While Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were running around saving the day, Neville Longbottom was busy being a whizz at Herbology and Dean Thomas was occupied with his romance with Ginny Weasley, it seemed like the life and times of their fellow common room companion Seamus Finnigan fell through the cracks.

Although Seamus gave himself a bit of a bad rep over the years at Hogwarts, most notably when he didn’t believe Harry about Voldemort’s return, his positive contributions to the wizarding world certainly outweighed the bad – so we at Pottermore think he deserves a little love. Here’s why…

He came from an unusual family situation

Seamus’s dad accidentally marrying into the Wizarding World had to be one of the most underrated shocks of the whole series. It was incredibly downplayed by Seamus, who mentioned it once over dinner in their first year, and although it sounds like Seamus’s dad settled into the Wizarding World pretty quickly, how could Seamus’s mum have kept a secret like that? We need to know!

‘Me dad's a Muggle. Mam didn't tell him she was a witch ’til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him.’
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

His mother wasn't incredibly helpful

Following on from Seamus’s understatement of the year that his father didn’t know what he was marrying into, we think it’s safe to say that Seamus’s one magical parent was clearly someone he looked up to, and his only real guide into the Wizarding World when he was growing up.

As such, it seems almost reasonable that he would stick with her rather than his dorm mate when Harry was accused of making up Lord Voldemort’s return. But despite spending all summer being told by the Daily Prophet and his own mum that Harry was full of fibs, it showed true strength of character that Seamus would finally think for himself and believe Harry (along with a little help from The Quibbler, of course). Not only that, but he told his mother as much. As Dumbledore once said, ‘There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.’ We think family should probably be included in that, too.

No sooner had he arrived outside Transfiguration than something just as good happened: Seamus stepped out of the queue to face him.
‘I just want to say,’ he mumbled, squinting at Harry’s left knee, ‘I believe you. And I’ve sent a copy of that magazine to me mam.’
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

He attended Hogwarts in year seven

Although we’ll probably never know what went down when Seamus returned home for the summer holidays after Dumbledore’s death, we do know that his mother came all the way out to Hogwarts to try to drag him home, which led to a public argument.

Seamus Finnigan, on the other hand, refused point-blank to accompany his mother home; they had a shouting match in the Entrance Hall which was resolved when she agreed that he could remain behind for the funeral.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As such, it seemed beyond belief that Seamus would have been able to return to Hogwarts for his seventh and final year under the Carrows, particularly when he technically had half-blood status. Even though attendance was mandatory, surely someone as cautious as Seamus’s mum would never have let him get himself into that sort of danger? We’re guessing that Seamus must have done something big to evade her so he could be there for that final year of Hogwarts.

Dumbledore’s Army and the Battle of Hogwarts

Although it took longer for Seamus to join Dumbledore’s Army than its other members, he eventually joined with gusto and became one of the secret society’s most crucial members, particularly in his seventh year when Harry, Ron and Hermione were absent. The proof of his Gryffindor courage was evidenced by his injuries which, as Neville told the trio, were inflicted when people spoke up against the teachings of the Carrows. This means that Seamus must have been even more outspoken than Neville to the Carrow siblings, if you can believe that.

‘What? This?’ Neville dismissed his injuries with a shake of the head. ‘This is nothing. Seamus is worse. You’ll see.’
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

He also threw himself into the thick of the fighting at the Battle of Hogwarts, and saved Harry, Ron and Hermione’s lives with the help of Ernie Macmillan and Luna Lovegood when they were ambushed by Dementors and unable to conjure their Patronuses. Harry later returned the favour by casting a shield between Seamus and Voldemort. Yep, VOLDEMORT. You can’t get deeper into the action than that!

Harry cast more Shield Charms, and Voldemort’s would-be victims, Seamus Finnigan and Hannah Abbott, darted past him into the Great Hall, where they joined the fight already flourishing inside it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Although Seamus fought; saved Ron, Harry and Hermione; kept Dumbledore’s Army going; stuck it to the Carrows AND defied his mum to stick up for his friend (ahem, eventually), this boy does not get the credit he deserves. Sure, he had his flaws, but remember when Harry had that year of angst in Order of the Phoenix? No one is perfect, after all, but Seamus did end up being the perfect example of a true Gryffindor.