10 Times Harry Potter Characters Got Exactly What They Deserved

Actions have consequences in the Harry Potter book series, and for better or worse, the characters in the novels get what they deserve. Good versus evil is an enduring theme throughout the narrative, as Harry and his friends embody good, while Voldemort and his allies are the epitome of evil. However, there is still plenty of nuance throughout the story, and just because a person falls on one side, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll get the ending they deserve. This makes it even more satisfying when characters get their comeuppance or the happy ending they’ve been waiting for.

It will be interesting to see how the next iteration of the franchise, the HBO TV show, will interpret the scenes that incorporate consequences into the story. The upcoming HBO Harry Potter series has begun casting its essential characters: Ron, Harry, and Hermione (via Variety). While it’s difficult to imagine new actors taking on these roles, the Harry Potter TV remake can rescue characters from the books and movies that weren’t originally done justice. Additionally, the show must retain some of the best parts from the novels and films, like when characters get what they deserve and their arcs evolve.

10 Draco Turning Into A Ferret

Though he’s not the worst villain in Harry Potter, Draco deserves some

There are many Draco Malfoy moments that the HBO Harry Potter show must include, and the moment when Madeye Moody turns him into a ferret is one of them. While it’s also quite satisfying when Hermione hits Draco in the face in The Prisoner of Azkaban, it’s in The Goblet of Fire when Draco gets dressed down in public. Of course, later in the book, it comes to light that Moody is really an imposter; Barty Crouch Jr. However, when he turns Draco into a ferret during the story, it’s an incredible moment for both Harry and the audience.

Harry faces tough bullying and hardships throughout The Goblet of Fire, and Draco takes full advantage of this, trying to humiliate Harry at every turn. With his wealth and position in wizarding society, Draco uses his privilege to hurt others, which is why it’s understandable that Harry and the other characters would be glad to see his power taken from him for a moment. Of course, it’s not right for the fake Moody to terrorize students, as McGonagall points out, but it shows Draco how his actions hurt others.

9 Harry Building A Family & Finding Peace

No character deserves happiness more than Harry

Harry’s found family of Ron, Hermione, and his other allies are a huge part of the series, and the relationships he builds with them are the most important in the narrative. However, the death of his parents and his desire for a close family in that way weigh on him heavily throughout the books, especially when seeing how close the Weasleys are, or hearing about Herimone’s relationship with her parents. Additionally, his position as the chosen one makes it seem impossible for him to shake that insurmountable responsibility and have a normal life.

When The Deathly Hallows flashes forward many years in the epilogue, and Harry is happily married to Ginny, bringing their children to King’s Cross, it feels like fate. Suffering through what Harry does at such a young age is a burden no one should have to bear, and Harry achieves so much while undergoing this trauma. In the final moments of the series, when Harry gives his son advice about entering Hogwarts, it shows that Harry has found the peace and perspective that he has been searching for his whole life.

8 When Dobby Was Freed

Dobby doesn’t always have the happiest life, but Harry helps him find a moment of satisfaction

Dobby’s ultimate ending in the Harry Potter series is one of the saddest in the franchise, but in the first book he’s introduced in, Dobby has a moment of pure happiness. In The Chamber of Secrets, Dobby continuously sneaks away from the Malfoy house to warn Harry about Lucius’ ill intentions for Harry and Hogwarts. Dobby does this at serious personal risk, but he still seeks Harry out because he knows it’s the right thing to do. It’s thanks to this sacrifice and goodness that Dobby is able to create a life of his own, free from the Malfoys.

The issue of house elves throughout the books is one of the most valid criticisms of the Harry Potter franchise, but Dobby getting a sock and escaping servitude is a poignant moment. No house elf should be indentured to a wizarding family, and it’s upsetting that Harry doesn’t take a stronger stance against this in the books or movies. Putting his sock in the diary and ensuring Dobby’s freedom was a good deed that Dobby deserved more than anything, and this scene should influence how the TV show deals with house elves.

7 Dumbledore Telling The Dursleys How They Failed Harry

The Dursleys never treat Harry as a son, and Dumbledore doesn’t forgive them

When compared to the real antagonist, Voldemort, the Dursleys are minor annoyances, but their impact on Harry and his self-worth cannot be overstated. Instead of welcoming him and treating him with love and respect, they view Harry as little more than a servant and an inconvenience. While Dumbledore’s treatment of Harry is far from perfect, he recognizes how awful the Dursleys are and gets the chance to tell them what he really thinks in The Half-Blood Prince. Dumbledore arrives at the Durselys to pick up Harry and informs them how insidious their neglect has been.

It’s a shame that this scene wasn’t featured in the movie adaptation, as it’s one of the few moments when Dumbledore explicitly shows how much he cares for Harry and one of the only times the Dursleys are told off. This ties in well with the moment in The Order of the Phoenix when Dumbledore sends the Howler to Petunia. It reminds her that she committed to taking Harry in and shielding him from Voldemort. Though the Dursleys never become a real family for Harry, they at least provided some form of protection while he was growing up.

6 Bellatrix Lestrange Being Beaten By Molly Weasley

It’s a fitting moment for both Molly and Bellatrix

One of Voldemort’s most loyal followers, Bellatrix Lestrange, is one of the most terrible and compelling secondary antagonists in the Harry Potter series. It doesn’t take long for the audience to hate her as much as Harry does, as she’s the person who kills Sirius, tortures Hermione as well as the Longbottoms, and inflicts horrible pain on countless others. During the Battle of Hogwarts in The Deathly Hallows, there are many devastating casualties, but seeing Bellatrix fall is a just end after everything she’s done.

