25
Hedwig The Owl
Books: All seven
Films: First seven
Played by: Gizmo, Kasper, Oops, Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo and Bandit
Hedwig is a female snowy owl, given to Harry by Hagrid as a birthday gift on Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley. Thereafter, she appears in the books acting as a messenger and friend to Harry, even at times when all his other friends seem to have deserted him. Her home in Hogwarts' "owlery" acts as a refuge from the other students, and her death, in Deathly Hallows: Part 1, was a real loss to Harry. JK Rowling said in a webchat with The Leaky Cauldron "The loss of Hedwig represented a loss of innocence and security. She has been almost like a cuddly toy to Harry at times. Voldemort killing her marked the end of childhood. I'm sorry... I know that death upset a LOT of people!" Fun fact: even though Hedwing's a 'she', all the owls to play her were male, because the males have whiter plumage. Appalling! Owl racism AND sexism!
Trivia: The most recognisable piece of music in the Harry Potter soundtrack is officially known as 'Hedwig's Theme'.
Memorable Quote: "Twhooo"
24
Dolores Umbridge
Books: Order Of The Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Films: Half-Blood Prince (voice), Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Played by: Imelda Staunton
Voldemort's pretty evil and all, but he's a mere rapscallion compared to the thoroughly grotesque Dolores Umbridge. Party apparatchik, twin-set wearer and cat person, she's unquestionably the nastiest woman ever to wear pink tweed and a nightmare teacher in every way. Sent to Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic to counter Dumbledore and Harry's claims that Voldemort has returned, she soon tightens her grip on the school and turns it into a totalitarian state. The terrifying thing about her is the strength of her conviction in her own righteousness and her total lack of self-doubt. It's that certainty that leads her to use unforgiveable curses at will - sure that she knows better than the law - and that certainty that justifies torture in pursuit of the elusive order she's pursuing. There has never been a woman more in need of being terrorised by centaurs or imprisoned for life in Azkaban, if you ask us.
Trivia: Stephen King called Umbridge "the greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter".
Memorable Quote: "You know, I really hate children."
23
Gilderoy Lockhart
Books: Chamber Of Secrets, Order Of The Phoenix
Films: Chamber Of Secrets
Played by: Kenneth Branagh
You know, we'd really like to read the job adverts that Hogwarts publishes for the Defence Against The Dark Arts teaching post. Do they actually say, "Must keep secrets. Big, dark, dangerous secrets preferred; treachery an advantage"? Because that would explain a lot. It would explain, for instance, how this vain, empty-headed blowhard managed to get what is - presumably - a prestigious post. All preening arrogance, fancy threads and far-fetched claims, Lockhart is a comic wonder and a rotten little sneak at the same time, especially as wonderfully brought to life by Kenneth Branagh, vaulting neatly over the top and swishing his hair as he goes. He provides, on our count, a good 75% of the humour in the film - not least because you can't help laughing as soon as you look at him. One question though: why on Earth did the usually wise, usually insightful Dumbledore hire him in the first place? Apparently Lockhart was the only applicant - but that hardly seems like sufficient excuse.
Trivia: Lockhart never recovered from the backfiring memory charm he suffered, and never regained his former personality. Probably just as well really.
Memorable Quote: "Harry, Harry, Harry. Can you possibly imagine a better way to serve detention, than by helping me to answer my fan mail?"
22
Nymphadora Tonks
Books: Order Of The Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Films: Order Of The Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Played by: Natalia Tena
While Natalia Tena makes for a likeable Tonks onscreen, we can't help thinking that the character remains popular more for her role in the books rather than on film. After all, she's barely in the movies, whereas in the books we learn a little more about her family (excised from the Black family and targeted by Bellatrix!), her romance (Tonks and Remus, sitting in a tree...) and her personality, acting like a cool older sister to Harry and the gang. Amid a forest of tweed-enthusiasts and robe-wearers, Tonks' colour-changing hair, ripped jeans and T-shirts (she's a fan of popular wizarding band Weird Sisters) give the series a rare edge, and that can only be a good thing. After all, even wizards have to rock out sometimes, right? And if that comes inbetween being a Metamorphmagus and taking on Death Eaters, so much the better.
Trivia: "Tonk" can mean "fool" or "idiot" but can also mean "a powerful blow". So that nicely covers both Tonks' clumsiness and comic side, and the fact that she's a fairly kick-ass witch.
Memorable Quote: "Don't call me Nymphadora!"
21
Molly Weasley
Books: All of them
Films: All of them EXCEPT Goblet Of Fire
Played by: Julie Walters
For most of the Potter series, Molly Weasley has two simple functions: providing maternal love and support to, well, just about everyone, and worrying about, well, just about everyone. While Harry has several surrogate fathers - Hagrid, Dumbledore, Sirius, Lupin and Mr Weasley - he has only one surrogate mother, and that's Molly. But she also stands in that stead to seven children of her own, and Hermione, to some degree, and Tonks. Still, she's not just a mummy figure. In the final book, we get an emphatic reminder that Mrs Weasley is a considerable witch in her own right, and more than capable of bringing the hurt when called upon to do so. Just because someone is red-haired, a bit dumpy or fond of cardigans, it doesn't mean they can't kick ass. There's a valuable lesson there for us all.
Trivia: Julie Walters claimed, at the recent premiere of the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, to be planning regular Weasley family reunions, at which they'll all don their red hair and go out. We can only hope.
Memorable Quote: "Not my daughter you BITCH!"
More in 2 weeks unless I can get 5 votes coz then I will have it up by Friday
