The 6 Most Underrated Harry Potter Characters

Is there any of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters you're not in love with? (OK, Voldemort, I guess...) The books are bursting with lively characters who do remarkable things. When Harry first enters the wizarding world, stepping into the Leaky Cauldron on the way to Diagon Alley, the first thing that happens is he meets a pantheon of wonderful, strange, and diverse people. As the books progress, we as the readers continue to shake hands with hundreds of colorful and fascinating characters, the kind that stay with you forever.

There's definitely a cast of core characters that fuel our Harry Potter obsessions. We all know how lovable Hagrid is, how hilarious Fred and George Weasley are, and the pure magnificence that is Hermione Granger. We've all quoted Dumbledore like a religious text, and debated how we really feel about Snape. I'm pretty confident that most people would kill to be a part of the main trio.

But this is a shoutout to the characters who don't get the proper parade. The characters who, in any other book, could easily be the star. (It's no wonder there's such a rich world of Harry Potter fan fiction out there.) The characters that, without them, the wizarding world would not be as magical.

1. Professor Flitwick

Flitwick often gets shoved into the comedic relief corner, but, on top of being simply *charming*, he's very much a badass. From decorating the castle for Christmas, to protecting it against the threat of Sirius Black, to the Battle at Hogwarts, Flitwick casually performs grandmaster levels of spellwork. With a big heart, a bigger brain, and a fiery commitment to protecting his students, it's no wonder he's head of Ravenclaw.

2. Madame Maxim

When it comes to school heads, we're all obviously gaga for Dumbledore, but Olympe is a force in her own right. Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, she's a half-giantress who's risen to the top in a world riddled with anti-giant prejudice. When Dumbledore asks her for her help, she doesn't hesitate and embarks with Hagrid on their dangerous giant diplomacy mission. On top of it all, she's the peak of elegance, traveling in a carriage pulled by 12 Alaxan horses.

3. Madame Pomfrey

Hogwarts would be an endless parade of tragedy if it weren't for Madam Pomfrey. She can heal basically anything, and with all the shennanigans at Hogwarts, there's probably no injury she hasn't seen. I mean, come on, she grows all of the bones in Harry's arm back in a single night without a second thought. She's not afraid to stand up to anybody; she's been known to kick both the Minister of Magic and Dumbledore out of the hospital wing. Through all of the mayhem in the books, she doesn't stop goign, continually committed to her work.

4. Stan Shunpike and Ernie Prang

I love Stan and Ernie so much. Think about it: they spend their lives riding around a magical bus, picking strangers up from all around the world. They're living the hippie-dream of the wizarding world. Plus, they don't ever judge people, and they keep calling Harry "Neville" even after they've learned his true identity, which is just delightful. Stan has a tendency to embellish the truth when he wants to show off, which ultimately gets him into major trouble, but even through the worst of it he never loses who he is. I'd kill to see these guys in a Harold and Kumar-esque spin-off.

5. Nearly Headless NIck

Nick is consistently a friend to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He's always rooting for Harry and even invites the gang to his Death Day party. Nick is a bit of a gossip, and is constantly making bets with the other ghosts, but he has a noble heart and a deep sense of chivalry. Plus, you can't ask for a more epic death that nearly losing your head.

6. Lee Jordan

Lee's awesomeness is often overshadowed by everyone's love for the Weasley twins, but how can you not love this guy? For one, his constant arguments with Professor McGonagall about Quidditch commentary are pure comedic gold. A troublemaker through and through, he's always the first in line to give authority the finger, from pranking Umbridge to the production of Potterwatch.

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