By Hilary Elizabeth
Slytherin has fostered some pretty terrible wizards, both ethically and talent-wise. Here are the strongest and weakest Slytherins in Harry Potter!
Within the wizarding world of Harry Potter, there seem to be some near-universal truths. Voldemort is one of the most powerful but one of the worst wizard who ever lived. Albus Dumbledore is the greatest of all time. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the best magical education in the world. And no one wants to be in house Slytherin unless they're the bad guys or proud, arrogant purebloods.
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While it's true that most of the dark wizards who came from Hogwarts got their education in house Slytherin, the home of the snake isn't onlyfilled with snaky students. Many Slytherin students have done terrible things, butmany others have also achieved greatness and goodness that most witches and wizards couldn't even dream of accomplishing. And boy, did some of them pack a powerful punch!
Here are the five most powerful students in Slytherin history, along with the five worst.
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Worst: Draco Malfoy
As far as dark wizards go, Draco Malfoy is hardly the evilest to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts. Mainly, he is just kind of a smug little jerk, and his willingness to join the Death Eaters was not only an unwise decision butalso arrogant as the teenager wrote checks that he couldn't cash.
Draco'smoral strength, as well as his backbone, was obviously tragically lacking during most of his time at Hogwarts.However, Draco's failure as a student and Death Eater was probably because he assumed his pureblood made him a stronger wizard, but he found himself bested by others in almost every battle.
Most Powerful:Bellatrix Lestrange
To be able to single yourself out as the most unappealing and insufferable Death Eater in Voldemort's army is an accomplishment all on its own. Bellatrix Lestrange is absolutely deranged even on her best days, and her fawning school girl crush on the noseless wonder that is the dark lord is as gross as it is inexplicable.
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The crimes Bellatrix has committed are too many to count, and she performed every one with her typical manic glee. Watching Molly Weasley finally putBellatrixin her place for good provided some unforgettable catharsis that every normal person needed after seeing her disgusting shenanigans.
Worst: Lucius Malfoy
Clearly the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Draco is a shifty little weasel, but it's easy to see where he learned that behavior from. Lucius Malfoy is pretty clearly a bad person, but he's a perfect example of how banal cruelty and evilness can be.
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Lucius likes to control, humiliate, and cause people pain, but he's also too weak and self-absorbed to really become one of the evil "greats," so to speak. Lucius is more powerful than some wizards, but relatively speaking he isn't nearly as powerful ashe should be considering his role in Voldemort's army. Furthermore, Lucius is mentally weak, an opportunistic person who only has allegiance to himself.
Most Powerful: Severus Snape
Severus Snape was a Death Eater turned Hogwarts professor who could apparently call Lord Voldemort and Albus Dumbledore two of his best friends, and it wasn't until his literal last moments of life that it was clear whose side he was truly on.
In a moment that shocked everyone, Snape was revealed to have been an undercover good guy all along, but the mere fact that he could fool absolutely everyone, even the legendary dark lord,served as an astounding testament to his incredible skill as a wizard. Although Snape was never easy to swallow, he used those skills for good.
Worst: Dolores Umbridge
Who knew that pure evil was such a fan of fluffy pink bolero jackets? Before her tenure at Hogwarts, Harry Potter and his compatriots had never heard the name Dolores Umbridge, and after they met her they undoubtedly wished they could still say the same.
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Professor Umbridge embodies everything that is wrong with the organized magical world, and it's easy to see why she prefers being a pencil pusher over practicing actual magic. Dolores appears to have somewhat formidable magical powers, but the mere fact that she chooses to control and abuse people through bureaucracy makes it seem like she's much less powerful than she'd like to admit.
Most Powerful: Voldemort
While old Voldy wantedto be known as the greatest wizard who ever lived, he fell short in his aims. However, he was glad to take the consolation prize of being themost powerful and dangerous dark wizard who ever lived. Furthermore, Voldemort probably would have appreciated the distinction of being the craziest student in the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Voldemort's most powerful (and vile) exploits took place after he had already left Hogwarts, but throughout his school career, he had proven that his power was unlike anything the world had ever seen.
