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View Full Version : Power Rankings (Deathly Hallows Spoilers Inside)


dark_griever
July 24th, 2007, 09:30 PM
Now that all 7 books have been released, I decided to make a list of whom I believed were the most powerful wizards in the Harry Potter universe. I encourage you all to make your own lists, or criticize mine, if you want. It is sorted in terms of magical power, which is why giants or Hagrid won't be found here.

1) Albus Dumbledore/Voldemort. Their duel at the end of book 5 ended a stalemate, although this was a fairly old Dumbledore. It should be noted that if Voldemort had ever mastered the Elder Wand, he would definitely have been more powerful.
2) Grindelwald. Dumbledore himself stated that Grindelwald was almost his equal in magical prowess.
3) Mad Eye Moody. Voldemort chose to chase Harry's protectors in book 7 in order of magical power. He went after Moody first.
4) Kingsley Shacklebolt. He was Voldemort's second target, and there has to be a reason he wound up temporary Minister of Magic.
5) Severus Snape. He fought off Harry almost effortlessly at the end of Book 6, and was able to escape quite a few of the other teachers before the Battle of Hogwarts.
6) Molly Weasley. She defeated Bellatrix Lestrange in a one on one duel. I would not have guessed that she would make this list until the aforementioned event happened.
7) Bellatrix Lestrange. She took out four wizards (Including Greyback), dueled Luna, Hermione, and Ginny at once, defeated Tonks, and killed Sirius.
8) Flitwick. It was mentioned in Book 2 that he was once a dueling champion, and he did his part during the Battle of Hogwarts, although we never did get to see him in a real duel.
9) Harry Potter. Fighting off the Death Eaters at a young age is no small accomplishment. Some might argue that some of his accomplishments (Such as killing the basilisk), would earn him a higher ranking, but he defeated the basilisk with a sword, not with magic. He only overpowered Voldemort because Voldemort attempted to use a wand that rightfully belonged to Harry.
10) Barty Crouch Jr. Even if it was by surprise, he managed to overpower Moody and take his identity. He did quite a bit of transfiguration without a lot of effort (Turning Malfoy into a ferret, and his father into a bone).

Some people that may have made this list, but I didn't think enough information was given on them:

1) James and Lilly Potter. People often mentioned that both of Harry's parents had been skilled wizards, but since James didn't manage to get his wand in time when Voldemort attacked and Lily was preoccupied with Harry, so she did not fight either.
2) Sirius Black. He may have been a powerful wizard, but he acted too confidently against Bellatrix and got killed, so we don't know the full extent of his power.
3) Barty Crouch Sr. Sirius mentioned that he was a very powerful wizard, but by the time that he appeared in the books, he was under the Imperius Curse and after breaking its hold over him, he was insane.
4) Remus Lupin. His death was not even shown in the book, so we don't know what he was capable of.
5) Aberforth Dumbledore. He was overshadowed by his brother, but he was a capable wizard, being able to use a Patronus and duel fairly well.
6) The Peverell brothers. Dumbledore claims that they were very powerful, but since their story is more of a legend in Harry's time, we don't know if they managed to create such powerful items or if they were given the items by Death.
7) Lucius Malfoy. He'd have to be fairly powerful to be Voldemort's right hand man, but he didn't do much in the Ministry in OotP, and his wand was destroyed in the beginning of Deathly Hallows.
8) Scrimgeour. With Moody and Shacklebolt as Aurors, he would have to be powerful to have been the head of the Auror office. He was also chosen as Minister of Magic when the war was breaking out, and a battle ready and powerful Minister would probably have been the best choice.
9) Gregorovitch. He had to have won the Elder Wand somehow, although Grindelwald defeated him pretty easily.
10) Hermione Granger. She was capable of very advanced magic, and was able to adapt quickly (Using a memory charm successfully on her first try). She also hinted that she was capable of using fiendfyre, but feared the repercussions of actually using it.

And finally, the weakest Wizard ever: Dawlish. This guy got owned by Dumbledore, Dick Cresswell, and even Neville's grandmother. He supposedly got all Outstanding OWLs, but this guy was useless.