It’s Molly Weasley, the matriarch of Ron’s family, who engages her in a duel after Bellatrix begins targeting Ginny during the battle. Being part of the battle is a sharp change from the typical characterization of Molly, who’s usually seen in a maternal light. However, she’s always been a strong and capable character, and this scene demonstrates her power. The additional moment in The Half-Blood Prince movie when Bellatrix burns down the Burrow also contributes to the effectiveness of this scene in the film, but it’s still moving in the book.

5 Umbridge Getting Carried Away By The Centaurs

As one of the easiest characters to hate, it’s exciting when Umbridge is overthrown

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is one of the most polarizing installments of the series, as it marks a significant tone shift in the franchise. In the fifth book, Harry is ostracized and targeted more than ever before, and the introduction of Dolores Umbridge is the embodiment of this torturous year. Her arrival at Hogwarts changes everything, and she makes it her mission to make Harry’s life as painful as possible. She physically and emotionally torments him throughout the year, but Harry’s spirit is never broken, and he’s more inspired than ever to fight back.

However, Umbridge is just as capable of holding her own, which is what makes her such a strong villain. It’s not until the very end of The Order of the Phoenix that she’s lured into the Forbidden Forest and taken hostage by the centaurs after insulting them. The book states that Dumbledore rescues her, and she isn’t physically hurt by the incident, just her pride. It also coincides with her being removed from Hogwarts and Dumbledore’s return. As Umbridge later joins Voldemort’s side and revels in the imprisonment of others, it’s difficult to feel sorry for her.

4 Wormtail Falling At His Own Hand

The treacherous character eventually pays for his betrayals

Wormtail is more of a coward than a ruthless villain in Harry Potter, but that doesn’t absolve him of the terrible actions he commits against the Potters and, later, the entire wizarding world. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry discovers that Peter Pettigrew was the one who betrayed his parents to Voldemort, and Wormtail runs off to join Voldemort once again. In The Goblet of Fire, he helps Voldemort regain his body, and as a reward, Voldemort gives Wormtail a new hand made of silver. Unfortunately, this reward comes with a terrible price.

In The Deathly Hallows, when Harry encounters Wormtail again while imprisoned at Malfoy Manor, Wormtail begins to strangle Harry but stops when Harry reminds him that he saved his life years ago. When Wormtail hesitates, impacted by Harry’s words, the enchantment on the silver hand turns on him and kills Wormtail instead. It’s a brutal scene, but it’s a destiny Wormtail was always heading for, considering his lack of loyalty to anyone but himself. The fact that Harry could still find a way to see Wormtail as a person after what he did speaks to Harry’s morality.

3 Fred & George Leaving Hogwarts To Start Their Shop

After years of troublemaking, the infamous twins go out in a blaze of glory

Some characters love Hogwarts more than anything, like Hermione or Harry, while others don’t feel that the academic life is right for them. Fred and George Weasley spend their years at Hogwarts pulling pranks, getting into mischief, and counting down the days until they can leave and start their lives. The arrival of Umbridge in The Order of the Phoenix and the way she cracks down on fun and hope at school is the last straw for Fred and George. Much to the chagrin of their parents, they leave before graduation to start their joke shop.

The joke shop, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, is a success for the two young men and is a source of comfort and excitement for the wizarding world through some of the darkest periods of books six and seven. After becoming fed up with Umbridge terrorizing them, the twins summon their brooms and fly out of Hogwarts, setting off fireworks in their wake, cementing their legacy at Hogwarts forever. While tragedy does strike the Weasley family later in the series, this is a moment of happiness for the brothers.

2 Neville Winning The House Cup

In The Sorcerer’s Stone, Neville gets a moment of glory

Neville is the butt of the joke many times in the Harry Potter series, but he’s also one of the most resourceful and underestimated. As the novels progress, more information comes to light about Neville’s background and how much he and Harry have in common. This makes it even sweeter that, in the first book, after Neville stands up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione to save Gryffindor from losing more points, he’s awarded the final ten points that win them the house cup. It’s a rare moment of glory for Neville and one he has earned.

The Sorcerer’s Stone is the lightest in tone and theme of the Harry Potter novels, and starting the series off with a win for one of the underdogs of the story is an important moment. While Harry is the ultimate hero of the narrative, characters like Neville are the backbone of the fight against Voldemort. They epitomize the idea that ordinary actions can have extraordinary consequences. Concluding book one with Neville’s success is a relatable and joyous moment for the reader and characters.

1 Voldemort Destroying Himself By Trying To Defeat Harry

His downfall turns out to be the very thing he was after all along

Throughout all seven books in the Harry Potter series, Voldemort remains the biggest antagonist of the novels. It’s his actions that wrench Harry’s family from him, make him an orphan, and change the trajectory of his life. In the final book, Harry, Ron, and Hermione track down the Horcruxes that Voldemort created to make himself immortal. However, when Harry goes to sacrifice himself to save Hogwarts, the killing curse affects both Harry and Voldemort. Since he became a Horcrux many years ago, Harry Potter survived the killing curse in The Deathly Hallows for the second time.

In attempting to kill Harry, Voldemort makes himself mortal and gives Harry the opportunity to surprise him and kill him. This is the culminating moment of the entire series and is incredibly satisfying after watching the death and destruction that Voldemort has caused for so many years. It’s incredibly fitting that the way the series begins is also how it ends, and the cyclical nature of Voldemort’s actions drives home the point that good is always going to triumph over evil.