Harry Potter: Alastor Moody Was Nowhere Near As Good As They Say

Summary:

• In the Harry Potter series, Alastor Moody is described as one of the most powerful and dangerous Aurors ever.
• Despite that, Mad-Eye was defeated by Barty Crouch Jr., the convicted Death Eater who’d just escaped from Azkaban.
• Before being imprisoned, Crouch Jr. had only completed his Hogwarts education, meaning he was still yesterday’s student even 14 years later.

Ever since his introduction in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Alastor Moody is exclusively referred to as the most dangerous, professional, and efficient Auror ever who personally filled half the cells in Azkaban with Death Eaters and their supporters. But was Mad-Eye really as powerful as people make him out to be?

After all, his one defeat couldn’t be called anything other than humiliating.

Fake Moody Ruled Over Hogwarts For A Year

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Alastor Moody is a harsh but instantly lovable character: despite his snarky and ruthless personality, he clearly cares about his students and is extremely professional when it comes to dealing with the Dark Arts. He even helps Harry succeed in the Triwizard Tournament — what a stand-up guy!

Except, of course, it wasn’t the real Mad-Eye who taught at Hogwarts: it was Barty Crouch Jr., a convicted Death Eater who’d escaped Azkaban weeks before the start of the school year. The actual Alastor Moody, robbed of his magical items and dignity, was kept prisoner in his own chest at Hogwarts for the entire year.

And this is exactly why we wonder if the old Auror was as great as they say.

Real Moody Was Defeated By A School Boy

As readers and viewers, we only know Barty Crouch Jr. as a grown young man, a Death Eater, and one of Voldemort’s most loyal servants. But here’s the deal: in terms of his education, Crouch Jr. only had the basic Hogwarts course behind his back. After graduating, he was soon sent to Azkaban for around 14 years!

This effectively means that the legendary Alastor Moody had his legendary half-bottom kicked by yesterday’s student — on his own turf! Considering Mad-Eye’s paranoia, it’s safe to say that his house was protected by all magical means imaginable, and yet, it only took one guy as magically skilled as an Auror’s left kneecap to bring Alastor Moody down despite all the paranoia and protective spells.

So riddle us this, Rowling: was Mad-Eye even half as great as he was described?