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Essay On My Favourite Movie Harry Potter 5
Harry James Potter is the title character and protagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter, who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard. Thus, he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to practice magic under the guidance of the kindly headmaster Albus Dumbledore and other school professors. Harry also discovers that he is already famous throughout the novel's magical community, and that his fate is tied with that of He Who Must Not Be Named, the internationally feared Dark Wizard and murderer of his parents, Lily and James.
Concept and creation
According to Rowling, the idea for both the Harry Potter books and its eponymous character came while waiting for a delayed train from Manchester, England to London in 1990. She stated that her idea for "this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me".[1] While developing the ideas for her book, she also decided to make Harry an orphan who attended a boarding school called Hogwarts. She explained in a 1999 interview with The Guardian: "Harry had to be an orphan—so that he's a free agent, with no fear of letting down his parents, disappointing them ... Hogwarts has to be a boarding school—half the important stuff happens at night! Then there's the security. Having a child of my own reinforces my belief that children above all want security, and that's what Hogwarts offers Harry."[2]
Her own mother's death on 30 December 1990 inspired Rowling to write Harry as a boy longing for his dead parents, his anguish becoming "much deeper, much more real" than in earlier drafts because she related to it herself.[1] In a 2000 interview with The Guardian, Rowling also established that the character of Wart in T. H. White's novel The Once and Future King is "Harry's spiritual ancestor."[3] Finally, she established Harry's birth date as 31 July, the same as her own. However, she maintained that Harry was not directly based on any real-life person: "he came just out of a part of me".[4]
Rowling has also maintained that Harry is a suitable real-life role model for children. "The advantage of a fictional hero or heroine is that you can know them better than you can know a living hero, many of whom you would never meet [...] if people like Harry and identify with him, I am pleased, because I think he is very likeable."[5]
Harry Potter books
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (published in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). Starting in 1981,[6] when Harry was just one year old, his parents, James and Lily, were murdered by the most powerful Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort (subsequently called "You-Know-Who" and "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" by those too superstitious to use his actual name). He attempted to kill Harry too, but was unsuccessful and only left a lightning bolt shaped scar on Harry's forehead. Voldemort's body was destroyed, but his soul was not. Harry later learns that the reason why he survived was because his mother sacrificed herself for him, and her love was something that Voldemort could not destroy.
According to Rowling, fleshing out this back story was a matter of reverse planning: "The basic idea [is that] Harry ... didn't know he was a wizard ... and so then I kind of worked backwards from that position to find out how that could be, that he wouldn't know what he was... That's... When he was one year old, the most evil wizard for hundreds and hundreds of years attempted to kill him. He killed Harry's parents, and then he tried to kill Harry—he tried to curse him.... Harry has to find out, before we find out. And for some mysterious reason, the curse didn't work on Harry. So he's left with this lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead, and the curse rebounded upon the evil wizard who has been in hiding ever since".[7]
As a result, Harry is written as an orphan living with his only remaining family, the Dursleys, who are neglectful and abusive. On his eleventh birthday, Harry learns he is a wizard when Rubeus Hagrid arrives to tell him that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he learns about the wizarding world, his parents, and his connection to the Dark Lord. When he is sorted into Gryffindor House, he becomes fast friends with classmates Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and foils Voldemort's attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone. He also forms a rivalry with characters Draco Malfoy, a classmate from an elitist wizarding family, and the cold, condescending Potions master, Severus Snape, Draco's mentor and the head of Slytherin House. Both feuds continue throughout the series and are settled at the series's end (Draco's in the West End play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Snape's on his deathbed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In a 1999 interview, Rowling stated that Draco is based on several prototypical schoolyard bullies she encountered[8] and Snape on a sadistic teacher of hers who abused his power.[8]
Rowling has stated that the "Mirror of Erised" chapter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is her favourite; the mirror reflects Harry's deepest desire, namely to see his dead parents and family.[1] Her favourite funny scene is when Harry inadvertently sets a boa constrictor free from the zoo in the horrified Dursleys' presence.[8]
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Rowling pits Harry against Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort's "memory" within a secret diary which has possessed Ron's younger sister Ginny. When Muggle-born students are suddenly being Petrified, many suspect that Harry may be behind the attacks, further alienating him from his peers. Furthermore, Harry begins to doubt his worthiness for House of Gryffindor, particularly considering he discovers he shares Lord Voldemort's ability to communicate with snakes via Parseltongue. In the climax, Ginny disappears. To rescue her, Harry battles Riddle and the monster he controls that is hidden in the Chamber of Secrets. To defeat the monster, Harry summons the Sword of Godric Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat supplied by Dumbledore's pet phoenix, Fawkes. In doing so, Dumbledore later restores Harry's self-esteem by explaining that that feat is clear proof of his worthiness of his present house.
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
In the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Rowling uses a time travel premise. Harry learns that his parents were betrayed to Voldemort by their friend Peter Pettigrew, who framed Harry's godfather Sirius Black for the crimes, condemning him to Azkaban, the wizard prison. When Sirius escapes to find Harry, Harry and Hermione use a Time Turner to save him and a hippogriff named Buckbeak. When Pettigrew escapes, an innocent Sirius becomes a hunted fugitive once again. Harry learns how to create a Patronus, which takes the form of a stag, the same as his late father's.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
In the previous books, Harry is written as a child, but Rowling states that in the fourth novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, "Harry's horizons are literally and metaphorically widening as he grows older."[9] Harry's developing maturity becomes apparent when he becomes romantically interested in Cho Chang, a student in Ravenclaw house. Tension mounts, however, when Harry is mysteriously chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, even though another Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory, has already been selected.Voldemort uses the Tournament for an elaborate scheme to lure Harry into a deadly trap. During the Tournament's final challenge, Harry and Cedric are transported to a graveyard, using a portkey, where Cedric is killed by Peter Pettigrew, and Voldemort, aided by Pettigrew, uses Harry's blood in a gruesome ritual to resurrect his body. When Harry duels Voldemort, their wands' magical streams connect, forcing the spirit echoes of Voldemort's victims, including Cedric and James and Lily Potter, to be expelled from his wand. The spirits briefly protect Harry as he escapes to Hogwarts with Cedric's body. For Rowling, this scene is important because it shows Harry's bravery, and by retrieving Cedric's corpse, he demonstrates selflessness and compassion. Says Rowling, "He wants to save Cedric's parents additional pain." She added that preventing Cedric's body from falling into Voldemort's hands is based on the classic scene in the Iliad where Achilles retrieves the body of his best friend Patroclus from the hands of Hector. Rowling also mentioned that book four rounds off an era in Harry's life, and the remaining three books are another,[9] "He's no longer protected. He's been very protected until now. But he's very young to have that experience. Most of us don't get that until a bit later in life. He's only just coming up to 15 and that's it now."[10]
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic has been waging a smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore, disputing their claims that Voldemort has returned. Harry is made to look like an attention-seeking liar, and Dumbledore a trouble-maker. A new character is introduced when the Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge as the latest Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor (and Ministry spy). Because the paranoid Ministry suspects that Dumbledore is building a wizard army to overthrow them, Umbridge refuses to teach students real defensive magic. She gradually gains more power, eventually ousting Dumbledore and seizing control of the school. As a result, Harry's increasingly angry and erratic behaviour nearly estranges him from Ron and Hermione.
