There are a number of Harry Potter deaths that are difficult to stomach. The wizard franchise shows that sometimes the most heartbreaking deaths aren't from the characters with the most screentime. As a sore spot for many Harry Potter fans, Dobby's death is certainly one of the most heartbreaking to witness.

Dobby only appears in two Harry Potter films. He is first seen in the Chamber of Secrets, where he tries to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts. Dobby refuses to tell Harry the truth behind his passionate feelings (in fear of getting in trouble with his master) and goes to extreme lengths to stop Harry's return. It's not a surprise that Dobby's attempts are unsuccessful and Harry returns to Hogwarts with some help from his Gryffindor friends. As frustrating as the added trouble Dobby causes might be, his death is one of the saddest because he reflects a few pivotal losses Harry experienced.

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Harry's story begins at an unusually early age. Not long after his birth, his parents, Lily and James, are killed by Lord Voldemort. As it is repeatedly mentioned throughout the Harry Potter films, Lily Potter gave her life for her son and that sacrifice is largely responsible for saving Harry's life. Lily and James are not the only two characters to give their lives in order to protect Harry. Some of those casualties are not a direct result of protecting Harry but an unfortunate number of them are. Among them is Dobby.

Dobby in Harry Potter

Dobby's death does not only reflect the desire Harry's parents had to protect him but also echoes the death of Cedric Diggory in the Goblet of Fire. Despite Cedric and Harry being pitted against one another in the Triwizard Tournament, they became friends or at least allies. Dobby and Harry get off to a similarly rocky start because of Dobby's troubling efforts to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts. Like Cedric's relationship with Harry, he and Dobby become friends by the end of their journey together.

One factor that makes both Cedric and Dobby's deaths exceptionally tragic is their innocence. Cedric and Dobby both died like Lily and James, attempting to protect Harry from a Death Eater. Unlike the other characters (like Dobby) who died for Harry, Cedric did so unknowingly. Cedric wasn't aware of the dreams Harry was having about the graveyard they found themselves ported to, nor did he know that the men he and Harry came into contact with were Peter Pettigrew and Voldemort. In this manner, Cedric may even appear more innocent than Dobby because he only knew he was fighting out of defense, but not the severity of the fight. Unlike these other wizards, Dobby isn't trained in self-defense, making his bravery a bit more inspiring.

As a house-elf, Dobby is also the victim of severe mistreatment. Working for the Malfoy family of all families in the wizarding world, Dobby was subject to even worse treatment. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather was also the victim of severe mistreatment throughout the Harry Potter series. Sirius is first seen in the Prisoner of Azkaban after he escapes from the wizard prison. Because Sirius has been imprisoned for killing twelve muggles (and his betrayal of the Potters), it seems Sirius is on his way to Hogwarts to finish the job. Of course, it is learned that Peter Pettigrew is the true source of Sirius' rage and it is Pettigrew that he seeks.

No one seems willing to believe Sirius' tale and still assume him to be the killer. With the twelve years he has spent in Azkaban, they believe him to be even more dangerous. Coming from a long line of Death Eaters, Sirius is not welcomed back by many, forcing him to remain on the run. Despite his moral ambiguity, Sirius works his way into the hearts of many Potterheads in a short amount of time. As Harry's godfather and his last ticket out of the Dursley home, Sirius' death in the Order of the Phoenix, is particularly bitter. Also attempting to protect Harry from a group of Death Eaters, Sirius is killed by his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, who also kills Dobby. Sirius and Dobby are not linked only because of their killer, but because of the mistreatment they suffered that is never fully redeemed.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of Dobby's death is that the circumstances surrounding it are foreshadowed in his first film. In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry frees Dobby by handing Lucius Malfoy Tom Riddle's diary with one of his socks inside. Not knowing about the sock, Lucius hands the diary to Dobby to carry and when Dobby finds the sock, he is freed. In the conversation that follows, Dobby asks Harry how he could possibly repay his kindness. In return, Harry only asks that Dobby promise to never try and save his life again. Considering the danger Harry endured to return to Hogwarts because of Dobby's excessiveness, it was a reasonable request.

Of course, Dobby does die protecting Harry. In Deathly Hallows Part 1, Dobby helps Harry and other members of Dumbledore's Army escape the Malfoy Manor. During their escape, Bellatrix Lestrange attempts to stop Dobby and Harry by throwing her knife at them. At first, it seems they have gotten away victoriously until it is discovered that her knife is lodged in Dobby's chest. Dobby dies in Harry's arms and they buy him at the cottage with a small tombstone.

Dobby doesn't only die breaking his promise to Harry but dies like many others before him. With the Battle of Hogwarts not taking place until the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Dobby is not the last person to die fighting for Harry or merely fighting against Voldemort, but his death is one of the last ones that leave a significant impact on Harry. He and Harry had almost gotten free of the Death Eaters and had they been a bit quicker, Dobby may have lived. With the "what if" possibilities and the significance of Dobby's death, Dobby is a much harder character to let go of.

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