J.K. Rowling Finally Apologizes for Killing off Lupin in 'Harry Potter' and Reveals Why She Did It!

Much like real-life loved ones, the deaths of beloved fictional characters bleed like fresh wounds every time we remember them.

Such was the case today, on the 18th anniversary of one of the most epic happenings in literary fiction — the Battle of Hogwarts.

If you guys remember, J.K. "Jo" Rowling said she would apologize for one Harry Potter death every year — last year, she started with Fred.

Today I would just like to say: I'm really sorry about Fred. *Bows head in acceptance of your reasonable ire*— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2015

@Brieuc26Rankin I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary. Fred was the worst for me, so I started with him.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2015

This year she apologized for the death of Remus Lupin, whose death was merciless.

Once again, it's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts so, as promised, I shall apologise for a death. This year: Remus Lupin.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016

Lupin and his sweetheart Nymphadora Tonks were murdered by the wands of two of Voldemort's Death Eaters — Antonin Dolohov and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Rowling shared a bit more about Lupin's death, tweeting:

In the interests of total honesty I'd also like to confess that I didn't decide to kill Lupin until I wrote Order if the Phoenix.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016

She tweeted that Arthur Weasley was the reason why she wrote Lupin's death. We would have been hurt over Mr. Weasley's exit if he had died when Nagini bit him, but he had grown children already. Meanwhile, the death of both Tonks and Lupin left poor Teddy orphaned. Remus Lupin's death had greater emotional impact and continued the legacy of orphans in the Harry Potter canon.

Arthur lived, so Lupin had to die. I'm sorry. I didn't enjoy doing it. The only time my editor ever saw me cry was over the fate of Teddy.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016

But why did it come down to Lupin vs. Weasley in the first place? Well, simply put, Rowling wanted to kill some parents. TODAY posted a piece on her response:

“I wanted to kill parents. I wanted there to be an echo of what happened to Harry just to show the absolute evil of what Voldemort's doing.

“I think one of the most devastating things about war is the children left behind. As happened in the first war when Harry's left behind, I wanted us to see another child left behind. And it made it very poignant that it was their newborn son.”

Deaths can be really devastating, especially if they're the result of wars. In the world of Harry Potter, however, I wish there were more children that didn't have to experience early deaths of parents and parental figures. Harry and Neville's parents' fates were enough to make me cry. Why Teddy, too?

How do we get our life back after reading and watching Harry Potter?

In conclusion, Jo, apology not accepted.