Top 10 Harry Potter Characters with the Saddest Backstories

The Top Ten
Severus Snape Severus Snape is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is portrayed as a complex figure whose cold and sarcastic demeanor hides deep emotions and a troubled past. Snape plays a pivotal role in the series, ultimately being revealed as a tragic hero.

He should be number one! He literally had no one except Lily Potter (Harry's mom), and he was so in love with her. But she never loved him, and she died when he was literally feet away from the door as Voldemort killed her.

He gave everything to make sure her son lived, and all he got was a painful death at the hands of Voldemort.

He was in love with Lily, but she didn't love him back. She probably thought they were just friends. And then Lily got taken by someone she truly loved - James Potter. When she died, Snape was just feet away from the door, and when he saw her dead body, let's just say things were a little unexpected.

He did everything to keep Harry safe and alive. And while I initially thought he was bullying Harry just to be mean, I realized that he really hated him because Harry was the son of James Potter.

Neville Longbottom Neville Longbottom is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Initially portrayed as clumsy and forgetful, Neville grows into a brave and skilled wizard over the course of the series. He plays a crucial role in the final book, where he destroys the last Horcrux, Voldemort's snake... read more

I feel like his past is sadder than Harry's. Harry's parents died, but at least they knew him and always loved him. Neville's past is worse because his parents didn't die but were tortured, and because of that, they don't even recognize their son anymore. How sad must Neville feel? But he didn't even tell anyone that.

Everybody knew about Harry's tragedy, oh, it's so sad, but no one knew about Neville because he probably didn't want people to worry more. And even though his awful past, he stayed strong and didn't go down. His amazing strength is moving.

Harry Potter Harry James Potter is the title character of the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. The series chronicles his life from age eleven as he discovers his identity as a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over seven years, Harry confronts numerous challenges and... read more

His mum loved her sister. She didn't know what would happen to her son, and there was no other way, so she had to put the spell for protection. Locked in a cupboard for 10 years - what if his cot was in his cupboard? Bullied by Dudley and his gang, not fed properly (he had to do Dudley's diet, remember), given Dudley's clothes, not told that he was a wizard. His relatives wanted to force him into a Muggle school, not allowed to go to parties (like in the second book, for example), forced to lie that he goes to some school for kids who break the law.

Remus Lupin Remus Lupin is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a werewolf and becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Lupin is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix and plays a key role in the fight against Voldemort.

Remus easily had it the worst. He was ostracized and discriminated against his entire life just for who he was. He found friends who supported him, but eventually, he was left all alone, believing that two were dead and the third was responsible. He lived alone and in poverty.

Twelve years later, he got a teaching job (and was the best DADA teacher), only to leave after Snape outed him because of a stupid childhood grudge. He learned Sirius was innocent and got his best friend back, only for him to be killed two years after that. Then he had a son, and then Remus himself died. And through it all, he was a good and kind person (unlike Snape, who was a whole blood supremacist).

Sirius Black Sirius Black is a fictional character from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as Harry Potter's godfather and a former friend of James and Lily Potter. Known for escaping from Azkaban, Sirius plays a significant role in the fight against... read more

It sucks that he grew up in a family that disowned him, was then framed for the murder of his friends, and finally cleared his name and got close to Harry, only to die not much later.

He died soon after telling Harry he was his godfather and clearing his name.

Albus Dumbledore Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He serves as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for most of the series. Dumbledore is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix.

HOW is he in fifth place? Albus Dumbledore belongs in the top three at the very least. Initially, his sister was driven insane and became an Obscurial. Then his father received a life sentence in Azkaban for attacking the people who drove her mad. Furthermore, his brother began to detest him, and in the absence of love, Albus turned to Gellert Grindelwald, whom he eventually fell in love with but did not express his feelings due to the homophobia of his time.

There ended up being a duel between his brother and the man he loved, resulting in his sister's death and Grindelwald's betrayal. There is even a chance he killed his sister. His brother blamed him and became estranged. He eventually had to duel the man he loved and ruin his life. Happiness.

Lord Voldemort Lord Voldemort is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. He first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997. Born as Tom Marvolo Riddle, he becomes the dark wizard known as Voldemort and is characterized by his obsession... read more

His mother died hours - HOURS - after his birth. He literally never met her or his father. He was raised in an orphanage, and he was different from other kids, so they were cruel to him. Even in Hogwarts, he didn't fit in. His life molded him into who he is now.

Also, did you guys know Voldemort is not capable of love? Even if he tried, he could never feel love toward someone. At most, he feels indifference or tolerance. Isn't that kinda sad? And you know why? 'Cause he was conceived while his father was under the effects of a love potion. Kinda changes the whole story, doesn't it?

