Not Snape, Harry Potter Fans Always Overlook The Bravest Character In The Series

Summary:

• Narcissa Malfoy lied to Lord Voldemort about Harry Potter being dead in the Forbidden Forest.
• If her lie was exposed, which could easily happen, her entire family would’ve been killed instantly.
• Narcissa risked everything for the slightest chance of stopping the battle and saving her son Draco.

Brave and cowardly acts alike are countless in the Harry Potter series, and often the characters you least expect to do either turn out to be very different than you imagined. Sometimes, good friends can betray those who were like family to them; sometimes, old enemies can put everything on a line for their foe. Magical, right?

Interestingly enough, perhaps the bravest act in the entire franchise is almost never talked about. Narcissa Malfoy did something few others could even dream of doing.

Narcissa Malfoy Took The Biggest Risk Ever

A quick rewind: during the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter learns that the last Horcrux is hidden within him and goes to the Forbidden Forest, allowing Lord Voldemort to kill him and hence destroy the Horcrux. Both Harry and Voldemort are knocked unconscious for a while, and the Death Eaters are scared to touch them.

After “waking up,” Lord Voldemort sees his enemy lying motionless on the ground, but he’s too terrified of approaching The Boy Who Lived — or his body. The Dark Lord sends Narcissa Malfoy, the wife of a disgraced Death Eater and Draco Malfoy’s mother, to check whether Harry Potter is still breathing or not, and she does it.

Harry is alive and kicking, but Narcissa tells Voldemort that his enemy is dead. Why?

Narcissa Malfoy Put Everything On The Line

Don’t be mistaken, Narcissa was no hero, and she didn’t lie to her master to save The Boy Who Lived. Harry’s life was nothing to her; but her son was worth everything to Narcissa. Draco was still in the castle, and she was scared for him, and claiming that Harry was dead was the quickest way to stop the Battle of Hogwarts.

Now, get this.

Narcissa Malfoy, the wife and mother of two Death Eaters, straight-up lied in Lord Voldemort’s face. She knew perfectly well that she was talking to a psychotic, murderous, and extremely powerful Dark wizard who could kill her at an instant. She also knew that her lie could be revealed had someone noticed Harry’s breathing.

But Narcissa’s love and worry for her son Draco guided her to perform the most unique and underrated act of bravery in the Harry Potter series. Mrs. Malfoy put her and her husband’s lives on the line for the slightest chance of stopping the battle and saving her son who — which she knew, too — could very well be already dead then.

Say what you will, but that was some top-tier Gryffindor move.