Rufus Scrimgeour Character Analysis in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Minister of Magic at the beginning of the novel. Scrimgeour is a rough and imposing man who has never gotten along well with Harry, and this continues as Scrimgeour is forced to distribute the contents of Dumbledore's will to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Though Scrimgeour says he wants to work with Harry and wants to know what Harry was planning with Dumbledore, Harry refuses on the grounds that Scrimgeour seems far more interested in turning up dirt on Dumbledore than he is in doing something effective to stand up to Voldemort. Despite this accusation, Scrimgeour is rumored to have been killed after refusing to give up Harry's location to the Death Eaters.

Rufus Scrimgeour Character Timeline in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The timeline below shows where the character Rufus Scrimgeour appears in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Friendship, Community, and Resistance Theme Icon

...put an Imperius Curse on Pius Thicknesse. Many seem impressed, but Voldemort says he needs Scrimgeour. Yaxley explains that they have people planted in the transportation office, so they'll know if... (full context)

...will be targeted. He says he doesn't believe that Charity Burbage resigned and hopes that Scrimgeour is planning something useful. Mrs. Weasley sends Ron to clean his room, Hermione to change... (full context)

Choices, Redemption, and Morality Theme Icon

...owner access the contents. Everyone waits for Mr. Weasley until his Patronus arrives, saying that Scrimgeour is coming with him. Lupin drags Tonks away and, a moment later, Mr. Weasley and... (full context)

Scrimgeour ignores Hermione and asks Ron if he and Dumbledore were close. Ron says they weren't,... (full context)

Finally, Scrimgeour says that Dumbledore also left Harry the sword of Gryffindor, which he says wasn't Dumbledore's... (full context)

...in life. Harry admits that he didn't try to open the Snitch in front of Scrimgeour; this is the Snitch he almost swallowed. He puts it to his lips and it... (full context)

...comes over just as Kingsley's lynx Patronus arrives and announces that the Ministry fell and Scrimgeour is dead. (full context)

...Eaters arrived. They seemed to not know that Harry was there, and Lupin says that Scrimgeour apparently died refusing to give away Harry's whereabouts. The Death Eaters searched every home connected... (full context)