The long-awaited – and beautifully executed – Harry Potter: Return To Hogwarts reunion on HBO Max ends with the perfect tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman and Severus Snape. The special reunited most of the principal players of the original Harry Potter cast, bringing the Golden Trio back to Hogwarts for the first time in over a decade since the filming of The Deathly Hallows movies.
Somewhat inevitably, some of the most prominent Harry Potter actors did not return for the reunion, with the likes of Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, and Warwick Davis all notably absent. And of course, the Harry Potter reunion offered a fitting tribute to the Wizarding World actors who have sadly died since filming ended, including Rik Mayall – whose take on Peeves did not make the final cut of The Sorcerer’s Stone – Richard Griffiths, and Richard Harris.
Two of the most prominent tributes are reserved for Helen McCrory, who played Narcissa Malfoy and died in 2021, and Alan Rickman, whose death in 2016 inspired an outpouring of grief across not just Harry Potter fandom, but movie fans in general. Rickman had felt more entwined with the Harry Potter movie universe than most actors, partly because he had been on JK Rowling’s wishlist of actors she wanted to see cast in the adaptation. Such was his privileged position, in fact, that the Harry Potter reunion confirms that Rickman was the only cast member given access to spoilers about the direction of his character, even before the movie ended. In honor of his sad death, the Harry Potter: Back To Hogwarts reunion special ends with Snape’s most touching moment, the scene in which he reveals his patronus to Dumbledore, confirming the doe as a sign of his enduring love for Lily Potter. It’s the perfect moment to end on, not only because of the added meaning of the “Always” line, but also to reflect Rickman and Snape’s importance.
Harry Potter fans have long adopted the “Always” line as an unofficial mantra of their fandom: it is frequently featured on merchandise and tattoos as a sign of commitment and along with Harry Potter’s confirmation of Hogwarts as his real home, quickly became an emotional focal point. That makes the decision to end the Harry Potter reunion special on it a perfectly fitting one, considering the reflections within it on the enduring legacy and emotional impact the movies – and indeed JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books – had on the millions who read and watched them.
While the Harry Potter Reunion has a separate In Memoriam section, the final scene choice also feels like an added tribute to Rickman, who was arguably the most painful missing participant. He’s so fondly spoken about by his co-stars – Ralph Fiennes in particular – that the tragedy of his passing feels raw again, even five years on. And as much as the final “Always” in the reunion is a nod to the fandom, it also specifically feels like an acknowledgment that Rickman’s legacy will be just as enduring. It’s both of those elements – among others – that make the suggestion of ever remaking Harry Potter a difficult prospect at best.