Rowling says she put Harry through extreme emotional stress to show his emotional vulnerability and humanity—a contrast to his nemesis, Voldemort. "[Harry is] a very human hero, and this is, obviously, a contrast, between him, as a very human hero, and Voldemort, who has deliberately dehumanised himself. And Harry, therefore, did have to reach a point where he did almost break down, and say he didn't want to play any more, he didn't want to be the hero any more – and he'd lost too much. And he didn't want to lose anything else. So that – Phoenix was the point at which I decided he would have his breakdown."[11]
At Hermione's urging, Harry forms a secret student organisation called Dumbledore's Army to teach more meaningful defence against the dark arts as Professor Umbridge is making them read off a textbook. Their plan is thwarted, however, when a Dumbledore's Army member, Marietta Edgecombe, betrays them and informs Umbridge about the D.A., causing Dumbledore to be ousted as Headmaster. Harry suffers another emotional blow, when his beloved godfather, Sirius, is killed during a duel with Sirius' cousin, the Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange, at the Department of Mysteries, but Harry ultimately defeats Voldemort's plan to steal an important prophecy. Rowling stated: "And now he [Harry] will rise from the ashes strengthened."[11] A side plot of Order of the Phoenix involves Harry's romance with Cho Chang, but the relationship quickly unravels. Says Rowling: "They were never going to be happy, it was better that it ended early!"[12]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
In the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry enters a tumultuous puberty that, Rowling says, is based on her and her younger sister's own difficult teenage years.[13] Rowling also made an intimate statement about Harry's personal life: "Because of the demands of the adventure that Harry is following, he has had less sexual experience than boys of his age might have had."[14] This inexperience with romance was a factor in Harry's failed relationship with Cho. Now his thoughts concern Ginny, and a vital plot point in the last chapter includes Harry ending their budding romance to protect her from Voldemort.
A new character appears when former Hogwarts Potions master Horace Slughorn replaces Snape, who assumes the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. Harry suddenly excels in Potions, using an old textbook once belonging to a talented student known only as "The Half-Blood Prince." The book contains many handwritten notes, revisions, and new spells; Hermione, however, believes Harry's use of it is cheating. Through private meetings with Dumbledore, Harry learns about Voldemort's orphaned youth, his rise to power, and how he splintered his soul into Horcruxes to achieve immortality. Two Horcruxes have been destroyed—the diary and a ring; and Harry and Dumbledore locate another, although it is a fake. When Death Eaters invade Hogwarts, Snape kills Dumbledore. As Snape escapes, he proclaims that he is the Half-Blood Prince (being the son of a muggle father and the pure-blood Eileen Prince). It now falls upon Harry to find and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes and to avenge Dumbledore's death. In a 2005 interview, Rowling stated that [after the events in the sixth book] Harry has, "taken the view that they are now at war. He does become more battle-hardened. He's now ready to go out fighting. And he's after revenge [against Voldemort and Snape]."[15]
This book also focuses on the mysterious activities of Harry's rival Draco Malfoy. Voldemort has coerced a frightened Malfoy into attempting to kill Dumbledore. During a duel in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Harry uses the Half-Blood Prince's spell, Sectumsempra, on Malfoy, who suffers near-fatal injuries as a result. Harry is horrified by what he has done and also comes to feel sympathy for Draco, after learning he was forced to do Voldemort's bidding under the threat of his and his parents' deaths.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave Hogwarts to complete Dumbledore's task: to search for and destroy Voldemort's remaining four Horcruxes, then find and kill the Dark Lord. The three pit themselves against Voldemort's newly formed totalitarianpolice state, an action that tests Harry's courage and moral character. Voldemort's seizure of the Ministry of Magic leads to discriminatory and genocidal policies against Muggle-borns, fuelled by propaganda and fear. According to J. K. Rowling, telling scenes are when Harry uses Cruciatus Curse and Imperius Curse, unforgivable curses for torture and mind-control, on Voldemort's servants, and also when he casts Sectumsempra on Draco Malfoy during the bathroom fight in the sixth book. Each time shows a "flawed and mortal" side to Harry. However, she explains, "He is also in an extreme situation and attempting to defend somebody very good against a violent and murderous opponent."[16]
Harry experiences occasional disturbing visions of Draco being forced to perform the Death Eaters' bidding and feels "...sickened...by the use to which Draco was now being put by Voldemort," again showing his compassion for an enemy.
Each Horcrux Harry must defeat cannot be destroyed easily. They must be destroyed with basilisk venom, Godric Gryffindor's sword, or some other destructive substance. In Book Two, Harry destroys the first horcrux, Tom Riddle's diary, with a basilisk fang, and in Book Six Dumbledore destroys the ring with Gryffindor's sword. Ron destroys Slytherin's locket with the sword, Hermione destroys Hufflepuff's cup with a basilisk fang, and Crabbe destroys Ravenclaw's diadem with Fiendfyre (cursed flame). Neville kills the snake Nagini with the sword, and Voldemort destroys the final accidental Horcrux: a fragment of soul embedded in Harry's scar.
Harry comes to recognise that his own single-mindedness makes him predictable to his enemies and often clouds his perceptions. When Voldemort kills Snape later in the story, Harry discovers that Snape was not the traitorous murderer he believed him to be, but a tragic antihero who was loyal to Dumbledore. In Chapter 33 ('The Prince's Tale') Snape's memories reveal that he loved Harry's mother Lily, but their friendship ended over his association with future Death Eaters and his "blood purity" beliefs. When Voldemort murdered the Potters, a grieving Snape vowed to protect Lily's child, although he loathed young Harry for being James Potter's son. The memories also reveal that Snape did not murder Dumbledore, but carried out Dumbledore's prearranged plan. Dumbledore, dying from a slow-spreading curse, wanted to protect Snape's position within the Death Eaters and to spare Draco from completing Voldemort's task of murdering him.
To defeat Harry, Voldemort steals the most powerful wand ever created, the Elder Wand, from Dumbledore's tomb and twice casts the Killing Curse on Harry with it. The first attempt merely stuns Harry into a deathlike state; the murder attempt fails because Voldemort used Harry's blood in his resurrection during book four. The protection that his mother gave Harry with her sacrifice tethers Harry to life, as long as his blood and her sacrifice run in the veins of Voldemort. In the chapter "King's Cross," Dumbledore's spirit talks to Harry whilst in this deathlike state. Dumbledore informs Harry that when Voldemort disembodied himself during his failed attempt to kill Harry as a baby, Harry became an unintentional Horcrux; Harry could not kill Voldemort while the Dark Lord's soul shard remained within Harry's body. The piece of Voldemort's soul within Harry was destroyed through Voldemort's first killing curse with the Elder Wand because Harry willingly faced death, which cast a sacrificial protection on the defenders of Hogwarts.
In the book's climax, Voldemort's second Killing Curse hurled at Harry also fails and rebounds upon Voldemort, finally killing him. The spell fails because Harry, not Voldemort, had become the Elder Wand's true master and the wand could not harm its own master. Harry has each of the Hallows (the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand) at some point in the story but never unites them. However, J. K. Rowling said the difference between Harry and Voldemort is that Harry willingly accepts mortality, making him stronger than his nemesis. "The real master of Death accepts that he must die, and that there are much worse things in the world of the living." At the very end, Harry decides to leave the Elder Wand in Dumbledore's tomb and the Resurrection Stone hidden in the forest, but he keeps the Invisibility Cloak because it had belonged to his father.[16]
In the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, which is set 19 years after Voldemort's death, Harry and Ginny are a couple and have three children: James Sirius Potter, who has already been at Hogwarts for at least one year, Albus Severus Potter, who is starting his first year there, and Lily Luna Potter, who is two years away from her first year at the school.
