If one is to believe the words of the dark lord, then one would think that Voldemort was the most powerful wizard that the wizarding world has ever seen. But that statement could not be farther from the truth. In fact, when compared to the rest of the wizards in the Harry Potter universe, Tom Riddle is actually relatively one of the weakest wizards out there. Yes, it is important to note that he was a talented wizard who possessed an unparalleled ability to manipulate those around him. However, the fact that Tom handles conflict by forcing his lackeys to eliminate every and all obstacles in his path makes one question how powerful this man truly is. I mean, Tom Riddle is such a coward that he literally sent a teenage boy off to eliminate the greatest impediment to his power so that he didn’t have to do so himself.

Voldy worked in the shadows until Dumbledore was out of the way and that shows that he is so afraid of anyone standing up against him that he refuses to make a single move until every known obstacle (aside from the children of the wizarding world) was out of the way. This is a man who tried to end the life of an infant in its crib because he couldn't handle the thought of anyone standing in his way. So, without further ado, here are twenty-five wizards from the Harry Potter universe that completely blow Voldemort out of the water.

25 Dumbledore: Daft Or Dangerous

Via SciFi Stack Exchange

We all know that Dumbledore is one of the strongest in the Harry Potter universe but how many of us know the true extent of his power and his impressive lists of accomplishments. Here is a little run down on some of the things that Dumbledore achieved during his long life. He defeated Grindelwald in a world-changing battle of epic proportions. He discovered a dozen unique uses for dragon's blood. According to his memoriam which featured in the final novel of the series, Dumbledore received literally every award that his school offered as well as several of his academic papers being published in well regarded scholastic journals in the wizarding world.

But power does not entirely reside in one's achievements or control over others.

I personally believe that power is seen in one's ability to move others to act; however, if the people only follow because they are afraid then their leader has no true power. From the moment the fear evaporates so will their control and power over them. People follow Dumbledore because they trust him, not because they were afraid of what would happen if they didn’t. Dumbledore’s mere existence inspired a group of children to band together and take their educations into their own hands both before and after he passed away.

24 Our King, Ronald Weasley

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Though Ronald Weasley finds himself constantly underappreciated by the Harry Potter fandom, even the biggest Ron hater cannot deny that he decided that he was always willing to lay his life on the line for his friends and family. Yes, he can be as stubborn as a mule and has a tendency to jump to conclusions when his temper flares but that doesn’t erase the fact that he offered himself up on a plate during their first year giant chess match, descended into the pits of the chamber of secrets in their second year, and stood up to the man who broke his leg and drug him into the shrieking shack.

Every time there was a fight, Ron was right there by his best friends’ sides. Even if he was being a right ol’ git beforehand. Voldemort never considered anyone equal to him. Sure, he had armies of followers and lackeys who would do everything he asked but they only had his back because they were afraid of him. And those ties are easily broken when put to the test. Ron’s power came from the love he had for his family and friends and the fact that he would do anything he could to protect them.

23 Lily "Take No Prisoners" Evans

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Shall I compare thee to Lily Evans? No, that’s a bad idea. That would probably just make everyone involved feel as though they pale in comparison when juxtaposed against the majestic ginger unicorn that is Lily Evans. Head girl, top of her class, breaker of James and his prankster ways, mother of the boy who lived, and woman who stood up to Voldemort multiple times.

Few can compare to the absolute powerhouse that is Lily Evans.

Though Tom Riddle spends her entire life obsessed with power, he only ever considered power as a means to control others and get revenge on those who he projects his childhood pains onto. But, as this article is trying to prove, there are many different kinds of power and it can manifest itself in so many different ways. For Lily, her power comes from her refusal to yield to those who try to overpower her. When Petunia tried to knock her down due to her own jealousy, Lily did not allow it to break her. When James tried to woo her into submission, she denied his affections until he grew up and became the stand-up guy that fathered Harry. Also, according to J.K. Rowling herself, she outright refused Tom Riddle’s attempts to recruit her and James. Having the gumption to refuse to do anything that does not sit right with you and to stand up for what you believe in is a power all unto itself. Riddle does not have anything close to that.

