The Characters:
I know them so well, they feel like old friends. As well as Harry, Hermione, Ron and the other regular favourites, an array of new and imaginative characters and creatures come and go from book to book. Starting with Mr Potter himself, here's a little synopsis of each. Hopefully I didn't forget anybody important. If I forgot Professor Snape, he'd probably put the Avada Kedavra curse on me.
Harry Potter
A brilliant Hogwarts student whose life was changed diliberately when he turned 11 years old. Harry's destiny was to be enrolled at Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards, where he becomes a proud member of Gryffindor House (where all the good wizards and witches learn their trade), as opposed to Slytherin House (where all the bad wizards and witches seem to evolve from!). In the four books so far, Harry battles against his arch enemy Lord Voldemort and Harry has always won. Harry is a "seeker" for the Gryffindor Quidditch team (Quidditch is a popular, fast moving and often dangerous sport played on brooms by wizards and witches - you won't find soccer or baseball in the wizarding world). Harry has an unusual and rare skill of being able to converse with snakes in Parseltongue (snake language). This is not actually a good sign, as traditionally, only dark wizards are gifted with this skill. There is a coolness, calmness and maturity about Harry, that is beyond his years. He's brave, resourceful, determined and has a certain disregard for rules. Harry is not judgemental and goes about everything in a no nonsense sort of manner, he is just so incredibly likeable.
Ron Weasley
Ron first met Harry aboard the Hogwarts Express (the official Hogwart's student transportation) when they were both on their way to their first day at magic school. Ron was Harry's first true and bestest friend, his loyal side kick and accomplice. He shares all Harry's adventures. Ron is the second youngest of the seven children of Arthur and Molly Weasley (the whole family are witches and wizards - pure bloods). Ron is a great character and in the fourth novel, I got the impression that he was probably developing a bit of a thing for Hermione.
Hermione Granger
Harry's other best friend at school and a muggle born, i.e. she comes from a non-wizarding family. Nevertheless, Hermione is by far the smartest student of Harry's year, always has her nose in a book, is very mark conscious and a bit snobby. Her name is often pronounced wrongly as her-me-own instead of her-me-own-knee. At first, Ron and Harry disliked her and thought she was an interfering goody goody, but through a series of events, they began accepting her and they are now great friends.
Albus Dumbledore
The headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards, and extremely wise and skilled in his magical ability. He is said to be the only person the dark Lord Voldemort fears. Dumbledore is generally good natured and a bit eccentric at times. He is also very reasonable and just, and does not jump to conclusions. Albus Dumbledore is considered by many to be the greatest wizard of modern times. In his spare time, he enjoys chamber music and ten pin bowling.
Rubeus Hagrid
Hagrid is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School, though he was actually expelled in his 3rd year at the school and is not supposed to be practising magic at all these days, but he does a few spells on the side. He is also a half giant and cares for the school garden and magical creatures. Despite his huge size, he is exceptionally lovable character who could do no harm to anybody (a gentle giant). Hagrid is a great friend of Harry and his pals.
Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort, The Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, You-Know-Who - this character is feared throughout the good wizarding world. Lord Voldemort murdered Harry's mum and dad, though miraculously, he was defeated by the infant Harry, after a curse Voldemort tried to place on him, backfired, leaving Voldemort himself severely weakened instead. He is the main evil character in all the novels so far, Harry's arch enemy.
Professor Severus Snape
He is the Potions master at Hogwarts, although it is common knowledge that he wants the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. He is the head of Slytherin house and he favours the students of his house greatly over those of other school houses, especially Gryffindor. In particular he enjoys tormenting Harry Potter and it is believed this is because Harry's father was Professor Snape's enemy when they went to school. You get the impression Snape really, really hates Harry actually. Although, he is basically an unpleasant piece of work, Snape is just so cool and one of my favourite characters. There is a complexity to him and he has a mysterious vibe, plus he is both interesting and amusing, though probably in the wrong sort of way. I feel Snape is often misconceived and he is not really as hateful a character as he is made out to be.
Professor Gilderoy Lockhart
Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honourary member of the Dark Force Defence League and five times winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award! He is a very memorable character, even though he only appears in one novel, the Chamber of Secrets, as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, who is much resented by Snape, and most of the other teachers, because he is such a big head. Gilderoy Lockhart is an extremely vain author who passes off other people's triumphs as his own through his books. He does this by using his sole talent, performing memory charms. His ego is inflated to the size of the moon and he is obsessed with himself and his image, but he is actually a great coward, as we come to find out. Lockhart is extremely good-looking although his chin is rather weak. He has shiny white teeth which he enjoys flashing along with a roguish wink. He has wavy, blond hair, which he puts in curlers at night, and forget-me-not blue eyes. He enjoys dressing in lurid robes in varying shades of pastel colors. Woman and girls often swoon over him, Hermione gets a bit of a crush on him, much to the disgust of Harry and Ron.
Fred and George Weasley
Ron's older brothers, Fred and George are identical twins, 17 years of age. They are loved by most everyone, are practical jokers and incredibly funny. They are also very smart. Fred and George are almost always together, getting up to mischief, aggravating thier older brother, Percy (another school swot), and teasing their younger brother, Ron. They are friends with Lee Jordan who does the Hogwarts Quidditch match commentary. Fred and George are "beaters" for the Gryffindor quidditch team.
Draco Malfoy
Mr Nasty. Draco is Harry's arch enemy amongst the students. He comes from a long line of wizards, but his family has a history of favouring the Dark Side, and he and his family hate all muggles, muggle-lovers and muggle-born wizards (so he has a grudge against Hermione). He's been heard saying that he'd like to see all the Muggle-borns kicked out of Hogwarts. He disapproves of almost everything Harry approves of, hates Hagrid and Dumbledore and has a great air of superiority about him. Draco worships Professor Snape, and vice versa, Draco is Snape's pet student. Draco truely is a horrible piece of work, but I wonder how big he would be without his two "bodyguards," his best mates and partners in crime, the comical Crabbe and Goyle, who are always at his side and who are almost as thick as their own necks.
The Dementors
You wouldn't want to bump into a Dementor on a dark night. The Dementors are a race of beings that guard Azkaban (a much feared wizard prison) and they terrify good and dark wizards alike. Their trick is that they zap the happiness and vitality out of people, and also cause them to remember vividly the most horrible memories of their past, hence their victims usually end up totally losing their minds. The Dementors wear robes that hide their faces, which really are not faces at all, because they have no eyes or a nose, just a large mouth that can suck the life out of whomever they chose to perform their "Death Kiss" on. Eek.
The list of memorable characters really is endless, but these are the ones that stand out most for me.
