Mad - Eye Moody bio

Name: Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody

Age: In his 40's or 50's?

House: Most probably Gryffindor

Special Attributes: "Mad Eye" as he most popualarily known, has a magical eye which lets him see things the normal person's eye cannot. He can see someone even when they are sheilded by an invisibility cloak. He was also an auror for the Ministry of Magic, brought out of retirement by Dumbledore in book 4.

Heritage: Unknown

Family: Unknown

First Mention: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where he debuts as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.

Personality: Mad Eye is a bit...er...mad. He is a very suspicious character, which is only fair considering his ordeal in book 4. Mad Eye was held captive for nine months by Barty Crouch, son of the Ministry Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation, also named Barty Crouch. After his many years as an Auror, Mad Eye has, well...shall we say extreme tendencies. He will only drink out of a hip flask, and his impersonator's office in book 4 is full of magical Dark Detectors to warn him when evil or a untrustworthy person is near, giving us a clear insight into what the real Mad Eye's office would have been like.

Background: The story of Moody's connection with Harry is fairly complex, so for those of you who are not as familiar with it, here is an overview: At the beginning of book four (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) we learn that Dumbledore has appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Harry is going into what will be his fourth year at Hogwarts. During the course of the year, Harry partakes in a contest called the Tri Wizard Tournament. As you probably assume, there are only three Wizards in the contest. One from Hogwarts, one from the French wizarding school Beuxbatons and one from the German wizarding school Durmstrang. Alas no. Harry is the fourth to be chosen, the second competetor from Hogwarts and his name was entered illegally by someone, though at this point we do not know who did it. The conditions for the contest were that all of the Wizards who are to compete in the tournament have to be either of or over the legal wizarding age of 17 due to safety reasons. However after Harry's name has been chosen it is a binding clause and he must participate in the contest.

There are three tasks to be completed by the selected school "Champion's." The first two tasks pass fairly smoothly, Harry having been tipped off twice as to what the tasks were to be, so he would be prepared. The third task is a maze, filled with wizarding creatures and obstacles that the Champions must fight their way through to the middle of the maze. The first of the Champions to reach the middle, and grab hold of the Tri Wizard Cup, wins. Not so simple as both Harry and fellow Hogwarts pupil Cederic Diggory arrive in the middle of the maze at the same time. After a dispute as to who would take the cup and win, Harry suggests that they grab it at the same time and both win. However the cup has been bewitched and serves as a portkey, taking Harry and Cederic both into the hand's of Lord Voldermort.

After seeing Cederic murdered by Voldemort and narrowly escaping death himself, Harry uses the portkey to transport him back to the safety of Hogwarts. It is here that it is revealed that Mad Eye was not the REAL Mad Eye but an imposter by the name of Barty Crouch, who has been serving the wishes of Lord Voldemort all year. It was this impostor of Mad Eye (who has obtained the apperance of his victim through Polyjuice potion) who steered Harry through the Tournament, making sure he would be the winner and the first person to reach the cup.

The real Mad Eye was locked in a trunk of Barty's in his office all year.