According to Rowling, after Voldemort's defeat, Harry joins the "reshuffled" Auror Department under Kingsley Shacklebolt's mentoring, and ends up eventually rising to become Head of said department in 2007.[17] Rowling said that his old rival Draco has a grudging gratitude towards Harry for saving his life in the final battle, but the two are not friends.[16]
Film appearances
In the eight Harry Potter films screened from 2001 to 2011, Harry Potter has been portrayed by British actor Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe was asked to audition for the role of Harry in 2000 by producer David Heyman, while in attendance at a play titled Stones in His Pockets in London.[18][19] The role has been highly lucrative for Radcliffe; as of 2015, he had an estimated wealth of $110 million and was paid a collective $53 million for the last two films.[20]
In a 2007 interview with MTV, Radcliffe stated that, for him, Harry is a classic coming of age character: "That's what the films are about for me: a loss of innocence, going from being a young kid in awe of the world around him, to someone who is more battle-hardened by the end of it."[21] He also said that for him, important factors in Harry's psyche are his survivor's guilt in regard to his dead parents and his lingering loneliness. Because of this, Radcliffe talked to a bereavement counsellor to help him prepare for the role.[21] Radcliffe was quoted as saying that he wished for Harry to die in the books, but he clarified that he "can't imagine any other way they can be concluded."[21] After reading the last book, where Harry and his friends do indeed survive and have children, Radcliffe stated he was glad about the ending and lauded Rowling for the conclusion of the story.[22] Radcliffe stated that the most repeated question he has been asked is how Harry Potter has influenced his own life, to which he regularly answers it has been "fine," and that he did not feel pigeonholed by the role, but rather sees it as a huge privilege to portray Harry.[23]
Radcliffe's Harry was named the 36th greatest movie character of all time by Empire.[24]
Outward appearance
Throughout the series, Harry is described as having his father's perpetually untidy black hair, his mother's bright green eyes, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. He is further described as "small and skinny for his age" with "a thin face" and "knobbly knees", and he wears round eyeglasses. In the first book, his scar is described as "the only thing Harry liked about his own appearance". When asked about the meaning behind Harry's lightning bolt scar, Rowling said, "I wanted him to be physically marked by what he has been through. It was an outward expression of what he has been through inside... It is almost like being the chosen one or the cursed one, in a sense." Rowling has also stated that Harry inherited his parents' good looks.[25] In the later part of the series Harry grows taller, and by the seventh book is said to be 'almost' the height of his father, and 'tall' by other characters.[26]
Rowling explained that Harry's image came to her when she first thought up Harry Potter, seeing him as a "scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy".[1] She also mentioned that she thinks Harry's glasses are the clue to his vulnerability.[27]
According to Rowling, Harry is strongly guided by his own conscience, and has a keen feeling of what is right and wrong. Having "very limited access to truly caring adults", Rowling said, Harry "is forced to make his own decisions from an early age on."[28] He "does make mistakes", she conceded, but in the end, he does what his conscience tells him to do. According to Rowling, one of Harry's pivotal scenes came in the fourth book when he protects his dead schoolmate Cedric Diggory's body from Voldemort, because it shows he is brave and selfless.[9]
Rowling has stated that Harry's character flaws include anger and impulsiveness; however, Harry is also innately honourable.[16][29] "He's not a cruel boy. He's competitive, and he's a fighter. He doesn't just lie down and take abuse. But he does have native integrity, which makes him a hero to me. He's a normal boy but with those qualities most of us really admire."[30] For the most part, Harry shows humility and modesty, often downplaying his achievements; though he uses a litany of his adventures as examples of his maturity early in the fifth book. However, these very same accomplishments are later employed to explain why he should lead Dumbledore's Army, at which point he asserts them as having just been luck, and denies that they make him worthy of authority. After the seventh book, Rowling commented that Harry has the ultimate character strength, which not even Voldemort possesses: the acceptance of the inevitability of death.
Magical abilities and skills
Throughout the series, Harry Potter is described as a gifted wizard apprentice. He has a particular talent for flying, which manifests itself in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the first time he tries it, and gets him a place on a Quidditch team one year before the normal minimum joining age. He captains it in his sixth year. In his fourth year (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Harry is able to confront a dragon on his broomstick.
Harry is also gifted in Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which he becomes proficient due to his repeated encounters with Voldemort and various monsters. In his third year, Harry becomes able to cast the very advanced Patronus Charm, and by his fifth year he has become so talented at the subject that he is able to teach his fellow students in Dumbledore's Army, some even older than him how to defend themselves against Dark Magic. At the end of that year, he achieves an 'Outstanding' Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., something that not even Hermione achieved. He is a skilled duellist, the only one of the six Dumbledore's Army members to be neither injured nor incapacitated during the battle with Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He also fends off numerous Death Eaters during his flight to the Burrow at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Harry also had the unusual ability to speak and understand "Parseltongue", a language associated with Dark Magic. This, it transpires, is because he harbours a piece of Voldemort's soul. He loses this ability after the part of Voldemort's soul inside him is destroyed at the end of The Deathly Hallows.
Harry's parents left behind a somewhat large pile of wizard's gold, used as currency in the world of magic, in a vault in the wizarding bank, Gringotts. After Sirius' death later in the series, all of his remaining possessions are also passed along to Harry, including Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and Sirius's vast amount of gold were transferred into Harry's account at Gringotts. Rowling noted that "Harry's money never really is that important in the books, except that he can afford his books and uniforms and so on."[31]
Among the school items Harry purchases in Diagon Alley after discovering his gold inheritance is his first wand, an 11-inch-long holly and phoenix feather model that he learns is the twin of Voldemort's wand, as the feathers that both wands contain as their cores both comes from Fawkes, the phoenix that Dumbledore keeps as a pet in his office until his death in Half-Blood Prince.[32] Harry's wand is broken in Deathly Hallows. For a time, he borrows Hermione's wand, and later steals Draco's. With his defeat of Voldemort at the end of the series, he comes into the possession of the Elder Wand, but uses it only to repair his holly wand, before returning it to Dumbledore's tomb, from which Voldemort had stolen it. In the film version of Deathly Hallows Part 2, Harry destroys the Elder Wand.
Harry also inherits indirectly two of his father's prized possessions. One is the Marauder's Map, given to him by interim owners Fred and George Weasley, which endows Harry with comprehensive knowledge of Hogwarts' facilities, grounds, and occupants. The other is his father's Invisibility Cloak, given to him by Dumbledore, which eventually proves Harry's descent from the Peverell family. Harry uses these tools both to aid in excursions at school and to protect those he cares about; the Invisibility Cloak, in particular, can hide two full-grown people. If three fully-grown people hide under the cloak their feet will be visible. When Harry reaches his age of maturity at seventeen, Molly Weasley gives him a pocket watch which had once belonged to her brother Fabian Prewett, as it is traditional to give a boy a watch when he turns seventeen.
Throughout the majority of the books, Harry also has a pet owl named Hedwig, used to deliver and receive messages and packages. Hedwig is killed in the seventh book, about which Rowling says: "The loss of Hedwig represented a loss of innocence and security. She has been almost like a cuddly toy to Harry at times. I know that death upset a lot of people!"[16] As a Quidditch player, Harry has owned two high-quality brooms. The first, a Nimbus Two Thousand, was procured for him by Professor Minerva Mcgonagall when Harry was added to Gryffindor's Quidditch team despite being a first-year student. This broom was destroyed by the Whomping Willow during a match in Harry's third year. It was replaced by a Firebolt, an even faster (and more expensive) broom, purchased for Harry by Sirius; however, as Sirius was believed to be trying to murder Harry at the time, the broom was subjected to stringent security inspections before Harry was allowed to ride it. Harry used it throughout his Hogwarts career until it, along with Hedwig, was lost during the July escape from Privet Drive in the final book.
Harry also owns a mokeskin pouch, or small 'bag' that is used for storing items, which no one but the owner can get out. He receives this from Hagrid as a 17th birthday present. Harry uses the pouch throughout the course of Deathly Hallows to keep several sentimental (yet, as he himself admits, otherwise worthless) objects such as the Marauder's Map, a shard of the magical mirror given to him by his god-father Sirius, the fake Horcrux locket that had belonged to Sirius's brother R.A.B. (Regulus Arcturus Black), the Snitch bequeathed to him by Dumbledore, containing the Resurrection Stone that had previously been set into Voldemort's grandfather Marvolo Gaunt's signet ring, which Harry discovers is actually the second Hallow, a letter from his mother to Sirius with part of a photo (of him and his father, James), and eventually, his own broken wand (which Harry later repairs with the Elder Wand).
Family tree
In the novels, Harry is the only child of James and Lily Potter, orphaned as an infant. Rowling made Harry an orphan from the early drafts of her first book. She felt an orphan would be the most interesting character to write about.[2] However, after her mother's death, Rowling wrote Harry as a child longing to see his dead parents again, incorporating her own anguish into him. Harry is categorised as a "half-blood" wizard in the series, because although both his parents were magical, Lily was "Muggle-born", and James was a pure-blood.
Harry's aunt and uncle kept the truth about his parents' deaths from Harry, telling him that they had died in a car crash.[1] James Potter is a descendant of Ignotus Peverell, the third of the three original owners of the Deathly Hallows, and thus so is Harry, a realisation he makes during the course of the final book. The lineage continues at the end of the saga through his three children with Ginny: James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter and Lily Luna Potter.
