Alaric

Biodata

Background and history

After entrusting Cordelia to Dumbledore, Alaric left Britain to seek a cure for her Obscurus. He spent two years in Nepal studying an incomplete meditation treatment for minds affected by dark forces, trying to combine it with European Charms. Believing Cordelia’s time was running out, he returned after news of Gavin’s Obscurus research reached him. Father and daughter reunited at Rowle Manor after five years apart and began addressing the guilt and misunderstandings that had kept them distant 61 63 64.

Alaric subsequently taught Cordelia and Gavin at the manor. He supported Cordelia’s decision to enroll at Hogwarts under her real name despite the risk of attention to her past illness. When a Romanian Dragon Sanctuary administrator detained Gavin, Alaric arrived with the family’s legal representative, secured Gavin’s release and deposit, and enforced his claim to a dragon carcass 70 71 74.

After Cyril Rosier abducted Cordelia, Alaric joined Gavin’s search. He set anti-Apparition stakes at Cyril’s hideout but was caught in a trap and suffered a broken leg; Gavin continued the rescue while asking Alaric to keep his record clear for Cordelia’s sake. Alaric later supported Gavin’s experimental life-force treatment when Cordelia became gravely ill, and saw her recover 142 143 144 162 163.

Appearance

Alaric returned from Nepal exhausted, with a weather-beaten face and hair tied back with an old leather cord. His silver-gray eyes resemble Cordelia’s, though they are darker 63 64.

• He later appeared clean-shaven, with his hair slicked back, in a dark gray casual jacket 66.
• For his visit to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, he wore formal dark gray robes and a silver family crest at his collar 70.
• During his recovery from the injury sustained at Cyril’s hideout, he used a cane 163 165.

Personality

Alaric is openly devoted to Cordelia, but his years away leave him painfully aware of the time he cannot give back. He supports her wish to live under her own name and, later, her determination to become strong enough to protect him. His concern can also become excessive: he loads her school trunk with defensive equipment and considers taking a dangerous teaching post to stay near her 66 74 165 192.

With Gavin, Alaric is grateful and generous, offering instruction and using the Rowle family’s influence on his behalf. He nevertheless sets boundaries around Gavin’s risks and his relationship with Cordelia. Under pressure, he can be calm and forceful—as at the sanctuary—but Cordelia’s abduction exposes his fear of failing her again 69 70 143 165.

Abilities and skills

Charms instruction

• Teaches Cordelia first-year material and Gavin more advanced spells, while helping Gavin fill gaps in basic Charms 71.
• Keeps his Hogwarts Charms notes, arranged by school year, and shares them with Gavin 71.

Apparition and protective magic

• Uses Apparition and takes Gavin on Side-Along journeys 144 165.
• Controls Rowle Manor’s defenses through the magical contract recognized by each family head. He grants temporary access to a contained Apparition training area while keeping its outward travel blocked 165.
• Deploys anti-Apparition stakes before entering Cyril’s hideout 144.

Research and investigation

• Studied fragmentary accounts of a Nepalese meditation treatment and attempted to reconstruct it with European Charms 64.
• Uses contacts in continental Europe to identify a person Gavin asks him to investigate as Elias Salos 110.

Relationships

• Cordelia Rowle — his daughter. Their reunion begins a reconciliation after five years apart; Alaric supports her independence while remaining deeply protective 63 64 74 165.
• Elizabeth Rowle — his late wife and Cordelia’s mother. Cordelia’s resolve reminds him of Elizabeth’s strength 143 165.
• Gavin Gu — saved Cordelia and earned Alaric’s gratitude. Alaric teaches and defends him, though he worries about Gavin’s dangerous experiments and growing closeness to Cordelia 64 70 71 165.
• Albus Dumbledore — cared for Cordelia while Alaric searched for a cure; later works with him on decisions concerning her safety and treatment 61 74 162.
• Dibby — the Rowle household’s house-elf, whom Alaric calls on for help during Cordelia’s abduction 142 143.
• Gu Jianguo — Gavin’s father. The two declare themselves sworn brothers while drunk on liquor from Hufflepuff’s Cup 172.

Notable quotes

“Then use your real name.” 74

“I do whatever she says now.” 70