Northern Lights
July 25th, 2007, 07:42 AM
Molly was running off adrenaline. Love, maybe.

dobbystwin
July 25th, 2007, 10:17 AM
Yeah, Molly had just lost a son and was in danger of losing a daughter at that moment. It shows what a mother will do for her kids.

Bulbasaurus Rex
July 25th, 2007, 02:58 PM
What about McGonagall? I'd put her ahead of Flitwick.

I'd also consider moving Snape up higher, probably to 3rd place.

Moody may have earned that spot earlier in life, but he was pretty old, and his mobility was seriously limited by his wooden leg. You may not consider his mobility to count towards a "magical power list," but I think being able to avoid and block spells with physical mobility is a critical part of being a good wizard, especially when dueling.

I also agree that Molly Weasley wasn't truly more powerful or skilled than Bellatrix.

dark_griever
July 25th, 2007, 05:36 PM
Well, Molly came from a very powerful family (It took 6 death eaters, I think, to kill her two brothers Fabian and Gideon), and you can say adrenaline all you want, but she succeeded where countless others failed. Just because we didn't get to see her fight a lot doesn't mean that she wasn't powerful.

As for Snape, he didn't even manage to fight back against Voldemort, so I dunno if he deserves to be bumped up in the list.

I did consider that Moody may not have been as strong in the end, but the same could be said for Dumbledore. Having a useless, cursed hand probably made him weaker than Voldemort.

Figz
July 25th, 2007, 09:33 PM
snape couldn't fight back against voldy.

A. There was a snake on his neck
B. He was still pretending to be loyal to him

dark_griever
July 25th, 2007, 09:47 PM
Once an extremely deadly wizard who has no problems murdering people tells you that your death will benefit him, I think its time for you to take a step back from the giant, advancing snake, pull out your wand, and do what you can to stay alive. Staying undercover is not very useful if you're dead.

Snape was an experienced wizard, who knew all about Voldemort. He should have known Voldemort was about to kill him and done something about it, especially since there was a delay between Voldemort's order (pointing his wand at Snape), and Nagini's attack, during which Snape thought he would be allowed to live. If you're that foolish, you don't deserve the #3 spot.

dobbystwin
July 26th, 2007, 09:51 AM
I think Snape knew his death was inevitable, and perhaps even necessary to help insure that Harry confrontation with Voldemort.

Snape made the ultimate sacrifice. Not just that he died, but that he died to help people who thoroughly hated him. Snape was dead before anyone knew the truth about him.

Figz
July 26th, 2007, 11:19 AM
Once an extremely deadly wizard who has no problems murdering people tells you that your death will benefit him, I think its time for you to take a step back from the giant, advancing snake, pull out your wand, and do what you can to stay alive. Staying undercover is not very useful if you're dead.

If you're that foolish, you don't deserve the #3 spot.

Thats valid but i'm pretty sure he knew Harry was there and was distracting Valdy while He thought Harry was pulling off a plan, which he obviously did, I think Snape was only doing what he hoped would make Lilly happy if she was alive...Although none of this would be happening if she was...:D

dark_griever
July 26th, 2007, 12:05 PM
I really doubt Snape knew Harry was there and Voldemort didn't. If Harry and Voldemort were connected by their souls and he didn't notice, I don't think there was any way for Snape to know. Harry had learned Occlumency already, so that wouldn't have worked.

As for Snape knowing his death was inevitable, that would have been possible except for the fact that he drew his wand when Voldemort said that he needed Snape to die. However, he believed that Voldemort had spared him when he swung the wand but did not cast a spell, without realizing that he was sending Nagini over to kill him.

Figz
July 28th, 2007, 01:25 AM
snape must have known since he had the potion? (what was it for) or did he make it appear? I'm not really sure, but i do know he gave Harry a potion

Inlé_rah
July 28th, 2007, 01:35 AM
snape must have known since he had the potion? (what was it for) or did he make it appear? I'm not really sure, but i do know he gave Harry a potion
Potion? Those were memories. And Snape only knew that Harry was there after Voldemort had Nagini mortally wound him. Harry walked up to Snape after Voldemort left the Shrieking Shack.

