Today we bow our heads for those lost during the fictional Battle of Hogwarts.
May 2 marks the anniversary since the gruesome events ended the Second Wizarding War in Harry Potter, so author J.K. Rowling is paying tribute by apologizing for killing a fan-favorite character: Remus Lupin. The British author took to Twitter to atone for her actions.
"Once again, it's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts so, as promised, I shall [apologize] for a death. This year: Remus Lupin," Rowling wrote on Twitter. "In the interests of total honesty I'd also like to confess that I didn't decide to kill Lupin until I wrote Order of the Phoenix."
Lupin first entered the fantasy world in The Prisoner of Azkaban. A werewolf, Lupin was very close with Harry Potter's parents and married to Tonks, who became an important character in the Order of the Phoenix. He also served as one of the series' Defense Against the Dark Arts professors.
The Harry Potter author also explained her rationale for killing off Lupin, but we doubt it'll quell readers' emotions about the loss. "Arthur lived, so Lupin had to die. I'm sorry. I didn't enjoy doing it," she tweeted, adding, "The only time my editor ever saw me cry was over the fate of Teddy."
Rowling began her apologies last year, giving fans some solace about Fred Weasley's devastating death. "I thought I might [apologize] for one death per anniversary," she wrote. "Fred was the worst for me, so I started with him."
There is some consolation in finding out Rowling is just as devastated as we are. Ever since the Harry Potter series came to an end, Rowling has been explaining some of her literary decisions. One major choice she had to explain was why Harry honored Severus Snape despite having murdered Albus Dumbledore.
"Snape died for Harry out of love for Lily," Rowling tweeted, in response to a fan's question about it. "Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude."
She added, "In honoring Snape, Harry hoped in his heart that he too would be forgiven. The deaths at the Battle of Hogwarts would haunt Harry forever," she explained, referring to the casualties in the Battle of Hogwarts. "Harry chose to perpetuate the names of the two who had nobody in their families to do so."
Explanation and apologies aside, it still hurt to lose beloved characters.