Favourite Harry Potter characters

[lucialou]

Since I’m currently re-reading the HP books in lockdown (first time in over 10 years!) and fancied a a bit of Harry Potter discussion.

My favourites are still all of the Weasley’s, particularly Mr and Mrs Weasley- there’s something so lovable about them as a family.

Harry himself.
And McGonagall, of course.

Dobby! He's just inhabits his name and persona so well. Cried buckets when he died

But ultimately, he believed all the pureblood bullshit until it got his love killed.

RowenaRavenclawTheSecond You’re aware Snape was a half-blood, right?

The Marauders were bullies. James didn’t like that Snape had a crush on Lily when they first met in first year and bullied him for years after.

It could be argued they are the reason Snape was pulled towards the Death Eaters; they pushed him away, humiliated him. He felt alone.

As I say, I’m no Snape fan. I could take him or leave him, but his story is utterly tragic and he didn’t believe in Voldemort’s vision. He fell in with the wrong crowd and got trapped.

@heartsonacake so was Voldemort. Your point?

What you've written there is your opinion. I, personally, don't agree with it.

I mean, I agree that the marauders were bullies, but I don't buy into the fact that they are at fault for Snape's actions and decisions.

To say he didn't believe in Voldemort's vision is ridiculous - he worked for him, relayed the part of the prophecy he heard to him. He knew someone would die for that and he didn't care until it affected him.

Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Remus Lupine, Fenrir Greyback and Ginny Weasley

I'm so pleased someone else has said Harry annoys them, god he is such a moaner and it's always about him.

Hermione saved his life so many times, smashing that magical glass ceiling.

James Potter sounds like an absolute wanker, always thought that.

Audible has launched a site to help people during lockdown and loads of audiobooks are free, don't have to sign up or anything... including the Harry Potter collection.

Just in case other people like to listen to it to combat insomnia.

Wish I could do a fucking spell to make me sleep!

I'm so pleased someone else has said Harry annoys them, god he is such a moaner and it's always about him.

Btw I'm aware of the ridiculousness of my statement here given that the books are all about him

This thread made me super happy! I love the Potter books. TBH I'm a bit of a super fan and Harry is my special subject. Can't wait to read it to my dc when old enough!

My favourites are probably Sirius and Dobby, but to be honest I love them all. Except harmionie... she does my head in!

I despise the movies btw, I think they are all without exception dreadful.

Remus Lupin. Such a good guy

Yup. Just a genuinely good person who is never bitter about those who have treated him badly.

Annoying that he is so overlooked compared to Sirius who is a bit of an arse

Snape first and foremost. Those arguing whether he is “good” or “bad” are missing the point. He is morally complex like a real human being. I think he is one of JK’s most successful characters. Many of the others are too cardboard cut-out and do inhabit a basically Manichaean universe (Understandable; it’s for children). I also like Dumbledore because he is similarly flawed; a little bit hypocritical; not obvious.

I love Hermione and McGonagall. For some reason never liked Lupin, I think he's simpering - I feel like it's an unfair judgement but I can't stop thinking it

As for the Snape argument - of course other posters aren't missing the point. Just because he's 'morally dubious' doesn't mean there can't be a debate between his good and bad points, his motivations etc. Isn't that what literature is all about?! Rowling has waded in herself on numerous occasions!

Neville is the true star of the series for me.

I can’t stand Molly Weasley.

It could be argued they are the reason Snape was pulled towards the Death Eaters; they pushed him away, humiliated him. He felt alone.

I think so. I was reading the flashback parts about the Snape/Lily friendship where she’s getting on at him to stop hanging around with some of the other slytherins. But it’s not like he really has anybody else to ‘belong with’ bar Lily who is completely accepted by the popular crowd who bully Snape so relentlessly. She even says later on that none of her friends understand why she has anything to do with him, yet expects him to isolate himself further from other people who do accept him.

Why don’t people like Mrs Weasley?

I just love the whole Weasley family and the descriptions of The Burrow- the noise and chaos, the chickens, the muddy wellies lined up by the door, there’s something so lovely and homely about it

Although I dislike Umbridge’s character I do think she’s one of the best written villains of all time. Purely because of the fact she seems to remind everyone of someone they know in real life.