Worst: Goyle
Prior to the Battle of Hogwarts, Draco's lackeys - Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle - were almost entirely indistinguishable from one another. The dubious way in which Crabbe managed to separate himself from Goyle is something that will be covered later, but Goyle was a Hogwarts student who seemed barely capable of functioning as a normal person let alone as a wizard.
It didn't appear that Goyle had any natural powersof note. His lack of intelligence, coupled with the fact that he seemed to torment other students in the most mundane of ways, make it seem as if Goyle was just a step above a squib.
Most Powerful: Merlin
Thereare powerful wizards, then there are POWERFULwizards. There are plenty of legends who have left a permanent mark on the wizarding world, but few accomplished so much that they became legends in the muggle world as well.
Merlin is one such wizard. Merlin's most famous and well-known exploits were clearly as part of King Arthur's fabled Knights of the Round Table, but the wizard actually started his career at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That's right,Merlin was sorted into house Slytherin.
Worst:Crabbe
The goal of the Tweedledee and Tweedledum duo of Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle seems to simply be Draco's little bully henchmen, and it's easy to see why. To be frank, someone like Vincent Crabbe doesn't appear to have the aptitude to even use magic correctly let alone wield any legitimate power.
Consequently, Crabbefalls back on the one thing that he knows he can rely on:His fists. If thatwasn't enough, this nitwit managed to accidentally kill himself with the Fiendfyreduring the Battle of Hogwarts.
Most Powerful: Salazar Slytherin
It's pretty tough to top someone like Merlin, but it wouldn't be right for any wizard besidesSalazar Slytherin to take the top spot. Obviously Salazar was one of the most powerful wizards of his era, and his influence on the wizarding worldbecameseemingly everlasting once he decided to become a part of the OG Hogwarts quartet.
While the house that bears his nameearneda pretty bad rap, Salazar had some pretty admirable qualities that made him a great wizard on top of being a skilled one.
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FAQs
Who is the most powerful Slytherin wizard? ›
1. Voldemort. Tom Riddle took the core qualities of Slytherin to new heights, as he became arguably the most powerful dark wizard of all time. He learned how to split his soul and create numerous Horcruxes, thereby making himself immortal as long as the Horcruxes existed.
Who is the bad Slytherin? ›Salazar Slytherin is the posthumous overarching antagonist of the Harry Potter franchise. He is one of the four founders of Hogwarts who founded the House of Slytherin and the ancestor of Lord Voldemort.
Who is the most famous Slytherin? ›- Salazar Slytherin – Founder.
- Severus Snape – Headmaster.
- Horace Slughorn – Head of House.
- The Malfoy Family.
- Regalus Black.
- Andromeda Tonks.
- Dolores Umbridge.
- Merlin.
Salazar Slytherin
One of the four most brilliant witches and wizards of his age it takes quite a bit of cunning and smarts to both build and hide a secret chamber beneath the school, and the noses, of the other most brilliant wizards and witches of the age.
Scorpius Malfoy
The son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass, Scorpius had a central role in The Cursed Child, where he is Albus' best friend and was one of the good Slytherin wizards. It makes sense that he became a vital component in the scheme to save the world, and prevent Voldemort from coming back.
Formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort was the most formidable evil wizard in the entire universe. Until Harry Potter, Voldemort's magical prowess was practically unmatched, and no one could stand a chance against him.
Who was best wizards from Slytherin? ›- 6 Dolores Umbridge.
- 5 Lucius Malfoy.
- 4 Draco Malfoy.
- 3 Leta Lestrange.
- 2 Severus Snape.
- 1 Tom Riddle.
Unfortunately, Slytherin has constantly been associated with evil witches and wizards. Most of this negativity surrounding Slytherin came because of the rise of Lord Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters.
Are most Slytherin evil? ›Slytherin doesn't mean evil! Some Slytherins have avoided becoming the worst of the worst. The question of what makes a Slytherin not fully evil essentially amounts to whether they embraced wizard fascism or not, either by following Lord Voldemort or pursuing purist policies in government.
What are Slytherin afraid of? ›Slytherins have a fear of failure since their cunning mentalities encourage them to be perfect at all times. Repeated failures are what people of the house are really afraid of, though, because it opens up the possibility for them to consider that they might be weak in some way.
