Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

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Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe)
Harry is widely hailed as the hero of the wizarding world. Though evil Lord Voldemort killed Harry's parents when he was a baby, Harry miraculously survived the attack with just the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, earning him the nickname "The Boy Who Lived."

Known for his scar, messy black hair and perfectly round glasses, Harry grew up with his neglectful aunt in the Muggle (nonwizard) world, unaware of his hero status. When a mysterious letter arrives just before his 11th birthday, Harry learns of his true powers and sets off to begin his studies at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and becomes the star Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Harry's fate is tied with Lord Voldemort's, and it's up to him to defeat the Dark Lord and protect the friends who have become the only family he's ever known.
Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort

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Lord Voldemort (played by Ralph Fiennes)
Lord Voldemort was born Tom Riddle, but those who fear him most call him "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

This Dark Lord grew up unloved and eventually killed his Muggle family before starting a bloody war for pure-blood supremacy, though he is a half-blood (half-Muggle, half-wizard) himself. His physical shape has changed over the years, and he now appears as a skeletal figure with a snake-like nose.

Voldemort is embarrassed when young Harry Potter evades his grasp, and it becomes his lifelong goal to take down Harry and anyone who stands in his path.
Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore

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Albus Dumbledore (played by Richard Harris and later by Michael Gambon)
The longtime headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore is known as the most powerful wizard of his time. He's easily recognizable by his long, silver hair and beard.

Dumbledore is one of Harry's biggest supporters—he was the one who sent young Harry to his Muggle aunt for protection after his parents' deaths. The wizard also formed the Order of Phoenix, a secret society of allies dedicated to defeating the Dark Lord and protecting Harry.
Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley

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Ron Weasley (played by Rupert Grint )
With his bright red hair, Ron is easily identifiable as youngest son of the large and struggling Weasley family. Though he's often picked on by members of the Slytherin House for his hand-me-down clothes and wizarding supplies, he bravely stands up to fight alongside Harry when things get really dangerous.

The pair met before their first train ride to Hogwarts and quickly became friends. Ron keeps things lighthearted with his bumbling nature and frequent jokes and plays on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

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Hermione Granger (played by Emma Watson)
Hermione (pronounced "Her-my-oh-nee") is the star student of the Gryffindor House, and her vast range of knowledge helps her best friends, Harry and Ron, out of plenty of scrapes. Some people call her a show-off, but that's probably just jealousy speaking. Hermione is 100 percent Muggle, raised outside of the wizarding world by her dentist parents.

Her sense of justice is unrivaled, and she's not afraid to step in if she feels someone is being exploited. You'll often find her fighting for the rights of magical creatures, from hippogriffs to house-elves.
Alan Rickman as Severus Snape

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Severus Snape (played by Alan Rickman)
It's the ultimate Harry Potter debate: Is Snape a friend to Voldemort or a friend to Dumbledore? Either way, Harry and his friends never trust the Potions professor who continually picks on them in class and is head of the rival Slytherin House. Plus, he's got a known passion for studying the Dark Arts.

Snape was a childhood friend to Harry's mom, but he never got over being humiliated by Harry's dad during their time as Hogwarts students. Though he now bears the Dark Mark that Voldemort's allies wear on their arms, Dumbledore seems to trust him.
Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid

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Rubeus Hagrid (played by Robbie Coltrane)
Half-giant and half-human, Hagrid makes a big first impression. Despite his appearance, he's a gentle soul whose cabin becomes a safe haven for Harry and his friends at Hogwarts.

As the gamekeeper for the school, Hagrid has a knack for raising magical creatures. An outcast in the wizarding world, he shows a soft spot for other misunderstood beings, from dragons to giant spiders.
Gary Oldman as Sirius Black

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Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman )
Sirius is Harry's godfather. He was best friends with Harry's father and spent much of his time with the Potter family after he was disowned for refusing to join his family's fight for pure-blood dominance.

But his allegiance to the family was questioned when he was framed for murdering Harry's parents. After spending 12 years in the frightening Azkaban prison, Sirius escapes to watch over Harry.

As an Animagus, Sirius can change form into a large black dog affectionately known as "Padfoot."
Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

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Draco Malfoy (played by Tom Felton)
As the only child of a wealthy and powerful family in Voldemort's inner circle, Draco enjoyed a spoiled childhood. He wants to emulate his father and strives to prove his loyalty to Voldemort whenever possible.

Draco is Harry's biggest rival at Hogwarts and enjoys nothing more than tormenting members of the Gryffindor House. He plays directly against Harry as Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team.
Ginny, George, Fred and Ron Weasley

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The Weasley Family: Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny
Though they have plenty of children of their own to care for, Arthur and Molly Weasley often treat Harry and Hermione as their own. Arthur works in the Ministry of Magic, where he explores his interest in how the Muggle world works.

The eldest Weasley children have a bit of a thirst for adventure—Bill works in Egypt as a curse-breaker, and Charlie trains dragons in Romania. Percy was the head of Gryffindor when Harry first came to Hogwarts and loves nothing more than following the rules. But twins Fred and George love to make mischief, constantly casting charms and playing pranks. And despite being the youngest and the only girl, Ginny bravely steps in to help whenever trouble is brewing.