Friendship Day 2025: Top 5 Classic Literary Friendships Like Holmes & Huck Finn

1. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson

What began as two strangers sharing rooms turned into one of the most iconic literary duos from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes was brilliant, aloof, and often unreadable. Watson was steady, empathetic, and deeply loyal. Together, they solved crimes, but more than that—they understood each other.

Watson wasn’t just Holmes’s assistant; he was his only true friend. The one Holmes trusted to accompany him into danger, to listen without judgment, and to quietly anchor his restless mind. Even when life took them in different directions, the bond remained.

Watson considered Holmes “the best and wisest man” he’d ever known. And for Holmes, Watson was a habit, a companion, and the only person who truly stayed.

2. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain gives us one of the most spirited and enduring classic literary friendships. Tom, the well-brought-up mischief-maker, and Huck, the town’s scrappy, misunderstood outsider, come from opposite ends of society—but that never gets in the way of their bond.

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer friendship was tied strongly with their shared courage, love for adventure, and deep loyalty. Huck looks up to Tom’s cleverness and imagination; Tom admires Huck’s fearless heart. And somewhere between boyhood pranks and real moral choices, they teach each other what it means to grow up.

3. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone—and every book that follows—this golden trio shows us that friendship can be a kind of magic too. The book series is titled Harry Potter but the stories and world portrays the power of love and friendship. What begins as a schoolyard bond at Hogwarts evolves into one of the most beloved portrayals of literary characters' best friends in modern fiction.

Ron brings heart, humour, and loyalty. Hermione brings reason, courage, and an unwavering sense of right. And Harry—thrust into a world he doesn’t fully understand—relies on both to survive it. Together, they brave trolls, heartbreak, war, and the growing pains of adolescence—often disagreeing, but never falling apart.

They’re not perfect friends, and that’s exactly what makes their bond feel real. This trio remains unforgettable—because they remind us that the truest friendships grow through challenge, not ease.

4. Amir and Hassan

“For you a thousand times over”, an oath, Hassan’s words do not just show his love towards his friend but embody a devotion. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a friendship that is tender, tangled, and achingly human. They share playful afternoons, kite-flying days, quiet stories, and the magic of childhood. But theirs is not an equal friendship. 

Hassan’s loyalty is absolute. He protects Amir without hesitation, suffers in silence, and never utters a word. Amir, burdened by jealousy and fear, betrays that loyalty in a moment that leaves a lifelong scar. Amir and Hassan stand out not because their friendship is flawless—but because it’s painfully real. It shows us how a single moment can leave a lifelong regret.It reminds us that friendship can wound as deeply as it heals. And that sometimes, making things right means going back—to the people we failed, and the parts of ourselves we abandoned.

Anne Shirley and Diana Barry

In Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery gives us one of the most tender and timeless fictional friendships: Anne Shirley and Diana Barry. Anne Shirley arrives in Avonlea full of imagination, longing for a kindred spirit who truly sees her. She finds one in Diana, a gentle, well-mannered girl who offers her friendship without hesitation.

Their bond blossoms over shared secrets, stories, poetry, and dreams. They laugh, cry, and grow up together. Even when life pulls them in different directions—Anne pursuing her education and Diana choosing family life—their friendship endures. They name their daughters after one another—a quiet, beautiful reminder that real friendship, once found, never truly leaves.

These stories remind us that friendship, real, lasting friendship, isn’t about being the same. It’s about showing up, growing together, and holding space for each other through every chapter. On this Friendship Day, may we all cherish the Holmes to our Watson, the Hermione to our Harry, the Diana to our Anne. Because in a world that often feels chaotic, the steady presence of a true friend is one of the most powerful stories we’ll ever get to live.