Is Billie Eilish a Slytherin? ›
Billie Eilish – Slytherin
From the contemplative “everything i wanted” to the sheer confidence of “you should see me in a crown,” the two polar extremities of her complex character fit perfectly with Slytherin traits.
The Head of Slytherin is Horace Slughorn (who left the role to Severus Snape for fifteen years before taking it up again in 1996) and the House's patron ghost is the Bloody Baron.
Who is the bravest Slytherin? ›Two Slytherins who are especially brave are Severus Snape and Regulus Black.
What is the least smart Hogwarts house? ›There is an idea that Hufflepuffs are the least clever of all Hogwarts students – but that is not true. Hufflepuffs are just the most humble of all the houses and don't feel the need to shout about their achievements in the same way as the others.
Who are Slytherin best friends? ›Hufflepuff: The “I've Got Your Back” Friend
Since Slytherins are often on edge, they truly appreciate the safe space that Hufflepuffs create. They ground Slytherins and keep their heads in the right place. In return for that kindness and compassion, Slytherins would move mountains for their Hufflepuff counterparts.
Horace Slughorn really exemplified the Slytherin skill for self-preservation. He didn't seem to do anything that wouldn't benefit him, so you'd be forgiven for thinking he might not wish to stick around and risk his life. But he did – and faced Voldemort himself.
What is Slytherin best at? ›Slytherins are hardworking and desire success. They are known to achieve great things (even if not always good things). They are the kind of people who make you want to be better just by being around them. They are determined and resourceful.
Who is the smartest wizard in Harry Potter? ›1. Albus Dumbledore. Image via Warner Bros.
What's the strongest spell in Harry Potter? ›- Expulsion. The curse was used to create immense explosions that shattered the target with a beam of blue light. ...
- Confringo. The explosive curse (Confringo) was a curse that made the target explode. ...
- Sectumsempra. ...
- Legilimens. ...
- Avada Kedavra. ...
- Imperius Curse.
Hands-down, Albus Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard of his time. Most regarded him as the strongest wizard in history, and even Lord Voldemort himself feared to face him. Beyond his many impressive titles and positions of power, Dumbledore exhibited absolutely extraordinary abilities on several occasions.
Who was the best fighter in Harry Potter? ›
Championed by many as the single best fighter in the franchise, Dumbledore was an energetic and ferocious duelist despite his calm and collected personality. He single-handedly beat his former friend and lover, Grindelwald, despite the latter being in possession of the Elder Wand at the time.
Who is stronger than Voldemort? ›Like Tom Marvolo Riddle (aka Voldemort), Merlin was a Slytherin, an ambitious, powerful wizard. He was a wizarding legend, and, of course, more powerful than the Dark Lord. According to the Harry Potter Wiki, Merlin was “arguably one of the most powerful wizards of all time”.
Who is the most powerful wizard in Ravenclaw? ›Most Powerful: Filius Flitwick
The Head of Ravenclaw House while Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, Filius Flitwick was also the professor of Charms class.
It appeared ij Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Slytherin narrowly defeated Ravenclaw and probably gained second place in the league, which concerned Gryffindor because they needed to win against Hufflepuff by enough points to be second in the league and have a chance at winning the cup.
Do all Slytherins become evil? ›Not all Slytherins are corruptible
Three wizards not without their flaws. Malfoy appeared mean, Snape appeared cruel and Slughorn appeared elitist – but each one, at some point or another, unveiled a different side of themselves.
The traits that get you placed into Slytherin are ambition, resourcefulness, determination, and cleverness. An association with villainous characters and elitism has given Slytherin the reputation of being an evil house.
What is Slytherin weakness? ›Weaknesses: Like the other houses, Slytherins have their weaknesses as well. They tend to be unscrupulous—Machiavellian even—as well as power hungry and discriminatory. Slytherins will often do morally ambiguous things to achieve their goals.
Can you be a brave Slytherin? ›You can be incredibly brave and be a Slytherin
Bravery and chivalry are the most recognised traits when it comes to Gryffindor – though they don't have the monopoly on courage. There have been many Slytherins who have also demonstrated these characteristics. Regulus Black and Severus Snape are two perfect examples.
