Every professor from the Harry Potter books, ranked by how good they were at their jobs

As a seasoned Hogwarts alumna who has witnessed the trials and triumphs of the magical world, I must say that Minerva McGonagall stands head and shoulders above her fellow professors. Her life experiences have shaped her into an unyielding force, both in and out of the classroom.

In the world of Harry Potter, readers meet an array of professors who impart magical knowledge at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Let’s evaluate these educators and determine which ones excel, which struggle, and where they stand in our ranking. Here, we appraise each Hogwarts teacher based on their performance and effectiveness.

Note from the Author: In the magical world of Harry Potter, numerous teachers make brief appearances. However, for the sake of this compilation, we will be ranking the 15 professors who have the most significant impact on Harry Potter and his friends during their time at Hogwarts, as they are the ones readers encounter and engage with the most throughout their educational journey.

15. Quirinus Quirrell

Upon their initial visit to Hogwarts, an assortment of fresh, peculiar, and engaging characters are introduced. It’s not hard to see why Quirrell managed to slip by with his unusual behavior during most of Harry’s first academic year. Quirrell’s Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were often seen as a mere joke, while his reluctance to divulge details about his supposed run-in with a vampire sparked intrigue. Instead of engaging with him directly, students began speculating about why his classroom had an unusual garlic odor, forming their own theories rather than interacting with him.

But Quirrell had a secret: he was sharing a body with Voldemort, the dark lord himself. When you try to murder your students, it doesn’t win you any brownie points. Despite being the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher after years of serving as the Muggle Studies professor, he coudln’t defend himself. He fell short on all levels.

14. Amycus Carrow

If Defense Against the Dark Arts transforms solely into the Dark Arts, you’re likely in for a difficult situation. In J.K. Rowling’s final book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we learn from Neville Longbottom about Amycus’s unpleasant nature. We witness this firsthand when Harry secretly enters Hogwarts and successfully conceals himself in the Ravenclaw common room. Amycus intrudes, searching for his sister Alecto (who is not extensively interacted with by readers), and becomes enraged upon finding her unconscious on the floor. When Professor Minerva McGonagall challenges his absurd plan to blame the students for their failures, he responds disgracefully by spitting in her face.

Showing disregard towards your coworkers, particularly in the presence of pupils? That’s not acceptable behavior. Additionally, attempting to scapegoat those students for your own flaws? Such an action would have earned that individual the wrathful spell that Harry cast upon him, known as the Crucio curse.

13. Dolores Umbridge

Indeed, the vast number of teachers depicted in books often hail from Defense Against the Dark Arts. However, unlike most of them, Umbridge stands out as an exceptionally poor instructor. She dished out insincere compliments to her colleagues and manipulated the curriculum to align with the Ministry’s regressive ideologies instead of factual knowledge. She showed little interest in forming genuine relationships with students who didn’t flatter her, and even those interactions were likely shallow. What’s more, she resorted to using punishment as a means of control, going so far as to harm students.

I assure you I won’t speak falsely, and it’s important to note that Umbridge isn’t just one of the saddest characters we encounter in the series; she is manipulative, harsh, and clearly not suited for the position of a professor.

12. Barty Crouch Jr. (Posing as Mad-Eye Moody)

In “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” we encounter a new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, yet it’s not until the end that we discover this isn’t the genuine Mad-Eye Moody. To our disappointment, an undercover Death Eater named Barty Crouch Jr., had been posing as the Auror all along, utilizing polyjuice potion to mask his true identity. Despite being unaware of Moody’s capabilities, readers soon realize that Crouch Jr.’s understanding of the Dark Arts allowed him to teach effectively, albeit with questionable methods. For instance, transforming a student into a ferret as punishment was against Hogwarts’ rules, especially since Draco Malfoy wasn’t exactly an ideal candidate for such treatment. Moreover, using unforgivable curses on spiders raised concerns about animal welfare and respect. Nevertheless, Crouch Jr.’s lessons effectively communicated the intended messages to his students.

To clarify, Crouch Jr., though he aided in Voldemort’s return and engaged in deceptive practices, was nonetheless able to teach valuable lessons, in spite of his malicious motives.

11. Gilderoy Lockhart

In “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, when Lockhart assumed Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching duties, he boasted frequently about his past exploits and linked them to his popular books. This behavior clearly irked his colleagues, and as he frantically packed to escape without confronting the Chamber of Secrets, he paid little attention to the students’ welfare. Despite seeming proficient in his subject matter, it hardly comes as a shock when he confesses that his published works were not personal experiences but rather exaggerations. Essentially, Lockhart is like the cat wearing a police dog vest in the meme with the caption, “When you fake your resume but still get the job.

10. Sybill Trelawney

The subject of divination appears to be a complex one, and Professor Trelawney didn’t exactly make it seem easy. Despite her efforts to teach diverse methods for predicting the future, most of these techniques don’t appear to work effectively when applied. However, she does possess a talent for having clairvoyant moments (like correctly predicting Neville breaking a cup or Hermione leaving in a huff towards the end of the school year). Yet, her predictions do not necessarily reflect her teaching abilities. Some students seemed to appreciate her, and it’s only those pupils that appear to have grasped any knowledge she tried to impart.

Trelawney was undeniably distinct, yet her behavior seemed unsuitable for a professional setting when she launched into a tirade at Harry following their shared sherry, even going so far as to secretly stash her bottles in the Room of Requirement. Such traits are less than desirable and thus not suitable for a top evaluation.

