- Albus Dumbledore Bio - September 2, 2023
- Supreme Mugwump Guide - August 16, 2023
- Lethifolds Guide - August 15, 2023
Introduction
Mundungus Fletcher is a Half-Blood wizard who was notorious for his criminal activities. He was regularly involved in illegal dealings, including stealing from people close to him. Nevertheless, he was an active participant in the original Order of the Phoenix and the second-order of the Phoenix, maintaining loyalty to Dumbledore. Many of the members had mixed feelings about his participation in the order during the first Wizarding War and the second Wizarding War. However, he provided invaluable information specifically on what the underground or illegal community was saying and doing relating to Lord Voldemort.
Mundungus Fletcher Quick Facts
| Full Name | Mundungus Fletcher |
| Birth Date | Before 1962 |
| Birth Place | Great Britain |
| Nick Name | Dung |
| Death Date [if applicable] | |
| Age When Series Starts | 29+ |
| Zodiac Sign | Unknown |
| Siblings | None |
| Children | None |
| Partner / Spouse | None |
| Most Memorable Moment | Being dragged back to Number 12 by Kreacher |
| Magical Heritage | Half-Blood |
| Hogwarts House | Unknown |
| Wand | Unknown |
| Patronus | Non-corporeal |
| Actors Who Played | Andy Linden |
| Last Updated | May 3, 2022 |
Mundungus Fletcher Birthplace
Mundungus Fletcher was born in Great Britain sometime before 1962.
Mundungus Fletcher Parents
Nothing is known about his parents or his early life other than he was a Half-Blood, so one of his parents must have been a muggle, and he was raised in Great Britain without any siblings.
Mundungus Fletcher Physical Traits
Mundungus Fletcher was described as a short wizard with straggly Ginger hair, bloodshot brown eyes, and bandy legs. He was generally covered in scruff, not shaving regularly, and his hands were always grumpy. His clothes were often mismatched and grubby as well. He always smelled like tobacco or alcohol.
Mundungus Fletcher Early Life
Mundungus Fletcher attended Hogwarts At the age of 11, at which point he received his wand. It is unknown what house he was sorted into or what he studied while he was there. All of his family had died at an early age, so he was entirely alone, with no spouse, partner, or children.
Mundungus Fletcher Hogwarts Years
Nothing is known about his time at Hogwarts other than that he attended. If he graduated after seven years at Hogwarts, it is likely that he took all of the same classes as everyone else, including potions, charms, divination, care of magical creatures, and herbology, although he seemed not to apply any of these skills to a legitimate career and instead chose to be a criminal.
Mundungus Fletcher After Hogwarts Years
After his time at Hogwarts, Mundungus Fletcher joined the original Order of the Phoenix. He was a criminal already, so most of the members didn’t trust him, but he was incredibly loyal to Dumbledore and provided useful information. At some point, he offended Aberforth and was given a lifetime ban from the Hog’s Head.
After the first war, he continued to operate as a criminal, using an invisibility cloak.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Arthur Weasley first introduced the character by discussing his work for the ministry of magic. He was conducting a raid on the misuse of muggle artifacts that involved Mundungus. Mundungus tried to set a hex on Arthur but was unsuccessful.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Mundungus Fletcher was mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Percy Weasley talked in great detail about how hard he was working at the ministry following the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup. Fletcher had remarked that he lost a 12-room tent, and Percy said he had Mundungus Fletcher’s number because, in reality, Mundungus Fletcher was sleeping under a pile of sticks that propped up his jacket. This was one of the first introductions to Mundungus Fletcher as a con artist and a thief.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Mundungus Fletcher rejoined the second order of the Phoenix in secret and continued to carry on with his illegal activities. Part of his duties as the Order of the Phoenix involved watching Harry Potter full time. He took multiple shifts guarding Harry Potter, and during one such shift on August 2nd, 1995, Monday Fletcher got word about stolen cauldrons that he could get and sell for profit. So he left his post, resulting in a loud crack that Harry Potter identified as someone apparating. However, Harry Potter was, at the time, unaware that he was being watched.
When Mundungus left, this allowed Dementors to swoop in and attack Harry Potter and his cousin. At the time, the ministry of magic was looking for any reason to discredit Dumbledore and Harry Potter, so the Order of the Phoenix was protecting him and preventing him from having to use underage magic in any type of life-threatening situation. With Mundungus Fletcher gone, Harry Potter had to use his magic because his neighbor, Arabella Figg, was a squib who possessed no magical skill.
