Fun fact: there are well over 700 characters in the Harry Potter series. Some sources tally it at 772 if you count those mentioned only once or twice. I’d love to see Rowling’s database for keeping all those characters straight. 

In addition to the storyline, the characters are a big part of what makes the series enjoyable and relatable. Within that network of personalities there’s an abundance of friends, enemies, drama, and romance. I’ve split this post in half, so today we’ll talk about friends and enemies, and we’ll save drama and romance for next time. Want to know if our favorite characters match up? Read on!

FRIENDS

Character Growth

Rowling did a great job of keeping her characters distinct, consistent, and (apart from the magic) believable. One of the best parts of the series is seeing characters who grow and develop as the series progresses. My favorite example is Neville Longbottom. He starts as an insecure, bumbling first year, yet even then we see a hint of the bravery to come when he confronts Harry, Ron, and Hermione about a decision he considers reckless. As Neville grows, he remains abysmal at potions but finds that he’s good at herbology. He practices his spells harder than anyone else. By the end of the books we’re presented with a Neville who shows leadership, skill, loyalty, and courage. 

I think his development is my favorite because it was gradual and well-foreshadowed. I’d contrast this with Ginny’s personality change in book five. I enjoyed her more in the later books, but it was hard to think of her as the same person. Maybe some character manipulation was required to make her the romantic interest she’d become. 

Close Friends

Harry, Ron, and Hermione grow as well, but I wouldn’t necessarily say they change. They’re the same at the end as they are at the beginning, but more so. Hermione is smarter and more relatable but still a bit of a know-it-all. Ron is occasionally more confident but still pretty insecure. Harry is more determined and selfless, but he’s shown those qualities all along. While the Big Three don’t have dramatic character shifts like Neville or Ginny, I think their consistency is even more believable. 

Harry’s best friends are Ron and Hermione, of course, but his friend set expands with the inception of Dumbledore’s Army. It’s a nice change when the books begin including Luna, Neville, and the rest of the DA in the action, partly because we get to see Harry work in a team and grapple with more group-related issues. From a literary standpoint, this keeps the books from feeling repetitive or stagnant. Well done, Rowling.

Mentors

While Harry has loads of teachers, he has only a few mentors. Remus Lupin is a patient teacher and a wise counselor. His level-headed, unassuming nature is a good balance for Harry’s fear and confusion. Sirius Black is a father (and brother) figure to Harry—something that Harry desperately wants. While he may not have been the ideal role model for Harry, Sirius still acts as an anchor and a reference point even after he’s gone. Harry’s greatest mentor is Dumbledore, of course, but I’m saving my thoughts about him for the next section.

My Favorite Characters

Of all the hundreds of characters to choose from, I have three very clear favorites. First is Harry’s most important influence, Albus Dumbledore. I absolutely love him. His polite deference even to enemies, his understated sarcasm and wit, his gentle tone and selflessness, his weakness for candies—I could go on. He is so well-written. (And yes, of course I consider the movies’ replacement Dumbledore to be a travesty.) Suffice it to say, Albus was one of the most enjoyable characters to read and one of the hardest to let go of. Even though the last book casts aspersions on his motives and choices, I think the ending justifies him. It shows him to be imperfect but humble enough to admit it and apologize to Harry. We all need mentors like Dumbledore.

But at the very top of my favorites is the dynamic duo of Fred and George Weasley, the twins who are always up to no good. No one beats their humor, mischief, comedic timing, fierce loyalty, and overall energy. Their replies are hilarious, and their schemes are so gutsy. They know they’re poor, but it doesn’t eat at them like it does Ron. They make friends, play Quidditch, ask out girls, wreak havoc, and start up a joke shop with complete aplomb. The movies could never do them justice without quadrupling their screen time. I wish I could read seven books about just the twins and their capers. Frankly, I’m not sure I’ve forgiven Rowling for how she treated them in the end. 

ENEMIES

Small Fries

Harry has plenty of friends, but he’s got just as many enemies. Dudley and the rest of the Dursleys are a constant thorn in Harry’s side at the beginning of every book. Their neglect and mistreatment of him shape him into the tolerant, resilient boy he becomes, but there’s no doubt the Dursleys belong in the enemy category. 

The animosity between Harry and Draco Malfoy is a big deal at the beginning of the series, too. Draco is more sophisticated than Dudley (really, a rock would be more sophisticated than Dudley), but he’s equally spiteful. Draco is always looking for ways to make Harry look bad or to humiliate Ron and Hermione. This tension intensifies throughout the series, but as Harry grows, so do his enemies. 

Big Fish

One of Harry’s bigger problems comes from Severus Snape. The potions master loathes Harry from the beginning, and his constant needling must have felt like having a wicked, powerful Uncle Vernon at school. I know the end is supposed to justify him and transform our perspective on his motivations, but quite frankly it wasn’t enough for me. Nothing could excuse his behavior toward Harry. Yes, Snape was talented, mistreated, and brave, but he was nevertheless a jerk. You won’t catch me wearing any “Always” merch.

And finally, Harry’s greatest enemy: Voldemort. From the time he was a year old, Harry was marked out by Voldemort as a target and a threat. A couple of the books don’t revolve around Voldemort’s ascension, but most do. As the plot thickens in the last three books, Harry realizes that his fate is inextricably linked with the Dark Lord’s. He goes through the various stages of grief, finally arriving at acceptance. In the end, it’s Harry who has the more powerful weapon: love. A bit cheesy, perhaps, but still good for kids to read.

The Last Enemy

On the tombstone of Harry’s parents is the Bible verse, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” There are enemies to be fought, evil to expose and overcome, and yet the last enemy will always be death. Rowling’s incorporation of this theme is powerful and yet lacking the full depth of the truth. Sadly, you’ll have to wait until the final post for more thoughts on that because I’m signing off for today.

Mischief managed.