6 Most Hated Characters in Harry Potter Series That Fans Couldn’t Stand: Let’s face it — while we all adore Harry, Ron, and Hermione, not every character in the Harry Potter universe gets the same kind of love. In fact, some characters made our blood boil every time they appeared on screen or on the page. Whether it was their evil deeds, annoying behavior, or just plain creepiness, these are the characters we loved to hate.
Here’s our list of the 6 most hated characters in the Harry Potter series, based on both the original books and the new TV adaptation. Agree or disagree — one thing’s for sure: these characters left a strong impression.
6. Lord Voldemort
Let’s start with the biggest baddie of them all — He Who Must Not Be Named. The Dark Lord was terrifying, ruthless, and the ultimate villain in the wizarding world. He murdered Harry’s parents, tortured countless innocents, and tried (repeatedly) to kill The Boy Who Lived.
And yet… some fans actually respect the depth of his character and how his backstory unfolded. So while Voldemort was undoubtedly evil, his complexity made him more compelling than some others on this list. Still, his presence alone was enough to make many fans shiver.
5. Lucius Malfoy
Ah, Lucius Malfoy — the perfect embodiment of wizarding snobbery. With his flowing blond hair and permanent sneer, Lucius was as arrogant as they come. He looked down on anyone who wasn’t pure-blood, mistreated his house-elf Dobby, and kept flipping loyalties whenever it suited him.
Draco’s dad might have had influence and style, but he definitely lacked a moral compass. Fans found him intolerable, especially when he endangered kids just to please Voldemort.
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4. Peter Pettigrew
The ultimate traitor. Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail, is infamous for betraying James and Lily Potter by revealing their location to Voldemort. And let’s not forget — he lived as Ron’s pet rat Scabbers for 13 years! Gross and shady.
He played key roles in bringing Voldemort back and assisting in some of the darkest events in the series. His cowardice and betrayal make him one of the least redeemable characters in the entire Harry Potter franchise.
3. Bellatrix Lestrange
Evil with a capital E. Bellatrix Lestrange was not just loyal to Voldemort — she worshipped him. She tortured Neville Longbottom’s parents into madness, killed Sirius Black (her own cousin!), and laughed her way through countless crimes.
Played brilliantly by Helena Bonham Carter, Bellatrix was undeniably iconic — but that didn’t make her any less loathsome. Her deranged devotion to the Dark Lord and love for chaos made her a top-tier villain and one of the most hated characters in Harry Potter history.
2. Argus Filch
Let’s talk about Hogwarts’ most unpleasant staff member — Argus Filch. As the castle’s caretaker, Filch took way too much pleasure in punishing students. Constantly accompanied by his equally creepy cat, Mrs. Norris, he made life miserable for anyone who dared to break a rule (or even looked like they might).
Whether it was his disdain for magic (despite working in a magical school) or his obsession with discipline, Filch was a buzzkill in every sense. Students feared him, and fans weren’t exactly fond of him either.
1. Dolores Umbridge
And now, the queen of hate herself — Dolores Umbridge.
If Voldemort was evil, Umbridge was worse because she hid her wickedness behind pink cardigans and a fake smile. First appearing in Order of the Phoenix, she immediately got under everyone’s skin. Her sugary-sweet voice masked a tyrannical personality, and her cruel punishments (remember that I must not tell lies scene?) scarred Harry forever — both literally and figuratively.
She took over Hogwarts, fired beloved professors, and ruled with an iron (and pink) fist. There’s no question — Dolores Umbridge is hands-down the most hated character in the Harry Potter series, and possibly one of the most detested in all of fiction.
🎁 Bonus: The Dursley Family
If we were stretching this list to a solid nine, the Dursleys would absolutely make the cut. In fact, it’s kind of shocking they didn’t already! Uncle Vernon Dursley, Aunt Petunia, and their spoiled son Dudley weren’t just unpleasant — they were downright cruel to Harry. From locking him in a cupboard under the stairs to pretending he didn’t exist at family events, their treatment of Harry during his childhood was heartbreaking and infuriating.
Even though their screen time was relatively short in each film, it was more than enough to make them some of the most disliked Harry Potter characters. Fans couldn’t stand their dismissive attitude, their ignorance of the magical world, and of course, Dudley’s bratty behavior.
So while they didn’t rank in the official six, the Dursleys definitely earned their spot in the Hall of Shame.
Final Thoughts: Who Else Deserves a Spot?
While this list covers the top 6 most hated characters in the Harry Potter series, there are plenty of others who rubbed fans the wrong way — from Rita Skeeter and Percy Weasley to Aunt Petunia and even Fudge. Each had their moment, but none matched the pure dislike generated by our list.
Who do you think should be on this list of least favourite Harry Potter characters? Share your thoughts and let the magical debate begin in the comments below!