D-Generation-X
July 28th, 2007, 10:35 AM
As Inle said, Snape didn't know Harry was there because there was shock on his face when Harry appeared in front of him, Snape did raise his wand but I doubt fighting back would ever have occured to him, the Order had spent the last couple of months trying to kill Snape and I wouldn't think that Snape believed if Harry told them the truth they would believe it, so his best bet was to die and join Lily, since everything he had done was for her.

Excop
July 29th, 2007, 12:36 PM
Just an interesting quote I found and I instantly thought of this thread.

"They nearly got Kingsley..."

"Yeah, a bunch of Death Eaters cornered him, Bill said, but he fought his way out..."

Now, while it doesn't state how many, I'd say Kingsley deserves to be tied with Moody up there.

dark_griever
July 29th, 2007, 01:45 PM
Hmm, I actually hadn't thought of that part of the book, and it certainly gives Kingsley a very good reason for moving up in the rankings. However, they did say several times that Moody was (in his prime), the best of the aurors, so while Kingsley may have been in better shape during the books, I think Moody still deserves the #3 spot.

To back my point up about counting them in their prime, Grindelwald was a toothless old man without a wand in Deathly Hallows, but the second most powerful Dark wizard (as said by Rita Skeeter in The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore) in his prime.

However, I guess this also means that Dumbledore should probably be #1, since Voldemort was unable to defeat him even when Dumbledore had grown old.

AlecTrevylan006
July 29th, 2007, 01:50 PM
Question for people: Do you think Snape was THAT good at occlumency that he can beat the best Legilimens of the era, or did he... how do I say, take his memories out? And store them... in him >_>

I mean, make himself a portable pensieve...

ALSO...

Dumbledore > Voldemort
Draco > Dumbledore
Harry > Draco
Lockhart > Harry + Ron (back in the day)

So therefore....

Lockhart > Voldemort

dark_griever
July 29th, 2007, 01:52 PM
I have always thought that the whole Occlumency thing was kinda fishy. Wouldn't Voldemort suspect Snape if Snape was shutting his mind to him? I guess Voldemort just trusted Snape because he told him about the prophecy, and he never bothered to question his loyalty because Snape was pretty good at keeping his true alliance secret.

It would have been kinda strange for Voldemort to read Snape's mind and find a big old blank there, I think he would have realized something was up if Snape was removing his memories.

And anyways, you would still have the memory of removing your memories (And possibly seeing said memories). I always thought the point of the pensieve was more to show other people your memories than to hide them.

Actually Alec, its a longer string of comparisons

Ron's broken wand > Lockhart

Whomping Willow > Ron's Broken wand

Crookshanks > Whomping Willow

Crookshanks > Voldemort

And to think they had that cat lying around that whole time, and it could have just gone and pwned the greatest dark wizard of all time.

shortkut
July 29th, 2007, 02:23 PM
Question for people: Do you think Snape was THAT good at occlumency that he can beat the best Legilimens of the era, or did he... how do I say, take his memories out? And store them... in him >_>

I mean, make himself a portable pensieve...

ALSO...

Dumbledore > Voldemort
Draco > Dumbledore
Harry > Draco
Lockhart > Harry + Ron (back in the day)

So therefore....

Lockhart > Voldemort
ron is negative points.

AlecTrevylan006
July 29th, 2007, 02:28 PM
Well, remember, you don't read a mind like a book. You get what the mind shows you. It seems that if you're good at legilimency, you'll see more of what you want, but it's not just "Show me when he cheated on me", it's more of "Show me want he doesn't want shown".

So Voldemort would have no way of knowing there was a blank spot, unless he saw the memory of snape taking it out, and it seems that a part of Snape's occlumency skillz would be controlling which memories "pop up" when people look.

And Voldemort deifnately checked... I mean, I'm pretty sure Voldemort penetrated Snape's mind in the first chapter of book 7....

Inlé_rah
July 29th, 2007, 02:40 PM
And Voldemort deifnately checked... I mean, I'm pretty sure Voldemort penetrated Snape's mind in the first chapter of book 7....
Not to mention the night when Snape returned to Voldemort's side two hours late. Voldemort's not exactly one to trust anybody, even if they have a record of faithful service.