Ten years later, Harry Potters beloved cast of characters helps the story continue to endure. Unlike many other popular franchises, where the protagonist is the main draw, Harry Potter is just one of many compelling characters in his storyWith some of the characters around, they sometimes proved to be even more intriguing. This begins in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s StoneLike most of the characters it introduces are fascinating to begin with and give further depth as the series continues.
Like the magical Harry Potter Universe expands in the sequels, each installment introduces new characters that become integral to the series, despite being absent from the previous books. Although there are many characters to choose from, the best new characters introduced in each book are the most entertaining, well-developed and influential to the overarching series. Many of the characters are just as central to the story as Harry proves to be.
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7
Hermione Grainger
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Sorcerer’s Stone Introduces many essential characters other than Harry, but none quite as compelling as Hermione. As a fairly intelligent, compassionate, loyal and brave individual, Hermione could easily be the protagonist of her own series. She is the glue that holds the main trio of Harry, Ron Weasley, and themselves togetherAnd without her, Harry and Ron wouldn’t have gotten very far, with Hermione responsible for many of the group’s greatest discoveries and achievements.
Even with her ambition and responsibility for overachieving, Hermione never loses sight of what is most important as she remains loyal to her loved ones and consistently demonstrates kindness to others.
Despite Harry and Ron’s close friendship, Hermione proves to be a better friend than Ron when she stays by Harry’s side in Goblet of fire And death marches, Whereas Ron’s jealousy and insecurities cause him to temporarily abandon his friends. Even with her ambition and penchant for overachieving, Hermione never loses sight of what’s most important, as she remains loyal to her loved ones and consistently demonstrates kindness to others. Even as an 11-year-old in the first book, Hermione is already an inspiring character who is wise beyond her years.
6
Dobby
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Chamber of Secrets Expands the magical universe with the introduction of house-elves. While Dobby is mischievous and brings humor to the story, Dobby has valid reasons behind his actions that provide greater insight into the dynamic of wizarding families like the Malfoys and their dark connections. Dobby winning his freedom and the relationship he forms with Harry is a deeply satisfying arc And one of the best parts of the Chamber of Secrets ending
Dobby’s story could have ended there, but instead, he becomes a recurring character throughout the series, appearing in every book that followed, except for Prisoner of Azkaban. He becomes a delightful source of help for Harry, from telling him about the Room of Requirement, the perfect place for Dumbledore’s army to practice, to freeing Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor. All the time spent with Dobby makes his eventual death all the more heartbreaking.
5
Sirius Black
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Prisoner of Azkaban Dives further into the story of what happened to Harry’s parents, James and Lily, and who betrayed them to Voldemort. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew all bring something unique to the story and their own connection to Harry’s parents, but none of them are as captivating as Sirius. From believing that he betrayed James and Lily and was Voldemort’s right-hand man to knowing that he was being framed for crimes he did not commit, Sirius’ Prisoner of Azkaban History is an emotional roller coaster.
Its impact goes further Prisoner of AzkabanAs he takes his responsibilities as Harry’s godfather seriously and becomes a fatherly figure in Harry’s life. This makes Sirius’ death Order of the Phoenix All the more devastating, as Harry loses the man who was his godfather and his parents’ best friend. Other than Cedric Diggory in Goblet of fireNo other well-known and likable characters have died unexpectedly up to this point in the series, which makes Sirius’ death all the more shocking and impressive.
4
Barty Crouch Jr.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Barty Crouch Jr. Impersonating Mad-Eye Moody is one of those Harry Potter Books’ best plot twists, a truly surprising and sinister revelation that completely recontextualizes Moody’s actions throughout the story. Although there are many Death Eaters in the series, Barty Crouch Jr. Feels more unique than most of them. Nothing in the series can compete with his journey as a ruthless teenage Death Eater, an Azkaban prisoner, secretly escaping and living under his father’s Imperius Curse, and spending a year in disguise as part of an elaborate scheme to bring about Voldemort’s return. to fruition.
Part of what makes Crouch such an interesting character is the mystique that surrounds himHow much about him remains a mystery after giving the Dementor’s kiss. Most of the time spent with him in the story is in the guise of Moody, who, despite being rough around the edges, seems like an ultimately well-intentioned ally of Harry’s. Crouch manages to be resourceful and even likable through this disguise, all while manipulating events to bring back Voldemort, which completely changes the entire series.
3
Luna Lovegood
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
As memorable as Order of the PhoenixThe villain Dolores Umbridge is, the best character the book introduces is Luna Lovegood. Despite entering the series at a relatively late stage, Luna quickly feels like a natural extension to the core group This includes Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom. Luna’s eccentricities, her kindness and her willingness to tell uncomfortable truths make her a wonderful and valuable character to have in the story.
With the majority of prominent Hogwarts student characters being from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it’s a refreshing change for Luna to be a Ravenclaw, and her belonging to that house helps find Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.
The connections Luna makes with the characters and as a member of Dumbledore’s Army extends into Play Half-Blood Prince And Deathly Hallowswhere she remains an important character. With the majority of prominent Hogwarts student characters being from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it’s a refreshing change for Luna to be a Ravenclaw, and her belonging to that house helps find Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Luna also provides much of the comedy and heart during the final books.
2
Horace Slughorn
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Instead of introducing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Severus Snape takes the position Play Half-Blood PrinceWith Horace Slughorn replacing Snape as the Potions professor. While many characters who knew Harry’s parents were more so related to James, Slughorn’s connection was to Lily, who was one of his favorite students, giving Slughorn and Harry a distinct connection. Slughorn’s past with Tom Riddle was even more important.
Slughorn being the one to tell a young riddle about Horcruxes was a game-changing revelation Which clarified a lot about Voldemort and finally showed the way to defeat him for good. This set the plot of the final book and moved the story into its end-game stages. Beyond his importance to the plot, Slughorn has a satisfying arc of his own as he divulges the information he regrets sharing all those years ago, and fights alongside his colleagues and students during the Battle of Hogwarts, even dueling Voldemort at one point.
1
Learned Grindelwald
Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows
Gellert Grindelwald is first mentioned on the back of Albus Dumbledore’s chocolate frog card in the first book, but he does not appear until the last book in the series. Grindelwald proved to be integral to Dumbledore’s backstory and to the discovery of the Elder Wand. As a powerful dark wizard decades before Voldemort’s rise to power, Grindelwald adds new dimensions to the history of dark magic, which is later explored in the Fantastic animals films.
Much of the mystery and intrigue in Deathly Hallows Connect with GrindelwaldAs Harry gradually learns more about the dark wizard’s role in Dumbledore’s past and why he is the key to what Voldemort is looking for. Grindelwald is one of many ways that Deathly Hallows Pays off small details from earlier in the series in a surprising and satisfying fashion. He is the best new character introduced in Deathly Hallows Who shaped the trajectory of the Harry Potter franchise in later years.