Top 10 Smartest Harry Potter Characters

You can't throw a cursed quill in the Harry Potter universe without hitting someone brilliant. From the bookish to the battle-hardened, this world is full of characters whose brains are just as sharp as their wands.

This list is built on votes from fans just like you who have weighed spellwork against street smarts, book knowledge against bold strategy. Magic alone doesn't cut it. Any fool can shout Alohomora. But knowing when to use it, or better yet, figuring out a completely different solution? That's where the real brains come in. Think of it as magical Mensa with robes.

The Top Ten

Albus Dumbledore

Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He serves as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for most of the series. Dumbledore is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix.

Albus Dumbledore was, indeed, a clever, clever man, not unlike Mr. Snape himself. Although my personal opinion of Professor Snape is divided, one may say that he was loyal to Dumbledore in the end.
Well, of course! Albus Dumbledore planned his own death, aided the Trio in many ways, and served as an aid even in death. He may have made huge mistakes, but that just proves how amazing and wholesome he is.

I do think that Dumbledore is much smarter than Hermione. Don't get me wrong - Hermione is one of my favorite characters and is definitely the most intelligent out of her year - but Dumbledore has a deeper understanding of a wider range of subjects not found in library books and therefore should be at the top.
Hermione Granger

Hermione Jean Granger is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. She is one of the main characters and best friends of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Hermione is known for her intelligence, strong work ethic, and loyalty.

Hermione is a bit of an atheist witch, even if atheists don't believe in magic. She solved Snape's logic potion puzzle. No offense to the Luna Lovegood fan club, but she was irritated with Luna in the fifth book, talking about the imaginary creatures, and called the Quibbler rubbish. The only time it's read is when it's about Harry, the Wizarding War, and Ginny doing a quiz in it at the end of the fifth book on the train.

HERMIONE GRANGER is definitely the smartest. She is top of the class at everything and always tries her best. Later on in the books and movies, she starts to like breaking the rules like Harry and Ron. In the beginning, she is totally bossy and against it. Dumbledore is smarter, but after all, he is like a hundred and fifty years older than her, so what can you say?
Severus Snape

Severus Snape is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is portrayed as a complex figure whose cold and sarcastic demeanor hides deep emotions and a troubled past. Snape plays a pivotal role in the series, ultimately being revealed as a tragic hero.

Severus is smarter than Hermione. Both emotionally smart and book smart. When Snape first entered Hogwarts, he knew more spells than half the kids in their seventh year, and even modified a textbook to make it better. Not only that, but Snape spent his whole life as Harry's protector and kept it all to himself, which proves how mentally strong this character is. Dumbledore is still better though. At least Dumbledore's kind.

Hermione and Albus might be smart, but Snape wins the award because he's book smart and also completely life smart. He can be manipulative and he lied to the Dark Lord for years without most people noticing it.
Luna Lovegood

Luna Lovegood is a character from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. She was the only child of Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood. Her mother died in a magical accident when Luna was nine, and she was raised by her father in a rook-like house near the village of Ottery St Catchpole in Devon.... read more

People seem to focus more on the movie Luna. Luna in the books was more dotty, with her beliefs in imaginary creatures like the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
Her lion hat was really like a head of a lion that roared like a lion. But they changed it in the movies. The nargles she believed in were actually what she thought infested mistletoe.
No, Luna isn't dumb, or she wouldn't be a Ravenclaw. She can answer the questions to enter the common room, and she made a hat with a lion's head that roared like one. Her mother used to experiment, and the experiment probably just exploded - maybe a dangerous potion, I don't know.
Voldemort

Lord Voldemort is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. He first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997. Born as Tom Marvolo Riddle, he becomes the dark wizard known as Voldemort and is characterized by his obsession... read more

Tom Riddle, aka Voldemort, was known as the smartest student of his time at Hogwarts, and everybody knew it.

He was, though. Even if he is a villain, he was the smartest of his time.

He is cruel and manipulative, but is right a lot of the time.
Lily Potter

As per the Pensieve memories and Horace Slughorn, Lily was a brilliant student with a knack for potions and apparently charms as well. Plus, she was cheeky and had a smart answer at the tip of her tongue. She earned the Slug Club spot without any familial connection. This must mean something.
She was a full-time fighter in the Order as well. She thrice defied Voldemort along with James. She was definitely smart and kind.

Of course she's smart! From what I've heard, she's a master at Potions.
Remus Lupin

Remus Lupin is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a werewolf and becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Lupin is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix and plays a key role in the fight against Voldemort.

Being smart doesn't necessarily mean Ravenclaw-worthy. He was indeed smart, but there is more to Ravenclaw. Does he love learning? Does he value knowledge above all? Does he think outside the box? If so, maybe he just values bravery more.

He was the brains of the Marauders. He was the brains of the Order of the Phoenix. He belonged in Ravenclaw but was put in Gryffindor for plot reasons.

He was the smartest of the Marauders and sort of acted like the Hermione Granger of the Marauders.
Gellert Grindelwald

He was also a seer. Dumbledore and Grindelwald's knowledge was equal. He was also the only man ever to manipulate Dumbledore.

He was the strongest villain when there was no Voldemort. He must have had lots of plans in his head.

