It’s important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love, and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find.
At the young age of eleven, Harry Potter was pulled into a world of magic and informed of his destiny: squaring off against the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Luckily for Harry, he has the help of the best that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has to offer. Between the Triwizard Tournament, the Ministry of Magic, and the infamous Death Eaters, there are quite a few powerful witches and wizards seen throughout the series.
From to , Harry Potter and his classmates encounter some of the strongest wizards and witches in the Wizarding World. By the end of the series, even many of Hogwarts' brightest young witches and wizards are competing with the likes of the world's best spellcasters.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
The Marauders, Death Eaters
Wand:
9 1/4" Chesnut, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Animagus
Actor:
Timothy Spall
Peter Pettigrew is compelled by fear to
and betray his old friends, after which Pettigrew becomes the Dark Lord's right-hand man. However, he is only useful to Voldemort because of his perceived loyalty — not because of his magical skills and abilities.
Although Pettigrew is a dangerous individual, he is far less powerful than many of his fellow dark wizards and witches. He has a fair bit of knowledge concerning potions, brews, and charms (which is how he resurrets the Dark Lord), but overall, he is still quite weak as a wizard.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Staff (Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher), Ministry of Magic, Headmistress, High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Wand:
8" Birch, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Black Quill
Actor:
Imelda Staunton
In , Dolores Umbridge is sent from the Ministry of Magic to oversee Hogwarts. Eventually, she goes from its new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to its sitting Headmistress after the temporary dismissal of Albus Dumbledore.
It is a bit revealing that, aside from the Patronus charm she uses to keep the Dementors at bay at the Ministry, Umbridge shows a significant lack of knowledge when it comes to spells and potions. She possesses a variety of magical artifacts that she knows how to use but has very little skill in the way of her own magical abilities.
Although she easily subdues a centaur in the Dark Forest, she fails to fight off the others before they capture her.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix
Wand:
Unknown Length, Yew, Unknown Core
Special Skills/Items:
Tom Riddle's Diary
Actor:
Bonnie Wright
Throughout the years, Ginny Weasley experiences her fair share of run-ins with dark magic. For example, in her first year, she becomes enthralled by Tom Riddle's diary.
After that, it's clear that her talents as a witch have developed well since Professor Slughorn saw fit to invite her to one of his dinners for the best and brightest students at Hogwarts.
in each one of her duels against a Death Eater. She holds her own in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and she is so confident in her abilities that she runs after Harry alone onto the field when the Death Eaters attack the Weasley house in Of course, she also plays a vital role in the climactic Battle of Hogwarts.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix
Wand:
14" Willow, Unicorn Tail Hair
Special Skills/Items:
The Sword of Gryffindor, Scabbers the Rat
Actor:
Rupert Grint
When armed with a functional wand, Ron is actually quite a skilled wizard. He always , and during the Battle of the Seven Potters and the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Ron disarms and stuns several Death Eaters.
Ron undeniably struggles with bouts of insecurity and underperformance. However, he is a brave and loyal friend — something he proves time and time again during moments like the lethal Wizard's Chess tournament and the hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes.
As proof of just how clever Ron really was under his underachieving exterior, he opened the Chamber of Secrets during the Battle of Hogwarts by mimicking Harry's use of Parseltongue.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Students, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, The Order of the Phoenix
Special Skills/Items:
Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Treats, The Marauder's Map
Actors:
James and Oliver Phelps
The identical twins, Fred and George Weasley, are both equally skilled at casting spells, most of which are used for (mostly) harmless pranks.
They are gifted enough to create a multitude of devices and toys for budding young pranksters, which they on Diagon Alley.
Both of them show considerable skill with broomsticks, which is how they escape with their lives during the Battle of the Seven Potters. They also show quite a bit of bravery during the Battle of Hogwarts in which they both fight off several of Voldemort's Death Eaters before Fred tragically falls in battle.
School:
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Affiliation(s):
Triwizard Champion, The Order of the Phoenix
Wand:
9 1/2" Rosewood, Veela Hair
Special Skills/Items:
Half-Veela
Actor:
Clémence Poésy
Unlike many of the Wizarding World's most powerful figures, Fleur Delacour doesn't receive much screentime in the franchise. Despite the brevity of her scenes, it's clear that she is quite a powerful witch. She first appears in , and since only the most capable wizards and witches are allowed into the Triwizard Tournament, it stands to reason that she must be quite skilled.