In an original piece published on the Pottermore website in September 2015, Rowling described the history of the Potter family in greater detail, beginning with the 12th-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, "a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, 'the Potterer', became corrupted in time to 'Potter'". Linfred was the inventor of a number of remedies that evolved into potions still used in the modern day, including Skele-Gro and Pepperup Potion. These successful products garnered Linfred the earnings that formed the basis of the family's wealth, which grew with the work of successive generations. Linfred's oldest son, Hardwin, married a beautiful young witch from Godric's Hollow named Iolanthe Peverell, the granddaughter of Ignotus Peverell, who continued the tradition of passing down Ignotus' Invisibility Cloak through the generations. Two of Harry Potter's ancestors have sat on the Wizengamot: Ralston Potter and Henry Potter. Ralston was a member from 1612-1652, and an ardent supporter of the Statute of Secrecy. Henry Potter, known as "Harry" to his closest loved ones, was a direct descendant of Hardwin and Iolanthe, and a paternal great-grandfather of Harry Potter. Henry served on the Wizengamot from 1913 - 1921, and caused a minor controversy when he publicly condemned then Minister for Magic, Archer Evermonde, for prohibiting the magical community from helping Muggles waging the First World War. Henry's son, Fleamont Potter, who was given his grandmother's surname as his given name in order to grant the dying wish of Henry's mother to continue her family name, garnered a reputation for his duels at Hogwarts, which were provoked when others mocked him for his name. Fleamont quadrupled the family gold by creating magical Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, selling his company at a vast profit when he retired. Fleamont and his wife, Euphemia, had given up hope of having a child when she became pregnant with their son, James, who would go on to marry Lily Evans and bear a son of their own, Harry Potter. Fleamont and Euphemia lived to see James and Lily marry, but they would never meet their famous grandson, as they both died of dragon pox, stemming from their advanced age.[33][34]
In 2002, Harry Potter was voted No. 85 among the "100 Best Fictional Characters" by Book magazine[35] and also voted the 35th "Worst Briton" in Channel 4's "100 Worst Britons We Love to Hate" programme.[36]Entertainment Weekly ranked Harry Potter number two on its 2010 "100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years" list, saying "Long after we've turned the last page and watched the last end credit, Harry still feels like someone we know. And that's the most magical thing about him."[37]UGO Networks listed Harry as one of their best heroes of all time, who said that "Harry is a hero to the often oppressed and downtrodden young fan boys and girls out there, who finally have an icon that is respected and revered by those who might otherwise look down on robe-wearing and wand waving as dork fodder".[38] Harry Potter was also ranked number thirty-six on Empire's 2008 list of "100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time".[39]IGN said that Harry Potter was their favourite Harry Potter character, calling him a "sympathetic figure" and saying in response to his fights against Voldemort that "everybody loves an underdog story of good vs. evil".[40] Despite being the main character, Watchmojo.com ranked him #2 on their "Top 10 Harry Potter Characters" list in 2014 (Severus Snape was ranked #1 on the list).
In popular culture
According to halloweenonline.com, Harry Potter sets were the fifth-best selling Halloween costume of 2005.[41] In addition, wizard rock bands like Harry and the Potters and others regularly dress up in the style of Harry Potter, sporting painted forehead scars, black wigs, and round bottle top glasses. Wizard rock is a musical movement dating from 2002 that consists of at least 200 bands made up of young musicians, playing songs about Harry Potter.[42][43] The movement started in Massachusetts with the band Harry and the Potters, who cosplay as Harry during live performances.[44][45]
Main article: Parodies of Harry Potter
In April 2009, a group of University of Michigan students (StarKid Productions: Darren Criss, Joey Richter.) performed Harry Potter: The Musical, a two-act musical parody that featured major elements from all seven books and an original score. They posted the entire musical on their YouTube channel but removed it in late June, to edit some more mature elements from the videos. The musical, re-titled A Very Potter Musical, was reposted on 5 July 2009, starring Darren Criss as Harry Potter. A sequel was premiered at the 2010 HPEF Harry Potter Conference Infinitus, and released on YouTube on 22 July at 8 pm EST. The sequel was called A Very Potter Sequel and featured the Death Eaters using the Time-Turner to go back in time to Harry's first year in Hogwarts.[46] Harry Potter is spoofed in the Barry Trotter series by American writer Michael Gerber, where a "Barry Trotter" appears as the eponymous antihero. On his homepage, Gerber describes Trotter as an unpleasant character who "drinks too much, eats like a pig, sleeps until noon, and owes everybody money."[47] The author stated "[s]ince I really liked Rowling's books […] I felt obligated to try to write a spoof worthy of the originals".[48]
- ^ abcde"J. K. Rowling Official Site – Section Biography". Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ ab"Carey, Joanna. "Who hasn't met Harry?". The Guardian. 16 February 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"JK (JOANNE KATHLEEN) ROWLING (1966–)". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Raincoast Books interview transcript, Raincoast Books (Canada)". March 2001. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Barnes and Noble interview". 19 March 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (when Harry Potter is 12 years old), chapter 8, partly focusing on the celebration of 500 years since the death of Nearly Headless Nick, J.K. Rowling describes Nearly Headless Nick's birthday cake, which indicate Nick died in 1492, showing that this part of the book happen in the fall of 1992. As Harry is 12 years in the year of 1992, he must have been at the age of 1 in 1981.
- ^"J.K. Rowling on The Diane Rehm Show". WAMU Radio Washington, D.C.,. 20 October 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ abc"Lydon, Christopher. J.K. Rowling interview transcript,". The Connection (WBUR Radio). 12 October 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ abcJensen, Jeff (7 September 2000). "'Fire' Storm,". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"J.K. Rowling Interview,". CBCNewsWorld: Hot Type. 13 July 2000. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
- ^ ab"Living With Harry Potter". Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"JK Rowling's World Book Day Chat". 4 March 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Richard & Judy Show". Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Grossman, Lev. "J.K. Rowling Hogwarts And All". Time Magazine. 17 July 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Couric, Katie.: 'J.K. Rowling, the author with the magic touch: 'It's going to be really emotional to say goodbye,' says Rowling as she writes the last book in the Harry Potter saga,'". Dateline NBC,. 17 July 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ abcde"'J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript". Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Wizard of the Month for October". J.K. Rowling. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
- ^McLean, Craig (15 July 2007). "Hobnobs & broomsticks". Sunday Herald. Archived from the original on 18 July 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
- ^Koltnow, Barry (8 July 2007). "One enchanted night at theatre, Radcliffe became Harry Potter". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 15 July 2007. [dead link]
- ^"Daniel Radcliffe Net Worth". Retrieved 2015-07-29.
- ^ abcVineyard, Jennifer. "Daniel Radcliffe Talks Harry Potter's First Kiss". MTV. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Daniel Radcliffe: My Take on Deathly Hallows". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^Lawson, Terry. "Daniel Radcliffe Talks Harry Potter". Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time: 36. Harry Potter". Empire. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^Interview of J.K. Rowling, Detroit News, 19 March 2001
- ^Zimmerman, W. Frederick (2005). Unauthorized Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows News: Harry Potter Book Seven and Half-Blood Prince Analysis. Nimble Books. p. 37. ISBN 0-9765406-0-6.
- ^Boquet, Tim. (December 2000). "J.K. Rowling: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter,". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
- ^J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October 1999
- ^J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall Reveals Dumbledore is Gay; Neville Marries Hannah Abbott, and Much More
- ^O'Malley, Judy. (July 1999). ""Talking With . . . J.K. Rowling," Book Links". Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^"Harry Potter author dreading closing final chapter [interview by Owen Jones]," Ireland On-line, 17 July 2005
- ^"Wands". The Harry Potter Lexicon. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^Rowling, J.K. (September 2015). "The Potter Family". Pottermore. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^Flood, Alison (22 September 2015). "JK Rowling traces Harry Potter's family tree back to the middle ages ". The Guardian.
- ^Book Magazine Harry Potter among best characters in fiction since 1900, npr.com.
- ^Channel 4—100 Worst Britonschannel4.com.
