Alfred Cattermole

**Alfred Cattermole** (born 6 May 1991) was a half-blood wizard, the son of Reginald Cattermole and his second wife, Mary Cattermole (née Fleetwood). He had a half sister, Maisie, and a sister called Ellie. He lived at 27 Chislehurst Gardens, Great Tolling, Evesham with his parents and sisters.

Mary Cattermole said that Alfred and his sisters were frightened during her interrogation by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. They believed that their mother would not return home.

Her mother told the Ministry that Alfred and his sisters were at home. They were probably not attending Hogwarts yet, because Ron Weasley told her and her husband to pick up the children and run away.

## Biography

### Early life

Alfred Cattermole was born on 6 May, 1991, the second child of Mary Cattermole (née Macdonald), and Reginald Cattermole. He was born in Evesham, Worcestershire, England. He had an older half-sister, Maisie, from his father's first marriage, and an older sister, Ellie.

He saw very little of his half-sister after Maisie went off to school for her first year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a year after his birth. Alfred was one year old when Maisie left for school and got sorted into Gryffindor.

When Alfred was five years old, on 18 June, 1996, Lord Voldemort's return was made public knowledge. Death Eaters resumed their modus operandi: terrorism, abduction and mass murder. His half-sister, Maisie, was sixteen years old, and together they read of numerous casualties of the war in 1996. Alfred's sister, Ellie, was frightened of the newspapers and often asked why her family needed to be cautious in the streets.

When Minister Cornelius Fudge refused to surrender the Ministry, Voldemort destroyed the Brockdale Bridge, drowning many Muggles. Florean Fortescue and Garrick Ollivander both went missing and Ollivander's shop was emptied, but there was no sign of struggle. Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour showed evidence of a struggle or fight, but no sign of him was ever found. A man named Octavius Pepper disappeared in the early spring. Igor Karkaroff was found dead in a shack with a Dark Mark cast over the building a year after he deserted Voldemort. Order of the Phoenix member Emmeline Vance and Head of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bones were murdered by unknown assailants. These events allowed Head of the Auror Office Rufus Scrimgeour to replace Fudge as the new Minister for Magic.

As events progressively worsened, Alfred and his older sister Ellie remained at home. Their half-sister Maisie returned to her education and their father and mother kept their employment at work.

On 1 August, 1997, when Alfred was six years old, the Ministry of Magic fell under the control of Lord Voldemort. The Death Eater regime soon established the Muggle-Born Registration Commission to round up and imprison Muggle-borns on charges of "stealing" magic. Alfred's mother, Mary, was a Muggle-born and was interrogated for her blood status. The Commission had Muggle-borns who registered fill out questionnaires about their family history and then wait for their trial behind bars in the Ministry of Magic.

On 2 September, 1997, Alfred's mother was called in for questioning. While awaiting trial, Alfred's mother, Mary, was guarded by Dementors and threatened with the Dementor's Kiss if she resisted. Trials were held by Commission head Dolores Umbridge, who was assisted by Death Eater and head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Yaxley at times. During her trial, Mary Cattermole said that Alfred and his siblings were frightened during her interrogation by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. They believed that their mother would not return home.

However, unbeknownst to Mary, Alfred's father, Reginald, had been knocked out and briefly impersonated by Ronald Weasley, along with two other Ministry employees portrayed through Polyjuice by Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Mary's trial was interrupted and she was freed along with several other Muggle-borns. Ronald Weasley, while impersonating Reginald Cattermole, told Mary to flee the country.

The family did just that. The real Reginald Cattermole returned and they escaped the Ministry together. Alfred and Ellie were taken and they fled to Athens, Greece. Maisie Cattermole, Alfred's sister, was supposed rendezvous with them there at Easter Break, when she could get away, but because Hogwarts Attendance was compulsory she was unable to flee.

#### In Hiding

Alfred and Ellie were frightened as they went into hiding. They stayed in a safe-house owned by Mary's mother, who was Greek. They did not attend school during this time. Whilst the family was in hiding, Alfred turned seven years old.

On 2 May, 1998, Hogwarts was attacked. Alfred and Ellie feared for their sister's life, and they anxiously awaited news. Fortunately, Maisie survived the Battle, having fought with Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix against the Death Eaters. The war ended when Voldemort was defeated by Harry Potter on this day.

#### Aftermath of the War

After the defeat of Voldemort, Alfred's family emerged out of hiding. They returned to Great Tolling, Evesham.

Alfred likely read the newspapers when Kingsley Shacklebolt was announced as interim Minister for Magic. He later took the position on permanently. Minerva McGonagall became headmistress of Hogwarts.

### Hogwarts years

In the years following the Second Wizarding War, Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt lead a massive reform of the Ministry of Magic in order to put an end to prejudice based on blood status and to better combat Dark Wizards in the future. Alfred received her Hogwarts letter in the summer of 2002. He was sorted into Ravenclaw House and all became well.

## Etymology

"Alfred" is derived from the Old English name Ælfræd, composed of the elements ælf "elf" and ræd "counsel". Alfred the Great was a 9th-century king of Wessex who fought unceasingly against the Danes living in the northeast of England. He was also a scholar, and he translated many Latin books into Old English. His fame helped to ensure the usage of this name even after the Norman conquest, when most Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. It became rare by the end of the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 18th century. A famous bearer was the British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892).