She got him and his cousin back to their house after berating Mundungus Fletcher when he reappeared, telling him to go off and alert Dumbledore to what had happened.
Mundungus Fletcher appeared as a member of the Order of the Phoenix who, during the first dinner that Harry Potter had at headquarters, raised a very grubby hand in the air like he was Voting when someone said his name with droopy, bloodshot eyes. He had been snoring while sound asleep but was woken to officially introduce him to Harry Potter.
Mungus nervously fumbled with his pocket and pulled out a grimy black pipe, producing billowing clouds of greenish smoke that obscured him in seconds. But Mrs. Weasley did not allow Mundungus to smoke in the kitchen, especially when they were about to eat, so he made the cloud of smoke vanish, put his pipe back in his pocket, but left behind the acrid smell of burning socks.
Mundungus Fletcher apologized to Harry Potter, saying that he wouldn’t have left the guard, but he had a business opportunity. Mundungus was too distracted by the empty goblets in the kitchen, and he asked serious black if it was solid silver. Sirius Black said it was the finest fifteenth-century Goblin made silver, but it was embossed with a black family crest.
Mandangos polished it with his cuff and muttered to himself that the crest would come off, no doubt preparing to steal and later sell the solid silver. Just moments later, Fred and George had Bewitched butterbeer, bread, a cutting knife, and a cauldron of stew through the air, which came to a crash landing. Mundungus toppled backward out of his feet and was swearing when he finally pulled himself together.
During dinner, Mundungus was sharing stories with Fred, George, and Ron about how he had stolen toads from someone, and then, when that person stated that they needed toads because they had been robbed, Mundungus sold back their original toads for twice what he had paid. Mrs. Weasley pointed out that Mundungus missed a few crucial lessons about right and wrong, and he should kindly avoid sharing his business dealings at the table.
Sirius Black explained to Harry Potter that Molly Weasley did not approve of Mundungus, but he was in the Order of the Phoenix because he was useful. He was a crook, and therefore he knew all the other Crooks. And Dumbledore had once helped him out of a tight spot, so he was very loyal to Dumbledore. However, Molly had yet to forgive Mundungus for leaving Harry Potter unprotected.
Molly’s negative feelings toward youngest Fletcher did not improve much when he tried to hide the stolen cauldron at the headquarters. He also regularly showed up at the headquarters to give George and Fred some illegal magical ingredients that he had procured for them for their joke shop. While the family was cleaning out the headquarters, a purple cloak tried to strangle Ron. Mundungus saved Ron’s life and, in so doing, saved his reputation with Molly.
Harry Potter was also being monitored at school. When he initiated Dumbledore’s Army and had the first meeting at the Hog’s Head, he didn’t realize that Mundungus Fletcher was there disguised as a witch. Mundungus reported on his foundation of Dumbledore’s Army to the Order of the Phoenix.
He showed up at the headquarters at Christmas time, using a stolen muggle car, providing a Christmas tree for the house, which he very likely stole.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The next year, Mundungus Fletcher went back to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters and stole all of the silver and fine items he thought he could sell on the black market. Harry Potter caught him in Hogsmeade doing just that. Harry confronted him and tried to beat him up, but Mundungus disapparated and went into hiding. At some point, it was said that he was impersonating an inferius and was sent to Azkaban by the ministry of magic. There was a mass Breakout the following year, during which time he very likely escaped.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
During the Battle of the Seven Potters, Mundungus joined other members of the Order of the Phoenix to help Harry Potter Escape his aunt and uncle’s house one last time. Mundungus Fletcher took Polyjuice Potion and assumed the appearance of Harry Potter. He left with Alastor Moody, flying on a broomstick.
The group had been betrayed, and the Death Eaters knew that they were leaving that night. When Voldemort showed up behind Mad-Eye and Mundungus, Mundungus disapparated in fear, resulting in Mad-Eye’s death.
Later that year, Harry Potter had discovered that the initials R.A.B. in the fake Horcrux referred to Regulus Arcturus Black. Harry Potter confronted Kreacher about whether he knew anything about a locket. In a moving and humanizing scene, Kreacher breaks down, upset by the fact that he had helped Master Regulus and ultimately watched him die.
At the time, Regulus Black was a member of the Death Eaters, but he was starting to mistrust Lord Voldemort and the activities the group was doing. When Voldemort said he needed the help of house-elf, Regulus volunteered Kreacher. However, he gave Kreacher strict orders to return home no matter what.