22 Ginerva: The Fearless

Via Bustle

Following right behind the absolute powerhouse that is Lily Evans, we have another ginger boss witch that makes grown wizards tremble to their core. I am talking about the one and only Ginny Weasley. Though it must be noted that the films did completely nerf her character to the point that she was barely the same person, I have to say that book Ginny was one of the most powerful witches in the entire series. Let’s start with her magical abilities (which I must note that the film touches on as well.)

Ginny is a relative Lily Evans when it comes to her school work. She excels in school and easily masters spells that could make a seasoned wizard hesitate. Not only is she an adept witch but she is also the star of the quidditch team, an independent woman who will not let anyone shame her for her romantic pursuits, a fierce defender and protector of justice, and a warrior that fights on the front lines whenever things get tough. Ginny Weasley never backs down from a chance to defend the people she loves. Ginny’s power comes from every single direction. Honestly, if Ginny had taken Harry’s place, the story would have ended before it even began. I can just imagine a toddler version of Ginny Weasley suplexing Voldemort from her crib.

21 Regulus Black: The Silent Warrior

Vi Quora

How do I know that Regulus is more powerful than Voldemort? It’s because Regulus Black straight up took down that man in the only way that he knew how. It is important to note that I did comment earlier on in the article that I felt as though that Voldemort’s attempt to take over the world from behind the scenes was cowardly and an expression of the complete lack of power which Tom truly does possess. However, trying to achieve power through backdoor avenues is entirely different than using these sort of methods to dismantle that power. If someone is trying to achieve power without anyone knowing, they are doing so in order to dig their roots in so deep that they cannot be usurped once the public realizes the danger that they are in.

If someone is trying to dismantle a corrupt leader from behind the scenes it is solely for their own safety.

Regulus gave his life doing everything he could to stick a thorn in Voldemort’s side and corrupt his insidious plans for wizarding world domination and good ol’ Voldy Shorts did not even know about it. If that doesn’t show Regulus’s power then I don’t know what will.

20 The Unbreakable Frank & Alice Longbottom

Via Quora

I want to make it very clear when I say that people who think that getting their lackeys to curse anyone who stands in their way are weak and, honestly, a total joke. Powerful people face their enemies head-on while they are at full strength. They only zero in on their enemies when the playing field is equal. Only weak people go after those who cannot defend themselves. Only those who know that they don’t stand a fighting chance when left to their own abilities are weak and cowardly enough to think that cursing people to the point of total incapacity is an acceptable way to defeat them.

Frank and Alice display an incomparable power because they did not falter under the cowardly acts of those who tried to take them down. Though they lost their minds and spent the rest of their lives in St Mungo's hospital (due to the fact that the mental health system in the wizarding world is shockingly lacking), their power is something that should be applauded. I do not blame anyone who ends up breaking after having such a high level of curses unleashed upon them, but the fact that Frank and Alice did not waver, even for a second, just demonstrates their sheer strength. Frank and Alice’s power comes from their moral convictions and commitment to the welfare of others; something Voldemort would know absolutely nothing about even if a big dose of moral conviction waltzed right up to him and punched him in his lack of nose.

19 The Late Cedric Diggory

Via MuggleNet

Ah, Cedric. I feel like my heart falters a bit every single time that he is brought up. That boy was too good for this world and did not deserve any of what happened to him. Honestly, it is my personal belief that his sad ending is the most tragic ending in the series. But, I will admit that that is partly due to the fact that I refuse to accept the passing of Fred Weasley as canon.

Nothing anyone does or says will make me accept his passing.

But I digress. For I am here to talk about Cedric. Why would I say that someone, who we never even really saw cast a spell, is more powerful than the man who (nearly) took over the wizarding world not once but twice? Though it is mentioned that Cedric is an incredibly talented wizard, it is my belief that his power comes from his bravery. Cedric will stand up for whatever he thinks is right without hesitation or second thought. Making things right is second nature to this boy and that is something to marvel at. When Harry urged him to escape from that graveyard, Cedric stood his ground and was prepared to fight to defend his friend. And he went out like the total powerhouse that he is.

18 The Unparalleled Minerva McGonagall

Via Bustle

The majority of this article has focused on the alternative forms of power that people can possess. Strength of character, bravery, moral conviction, etc. But for this entry, I would like to focus on traditional ideas of power. I think we would be hard-pressed to find a single person on Merlin’s green Earth that does not respect Minerva McGonagall as the fierce powerhouse that she is. I mean, can anything compare to the raw power that Professor McGonagall exudes with every single word, movement, and stern glare? McGonagall’s power comes from her every pore. She simply projects this fearless, do not question me/my actions/my decisions sort of power with her every action and it is completely inspiring.

