Gryffindor is often considered the premier house of Hogwarts, home of most of the beloved and upstanding characters of the Harry Potter series. While Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin students often had a place in the story, the bulk of the action fell to the Gryffindors and their unfailing courage. Because of Harry Potter and the Potter family connection to Gryffindor House, Gryffindors led the charge to protect Harry Potter more often than not.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron ran in a circle of Gryffindor allies who were always willing to show up at Harry’s side. Many of Harry’s fiercest protectors from the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army also belonged to the House of the Brave. However, Harry also had a few notable foes from his own house that made his life difficult with both trivial and cataclysmic complications.
Not all of the students of Gryffindor excelled in the same way, though. A few Gryffindor students were considered among the most powerful witches and wizards in history, while others were nearly useless when it came to a real conflict. When it came down to battle, which Gryffindors were the most fearsome?
Here are The 25 Most Powerful Gryffindor Students, Officially Ranked.
25. Colin Creevey
Colin Creevey never deserved what happened to him, and he never really had the chance to develop the magical skills his fellow students did. Colin did participate in Dumbledore’s Army and mastered some of the defensive spells Harry taught. However, Colin was plagued by his constant bad fortune.
In his first year, he was petrified by the Basilisk and taken out of commission for most of the year. He snuck back to Hogwarts to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts, but he did not survive it. He had all of the Gryffindor bravery, but he did not have the magical skill to match his enthusiasm.
24. Lavender Brown
Though she is usually only mentioned as Ron’s annoying girlfriend, Lavender Brown was often refered to as an accomplished student in several magical subjects. She participated in Dumbledore’s Army and learned defensive magic alongside the rest of Harry’s allies.
Lavender was just as accomplished as most of her fellow Gryffindor students, and she does not get enough credit for her advanced skills. Unfortunately, her magical abilities could not save her during the Battle of Hogwarts. She was attacked by Fenrir Greyback and did not survive, despite Hermione’s best efforts to rescue her.
23. Cormac McLaggen
Cormac McLaggen mostly served as a low-level antagonist for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He hung around to annoy all three of them in every foreseeable way, from constantly bragging about his Quidditch prowess to subjecting Hermione to unwanted advances.
He was a decent Quidditch player, however, as he almost won Ron’s spot on the team, but he also repeated a year at Hogwarts, which suggests that he was not very adept in his studies of magic. Despite these failings, he fought against Death Eaters in the Battle of Hogwarts and lived, showing himself to be at least a competent duelist.
22. Nearly Headless Nick
Nearly Headless Nick has been an ever-present part of Gryffindor ever since his untimely demise centuries before the events of Harry Potter. He was able to choose to become a ghost, but it’s unclear if this decision was related to any magical power.
He had a few unique ghostly skills like passing through objects, and he was often a valuable source of information. His execution, though, gives reason to doubt his ability in magic. According to J.K. Rowling, he tried to fix the crooked teeth of a noble woman and accidentally caused her to grow a tusk. The offense shortly resulted in his execution, and the incident does not mark him as a powerful wizard.
21. Percy Weasley
Percy did not often get a chance to showcase the magic he had learned. He was often relegated to administrative positions that required little from him in the way of magic. He was supposed to be an advanced student at Hogwarts, which earned him accolades such as Head Boy.
He later gained employment at the Ministry of Magic, where he likely had to compete with other skilled wizards and witches for his position. Percy is only shown in action during the Battle of Hogwarts. He won a duel against Minister for Magic Pius Thicknesse and turned him into a sea urchin, which indicates that he could perform the advanced magical skill of human transfiguration.
20. Charlie Weasley
Charlie Weasley is seldom seen with the Weasley family, as he was off studying dragons in Romania for most of the events of the series. Judging by the stories of family members and Hogwarts professors, Charlie was an excellent student and Quidditch player. He excelled in caring for magical creatures to the point where even Hagrid praised him.
When he was finally introduced, he frequently handled fierce dragons with experienced magic. His ability to handle a dragon is impressive enough, but he was also likely a good duelist based on his participation in the Battle of Hogwarts.
19. Parvati Patil
Parvati Patil distinguished herself as one of the best students in Harry’s circle, especially during her participation in Dumbledore’s Army. She was always ranked among the best students in class, including Transfiguration and Divination.
She also cast powerful Defense Against the Dark Arts spells. During one meeting of Dumbledore’s Army, she produced a Reductor Curse so powerful it turned a table to rubble. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Parvati and Dean Thomas dueled together and defeated skilled Death Eaters who had fatally dueled with advanced adult wizards, such as Antonin Dolohov.
18. Dean Thomas
Dean Thomas is criminally underrated among Harry Potter’s allies. Dean was one of Harry’s most loyal defenders at Hogwarts, and he was quick to join Dumbledore’s Army. His progress at Hogwarts was stalled when he had to go on the run during Voldemort’s reign of terror.
