The magical world of Harry Potter holds countless powerful characters, both on the side of good and of evil. But for every Chosen One and Dark Lord, there are plenty of people who simply don’t have what it takes to shine. Not everyone has the power to cast a Patronus at thirteen or invent unsupported magical flight.
In fact, there are plenty of characters in the magical world that are less than remarkable in terms of skill. Ironically, this doesn’t stop them from being threats, particularly if they are underestimated. Some of the weakest Harry Potter side characters inadvertently manage to change the whole world through their actions.
10 Mundungus Fletcher’s Contribution To The War Against Voldemort Is Unimpressive
Albus Dumbledore always had trouble coming up with a force to oppose the Death Eaters, but in some cases, he really scraped the bottom of the barrel. Mundungus Fletcher isn’t necessarily weak in terms of magical ability. He proves to be capable of apparition and even non-verbal magic. But his loyalties are beyond fickle and he’s cowardly and unscrupulous. When Harry is attacked by Dementors, Mundungus is actually supposed to be keeping an eye on him, but he chooses to buy some stolen cauldrons instead.
He also deserts the Order of the Phoenix during the Battle of the Seven Potters. While the plan was definitely not a good idea, Mundungus should have perhaps stayed out of it instead of leaving in the middle. His departure leads to the death of Mad-Eye Moody. He is unreliable and weak-willed, and Dumbledore should have most likely not considered him as an Order member.
9 Peter Pettigrew’s Weakness Stands Out In His Rat Animagus Form
Mundungus isn’t the first case of an unscrupulous and cowardly Order member. James Potter’s former Hogwarts friend, Peter Pettigrew becomes the Secret Keeper of the Potters, only to betray them to Voldemort. He spends the next ten years in his rat animagus form, having framed Sirius Black for the incident and for his death.
Many characters call Peter weak and talentless, but he must have had some degree of skill in order to become an animagus. Peter’s main weakness lies in his character. He latches on to more powerful people—like James and Sirius at Hogwarts—seeking to absorb their success. But in the end, he is selfish and disloyal, always prioritizing himself. His rat animagus form really should have given his character away, as he truly is despicable.
8 Cornelius Fudge Doesn’t Have The Strength Of Character To Stand Against Voldemort
Weak-willed men in positions of power are always dangerous. Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge is the perfect example. He originally appears to be harmless, if ineffective, particularly since he tends to take advice from Dumbledore. After Voldemort’s rise, however, he becomes dangerous as he desperately clings to his office. He is so unprepared for the concept of another war that he chooses to besmirch Harry and Dumbledore’s names instead of taking the threat seriously.
He is easily manipulated by Lucius Malfoy and prejudiced against people of mixed blood. Arrogant and selfish, he even gives himself an Order of Merlin. Of course, his career collapses like a castle of cards when the truth about Voldemort is revealed.
7 Gilderoy Lockhart’s Only Real Strength Is In His Obliviates
Hogwarts students always have rotten luck when it comes to their Defense Against The Dark Arts teachers. Harry’s second year is no different. Author Gilderoy Lockhart claims to have defeated many dangerous dark creatures, but in reality, he only steals other people’s achievements. He proves to be incompetent and cannot even take out the pixies he himself unleashes on the class.
Of course, that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous. He has one significant strength—his skill at Obliviation. In the end, even that goes poorly for him. He attempts to Obliviate Harry and Ron but uses Ron’s broken wand to do so. His plan literally blows up in his face as the spell backfires and he is left with permanent spell damage.
6 Merope Gaunt Comes From A Long Line Of Inbred Witches And Wizards
Tom Riddle’s mother Merope Gaunt doesn’t actually appear in the movies, but her influence lingers on within her son. Coming from a line that was once powerful, Merope is a near-Squib, her magical abilities very limited. This is caused by the Gaunts' constantly inbreeding, leading to numerous genetic anomalies and even physical deformities. It may hay have also had something to do with the abusive treatment she receives from her brother and father.
Either way, the magical ability that Merope does have, she uses for ill purposes. Seeing that her feelings for the handsome Muggle Tom Riddle Sr. are unrequited, she enchants him, possibly using Amortentia. Their marriage would later result in the birth of Tom Riddle. Merope eventually dies at Wool’s Orphanage, left behind by her husband and too defeated and in pain to support her son.
5 Argus Filch Takes Out His Anger At His Weakness On The Students Of Hogwarts
DADA teachers aren't the only questionable staff choices at Hogwarts. For unknown reasons, the squib Argus Filch is the caretaker at the famous school of magic. It seems a baffling choice, as the only thing it accomplishes is perpetuating feelings of bitterness and hatred inside Argus.
Frustrated with his own weakness, Argus takes refuge in the authority he has over the students but his behavior is often sadistic. He suggests torturing the students and even supports Dolores Umbridge’s tyranny.
4 Arabella Figg Is A Squib Who Can Only Observe, Not Intervene
Mrs. Figg first appears as the Dursleys’ neighbor, who often babysits Harry for the Dursleys. She does so to keep an eye on Harry at Albus Dumbledore’s request, as she is in fact a Squib like Argus. In a way, this leads to her being silently complicit in the abuse Harry suffers in the Dursley household.
The only thing she can do is observe. She deliberately keeps her time with Harry very boring so the Dursleys will continue allowing Harry to visit. Later, in Harry’s fifth year, she testifies at his trial, having seen the Dementors attacking Harry in Little Whinging.
3 Bathilda Bagshot’s Age Makes Her Far Weaker Than She Used To Be
A famous historian, Bathilda Bagshot is best known for having written Hermione Granger’s favorite book Hogwarts: A History, as well as A History of Magic, the textbook used at Hogwarts. She is also the great-aunt of Gellert Grindelwald, and it is through her that Gellert and Albus meet in their youth.
By the time the Harry Potter series rolled around, Bathilda is incredibly old, with many characters remarking on her lost mental faculties. She may have been quite powerful in her youth, but her age—advanced even by Wizarding levels—visibly weakens her toward the end of her life. She is murdered by Lord Voldemort and her body is reanimated by using Nagini.
2 Hepzibah Smith Easily Falls For Tom Riddle’s Manipulation
Obsessed with the concept of achieving immortality, Tom resorts to Horcruxes so that he will never die. The first chosen receptacle is his diary, but many of the subsequent Horcruxes are actually Founders’ artifacts. Two such examples are Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup and Slytherin’s Locket. While working at Borgin and Burkes, he meets the wealthy but conceited Hepzibah Smith.
A collector of magical artifacts, Helga is in possession of both the cup and the locket. Upon meeting Tom Riddle, she is besotted by his charm. Despite her wealth, she proves to be quite foolish and easily falls for Riddle’s manipulations. Tom kills her to claim the heirlooms, framing her house elf for the crime.
1 The Fat Friar Is Far Less Remarkable Than Other Hogwarts Ghosts
The Hogwarts ghosts are part of the mysterious charm of the castle, and on occasion, even contribute to the plot. The Grey Lady—Ravenclaw’s ghost—is particularly helpful in Harry’s quest to find the Horcruxes, while Slytherin’s Bloody Baron is so terrifying he intimidates Peeves. Even Nearly Headless Nick has his moments.
Sadly, Hufflepuff’s Fat Friar isn’t so lucky. His importance in the plot is infinitesimal, and his only real memorable appearance is at the very beginning when he greets the first years. He may have been stronger in life or even had other notable qualities but he doesn’t really show it.