- ^Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (11 December 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS". Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
- ^UGO Team (21 January 2010). "Best Heroes of All Time". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^"Empire's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time". Empire. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ^Brian Linder; Phil Pirrello; Eric Goldman; Matt Fowler (14 July 2009). "Top 25 Harry Potter Characters". IGN. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^"Halloween Online Resource Center". Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^Brady, Shaun (28 November 2006). "Yule Ball rolls into Philly". The Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 27 February 2007. [dead link]
- ^Humphries, Rachel (13 July 2007). "Harry Potter 'Wrockers' Conjure Musical Magic". ABC News. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
Severus Snape is the surprise winner of a poll to find the public's favourite Harry Potter character. With 13,000 votes, the character, who is played by Alan Rickman in the film versions, took 20% of the 70,000 votes cast in the survey from the books' publisher, Bloomsbury. He was the clear winner, beating loyal swot Hermione Granger into second place.
Harry Potter, the multi-million selling series's eponymous hero, only just makes it into the top five, taking fourth place behind Sirius Black but ahead of his chum Ron Weasley, who comes in at a measly number five.
Harry is JK Rowling's own favourite, although she has admitted that she may be unusual in her preferences. "Ron is generally more popular (I love him too, though). Now that I have finished writing the books, the character I would most like to meet for dinner is Dumbledore. We would have a lot to discuss, and I would love his advice; I think that everyone would like a Dumbledore in their lives," she said, before the poll opened.
But not necessarily very visible in their lives – Albus Dumbledore is ranked number eight in the poll, behind the delightfully eccentric Luna Lovegood and Ron's smart sister, Ginny Weasley. Trailing at the end of the top 10 are the house elf Dobby and Harry's rival, the bully Draco Malfoy.
The poll launched in May with a list of 40 characters to choose from. The favourite characters outside the top 40 suggested by readers was Oliver Wood. Fang, Hagrid's dog, and the Fat Lady in the portrait at the entrance to Gryffindor gained the least votes with only one each.
The full top 40
1. Severus Snape
2. Hermione Granger
3. Sirius Black
4. Harry Potter
5. Ron Weasley
6. Luna Lovegood
7. Ginny Weasley
8. Albus Dumbledore
9. Dobby
10. Draco Malfoy
11. Remus Lupin
12. Neville Longbottom
13. Fred Weasley
14. Bellatrix Lestrange
15. Minerva McGonagall
16. Rubeus Hagrid
17. Lord Voldemort
18. Nymphadora Tonks
19. Gilderoy Lockhart
20. George Weasley
21. James Potter
22. Hedwig
23. Lily Potter
24. Lucius Malfoy
25. Molly Weasley
26. Cedric Diggory
27. Alastor Moody
28. Arthur Weasley
29. Kreacher
30. Dementors
31. Dolores Umbridge
32. Moaning Myrtle
33. Sybill Trelawney
34. Rita Skeeter
35. Filius Flitwick
36. Argus Filch
37. Dudley Dursley
38. Vincent Crabbe
39. Gregory Goyle
40. Cornelius Fudge
Your favourite Harry Potter characters
Of course my favorite character has to be Professor Snape! I would have to choose this amazing character because he, in the beginning, has a very mean and aggresive attitude. When I would read the Harry Potter series and Snape would ruin another event for Harry I would get very mad at Snape. But, all that changed once I read about Snape's death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; it brought tears to my eyes. Snape brought even more tears to my eyes when I read about him risking his life every day to protect Harry, and loving Lily Evans until the day he died. My favorite lines have to be before he dies when Snape says, "Look at me." I also like the line that Harry says about
Professor Snape in the last chapter as a adult: "One of them was a
Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." So most definately without a doubt Professor Snape IS THE BEST CHARACTER
Without doubt my favourite Harry Potter character is Kingsley Shacklebolt... Mysterious, powerful, brave and loved and respected by the wizarding and muggle community alike... If Vernon Dursley respects him then he has achieved the miraculous!
My favourite Harry Potter character is Luna Lovegood. I love her voice and her hair and she helps Harry Potter in various situations. She is loyal and honest to everyone that I like the most. I just love her.
My favourite character in Harry Potter is Nymphadora Tonks because she is brave, kind, funny and married Remus even though he's a Werewolf. Plus she's an auror which is pretty cool.
V Vidhya Lakshmi
Obviously Severus Snape is the best character in the Harry Potter story. He has been my favorite throughout the series. Since the first book itself, it's very clear that he had been fooling either of the two great wizards, Dumbledore and Voldemort. Its very difficult to "act" loyal to Dumbledore for such a long span of time, almost 17 years. Voldemort could find the deceivers just by looking into their eyes, and Snape could hide that. Hence, since the beginning, his character has been highly confusing and interesting. The tale of his death brought tears before even knowing how good he was, what to say about when knowing the truth. The one line that I really loved in the last book: "One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew"... and so I believe it.
I don't think Snape should be the favourite character. Ron Weasley is my favorite character! I love Ron because he has a temper but when Hermione is being tortured by Bellatrix in Deathly Hallows he is visibly upset and even sacrifices himself for her!
I totally agree that Severus Snape is by far the best character in the books. I'm not sure that Rowling knew how much of an impact his character had for a lot of us. His portrayal of love and sacrifice leaves a lot of room for discussion. I love that Snape produces a patronus even after finding out that his reason for living and fighting (Harry) will have to die in the end. This is a testament not only to Snapes incredible (and unrecognized) talent but also to the strength of his love for Lily and Harry. Snape's love (unlike Harry's) goes past information: he gets new information from Dumbledore about Harry having to die, but his love remains deep within him nonetheless. Information can sadden us but it does not weaken love. In fact it often strengthens love. And love is connected to joy... Not happiness necessarily about the information itself, but joy for the presence and the ability to love the one that is in our hearts. It is this love that brings enough happiness, or joy if you will, (despite the new information) to produce a patronus. Could you imagine using an element of the most horrifying experience of your life as a happy thought because it was so strongly connected to love?! Amazing!
My favourite characters of all the Harry Potter books are Hermione and Draco, but most of all Severus Snape, because even though he can be grouchy he is still human, and I kind of understand him: he's been bullied, abused, and now killed. And he did all this just for Lily and Harry. If i were Lily I would marry him just to make him happy!
Freya, aged 12:
My favourite Harry Potter character is Severus Snape by far. The reason he is my favourite character is because everyone thinks he is nasty and mean (which he is) but no-one knows that he was in love with Lily Evans and all of those years he is protecting Harry. The fact that he died for Harry and Harry's mum made me cry and it still does.
Severus Snape, of course! He has to be THE best character in the whole book. Everything he ever did was all for love and that practically contradicts his whole outward personality. He can be a bit mean, but that gave the book humour. He was amazing because of the way you really have to think about his character structure (which I still ponder on from day to day). He was dangerously skillful in many subjects (e.x potions and DADA). I'm so happy he made the top.
This is my list of favourites:
1. Severus Snape
2. Luna Lovegood
3. Fred and George Weasley (They HAVE to be counted together)
4. Neville Longbottom
5. Nymphadora Tonks
My favourite character has always been Draco Malfoy. In the beginning he is a 2-dimensional bully, but as the series progresses he becomes more and more vulnerable. I think as you learn why he is the way he is, you feel sorry for him, knowing he's not really that bad at all. I know I always wondered if he was actually a horrible person; I always used to think that if his father wasn't so vile then he wouldn't be, and I was right in the end. I think as a literary character Draco Malfoy has far more depth than many others and has a far more complex personality, as he feels obliged to honour his family when it is clear he is not comfortable with the tasks set. I personally felt so sorry for him in the Half Blood Prince film, in the bathroom scene because no one but him understands his situation and he must feel very alone. Even when I was younger I always liked Draco and Slytherin because I felt slytherins were wrongly branded as evil. When in fact being cunning, resourceful and ambitious can equally aid a good cause. JK Rowling in my opinion has created a character who takes a journey as the reader discovers more about him, teaching me that things are not always as simple and straightforward as they seem, and that you shouldn't jump to conclusions if you don't truly know a person.
Fred and George Weasley are always my favourites. Why? It's
because they always have been same as me. They are so funny that I
like every sentence spoken by them. And I really felt very very bad
when one of them died. But both of them are just amazing.
