UK Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury recently conducted a poll to determine readers’ favorite Harry Potter characters. The surprising results, detailed in this Guardian article, puts Severus Snape in the top spot.
The poll convinced more than 70,000 readers to vote between May and yesterday, and Severus Snape, described in the poll as “Potions master at Hogwarts. Head of Slytherin house. He hates Harry Potter.” snagged more than 13,000 votes.
Bloomsbury notes that Harry is author JK Rowling’s own favorite, although she has admitted that she may be unusual in her preferences. Talking about her characters before the poll opened, she said “Ron is generally more popular (I love him too, though). Now that I have finished writing the books, the character I would most like to meet for dinner is Dumbledore. We would have a lot to discuss, and I would love his advice; I think that everyone would like a Dumbledore in their lives.”
In addition to voting for the 40 listed characters, readers had the option to name another. The favorite character suggested by voters was Oliver Wood.
The top 40, in order, are:
1. Severus Snape
2. Hermione Granger
3. Sirius Black
4. Harry Potter
5. Ron Weasley
6. Luna Lovegood
7. Ginny Weasley
8. Albus Dumbledore
9. Dobby
10. Draco Malfoy
11. Remus Lupin
12. Neville Longbottom
13. Fred Weasley
14. Bellatrix Lestrange
15. Minerva McGonagall
16. Rubeus Hagrid
17. Lord Voldemort
18. Nymphadora Tonks
19. Gilderoy Lockhart
20. George Weasley
21. James Potter
22. Hedwig
23. Lily Potter
24. Lucius Malfoy
25. Molly Weasley
26. Cedric Diggory
27. Alastor Moody
28. Arthur Weasley
29. Kreacher
30. Dementors
31. Dolores Umbridge
32. Moaning Myrtle
33. Sybill Trelawney
34. Rita Skeeter
35. Filius Flitwick
36. Argus Filch
37. Dudley Dursley
38. Vincent Crabbe
39. Gregory Goyle
40. Cornelius Fudge
The poll, with one-line descriptions of each of the characters, is on this page (but since voting has ended, it may soon disappear).