Still, he managed to avoid the Snatchers effectively for a long time, only being captured around the same time that Harry was brought to Malfoy Manor. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Dean proved himself a valuable ally again when he dueled several Death Eaters alongside Parvati Patil.
17. Seamus Finnegan
Although Seamus Finnegan was accident-prone during his first years at Hogwarts, he was able to turn his skill in making things explode to his advantage eventually. When McGonagall needed the Hogwarts bridge blown up to slow down the invasion of the Snatchers, she called upon Seamus and his mastery of pyrotechnics.
He was also a part of Dumbledore’s Army, and he even managed to cast a corporeal Patronus both in the meetings and later in battle. Seamus was also considered an accomplished duelist, since he was as flourishing during the Battle of Hogwarts.
16. Neville Longbottom
Neville had one of the greatest character development arcs in the entire series. At the beginning, he was a bumbling student who could barely manage the most basic of magic. As he got older, though, he became one of Harry’s constant and steadfast allies, accompanying him into battle and facing down skilled Death Eaters.
He was one of the last students standing in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and he took down Fenrir Greyback with Ron’s assistance during the Battle of Hogwarts. He also got his moment of true Gryffindor glory when he pulled Gryffindor’s sword from the Sorting Hat to destroy Voldemort’s last known horcrux.
15. Ginny Weasley
Ginny may be the youngest of the Weasleys, but she was far from weakest among her fellow Gryffindors. Her curses and charms were often so skilled that they caught the eye of the professors, including the notoriously hard to impress Horace Slughorn.
She held her own during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. She performed well in the Battle of Hogwarts, even avoiding the curses of Bellatrix Lestrange. Ginny had enormous natural talent with magic and became a force to be reckoned with as she grew older.
14. Ron Weasley
Ron was an invaluable member of Harry’s trio, but his best contributions were not magical. Ron’s knowledge of the magical world and unfailing loyalty to his friends made him the friend and ally Harry needed. Though he often fell behind his friends in magical pursuits, he did have a few grand accomplishments.
During the Battle of the Seven Potters, Tonks remarked on his ability to stun a Death Eater mid-flight. He also disarmed Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort’s powerful right hand. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron and Neville succeeded in defeating Fenrir Greyback. He may not have been the most skilled wizard, but he came through when it counted.
13. Bill Weasley
Bill Weasley, the eldest of the Weasley children, was already an accomplished wizard by the time he came on the scene. He was a Curse Breaker with Gringotts Bank, an adventuring profession that would have required a variety of magical skills.
Upon Voldemort’s return, Bill Weasley joined the Order of the Phoenix as one of the few new members of the group. He jumped into action to protect Harry Potter and fight Voldemort whenever the chance arose, showing up for every battle alongside the Order and taking up the mantle of the old Order as the original members were taken down by Voldemort.
12. Fred and George Weasley
Though Fred and George Weasley were never academically inclined, there’s no denying that they both had a proficiency with magic far beyond what they led everyone to believe. Their pranks were often so advanced that they impressed the Hogwarts professors despite the trouble they caused.
They were constantly manufacturing ingenious products, and not even Hermione could figure out how they did it. They not only learned spells, but also invented them for their business. In battle, they were both accomplished duelists and defeated many Death Eaters in the Battle of Hogwarts, even though the fight eventually claimed Fred’s life. George went on to defeat Yaxley with the help of Lee Jordan.
11. Arthur and Molly Weasley
Arthur and Molly Weasley seemed to perform impressive feats regularly without drawing any attention to them. Arthur charmed muggle objects like his flying car with apparent ease, and his work at the Ministry often required adept practice of magic such as memory charms.
Arthur and Molly both joined the Order of the Phoenix and utilized their magical skills to communicate within the Order and protect Harry in several battles. Molly did not often get a chance to show her prowess with magic. When she did join the action, she single-handedly defeated Bellatrix Lestrange, possibly the most dangerous villain besides Voldemort himself.
10. Peter Pettigrew
Peter Pettigrew may have been a cowardly traitor, but he was powerful enough to become one of Voldemort’s most valuable henchmen. In his early years, Pettigrew mastered the transformation into an Animagus.
When he went into hiding, he was able to remain transformed into a rat for over a decade. His transformation also gave him the ability to communicate with real rats, a skill that led him to Voldemort. As Voldemort’s henchmen, he performed a variety of essential tasks, including brewing potions for his regeneration, capturing other wizards and witches, and sacrificing his own hand to complete Voldemort’s return.
9. James Potter
Though James did not live a long life, he was able to accomplish a number of incredible magical feats at a young age. Like his friends, he was able to transform into an Animagus, a difficult and risky process.
