Lavender Brown: What Becomes of Her in Harry Potter?

Article Key Points

Lavender Brown's character in the Harry Potter series was often overlooked until she became Ron Weasley's girlfriend in the sixth installment, causing jealousy for Hermione.

The fate of Lavender during the Battle of Hogwarts remains uncertain, with fans speculating about her survival amidst the chaos. In the movies, Lavender Brown was played by three different actors, but her character received more extensive development in the books. Known for her gossiping tendencies, she was also a prominent member of Dumbledore's Army.

Lavender Brown, a Gryffindor student, often appeared alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Harry Potter series. However, her character was not given much importance until the sixth installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In this book, Lavender suddenly became Ron Weasley's girlfriend, causing jealousy for Hermione and prompting her realization of her feelings for Ron. After Ron and Lavender's short-lived relationship ended, Lavender's character was rarely mentioned again.

Fans of the Harry Potter series may recall that Lavender was present during the Battle of Hogwarts, which took place in the final year of the Golden Trio at the wizarding school. This intense battle resulted in the deaths of several significant characters, including Remus Lupin and Fred Weasley. Tragically, many Hogwarts students, including Colin Creevey, a younger Gryffindor student, also lost their lives. However, the fate of Lavender remains unknown, leading to speculation among fans about whether she managed to survive this devastating battle.

Who Is Lavender Brown?

Throughout the films, Lavender Brown's character was portrayed by three different actors: Kathleen Cauley, Jennifer Smith, and Jessie Cave. As a result of these frequent cast changes, Lavender was predominantly portrayed as a background character, leaving audiences unable to truly familiarize themselves with her. In contrast, Lavender was initially introduced in the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This allowed readers to have a better understanding of Lavender, as her name continuously appears throughout the entire series.

Lavender Brown, a Pure-Blood, attended Hogwarts in the same year as the Golden Trio, and was sorted into Gryffindor, known for courage and loyalty. In her fifth year, Lavender displayed bravery by joining Dumbledore's Army, a rebellious group formed by Harry Potter that opposed the Ministry of Magic and challenged Dolores Umbridge's authority. Participating in the group was extremely risky.

Lavender was a well-liked student during her time at Hogwarts and had a close circle of friends. She was particularly close with Parvati Patil, a fellow Gryffindor who went to the Yule Ball with Harry Potter. While the movies portrayed Lavender as a background character, the books provide more insight into her personality. In the books, Lavender was depicted as a notorious gossip. She and Parvati were often caught whispering about their peers. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Lavender spread the rumor that Harry was lying about Voldemort's return. This led Hermione to stand up for Harry and confront Lavender, telling her to keep her mouth shut about him.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Lavender Brown gained significant attention for her role as Ron Weasley's girlfriend, creating a surprising twist for both Harry and Hermione. Their relationship sparked after Gryffindor's triumph over Slytherin in the Quidditch match, as depicted in the following excerpt from the book:

Amidst a crowded room, Ron and Lavender were entangled so closely that distinguishing their hands became a challenge.

Upon witnessing the couple together, Hermione noticeably becomes upset. She is enraged with Ron and finds it difficult to comprehend her unexpected emotions towards him. Fortunately for Hermione, their romance doesn't last long. Ron soon realizes that Lavender is excessively clingy and excessively dramatic in her affections. Lavender even resorts to calling Ron the cringe-worthy nickname "Won-Won," which amuses his friends greatly. During Christmas, Lavender gives Ron a golden necklace engraved with the words "My sweetheart."

Gradually, it becomes evident that Ron does not reciprocate Lavender's romantic feelings and he struggles to find a way to end their one-sided relationship. Eventually, Lavender becomes increasingly jealous of Ron's friendship with Hermione, leading to their relationship finally ending - much to Ron's relief.

Does Lavender Brown Die?

Despite playing a prominent role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Lavender Brown is seldom mentioned thereafter, leaving fans to wonder about her fate after the Battle of Hogwarts. However, her tragic destiny is hinted at in a brief scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

In the midst of the Battle of Hogwarts, the film showcases a somber sight of Lavender's lifeless form sprawled on the ground. Her eyes are wide open, yet lack any sign of life, while her body lies completely still. This poignant scene portrays her tragic demise during the fierce and merciless conflict.

Following Harry's victory over Voldemort, he enters the Great Hall, where he is greeted by the heartbreaking sight of the numerous casualties from the battle. Among them is Fred Weasley. The camera then shifts its focus to Parvati Patil and Professor Trelawney, who are solemnly attending to one of the fallen fighters, presumed to be Lavender Brown. As mentioned earlier, Lavender and Parvati had been close friends throughout their years at Hogwarts. In an unexpected twist, Lavender also developed a unique bond with Professor Trelawney, as they both shared a deep interest in Divination. It is highly probable that Lavender met her demise during the intense Battle of Hogwarts. Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding her death remain shrouded in uncertainty.

How Did Lavender Brown Die?

In Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Lavender Brown's death is depicted consistently with the book, despite the usual differences between the movies and the literary source material. In this scene, the Golden Trio is engaged in a desperate fight against Death Eaters when they catch sight of Fenrir Greyback, the savage werewolf, crouched over a lifeless body. There is a disturbing detail implying that the werewolf is devouring the body. Acting swiftly, Hermione casts a powerful spell that sends Fenrir flying away from the body. However, a somber realization dawns upon the Golden Trio as they recognize the body as belonging to Lavender Brown. The camera then pans to Lavender's motionless form, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragic loss she suffered amidst the devastation of the battle. The book version of Deathly Hallows also provides a similar account of Lavender's untimely demise in the following passage:

As the two bodies plummeted from the balcony, a grey blur, which Harry assumed was an animal, dashed across the hall on all fours and sank its teeth into one of the fallen individuals. Hermione let out a piercing shriek, and with a powerful blast from her wand, Fenrir Greyback was forcefully thrown backwards away from the weakly stirring body of Lavender Brown.

Interestingly, while the movie presents a clear explanation for Lavender's demise, the book version of Deathly Hallows does not explicitly state whether she died as a result of Fenrir's brutal attack. In the book, Lavender's body is described as "feebly stirring," in stark contrast to the motionless portrayal in the film. This ambiguity has allowed for different interpretations regarding Lavender's fate. Notably, Wizarding World's profile of Lavender does not mention her death, leaving open the possibility that she actually recovered from her injuries.

However, following Fenrir Greyback’s attack, Lavender is never mentioned again. She does not appear in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows and is not referenced in the Cursed Child – though this could be attributed to her status as a background character. Due to the absence of any further mention of Lavender, it is likely to be assumed that she tragically perished during the Battle of Hogwarts, intensifying the enduring tragedy of the conflict.

Harry Potter

Created by J.K. RowlingFirst Film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneLatest Film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part TwoWhere to watch HBO Max

Editor's P/S

Lavender Brown, a character in the Harry Potter series, had a brief but memorable journey. Initially introduced as a background character, she rose to prominence in the sixth book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," when she became Ron Weasley's girlfriend. This development caused jealousy in Hermione and prompted her to realize her own feelings for Ron. However, their relationship was short-lived, and Lavender's character faded into the background once again.

What truly intrigues fans is Lavender's uncertain fate during the Battle of Hogwarts. While the books do not explicitly mention her survival or demise, her absence in the subsequent epilogue suggests that she may have been among the casualties of the battle. This leaves readers wondering about her ultimate destiny and whether she managed to escape the chaos and destruction that engulfed Hogwarts.