My favourite character has always been Sirius Black. Not only is he one cool dude but, despite everything, he tries to be there for Harry anyway he can.
My favourite character in the Harry Potter series is Professor Severus Snape. Why? I chose him 'coz he is a man with a brave heart and he is actually a very nice person. Even though he can be a little strict at some times, he has a kind heart and he's a caring person. Without him, the Harry Potter films will be very boring and no meaning at all. Since Severus Snape has been placed as a very much-loved character in the Potter films, I enjoy watching the films because of him and his story.
My favourite is Dobby because:
1. He is unbelievably cute (with massive eyes);
2. He introduced odd socks into our lives; and
3. He is loyal to Harry until the very end.
My favourite character of all time is Hermione Granger. She is beautiful, smart, kind, and will do anything for the people she loves. She is very loyal and brave and she is a role model for me. I love her most because I am just like her. I love Hermione and Emma Watson for playing her.
My absolute favorite is Professor Snape. He is a complex yet complete character and that's what I love most about him. I started reading Harry Potter back in 3rd grade and ever since the first book, I have always trusted Snape and have never hated him. I myself do not know why this is the case - maybe because of a child naiveness (since back in book 1, Quirell told Harry that Snape was trying to save him and insisted to referee the Quidditch match)? But I have to admit that in book 6, Snape did let me down; however, something deep inside me told me that Snape is a good guy (maybe this is again because of a child's naiveness? After 5 books trusting Snape, I just refused to accept the fact that he is bad). But then in book 7, I was proven to be correct - Snape is a good guy all along. I think this is why he is my favourite character. And also I would like to point out that Snape claimed that he had never been able to teach Harry a single thing. I think this is not correct. Back in book 2, during the duel club, Snape used Expelliarmus which Harry used throughout the whole book to defeat Death Eaters and Voldemort. And also, back in book 1, during their very first potion lesson, Snape told Harry about bezoar and Harry used this knowledge in book 6 to save Ron. MOreover, Alan Rickman added depth to the character and I absolutely love his portrayal of Snape. He's an fantastic actor playing an amazing character. Thanks JK Rowling for creating Snape and for choosing Rickman to play him.
Lupin and Sirius would have to tie for my second favorite.
If you ask me "Who is your favorite Harry Potter character?" 30 years from now, it'll always be Snape.
Of all the girls and all the boys
And all the silly little toys,
Ginny Weasly takes the crown
She tough and strong with six brothers around.
She turns Harry's frown upside-down.
Her love for him is easy to be found.
Ginny Weasly takes the crown.
She's the bat-bogey hex queen.
Watch out evil, you goin' down.
Her fierce personality is sure to be seen.
Ginny Weasly makes the catch!
In Quidditch they're sure to meet their match.
She quick and sly,
Slick and shy.
Ginny Weasly, she's the queen.
The bravest girl you've ever seen.
She's sweet and strong
And never wrong.
Harry agrees,
For it's with her he belongs.
My favourite Harry Potter character is Hermione. At first you think of her as an annoying know-it-all, teacher's pet kind of person, but as the books proceed you see her true character develop. She is very brave - which shows why she was sorted into Griffindor and not Ravenclaw - she is willing to do anything in order to protect the people she loves most. She always has the solution to every problem. Though she tries to hide it, Hermione has a caring, motherly-sort of soul, and is always ready with a comforting word. Hermione is also very proud - she will NOT be insulted, and woe to those who insult her. And she truly stands up for herself and her friends. I love how she is so supportive of Harry - she respects his choices although she sometimes doesn't agree with them. I really don't like Harry, though - he thinks way too highly of himself.
My favourite character is Severus Snape.I love the way he loved Lily Evans, and will keep loving her forever.He deserves her and much more because of all he had done in his liftime even though he knew he would never love her. I disagree with J.K. Rowling for making him die.I love Severus Snape!
Jane (aged 7):
My favourite character is Hermione because she is nice to her friends and very bright and good at school. She always supported Harry and Ron and she thinks of good plans (like jumping onto the dragon to escape from Gringotts in the Deathly Hallows pt 2). That is why I like Hermione!
Sadbh (aged 4)
My favourite character is Luna. I like her hair because it's like mine. And she can see through the back of her head.
Severus Snape is my favorite Harry Potter character since he is the one who's shown the most loyalty throughout the wonderful books. He has shown the true meaning of love in the world and has emphasized it more than even Dumbledore, not through words, but his actions in the seventh book/film. Although he might be harsh with Harry, he kept his promise to Dumbledore and acted on his orders. Harry couldn't have got through his journey to find Voldemort's horcruxes. Snape died in Voldemort's clutches towards the end, and that's when the Harry, Ron, and Hermione noticed the change in Snape. In conclusion, he has shown braveness, loyalty, and love. Long live Severus Snape!
Snape is entertaining, good and bad, always entertaining. Snape is unpredictable. The most pleasant surprise of all.
My favourite character is Minerva McGonagall. I personally think that this noble lady embodies the concepts of loyalty and uprightness. Among all the characters I could choose, Minerva McGonagall remains the witch I admire because, despite of having experienced the lost of love, she succeeded in reconstructing herself. She is the one who stood up against Umbridge's medieval methods as far as the discipline was concerned. Moreover she took part in Hogwarts battle without doubting only a second that Harry Potter was the chosen one. On the one hand, the reader may clearly think that McGonagall's authority creates a sort of border between him and the wonderful witch. However this boundary collapses once the reader discovers the deep-inside of the teacher: profound kindness that finally strongly connects everyone to her. Should I still mention that Minerva McGonagall was perfectly performed by Maggie Smith, which has made the Harry potter Saga always more fascinating to watch during the last 10 years.
Severus Snape is my personal favorite (followed by Hermione Granger) because of his very real mix of goodness, badness, weakness and courage (and, like Hermione, enormous smarts!). Despite the greasy locks, curling lip and biting remarks, Snape's actions over the entire series demonstrated (only confirmed at the denouement, although many of us simply felt it much earlier) that he was a genuine romantic. And who can resist the tragedy of a romantic who muffed it up -- then spent his life (and gave it) atoning?
Long live Severus!
I agree and am glad that Snape made it to the top of the poll. He shows that first impressions can be wrong and that appearances are deceptive. He made mistakes in his youth but so have most people but he always did right by the people he loved. I also love Dobby, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore.
Hagrid, just because he's such a lovable character.
I agree with Snape being number one; he's one of the most discussed characters & during the books he always suprises the readers: starting in HP and the Sorcerer's Stone when he actually tried to save Harry, & ending with HP and the Deathly Hallows, where we finally learn all about his love to Lily.
My 2nd would be Padfoot as his death was - for me - the most horrible event in all the books (& the one i had to cry the most by far)
3rd place would be taken by the Weasly twins for being as funny as they always were.
Number 4 would be Tonks & number 5 Moony, for i love both of them.
Bellatrix Lestrange. Nearly all the children who know Harry Potter in my class love Bella and I think that bad characters are more interesting because they have more secrets and you never know if who you think is good is actually bad.
My favourite character in the Harry Potter series is Remus Lupin, due to the fact he simply does everything for the right reasons, or what he percieves to be the right reasons, he lives and dies for what he believes in.
My favorite Harry Potter character obviously is Severus Snape, I loved him since Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone, but I love because I like Alan Rickman's performance, he's great, he deserves one Oscar and all the awards of the year. Later when I readed the last book and I saw how really he was, I loved him until the end and now it will be "always".
1. Neville Longbottom - he shows the most character development over the seven books.
2. Snape - by far he has the most intricate and complex role to play in the story, even though we don't learn until the end how well he manages the pressures on him.
3. Dumbledore - same as JK, really, his wisdom and insights are a model for an honest and effective life.
Daniela, from Venezuela
definitivamente estoy de acuerdo con que el favorito sea Severus Snape.... ya que es el personaje que en la mayoría de la historia coloca esa parte de misterio, ese no entender... en el que muchos nos identificamos hasta el final donde nos damos cuenta que era totalmente diferente a lo que desarrollo en buena parte de la película o de los libros... y que supo ocultar muy bien su verdadera identidad... definitivamente Snape es el mejor..!!!! (I definitely agree that the favourite is Severus Snape since he is the most mysterious character in the story, who many of us didn't understand until the very end ... and he knew very well how to hide his true identity ... Snape is definitely the best )
Φρω Εμα:
My favourite character from Harry Potter is Hermione Granger.