Peter Pettigrew, (a.k.a. Wormtail), is the only Death Eater known to have been in a House other than Slytherin (Gryffindor) while at Hogwarts.
What house does Slytherin hate? ›ENEMIES. Slytherins and Ravenclaws - Slytherins hate rules and Ravenclaws are ingenious. Together they can take over the world or create amazing spells. Or they can hate eachother with a fury and rage.
What is a true Slytherin? ›
Traits. Slytherins tended to be ambitious, shrewd, cunning, strong leaders, and achievement-oriented. They also had highly developed senses of self-preservation. This means that Slytherins tended to hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done.
What house does Slytherin like? ›After a fellow Slytherin, the next best match for this shrewd house would probably be Ravenclaw. A Slytherin could use Ravenclaw's intellectual and inquisitive nature to their advantage, plan their world domination in minute detail.
What is Draco Malfoy afraid of? ›Draco Malfoy - Voldemort
In this game, it becomes clear that Draco Malfoy's Boggart is Lord Voldemort. Draco's fear of Voldemort likely comes from different reasons than others have. Most fear Voldemort taking over the world. Draco fears Voldemort intimidating and manipulating the Malfoy family.
Ariana Grande revealed she's a Slytherin.
Actor Tom Felton told Huffpost he thought Grande would be a Gryffindor. She revealed on Twitter the quiz told her she's a Slytherin, but she's down to change that up.
Slytherin: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
This house is stereotypically the house where all the villains of the wizarding world originate (sorry, water signs), but IMO, they're also the most misunderstood, which is also true of water signs (particularly Pisces).
The BTS leader placed himself and Jin in Gryffindor, picked J-Hope and V for Hufflepuff, chose Jungkook for Ravenclaw, and opted Slytherins for Jimin and Suga.
Who is Slytherins dad? ›Salazar was born into a wealthy Irish pure-blood family; he was the eldest child and only son of Tertius and Cordelia Slytherin and elder brother of Elianna Slytherin.
Which Hogwarts house is a leader? ›Gryffindor, The Proud Leader: It is unmistakable for any who have read the Harry Potter series, that the Gryffindor house is full of pride, courage, and determination.
Who is the most powerful wizard at Hogwarts? ›Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort ever feared and the only one who could have defeated him in a duel. Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the Harry Potter.
Which is the most powerful Hogwarts house? ›Hufflepuffs often get stereotyped as not having a lot of 'strong' traits but in this regard, they are actually the strongest of all the Hogwarts houses. The Hogwarts school song also points out that they are "unafraid of toil".
Who is the most powerful wizard in? ›
Hands-down, Albus Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard of his time. Most regarded him as the strongest wizard in history, and even Lord Voldemort himself feared to face him. Beyond his many impressive titles and positions of power, Dumbledore exhibited absolutely extraordinary abilities on several occasions.
Who is the most evil wizard? ›Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), aka Tom Riddle, was described by Dumbledore as one of the best students ever to graduate Hogwarts as well as "the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time." Before he had even learned about the existence of the Wizarding world, he was terrorizing his fellow orphans with impressive but ...
What is the weakest Harry Potter house? ›While the other houses seem cool and invite a certain allure, Hufflepuff is a little different. Often considered the least desirable of all the sorting options, here are some reasons why Hufflepuff house is the worst.
Which Hogwarts House is the most stubborn? ›The haughty eagle is always ready for a debate and can sometimes turn folks off with their strong – but always thought-out – opinions. Ravenclaws are thoughtful and very often stubborn, which can frustrate even their most patient friends and colleagues.
What is the 2nd best Hogwarts House? ›Gryffindor was by far the Hogwarts House people were most proud of, either individually or by state. ... Maybe people were more curious about the dark arts than light magic. ... Although arguably the least popular, Hufflepuff homes were still the second most sorted-into house individually.
Who was Slytherin Head Boy? ›As the prefect of Slytherin and the Head Boy at Hogwarts, Craig Bowker Jr. is ambitious and always trying his best.
What does Slytherin fear the most? ›Slytherins have a fear of failure since their cunning mentalities encourage them to be perfect at all times. Repeated failures are what people of the house are really afraid of, though, because it opens up the possibility for them to consider that they might be weak in some way.