Time For A Reality Check

Let’s be real—just because someone’s in Harry Potter doesn’t automatically make them legendary. Some characters get all the praise, merch, and screen time, but when you look closer, you’re left wondering... why? On the flip side, there are some undeniable favorites that will never change. So, let's take a look at 10 of the most overrated characters and 10 that we'll always give shout-outs to. Does our list look like yours?

1. Severus Snape

Snape might be the poster child for misunderstood characters, but romanticizing his legacy does the story no favors. His bravery as a double agent is undeniable, but it coexisted with years of cruelty, favoritism, and emotional abuse toward students, driven by personal grudges.

2. Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore kept truths hidden from Harry and stood by while others paid the price for his long game against Voldemort. His “for the greater good” mindset led to a lot of damage—Ariana’s tragedy and even Harry being primed for sacrifice.

3. Draco Malfoy

Let’s talk about why people love Draco. Blonde hair, brooding looks, and complicated family ties make him a fan-fiction goldmine. But strip away the aesthetics, and what’s left? A bully who shows limited growth in his reluctance to fully embrace Voldemort’s cause by the series’ end.

4. Sirius Black

Though many enjoyed watching the reveal of Sirius Black's innocence, his role in the series after the truth is a bit complicated. Some see him as a flawed character that gets praised way too often, with fans ignoring the fact that Sirius supports Harry's reckless behaviors to too far of an extent. He's certainly a complex character, but people just tend to focus too much on the positives.

5. Bellatrix Lestrange

Behind the cackles and curses, Bellatrix has a hollowness that never gets addressed. Her loyalty to Voldemort is more like a descent into identity loss. Moreover, her character functions only as shock value: kill a fan favorite, torture a teenage girl, or laugh in the face of evil. She's an evil character for sure, but one that's pretty one-dimensional.

6. Ginny Weasley

No character suffered more from adaptation than Ginny Weasley. In the books, she’s sharp, athletic, and unapologetically bold. In the films, she's blandly written and defined only by her proximity to Harry. What remains is a diluted version meant to serve as a romantic footnote.

7. Cedric Diggory

Despite being hailed as the paragon of a Hogwarts golden boy, Cedric Diggory’s legacy rests more on how others talk about him than on anything he actually does. His tragic death gave him legendary status, but as a character, he remains underdeveloped and idealized beyond reason.

8. James Potter

James is the kind of character you’re told to admire, not one you get to understand. The only thing you're allowed to see about him is that he sacrificed his life. Everything else is shown through scattered memories: a schoolyard bully with a wand and a god complex.

9. Horace Slughorn

Slughorn smiles his way through war and moral gray areas, collecting the gifted like souvenirs and hoarding connections like treasure. Though he comes across as a likeable and kind professor, it's hard to overlook the fact that he withheld such valuable information from Dumbledore because of his own shame.

10. Peeves

Peeves brings chaos and mischief to Hogwarts as he interrupts the flow of important moments and rarely offers substance beyond slapstick antics. Although beloved by some fans, his presence feels more like background noise than a meaningful thread in the story’s fabric.

Now, let’s turn to the characters who totally deserve all the loyalty, respect, and fan love they can get.

1. Hermione Granger

A 12-year-old brewed Polyjuice Potion in a school bathroom before most kids mastered long division—of course, it was Hermione. Without her, Harry wouldn’t have lasted a week. It's hard not to love her honesty, intelligence, and loyalty to her friends.

2. Minerva McGonagall

Professor McGonagall’s resistance to tyranny came through curt lines and calculated actions. She stared Umbridge down with the full weight of justice behind her spectacles. And when the time came, McGonagall defended her school with a fierceness that made you forget her age.

3. Luna Lovegood

While others argued about proof, Luna accepted the possibility. You laughed at her quirks, but then she offered wisdom that sliced through every lie. In short, Luna never needed to belong, as all she needed was to be heard.

4. Remus Lupin

As the first Defence Against The Dark Arts professor that everyone actually liked, Lupin never let his monstrosity hiding within define who he is. His complicated character, which is weighed down by his dark secret, makes him a fan favorite considering his light, kindness, and bravery outshine all that hold him back.

5. Molly Weasley

Molly Weasley is the emotional anchor of the entire Weasley family and a symbol of the strength found in ordinary magic. Moreover, her maternal instincts don’t dull her courage, as she famously took down Bellatrix Lestrange during the Battle of Hogwarts.

6. Rubeus Hagrid

With a love for all creatures—especially the misunderstood ones—Hagrid displays the magical world’s warmth and wonder. From gifting Harry his first birthday cake to introducing him to Diagon Alley, Hagrid became the gateway between Harry’s lonely cupboard life and his magical destiny.

7. Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom’s journey is one of the most powerful transformations in the series. Raised by his formidable grandmother after his parents were tortured into silence, Neville never let his painful past define him. At Hogwarts, he found his voice and eventually led Dumbledore’s Army in Harry’s absence.

8. Dobby

Once enslaved by the cruel Malfoys, this fiercely loyal house-elf became a symbol of liberation and bravery. His final act of saving his friends at the cost of his own life cements him as one of the series’ most selfless and beloved characters.

9. Hedwig

Hedwig was Harry’s first real friend and his constant link to the magical world. She often expressed more emotion through a tilt of her head or a sharp hoot than many humans could manage with words. Her sudden loss in the end struck a deep chord, marking the end of innocence.

10. Arthur Weasley

As the patriarch of the Weasley clan, Arthur balanced goofiness with quiet wisdom. He offered Harry a father figure marked by unshakable decency. A Ministry man who never lost his moral compass, Arthur worked to protect both magical and non-magical communities.