An orphan raised by his unkind aunt and uncle who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard. Enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry learns that he is famous in the wizarding world for surviving a killing curse as an infant. Brave, loyal, and stubborn, with a talent for getting into and out of trouble.

A Muggle-born witch and the brightest student of her year at Hogwarts. Bookish, principled, and relentlessly logical, Hermione tempers Harry's impulsiveness and Ron's laziness with careful planning and encyclopaedic knowledge.

The sixth of seven Weasley children and Harry's best friend from their first day at Hogwarts. Overshadowed by his brothers and insecure about his family's lack of wealth, Ron is nevertheless brave, fiercely loyal, and funnier than he gives himself credit for.

Headmaster of Hogwarts and widely regarded as the greatest wizard of the age. Brilliant, eccentric, and deeply kind, Dumbledore is Harry's most important mentor. Known for his love of sherbet lemons and his half-moon spectacles.

Harry's rival at Hogwarts and a member of Slytherin house. Arrogant, prejudiced, and a bully, Draco comes from one of the wealthiest pure-blood families in the wizarding world.

Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor house. Stern, fair, and a supremely gifted Transfiguration teacher with a fierce loyalty to her students and a dry sense of humour.

Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and later Professor of Care of Magical Creatures. Half-giant, enormously strong, and possessed of a deep love for dangerous animals. One of the first people to show Harry genuine kindness.

Potions Master and later Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Cold, sarcastic, and openly hostile towards Harry from their first meeting. A deeply complex figure whose true loyalties are one of the series' central mysteries.