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The 25 Greatest Harry Potter Characters
You voted, we counted - and here are JK Rowling's most memorable creations


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1
Severus Snape
Books: All of them

Films: All of them

Played by: Alan Rickman, Alec Hopkins, Ben Sharpe, Benedict Clarke

Alan Rickman was the only person other than JK Rowling to know, from the start, where this story was going. He had to, because Snape is a puzzle-box of a character, layering secrets and riddles over a heart that remains hidden until the very end. Let's face it: even the sneering, supercilious outermost layer is a delight to behold, Rickman's distinctive delivery squeezing malice out of every word (listen to his "Turn to page 394" in Prisoner of Azkaban). But then there's his shocking turn in Half-Blood Prince, lashing out at the one man who always had faith in him and, without wishing to drop any spoilers, it's fair to say that yet more secrets to Snape's character will be revealed in Deathly Hallows: Part 2. It's this slow revelation of unguessed-at complexity that has put the school's most bullying teacher in the top spot on this list, in a testament both to Rowling's writing and Rickman's endless capacity for snark. We can only stand in wonder, and salute their efforts.
Trivia: JK Rowling said that Dumbledore allowed Snape to bully pupils because Dumbledore believes that, "There are all sorts of lessons in life ... horrible teachers like Snape are one of them!"

Memorable Quote: "How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter. He too was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle."

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Have Your Say
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Your Comments
1
Posted on Friday March 15, 2013, 18:02 by Ryanjae29
for me: 3.ron 2.harry 1.severus Read More

2 Favourite quote for Draco? I don't think so...
Posted on Wednesday August 22, 2012, 18:04 by LLawliet101
I can't believe Draco's memorable quote was put down as 'Nice face, Potter'. Surely it was 'My father will hear about this'? Read More

3
Posted on Thursday April 19, 2012, 16:44 by jackknows
I think draco should be MUCH higher Read More

4
Posted on Friday March 23, 2012, 23:57 by missyreah
Ron's my favourite but he's always underrated. Great to see him at the top for once. Love Arthur Weasley too - he's brilliant in the books. Read More

5 Mad-eye!
Posted on Saturday January 7, 2012, 10:29 by dannyfletch
My personal favourite is professor Mad-Eye followed by Sirius Black, Hagrid and then Dumbledore. I must admit that Harry is probably near the bottom of my list Read More

6
Posted on Thursday November 10, 2011, 14:38 by Everest95
Hermione has to be number one, shes hot in the films Read More

7
Posted on Thursday October 27, 2011, 16:28 by OpenMindedMovieFan
This list has all the right characters in the wrong order, but the number 1 was dead right. my top 3 3. Remus Lupin 2.Albus Dumbledore 1.Severus Snape Read More

8
Posted on Thursday October 13, 2011, 23:26 by Cyberleader
You don't think Voldy can be described as anyone's 'favourite'? I beg to differ. I know loads of people with a genuine affection for the dark lord. Like The Joker, he's got a bit of a fan club out there... Read More

9 Severus Snape
Posted on Friday September 16, 2011, 15:28 by angel503
i love snape you always think that he is the bad guy and than it shocks you that he loved lilly and liked harry a little lol sooo sad that he died in the books he will be missed but i feel so sorry for him though he truly is the best character :) Read More

10 RE: Re
Posted on Friday August 12, 2011, 14:10 by Antcav
my favourites for the fact they start off a bit annoying, become great rebels and then become strong characters in the final two films must the weasley twins.... fantastic guys - kept smiling, laughing and (sorry i know it's sad) crying..... Read More

11 RE: Re
Posted on Thursday August 11, 2011, 15:37 by snazzy_sophie
After seeing the final film...McGonagall is deservedly one of the best characters! Read More

12 Re
Posted on Saturday August 6, 2011, 19:01 by Lindea
@Moviekid I'm guessing that a lot of the Harry/Ron/Hermione votes might come from people who haven't read the books. Though he might not be the "best" character, my personal favourite is and will always be Remus. I think that Snape's first place is well deserved, but how his "memorable quote" wasn't "Always" is a mystery to me. That is probably my favourite quote from the whole series. Read More

13 RE:
Posted on Monday July 18, 2011, 00:04 by MovieKid
Im schocked anyone voted for harry, ron or hermione. Easily the worst characters. I would have liked people to make more obscure votes for characters they like it would have been a more interesting list. Read More

14 RE:
Posted on Friday July 15, 2011, 21:24 by directorscut
RON? RON?  BLOODY RON?  The writer is out of his/her tree.  The heart of the three?  More like the moaning, useless pillock of the three. They seem to have a hard-on for the Weasleys when even wet towels like Ginny get onto the list. Madeye Moody, Lockheart and Umbridge the three best characters, are deplorably low. Read More

15 RE: Underrated Guilderoy
Posted on Thursday July 14, 2011, 20:39 by Drone
Ron in first for me personally, and Mr Weasley a close second!  Great characters.  Snape is still a good choice however; I remember all the discussions about his motives when the books were being released; many pages of hardcore Snape fans desperate for the truth.  I can't think of many ficitonal characters so wicked that fans have wanted to be so good. Read More

16 RE: Spoilers
Posted on Thursday July 14, 2011, 15:06 by brucejackiejet
n the trailer is hardly an excuse. I've managed to avoid the trailer so I wouldn't have known until your article.p; Get over it mate, if you were so worried that you avoided the trailers, then reading a big Empire feature on the Potter universe before seeing the film was a bit of daft thing to do really. And to say that the film has been 'spoiled' because you now know one line of dialogue is perhaps overreacting a little wouldn't you say? My suggestion - Go see the film, then read articles about it. Read More

17 RE: Sorry for being a real pedant
Posted on Thursday July 14, 2011, 12:52 by pauljthomas
Based on the films so far I would say Ron at number 1, but it's Snape's revelation that we know from the book that has bagged this number 1 slot!!!   On another note, how can giving away details of the final film be spoilers??, they're in the book if you cared to read it!!! Read More

18 RE: Spoilers
Posted on Wednesday July 13, 2011, 19:12 by Vadersville
Being in the trailer is hardly an excuse. I've managed to avoid the trailer so I wouldn't have known until your article. Read More

19 RE: Spoilers
Posted on Wednesday July 13, 2011, 18:04 by Helen OHara
Both the quote, and most of the description, are given away in the trailer. Abbsalah and Enzino, those two have been corrected. Read More


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