Harry Potter: 12 Best Supporting Characters

Introduced in Prisoner of Azkaban as Hogwarts' new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and revealed as a childhood friend of Harry's late parents - the first such character in the series to be overtly connected to them, no less - reluctant werewolf Remus Lupin has often emerged as one of the more popular characters in the Potter canon, providing Harry with his first real hands-on mentor in his magical education.

Integral to the plot on his debut and still a key presence from Order of the Phoenix onwards, much of his late development didn't make it to the films - but the main thrust of his arc, as a growing friend and sounding board for Harry is kept mostly intact. (The same unfortunately cannot be said for his eventual wife Nymphadora Tonks, who despite an engaging performance by Natalia Tena, sees the majority of her character arc both condensed and shelved in the translation from page-to-screen.)