I love Professor McGonagall. “Have a biscuit Potter” is one of my favourite lines.

I think Luna is wonderful.

For anyone who’s interested, I would really recommend the potterless podcast. It’s an adult reading the HP books for the first time and trying to guess what’ll happen... it’s brilliant

I've listened to one of those @IDontDrinkTea!

I have a book from before DH was released, published by fan site Mugglenet called 'What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7' and it is basically all of their predictions and odds on who will die. It is fascinating to read now that it's all over! I think it's still available on Amazon.

Dobby
Snape
Lupin
Luna
Draco
Mr Malfoy ❤️
Peeves

McGonagal
Molly Weasley

Sirius Black, Hagrid and Dobby

@lucialou I don't like her for a lot of reasons. She was very good in welcoming Harry and caring for him as a son, but I think that makes people overlook a lot of her flaws. When I first read, the Weasley house sounded idyllic, but now I look at it very differently - I wouldn't want to be Weasley now.

I don’t believe she doesn’t love her children, but Molly’s parenting of them wasn’t always great. She shouts a lot, doesn't seem to listen to them much, and compares the children to each other constantly: playing obvious favourites is a brilliant way to build resentment between them. I don’t think she was able to properly parent all of her children - Ron and Percy seem to fall through cracks and get lost in the chaos of the family. There does't seem to be any closeness between her and Ron (she overlooks his preferences, dislike of maroon etc.) which probably just makes him feel even more like more like one of a group rather than being valued as a person. No-one (and I include Arthur in this) calls the twins out for their bullying of Percy.

She gave Hermione a tiny Easter egg in comparison to Harry and Ron after the Rita Skeeter article. Not giving her anything would have been better, because then Hermione could have assumed the best (that Harry got got one because he has no other family to send him one). Instead she showed she remembered Hermione, but wanted her to know that she wasn’t worth the full gift. That is spiteful.

Professor McGonagall, Hagrid and Fleur are my favourites. I was disappointed with the lack of Fleur in the films. I also love Bellatrix, but I think that’s only because of HBC, book Bellatrix is a bit meh.

I remember all the crazy Snape love when the last book came out, all the cries (including from my mum) of “He’s a herooooooo!”. No. He might make some very brave decisions but he doesn’t make them for the right reasons and he’s still a vindictive bully. He is a brilliantly written and flawed character character though.

Must also make a special mention to Hedwig. I found her death in the film much worse than Dobby’s

I adore Remus Lupin, a genuine good guy. So kind and calm and just healthy to be around. I also loved Charlie weasley, because I filled in all the blanks in his story and made him quite the heartthrob I mean, the guys works with dragons already, he was halfway there! I was always very fond of Ginny in the books, but film Ginny was a tosser.
On the other hand, I find Mrs Weasley is a bit overdone in the jolly housewife role (imo!) while simultaneously not being that great a mother, especially to Ron, and Snape was so fucking nasty to innocent students I find it hard to accept he was a good guy at all. An obsessed man who’d have done anything for lily, maybe, but not a good guy. Still cry when he dies tho.
Like them or not tho, there’s some absolutely cracking characters in those books, and so real. There’s no one outstanding beacon of all-good and equally there’s no one character who is all bad, altho some of the death eaters skirt closely!
I absolutely love reading these types of threads (for the most part!) because I love seeing how people interpreted the characters, how they spoke to them individually.

Oh and I always loved the sections on professor sprouts lessons, and the small amount we saw of Firenze (who was much more beautiful in my head than in the films!). I found him fascinating.

These are some pieces of writing by JK on the characters of Mcgonagall and Lupin-

www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/professor-mcgonagall

www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/remus-lupin

Lupin’s very tragic isn’t he? Every time he gets a bit happiness it’s always short-lived!

I love Neville Longbottom. Haven't read the rest of the thread yet but he's my favourite. He and Luna should have been a couple.

I also like the Weasley Twins.

I adore Snape but then that's because he was Alan Rickman...