As well as being one of the most uplifting and enchanting book/movie franchise’s around, the Harry Potter series has more than its fair share of heart-breaking moments.
Despite the fact that the Harry Potter series is primarily targeted towards a younger audience, there are several moments that will have readers/viewers wiping away a flood of tears. From gut-wrenching character deaths to emotional confessions, there’s more than enough heartbreak in the Harry Potter series to share around.
We wanted to shine a light on some of the Harry Potter series’ more emotional moments, so we thought we’d share our picks for the saddest moments in the Harry Potter books and movies.
10. Lupin, Tonks & Fred Die During The Battle Of Hogwarts
The Harry Potter series forced us to say goodbye to more than a few of our favourite characters, but it’s hard to get over the loss of Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks during the Battle of Hogwarts in The Deathly Hallows.
Lupin was killed by a Death Eater named Antonin Dolohov, who defeated Lupin in a duel, while Tonks was murdered by her own aunt and Voldemort’s right hand, Bellatrix Lestrange. As for Fred, the Weasley twin died fighting alongside his older brother Percy at the Battle of Hogwarts. Fred was killed by an explosion outside of the Room of Requirement.
9. Harry Uses The Resurrection Stone
The loss of Harry’s loved one’s is something he carries with him throughout the Harry Potter series, so the moment he uses the resurrection stone to see his parents, along with Sirius and Lupin, is heart-breaking and incredibly fulfilling.
Before entering the Forbidden Forest to sacrifice himself in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Harry uses the resurrection stone to see his loved ones one last time.
8. Harry’s Sacrifice
While it became clear in the later Harry Potter books/movies that Harry might not survive his battle against Voldemort, it was still incredibly emotional watching the boy who lived accept his fate and sacrifice himself for the greater good. After learning that he is one of Voldemort’s horcruxes, Harry sacrifices himself to Voldemort to weaken his greatest enemy.
While the impact of this moment is lessened due to Harry’s resurrection, it is still incredibly emotional and moving to watch Harry enter the forest knowing that he won’t be walking back out.
7. Cedric Diggory’s Death
Cedric Diggory may not have been a major character in the grand scheme of the Harry Potter series, but the Hufflepuff’s horrific death is easily one of the series’ most shocking moments.
After completing the third Triwizard Tournament task in The Goblet Of Fire, Cedric is transported to the graveyard alongside Harry. Wormtail, at the request of Voldemort, brutally murders Cedric with the killing curse. Cedric’s death and the heart-wrenching cries of his father marked a change in tone for the series, and set the stage for what was to come for some of our favourite characters.
6. Snape’s Death
He might not have been the nicest of Harry’s Hogwarts teachers, but Severus Snape’s death in The Deathly Hallows is still one of the saddest and most shocking. Snape is killed brutally by Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. Voldemort commands his snake, Nagini, to kill the former Potions Master.
The impact of Snape’s death is enhanced by the revelation that he was, in fact, working alongside Albus Dumbledore as an undercover spy, and that he protected Harry out of love for Lily until his dying breath.
5. Hedwig’s Death
The tragic death of Harry’s beloved pet owl, Hedwig, is without question one of the Harry Potter series’ saddest moments. Hedwig’s death is one of few that actually differs in the books and movies. In the books, Hedwig is accidentally hit and killed by a curse during the Battle of the Seven Potters. In the film adaptation, Hedwig sacrifices herself to give Harry and Hagrid a chance to escape.
4. Dumbledore’s Death
When it comes to the most shocking and heart-breaking moments in the Harry Potter series, the death of Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and most powerful wizard in the world, is one of the worst.
Dumbledore, who was aware that he was already dying and had planned his death with Severus Snape, was murdered at the hands of the Hogwarts Potion Master during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. Snape hit Dumbledore with a killing curse, murdering the Headmaster and throwing him from the Astronomy Tower.
3. Always
After years spent wondering if Snape was good or evil, this shocking moment revealed the emotional truth behind many of Snape’s actions throughout the series. Using the pensieve to view Snape’s memories, Harry learns the shocking truth. Snape was working with Dumbledore the entire time, spying on Voldemort to protect Harry. To make things worse, Harry learns that Snape was working to protect him the entire time, out of an undying love of his mother, Lily.
2. Sirius Black Death
It’s almost impossible to cope as Harry, who has lost almost everyone who has ever loved him, watches his godfather and newfound father-figure fall in battle. In Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, during a battle with Voldemort’s Death Eater’s, Sirius Black is knocked backwards into the Veil, a doorway between life and death. Harry stands in shock as his only remaining family passes into the afterlife.
1. Dobby’s Death
When it comes to the saddest moment in the Harry Potter series, nothing compares to the death of Dobby the House-Elf. In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Dobby rescues Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas and Ollivander from Malfoy Manor where they are being held by Bellatrix Lestrange. During the escape, Dobby is wounded by Bellatrix and dies in Harry’s arms.
Do you agree with our ranking of the saddest moments in the Harry Potter series? Let us know in the comments section below this post!