Rubeus Hagrid Rubeus Hagrid is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. Hagrid is introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as a half-giant and half-human who is the gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts, the primary setting for the first six novels... read more

Um, Hagrid up higher, please? Yeah, he didn't have the very saddest backstory, but his life sucked. He constantly felt out of place and insecure about being half-giant, and then was framed for a crime he didn't commit, leading to his expulsion from Hogwarts and the destruction of his wand.

Even now, he's belittled and mocked by his own students, like Malfoy. Speaking of which, Malfoy should be much lower on this list. Yeah, he had the whole "forced to be a Death Eater" thing, but other than that, he had a pretty privileged life.

Draco Malfoy Draco Lucius Malfoy is a character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a student in the same year as Harry Potter and belongs to Slytherin House. Draco comes from a wealthy pure-blood family and is often portrayed as Harry's rival throughout the series.

Draco is definitely not my favorite character, but I despised the way that he was treated by Voldemort in the last books and how he was portrayed as an evil character. Not only that, but his father was also placing pressure on him, and it seemed that his mother was the only one who cared about him at all.

While I understand that Harry is an orphan and never got a proper chance to meet his family, when he was at Hogwarts, at least he had friends who understood him and loved him as a person.

Draco Malfoy had a terrible life compared to the others. He was forced into murder, and he was treated very poorly. Harry Potter had friends and people that cared for him, but Draco had nobody and was completely alone. His only friends were Crabbe and Goyle, but they were not friends with him for who he was.

Growing up, he never had time to have fun. He always had to study and read in his free time since he was born into an evil pureblood family. Harry Potter's life may have been bad, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Draco's.

Dobby Dobby is a fictional house-elf from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He first appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and becomes a recurring character throughout the series. Dobby is known for his loyalty to Harry Potter and ultimately sacrifices his life to save his friends.

Yes, House-Elves are slaves of witches and wizards, but Dobby had one of the worst experiences being with the Malfoy family.

The Newcomers

? Leta Lestrange
? Susan Bones

I think this one is funny. While reading the books, I realized that a lot of bad stuff happened to her! Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Susan's rabbit who died in the earlier books? As someone who has a pet, I can totally understand the heartbreak.

Then, a few years later, we see how she is super nervous before the OWL tests (in The Order of the Phoenix). And then, in her sixth year, she is taken out of class because her mother died!

Yes, it isn't the longest list of sad things, but she should at least be under Luna, whose mother also died. Susan wasn't bullied, but she still had a sad life.

The Contenders
Luna Lovegood Luna Lovegood was a witch from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. She was the only child of Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood. Her mother accidentally died while experimenting with spells when Luna was nine and Luna was raised by her father, who was the editor of the magazine The Quibbler, in a... read more

Poor Luna had to watch her mom die and then got bullied at school for just being herself. It really sucks, and I feel bad for her.

Poor sweet Luna. We should feel empathy that she lost her mother, she got bullied, and she is still her sweet, sweet self.

Petunia Dursley

When she was a kid, she wanted to be a witch and even sent a letter to Dumbledore. Every child would want to have magical powers. It would be a dream. When she couldn't become a witch, she just became jealous, and that's how she became the way she is.

She just wanted to be like her sister, Lily.

It depends on if the Ministry would allow it.

Scorpius Malfoy Scorpius Malfoy is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is the son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. Scorpius plays a central role in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Scorpius Malfoy was just a kid, but he had a horrible dad. I'm not biased, but I don't think Draco is that good of a dad. He expects too much from Scorpius.

Barty Crouch Jr.

He spends his life fighting dark magic, and his son becomes a Death Eater. He sends his son to Azkaban, his son "dies" a year later, his wife dies soon after in grief, and his son later comes back and kills him after being under the Imperius Curse.

Argus Filch
Minerva McGonagall Minerva McGonagall is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. She is a professor of Transfiguration and the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over the course of the series, she becomes deputy headmistress and eventually headmistress of the school... read more
Hermione Granger Hermione Jean Granger is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. She is one of the main characters and best friends of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Hermione is known for her intelligence, strong work ethic, and loyalty.
Fred Weasley

It's horrible how his brother, whom he was so close to, had to die like that!

Cedric Diggory Cedric Diggory is a character from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Cedric is most notably featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where he competes in the Triwizard Tournament and is ultimately killed by Peter Pettigrew... read more
George Weasley
Lily Evans Potter
Astoria Greengrass

She had a blood curse, and she had to die. She had to leave her husband and her beloved son, Scorpius.

She died and left her son and husband. Tragic!

Frank Bryce
Arthur Weasley
Delphini Riddle (Delphini Diggory)
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