On the other hand, Voldemort is an absolute coward who couldn’t even muster up a quarter of McGonagall’s power even if he dedicated the last thirty years of his life to it. McGonagall is one of the bravest women in fiction and someone who thinks that acting out his childhood pains on other people by taking over the world is a viable thing to do. I mean, come on Tommy boy. Go to therapy to overcome that tragic backstory like the rest of us did and move on with your life.

17 Queenie "Soft Yet Fierce" Goldstein

Via FIlmink

Now, it is important to note that Queenie Goldstein never faced off with Voldemort or his lackeys at any point in either film franchise so I cannot prove her strength using evidence extracted from any of the films or books. However, I can extract some raw data and compare their abilities to see which witch comes out on top. Spoiler alert: it’s Queenie. First, we must note that these two wizards are legilimens; which are exceptionally rare in the wizarding world. For those of you who don’t know, legilimens are wizards who can read the minds of those around them. It is important to note that Voldemort is actually a powerful wizard (but an incredibly weak and cowardly person) as he is incredibly skilled in most areas of magic. He uses his mind-reading abilities to manipulate those around him into doing what he wants by finding out the things that they cannot afford to lose and holding it over their heads. There is no questioning whether or not Tom is an adept wizard.

However, Queenie’s power comes from her heart and her capacity to love.

And that motivation makes her much more powerful than Voldemort’s lust for revenge on the world that dared to wrong him. Queenie will do whatever it takes to defend those around her whilst Voldy Shorts would sell each and every one of his lackeys for three seconds alone with Harry Potter.

16 Luna: The Kind Of Heart, Mind, And Soul

Via AMC

I’m sure it will come as a surprise to no one that Luna Lovegood was featured on this list of powerful wizards. But, for Luna, her power does not come from her magic; though it is important to note that she is an incredibly talented witch. Her power comes from her heart, mind, and soul. Yes, she was a great witch but, as hard as it is for me to admit, Tom Riddle was an incredibly talented wizard as well. But what gives Luna her power was the way in which her mind worked. She saw things and understood the world in a way in which no one else could or did.

This unique perspective gave her and all of the people on her team an advantage and that advantage is just the sort of “leg up” that one needs while fighting against the corrupt forces of evil. Luna’s power also comes from her honest and kind heart. Luna puts everyone around her first without even thinking about it. It’s never even a question to her. If someone needs help then Luna will be there. If something needs to be said then Luna will say it. I don’t know about you but if I am ever going into battle, I’d want Luna on my team.

15 Remus, Sirius, And The Rest Of The Marauders

Via Harry Potter Wiki

The Marauders are so insanely powerful, man. Like, you have no idea how powerful those four boys were. Ouch, it hurts to use the past tense when talking about my favorite trio (with that unfortunate fourth member who will remain nameless and forgotten). To put their power into perspective, let us consider the fact that they created a map which could not only see but also track the movement of people who were wearing the grim reapers invisibility cloak. Not only that reaper himself could find people who were under that cloak.

They are literally more powerful than the god of demise.

These teenage boys would have been able to outwit the freaking grim reaper with ease. They also all mastered the art of transforming oneself into an animal while underaged. That is an impressive feat considering how dangerous that entire animagus process is and how likely it is for something to go horribly wrong. These boys’ power comes from their inability to settle for failure. These boys will fight with everything that they have, even when all odds are stacked against them, until the very end. And they did. James, Sirius, and Remus all went down fighting against the forces of evil with every tool they had in their arsenal until they were struck down. Ow, my heart.

14 Draco Malfoy And His Elder Wand

Via Digital Spy

Now, Draco Malfoy is a fascinating character due to the fact that he went from one of the weakest characters to one of the most emotionally powerful characters in the series. At first, Draco was a weak child who hid behind prejudiced insults in order to feel superior to the people around him. Just like a certain dark lord that I know (I mean, if you trade childish insults for going on a racially motivated rampage through the wizarding world).

