Top 38 Best Harry Potter Female Characters

 

Author J. K. Rowling shot to global fame after having created an evergreen wizarding world around “The Boy Who Lived.” But, it is the women in the Harry Potter book and film series who turned out to be significant to that boy and the universe he occupied and ruled effortlessly.

 

Needless to say, the beloved Harry Potter franchise was packed with female characters who made things happen and helped in shaping the story in a big way. While some of them were teachers and students, others were old-school villains and philosophers.

 

Therefore, the abundance of extraordinary and powerful female characters helped in establishing the series as one of the most feminist ones of the last few decades. Better still, no two female characters appeared to be the same, and all they had in common was the globally popular franchise itself.

 

These characters played a crucial role in the world of Harry Potter, which revolved around the confrontation between the titular boy wizard and his nemesis Lord Voldemort. In fact, their importance can be gauged from the fact that the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had two female founders, namely Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff.

 

While not every character was likeable, their powerful contributions to the overall development of the story can never be denied. So, without any further ado, let’s get reintroduced to some of the most influential women in the Harry Potter series, who fans of all age groups have grown up loving, hating, and fantasizing about.

 

 

 

1. Hermione Granger

 

 

Everyone shares the opinion that Hermione Granger was one of the best characters in the series. Not only was she studious but she was also fierce and witty. Needless to mention, her sharp sense of humour and intelligence proved to be a vital asset in everything that she said and did.

 

So, of course, one can’t deny that Harry, Ron, and the entire wizarding world would have found it incredibly tough to survive without her. Emma Watson’s Hermione may have originally been introduced as a bossy girl, but she turned out to be a classy and selfless heroine who would go to any extent to help her loved ones.

 

Furthermore, the young wizard went on to display great bravery on occasions when others would falter badly. When J.K. Rowling wrote her, she always intended to make her the most focused character, who refused to digress from her path and work at hand.

 

A top student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione is a perfectionist who has a reputation as a know-it-all.

 

 

 

2. Bellatrix Lestrange

 

 

There is no denying that Bellatrix Lestrange was evil right down to her core. But, it is also difficult to deny that she was an excellent addition to the magical world of Harry Potter.

 

She was introduced as Sirius Black’s cousin and was an avid follower of Lord Voldemort. Needless to say, her devotion to the dark side pushed her to do some terrible things.

 

Dangerous and equally skilful, Bellatrix had a bad temper which helped her become one of Voldemort’s deadliest death eaters. While she certainly was villainy, one could also see her childish mannerisms from time to time.

 

That being said, it is imperative to mention that she was the first female Death Eater to have been introduced in the books.

 

Both in the source material and the movies, her obsession with the Dark Lord was on full display. Over time, she becomes as sadistic as Voldemort himself.

 

Credit has to go to Helena Bonham Carter’s magnificent performance truly brought the character to life.

 

 

 

3. Molly Weasley

 

 

Molly Weasley was one of those characters in the franchise who was liked instantly by the viewers. An epitome of goodness, she valued her kids more than anything or anyone else in the world.

 

Harry Potter may have grown up without a sense of what a real family looks like, but she tried her best to make him feel at home with her caring nature and hospitality.

 

She is known to have been a true Gryffindor who fought quite bravely alongside her family in The Battle of Hogwarts. Add to that the fact that she was able to balance between being a strict mother figure and someone who provided brilliant comical relief at times.

 

As the story progresses, we learn that Molly has quite high expectations for her children. She does not tolerate rude behaviour at all and can give them a taste of their own medicine at even the slightest of troublemaking.

 

 

 

4. Minerva McGonagall

 

 

There were many Professors at the humongous Hogwarts but it was the inimitable Professor McGonagall who managed to win hearts time and again. She was The Head of Gryffindor House and was respected by both teachers and her beloved students.

 

While she had zero tolerance for bad behaviour, she was also sarcastically humorous and was often seen addressing things bluntly. The trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Minerva as a paternal figure because she was always there to give them advice when they needed it.

 

However, what made her stand out was that she could come across as humorous when you least expected her or anybody else to. Having said that, it is tough to forget that she was a strict teacher with a no-nonsense policy in her classroom.

 

In the face of an injury or danger, she was among the first people at school to defend the children. We are not sure if you noticed but Quidditch happened to be one of her great passions.

