Hogwarts is a character as much as it is a setting. It’s a living, breathing character with years of history and backstory in Harry Potter. Each live portrait tells a story, as do the moving staircases that carry students through the castle. And within these walls reside a staff of professors who guide young wizards to reach their full potential before entering into a world much like our own, only fueled by magic.
Some professors are supportive of their students’ growth, acting almost as parental figures while their students are away from home. Others project problematic ideologies through associations with groups like the Death Eaters or the corrupt Ministry of Magic. However, regardless of the course (or professor) – Divination, Potions, Flying, etc. – they all serve a purpose. From Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) to Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), these Hogwarts professors serve major main character energy.
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Madam Rolanda Hooch
Played by Zoë Wanamaker
Hogwarts does not have a gym class. Why would they? Wizards can fly, drive magical cars, and teleport – there’s no need for fitness tests. But Madam Rolanda Hooch (Zoë Wanamaker) is the closest thing to a PE teacher, particularly in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as Harry and his first-year peers received their first broomsticks, a formative experience for any young wizard. She was the one to teach Quidditch and all its intricacies, a sport that was valued as a pastime in the movies (as well as a plot device).
While Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts were certainly dangerous, flying posed the most significant physical threat to students, running the risk of injury beyond what a spell could do. It happened in the form of concussions and broken bones. Yet, Madam Hooch remained hyper-focused on her students’ success and well-being – a few even became strong Quidditch players who we see compete throughout the series.
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Sybill Trelawney
Played by Emma Thompson
For a minor character, Sybill Trelawney (Emma Thompson) made a significant impact on the series with her appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The somewhat eccentric Divination professor experimented with prophecy and mystical magic; these lessons sent Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) on a path towards discovering his destiny as The Chosen One. Specifically, her prophecy about who would defeat Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). This was an introduction to Horcruxes and their connection to Harry Potter.
Trelawney never received the respect she deserved and had a reputation as a “false prophet.” However, one vital prediction proved true. But it also begged the question: who exactly does the prophecy refer to? Although she was met with skepticism, Trelawney overcame adversity in the face of doubt from nearly everyone at Hogwarts. The character’s strength comes, in part, from the brilliant Thompson.
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Rubeus Hagrid
Played by Robbie Coltrane
Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) is one of the first characters audiences are introduced to in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when he retrieves Harry from the Dursley household upon his 11th birthday. Hagrid is a crucial figure in Harry’s journey and remains so until the very end of the franchise. Due to past accusations and expulsion from Hogwarts, Hagrid is a character who is not often taken seriously, but remains one of the most courageous, kind, and caring professors.
Hagrid is a crucial figure in Harry’s journey and remains so until the very end of the franchise.
Hagrid is the epitome of a gentle giant. He protects magical creatures and advocates for their rights. He serves as a father figure of sorts to Harry and his friends, whether it’s sheltering them from danger or teaching them animals who would aid their efforts on numerous occasions. Ultimately, Hagrid became a fan-favorite for his compassion and honesty in a world often void of such sentiment.
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Pomona Sprout
Played by Miriam Margoyles
Hogwarts has its fair share of kooky professors; Pomona Sprout (Miriam Margoyles) is one of them. While Herbology is not viewed as one of the most critical curricula, her lessons did prove useful, particularly in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, where Mandrakes were used to create a potion that would unpetrify victims of the Basilisk.
A proud Hufflepuff, Pomona had a way with fantastical plants unlike any other. It’s a valid showcase of her ability to connect with nature beyond just magic. She’s the kind of professor who makes her students feel welcome and engaged in a course that may otherwise have felt boring. Like most required courses at Hogwarts, Herbology served a purpose in Harry’s constant battle against Voldemort.
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Remus Lupin
Played by David Thewlis
What’s cooler than being a werewolf? Remus Lupin’s shapeshifting abilities may have created unintended conflict between Harry and his friends, but it’s this condition that introduced them to greater events in The Wizarding World. As yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lupin taught Harry how to conjure Patronuses as a form of protection – something that would appear throughout the series. He was one of the more qualified professors to fill the revolving role.
But Lupin was more than just a professor; he is a friend to Harry (and his friends), a confidant, and a member of The Order of the Phoenix. Lupin’s intentions were pure and remained that way until the Battle of Hogwarts. Unfortunately, his story ended in tragedy when both he and his wife, Tonks (Natalia Tena), died. Lupin was a complicated character, but despite how much he suffered, he always strived to fight for what was right.