As it turned out, Lord Voldemort had intended for Kreacher to die. He was testing all of the security parameters he had in place around the Horcrux, the locket. Because Kreacher was a house-elf, he possessed different magic than witches and wizards. He was bound to obey every direct order given to him by his family, and since one of his direct orders was to return home no matter what, even though drinking the potion killed him, he was able to return home unscathed.
After reporting what had happened to Master Regulus, Regulus concocted the plan to replace the Horcrux with a fake. He forced Kreacher to come with him and to return home with the real Horcrux and destroy it no matter what. Then Regulus drank the potion and died. Kreacher admitted that he tried everything to destroy it, but he couldn’t.
This was the one direct order he was never able to fulfill. But then Mundungus Fletcher showed up and stole the locket from him. It devastated Kreacher. Harry Potter gave Kreacher the fake locket after remarking on how proud Regulus would be and how Regulus would want him to have it. Kreacher cried endlessly on the floor and was much kinder toward Harry Potter and his friends after that. He did what they asked without hesitation, cleaned the house, and cooked delicious meals for them.
So, Harry Potter asked Kreacher to track down Mundungus and bring him back no matter what so that they could find out what happened and finish the last order of Master Regulus. A few days later, the two of them came back in a whirlwind of flailing arms, screams, and fights. Kreacher had brought Mundungus back after saying that Mundungus had lots of hidey-holes and was very difficult to find. Kreacher had a large pan in his hand, asking if he could beat up Mundungus to persuade him to admit where the locket went.
Mundungus disapparated after telling them and wasn’t seen again.
However, right before the Battle of Hogwarts, it was revealed that Mundungus Fletcher had been selling a lot of stolen goods to Aberforth so the Aberforth could keep an eye on Harry Potter. One of the things Mundungus sold was a bit of a two-way mirror, the mirror that allowed Aberforth to send Dobby to their rescue at Malfoy Manor.
Mundungus Fletcher Family and Friends
Mundungus survived the Second Wizarding War, but he did not go on to marry or have children. Nothing else is known about his family.
However, during his time with the Order of the Phoenix, he cultivated a decent relationship with Fred and George Weasley. He helped them with their business affairs by smuggling certain illegal items for them to use for their joke products. Fred and George gave him the nickname “dung.”
He was not on the best of terms with Molly Weasley during this time. Molly did not like the fact that he was a criminal or that he was a bad influence on Fred and George, continually joking about his illegal escapades with them.
However, serious black pointed out that he served an important role, giving them access to information about Lord Voldemort through criminal contacts that they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. Molly’s attitude toward Mundungus changed when Mundungus saved Ron from a magical clock that was trying to kill him.
Arabella Figg did not like him much either, specifically because he had abandoned his watch over Harry Potter to pick up a bunch of illegal cauldrons and, in so doing, allowed Harry Potter and his cousin Dudley to be attacked by Dementors.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry did not care for him much either. Harry Potter sent the house-elf Kreacher after Mundungus, asking Kreacher to track him down and not come home until he had him. However, Mundungus did offer the information they needed so that they could track down the Horcrux and destroy it.
Mundungus Fletcher was frightened of Mad-Eye Moody and respected Albus Dumbledore for the way Dumbledore helped him in the past. He had a mixed relationship with Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth. Aberforth had given him a lifetime ban from his bar, the Hog’s Head. However, Mungus often sold stolen goods to Aberforth and remained loyal to Albus throughout the books.
Mundungus Fletcher Magical Abilities and Special Skills
Mundungus was highly skilled at apparition. He was able to appear and disappear at will, something that helped get him out of many tight spots. He could use a non-corporeal Patronus charm, indicative of his advanced charms skills. He was very capable as a duelist and at non-verbal magic. He had some semblance of potions talent and was very good at acquiring information or assets, usually through illegal methods.
Mundungus Fletcher Wand
Mundungus Fletcher owned a wand that he likely got from Ollivander in Diagon Alley before he started at Hogwarts. He used the same one for the rest of his adult life, although little is known about its core material, wood, or length.
Mundungus Fletcher Trivial and Fun Facts
Mundungus Fletcher is heavily featured throughout the final book, although this interaction and anything having to do with Kreacher are removed from the films.
The name Mundungus is an obsolete term referring to poorly smelling tobacco, indicative of the fact that the character always reeked of old tobacco.
His physical appearance in the seventh film is very different from what is written in the books. He has regular legs and regular eyes, and he is bald.
