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.

I don't think you can blame Sirius and James for snapes outcome. He made his choices. Lots of people are bullies but don't join murderous cults. I agree his life was tragic and I'm sure that it impacted him greatly but you can't excuse his actions because of his childhood. The way he treats his students tells me everything I need to know about him as a person.

Although I dislike Umbridge’s character I do think she’s one of the best written villains of all time
Absolutely. I bloody hated her but.... Imelda Staunton plays the part brilliantly well.

I love Snape as well. I knew he was a good guy from the start.

Does the Cursed Child count? I saw it again just before lockdown and I love the character of Scorpius.

I'm currently doing a series of reading comprehensions on the HP books with Y6 - it's really interesting to see how her writing and characterisations develop across the books.

Snape is my favourite character in that he is the character I am most interested to read about. Like many PP though I think he is an awful person and definitely not a good guy.
Hermione is the character I like best. Lupin is, I think, the best character in the sense of being the nicest.

Aw I love the Weasley twins, they’re so convincingly big-brother-y. They can be arseholes but they’re good guys really.

Minerva
Ginny

I recently reread the Cursed Child script - I'm really upset with how Harry is portrayed for a lot of it. I can see how he would struggle with some aspects of parenting, but I think he goes too far in an uncharacteristic way. And it's not actually written by JKR and that bothers me, though I know she had input. I think the plot line gets so convoluted at times. I did love Scorpius though!

Has anyone see it? Apparently it's a phenomenal theatre experience so I would still love to see it.

It's one of the best things I've seen at the theatre and I've seen a lot. Harry is exactly how I imagined. He's not really a great guy. Also his childhood was plain abusive. He has no good parent role models to draw upon.

Professor Trelawny is the most under appreciated character in the HP books.

@RowenaRavenclawTheSecond I've seen it twice on stage - once during the preview sessions and once last year. It's the most incredible, immersive, magical experience! I love Albus and Scorpius' relationship. I wouldn't have read the script before I saw it, and I definitely won't now though. The plot is downright stupid in parts, and seeing it live you get carried away in the spectacle, but reading at home I can see why it's as widely hated as it is.

Unpopular, but I found it believable how Harry lost it at Albus. He grew up in a horrible family environment, and there he really learnt how to get under people's skin. It's how he learnt to cope with the Dursleys and later Malfoy. He's always been hotheaded and for Harry to snap and say something which he immediately regretted in heat of the moment isn't out of character of Harry for me.

No I agree that he doesn't have any parental role models, and his abusive childhood would no doubt impact on his whole life. I just think he is a much, much 'worse' person in CC than JKR ever wrote him in the novels.

However I read it as a script, and that's rather a flat experience as plays are meant to be acted out so I wonder if I would feel differently seeing it come to life.

@toastofthetown thanks for the insight! I'm very jealous of people who've seen it. Yes the plot seems frankly ridiculous reading it in black and white, it's good in a way that it is less noticeable in the play.

Controversial, but I have a soft spot for Ron, I think he had a lot to live up to (all those older brothers and Harry as a best friend), I think he handled it ok.
I also think he and Hermione work well as a couple in that he can be the 'social one' of the pair, he gives her access to a family that understand the wizarding world, and occasionally tells her to take a break from work.

I liked him at first but as an adult I'm dissapointed in Lupin. He should have told Dumbledore that Sirius was an anigamus, that was really irresponsible of him as a teacher. Plus running away from Tonks (much worse in your mid 30s than at 18).

I also love Luna, just because she seems so 'magic' like a fairy story good witch.

I am happy to have Ron all to myself.

Debby, Snape, Lupin, Bill and Mad Eye Moody.

Obviously my husband Newt is my favourite, although some will argue he's not strictly a Harry Potter character.

I love Lupin and Tonks.
Neville.
The Weasley family as a whole. I mean yes Molly is a bit crap as a Mum, but so am I and I've only got 2 children.
Snape. I don't think he's a good guy or a bad guy. He's complex and changeable and made some horrendous decisions. But that's what makes him human and relatable.

Umbridge is one of the best written villains ever.

Kreacher and Dobby

Basically everyone

Luna for her quirkiness and the fact she doesn't give a shit about what others think of her.

Also Kingsley Shacklebolt. Bit of a superstar.

@Camomila I think there is definitely that element with Lupin of doing what’s easy rather than what is right

Agree with Neville and also Neville’s gran seems quite awesome

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

I cried more for Hedwig than for Dumbledore

Neville. Victor Krum.

I actually really liked Harry. I don’t think he was particularly moody given that he had a crap childhood and a mass murderer had an obsession with him. My 15 year old brothers a lot moodier then Harry and he’s had to contend with neither of these things!

@PennyArrowBar So did I, much more! It wasn’t too bad in the book, but her getting killed in the film because she came back to save Harry was too much for me. I thought they had decided not to kill her the first time I saw it, and that she was just going to fly away!

I just go and make a cup of tea during that bit now, if it’s on.

Yes!! So it was twice as traumatic halfterm and she was absolutely loyal to the end, even to her own detriment 😭

Neville Longbottom - and what an absolute hero he turned turned into (though he was always brave in his way as a child)

I love strong clever feisty Hermione, far too good for Ron (who is my DS 6’s fave), Luna in the films is a good character too. Fawkes the Phoenix and the fat lady make me smile too. I bloom in’ can’t stand Neville in the films he’s dreadful. In the films i still laugh at the depiction of them in middle age with their flat shoes and macs.