Harry Potter’s rich and diverse world has a plethora of dynamic and interesting characters. There are characters fans love as well as hate, but these characters have also left a lasting impact on the fans of the Universe. These characters include all types of personalities, they might be brave, cunning, manipulative, and much more. However, each character comes with a unique story, motivation, and personality.
The universe of Harry Potter was created by author J. K. Rowling and has had a growing fan base for over two decades now. Harry Potter follows "The Boy Who Lived," who is a young wizard. His journey includes having to battle Lord Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters. The seven-part book series brings us many characters who have had a strong influence on many fans.
10 Lily Potter
Lily Potter is Harry’s mother and she is an extremely influential character. Her selfless love and sacrifice became the embodiment of the entire Harry Potter universe. She sacrificed herself to save her son, Harry, from Lord Voldemort, which led to her death but protected Harry. The act of love is what led to the end of Voldemort as Harry used his mother’s example of love and sacrifice to destroy the dark wizard.
Lily’s love also inspired other characters to take the same step of love and sacrifice like Sirius and Snape. Her legacy is what made Harry the hero he was as he protected the ones he loved with bravery and love. Lily remains one of the most important characters whose influence shaped the hero of the wizarding world.
9 Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort was an influential character and it's hard to overstate the immense power he holds. He was the main antagonist of the entire series and was also known as Tom Riddle. The character was the driving force for the Harry Potter universe as he was a dark wizard who wanted to rule the wizarding world. His immense power and intelligence are what make the character influential. Voldemort mastered the Dark Arts and created a powerful, and terrifying image as the epitome of evil.
He creates an army with the Death Eaters as well as has seven significant pieces of his soul hidden to protect himself. Voldemort creates a climate of fear and death that trembles across the wizarding world for years. His influence on the Harry Potter universe extends far beyond the character’s evil deeds as his impact can be felt by fans as well as characters in the series.
8 Ron Weasley
Ron’s unwavering loyalty towards his friends is heartwarming as the character provides perfect comic relief throughout the series. Despite his insecurities and fear, Ron has shown fans his bravery as he has put himself in harm’s way multiple times to save his friends. The character matures throughout the series and grows into a confident and capable wizard. Ron proves to be a resourceful character, who is also cunning at times.
The most important factor is that he represents the ordinary and relatable character aspect in the wizarding world. He is an important symbol of the everyday hero and the Weasleys embody the importance of love and family in the wizarding world. Ron has also provided support to Harry, encouraging him in times of trouble and being a shoulder to lean on.
7 Hermione Granger
Without a doubt, Hermione is one of the smartest characters in the Harry Potter universe, which has helped the trio in solving problems, finding answers, and saving themselves from trouble. She has played an important role in various pivotal battles as she never hesitates to fight for what is right.
Hermione is also extremely compassionate, and her ability to empathize with people has acted as an important factor in making her an excellent witch and a friend. She has also proven multiple times that she is a natural leader. The character is influential in many ways and a key member of the trio, playing a major part in saving the wizarding world.
6 Rubeus Hagrid
Hagrid is a half-giant, who serves as the Keeper of the Keys and the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is immensely loved as a character because of his gruff demeanor, loyalty, and his tendency to fiercely protect his loved ones. The character is also pivotal in helping Harry find out the truth about his parents and their deaths.
Hagrid acts as a symbol of the magical world’s diversity and acceptance, as he experiences discrimination because he’s a half-giant. However, he remains proud of who he is and refuses prejudice to bring him down. He is influential as he is a trusted ally that Harry, Ron, and Hermione could rely on, and he treated them as his own.
5 Sirius Black
Sirius Black was Harry’s godfather and the one person he could lean on during times of trouble. He provided comfort and support to the protagonist and taught him the real meaning of family and sacrifice. The character was also a symbol of hope for resisting Lord Voldemort, as he was a prisoner in Azkaban as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
Sirius’ unfortunate death fueled Harry’s determination to defeat Lord Voldemort and had a profound impact on him. The character also helped encourage the themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the importance of family with the Order, Harry, and Lupin.
4 Severus Snape
Snape was a mysterious character throughout the Harry Potter franchise and was the only character who was reviled and respected by other characters. He was a former Death Eater and acts as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, which makes him an important character in the war with Voldemort. Snape’s motivations and goals were a constant source of intrigue for fans throughout the series, making him the most memorable character of all.
Snape has been part of the major story as he protected Harry, taught him Occlumency, and ultimately sacrificed his life to protect Lily’s son. Snape's love and loyalty to Harry’s mother is a major aspect of his character and influence. He is the symbol of true and unselfish love in the Harry Potter universe.
3 Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore was never scared of taking the right steps, and he never questioned his own beliefs even when he had to make difficult decisions. The character was the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he was known for his intelligence and wisdom. He was a powerful wizard whose mastery was a source of inspiration for many, but he remained kind and humble.
His past and motivations were hidden from fans initially as he maintained a mysterious character personality. Even after his death, the character was an influence and continued to have a profound impact on several characters. For Harry, Dumbledore acted as a mentor, protector, and father figure, helping him pave his path to defeat Voldemort.
2 Neville Longbottom
Neville always lacked the courage and skills to become the greatest wizard of all, but he represented every man and an average person. Despite this, the character always rose to the challenges that came upon him, making him a relatable character loved by fans. The character showed fans even the most ordinary people can achieve great things.
His growth throughout the series makes him a symbol of hope and courage. Neville is proof that even the weakest people can become strong in the face of adversity. He plays a crucial part as he destroys one of the Horcruxes of Voldemort, leading to his end.
1 Harry Potter
Harry is influential because he was the one who defeated Lord Voldemort and brought peace to the wizarding world. His bravery, loyalty, and selflessness inspired the wizarding community as he was prophesied to be the “Chosen One”. The character has also demonstrated the importance of friendship, family, love, and bonds, which helped him throughout his journey.
Harry continues to be a part of popular culture even after all these years as it promoted the themes of love, friendship, courage, and fighting against evil. It has inspired fans all over the world and will continue to do so.