Afterward, Fleur proves her bravery in the Battle of the Seven Potters in which she — along with her husband, Bill Weasley — risk their lives to transport Harry Potter. Later, she once again faces Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts, proving that her place in the Triwizard Tournament was well-deserved.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Staff (Potions Master)
Wand:
10 1/4" Cedar, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Slug Club
Actor:
Jim Broadbent
After unknowingly and unwillingly divulging the secret of Horcruxes to a young Tom Riddle, Horace Slughorn retires from teaching. In , he is asked to return by Dumbledore, and it's easy to see why. Slughorn is a master of potions and capable of performing powerful charms, such as those he uses alongside other powerful wizards to protect the school before the Battle of Hogwarts.
Horace may not have been the most outwardly brave wizard in the saga, but he is clearly very talented. The professor proves his abilities outside of battles by casting illusions, using transfiguration spells, and displaying the ability to modify memories, which allows his darkest secrets to be kept even from powerful wizards like Dumbledore.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Death Eaters, Snatchers
Special Skills/Items:
Werewolf
Actor:
Dave Legeno
Although , he is more than just a wizard — the Snatcher is also plagued by lycanthropy. Fans seldom see him attack, but he easily deflects Harry's spells during the attack on the Weasley homestead in Also, he is often seen by Bellatrix's side, which means she must have great faith in his skills.
In addition to Fenrir Grayback's dangerous capabilities as a wizard, his curse also makes him one of the physically strongest wizards alive.
Presumably, this is how he manages to survive a blast from Hermione during the Battle of Hogwarts and the subsequent fall through the window.
House:
Hufflepuff
Affiliation(s):
The Order of the Phoenix
Special Skills/Items:
Metamorphmagus
Actor:
Natalia Tena
As a powerful , more commonly known as Tonks, quickly proves herself capable and talented at transfiguration. Her hair changes color to match her mood, and she can turn her mouth into a pig snout, then a duck bill just for fun — all without the need for a formal incantation.
Tonks fights well and escapes the Battle of the Department of Mysteries unscathed, which speaks volumes about her skills as a duelist. Unfortunately, at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, she meets her end at the hands of the deadly Bellatrix Lestrange.
House:
Ravenclaw
Affiliation(s):
Death Eaters
Special Skills/Items:
Polyjuice Potion
Actor:
David Tennant
Powerful and fiercely loyal, Barty Crouch Jr. is vital to Voldemort's plans in . , Barty displays a talent for non-verbal transfiguration spells and potions.
He is also talented enough to circumvent the spells around the Goblet of Fire, allowing him to enter Harry Potter into the tournament.
Then, there's the fact that Barty Crouch Jr. is able to capture the powerful Mad-Eye Moody and masquerade as the famed wizard for several months, deceiving everyone from Harry Potter to Albus Dumbledore. On the surface, Crouch seems every bit as skilled and knowledgeable as the real Mad-Eye Moody, which says a lot about the dark wizard.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix, Triwizard Champion
Wand:
11" Holly, Phoenix Feather
Special Skills/Items:
Horcrux
Actor:
Daniel Radcliffe
The Boy Who Lived is but that does not mean he is an all-powerful wizard. For example, he very well may have lost his climactic final duel with Voldemort if not for Neville Longbottom's timely defeat of Nagini. That being said, Harry is capable of quite a lot, in part thanks to his complex history with Voldemort.
Harry is a Parselmouth, masterful on a broomstick, capable of conjuring an immensely powerful Patronus, and can hold his own for a time in his duels against Voldemort. Harry is likely more powerful than he knows, as evidenced by the unintentional magic he repeatedly wields throughout the franchise.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Student, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix
Wand:
10 3/4" Vine, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Time Turner
Actor:
Emma Watson
The films make Hermione Granger's magical prowess a running gag, but when things are at their most dire, few witches are more capable than Gryffindor's brightest young student. Hermione is setting cloaks on fire at the age of eleven, blowing up rogue bludgers at twelve, and casting undetectable extension charms at the age of seventeen.
It seems as though there are few spells that Hermione can't master, making her arguably more powerful than significantly experienced wizards.
She holds her own in duels against countless foes, and thanks to her quick thinking, she could likely outsmart many of the opponents who are stronger than she.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Death Eaters
Wand:
Unknown Length, Elm, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Tom Riddle's Diary
Actor:
Jason Isaacs
From very early on in the franchise, Lucius Malfoy makes it a point to let everyone know that his family is both wealthy and of pure blood. Because of that, he often looks down on his fellow witches and wizards, thinking himself better than them.
As the former second-in-command of the Death Eaters, this couldn't be further from the truth.