Dumbledore is on his level. He was helped by Dumbledore and was smart enough to outsmart him.
Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. She is a professor of Transfiguration and the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over the course of the series, she becomes deputy headmistress and eventually headmistress of the school... read more

McGonagall should be 2nd or 3rd! She is so wise and is Dumbledore's right hand. Hermione is just book smart. McGonagall is book smart and wise.

She gives lessons in the toughest subject at Hogwarts. That makes you smart, hands down.

She was talented in every subject, including Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Harry Potter

Harry James Potter is the title character of the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. The series chronicles his life from age eleven as he discovers his identity as a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over seven years, Harry confronts numerous challenges and... read more

Should be higher than 8! Sure, he can be a little thick sometimes but... He still deserves 4! (1. Rowena Ravenclaw 2. Hermione Granger 3. Albus Dumbledore 4. Harry Potter)

He is not book smart but has quick-thinking and is always capable of keeping his cool and taking advantage of a dangerous situation.

He should be at least number 5 on this list. He defeated Lord Voldemort, so he is much smarter than him.

The Newcomers

?
Barty Crouch Sr.
?
Bill Weasley

The Contenders

Sirius Black

Sirius Black is a fictional character from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as Harry Potter's godfather and a former friend of James and Lily Potter. Known for escaping from Azkaban, Sirius plays a significant role in the fight against Voldemort... read more

You should be smart to escape Azkaban without any help. He was even an Animagus in just his 5th year. McGonagall described him as one of the cleverest students (along with James). He even had a bit of detective skill in him.

He always had the smartest quotes. He would've shown more of that if J.K. Rowling hadn't killed him.

Yep, agreed. But why isn't he in the top 10?
Rowena Ravenclaw

She doesn't get enough credit. Founder of Ravenclaw - you have to be pretty clever for that.

How is Hermione smarter than Rowena, literally the founder of Ravenclaw? Wisdom and intelligence? Just-

She was the wisest person ever. We just didn't see her enough in the books.
Horace Slughorn
Ginny Weasley

Ginny Weasley is a central character in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. She is the youngest child and only daughter of the Weasley family. Initially introduced as a shy girl with a crush on Harry Potter, Ginny evolves into a strong, independent young woman.... read more

She is smarter than Hermione! It is said in the books that Hermione can't produce a Patronus.

Ginny is smarter than Ron. Hands down.
Alastor Moody

He is one of Dumbledore's most trusted Aurors, which means that he was smart enough to become an Auror.
Ron Weasley

Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. He first appears in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" as the best friend of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Ron is a member of the Weasley family and a loyal supporter throughout the series.

It's like people want to ignore everything that happened in Deathly Hallows. During the battle, he figured out things that most people could not even understand (including Hermione Granger, who is the brightest witch of her age). It is obvious that he is extremely clever but only when it comes to the things he is interested in, like chess. He is not great at studies because he doesn't care enough. If he did, he'd be one of the best in his year.

If it wasn't for Ron, the Hufflepuff cup wouldn't have even been destroyed because he is the one who came up with the idea to use the basilisk's fang in the first place.
Scorpius Malfoy

Scorpius Malfoy is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is the son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. Scorpius plays a central role in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Why is he all the way down here? Scorpius is SMART!

I don't really know him, but I can tell he's smart by the way everyone voted for him.
Barty Crouch Jr.

And what have you done today?
Oh, just disguised myself as a teacher and tried to murder a student, taught some Unforgivable Curses, not to mention how I escaped Azkaban and murdered my father. I also visited the Dark Lord and did a few deeds for him. So, nothing much. You?

Well, he was the impostor of Alastor Moody in the 4th book (and movie). So, it was actually him who knew everything for the three tasks.
Kingsley Shacklebolt

He later became the Minister of Magic and was also an Auror. No more explanation needed.
James Potter
Filius Flitwick

He is the Charms master and also the head of Ravenclaw, where only the wise ones can get in.

The Charms professor knew how to teach a class properly.

Head of Ravenclaw house. Knows a million helpful charms. Enough said.
Cedric Diggory

Cedric Diggory is a character from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Cedric is most notably featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where he competes in the Triwizard Tournament and is ultimately killed by Peter Pettigrew... read more

Little was known about him, but he is not stupid. If it had been the three champions, we would've seen more of Cedric's intelligence.
Regulus Black

He discovered Voldemort's horcruxes when he was 18 and stole one. He deserves a place on the list.

Yes... he was the first person to ever discover Voldemort's secret and he was smart enough to find the locket... although he didn't live to see it destroyed.
Draco Malfoy

Draco Lucius Malfoy is a character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a student in the same year as Harry Potter and belongs to Slytherin House. Draco comes from a wealthy pure-blood family and is often portrayed as Harry's rival throughout the series.

Why is he all the way down here? He must have been smart to figure out the Vanishing Cabinets, and he was able to figure out that Harry was spying on him. Hermione is still the smartest though.

Draco was always smart. He was just afraid of showing his true colors.
Nymphadora Tonks

Overlooked as smart, though she is in the Order of the Phoenix.

She was the youngest Auror who took the official path to become an Auror. She was smart enough for that.