Highlights
- Madam Hooch, Lee Jordan, Nearly Headless Nick, Colin Creevey, and Madam Rosmerta are characters who disappeared from the Harry Potter films after their initial appearances.
- Their absence from subsequent films is due to various reasons, including the lack of inclusion of certain storylines and financial limitations.
- These characters had more significant roles in the Harry Potter books, with Madam Hooch and Nearly Headless Nick offering advice and comedic relief, Lee Jordan hosting Potterwatch, Colin Creevey interacting with Harry, and Madam Rosmerta being involved in Draco Malfoy’s plot to assassinate Albus Dumbledore.
Throughout the eight Harry Potter films, many characters made brief appearances, fulfilling a certain purpose in the plot, never to be seen again. Often, this made sense, but in other cases, especially with characters who are more important in the books, characters just seem to have disappeared.
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For example, certain classmates should have been present every year at Hogwarts, but for various reasons, such as actors moving on to other roles or perhaps financial limits, the movies chose not to bring back these side characters.
1 Madam Hooch
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
One Harry Potter character who disappeared after only appearing in the first film is Madam Hooch, the flying instructor and Quidditch referee. As the school Quidditch games didn’t feature in all the films, her lack of inclusion does make sense, particularly when the actress would have been required to come back to mostly take on the role of an extra.
Madam Hooch did go on to make more appearances in the books. For example, Professor Flitwick and herself were charged with checking Harry’s Firebolt for tampering after it arrived as an anonymous gift. She was also asked to sit in on Harry’s Quidditch practice sessions due to concerns about Sirius Black.
2 Lee Jordan
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Lee Jordan is best known for being the Quidditch commentator during Harry’s time at Hogwarts, but beyond the first two films, he sadly does not return. In the books, Lee is equally known for his friendship with the Weasley twins, and the three of them often get up to no good together.
Even in the last book when Lee is no longer a Hogwarts student, he still fulfills an important role as the host of the radio show Potterwatch, keeping allies of Harry up to date on events, and providing hope for them even on the darkest of days. Lee Jordan also returned for the Battle of Hogwarts, where his knowledge of secret passageways proved useful.
3 Nearly Headless Nick
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Nearly Headless Nick and the other Hogwarts House ghosts were regular sights in the first two Potter films, but beyond that, only the Grey Lady returned in the last film. This is a shame, as in the books, Nearly Headless Nick played a slightly more prominent role, always there to offer advice.
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Unfortunately, the Hogwarts ghosts were mostly left out of future films, as their presence adds to the magic of the castle, and Nearly Headless Nick was also able to offer comedic relief.
4 Colin Creevey
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Colin Creevey, an excitable Muggle-born student, quickly becomes the bane of Harry’s existence by pestering him for photographs and autographs. He later becomes one of the victims of the basilisk attacks but is saved from death by only viewing the monster through his camera.
However, in the films at least, this is it for young Colin as he wasn’t included in any of the following movies. In the books, Colin Creevey continued to interact with Harry and was thoroughly excited to tell him about his younger brother joining the school. In the Battle of Hogwarts, Colin fought bravely despite being underage and was tragically killed defending his school and idol.
5 Stan Shunpike
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
The scene on the Knight Bus is one of the most humorous in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Stan Shunpike plays the central role in it. For film-enjoyers, however, this is the only time they get to see the conductor, as his later book moments are not included.
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In the books, Harry sees Stan at the Quidditch World Cup falsely bragging about his upcoming appointment as the youngest Minister for Magic, in an attempt to chat up a group of Veela. More importantly, though, Stan Shunpike is later arrested and sent to Azkaban on suspicion of being a Death Eater, and Harry knowing this is completely untrue, refuses to cooperate with the Ministry. Furthermore, Stan was later placed under the Imperius Curse and Harry’s refusal to kill him in the Battle of the Seven Potters gave him away.
6 Madam Rosmerta
Last Seen: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
Madam Rosmerta was the landlady of the Three Broomsticks during Harry’s years at Hogwarts, and has a continued presence throughout the books, including a time when she was placed under the Imperius Curse by Draco Malfoy. Unaware of her actions, she helped Draco in his attempt to assassinate Albus Dumbledore.
In the films, however, Madam Rosmerta appears just once in The Prisoner of Azkaban, and never returns, making her another Harry Potter character who disappeared.
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