Film

On May 2 in fictional history, a major event occurred in the Harry Potter universe. As of writing in 2020, it has been twenty-two years.

This was the Battle of Hogwarts, which served as both the culmination to Harry’s omnipresent battle against Lord Voldemort as well as the finale to the series as a whole.

In this battle, a great number of witches and wizards on both sides lost their lives.

While it would be impossible without JK Rowling’s help to name all of them, there were a few who had a big role in Harry Potter.

Raise your wands for those lost.

Colin Creevey

Sixth year Colin Creevey, a muggle-born Gryffindor, was one of many fatalities in the Battle of Hogwarts.

One year below Harry Potter, Colin joined Dumbledore’s Army in his fourth year and became a loyal member, sneaking back to battle after previously being turned away because of his age.

Colin’s body was later recovered by Neville Longbottom and Oliver Wood. His killer remains unidentified.

Lavender Brown

Lavender, a seventh-year Gryffindor and classmate to Harry Potter, was mauled by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback during the Battle of Hogwarts.

An ex-girlfriend of Ron Weasley, she shared a dormitory with his future wife Hermione Granger for the six years that the latter attended Hogwarts.

Her best friend was Parvati Patil and favourite teacher was Sybill Trelawney, both of whom survived.

Crabbe/Goyle

Depending on whether you read the Deathly Hallows book or watched Deathly Hallows Part 2, your knowledge of this slot may differ.

While Crabbe died in the book, it was Goyle who perished in the 2011 final film in the eight-part series.

Although neither were very bright and tried to kill the main characters, both were part of the stories since Philosopher’s Stone, the very beginning.

Either way, Draco Malfoy lost one of his longtime henchmen.

Nagini

Known to many as Lord Voldemort’s loyal pet snake. However, Nagini was once a human woman with an affliction (Maledictus) that cursed her to transform into a snake.

Considering she appeared in Crimes Of Grindelwald which takes place in 1927 and the fact that the Battle of Hogwarts is set in 1998, Nagini lives for more than seven decades after the events of the prequel series.

Her long and tortured life came to an end when Neville Longbottom, in his act of heroic glory, slayed Nagini as she was a Horcrux.

Nymphadora Tonks

Wife to Remus John Lupin and mother to newborn Teddy Lupin, Auror Nymphadora Tonks met her end in the Battle of Hogwarts at the hands of her own aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Due to both her profession and membership in the Order of the Phoenix, Tonks was no stranger to putting her life on the line for an honourable cause.

It is a shame that despite Tonks’ heroic actions, her son will grow up without a mother.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Deranged Death Eater, fanatical follower of Lord Voldemort and murderer of beloved characters (Sirius Black, Dobby, Tonks), Bellatrix Lestrange’s reign of terror came to an eventful close during the Battle of Hogwarts.

In what can be seen as an unlikely defeat, Bellatrix was bested in battle by Molly Weasley, who showed she was much more than just a housewife and mother.

With her death, the countless people whom she killed as well as those whose lives were ruined by her actions, now have justice.

Fred Weasley

Inseparable from his twin brother George. Fred Weasley, at twenty years of age, fought and died in the Battle of Hogwarts. His other siblings are Bill, Charlie, Percy (with whom he’d reconciled with during the Battle), Ron and Ginny.

Fred was also the future brother-in-law to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger through their marriages to his siblings, though he did not live to see this.

As one of the main sources of comic reliefs in Harry Potter, breaking up the twins permanently was one of the most devastating losses in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Remus Lupin

Werewolf. Marauder. Husband. Father. Former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Remus Lupin was all of these things and more.

A close friend/mentor to Harry Potter, Remus fought alongside his late friends’ son on multiple occasions including at the Department of Mysteries.

Remus’ death sadly leaves Edward ‘Teddy’ Lupin an orphan. However, the boy has Harry Potter watching over him, so he will probably be fine.

Lord Voldemort

Not only did Lord Voldemort die in the Battle of Hogwarts – the last remnants of Tom Marvolo Riddle were destroyed alongside him.

For the previous seventeen years, he had been facing downfall after downfall at the hands of a powerful young man, Harry Potter.

In the end, his quest to kill The Boy Who Lived ultimately failed, with Voldemort’s long life filled with evil came to a dramatic end.

Severus Snape

Perhaps the most complicated character in the entire Harry Potter series, Snape was murdered by Lord Voldemort for control of the Elder Wand, before the final battle between the Dark Lord and Harry Potter.

As revealed in Deathly Hallows, Snape had a long, passionate love for Lily Evans, Harry Potter’s mother, which he retained even in his dying moments.

While Snape was no saint – he was also not as evil or heartless as you may have once believed him to be. He loved someone who didn’t (or couldn’t) love him back.

Of course, we lost Alan Rickman, the actor who played Snape in all eight films, to cancer in 2016. Rest in peace to Rickman most importantly, as the only real person on this list.