I think that it is wonderful that Snape is top of the list. The character teaches not to judge by appearances. This is an important lesson for children to learn.
My favourite character is Luna Lovegood. I like her because she is always very enthusiastic about everything. I don't think she is crazy, I think she just has a wider imagination and thinks differently than other wizards. I like it when in the 5th film she helps Harry after Draco leaves him on the train covered by the invisibility cloak so no one will spot him. I like this part because she spots Harry whilst wearing these fun glasses, that in a way they suit her, to spot Harry.
My Favourite Harry Potter Characters are Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger and Severus Snape. They are ALL very good actors and you know who they are without even reading or seeing the philosophers stone.
1.I like Neville because he is brave and stands up to his friends and enemies.
2.I like Hermione because she is like me, good in school and top of the grade. She is also brave and active, both things that I like!!!
3. I like Severus Snape because he has a good mixture of goodness and badness and is active and has a good amount of adventure in him!
My favourite character is Luna Lovegood, she helps me hope for a better future. Ever though her mother has died she is happy and has faith in her friends, family and her decisions. She may be different at times but some people get her and under stand and let the faith and hope fall in her hands.
I hope Luna Lovegood is chosen for favorite character.
Petunia is my favourite character because she is presented as a flat, stereotypically-evil character, but has such depth, as is eventually revealed. Her role as the nurturing matriarch of her small family is balanced by her hissing hatred towards Harry and his father.
Hagrid is my favourite in the Harry Potter series for he is most trusted by Dumbledore "I would trust Hagrid with my life", most interesting gamekeeper who loves dragons, spiders, unicorns, thestrals, who can't keep a secret like many of us, lives in a stone hut most of us would envy, is quick to use magic when he ought not to, rides a motorbike with a side car , and offers nonjudgmental love to the students of Hogworts.
Snape is absolutely my favorite Harry Potter character!
My favourite character from Harry Potter is Severus Snape because his voice and manner of speaking is great! He can be scary, miserable and funny at the same time!
Ronald Weasley is my number one favorite. He's a ginger and who doesn't love a ginger? But seriously, I love Ron because he's definitely not scared to be himself. If he has a fear, then he makes sure people know they exist. Plus his crude remarks and unfiltered mouth on every occasion is amusing.
Second would be Snape. His attitude, and smart remarks and downgrading of Harry is funny. Ive never had a teacher such as him and I feel it would've been something in my school days. I've never seen someone hold a grudge for so long. Only to find out in the end he truly does care for the son of the woman he's always been in love with. (sigh). And he's a hopeless romantic. Can I have someone who loves me always?
Third is Miss Luna Lovegood. She stands up for what she believes in whether they are real or not. She doesn't back down and she's brutally honest. Sure she's a few notches from being sane like Harry or Ron or even Hermione, but that's what makes her-her. She's awesome, and brings an excitement to the stories, more than the typical "Voldemort will kill Harry" thing. I'm always ready to listen or read what she'll say next. :)
Without a doubt Snape is the best. At first he's entertaining. Then he's fascinating. Then he's pivotal. Finally he's moving. I should specify that, although I love the films, my answer applies to the 'deeply horrible' and complicated character from the books. Snape in the films is very enjoyable and vividly acted, but Snape in the novels is a truly great character.
Neville is probably my second favourite.
Kallinikos: [Warning - spoilers!]
I am a fan of the Harry Potter Series and I have read all the books. My favorite character was Severus Snape who is followed by Albus Dumbledore. Of course, Snape is nor a lovely guy neither a good professor. He is always bullying at his students and that is extremely negative ! Nevertheless, behind this egocentric and conservative character is well hiden a young man who used to be very happy and enthusiastic of life. He was in love with Lily Evans but his worst enemy was James Potter. Thus, despite his love for Lily he also hated James and this is the main reason why Snape hates Harry . One day he said to Lily an unforgivable word ; MUDBLOOD. After that Snape was hated by Lily and she never again spoke to him .Snape didn't stop loving her . He tried to protect her against death but he failed . Lily died and Snape lost the most lovable and valuable person he has ever had. After Lily's death , Snape became depressed but meanwhile he had to achieve a goal . To protect her son . What I like mostly about Severus Snape's character is not only his rare bravery but also his intelligent plan of protecting Harry Potter. He was a main contributor to Voldemort's defeat although he acted behind the scenes. Snape also took advantage of being a Deatheater and he passed away wrong messages to the Dark Lord. His love for Lily and even for Harry Potter never stopped. A word he said to Dumbledore describes everything ; ALWAYS! Snape was a complicated character and as Rowling has said he was a great character to write. He was not a hero , absolutely not ! However, he was brave , extemely brave . Braver than anyone else. This subversive character will ALWAYS have my love and admiration . ALWAYS ,UNTIL THE END!
I would also like to share a part of the book which is extremely moving ;
Look...at...me..." he [Snape] whispered.
The green eyes found the black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them fixed, bland, and empty. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more.
Snape is the best. FTW!!
I love his biting remarks, sarcasm, the way he is described.
We think hes evil and selfish, working for the dark lord, a murderer
and at the end it turns out how much
he sacrificed how he tries all the time to keep that foolish boy who-just-doesnt-want-to-die
alive. How he was trapped between two forces he doesnt wanted to belong to the Death Eathers
but by the orden almost nobody trust him, he is all alone.
The way he manages to keep a blank mask never releaving his emotions.
I love the scenes where he almost fails like when he tries not to smile when Mrs. Norris got petrified. Revealing how he hates the cat
like anyone else (ex. Flich) in the castle.
But he shows how badass he is by spying on Voldemort, and in the 6 book we got to see what a genie he was/is.
He is good at everything. DADA, potions Legilimentic occlumentic, wandless nonverbal magic
Personally I like his black aura black long hair, black eyes, black huge robes, (Alan Rickmans voice, the way he talks as Snape)
I can't forgive JK Rowling for killing him ('Im however thankful to her to creating him and his world).
He should've lived happily ever after
with his humor sarkyness and NOT alone (married girlfriend, family, don't say he didn't deserved it!!!)
And I do think Alan Rickman is a great actor with a beutifull voice.
Just makes me want to listen to him all the time (probably its a woman thing :))
He played a perfect Snape.
You've got o love him
2 would be Bellatrix (also thanks for Helena Bonham Carter)
3 Hermione
4 Voldemort
5 McGonagall
5,5 Weasly twins (together theyre One)
6 Lupins
7 Mad-Eye
I think george weasley is the best harry potter character because he is funny.
My favourite harry potter characters are snape, voldemort, dobby, kreacher, the malfoys, bellatrix. my least favourite are harry, ron, hermione, james.
I believe that Professor McGonagall should reach the number one position for the favourite character. She describes everything the books possesses, from courage, intelligence, love and ambition. She shows power with her skills but cares for each of her students and shares her intelligence.
Then following should be Professor Snape due to the secrets unveiled from the final book about his love for Harry due to his care of Lily and his constant obsession of her. Then following should be Hermione, Ron and Harry and Dobby.
Snape has to be my favourite character, and its awesome that he was voted the best character. His character had realistic traits, with the anger, love, hate, betrayal, incredible genius and everything else. I actually cried watching his death and his memories. After him, my favourites are Hermione, Dobby, Harry, Fed and George and Luna, but to be honest, I like them all really.
I totally agree Snape is the best character for me his passion and selflessness and who he is as a person makes him stand out to me. He is witty, intelligent, giving, caring, passionate and extremely funny and strict. He is an unsung hero always giving the best of himself without others knowing even though it makes others think the worst of him he remains completely loyal and loving. My second favourite didn't make the list though unfortunately, Kingsley Shacklebolt is just a fantastic character with such style :)
Severus Snape is definitely my favorite character. Alan Rickman play the role so well as the 'bad' guy even though he is not that bad. Snape is brilliant. As second choice - Harry Potter because he is out brilliant main character.