 

 

5. Luna Lovegood

 

 

The enigmatic Luna Lovegood wasn’t introduced until the fifth instalment, but she struck a chord with the viewers almost immediately. Unsurprisingly, she cemented herself as one of the finest characters in the Order of the Phoenix.

 

While she was often considered an outsider, fans couldn’t get enough of her eccentric personality. And, what was great about her was that she never bothered what others thought of her.

 

Harry was also seen turning to her without judgment. That was because she was both gentle and thoughtful in equal measure.

 

 

6. Narcissa Malfoy

 

 

Since Narcissa was one of the most crucial members of the Malfoy family, it was easy to dislike her. However, she didn’t really come across as cruel and sadistic as the other names within the clan.

 

She may have been a well-known follower of Lord Voldemort, but she didn’t partake in the final battle. By then, it had become clear that Draco’s safety remained her top priority.

 

Narcissa told Voldemort that Harry was dead and, therefore, played a role in his eventual downfall. Be that as it may, she loved her children unconditionally.

 

 

7. Hedwig

 

 

An often overlooked character, Hedwig features significantly less than others, but she is certainly significant enough to make it to our story. She was one of Harry’s first pals in the outstanding wizarding world and remained his faithful companion until the very end of the franchise.

 

Hedwig was, in fact, the one true reason Harry was able to stay in contact with many; especially with Sirius when he was in hiding. Fans of the franchise can never forget how she proved her loyalty to Harry during The Battle of the Seven Potters in Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

 

While she did her very best to protect him, she was, unfortunately, struck by the killing curse.

 

 

8. Nymphadora Tonks

 

 

Nymphadora Tonks is yet another character who was explored in-depth in the books. However, she was amusing to watch in the motion pictures as well. More laidback than other members of the Order, she was first introduced in the Order of the Phoenix and was brutally loyal to Dumbledore.

 

However, it was her heroic and selfless behaviour that led to her unfortunate demise during The Battle of Hogwarts. The battle, though, was a testament to her character. We say so because she decided to fight despite having known that she may not live to watch her son grow up.

 

 

9. Ginny Weasley

 

 

Most fans of the Harry Potter franchise would agree that Ginny Weasley’s character arc wasn’t nearly as developed as the book’s version. While the girl was introduced as the shy, slightly timid, and intimidated youngest Weasley, she later transformed her personality wonderfully.

 

Not only did she form her own identity but also went on to demonstrate commendable bravery when she actively participated in The Battle of Hogwarts. What’s noteworthy about her character sketch was that her involvement in the franchise became more prominent as she got older.

 

We firmly believe that Ginny, who later went on to marry Harry, is a criminally underrated character.

 

 

10. Dolores Umbridge

 

 

Dolores Umbridge was a character that proved to book and film lovers that one doesn’t have to be magnanimous to be excellent. The main antagonist in Harry Potter might be Lord Voldemort, but there were a lot of people who were rooting for him.

 

The same cannot possibly be said about Umbridge, who managed to earn the universal hatred of Potter fans across the globe. The reason why she was so utterly disliked wasn’t her murderous attack on Harry, but the fact that she actually represented a form of evil all of us are familiar with in our lives.

 

She does countless repulsive things while at Hogwarts and each of them tells you a lot about human nature in general.

 

 

11. Lily Potter

 

 

Yes, we agree that Lily Potter is a minor character in the Harry Potter franchise but she has one of the most important roles to play. Since she was a powerful and accomplished witch, she was able to pass down many of her amazing traits to her son Harry.

 

Like any mother, her love for her child was unconditional and she would literally go to any length to protect him. She was a courageous and brave woman and Harry manifested the same traits in more instances than one.

 

Lily and her husband’s story might have been tragic, but they were amongst the most heroic characters in the franchise.

 

 

12. Moaning Myrtle

 

 

Myrtle Elizabeth Warren, who was commonly known by the students as Moaning Myrtle after her death, was a muggle-born who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1940-1943 and was sorted into Ravenclaw.

 

The reason we are mentioning her on our compilation is that she helped Harry in finding the Chamber of secrets in his second year, and can be seen making sporadic appearances throughout the franchise.

 

Myrtle talked bizarrely and often came across as annoying. She was killed in 1943 by the Serpent of Slytherin, under Tom Riddle’s orders.

 

 

13. Cho Chang

 

 

Cho Chang was a pure-blood witch, who, besides being a student at Hogwarts, was Harry Potter’s first crush. She was sorted into Ravenclaw and was a seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

 

A popular student in her own right, she was a decent human for she never lashed out at anyone despite having been outcasted and hated. Even though she seemed to be going through a lot, it didn’t stop her from being kind to people.

