Decades later Harry PotterThe popular characters help keep the story alive. Unlike many other popular franchises where the protagonist is the main attraction, Harry Potter is just one of many captivating characters in his storywhereby some of the characters around him sometimes prove to be even more fascinating than he himself. This begins in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stonebecause most of the characters introduced are fascinating from the start and gain depth as the series progresses.

As the magical Harry Potter The universe expands in the sequels, each installment introducing new characters that become integral to the series despite not appearing in the previous books. While there are many characters to choose from, the best new characters introduced in each book are the ones that are the most entertaining, best developed, and most influential to the overarching series. Many of these characters are just as central to the narrative as Harry.

7 Hermione Granger

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The Philosopher’s Stone introduces many important characters besides Harry, but none are as compelling as Hermione. An extremely intelligent, compassionate, loyal and brave person, Hermione could easily have been the protagonist of her own series. She is the glue that holds the main trio of Harry, Ron Weasley and her togetherand without her, Harry and Ron would not have gotten very far, as Hermione was responsible for many of the group’s greatest discoveries and achievements.

Despite her ambition and penchant for exaggerated achievements, Hermione never loses sight of what is most important: she remains loyal to the people she loves and always shows kindness to others.

Despite the close friendship between Harry and Ron, Hermione proves to be a better friend than Ron, as she stays by Harry’s side in Goblet of Fire And Deathly Hallows, while Ron’s jealousy and insecurities cause him to temporarily abandon his friends. Despite her ambition and penchant for overachieving, Hermione never loses sight of what is most important, as she remains loyal to her loved ones and always shows kindness to others. Even as an 11-year-old in the first book, Hermione is an inspirational character who is very wise for her age.

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 for his actions that provide a deeper insight into the dynamics of wizarding families like the Malfoys and their dark connections. Dobby gains his freedom and the relationship he builds with Harry is a deeply satisfying story arc and one of the best parts of the Chamber of Secrets End.

Dobby’s story could have ended here, but instead he becomes a recurring character throughout the series, appearing in every subsequent book, with the exception of The Prisoner of Azkaban. He becomes a wonderful help to Harry by telling him about the Room of Requirement, the perfect training ground for Dumbledore’s Army, and freeing Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor. All this 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 delves deeper 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 compelling as Sirius. From believing he betrayed James and Lily and was Voldemort’s right-hand man, to realizing he was framed for crimes he didn’t commit, Sirius’ The Prisoner of Azkaban History is an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Sirius Black spent 12 years in Azkaban prison.

His influence extends beyond The Prisoner of Azkabanbecause he takes his responsibility as Harry’s godfather seriously and becomes a fatherly figure in Harry’s life. This makes Sirius’ death in Order of the Phoenix all the more devastating as Harry loses the man who was his godfather and his parents’ best friend. Except for Cedric Diggory in Goblet of FireUp to this point in the series, no other prominent and sympathetic character had died unexpectedly, which made Sirius’ death all the more shocking and impactful.

4 Barty Crouch Jr.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Barty Crouch Jr. plays Mad-Eye Moody and is one of the Harry Potter The best plot twists of the books, a genuinely surprising and eerie revelation that completely recontextualizes Moody’s actions as the story progresses. Although there are many Death Eaters in the series, Barty Crouch Jr. comes across as more unique than most of them. Nothing in the series can match his journey as a reckless teenage Death Eater, an Azkaban prisoner who secretly escapes living under his father’s Imperius Curse, and spends a year in disguise as part of an elaborate plan to bring about Voldemort’s return.

Part of what makes Crouch such an interesting character is the mystique that surrounds himas much about him remains a mystery after the Dementor’s Kiss. ​​He spends most of the story in the guise of Moody, who, despite his rough side, seems to be basically a well-meaning ally of Harry. Crouch manages to be resourceful and even sympathetic in this disguise, while also manipulating events to bring Voldemort back, which completely changes the entire series.

3 Luna Lovegood

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

As unforgettable as Order of the PhoenixAlthough the villainous Dolores Umbridge is the best character featured in this book is Luna Lovegood. Although Luna joins the series relatively late, she quickly feels like a natural extension of the core group These include Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom. Luna’s eccentricity, kindness and talent for speaking uncomfortable truths make her a wonderful and valuable character in the story.

Since the majority of Hogwarts’ prominent student characters are from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it’s a refreshing change that Luna is a Ravenclaw, and her affiliation with that house helps in the search for Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

The connections Luna makes with these characters and as a member of Dumbledore’s Army extend into Half-Blood Prince And Deathly Hallowswhere she remains an important character. Since most of Hogwarts’ prominent student characters are from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it’s a refreshing change that Luna is a Ravenclaw, and her membership in that house helps in finding Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Luna also provides plenty of comedy and heart in 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 over the position in Half-Blood Princewith Horace Slughorn replacing Snape as Potions teacher. While many characters who knew Harry’s parents were more associated with James, Slughorn’s connection to Lily, who had been one of his favorite students, was what gave Slughorn and Harry a special bond. However, Slughorn’s past with Tom Riddle was even more important.

Both Lily and Harry were members of the Slug Club, an exclusive club for Slughorn’s favorite students who were talented or famous.

Slughorn telling young Riddle about Horcruxes was a groundbreaking revelation which shed light on much about Voldemort and finally revealed the way to defeat him for good. This set up the plot of the final book and brought the story to its final stages. Beyond his importance to the plot, Slughorn has a satisfying story arc of his own as he reveals the information he regrets revealing all those years ago and fights alongside his colleagues and students during the Battle of Hogwarts, even dueling Voldemort at one point.

1 Gellert Grindelwald

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Gellert Grindelwald is first mentioned on the back of Albus Dumbledore’s Chocolate Frog card in the first book, but does not appear until the final book in the series. Grindelwald is an integral part of Dumbledore’s backstory and 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 that would later be explored in the Fantastic Beasts Movies.

Much of the mystery and intrigue in Deathly Hallows Connections back to Grindelwaldwhile 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 possibilities, Deathly Hallows pays off small details from earlier parts of the series in surprising and satisfying ways. He is the best new character introduced in Deathly Hallows which follows the course of Harry Potter Franchise in later years.