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Albus Dumbledore
Played by Richard Harris, Michael Gambon and Jude Law
Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law) was a celebrity in his own right. Although we knew him throughout the series as the Hogwarts Headmaster, Dumbledore did teach Transfiguration at the school in the past. Dumbledore commanded respect thanks to his longstanding presence in The Wizarding World. He served as a mentor for his students, particularly for Harry, and taught lessons beyond what was needed in the classroom. There have been three actors who took on the role of Dumbledore within the franchise. But Gambon remains a fan-favorite for his take on the professor, which infuses moments of humor into an otherwise stoic figure.
Dumbledore was present for some of the films‘ most pivotal moments: a final conversation with Harry in a world somewhere between life and death; his ultimate sacrifice at the end of Half-Blood Prince; and his epic duel against Voldemort in Order of the Phoenix. But there is a past to Dumbledore that remains hidden, one that might complicate his character. The 2018 prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, served as an exploration of this. It was here that Dumbledore (Jude Law) became a main character, though there is no argument that he was essential to each Harry Potter movie and the franchise as a whole.
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Dolores Umbridge
Played by Imelda Staunton
Dressed in bubblegum pink clothing and a temperamental haircut, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) made her mark within the walls of Hogwarts. The short-term Defense Against the Dark Arts professor hid behind a sweet demeanor as she preached the teachings of an increasingly corrupt Ministry of Magic. Additionally, Umbridge practiced borderline torture on her students (“I must not tell lies”). She does not have one redeeming quality.
Umbridge was not a Death Eater, although her ideology might align with the group’s beliefs. Somehow, that makes her presence worse as her actions were on her own accord. This gave her sole power in the classroom and spread fear among students and professors alike. In a world plagued by dark magic, Umbridge is a reminder that, like the Muggle world, The Wizarding World is subject to political misconduct all the same. The character was a success because Staunton captured her character so well.
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Minerva McGonagall
Played by Maggie Smith
Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) is the closest thing to a mother figure within the walls of Hogwarts. A strict one, for sure, but one who cares for her students beyond their education. Throughout her time as a professor and, eventually, temporary Headmaster, McGonagall spoke out against injustice. She outwardly condemned Umbridge and even led the resistance against Voldemort during the Battle of Hogwarts.
She is a badass who is not afraid to stand before evil — and win. Following her death in 2024, Radcliffe said that Smith “was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny.” The same applies to McGonagall, who remained a fixture at Hogwarts.
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Severus Snape
Played by Alan Rickman
Snape captivated audiences as soon as he appeared on-screen. The dark, greasy hair. A flowing cape that followed behind his intimidating walk. Cryptic words and a stern stance. It was clear from the start that the Potions professor was painted as an antagonist, of sorts. He presented an aura of mystery that would take years (and eight movies) to decipher.
Snape strived for the title of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He eventually achieved it, but at what cost? His motivations were muddy, and his history is complex. Yes, the infamous professor was the perpetrator of several deaths and objective abuse of his students, whether physical or verbal. However, it’s only after his death that we learn of all the sacrifices that Snape made as a double agent – working as a spy for Voldemort and Harry’s protector to avenge his schoolboy love, Lily Potter (Geraldine Somerville). Snape’s final act of bravery changed the professor’s entire characterization, leading to one of the greatest redemption stories in the Harry Potter series.
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Gilderoy Lockhart
Played by Kenneth Branagh
Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) is somewhat of a celebrity in The Wizarding World. He made a name for himself by publishing a best-selling book about his encounters with magical creatures – but it was all a farce. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor relied on a memory charm to take credit for others’ work and got away with it for far too long. So, he relied on the income and notoriety from the stories to make a name for himself in The Wizarding World.
It’s this status that draws him towards Harry Potter, who was, in his own right, a notable figure in The Wizarding World. He saw himself on par with Harry, lending to Lockhart’s perceived arrogance. He may not have been a great professor (or even a good person), but Lockhart provided entertainment value in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; this movie served as a turning point towards darker themes. Lockhart was a strong foil to Harry’s celebrity status and a source of comedic relief for fans.
