The World of Witchcraft and Wizardry seen across theHarry Pottermovies was packed with incredible three-dimensional characters whose stories continued well after the credits rolled. Based on theoriginal book series by J.K. Rowling,Harry Potterwas a global phenomenon that’s beloved by countless fantasy fans around the world. While not everything known about the future lives of majorHarry Pottercharacters could be considered official canon, Rowling’s insights and the extended media aroundHarry Pottermean we can paint a clear picture of the students' and faculty’s lives beyond the Battle of Hogwarts.
TheHarry Potterfilm seriesis among the most successful franchises of all time, so it’s no surprise that viewers have remained fascinated by these films all these years later. With anupcoming HBO TV adaptationof the books set to allow us to relive the magic all over again, there’s never been a better time to look back on what the characters got up to in their later years. From death-defying occupations fighting fugitive Death Eaters to beloved characters settling down and starting a family,lots happened following the conclusion ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
14The Dursleys
Harry’s Horrid Foster Family
As the first Muggles ever seen inHarry Potter, the Dursley family consists of Harry’s horrid uncle, aunt, and cousin: Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley. While this trio was forced into hiding in the lead-up to the Battle of Hogwarts, they had developed a reluctant respect for Harry over the years, yet they still maintained a deep distrust of all magic-related things. After the war, Dudley had two Muggle children, and while little else is known about the family in their later years,Harry was said to be on “Christmas card” terms with the familyand visited Dudley’s family occasionally.
J.K. Rowling once considered having Harry helping Dudley with a magical child of his own on Platform 9 3/4 in the epilogue ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but later changed her mind, stating that “any latent wizarding genes would never survive contact with Uncle Vernon’s DNA.”
13Dolores Umbridge
The Most Sadistic Hogwarts Teacher
Except for perhaps Lord Voldemort himself, few characters in theHarry Potteruniverse were more sadistic, mean-spirited, and downright rotten than Dolores Umbridge. As a tyrannical teacher who spent her time abusing her students, after the Second Wizarding War, she wassentenced to Azkaban for her crimes against Muggle-borns. While Umbridge attempted to escape with Death Eaters during her trial, she was recaptured, had her wand destroyed, and lived out the rest of her life behind bars.
12Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts Transfiguration Professor
Professor Minerva McGonagall was an essential figure in the Wizarding Wars and the fight against Voldemort. Following her brave participation in the Battle of Hogwarts,McGonagall took over Albus Dumbledore’s old position and became the headmistress of Hogwarts. It was under her guidance that the school was at last reopened and a new crop of witches and wizards were able to learn the ways of the Wizarding World. Headmistress McGonagall fulfilled this role as new students, such as Albus Severus Potter, were enrolled as recently as 2017.
11Arthur And Molly Weasley
Two Noble Wizards
Arthur and Molly Weasley were introduced as the kind-hearted parents of Ron inHarry Potter, but as the series went on, they became essential figures in the fight against the Death Eaters. With Arthur as a participant in the Battle of the Seven Potters and Molly as the witch who killed Bellatrix Lestrange, the couple’s later life consists of growing old at the Burrow and spending time with their 12 grandchildren.Arthur returned to his old job at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Officebefore working his way up to becoming a Head of Department at the Ministry.
10Lucius Malfoy
A Despicable Death Eater
As the corrupt father of Draco Malfoy, Lucius represented everything awful about pure-blooded wizards who believed themselves superior to everyone else. As a follower of Lord Voldemort, it was only after the Dark Lord returned that Lucius could see just how detrimental his rule would be, and he, Narcissa, andMalfoy defected from the Death Eatersand were pardoned for their crimes. Lucius managed to avoid serving time in Azkaban and was conscious not to pass on his misguided pure-blooded beliefs to his grandson, Scorpius Malfoy.
9Draco Malfoy
Harry’s Hogwarts Rival
Draco Malfoy was the self-important Slytherin who harbored a deep dislike for Harry Potterand eventually took on his parents’ pure-blooded philosophies to become a Death Eater and aligned himself with Voldemort. After the horrors of the Battle of Hogwarts, Malfoy was forever changed, and he married Astoria Greengrass. With more tolerant viewpoints on wizards of all descriptions, Malfoy and Astoria raised their son Scorpius with better values than they had, and he turned out to be much kinder and more empathetic than Malfoy ever was growing up.
8George Weasley
A Twin Alone
It’s sad to think of the later life of George Weasley, as he no longer had his identical twin brother by his side. As a duo who were practically always seen together, following Fred’s death in the Battle of Hogwarts, George got married to Angelina Johnson and named their son Fred in honor of his brother.George continued to run Weasleys' Wizard Wheezesto great success, making him the bane of many professors but beloved by mischievous students across the World of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
7Rubeus Hagrid
Keeper Of Keys And Grounds Of Hogwarts
Rubeus Hagrid offered Harry Potter’s first insight into his heritage as a wizard and continued as a friend, mentor, and father figure to the boy throughout his time at Hogwarts. Following Harry’s apparent death in the Battle of Hogwarts, it was Hagrid who carried his body back to the castle. In his later life,Hagrid continued working at Hogwarts, and although he appeared to have a romantic connection with the giantess Madame Maxime, the pair never married.
6Luna Lovegood
An Unusual Ravenclaw
While Luna may have been dubbed ‘Loony Lovegood’ by mean-spirited Hogwarts students, the truth was that she was one of the most insightful and supportive people in Harry Potter’s life. Having bravely fought Bellatrix Lestrange alongside Hermione and Ginny, following the Battle of Hogwarts,Luna became a famous wizarding naturalistand traveled the world in search of strange creatures. Luna eventually married her fellow naturalist Rolf Scamander, the grandson of Newt Scamander, and according to Rita Skeeter, wore a wedding dress of rainbows and spangles with a tiara of silver unicorn horns.
5Neville Longbottom
A Brave Gryffindor
Neville Longbottom was first seen as a shy, clumsy, introverted Gryffindor who had trouble in his lessons and always seemed to be the brunt of the joke at Hogwarts. As time went on, he grew into a brave young man who destroyed the seventh and final Horcrux when he beheaded the snake Nagini. While Neville briefly served as an Auror, he later became the Herbology professor and the Head of Gryffindor House.Neville married his fellow student Hannah Abbottand would become the godfather of Harry and Ginny’s child, Albus Potter.
