarts along with Severus Snape becoming the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Alecto was known for her strong views on Muggles, and she started spreading misinformation about Muggles being dirty and dangerous as soon as she came to Hogwarts. Alecto and her Amycus would employ brutal methods as punishment for students who didn’t comply with their orders, including making other students practice the Cruciatus Curse on them. Neville Longbottom was one of the students who didn’t agree to these punishments and was severely punished by Alecto and Amycus Carrow.
The Fall of Alecto
The Carrows were responsible for keeping vigil in the castle at night, especially after there were rumors of sightings of Harry Potter in Hogsmeade. Harry Potter eventually broke into Hogwarts with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger with the help of Neville. The trio came to Hogwarts in search of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Harry eventually decided to break into the Ravenclaw common room inside the Ravenclaw tower with Luna Lovegood as the Horcrux they were looking for was the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw. However, Alecto suspected something and stood guard there. She eventually saw Harry and immediately touched her Dark Mark, but Luna stunned her. Later, Professor McGonagall advised Harry to hide under his Invisibility Cloak.
Alecto’s brother Amycus saw his sister unconscious and was furious. He wanted to blame the call for Voldemort after Alecto touched her Dark Mark on the students, but Professor McGonagall protested and called him a coward. Amycus then spat on her face, which enraged Harry, and Harry used the Cruciatus Curse to torture Amycus. Finally, Professor McGonagall bound Alecto and Amycus and placed them in a corner. They would remain bound throughout the duration of the Battle of Hogwarts, which is why they never got to take part in it.
It is not known if Alecto and Amycus were arrested immediately or if they survived during the Battle of Hogwarts, as a major part of the castle was in ruins. It is highly likely that both Alecto and Amycus were alive after the battle, and they were sent to Azkaban for the rest of their lives. The wizarding world had significantly changed after the death of Lord Voldemort, and the Ministry of Magic also underwent a lot of reforms. Kingsley Shacklebolt was made the new Minister of Magic, and Dementors were sent away from Azkaban.
Muggle Studies and Nazi Propaganda
One of the interesting literary devices used in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling series is a strong parallel drawn between the wizarding community during the reign of Voldemort and Nazi Germany. Alecto Carrow’s subject especially addresses a very similar problem to that of Nazi Germany. Alecto Carrow taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, which was rife with references and instructions about how bad Muggles are and how their mannerisms were “dirty” and “impure.”
The same propaganda instrument was used in Nazi Germany to spread false information and random hatred against Jews. Just like the Pure-blooded fanaticism that governed the rules behind the Muggle Studies classes, Nazi Germany had Eugenics and the idea of the superior race.
FAQs
What did the Carrows do to Neville?
The Carrows were both deputy headmasters in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and were given some power to do as they pleased without consequence. Therefore, they would force students to practice the unforgivable curses, especially the Cruciatus Curse, on students who were in detention. They asked Neville to do the same, and when he disagreed, they hurt him badly. He shows the bruises from the altercation he had with the Carrows to the golden trio.
Did Snape deflect spells to the Carrows?
Yes, Snape did deflect the spells that Minerva McGonagall aimed at him in the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is possible that he wanted to neutralize the threat by incapacitating the Carrows. Severus Snape was a very skilled wizard and knew how to deflect spells without them attacking anyone but he decided to do it anyway to protect Hogwarts from being attacked by the Carrows after he retreated.
Who played Alecto Carrow?
Alecto Carrow was played by the British actress Suzanne Toase in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She was born in Lancashire, England and began acting when she was at the Albany Academy. She also trained as a dancer at the London Studio Centre.
