Harry Potter fans express emotional farewell to Alan Rickman in the best way possible

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

On a day where the world lost a great actor, a great director and an iconic piece of the Harry Potter puzzle fans have been paying tribute to Alan Rickman by raising their wands in a truly spectacular fashion.

Rickman was highly regarded as one of the franchise's most popular figures, whether that be fans loving Professor Snape or even loving to hate him at times – it was certainly a rollercoaster ride for this very complex character.

Fans have taken to social media to pay their respects using an emphatic gesture, relevant to Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince in which, of course, Rickman took centre-stage:

It is understood that Rickman had filmed two movies before his passing, both set for release this year: Alice Through The Looking Glass as the Blue Caterpillar and Eye in the Sky – featuring Helen Mirren.

If you would like to take a look at some more tributes for Alan Rickham, those of J.K. Rowling and others, you can do by clicking here.