 

Most people in the world today judge and abandon each other at their convenience, but one didn’t feel that Cho was like them.

 

 

14. Fleur Delacour

 

 

Portrayed by Clémence Poésy with utmost grace, Fleur Delacour was a part-Veela witch with remarkable skills and a sharp intellect. She was one of the main participants in the Triwizard Tournament, where Harry was shown competing against students from both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

 

The Beauxbatons champion was, of course, the alluring Fleur Delacour. While she may not have been able to do very well in the hedge maze, she did give her best against the dragon in the first task.

 

Not a lot was revealed about her besides the fact that she was an ace student from France’s top magical school. It is not surprising then that she was quite good at Charms and was able to put a dragon to sleep with ease.

 

 

15. Madame Poppy Pomfrey

 

 

For those who are failing to recall, Madam Pomfrey served as the Matron of Hogwarts. Had it not been for her, approximately six kids would have been unable to face the school day after exposure to the Basilisk.

 

Each one of the three protagonists, at one point or another, has been under her care while in the hospital wing. It was not surprising at all because she was an extraordinarily knowledgeable healer.

 

Soon after getting done with the Battle of Hogwarts, she started taking care of the ones who were injured. Needless to say, she has brought relief to all of our heroes and is, therefore, a hero herself in more ways than one.

 

 

16. Rita Skeeter

 

 

Rita Skeeter was a Daily Prophet reporter who loved to sensationalize whatever news she was covering. She used to travel with her photographer Bozo and was seen making up stories about Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and many others; especially in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire.

 

Not only did she interview students taking the Triwizard Exam but she also exposed the fact that Rubeus Hagrid was a giant. Even though she attended Headmaster Albus Dumbledore’s funeral, she continued to write evil things to smear him in the final episode.

 

The book that she wrote on Dumbledore and his family, “The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore”, angered Potter.

 

 

17. Lavender Brown

 

 

A recurring character in the Harry Potter book series and the film adaptations, Lavender Brown was Ronald Weasley’s first girlfriend who gave him a passionate kiss after he led Gryffindor to victory in the Quidditch final.

 

She began her education in Divination while she was a student at Hogwarts because that was an area of study that captivated her immensely. Brown, who went on to join Dumbledore’s Army in her fifth year of school, had initial scepticism over Harry’s assertions about the return of Lord Voldemort.

 

 

18. Angelina Johnson

 

 

Angelina Johnson was perhaps one of the only few people at Hogwarts who managed to see through George Weasley’s Peter Pan complex to notice who he actually was from within.

 

She made a name for herself as a skilled Quidditch player and witch and was also a part of Dumbledore’s Army. After having returned to Hogwarts after a couple of years, she engaged Lord Voldemort and his supporters in battle.

 

Angelina and George Weasley got married sometime after the Second Wizarding War.

 

 

19. Olympe Maxime

 

 

Born to one magical parent and one giant, making her a Half-breed giantess, Olympe Maxime, as we know it, was our beloved Hagrid’s love interest. She appeared to have a good relationship with her students and other teachers while at the school.

 

The fact that she does not have a significant role to play in the franchise might be the reason she kept her roots hidden at all times. Also, she thought that people might think of her differently if they knew of her heritage.

 

The strong-willed, well-dressed woman was the Headmistress at Beauxbatons Academy of magic in France.

 

 

20. Padma & Parvati Patil

 

 

Padma Patil and Parvati Patil were identical twin sisters. While Padma was assigned to the Ravenclaw house, her twin was assigned to the Gryffindor house. Padma, who became a prefect in her fifth year at school, later went on to become a part of Dumbledore’s Army, which was taught and commanded by Harry Potter.

 

Parvati, on the other hand, is best known for having attended the Yule Ball with Potter in 1994. She joined Dumbledore’s Army the following year as well. One of the most amusing scenes featuring the Patil sisters was when they refused to act like they were enjoying their dates with Ron and Harry at the ball.

 

 

21. Pomona Sprout

 

 

Portrayed diligently by Miriam Margolyes, Professor Pomona Sprout is the Herbology Professor and Head of the Hufflepuff House. She is shown to be very knowledgeable about magical herbs after having been introduced in the first part.

