The best friendships in Harry Potter beyond the golden trio include Harry and Dobby, Sirius and Lupin, James and Sirius, Harry and Luna, Hermione and Neville, Hermione and Ginny, Fred, George and Lee Jordan, Dean and Seamus, Harry and Hagrid, and the complicated bond between Snape and Lily. Each shows a different side of loyalty.
Harry, Ron and Hermione get most of the attention, but J.K. Rowling’s books are full of other friendships that hold the story together. With HBO’s new Harry Potter series set to premiere on 25 December 2026, these relationships are getting a fresh look from fans. Here are ten worth revisiting.
Best friendships in Harry Potter: quick list
- Harry Potter and Dobby
- Sirius Black and Remus Lupin
- James Potter and Sirius Black
- Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood
- Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom
- Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger
- Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan
- Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan
- Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid
- Severus Snape and Lily Potter
1. Harry Potter and Dobby
Their friendship starts badly. In Chamber of Secrets, Dobby tries to keep Harry away from Hogwarts to protect him, even jinxing a Bludger that breaks Harry’s arm. Harry later tricks Lucius Malfoy into freeing Dobby with a sock.
From then on Dobby is fiercely loyal. He helps Harry in the Triwizard Tournament and dies saving Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor in Deathly Hallows. Harry digs his grave by hand, and the words “Here lies Dobby, a free elf” still hurt.
2. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin
Sirius and Lupin were two of the four Marauders at Hogwarts. For twelve years Lupin believed Sirius had betrayed James and Lily. When the truth comes out in Prisoner of Azkaban, their friendship picks up as if no time had passed.
Both men later fight together in the Order of the Phoenix. Their bond shows that real friendship can survive even long years of doubt.
3. James Potter and Sirius Black
James and Sirius were the ringleaders of the Marauders, as charming and troublesome as Fred and George would be years later. Sirius was so close to James that he became Harry’s godfather.
Sirius ran away from his own family and was treated as a son by the Potters. His guilt over James’s death drives much of what he does for Harry.
4. Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood
Luna is one of Harry’s most loyal friends outside Ron and Hermione. She believes him when much of the school does not, joins Dumbledore’s Army and fights at the Ministry of Magic.
In Deathly Hallows, Harry finds that Luna has painted portraits of him and their friends on her bedroom ceiling, linked by the word “friends”. Their bond rests on mutual understanding, since both know what it is like to be called strange.
5. Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom
Neville is shy and bullied in his early years, and Hermione is one of the few students who is kind to him from the start. She helps him on the Hogwarts Express in the first book and often backs him in class.
Neville grows into one of the bravest characters in the series, and Hermione’s early support is part of that story.
6. Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger
Because the books follow Harry, this friendship stays in the background. Hermione shares Ginny’s room at the Burrow and at Grimmauld Place during the holidays, and Ginny confides in her about her love life.
It is Hermione who tells Harry that Ginny had given up on him and started dating others. The two girls clearly trust each other.
7. Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan
The twins have the strongest bond in the series, but Lee Jordan is their constant partner in pranks. He is also the Quidditch commentator who cannot hide his love for Gryffindor.
In Deathly Hallows, Lee runs the secret radio show Potterwatch, with Fred joining as a guest presenter. That says a lot about how close the three were.
8. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan
Dean and Seamus share Harry’s dormitory and are close friends throughout school, much like Harry and Ron. The books do not give them much space, but they are almost always seen together.
It is a reminder that other students had their own lasting friendships at Hogwarts.
9. Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid
Hagrid is Harry’s first friend in the wizarding world. He brings Harry his first birthday cake, tells him he is a wizard and takes him to Diagon Alley. He also gives Harry his owl, Hedwig.
Harry stands by Hagrid through every trouble, and Hagrid is the one who carries Harry out of the Forbidden Forest in the final book.
10. Severus Snape and Lily Potter
This is the most debated entry. Snape and Lily were childhood friends, but the friendship broke when Snape called her “Mudblood”, a slur for Muggle-born witches and wizards, and drifted towards the Death Eaters.
His love for her shapes his choices for the rest of his life. When Dumbledore asks if he still loves Lily after all this time, Snape answers with one word: “Always.” Many fans see it as obsession rather than friendship, which is why it stays divisive. Find more fan favourites in our listicles.
Harry Potter in 2026: the HBO series
HBO’s Harry Potter series, adapting the books one season at a time, will premiere on 25 December 2026, moved up from early 2027. Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry, Arabella Stanton plays Hermione and Alastair Stout plays Ron. John Lithgow is Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu is Snape, Nick Frost is Hagrid and Janet McTeer is McGonagall.
Rory Wilmot plays Neville and Elijah Oshin plays Dean Thomas, so some of these friendships will get more screen time. HBO has already renewed the show for a second season based on Chamber of Secrets. In India, the original films stream on JioHotstar. Read more in our series section.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Harry Potter’s best friend besides Ron and Hermione?
Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom are his closest friends outside the trio. Hagrid and Dobby are also deeply loyal to him.
Were Snape and Lily friends?
Yes. They were childhood friends before Hogwarts, but the friendship ended after Snape called Lily a slur in their fifth year.
Who were the Marauders in Harry Potter?
The Marauders were James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, a group of friends at Hogwarts.
When does the HBO Harry Potter series release?
The HBO series premieres on 25 December 2026, with season 1 adapting Philosopher’s Stone over eight episodes.
Sources: Wikipedia: Harry Potter (TV series), JustWatch India.
