JK Rowling apologises for killing off another beloved Harry Potter character

'It’s that anniversary again...'

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Every year on the second of May, JK Rowling issues an apology for killing off a select character from the Harry Potter series to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Last year, the author apologised for killing off Severus Snape, the seemingly villainous potions master who eventually aided Harry in defeating Voldemort. She has also previously said sorry for 'murdering' Fred Weasley and Professor Remus Lupin.

Marking the anniversary once more, Rowling apologised for killing off fan-favourite Dobby, the house-elf who died rescuing Harry, Hermione, and Ron from Malfoy Manor during the final book, The Deathly Hallows.

“It’s that anniversary again," she wrote on Twitter. "This year, I apologise for killing someone who didn’t die during the #BattleofHogwarts, but who laid down his life to save the people who’d win it. I refer, of course, to Dobby the house elf.”

Bellatrix Lestrange was the one to kill Dobby, hurling a knife at the former servant which landed just before he could apparate away. Harry later burys Dobby without the use of magic, marking the grave with a sign reading: “Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf”. The scene is recognised as one of the saddest in the books.

Meanwhile, to mark 20 years since the first Harry Potter book was published, celebratory editions of the books have been released, featuring some incredible cover art.