9. Cuthbert Binns

History of Magic is a broad subject with many aspects. Binns, being a ghost, knew quite a bit about history and may have lived through some of the events he taught. Although he doesn’t have an exceedingly strong presence in the books, he did leave an impression on me that puts him in the top 10. Despite giving boring lectures, he was viewed as a reliable and knowledgeable source. When asked for information about the Chamber of Secrets, Binns at first resisted, insisting that he stick to facts rather than “myths and legends.” Moved by the show of interest from his students, Binns relents and tells the tale. It’s a bit disappointing that he lacked a connection with his students (he couldn’t get Hermione’s last name right for the life, or death, of him), but I appreciate that he was dedicated to truth and facts, and that he went off book when his students showed real interest.

8. Firenze

During the storyline in the books, Firenze takes over as Divination teacher at Hogwarts from Trelawney. Firenze is a unique creature, being both man and horse, a centaur. His approach to Divination leaned more towards astrology and astronomy, and he seemed to be well-regarded by his students. He even went so far as to collaborate with Trelawney in teaching the subject, despite not agreeing with her methods of fortune-telling, which he felt were limited to human perceptions rather than the broader insights that centaurs possess.

As a discerning film critic, I must commend the actor’s portrayal of an unconventional authority figure. His unique approach to instruction, coupled with his empathetic response to student struggles, was both refreshing and unexpected. Instead of adhering rigidly to a single solution for every problem, this character acknowledges the existence of fallibility and variability, making for a more nuanced and relatable performance.

7. Pomona Sprout

Herbology is a complex subject. How to handle different plants and what their properties are requires a lot of study and dedication. Sprout showed how robust her knowledge of the subject was when teaching a lesson on mandrakes, giving concise and clear instructions to her students to ensure they would be safe, like putting on earmuffs until given a signal so no one would get knocked out by the mandrakes’ cries. She also used her keen intellect to use mandrakes later in order to help students who had been petrified.

Yet, it appeared she didn’t form deep bonds with students from other years. Overhearing her remark to Crouch Jr., one might wonder if Neville realized she considered him talented in her subject, but this remained unclear. Conversely, she seemed to have a friendly rapport with many of her fellow teachers, as evidenced by her gathering ingredients for Slughorn’s Potions class together.

6. Rubeus Hagrid

Regarding his expertise in magical creature care, Hagrid performed quite well as a teacher. His interactive sessions were engaging and enjoyable for the students. However, he failed to prioritize student safety during these lessons. Despite this shortcoming, he still ranks favorably on our list due to his charming personality and the practical knowledge he imparted, which proved useful in numerous instances. Beyond his role as a teacher, Hagrid’s enormous heart was evident as he consistently cared for both students and creatures, even outside of lessons.

5. Horace Slughorn

In regards to Potions instruction, Professor Horace Slughorn demonstrated a deep comprehension of the subject. He was supportive of his students, yet displayed bias towards his “Slug Club” members, attempting to leverage them for networking purposes, which detracts from his overall evaluation. Furthermore, it was inappropriate and unprofessional of him to consume alcohol excessively in Harry’s presence (and yes, Hagrid too drank in that scene, but Slughorn supplied the alcohol, making both of them somewhat reckless).

On a favorable note, here’s what it took for Harry to persuade Slughorn into revealing the memory of a young Voldemort: This memory provided insight that Slughorn was forced by Tom Riddle (Voldemort) to disclose information about Horcruxes. Prior to his return to Hogwarts as a teacher, Slughorn was influenced by Dumbledore to reconsider his retirement. Though not particularly strong or independent, Slughorn was knowledgeable and generally kind, albeit with room for improvement in maintaining firm professional and personal boundaries.

4. Filius Flitwick

Throughout the Harry Potter series, Professor Flitwick made frequent appearances. Known for his dedication to his students’ academic and personal growth, he displayed great enthusiasm when Harry received a new broom. Respected as one of the rare Hogwarts teachers who lasted all seven years of Harry’s education, Flitwick played a crucial role in the school’s security system and assisted in defending both the school and its students during the climactic battle against Voldemort and his followers. Despite his small stature, Flitwick proved himself to be one of the most dependable figures among them all.

3. Remus Lupin

Without a doubt, Lupin stood out as one of Hogwarts’ most exceptional Defense Against the Dark Arts instructors. His unique background in survival skills and magic made his classes captivating and informative. From Lupin, students learned valuable lessons such as how to cast a patronus charm. He fostered curiosity among his pupils and showed genuine care for their welfare. Readers and students alike appreciated Lupin’s solid teaching abilities and compassionate demeanor. And let’s not forget, he suggested eating chocolate when feeling low – a fact that certainly adds to his charm!

2. Severus Snape

In a tough call, it was difficult to choose between the top two, but Snape definitely deserved one spot. As Potions Master, Snape often appeared aloof, quick-tempered, and biased towards students he didn’t get along with (which isn’t great for a teacher, despite his actions making sense later). This behavior was less than ideal in his role as an educator.

1. Minerva McGonagall

In the grand scope of the Harry Potter series, McGonagall stood out as one of the most formidable characters. Known for being both stern and intelligent, she demonstrated remarkable skill in Transfiguration, stunning her students by transforming into a cat during their initial encounter with her. She took her classes seriously, grading students rigorously but fairly, always paying close attention to the finer details of their work. Yet, she was also adaptable, quick-witted, and incredibly smart. She had no patience for foolishness. While she didn’t form close bonds with many students, she did show empathy and kindness when needed. She was a staunch defender of Hogwarts, its students, and staff, swiftly responding to any issues that arose. Her unwavering dependability and fierce loyalty were commendable traits, earning her great respect from her students. She was known for her sassy, sarcastic demeanor, making her one of the most respected professors at Hogwarts.

2024-11-16 18:42