Thirth choice - Lucius Malfoy because he is the bad guy that almost fall apart.
Forth choice - Sirius Black because he helps Harry.
Dobby, because he's just so loveable until JK Rowling killed him :-(


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The truth is your business will have its ups and downs.
In this class you will learn about how to wear the hats of a business owner and how to handle hosting with these topics:
- Confidence to navigate the website for help, resources and community
- Avoiding host burnout: Build your business self-care toolkit
- Common guest problems/solutions in a fun way
- Writing Fair, Friendly, and Firm reviews of your best and not so best guests
**It is helpful if you bring your laptop or smartphone to this class.
Kim Gordon-Cumbo is an accomplished Airbnb SuperHost, hosting The Slater House PDX since 2012, as well as an Airbnb Host Coach specializing in helping new Airbnb hosts build a successful and profitable business. She havs over 500 5-Star reviews between her two Airbnb listings.

subset: commoncrawl


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The cheapest rates are going to have shorter contract terms. For instance, a 3 month term is cheaper than a 6 month term and a 6 month term is cheaper than a 12-14 month term. So if you are able to remember to call before your contract expires (they will notify via mail you that your contract is about to expire), then the 3 or 6-month term is your best bet. If you don't call to renew/cancel, you will be charged a much higher variable rate on a month-to-month basis. If this is you, sign for a 12-month contract term with the cheapest rate.
*Only new customer successful enrollments with Constellation. Cards are issued by Virtual Rewards Center. Valid email address required for receipt of Gift card. Gift cards will not have cash access. For any questions about your Gift card, call our customer care team at 1-877-997-9995. The listed merchants are in no way affiliated with Constellation nor are the listed merchants to be considered sponsors or co-sponsors of this program. Use of merchant names and/or logos is by the permission of each respective merchant and all trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Terms and conditions are applied to gift cards/certificates. Please see the merchant gift card/gift certificate for additional terms and conditions, which are subject to change at merchant's sole discretion. Constellation will share your name and email address with Virtual Reward Center for reward fulfillment only. Reward link expires in 3 months.
One of the best advantages of living in an energy deregulated state is the number of options you have for receiving your electric utilities from renewable energy sources. Electricity providers in Ashburn understand how important finding renewable energy sources are, both to their customers and to the environment. Sadly, in states that don't have deregulated energy, there is less of a push towards renewable energy because there is no market competition driving electricity providers to find sustainable and affordable energy sources.
Although electricity prices in the UK aren't cheap some countries have it much worse. In this article I'm going compare internationally to look at who is paying more $/kWh for their energy. I've gathered some numbers and crunched a little data to see who is really paying a lot for their power. For my neighbour here in the UK I'll add a bit more data at the end.
Texas consumers can save hundreds of dollars each year by shopping for electricity, but most don't seek out better deals, overwhelmed by the number and complexity of power plans on the state's Power to Choose website, wary of fine print in too-good-to-be true offers, or just too busy to spend time calculating whether free nights and weekends offset the higher rates they pay during the week.
*Offer valid for new residential customers in Texas only. Provisioned smart meter required. Free power begins on Fridays at 6:00 PM and ends Sunday at 11:59 PM. To utilize all features of the Echo Dot, you will need an 'always on' Wi-Fi internet service. If you cancel your plan early there's a fee of $135. You cannot return your Echo Dot to avoid the early cancellation fee. Terms and Conditions apply. All Amazon trademarks and copyrights are property of Amazon.com or its affiliates. The Echo Dot is provided by Direct Energy, Amazon is not a sponsor of this energy plan offer.
Electric companies buy longer-term contracts so they can hedge their risks when they're selling long-term electricity plans. Just a week ago, it looked as if wholesale prices would be as high as Texas has seen in the past 15 years, said Ned Ross, director of governmental affairs for Direct Energy, the third biggest seller of electricity in Texas, behind No. 1 NRG and No. 2 TXU. Future prices have retreated recently, but companies buying power for August are still paying at least double what they paid a year ago, according to data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which oversees the state's power markets.
2002 With the restructuring of the electric market in Texas, the company spun off its retail electric as Reliant Resources. Within two years, the company would also sell its electric generation assets. The remaining mostly regulated energy delivery company adopted the name CenterPoint Energy to reflect our role in the center of the energy value chain and the center of our customers' lives.
Electricity or Gas Supplier License/Order #s: CA 1359, CTA0006, CTA0032; CT 01-06, 06-07-11, 06-02-17; DE 00-162; DC GA2012-12, GA06-2, EA01-5, GA 11-5, EA 06-5-4, GA03-5; GA GM-46; IL 02-0489, 03-0320, 16-0205,17-0330, 07-0498; IA G-0010; ME 2000-989, 2002-64; MD IR-3645, IR-655, IR-311, IR-500, IR-3644, IR-228; MA GS-053, GS-030, CS-015, CS-045; MI U-14066, U-14867, U-13660, U-13245; NE NG-0043; NH DM 17-024; NJ GSL-0074, GSL-0101, ESL-0016, ESL-0066, GSL-0132, GSL-0099, GSL-0150, ESL-0171; OH, 09-153G, 00-003E, 00-013E; OR ES4 (12-162); PA A-2016-2542899, A-125095, A-110036, A-2016-2547424, A-110110; RI 2379(Z1), D-96-6(E); TX 10014; VA G-26, G-34, G-36, G-51, E-11A
Gone are the days when you had to contact electric companies to discover their rates, and negotiate a better deal on your own. Today, Vault Electricity does the work for you, handling the entire process of finding the best Texas electricity rates and plans from providers that have a pedigree of business stability, customer service, eco-friendliness, and financial transparency. This allows you to shop for electricity in just a few minutes, right from your computer.
3. Customer service: When the only utility available has lousy customer service, nobody is surprised. They don't even pretend to care – they know they have you over a barrel. With all these new players in town, however, it's a slap in the face to be treated like royalty until you've signed on the dotted line and now they won't even return your calls or the person on the phone can't string three English words together or if he does speak English, he's brand new and panicking trying to pull up your account information.
The city of Houston has a long and rich history. Named after General Sam Houston, it is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States. Home to 26 fortune 500 companies, affordable housing, world-class museums and cultural landmarks, it's no wonder that the city is ranked one of the best places to live in the state of Texas.


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Need to Know
by Megan Huggins from Jefferson High School
Published in the 2006-2007 WITS Anthology Mostly What I'm Made Of
You have to know my past if you want to know me, who I am, where I'm from, you can't judge me. From my own dirty diapers to changing them, life went by too fast. Only sixteen, and a parent myself. Never had a daddy, mama not around, raising four younger siblings and one of my own. Why does life have to get so complicated? Had to become the adult at six just so the State wouldn't take us away.
Never knew how to be a kid, until now. Staying out late, smoking and drinking, that's how it is, I skipped it all and went to adulthood. I watched my older brother and sister both get shot down in the front yard because of drugs. Life goes by too fast, got to live it while you can. If you don't, you won't notice until later and when you do it'll be too late to go back and change things.
Coming out of Queensland, that's where I'm from, but it's the same shit no matter where you live. I see it all the time around Portland. It's a lot like Brisbane, kids on the streets raising a family, while their parents are out drinking themselves to death, or so busy snortin' shit, they don't care about their kids. That's how my mama was for many years, I used to cry myself to sleep as I watched my little brothers and sisters wonderin' if she was coming home that night.
Life was hard but I made it through, I've had to live through my son's death but it only made me stronger. I still got my daughter, she will never go through what I went through, cuz I'm not my mama. You have to know my past if you want to know me, who I am, where I'm from, you can't judge me.
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Product description
The Edmund Hillary Nepal jumper is inspired by the sweaters worn by the 1953 expedition team. Lovingly crafted using premium British lambswool, the jumper offers a super soft handle and essential warmth. Featuring a ribbed crew neck, cuffs and hem, whilst the rolled edging provides a unique aesthetic. The Edmund Hillary jumper is complete with the label's logo embroidered to the sleeve, whilst the raglan sleeves provide comfortable freedom of movement.
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