However, as he grew older it became apparent that he resorted to these schoolyard insults as a result of his unstable home life and with age, his power came from his resilience. He did not waver under the immense pressure that his father put on him and he did not finish Dumbledore even though he was being forced to do so under the promise of retaliation from Tom Riddle himself. Draco’s resilience and refusal to submit to those around him shows a power like nothing Tom Riddle could ever dream of. Hold on. Can we hit pause for a second and talk about how pathetic it is that Voldemort had a child do his bidding because he was such a total wimp and couldn’t face off with his biggest enemy himself?

13 Hermione Granger: The Brightest Witch Of Her Age

Via Ilbe

Hermione Jean Granger could snap Voldemort in half with a single look. Miss Hermione Granger, brightest witch of her age, did not allow power tripping men with complexes caused by their less than ideal childhoods strike a single drop of fear into her core. She laughs at those who think that they have some right to respect, power, or anything of the sort. Twelve-year-old Hermione Granger did not shy away from saying his name clearly, loudly, and without fear, for she felt as though that there was nothing to fear about Lord Voldy Shorts.

Hermione’s power comes from her unparalleled ruthlessness that stems from her pursuit of justice.

Hermione values equality above all other things and she will fight, tooth and nail, in order to make everything fair, equal, and safe for everyone. And that is something that I admire in Hermione. She is willing to take the entire world under her wing and aggressively fight for the welfare of everyone on Merlin's green Earth. And that sort of motivation is far more powerful than spite, revenge, or anything of the sort. We’ve already explored the ramifications of a Harry Potter universe centered around Ginny Weasley, but I find myself wondering what would happen if Hermione was the girl who lived.

12 Tonks: Our Hufflepuff Queen

Via Popsugar

Tonks had no reason to fight with the order on the front lines. She knew no one in the original war and had no family that was taken from her. She even had an excuse to stay at home during the second and final battle but she refused to let everyone she loved fight for what was right while she was stuck at home. But that isn’t how Tonks does things. Unlike most grown-ups, Tonks sees the world in blacks and whites. And that’s where her power comes from. Tonks only sees things as right or wrong. There are no grey areas to her. If someone or something is doing something that is wrong or morally questionable then it is her job to stop it. She won’t wait around for someone else to step up to the plate or question whether or not she should get involved. And that is something I admire. Tonks jumps into the fire, all in and fists out, without hesitation because she knows that something bad is happening and that she has to do something about it. And I respect that. People who leap to the rescue of all those in need have a power that no one else can even hold a candle to.

11 Molly "Not My Daughter" Weasley

Via Whodatedwho

If you were to ask Ginny Weasley where she got her McNuggets of steel, she would proudly state that she got them from her mama. I don’t know about you but if I had to face off with Molly Weasley I would find myself regretting every single life choice that I had ever made that brought me to that moment. I still experience a spike of fear that runs down my spine whenever I hear Molly tear into her children after they stole their father's car to rescue Harry from his terrible Aunt and Uncle's house.

The series makes it obvious that Molly is one of the true power players.

But the true weight of her power did not hit me until she took on Bellatrix Lestrange herself in order to protect her children. You know what? I would be willing to wager that the only reason Voldemort kept cornering Harry Potter in one on one situations is so that he never had to risk having Molly Weasley come after him for endangering her favorite son. I know those are bold words but we all know that Harry was her favorite. I mean, come on, did you see the way that she continually paused mid-lecture to assure him that he was not the one her words were being directed towards?

10 Dumbledore's Army

Via Bustle

There were two iterations of Dumbledore’s Army and each iteration was equally as brave and powerful. The first iteration arose after Umbridge enacted her magic-free classroom policy, which sent Hermione into an absolute rage (which I think we all agree should be avoided at all costs) and prompted her to start her own black market version of a classroom. You wouldn’t download an education, would you? Of course you would. Education is incredibly expensive in North America. But I digress. Each and every single one of those children was ready to put their lives on the line in order to fight for what was right and that is something that I deeply admire.

Those children faced Umbridge’s wrath and then faced off with Voldemort’s lackeys in the department of mysteries. And then the trio left to finish Dumbledore’s task and take down Voldemort, the gang got back together and worked to stop corruption from spreading through Hogwarts. These kids were willing to lay their lives down on the line to protect their peers and the rest of the wizarding world. Their power came from the fact that they did not hesitate to take matters into their own hands and to do what is right.