He was also one of the masterminds behind the Marauder’s Map. The map was complex enough to keep track of people under an invisibility cloak and reveal the true identities of people taking a Polyjuice potion. James and the other Marauders must have been remarkably adept with magic to create it. As an original member of the Order of the Phoenix, James was also likely an excellent duelist practiced in defensive magic.
8. Sirius Black
Sirius Black became one of Harry’s fiercest protectors even after he was locked away in Azkaban for twelve years. He was extremely accomplished in his Animagus transformation and was still able to help Harry while transformed into a dog.
He was also able to hold his own in several battles against Voldemort’s most powerful Death Eaters, though he finally lost his life in a duel with Bellatrix Lestrange. However, his most impressive feat was his ability to resist the Dementors for over a decade, even transforming into an Animagus in prison and using the transformation to pull off the first successful unaided escape from Azkaban.
7. Lily Evans Potter
Lily Potter was always a natural talent at magic. Her skill was widely acknowledged at Hogwarts, especially by Professor Slughorn. Lily, like her husband, was a member of the original Order of the Phoenix, indicating that she was an excellent duelist and a powerful witch in her own right.
The most incredible display of her power, though, was her protection of Harry for years after her own demise. By sacrificing herself, she allowed Harry to survive Voldemort’s curse and gave him a protective shield against Voldemort through many of his years at Hogwarts. Though her protection was partly accidental, it was perhaps the most crucial act of magic in the series.
6. Hermione Granger
Hermione Granger was called the brightest witch of her age for a reason. Hermione picked up on magic like she was born to do it. She was often the first in the class to master a spell, and she performed a number of complex spells that she taught herself. Whenever Harry needed to learn a new spell or potion outside the bounds of his classes, he turned to Hermione.
In her various encounters with Death Eaters, she defeated strong duelists like Antonin Dolohov, and she repelled Yaxley, Fenrir Greyback, and Nagini. Hermione was a prodigy with magic at Hogwarts, and she was likely even more powerful by the time she became Minister for Magic.
5. Rubeus Hagrid
Hagrid’s chance to become a highly skilled wizard was taken away when Tom Riddle got him expelled, but he nonetheless became a nearly unstoppable force. He performed non-verbal magic with his concealed wand, though he had to hide his ability to perform any magic at all.
He was best known for his expertise with magical creatures. He often assisted Harry by providing him with magical creatures whose trust he had gained. His giant blood gave him another edge, as he displayed superhuman strength and a resistance to curses used against him. When Hagrid took part in a fight, even Death Eaters were usually unable to touch him.
4. Remus Lupin
Remus Lupin may have been the best teacher Harry every had, and part of his ability as a teacher came from his own mastery and power in magic. He was hired for his top-notch expertise in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he taught Harry the highly advanced Patronus Charm. He was one of the masterminds behind the Marauder’s Map before he even left Hogwarts.
As a werewolf, he was exceedingly strong and fast when transformed, though he could not control his actions in that state. In battle, he was able to hold his own against Death Eaters as powerful as Lucius Malfoy, and he was only taken down by the highly dangerous Antonin Dolohov.
3. Harry Potter
Harry Potter was forced into his role as the “Chosen One,” but he rose to the challenge as a highly advanced wizard for his age. Because of his connection with Voldemort, he survived and defeated Voldemort time and time again when the Dark Lord sought to destroy him.
He was skilled enough in Defense Against the Dark Arts to train Dumbledore’s Army into a real army of accomplished duelists. He could also resist the Imperius Curse and perform the Cruciatus Curse with little training. His capacity to use his love for others to enhance his magic led to a number of legendary feats, such as repelling hundreds of Dementors and resisting Voldemort’s possession.
2. Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall was a witch no one wanted to cross. In her everyday classroom teachings, she showed an incredible mastery of magic, even wandless transfigurations. She was a registered Animagus, which meant that she was able to turn into a cat at will and keep tabs on Harry in her Animagus form.
She was also a first-rate duelist. She defeated Alecto Carrow and dueled Snape into a corner. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she charmed the suits of armor to join the battle and managed to hold back Voldemort until he lashed out in a fit of rage. When McGonagall joined the fight, there were few who could stand against her.
1. Albus Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore was likely the most powerful wizard of the century, even acknowledged as such by Voldemort. He was the only wizard who dark wizards like Voldemort and Grindelwald truly feared.
Long before the events of Harry Potter, Dumbledore engaged Grindelwald in a cataclysmic duel that finally ended the dark wizard’s reign of terror. He held Voldemort at bay in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and Dumbledore repeatedly defeated advanced Death Eaters and Ministry wizards with no apparent effort. Dumbledore may have been the peak of Gryffindor’s power, and he had little competition on his level for the title of most powerful wizard.
Are there any other powerful Gryffindor students in Harry Potter? Have your say in the comment section!
