Most prominent characters (was Re: OPEN: Ultimate and Last Bragging Rights...

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 171425


Neil wrote:

> 3. Excluding Harry  and Voldemort, who will be the most prominent
> character to die and  stay dead? 
> Fred and George.  Question:  How do you determine who  is the most 
prominent 
> character?  Example"  I'm not predicting her  death, but is Luna 
more or less 
> prominent than Fred and George.  Isn't it  all a matter of opinion?
> 

Julie:
This is a good question. I'm not sure how you'd determine 
the prominence of each character, though I suppose it would
be a combination of their page time and their importance to
the various storylines throughout all the HP books. Something
like that ;-) Here's how I'd list the "main" characters (yes, 
another debatable concept!) from most to least prominent:

1. Harry (obviously)
2. Ron
3. Hermione
(it's almost a tie with 2&3 but I'd give the edge to Ron
because Harry does consider Ron his *best* friend.)
4. Dumbledore (he's the catalyst for so much of the plot)
5. Snape (I know some don't like him, but he is everpresent,
and another catalyst for so many parts of the plot)
6. Voldemort (also everpresent, but often in a background way)
7. Hagrid (though I think he definitely knows more than he's
revealed)
8. Lupin (more page time and presence in more storylines
than the other Mauraders)
9. Neville (the second potential Prophecy boy, and I think
he'll have a pivotal role in DH)
10. Ginny (being the girlfriend, she'll presumably have one 
of the larger roles in DH)
11. Draco (his rating is based on HBP and my presumption that
he will also play a critical role in DH)
12. Sirius (not as much page time as some after him, but 
very critical to several running plotlines)
13. Luna (we saw little of her in HBP, I expect more in DH)
14. Fred & George (I can't separate them, they seem like 
one person!)
15. Dobby (on the expectation he'll also play a role in DH) 
16. McGonagall (another everpresent character, but she
hasn't been pivotal to any plotlines, so far)

After this I think would be grouped the rest of the Weasleys,
Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, the Dursleys, Trelawney, Fleur,
James and Lily Potter, Aberforth (depending on his role in DH),
Slughorn,then a long list of others mentioned numerous times
in the books, like the other Hogwarts professors, various
students from Gryffindor and Slytherin, Cho Chang, Grawp,
Fenrir, Victor Krum, Fudge, Scrimgeour, and many more!

I don't think I missed any prominent characters, but if I
did I'm sure someone will let me know! Also, if you would
list them differently in descending order of prominence,
feel free to do so. The above is only my opinion :-)

Julie