Summary
- Social status plays a significant role in the Wizarding World, with class distinctions based on wealth, blood purity, and other factors.
- Characters like Hagrid and Luna Lovegood face social discrimination and are looked down upon despite their abilities and contributions.
- Many characters' social status changes over time, with some starting at the bottom but rising to become respected figures, while others fall from grace due to their actions.
The term "social status" has a huge meaning for Harry Potter characters, although the Boy Wizard and his allies care little about it. However, the rest of the Wizarding World clearly relies on class distinctions that separate magic s according to wealth, blood purity, muggle bias, and other irrelevant factors. What's important to consider, however, is the fact that social status in Harry Potter works both positively and negatively; that is, it applies to protagonists and antagonists in equal but opposite ways.
Draco Malfoy constantly makes arrogant references to his family's privilege while scorning the Weasleys and the Longbottoms. Throughout the franchise, Harry Potter characters not only find themselves in danger from evil magical forces, but they often find obstacles when it comes to their social status. Certain people were allowed es to remain out of trouble thanks to their status in the Wizarding World whereas others were often thrown right into Azkaban without even a trial or a chance to defend themselves. Luckily for the young heroes, their social status improved over the years, despite their lack of concern about such things.
15 Hagrid
Rubeus Hagrid is clearly at the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to his social status in the Wizarding World. Among Harry Potter characters, almost everyone looks down on Hagrid because of something he never even did. In his third year, Tom Riddle (Voldemort) framed him for opening the Chamber of Secrets. This caused his superiors to snap Hagrid's wand and relegate him to working as the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He was never allowed to practice magic again, and even years later, those in the Wizarding World looked down on the gentile giant, clearly making sure he knew he was no longer wanted in their ranks.
14 Luna Lovegood
Luna Lovegood spends most of her early childhood being mocked and teased by her peers, if not for her wildly unbelievable stories then for her vegetable-themed jewelry. As the daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood, the editor of The Quibbler, Luna has inherited two things from her father, those being a penchant for the bizarre and a total lack of care for what anyone else thinks of her. The Lovegoods are far from prestigious in the Wizarding World, but they're quite happy with themselves. Luna was there to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts, but she clearly never cared what anyone else thought about her even then.
13 Sirius Black
tSirius is born, unfortunately by his own ission, into the elite Black family, so focused on their lineage that their motto is "Toujours Pur," French for "Forever Pure." He discards the name as soon as he is humanly able, for which he is burnt off the family tree. After spending a dozen years in Azkaban, Sirius becomes the lowest of the low, believed by the entire world to be the reason for James and Lily Potter's deaths. He later escaped and returned to Grimmauld Place, where he could at least order Kreacher around. Sirius sacrificed himself to save Harry, but the Wizarding World only knew him as a killer, a crime he was innocent of.
12 Neville Longbottom
The Longbottoms were once a famous family, but their reputation waned ever since Frank and Alice Longbottom were itted to St. Mungo's. Neville's apparent feeble nature didn't make it any easier for him at Hogwarts, and, although he bravely took a stand against the Golden Trio in the first year, he was outclassed by Hermione. Neville is given the chance, over and over again, to switch over to Lord Voldemort's side, with the Dark Lord himself handing the invitation on a silver platter. The hero of Gryffindor knows where he stands, though. He was a hero in the end but was still never comfortable in the role of a hero.
11 Severus Snape
As a Hogwarts professor, Snape was respected throughout the Wizarding World, who simultaneously watch him with a wary eye — nobody's sure where the Potions Master's allegiance truly belonged, except for the person it belonged to. As a secret agent, he had little concern for his own personal social status. Snape's community standing utterly collapses after he "murders" Albus Dumbledore, at which point the only group where he had any dignity remaining are the Death Eaters, and they even looked down on him. Snape's honor was eventually restored and taken to incredible heights, but this occurs only posthumously.
10 Ron Weasley
As one of the Golden Trio, though the weakest in magical aptitude, Ron Weasley's potential explodes the day he meets Harry Potter on the Hogwarts Express. However, it is crucial to note that there isn't any kind of nepotism involved; whatever Ron earns is his alone and not due to either Harry's or Hermione's assistance. He makes the Weasleys prouder than they have ever been, and magical society, in general, has celebrated Ron's role in Lord Voldemort's ultimate defeat. It was a long way up for Ron, from one of the weakest of his family to a hero in his own right.
9 Lucius Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy had a life that was nothing but ups and downs. At one time, he was the highest of the high when it came to Harry Potter characters' social status. His family was wealthy and powerful, celebrated and influential in the Wizarding World. When Voldemort fell the first time, Lucius was his second in command but he lied and claimed he was under the Imperius Curse and had no choice. This cost him his rank with Voldemort in the Second Wizarding War, and at that time he still operated as an important Wizard in social circles, but he was a shell of himself. By the end, he and his wife ran away and defected, allowing them a second pardon.
8 Draco Malfoy
The Malfoy family is more of a dynasty than anything else, considering how far its powers extend. Draco's grandfather, Abraxas, is politically well-connected, as is his father Lucius. In fact, the latter was the Chairman of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, a group of powerful witches and wizards in charge of the school's istrative and bureaucratic functions. Draco's status is an extension of his ancestors, as this is what draws Crabbe and Goyle to him at Hogwarts. He matured into something a lot less arrogant, and when he made the right decisions in the end, Draco Malfoy was able to grow and raised a son without his family's bigotry.
7 Professor McGonagall
Professor McGonagall was one of the most respected professors at Hogwarts and was easily one of the most trusted allies for Dumbledore. She had the best interest of the students in mind at all times, which likely helped her rise in esteem in the eyes of the parents who actually cared. When the Battle of Hogwarts happened, she was there front and center and never backed down, working to save students and defeat Death Eaters alike. She was also a favorite among the students, which helped her social status rise to great heights when she became the new heistress of Hogwarts.
6 Hermione Granger
It can be argued that Hermione's existence is as important to Dumbledore's plan as Harry, something the Heaster did not consider when Voldemort is destroyed by Lily's sacrifice. She is full of energy, intelligence, and hope; she's the team glue that holds fast against all odds. Of course, Hermione's societal position was magnified when she became the Minister for Magic. It was a huge honor for Hermoine, and as a Muggle-born that many people disparaged, she now held the highest position in the government, showing her importance in the Wizarding World.
