The Saddest Death in Harry Potter

1 Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Dumbledore was the hope of Harry's life. He was the wisest, the most motivating, humble, kind man one could have thought of. His death changed the whole scenario. After Sirius's death, Dumbledore's death was an enormous loss to Potter. With Dumbledore's demise, hope almost died! But nonetheless he lived in Harry forever! I wish each one of these character lived but . . . Rowling had the authority to handle her story! Better than perhaps killing Ron or Hermione!

— Quora user Ayushi Dwivedi

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2 Dobby

Image Source: Everett Collection

Without question, he was one of the few characters in the books who was completely innocent and pure. He was killed because he willingly, voluntarily, put himself in a dangerous situation, returning to the home where he had lived as a slave for the majority of his life, to save his friends. Dobby had escaped a life of servitude and pain, and had done so with his hope and optimism intact. He was terribly afraid of his former masters — [yet] he showed immense courage in facing that place again, because he wanted to help his hero and friend. Dobby's death was particularly heartbreaking because he was so innocent and kind. He saw things so simply: Harry was his friend. He loved Harry. Harry was in trouble. He was going to help Harry. The simplicity and straightforward nature of his devotion is what gets me every time.

— Quora user Tanya Wheadon

All I have to say is that Dobby was a messiah! His death was extremely sad but the words on his gravestone were the best tribute to him!

— Quora user Ayushi Dwivedi

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3 Sirius Black

Image Source: Everett Collection

Sirius to me was not just Harry's Godfather. He was the one person, the only person [in] the entire universe who was his family. Harry had suffered all his life, alone. But, in Sirius he found someone who selflessly cared for him — he found his father in him. I still remember the first time I read about Sirius dying. It was excruciating — the pain. Poor Harry! I still remember his desperate attempts when he thought he saw Sirius in the two-way mirror Sirius gave him! And not just Harry, even Sirius deserved a better life. After [escaping all the] wrong he [didn't do], to serve all those years in Azkaban, and then struggle to prove himself [innocent] — [only to] die when he had found his son! Despite his small role, Sirius is a character [who] will always remain close to my heart!

— Quora user Ayushi Dwivedi

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4 Hedwig

Image Source: Everett Collection

Similarly to Dobby, Hedwig's death is horrible because of her innocence. She [was] Harry's sole companion on all those summers away from Hogwarts, and [was] by his side as a reminder of the wonderful turn his life took when he turned 11. She was a source of security and comfort, both at Hogwarts and when [he was] stuck back on Privet Drive. I didn't know at the time that her [death] was basically a practice run for the reaction I'd have when innocent, loyal Dobby was killed, and when Fred died and George was left alone.

— Quora user Tanya Wheadon

Hedwig. She was one of the characters established early on in the series (even if she was extremely minor and obviously had no dialogue outside of noises). And while there were other deaths that were much more tragic, everyone else, from Dobby to Sirius, got a certain amount of emotional pause and heft to their passing, which allowed the characters (and the reader) to process grief. Hedwig was shot out of the sky, and Harry got absolutely zero seconds to react to it before he had to continue fighting for his own life, even having to destroy the side car with her body. There wasn't much consolation afterwards either, in my opinion. Her death seemed to lack the reverence it deserved, and that was devastatingly jarring to me when I read it the first time.

— Quora user Matt Becher

For some reason I always thought Hedwig's death was the saddest. She and Harry were mad at each other before she died, and Harry was so distraught by it, and the poor thing screeched and fell to the bottom of the cage like a stuffed animal. Makes me cry every time. She was with him in his lonely summers at Privet Drive. Her body was never found, and her death didn't get much recognition because it was then overshadowed by Mad-Eye Moody's death.

— Quora user Claire Richards

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5 Harry Potter

Image Source: Everett Collection

Also, I want to add something else that hasn't been said yet . . . Harry's death. I think some of the saddest lines in the whole series take place after Harry emerges from the Pensieve in the Deathly Hallows and really processes that he has to die. And him walking slowly away from Hogwarts and his friends, having to force himself to leave them all — that would take immense strength and bravery. Also, when he uses the Resurrection Stone to "bring back" his parents and Sirius and Lupin. Obviously, Harry ultimately lives, but the events leading up to it are truly heartwrenching. I still remember exactly where I was when I read that chapter!

— Quora user Claire Richards

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6 Fred Weasley

Image Source: Everett Collection

The fact that [J.K. Rowling] permanently separated the twins is something I'll never forgive her for. Fred's death was rough partially because Fred and George top almost everyone's lists of favorite characters, but more because the twins devoted their everything to making people laugh. Look at some of their inventions; they were actually quite brilliant wizards. They brought so much happiness, especially in a dark time. His death was tragic, and it was made even more so because of the lifelong impact on George, who now has to learn to be on his own. Being Fred's twin was an integral part of his identity his whole life, and he suddenly found himself alone for the first time. That thought makes Fred's death doubly upsetting.

— Quora user Tanya Wheadon

The enormousness of his death is indescribable! The Weasley twins would never be the same again! Amidst all that happened at Hogwarts, Fred was a breath of fresh air — unafraid, relentless, brave, defiant, even resolute. I still remember this incident I read somewhere about him which still pains me — "Everyone's so happy and excited to see Harry alive, everyone is looking at their loved ones and family. The first person George always thought of to share something with is Fred. He turns around, about to say 'Fred' but, he's not there!"

— Quora user Ayushi Dwivedi

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