 

In the second part, one can find her teaching her students about the Mandrake tree. Not only did she make the Mandrake tree proliferate to maturity but she also used its water to cure students who the Basilisk had petrified.

 

 

22. Sybill Trelawney

 

 

Yes, we all know and agree that Professor Trelawney was considered to be a weirdo by most of her friends and colleagues. But, she was far more connected to the spirit world than most of us can possibly imagine.

 

She first made an appearance in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban and was seen serving as Professor of Prophecy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sybill may not have been among the main characters of the series, but she was credited with tying the knot between the fates of Harry Potter and the Dark Lord Voldemort.

 

She was seen wearing a coat, a scarf, and thick and large glasses that made her eyes look several times larger than normal eyes. Even though her voice was soft and ethereal, her words were often vague and difficult to comprehend.

 

 

23. Petunia Dursley

 

 

Petunia Dursley was an English Muggle, who, as a child, harboured resentment toward her sister for the fact that she was a witch. So, she cut off all ties with her and, thus, began her hatred towards the wizarding community.

 

She went on to marry a Muggle named Vernon Dursley and the pair had a child, Dudley. Not long after their wedding, Petunia became Harry Potter’s legal guardian when Voldemort killed Lily.

 

Most of the time, she and her family disregarded him and treated him harshly. In fact, the young boy was forced to sleep in the storage closet beneath the stairs by them.

 

 

24. Pansy Parkinson

 

 

Pansy Parkinson belonged to the Slytherin house and was Draco Malfoy’s buddy and girlfriend. Since she was so well acquainted with him, it was only a given that she would be just as cruel and obnoxious.

 

Needless to say, the girl spent a fair amount of time making fun of Harry Potter and the people around him and spreading false information about Hermione Granger to journalist Rita Skeeter.

 

Parkinson harboured intentions of handing Harry over to Voldemort during the struggle for the last victory. However, she was deterred by Professor McGonagall who invited her out first.

 

 

25. Helena Ravenclaw

 

 

The Grey Lady’s story was an illustration of toxic masculinity that may have been shortened for pacing purposes. She was the House Ghost of Ravenclaw and was perhaps the only ghost at Hogwarts who maintained a much more relaxed demeanour.

 

She may not have been as loquacious as others, but she certainly did provide Harry with her mother’s diadem; therefore, assisting him in the eventual defeat of the Dark Lord.

 

 

26. Romilda Vane

 

 

Romilda Vane is cast squarely in the “vixen” role in the movies. While she is barely ever seen speaking, fans know that she had an intense crush on Harry Potter; so much so that she even gave him a love potion in 1996.

 

However, it was Ronald Weasley that ended up consuming it accidentally. A member of the Gryffindor house, she joined Dumbledore’s Army a year after joining the school and was even seen partaking in the Battle of Hogwarts.

 

That said, a special shout out to her for going after the boy she wants, even if she has to drug him to be hers.

 

 

27. Madam Rosmerta

 

 

This beautiful landlady of the Three Broomsticks tavern was liked by many students, including Ronald Weasley. Played by Julie Christie, was a charming woman who managed her shop very well.

 

While not a lot about her past has been mentioned in the movies, what is, however, known is that she was one of the people loved by many of the top teachers at Hogwarts.

 

A lot of Harry Potter fans may have forgotten this, but she was mentioned as having worked as a bartender while still a student.

 

 

28. Bathilda Bagshot

 

 

Bathilda Bagshot was a well-known historian and the author of the book “The History of Magic”, which Harry Potter was shown to be reading during his debut year of school.

 

Since she was a true family friend of Albus Dumbledore, James, and Lily Potter, she turned out to be the primary source of information for the Headmaster’s biography. However, Voldemort permitted the snake Nagini to enter her body after she passed away.

 

That was done so that Nagini could ultimately deliver Harry to Voldemort.

 

 

29. Rowena Ravenclaw

 

 

Rowena Ravenclaw was a witch and once a good friend of Helga Hufflepuff. Known for her intelligence and creativity, she left behind maps of the ever-changing floors and moving stairs of Hogwarts Castle.

 

She had a daughter named Helena Ravenclaw and was described by the Sorting Hat as having selected students based on their intelligence. Needless to mention, the Ravenclaws seem to have a sharp mind, wisdom, creativity, and quickness; each of which comes to their use from time to time at school.

 

 

30. Alice Longbottom

 

 

Alice Longbottom was a witch of pure blood who is known to have served diligently as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic during the early stages of Lord Voldemort’s inevitable rise to power.

