7 most misunderstood Harry Potter characters

6. Remus Lupin

Remus Lupin gets a bad rap for being a werewolf. He’s essentially forced to deal with his affliction in secret during his time at Hogwarts, which leads to a whole bunch of drama with Severus Snape. But it also leads to incredible friendships.

There’s a huge fear among wizardkind that all werewolves are like the sadistic and violent Fenrir Greyback, one of the most ruthless characters in the series. Yes, one time per month, Remus gets a little crazy, unpredictable, and extra hungry, but he’s not a bad person. In fact, he’s a great person. His loyalty to Dumbledore, the cause, and the fight against Voldemort and evil in the world is virtually unmatched. He pays for it with his life after volunteering to help Harry, Ron, and Hermione complete the quest given to them by Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

He’s also the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Harry ever has at Hogwarts, and it’s not even close. I think Dumbledore should have pushed a little harder to keep him at Hogwarts after the events of The Prisoner of Azkaban, but that obviously would have interrupted the story in The Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and Half-Blood Prince.

Remus is one of the most pure-hearted characters in the series, and it’s just a bummer he had to suffer so much because society couldn’t understand that a werewolf could be and do good.