Fenrir Greyback: The Mysterious Absence from the Death Eaters

Highlights

Fenrir Greyback, a savage and sadistic werewolf, sought to infect as many people as possible with lycanthropy to build an army and take over the Ministry of Magic.

Greyback's untamed hair, discolored nails, and ill-fitting robes perfectly reflect his beastly demeanor. Despite being devoted to Voldemort, it is worth mentioning that Greyback was not an official Death Eater. His affliction with lycanthropy, which originated from his deep resentment towards the discriminatory treatment of werewolves in the wizarding society, made him repulsive even to Voldemort himself.

Fenrir Greyback, a supporting antagonist in the Harry Potter series, rejected his humanity long before the events of the saga. His goal was to spread lycanthropy to as many people as possible, in order to build a powerful army and ultimately seize control of the Ministry of Magic. His deep-seated resentment towards the wizarding community mainly stemmed from the discrimination and bias faced by werewolves.

In the Harry Potter books, Greyback's appearance is often described as animalistic. He is portrayed as a "tall, lean man with tangled gray hair and whiskers," wearing uncomfortably tight robes and having long, yellowish nails. Notably, his left arm is devoid of the Dark Mark, indicating that despite working for Voldemort, he was not a Death Eater.

Who Was Fenrir Greyback?

The exact moment of Greyback's transformation into a werewolf remains unknown, but he wholeheartedly embraced his new existence. As the infamous "most ferocious werewolf in existence," he became a prominent figure within the werewolf community. Deliberately positioning himself near his intended victims before the full moon, Greyback would mercilessly attack them once he had metamorphosed. He took a sadistic pleasure in targeting children, aiming to "infect them at a young age" and raise them to despise ordinary wizards. Over time, he even began to bite his targets while in human form, driven by a disturbing craving for human flesh.

Furthermore, Greyback sought retribution against Remus Lupin's father by infecting Remus himself when he was merely five years old. Greyback had been brought in for questioning by the Ministry after two Muggle children were found dead. Concealing his true identity as a werewolf, Greyback posed as a Muggle vagrant and vehemently denied any knowledge of the incident. However, Lyall Lupin, Remus's father, strongly suspected the truth and proposed detaining Greyback until the next full moon. Despite Lupin's plea, the rest of the committee dismissed his concerns. In a fit of frustration, Lupin proclaimed that all werewolves were "heartless, wicked creatures deserving only death." Just as Greyback was about to be subjected to a Memory Charm prior to his release, he managed to escape with the aid of two fellow werewolves. He subsequently sought out Lyall's son and brutally attacked him during the next full moon.

In the mid-1960s, Greyback formed an alliance with Voldemort, who offered him a better life and fresh victims in exchange for his loyalty. Voldemort used Greyback as a weapon, threatening to unleash the werewolf on those who defied him. Greyback eagerly joined the Death Eaters in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, relishing the opportunity to rip out throats at Hogwarts. During this battle, he permanently scarred Bill Weasley and attempted to kill Albus Dumbledore when Draco Malfoy hesitated.

Following the Ministry's downfall, Greyback took charge of a band of Snatchers, roaming the country in search of blood traitors and Muggle-borns. He captured the Golden Trio after they unknowingly triggered the Taboo curse on Voldemort's name, hoping to claim a reward by delivering them to Malfoy Manor. However, the captives were ultimately saved by the courageous house-elf, Dobby.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Lavender Brown was attacked by Greyback at one point, until Hermione intervened with a spell and Professor Trelawney incapacitated him using a crystal ball. Greyback's fate during the battle remains uncertain, yet towards the end, Ron and Neville Longbottom were observed subduing him. Assuming his survival, it is probable that he was subsequently imprisoned in Azkaban for his crimes.

Was Fenrir Greyback a Death Eater?

During the Snatchers' discussion about summoning Voldemort after capturing Harry, it was revealed that Greyback had not been bestowed with the "highest honor" of acquiring the Dark Mark. Upon reaching the Malfoy Manor, he displayed an uncharacteristic caution when faced with the Malfoys' intent to steal his glory, as Bellatrix Lestrange forced him to kneel. Even Corban Yaxley did not hesitate to forcefully push him aside in the Astronomy Tower. When Snape arrived to kill Dumbledore, Greyback appeared "cowed" despite his previous fury. Despite his brutal nature, Greyback only slightly objected to mistreatment or disdain from the Death Eaters, possibly out of fear. He seemed to accept his status as a "filthy" inferior, despite being one of Voldemort's most formidable followers.

Even Voldemort found him repulsive due to his lycanthropy. Though Greyback was allowed to wear similar robes to the Death Eaters, his master refused to brand him with the Dark Mark because of his prejudice against werewolves. Given Voldemort's bias against anyone who wasn't a pure-blood wizard or witch, it's not surprising that he was disgusted by Greyback and the other werewolves. His indifference also extended to other Dark creatures, such as Dementors and giants. In fact, it's likely that if Voldemort had triumphed in the Second Wizarding War, he would have simply discarded Greyback and the others, as they would no longer have served any purpose to him.