Kingsley Shacklebolt
Template:HP character Kingsley Shacklebolt is a member of the Order of the Phoenix in the Harry Potter series of books. He is a tall, bald man, of African descent who wears a golden hoop as an earring and has a deep voice which J. K. Rowling mentions several times as 'calming'.
Character background
Kingsley Shacklebolt is a senior Auror, who was acting as double agent for the Order within the Ministry of Magic when he was first introduced in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He was present in the scene of the fifth book when Harry was confronted about his defence organisation, "Dumbledore's Army", after Marietta Edgecombe had betrayed it to Dolores Umbridge. Shacklebolt swiftly modified Marietta's memory, but to escape the Ministry, Dumbledore was forced to hex him too. Shacklebolt was in charge of the search for Sirius Black in the Ministry - considered a prestigious job, as Sirius Black was the most wanted man in wizarding Britain. Knowing Sirius was innocent, he was supplying the Ministry false information that Sirius was in Tibet. Kingsley Shacklebolt knew James Potter, but it appears that he was not part of the original Order of the Phoenix.
In the Second War against Lord Voldemort, Shacklebolt joined the Order and volunteered to be one of the members of the Advance Guard that escorted Harry Potter from the Dursleys' home to Number 12, Grimmauld Place during the summer of 1995.
Shacklebolt takes part in the battle at the Department of Mysteries, and appears to be very skilled at duelling as he is seen fighting two Death Eaters at once. After Sirius is killed, he continues the duel with Bellatrix Lestrange, during which Kingsley is hit by a spell that causes a 'loud bang' and he hits the ground 'screaming in pain'.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, appoints Shacklebolt to the Muggle Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street, London. Posing as a secretary, Shacklebolt is actually the Prime Minister's guard, assigned to protect him from possible attacks by the Death Eaters. This is a great show of confidence in Shacklebolt, especially as he was appointed by an ex-Auror. However, it may also imply that Scrimgeour is suspicious of him and wants to put him in a position that is less helpful to the Order. Shacklebolt also appears at the end of the story, attending Albus Dumbledore's funeral at the end of the year.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, he continues to help battle Voldemort. He manages to send a timely warning to Bill and Fleur's wedding when Voldemort overthrows the Ministry of Magic, giving the guests a chance to escape. He continues to guard the Prime Minister, but is eventually forced to flee. He later is heard preaching equal rights for Muggles and Wizards on the radio show Potterwatch under the pseudonym' "Royal". Lee Jordan (who hosts it under the alias "River"), jokingly says that Shacklebolt has his vote as next Minister for Magic. During the Battle of Hogwarts Shacklebolt duels, alongside Horace Slughorn and Minerva McGonagall, with Lord Voldemort himself. It should also be noted that he is the only Wizard that the Dursleys seem to like, due to his skill at blending in well with Muggles. At the end of the book, it is revealed that Shacklebolt does become (temporary) Minister of Magic following the death of Lord Voldemort and the deposing of Voldemort's puppet ruler, Pius Thicknesse. It was later revealed in an interview that Kingsley did become the new Minister of Magic permanently.[1]
Kingsley Shacklebolt revolutionized the Ministry of Magic. Some of his accomplishments include removing the Dementors from Azkaban prison and advancing the Auror department. Kingsley makes Harry Potter the head of the Auror department in the ministry, as of 2017.
Shacklebolt's Patronus takes the form of a lynx.
References
- ^ "J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript". The Leaky Cauldron. 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
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