However, despite his sinister disposition, . He squares off with numerous members of the Order of the Phoenix, and given his prior position in the Death Eaters, he must have significant prowess when it comes to the Dark Arts.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
The Marauders, The Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts Staff (Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher)
Wand:
10 1/4" Cypress, Unicorn Hair
Special Skills/Items:
Werewolf
Actor:
David Thewlis
Remus Lupin is clearly imaginative as a wizard, as evidenced by the fact that he was one of the creators of the Marauder's Map. As Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, Lupin displays a vast knowledge and keen control of magic. He teaches Harry how to cast the Patronus charm, and he holds his own against the Death Eaters in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
What separates Lupin from many of his peers is his curse. , he's also a werewolf — an extremely dangerous creature, even for wizards. However, all his power cannot save him in the end, as he perishes alongside his wife Tonks, and countless others during the Battle of Hogwarts.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
The Marauders, The Order of the Phoenix
Special Skills/Items:
Animagus, The Invisibility Cloak, Azkaban
Actor:
Gary Oldman
Sirius Black is the only person to ever escape Azkaban unassisted, and as expected of someone with this honor, he is an extremely capable wizard. Black previously fought alongside James Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, making him one of the few wizards alive with significant experience fighting Death Eaters.
As evidenced by his actions in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Sirius Black is exceptionally talented in a fight.
He may have been Lestrange, but given the chaotic nature of the conflict, this seems more a product of circumstances than a mark against Black's abilities as a wizard.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
The Order of the Phoenix
Special Skills/Items:
Howler
Actor:
Julie Walters
It isn't until that fans see Molly Weasley use her magic for anything beyond manipulating household objects to complete chores. When she finally does step into the fray, it becomes clear that beneath the facade of a welcoming and humble homemaker, she is a ferocious duelist capable of taking on even the most vicious Death Eaters.
She is among the few witches and wizards who cast the powerful protective spells that shield Hogwarts from Voldemort's forces. However, Molly isn't just gifted with protective spells. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she steps in and after the Death Eater threatens to kill one of her children for the second time. Admittedly, Bellatrix is without her personal wand, but this feat should still not be taken lightly.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Death Eaters
Wand:
12 1/4 Walnut, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Azkaban
Actor:
Helena Bonham-Carter
Many of the world's most powerful wizards and witches have earned their reputations by surviving conflicts with the most murderous member of the Death Eaters, Bellatrix Lestrange. She is feared throughout the Wizarding World nearly as much as Voldemort himself, simply because she has such a penchant for unnecessary violence.
Bellatrix proves herself extremely familiar with the unforgivable curses and other torturous spells.
In battle, she is also one of the franchise's most lethal. She murders Sirius Black, Nymphadora Tonks, and plenty of others after she escapes from Azkaban prison. It's no wonder that Voldemort trusts her to care for one of his Horcruxes and the Sword of Gryffindor.
House:
Gryffindor
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Staff (Transfiguration Professor), Headmistress, The Order of the Phoenix
Wand:
9 1/2" Fir, Dragon Heartstring
Special Skills/Items:
Animagus
Actor:
Maggie Smith
Professor McGonagall is much more than just the head of Gryffindor — she is one of the most powerful witches in the saga.
As an animagus, — one of the subjects she teaches at Hogwarts. She is also courageous and extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of magic, as seen when she animates every one of the guardians of Hogwarts with a single spell and sends them to protect the school against Voldemort's forces.
McGonagall is also brave enough to stand against opposing Death Eaters at the first sign of conflict. When she duels Snape, she single-handedly forces him from the school (although, in his defense, he probably isn't attacking with killing intent). As the Headmistress of Hogwarts at the end of the series, Minerva McGonagall is undeniably among the most talented spellcasters of all time.
House:
Slytherin
Affiliation(s):
Hogwarts Staff (Potions Master, Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher), Headmaster, Death Eaters, The Order of the Phoenix
Special Skills/Items:
Pensieve
Actor:
Alan Rickman
. He is a master of potions, possesses extensive knowledge of the Dark Arts, and wields extreme defensive abilities. This defensive prowess is why he is eventually tasked with teaching Harry how to protect himself against anyone who would try to invade his mind.
To act as a double agent for as long as Snape requires more than just great magical skills.
The Hogwarts professor is dedicated and cautious, while simultaneously being courageous and unafraid enough to do what is necessary. His widespread talents allowed him to craft spells like Sectumsempra at a young age and throughout his duels against characters like Harry Potter and Professor McGonagall, he keeps his cool under virtually any circumstance.
House:
Hufflepuff
Affiliation(s):
The Order of the Phoenix, Hired to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher
Special Skills/Items:
Polyjuice Potion
Actor:
Brendan Gleeson
As the leader of the Order of the Phoenix and former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Alastor Moody proves himself to be more than a match for the average Death Eater. As seen in Mad-Eye can repel a Death Eater with just a tap of his staff, which goes to show how experienced he is as an Auror.
Unlike most wizards, Mad-Eye seems to be able to cast a wide variety of spells without the use of any incantations. His mastery of magic also shows in his ability to cast charms, use all three Unforgivable Curses, and brew advanced potions with great ease.
