The Harry Potter franchise continues to be a huge hit, from adults who fell in love with the book series as children to new generations of fans who have a vast world of movies, video games and more to explore. The series began as a series of seven books written by J. K. Rowling, which were adapted into eight films, as well as a prequel series. The series will once again be adapted for the screen with an upcoming Max series, with each book getting its own season, expected to air in 2026.
With seven books in the original series, plus plenty of additional content, Harry Potter is packed with hundreds of fascinating characters, some of whom were Muggle-born—a trait some witches and wizards, especially pureblood ones, looked down on, especially as the number of Muggle-borns began to grow. And though there may have been only a few of them, it's clear that Muggle-borns were among the most powerful witches and wizards, proving blood status wasn't so important after all.
Justin Finch-Fletchley (Edward Randell)
'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'
Justin Finch-Fletchley stares in terror at a snake in the Harry Potter series.
Justin Finch-Fletchley (Edward Randell) was a student at Hogwarts in the same year as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and was sorted into Hufflepuff—although he had the choice to attend the prestigious Eton, he opted to pursue his wizarding education instead. He had some classes with the trio. He also joined Dumbledore's (Richard Harris/Michael Gambon) Army, an organization founded and taught by Harry. He was expelled from the school because of his blood status, however, when the Death Eaters took over Hogwarts.
Justin Finch-Fletchley's power as a wizard is tough to measure—he was still a student when audiences saw him, meaning he had yet to reach his full potential and truly come into his own. But his choice of Hogwarts over Eton proved he wanted to explore the opportunities the Wizarding World could provide him. In addition, his membership in Dumbledore's Army signaled he had some skill, and more importantly, was willing to support Harry’s cause.
Dennis Creevey
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) with Dumbledore's Army in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'.
Dennis Creevey was three years younger than Harry and was the younger brother of Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell)—and he was just as excitable as his brother. Like both Harry and Colin, Dennis was sorted into Gryffindor, and he also joined Dumbledore's Army. Because he was Muggle-born, he was expelled during his third year, and whether he returned to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts is unknown. Although he was in the books, he was not in the movies.
Not much is known about Dennis, but by virtue of his age and lack of experience, he wasn’t as powerful as his older brother, Colin. The fact that his Muggle parents had two wizard children suggests that they had some powerful magic in their blood, however, as this was a fairly rare occurrence. Like his brother, Dennis was loyal to Harry, and he was one of the youngest members of Dumbledore's Army, suggesting he had some skill.
Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell)
'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'
Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell) smiles and holds a camera in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Colin Creevey was a young student at Hogwarts whose father was a milkman. Colin was a year below Harry and was also sorted into Gryffindor. He joined Dumbledore's Army in his fourth year. In his fifth year, Colin was expelled due to his blood status, then presumably went into hiding before returning to join the Battle of Hogwarts, where he was tragically killed. His younger brother, Dennis, was also a Hogwarts student.
Colin Creevey was mesmerized by the Wizarding World and had a particular interest in Harry due to his celebrity status. The extent of his power and skill as a wizard was unclear, but upon meeting Harry, he mentioned the “odd stuff” he could do as a child, implying his magical abilities manifested before his Hogwarts education began. Given his interest in Harry, it’s no surprise he was part of Dumbledore’s Army.
Mary Elizabeth Cattermole (Kate Fleetwood)
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
Mary Elizabeth Cattermole sits in a chair, on trial in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Mary Elizabeth Cattermole (Kate Fleetwood) appeared briefly in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, when she was questioned by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, which claimed it wasn’t possible for a witch or wizard to be Muggle-born and anyone claimed to be had stolen their wand. She most likely would have faced imprisonment in Azkaban if not for the help of Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). She was married to Reginald Cattermole (Steffan Rhodri), an employee of the Ministry of Magic.
It’s difficult to truly gauge how powerful Mary was when she was only seen very briefly, but Mary was clearly seen as a threat to and was unjustly targeted by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. Due to her age and experience, it’s safe to assume she was a fairly skilled witch, even though she was only able to escape with help from the trio. The ultimate fate of Mary, Reginald and their children was ultimately left unknown, however.
Dirk Cresswell (Ricky Wilson)
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
Dirk Cresswell is led past others in a crowd by three men in the Harry Potter film series.
Dirk Cresswell (Ricky Wilson) worked as head of the Goblin Liaison Office in the Ministry of Magic and was fluent in Gobbledegook, the language spoken by Goblins. As a Hogwarts student in the 1970s, he was a member of Horace Slughorn's (Jim Broadbent) elitist Slug Club. During the Second Wizarding War, Dirk went on the run and was ultimately caught attempting to forge a family tree to claim magical heritage, resulting in his execution.
