JK Rowling has apologised to her fans on the 18th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts for killing off Remus Lupin.

The Harry Potter author, who marks the May 2 anniversary each year with an apology, said she “didn’t enjoy doing it” as she revealed that she never intended to kill off the beloved Marauder Lupin, former Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher and Order of the Phoenix member.

She has previously said that she planned for Arthur Weasley – Ron’s father – to die in the battle, but he was given a reprieve in the place of Lupin and his wife Nymphadora “Tonks”.

Atoning for her sins to fans on Twitter, Rowling said she only changed her mind when writing the fifth book, Order of the Phoenix.

Lupin, played in the films by David Thewlis, was murdered in the final book by Death Eater Antonin Dolohov while Tonks was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange, leaving their baby son Teddy an orphan.

The author admitted that the fate of Teddy was “the only time my editor ever saw me cry” during the writing process.

Lupin’s death is still a sore subject for fans, who fell in love with the werewolf, nicknamed Moony, who was known as one of the Marauders at Hogwarts, alongside James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

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Rowling told one fan that their love for him was “the best tribute he could have”.

Last year she apologised for the death of Fred Weasley.

The year before she tweeted her pain over some of the other battle casualties.