Across the course of the Harry Potter novels and movies, J.K. Rowling paints Lord Voldemort as the story’s central villain, but Tom Riddle isn’t the only Death Eater up to no good. In fact, one of his loyal followers has inflicted enough suffering to be considered the real Big Bad of the Harry Potter franchise.

Lord Voldemort single-handedly wipes out Harry Potter’s parents, James and Lilly Potter, as well as the Riddle family, Alastor Moody, Myrtle Warren, Cedric Diggory, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape. However, it was his most faithful associate, Bellatrix Lestrange, who delivered the final blow to many beloved Harry Potter characters. Not to mention, Bellatrix performs some despicable and unjustified acts outside the realm of killing that make her just as — if not more nefarious — than the Dark Lord himself.

The Worst Things Bellatrix Lestrange Ever Did in Harry Potter

Although Bellatrix didn’t play as pivotal a role in the Harry Potter series as some other villains, the many wicked crimes for which she stands accused are shockingly evil. She proves to be a thorn in Neville Longbottom’s side, as Bellatrix turns out to be responsible for the torture and eventual death of his parents. But Bellatrix’s long list of felonies doesn’t end there. In fact, it only gets worse.

In Order of the Phoenix, Bellatrix murders her own cousin and Harry’s father figure, Sirius Black, using the Killing Curse during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in the Second Wizarding War. In that same movie, Bellatrix forces Snape to make an Unbreakable Vow with Draco’s mother, Narcissa Malfoy, that he will watch over Draco and carry out the task of killing Dumbledore if he should falter. Among other things, Bellatrix also disrespectfully trashed the Great Hall after Dumbeldore’s death, sent The Burrow and Hagrid’s Hut up in flames, and tortured Hermione Granger in Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

But no, that still isn’t everything. Bellatrix also killed her niece, Tonks, as well as everyone’s favorite sock-obssessed elf, Dobby. During The Battle of Hogwarts, Bellatrix stood by Voldemort’s side and vanquished many of his enemies, always ensuring that his every whim was carried out. Bellatrix also manipulated Snape into joining forces with the Death Eaters to deceive Harry Potter.

Bellatrix Lestrange Is the Real Villain of Harry Potter

If there’s one thing to be said about Lord Voldemort, he rarely ever does his own dirty work. Rather than wasting his time on trivial matters, Voldemort would much rather send one of his Death Eaters to snuff out a life or deliver a message on his behalf. None of the Death Eaters are quite as eager as Bellatrix, who even offers herself as a candidate to kill Harry Potter. Bellatrix was introduced in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as a sort of right-hand woman to Voldemort. While some of Harry Potter‘s antagonists have redeeming qualities, Bellatrix is no stranger to the darkness, nor does she shy away from it.

While Voldemort is the one pulling the strings, he only truly takes matters into his own hands in Deathly Hallows. Up until then, the most despicable thing Voldemort did was kill Cedric Diggory (not that that wasn’t bad enough). James and Lily Potter are killed in a flashback, and this information is common knowledge throughout the course of the series, but Cedric’s death happens in real-time, serving as a testament to Voldemort’s true power upon his return. Still, it was often Bellatrix who fought in the trenches on Voldemort’s behalf, slaughtering anyone who dared defy her and the Dark Lord.

Bellatrix was obsessed with Voldemort, devoted to him in a way that no other Death Eater could ever be. In the novels Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it is revealed in J.K. Rowling’s writing that Bellatrix was given Voldemort’s Cup Horcrux, essentially confirming that Voldemort entrusted a piece of himself to Bellatrix. If she were not as wicked and vile, Voldemort would not literally and figuratively place his life in her hands. While Bellatrix’s portrayal in the novels differs slightly from the live-action, her fixation on Voldemort remains her biggest motivator.

Right before her death at the hands of Molly Weasley, Bellatrix threatens Ginny, leading Molly to engage Bellatrix in a duel and eventually defeat her. However, Voldemort’s top priority remains Harry Potter throughout the franchise, while every other subsequent death is an afterthought to Voldemort’s true objective. As for Bellatrix, she will kill anyone whom she deems unworthy of her (or Voldemort’s) consideration.

There’s no rhyme or reason to Bellatrix, which only heightens how truly terrifying she can be. Voldemort at least kills with intent, whereas Bellatrix kills just for fun, which is arguably all the more unsettling and immoral. In the Harry Potter franchise, she delights in torturing Hermione, doesn’t show any remorse for whomever she tramples over to get what she wants, and often acts out on Voldemort’s behalf, shifting the blame that would otherwise fall on him.