9 Newt "Bleeding Heart" Scamander

Via Harry Potter Wiki

Though opinions may be severely divided when it comes to the lore expanding franchise that circles around Grindelwald's rise and fall from power, I think that everyone will agree when I say that Newt Scamander is one of the most delightful and pure characters in the entire Harry Potter universe. If Luna and Newt were to have a child, the world could not handle the adorable sweetness that would exude from every pore of that offspring. Newt Scamander was willing to lay his life on the line in order to protect his creatures, Credence, and everyone else that he encountered on his adventures. The power of compassion is one of the strongest powers of all. I know, I know.

That sounds like dialogue from a children's after-school special but it’s true.

When someone fights for everyone, they are able to get power from everyone that they are fighting for. And eventually, the people that they have protected join their ranks and continue the fight, side by side. However, people who fight for themselves and nothing but themselves will slowly alienate everyone around them as everything is fodder for the fire that burns within them. And instead of adding to their list of allies, they will simply be racking up enemies. And fighting against an ever-growing list of enemies seems incredibly counterproductive to me. Voldemort could not hold a candle to the sweet, compassionate, and brave force of power that is Newt Scamander.

8 Xenophilius And His Beacon Of Truth

People who put themselves on the line for the people that they love are some of the bravest people in the world. But people who risk it all in order to ensure the safety of complete strangers are in a whole other realm of bravery. We live in such an individualistic “dog eat dog” world that the idea of someone risking everything they have in order to save a complete and total stranger is practically unheard of. Which is why I find myself being entirely consumed with respect for Xenophilius and any other member of the Quibbler staff who risked their personal safety in order to continue publishing honest, real, and propaganda-free accounts of what was truly going on in the wizarding world while Voldemort was rising to power and Fudge (as well as the rest of the wizarding world) was doing everything that they could to deny what was happening.

Words have power, especially when published and the Quibbler’s decision to publish the truth, regardless of the consequence, kept the power with the resistance. Had they allowed yet another publication to fall victim to power-hungry propaganda, they would have removed the last bit of information from the hands of the people. And ignorant people are far more easy to control and overtake. Keeping their people informed kept the power in their hands.

7 Neville Longbottom: The True Gryffindor

Via Bustle

Neville freaking Longbottom faced off with Voldemort himself while Voldemort was, arguably, at the height of his power. This boy started out one of the weirdest, awkwardest, most unfortunate boy in their year. He was the punchline of every joke and seemingly only existed as a bit of an obstacle to the trios antics as well as comic relief. However, as the series progressed, Neville began a relative powerhouse within the gang and carved out his own place at Hogwarts. Like his parents, Neville never turned down an opportunity to stand up for (or even fight for) what was right. This resulted in him literally screaming in the face of Voldemort after the rest of the people fighting on the right side of history had lost hope. Seriously. Things were looking bleak and it seemed like there was no chance for anyone but Tom Riddle to come out of this battle victorious.

But Neville did not allow his fellow troops to lose faith.

So he essentially told Voldemort to take his attempts at conversion and to stick them where the sun don’t shine because they did not want to be any part of what he was selling. Neville’s power comes from his refusal to do anything that he does not feel is right and his willingness to fight for it.

6 The Terrifying Mad-Eye Moody

Via Hero Complex

Mad-Eye Moody was one of the most outright powerful wizards in the wizarding world. Which is why I believe that Voldemort had to take him down at the start of the seventh novel in the series. I mean, how could one conceivably rise to power when someone like Moody was out there acting with constant vigilance? If he had not have been eliminated, then I guarantee that he would have either stopped the infiltration of the government before it was able to truly spread or he would accompany the children on the Horcrux hunting quest. I think, with Moody at their side, they could have gotten things all wrapped up by Christmas at the absolute latest.

Moody’s power, surprisingly enough, came from his lack of morality. Let me explain, while Moody himself did do what was right and acted with morality, he had the ability to possess the moral free mind of the villain and was able to think without the ideas of right and wrong clouding up his ideas. He knew that villains would not hesitate to cross that moral line and being able to anticipate that gave him a tactical advantage. Too many people think that there is a line that not even the worst villain would cross and seeing past that gave Moody the edge he needed to stay on top for so long.