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harry potter - Would Voldemort have been recognisable to the average wizard?


Voldemort has quite a unique look and the wizarding world knew to fear him - much like Harry, everyone knew his name.


However, he worked quite stealthily almost until the end of the last book.


Obviously Dumbledore, Death Eaters, the Minister and Order of the Phoenix members would have known exactly what he looked like, but he hardly did publicity shoots. Add to this, his appearance changes quite frequently from handsome young man to snake-faced mystery man with his appearance presumably worsening with each new Horcrux created.


Would your average witch or wizard have recognised him should he come knocking?




Answer



Initially, no


Tom Riddle was a promising student, but most people would not have met him. I don't recall any particular achievements of his that would have led to his face being featured in, for example, the Daily Prophet.


He took a low-key job at Borgin and Burkes, and was hardly ever in the spotlight.



I know that several teachers, Professor Slughorn amongst them, suggested that he join the Ministry of Magic, offered to set up appointments, put him in touch with useful contacts. He refused all offers. The next thing the staff knew, Voldemort was working at Borgin and Burkes.”


Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince



Once he had become a "snake-faced mystery man," yes


Of course, most people had would not have seen Voldemort personally. But, as you mention, Dumbledore, the Order, and the Ministry (via Aurors) would all have seen him in combat. I see no reason that they would not have disseminated information about his appearance throughout the magical community.



Moreover, some of the Order members knew what he looked like. Surely they would have informed their family and friends? And we know how rumor spreads.... The same goes for Harry, but even more so.


In any case, people would assume that it was Voldemort if a snake-faced man showed up at their door. Snakes are heavily associated with Dark Magic, and certainly at this point everyone is aware that the premier Dark Wizard is Lord Voldemort. So in that sense alone, they would recognize him, since they would instantly know it was he.


We also have some evidence from the books:


Both Williamson and Fudge recognized Voldemort when he appeared in the Ministry:



"He was there!" shouted a scarlet-robed man with a ponytail, who was pointing at a pile of golden rubble on the other side of the hall, where Bellatrix had lain trapped only moments before. "I saw him, Mr Fudge, I swear it was You-Know-Who, he grabbed a woman and Disapparated!"


"I know, Williamson, I know, I saw him too!" gibbered Fudge, who was wearing pyjamas under his pinstriped cloak and was gasping as though he had just run miles.


Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix



Of course, Williamson is an Auror and Fudge is his boss.



But even Grindelwald, who had been locked in a cell in his own prison for five decades, recognized Voldemort immediately:



The emaciated figure stirred beneath its thin blanket and rolled over toward him, eyes opening in a skull of a face. . . . The frail man sat up, great sunken eyes fixed upon him, upon Voldemort, and then he smiled. Most of his teeth were gone. . . .


“So, you have come. I thought you would . . . one day. But your journey was pointless. I never had it.”


“You lie!”


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows



And of course, as Sphoorthy Nutulapati mentioned, there was a woman in mainland Europe who also seemed to recognize him:



“Gregorovitch?” said a high, cold voice.



She shook her head: She was trying to close the door. A white hand held it steady, prevented her shutting him out. . . .


“I want Gregorovitch.”


“Er wohnt hier nicht mehr!” she cried, shaking her head. “He no live here! He no live here! I know him not!”


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows



Finally, Remus Lupin appeared to expect students to recognize Voldemort on sight (and to be more afraid of him than of giant spiders or banshees):



"Well," said Lupin, frowning slightly, "I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."


Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer he'd expected, but Lupin had said Voldemort's name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore.


"Clearly, I was wrong," said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. "But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic."




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