Dorcas Meadowes

Dorcas Meadowes was born into the magical Meadowes family in England, Great Britain. At the age of eleven, she most likely joined Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she studied for seven years and completed her education. It is not known if she was recruited directly from school into the order or if she worked in the Ministry of Magic or somewhere else before being recruited into the original Order of the Phoenix.

It is very likely that Dorcas was an Auror for the Ministry as there was a significant need for highly skilled Aurors in the Order to fight the Death Eaters who were proficient in Dark Magic. It is likely that she was in Gryffindor house, but even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff could be a possibility.

Etymology

The name Dorcas is derived from the Ancient Greek word δορκας (dorkas), which translates to “gazelle.” There is also a reference to the name Dorcas in the Bible. Dorcas was an essential disciple in Joppa who was known as Tabitha in Latin. She was one of the most loved and an important disciple in all of Joppa as she sacrificed her money, time, and abilities for the services of the ones in need. When she died, it is believed that the disciples present in Joppa called Peter, and he prayed for her enough to rise her from the dead.

The surname Meadowes is an English Topographical Surname that is meant to indicate that the people with that surname lived near meadows or the grassland. This surname was of medieval origin.

Physical Appearance

Dorcas Meadowes was a British Witch with a well-built physique. She had dark skin, black hair, and brown eyes. Dorcas’s biography claims that she was highly skilled in several different fields of magic, which probably helped her a lot if she eventually did end up working as an Auror.

Dorcas at Hogwarts

Dorcas Meadowes went to Hogwarts around the same time as Lily Evans, James Potter, and Severus Snape. While Dorcas could be a member of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, it is highly likely that she was a Gryffindor because Mary MacDonald, a friend of both Lily and Dorcas was most likely a Gryffindor and Dorcas shared her dorm room with Mary MacDonald, Johanna Shacklebolt, Mia Crestfield, and Ashley Mendler. It is possible that Dorcas Meadowes was best friends with both Lily and Mary. Furthermore, both Lily and Dorcas went on to become members of the order. 

Dorcas and the Order of the Phoenix

Dorcas Meadowes was a member of the original Order of the Phoenix which was established by Albus Dumbledore during the First Wizarding War. There were several members of the Order of the Phoenix, including Mad-Eye Moody, James and Lily Potter, Marlene McKinnon, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Elphias Doge, Aberforth Dumbledore, Mundungus Fletcher and many more. 

It is possible that Dorcas Meadowes was one of the most important and irreplaceable members of the order recruited by Dumbledore. It is also very highly likely that Dorcas Meadowes was an Auror with great skill responsible for several victories against the Death Eaters and Voldemort.

In the year 1995, Mad-Eye Moody showed Harry a picture of the original Order of the Phoenix, which contained the photos of Harry’s parents. Among the others was also Dorcas Meadowes. 

The Death of Dorcas Meadowes

Dorcas Meadowes was an active member of the Order of the Phoenix and had constant assignments to undertake for the Order. She was among the top operatives for the Order and was constantly causing trouble to Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Therefore, somewhere around the second half of the year 1981, Lord Voldemort himself took initiative and brutally murdered Dorcas Meadowes along with several other members of the Order. Just a few months before this, in July 1981, one of Dorcas’s closest friends and fellow Order member Marlene McKinnon was also murdered. A photograph of Marlene and Dorcas existed which was taken two weeks before the murder of Marlene. 

Dorcas’s death was very sad for the Order to bear. However, in a few months’ time, another one of her friends, Lily Potter, and her husband, James Potter would be killed by Lord Voldemort. This also marked the end of the killings by Voldemort until the year 1995 as Harry Potter would cause Voldemort to disappear.

Dying A Hero – Assasinations Amidst War

Dorcas Meadowes was one of the members of the Order of the Phoenix who was killed amidst the war but not necessarily during battle. Other members of the Order of the Phoenix who died similarly include Marlene McKinnon, James Potter, Lily Potter, Fabian Prewett, and Gideon Prewett. All these wizards and witches were killed either by Lord Voldemort or his Death Eaters during the period that was considered wartime, but not during any large battle like the Battle of Hogwarts.

This is similar to many assassinations in the Muggle world during the wars like the first and second world wars. There are instances of several political assassinations during these wars outside the realm of a physical battle, which were usually intended to weaken the opposition or to stop them from influencing powerful decisions. 

However, it is still true that Dorcas Meadowes died a hero as she died believing and fighting for what was right without any fear of undesirable consequences, including death.

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