Originally a highly enchanting series that dazzled fans through magical world-building, Harry Potter grew in uniquely mature ways with each book. While the challenges Harry has to face are always hard to handle, the first few entries are clearly aimed at a younger audience and feature lower stakes. There's a childlike optimism at play in movies like The Sorcerer's Stone or The Chamber of Secrets.
Harry Potter matured along with its readers, with the final books and movies taking on a distinctively dark tone. As Harry Potter grew darker with each installment, more and more characters started to died – some harder to accept than others. By the time Harry finally prevailed over Voldemort, too many of his friends and family lost their lives to the war.
10 Mad-Eye Moody Died For Nothing
When Auror Alastor Moody is first introduced, he isn’t even himself. Held captive for almost a year while Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. impersonates him, Moody is finally released at the end of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire. He subsequently becomes involved in the efforts to combat Voldemort. After Albus Dumbledore’s death, Moody actually becomes the leader of the Order of the Phoenix.
Tragically, it's one of Mad-Eye’s precautions that ultimately kills him. When Harry is retrieved from his home in The Deathly Hallows, his companions use the Polyjuice Potion to pose as him. During the Battle of the Seven Potters, Mad-Eye is hit by a killing curse cast by Voldemort. His loss is as devastating for the Order as it is pointless, since the whole scheme in itself was the problem. There are a number of methods that could have ensured Harry’s safety without putting such a highly dangerous plan into practice.
9 Lily And James Potter Sacrifice Themselves For Their Son
The death of Harry Potter’s parents marks the young boy wizard all the way into adulthood. James Potter may not have been a perfect man, but his attempt to fight off Voldemort to protect his family is still endearing. Meanwhile, Lily’s sacrifice provides the protection that keeps Harry safe from Voldemort’s power. The Potters' fate is extra heartbreaking considering the hard life their son goes on to have.
8 Albus Dumbledore’s Death Doesn’t Come As A Surprise, But Still Hurts
The headmaster at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore plays a huge role in Harry’s life. Powerful and manipulative, he raises Harry as a child soldier, and his secrets often lead to disastrous consequences. Even so, Albus is a force for good and a beacon of light in the war against Voldemort.
Dumbledore embodies wisdom as much as he does cunning. His death is made obvious from the moment he is first shown with his crippled black hand, consumed by the Gaunt Ring's curse. Even so, his death at Severus Snape’s hands comes as a painful blow, even for those who aren’t necessarily fans of the character.
7 Cedric Diggory’s Death Starts The Second War With Voldemort
When he signs up for the Triwizard Tournament, Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory doesn’t expect to face Death Eaters at the end of the competition. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens. He and Harry leave the final maze together using the cup portkey, and both are taken to the cemetery in Little Hangleton. Voldemort promptly orders Peter Pettigrew to “kill the spare,” and Cedric unceremoniously dies in front of Harry’s horrified eyes. Cedric's death signals the change in the overall tone of the series and the true beginning of the war.
6 Remus And Nymphadora Die Together In The Battle Of Hogwarts
After his stint as a Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Remus Lupin finds new purpose in the Order – and love with Nymphadora Tonks. The two even get married and have a baby. Unfortunately, neither get the chance to see their son Teddy grow up. Originally, Tonks agrees to stay out of the Battle of Hogwarts, but cannot bring herself to let her husband fight on his own. In the end, Remus is killed by Antonin Dolohov, while Tonks dies at Bellatrix Lestrange’s hands.
5 Dobby Dies A Free Elf In Harry’s Arms
Originally the Malfoys' servant, the house-elf Dobby tries to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts in his second year. His outlandish attempts to save Harry’s life are almost as dangerous as the Death Eaters, but Harry understands Dobby’s intentions and helps free him at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. After a short period of unemployment, Dobby starts working at Hogwarts for a Galleon a week.
He remains Harry’s close friend, provides him with the gillyweed he needs for the Triwizard Tournament task, and even helps him discover the Room of Requirement. Dobby comes to Harry’s aid once again when he and his friends are taken captive by Voldemort’s forces. As he and Harry apparate out of Malfoy manor, Dobby is lethally struck by a dagger thrown by Bellatrix Lestrange. He dies in Harry’s arms and is buried in front of Shell Cottage, with the epitaph ‘here lies Dobby, a free elf.’
4 Severus Snape’s Tragic Fate Brings Tears To The Eyes Of His Fans
Easily the most controversial figure in Harry Potter, Severus Snape's existence is plagued by tragedy. His abuse at the hands of his Muggle father and subsequent sorting into House Slytherin lead him to join the Death Eaters. He tells Voldemort about Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy, unaware that he is dooming his childhood friend in the process. After Lily’s death, Severus swears he will protect her son.
When Voldemort returns, Snape acts as a double agent for the Order of the Phoenix, first as the dour Potions teacher of Hogwarts then in his capacity as the school's new headmaster. He even kills Dumbledore on Albus' own request. Interestingly enough, Voldemort never realizes Severus is a traitor. He kills Severus out of the belief that he is the master of the elder wand. With his last breath, Severus gives Harry his memories, showing him the truth about his connection with Voldemort. Snap is truly a tragic figure. Despite his flaws, his death still brings tears to the eyes of fans.
3 Hedwig’s Death Is A Devastating Emotional Blow
Harry’s snowy owl, Hedwig is the boy wizard’s faithful companion all throughout his Hogwarts years. Originally gifted to him by Rubeus Hagrid during their first visit at Diagon Alley, Hedwig is very intelligent and often a source of great comfort to Harry. He takes refuge in her presence, particularly when he is trapped at the Dursleys.
Like Alastor Moody, she dies in the Battle of the Seven Potters. It’s notable that in the books, Hedwig’s death is caused by a stray killing curse that hits her cage, while in the movies, she deliberately intercepts the spell to save Harry. In many ways, Hedwig's death represents the death of Harry's innocence.
2 Fred Weasley’s Death Separates The Iconic Weasley Twin Duo
The iconic Weasley twins are always a welcome appearance in Harry Potter. Fred and George Weasley add a dash of humor and excitement to the series, and their inventions embody the spirit of what it means to be magical. Their close connection makes them all the more likable, and they’re practically never apart. That makes Fred’s death in the Battle of Hogwarts even more tragic. George never truly recovers from the loss of his twin, and fans of the character haven’t either.
1 Sirius Black’s Tragic Death Leaves Harry Utterly Shattered
If there's one character in the series more tragic than Severus Snape, it's Sirius Black. Raised in the abusive Black family, he finds refuge with the Potters, only to lose his friends and his freedom after Peter Pettigrew’s betrayal. He spends practically one-third of his life in Azkaban, and even when he finally escapes, his innocence is never proven. Even if Harry cares about his dead parents, Sirius is clearly the closest thing he has to a parental figure.
Sirius is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the battle at the Department of Mysteries, at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It’s notable that the movie deliberately mutes Daniel Radcliffe’s cry of grief, as it was considered too heart-wrenching to even include. Additionally, Bellatrix casts Avada Kedavra in the movies, whereas the spell she uses in the books is unclear and simply propels Sirius into the Veil.