Please Put Your Hands Together for the Harry Potter Antagonists!

If there were no Antagonists, we wouldn't have a story. In a sense the Antagonist is a Hero in his or her own right. They are the Characters that make the Story and keep us on the edge of the Chair. Often we don't know if we want to hate them or cheer for them. We wonder what made them be the way they are today. Often we get their Stories explained to us as the Story or Series unfolds. What makes them tick? If you want to be honest, at times you even wish you could be that cruel, powerful and cold hearted. In our stories we know that they are destined to loose, miss their ultimate goal at the very last moment. After all we have to keep the world safe from evil. Good always triumphs, right? Unlike the real world were evil often gets the better of us, in the Stories they have the thankless job to entertain us with their wily antics only at the end to be disposed to the cheers of the crowd. Sometimes I feel sorry for them, I wish they would win.

Would the real Severus Snape please step up?

Professor Snape, the grease potions teacher that would rather be the defense against the dark arts Teacher. The former Deatheater and then trusted Colleague of Professor Dumbledore. Professor Snape has always been a suspicious character, from the very beginning you couldn't quiet figure him out. Professor Dumbledore trusted him, gave him a second chance to make things right. He defended him over and over again against any accusations made against him by Harry and his Friends. Often, Severus Snape gave us more then enough reasons to believe him to be the one out to kill Harry, only to turn around and be essential in once again saving Harry's Bacon. However in the end, he killed Professor Dumbledore. Was he the Traitor like everyone expected or an innocent victim of circumstance? Was he a clever double Agent for the good and the evil Side? Or was he in on a plot that might be revealed in the next Book coming out on July 21^st 2007? Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollow has a lot of explaining to do. Snape is on trial by us and there are Books out that debate his guilt and innocence. As of now, I would have to count him as one of the Antagonists of the Series.

A true blue Turn Coat and backstabbing Character if I have ever seen one - Peter Pettigrew.
If you want to illustrate the kind of friend that will earlier stab you in the back then hand you a glass of Water then you need only take a good look at Peter Pettigrew. Best Friend to James Potter, Sirius Black and Lupin he betrayed them each in turn. He, the weak minded turn coat, ratted James Potter out to Lord Voldemort and then smoothly framed Sirius Black in a Murder that never took place. Having turned a Rat he lived in comfort at the Weasleys house until the fateful day when the Marauders Map showed Harry something very interesting. How could Peter Pettigrew walk around the halls in Hogwarts when he was supposed to have been killed by Harry's Godfather Sirius Black? Scabbers, Ron's Rat was Pettigrew. After the discovery he once again manages to escape and still left Sirius with a verdict of guilty for murder. Pettigrew returns to the service of Voldemort.

Snobby, blueblood and arrogant - that are the Malfoys.
Each family member has an antagonistic Part in this Book Series. From Draco, who loves to make Harry's life as uncomfortable as possible all the way to his super rich Parents who can buy their way through the Ministry? You know when you read the Name Malfoy, evil and mischief is not far away. However, these Antagonists get it fairly early on. Does that mean that money can not buy happiness after all?

Lord Voldemort - from a nothing to the Dark Wizard that still petrifies the Magical World of Harry Potter just by mentioning his Name.
He could not have come from humbler circumstances if he would have tried. However, he was brilliant in his hunger for power. Just imagine being able to strike absolute Terror in the Hearts of foes just by having your name mentioned! Lord Voldemort however is not just evil at its best, but he is the ultimate in survivalist. No matter how many times he gets defeated, he always comes back stronger then before. He is driven by the desire for revenge and the wish to dominate his world. He will not give up.

Of course those are not the only Antagonists in the Story, but these are for you to find. So my challenge to you is: Find and name the other Antagonists in the Harry Potter Series. Let's see how good you are!