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Harry Potter fans have cast their votes for the most unfortunate and tragic characters in the film series.
Alongside prominent faces like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the Harry Potter series introduces a myriad of other intriguing characters. While some lead peaceful lives with happy endings, others endure extreme hardships, living a life akin to hell. Here are 5 characters from Harry Potter with the most tragic fates, often overlooked by many - as voted by the fans on Ranker.
5. Severus Snape loses the love of his life, has to kill someone he trusted, and simultaneously protects a brat - the son of his childhood bully.
Initially despised but later beloved by Harry Potter, Professor Snape leads a life of misery.
From a young age, Snape harbored love for Lily and developed a close bond with her at Hogwarts. However, Lily later falls for James Potter - the boy who tormented Snape throughout school. Later on, Dumbledore entrusts him with the task of not only being a 'spy' for Voldemort but also protecting Harry at any cost. Dumbledore even instructs Snape to kill him instead of Draco.
7. Sirius Black, ousted from the family, imprisoned in Azkaban for the death of a friend, ultimately meets a tragic end
Sirius Black is one of the kindest yet most tormented characters in Harry Potter. He bears the bloodline of the Black family - related to Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy. Opposing the bigotry and blood purity of his family, Sirius is disowned from a young age.
Later, Sirius is wrongfully convicted of betraying James and Lily to Voldemort, causing the death of 12 Muggles. After over a decade in Azkaban, he is finally reunited with his godson Harry. However, Sirius meets his demise at the hands of Bellatrix's brutality.
8. Dobby, the loyal house-elf, lives a lifetime as a servant and dies for Harry
One of the most beloved creatures in Harry Potter is the house-elf Dobby. With undeniable kindness and unwavering loyalty, Dobby is the reason many fans shed tears in the final episodes. Not only does he repeatedly save Harry, but Dobby also sacrifices himself to save the protagonist.
9. Professor Remus Lupin, bitten by a werewolf as a child, witnesses his close friends perish, then passes away leaving behind an orphaned red-headed child
15. It seems anyone close to Harry's dad encounters misfortune. From a young age, Remus Lupin was bitten by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback - leading to his painful transformation every full moon.
Close friends with James Potter and Sirius Black, Professor Lupin witnessed the murders of his companions. In the battle at Hogwarts, he and his wife, the bright witch Tonks, tragically passed away, leaving their orphaned son Teddy behind.
16. Neville Longbottom bullied throughout childhood for his name, forced to live with his grandmother due to his parents' insanity caused by the Death Eaters
Neville's streak of bad luck began with his birth. With the name 'Longbottom,' he faced continuous teasing at school. Never quite measuring up to characters like Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, or Draco Malfoy, Neville endured his own share of tragedies.
Neville's parents were tortured to insanity by the Death Eaters, leaving him to live with his grandmother. The prophecy of the 'Chosen One' affected both Neville and Harry, entangling them in various troubles.
Despite later becoming a prominent ally of Harry, Neville was initially relegated to comic relief for the audience. At least, Neville finds happiness in the end on this list.
Image Source: Warner Bros.