 

Both she and Frank Longbottom were founding members of the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. Expectedly, they engaged in the battle against Voldemort and the Death Eaters together.

 

Unfortunately for the pair, a group of Death Eaters drove them insane till the conclusion of the war in 1981. What’s even more unfortunate is that their son, Neville, was only just an infant then.

 

Following the events, both Alice and Frank were admitted to the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for their treatment.

 

 

31. Helga Hufflepuff

 

 

This Welsh witch was one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She is known to have valued traits like ​​loyalty, honesty, fairness, and hard work over and above everything else during her time.

 

It is not surprising then that the Hufflepuff students went on to display at least one of these qualities on several occasions. It had been stated in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire that Helga was seen as one of “the most deserving of the school’s hard workers.” However, what actually did separate her from the rest of the founders was the fact that she believed in treating every student equally.

 

 

32. Arabella Figg

 

 

Mrs Arabella Doreen Figg was a Squib, a hybrid cat breeder, and dealer who belonged to the Order of the Phoenix. The owner of at least four-part-kneazle cats, she resided on Wisteria Walk in Little Whinging in a house with a potent cabbage odour.

 

She loved to photograph her animals in great detail. However, she hid her true identity from Harry Potter for the major part of his childhood. This was probably because Headmaster Dumbledore thought he was too young to understand his place in the enigmatic wizarding world.

 

Unsurprisingly, Potter had no idea whatsoever about Mrs Figg’s connection to the wizarding world until 1995, when dementors attacked him and Dudley Dursley.

 

 

33. Hannah Abbott

 

 

Half-blood witch Hannah Abbott belonged to the Abbott family and was placed in the Hufflepuff House upon her admission at Hogwarts. She, too, joined Dumbledore’s Army and became a prefect during her fifth year at the school.

 

However, she was expelled after the Death Eaters ended up killing her mother. But, she returned to school the very next year and joined the Defense Association again. Hannah was also a participant in the Battle of Hogwarts, which took place on May 2, 1998.

 

 

34. Fat Lady

 

 

One of the most enigmatic and unintentionally entertaining supporting characters in the Harry Potter film series was the Fat Lady. She appeared in an enchanted portrait that stood sentry at Gryffindor tower.

 

While she was portrayed by Elizabeth Spriggs in the first instalment of the franchise, it was Dawn French who played the part in the third motion picture. The Fat Lady was first seen when the first-year students of Gryffindor house arrived at Gryffindor tower with their prefect, Percy Weasley.

 

 

35. Katie Bell

 

 

Katie Bell is known to have attended the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1990 until 1997. She was sorted into the Gryffindor house and participated in the Quidditch matches as a Chaser.

 

Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, who were also members of the same house, became some of her closest pals while she studied at the school. Bell’s most notable scene is the one where she’s possessed by a cursed necklace and tossed around like a rag doll by a phenomenal unseen force.

 

 

36. Nagini

 

 

Voldemort’s snake Nagini was an important part of Harry Potter’s villain. The terrifying snake was a great source of mystery in both the book and the film series. It was shown that Maledictus Nagini was afflicted with a condition that caused her to turn into a snake.

 

Eventually, she was imprisoned in her snake form and belonged to Lord Voldemort. Sooner than later, she started to share a rather unique connection with her master.

 

 

37. Andromeda Tonks

 

 

Popularly referred to as “Dromeda”, Andromeda Tonks was an English pure-blood witch who was the sister of Bellatrix and Narcissa, as well as the middle daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black.

 

She was assigned to the evil Slytherin House while she was studying at Hogwarts in the 1960s. Unfortunately for her, her pure-blood supremacist family decided to reject her after she graduated from Hogwarts and ended up tying the knot with a Muggle-born man.

 

This was primarily because they were prejudiced against Muggle-born people. Needless to mention, she was forced to cut off all ties with her relatives soon after. The year 1973 saw her giving birth to her beloved daughter Nymphadora Tonks.

 

 

38. Mrs. Granger

 

 

Hermione’s muggle parents may have been kept far away from the main action of the franchise, but there have been moments when they have been mentioned. While we may not know a ton of things about Mrs. Granger, what we do acknowledge is that she supported and completely endorsed her daughter’s magical education. So, of course, it is unbelievably heartbreaking to watch Hermione wipe her mom and dad’s memories in order to keep them safe in Deathly Hallows.