Mundungus Fletcher Appearances in Books
Mundungus Fletcher appeared in the following books:
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Mundungus Fletcher Appearances in Films
Mundungus Fletcher appeared in the following films:
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (mentioned only)
Mundungus Fletcher Quotes
Mundungus being berated by Arabella Figg for leaving his post in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:
Mundungus Fletcher: “S’ up, Figgy? What ‘appened to staying undercover?”
Arabella Figg: “I’ll give you undercover! Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief!”
Mundungus Fletcher: “Dementors? Dementors here?”
Arabella Figg: “Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here! Dementors attacking the boy on your watch!”
Mundungus Fletcher: “Blimey. Blimey, I …”
Arabella Figg: “And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn’t I tell you not to go? Didn’t I?”
Mundungus Fletcher: “I — well, I — It … it was a very good business opportunity, see …”
Mundungus showing his knack for always sizing up a room and its contents for later pilfering, which he did:
Mundungus: “Sirius? This solid silver, mate?”
Sirius Black: “Yes. Finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest.”
Mundungus: “That’d come off, though…”
Mundungus disappearing when Harry caught him in Hogsmeade:
“There was a bang, and Harry felt his hands fly off Mundungus’s throat. Gasping and spluttering, Mundungus seized his fallen case, then — CRACK — he Disapparated.”
Mad-Eye Moody talking to Mundungus before the Battle of the Seven Potters:
Mundungus Fletcher: “I’m a soldier, I’d sooner be a protector.”
Alastor Moody: “Shut it. As I’ve already told you, you spineless worm, any Death Eaters we run into will be aiming to capture Potter, not kill him. Dumbledore always said You-Know-Who would want to finish Potter in person. It’ll be the protectors who have got the most to worry about, the Death Eaters’ll want to kill them.”
Mundungus revealing the whereabouts of the locket after being dragged to Number 12 by Kreacher:
Mundungus: “More? That wouldn’t have been effing difficult… bleedin’ gave it away, di’n’ I? No choice.”
Harry Potter: “What do you mean?”
Mundungus: “I was selling in Diagon Alley and she come up to me and asks if I’ve got a licence. Bleedin’ snoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket an’ told me she’d take it and let me off that time, and to fink meself lucky. Little woman. Bow on top of ‘er head…Looked like a toad.”
FAQs
Answer: Mundungus Fletcher was loyal to Dumbledore because Dumbledore had saved him from a tight spot once. He helped the Order of the Phoenix because of Dumbledore. However, he wasn’t willing to give his life for Harry Potter-like other members and this is what caused him to flee when he saw Voldemort coming after himself and Mad-Eye during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
He wasn’t a traitor but he was definitely a thief and a liar. When Dumbledore died, he didn’t reserve any great loyalty for the Order of the Phoenix but rather for saving himself and stealing as much as he could so that he could make a living.
Answer: While it was Mundungus’ fault that Mad-Eye was killed, and he left in the middle of the battle, he wasn’t the one who betrayed Harry Potter. Severus Snape knew about the fake plan because Dumbledore said that Voldemort needed to trust Snape and the only way he would continue to trust Snape as the double agent he was, was if Snape gave him correct information about when and how Harry Potter would be moved from his aunt and uncle’s house.
So technically it was Dumbledore who betrayed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but he did so for a specific purpose. That purpose was the continued success of Severus Snape in undermining Voldemort and helping Harry Potter to ultimately defeat Lord Voldemort.
Answer: Mundungus was found by Kreacher, who dragged Mundungus back to Number 12. After revealing that he had stolen a necklace and given it to a toad-face woman who worked for the ministry, Mundungus disappeared and was never brought up in the books again. It is presumed that he continued to live in the wizarding underworld, stealing and selling illicit things.
Answer: Technically yes, Mundungus stole a horcrux from Number 12, the former headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. However, Mundungus didn’t realize that it was a horcrux when he stole it, he just thought it was a fancy necklace that he could get a lot of money for.
Answer: Mundungus Fletcher was selling the silver that had the black family crest. He was also selling many things he had pilfered from the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix or the black family home. He was worried when Harry Potter caught him and disapparated on the spot.
Harry Potter didn’t realize at first that technically Mundungus was selling off Harry Potter things, things that mundungus had stolen from Harry Potter’s home. Harry Potter was given Number 12 as part of Sirius Black’s will.
====
Research Citations
IMDB. Harry Potter Full Cast. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0926084/fullcredits/cast
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Listening Library, 2003.
Rowling, J. K. (2010). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. London: Bloomsbury. Chicago (Author-Date, 15th ed.) Rowling, J. K. 2010.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007.