Top 10 Female Harry Potter Characters

When we first meet Harry’s Aunt Petunia, she seems to be a flat, horrible, and one-dimensional character. She hates magic, she hates Harry, and she’s the worst sort of Muggle. As the series progresses, however, more of a backstory unfolds for Petunia, and we learn that she was incredibly jealous of her sister Lily’s magical abilities. She even wrote to Albus Dumbledore requesting to be admitted to Hogwarts. She may never turn around and treat Harry with any respect, but knowing the sorrow she felt at losing her sister to the Wizarding World makes us sympathize with her at least a little bit.

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#9: Dolores Umbridge

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The “Harry Potter” series has a clear villain in Lord Voldemort, but no one is more hated in this franchise than Harry’s fifth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Dolores Umbridge is a perfectly crafted antagonist, causing both readers and viewers to feel the same rage and frustration Harry feels at the hands of her unfair treatment. Umbridge may have only had a significant presence for one year at Hogwarts, but her simpering voice and annoying cough still grate on us like nails on a chalkboard.

Though Harry’s mother died many years before the story begins, her presence is strongly felt throughout the entire series. We get snippets of her through the use of flashbacks, and in scenes where Harry is able to connect with her in some way, like in the Mirror of Erised or with the use of the Resurrection Stone. Unlike Harry’s father, who is portrayed as a flawed character, Lily is the perfect and kind mother figure that every child wishes for. As the story progressed, we learned more and more about Lily Evans, like how she excelled in Charm work and defended the downtrodden.

Introduced in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” this character bridges the gap between Harry, his peers and the older generation of wizards. Tonks is a young Auror and Metamorphmagus, meaning she can change her appearance at will. She often provides comic relief in darker moments, and is part of an ill-fated love story with Remus Lupin. There were a lot of devastating deaths in the final movie of the series, but seeing Lupin and Tonks lying together, lifeless, hit us extra hard. The fact that Tonks had recently given birth to a son, Teddy, made it all the more heart-wrenching.

Voldemort’s right hand man is actually a lady. While Bellatrix Lestrange isn’t exactly multidimensional, she’s definitely interesting. She’s a character who appears to be purely evil, reveling in torture and delighting in murder. She also seems to be in love with Lord Voldemort, and wants more than anything to be his most trusted servant. For the most part she seems to have gotten her wish, though it seems clear to everyone else that Voldemort doesn’t truly care for anything but his own wants and wellbeing. No death in this series gave readers or viewers more joy than Bellatrix’s.

If you’ve only seen the movies, but haven’t read the books, you’re probably wondering what all the fuss is about this character. Why does Harry fall for a girl who seems so bland? In the books, however, Ginny is totally awesome. She’s bold, she’s clever, she’s funny, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s a character who totally stands on her own and, in the later tomes, is far from a damsel in distress. She’s one of the founding members of Dumbledore’s Army, and keeps up the fight against the Death Eaters once the trio leaves school in their seventh year. Unfortunately, the films just didn’t give her the attention she deserved.

In retrospect, it seems crazy that this vital character was only introduced in the fifth instalment of the series. Luna Lovegood is Ravenclaw’s lovable weirdo, noticed for her interesting fashion choices and spacey reflections. Fans adore Luna because she shows that being a little strange is okay, and she often serves to remind Harry of what really matters in life. While she may seem like she has her head in the clouds, Luna is actually one of the most wise and insightful youngsters in the series.

While Harry grew up without a mother, or really any motherly figures to speak of, he was lucky enough to find a wonderful stand-in in Ron’s mother. Mrs. Weasley is the quintessential mama bear, putting her kids’ safety and wellbeing before all else. Even before she really gets to know Harry, she treats him like one of her brood, sending him presents at Christmas and even one of her famous Weasley jumpers. While we know she’s loving and doting, it’s only in the final hours of the story that we get to see what Molly is really made of. No matter how terrifying you think you are, you’re no match when one of Molly’s children is in danger.

The best thing about this character is that she will not take crap from anyone. Whether it’s Harry and Ron being late for Transfiguration, or Umbridge trying to exert her control over Hogwarts, McGonagall is always ready with a witty quip or serious retort. While she may be a stern disciplinarian, she also has a soft spot for Harry and his friends, and a few times throughout the series we get to see her more affectionate side. At the battle of Hogwarts, McGonagall showed what powerful witch she really was, dueling with Snape and causing him to flee the castle.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

• Narcissa Malfoy
• Sybill Trelawney
• Cho Chang

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#1: Hermione Granger

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Without a doubt, the award for the best witch at Hogwarts goes to Hermione Granger. Let’s be real, Harry would never made it as far as he did without Hermione by his side, whether she was finishing his homework, or acting as the voice of reason… time and time again. This character gave a generation of girls someone to look up to who was not only smart and strong, but also a champion for the downtrodden. While S.P.E.W. may not have made it into the movies, Hermione is constantly schooling the boys in emotional sensitivity. The “brightest witch of her age” sure taught those naysayers a thing or two about what a Muggle-born can accomplish.