Harry Potter: 10 Best Characters Introduced After The Philosopher's Stone

Although Goblet of Fire kicked off the start of the second Wizarding War and the return of Voldemort, it's easy to point towards The Prisoner of Azkaban as the real starting point for the series.

While the first two movies were a delight, they are virtually unrecognisable from what the franchise became, as the new direction started by this film changed it entirely. Lots of that had to do with the freshly introduced characters, one of which was Remus Lupin.

Lupin's introduction came as he saved Harry from a Dementor attack, so he established badass status right off the bat. His past also gave him a tonne of credentials, as he helped create the Marauder's Map alongside his childhood friends James Potter, Sirius Black and, sadly, Peter Pettigrew.

However, the best part of his character had to be his status as a werewolf. Adding lycanthropy to the series was a smart move, and it helped establish an incredibly dark tone in the movies. His struggles with keeping his dark side at bay were compelling, making his already likeable character all the more enjoyable.