It’s hard to imagine Dirk Cresswell would’ve advanced as far as he did in his career if he wasn’t a powerful and skilled wizard—even as a student, he showed promise, proven by the fact that he clearly stood out to Slughorn. As an adult, he was held in very high regard by Arthur We asley (Mark Williams
Myrtle Warren (Shirley Henderson)
'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'
Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle in ghost form, looking very angry in the Harry Potter film series.
Myrtle Warren (Shirley Henderson) is best known as Moaning Myrtle, the ghost haunting the second-floor girls’ bathroom in Chamber of Secrets. In life, she was a Hogwarts student in Ravenclaw from 1940 until she was killed in the bathroom in 1943 by Salazar Slytherin’s Basilisk under the control of Tom Riddle (Christian Coulson). She was frequently bullied and had no friends, and immediately after her death, she spent some time haunting one of her bullies before returning to the Hogwarts bathroom.
While not much was known about Myrtle in life, in death, she proved to be a crucial part of the discovery of the Chamber of Secrets. Myrtle also helped Harry with his golden egg during the Triwizard Tournament. And, of course, as a ghost, she had some abilities and knowledge she didn’t have when she was alive—although she spent most of her time in the bathroom where she died, she wasn’t limited to that spot.
Edward Tonks
'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'
A picture of Andromeda Tonks (Black) and husband Ted Tonks on the Black family tree in Harry Potter.
Edward Tonks, known as Ted, was a Muggle-born wizard who married Andromeda Tonks— née Black, the sister of Narcissa and Bellatrix—and together, they had one child, Nymphadora (Natalia Tena), a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Although Ted didn’t join the Order himself, he did assist them, including by letting them use his home, and he opposed Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and the Death Eaters. Ted refused to register as Muggle-born and went on the run but was later found and killed.
Edward Tonks married into a notable and prejudiced wizarding family, and it’s no surprise his daughter, Nymphadora, became a powerful witch herself. While the extent of Ted’s power wasn’t clear, he was a loving family man with a strong sense of morals, and he refused to comply with Voldemort’s regime. He and Andromeda stood in stark contrast to her sisters and much of the rest of the Black family.
Kendra Dumbledore
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
A portrait of a young Ariana Dumbledore (Hebe Beardsall) in the Harry Potter film series.
Although she was Muggle-born, Kendra Dumbledore often tried to claim she was half-blood or even pureblood. She married Percival Dumbledore, and together, they had three children—Albus, Aberforth and Ariana (Hebe Beardsall), an Obscurus. Percival was sent to Azkaban for killing three Muggles who attacked Ariana, and the rest of the family moved to Godric's Hollow to protect Ariana. Kendra was ultimately killed in an explosion caused by a 14-year-old Ariana after losing control of her magic.
Given how powerful Albus was, Kendra was surely a strong witch in her own right, although not much is known about her life and abilities. She was certainly a tough and capable woman—she raised all three children on her own, and caring for Ariana in particular had its difficulties, especially doing so in secret. Ariana showed signs of being powerful herself, as her inability to control her magic made her dangerous, especially when she was angry.
Lily Potter (Geraldine Somerville)
'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
James (Adrian Rawlins) and Lily (Geraldine Somerville) Potter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
As a Muggle-born, Lily Potter (Geraldine Somerville), born Lily Evans, was the only one in her family to attend Hogwarts, something which made her sister, Petunia, jealous. While at Hogwarts, she was an accomplished student, leading to her becoming part of the Slug Club and Hogwarts’ Head Girl. She fell in love with and later married James Potter (Adrian Rawlins), and the two had a son, Harry. Lily was killed by Voldemort while trying to protect Harry.
Lily was described as a “gifted” witch by many people who knew her. Her greatest, most powerful act was her final one—protecting Harry from Voldemort with a spell so powerful, Voldemort couldn’t defeat it. It was also an example of her bravery and love. And, of course, without Lily, the Wizarding World wouldn’t have Harry, the wizard responsible for finally defeating Voldemort, making him one of the most powerful wizards of his own time.
Hermione Granger (Emma Watson)
'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) was the daughter of two dentists who entered Hogwarts at the same time as Harry and Ron. Like them, she was sorted into Gryffindor. In addition to being intelligent, an avid reader and a good student, she was capable of performing complex magic above her level, likely thanks to her habit of studying spells outside of school. Her intelligence was often seen as annoying to others, however.
While all Muggle-borns have their own strengths, it’s hard to imagine any as smart, skilled and well-known as Hermione Granger. Her abilities were evident from the beginning, when she was hailed as the brightest witch of her generation, and she was well-versed in virtually all aspects of the Wizarding World. She was a crucial friend and ally to Harry and Ron, and it’s hard to imagine Voldemort would have been defeated without her involvement.
