Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school like no other, even in the world ofHarry Potter, with headmasters and headmistresses required to oversee all sorts of chaos and mysteries. While Professor Dumbledore will always be thought of astheHeadmaster of Hogwarts in the eyes of readers and viewers, others came before and after him, with some arguably doing a better job.
With some Heads serving in times of relative peace and others occupying the job in Hogwarts' most turbulent years, it can be hard to rank the best, as it’s impossible to know how they would have fared in different times. Nevertheless, serving through dark times should not count against these professors, especially as they had the courage to lead in such times.
This article contains some spoilers for the main story ofHarry Potter.
5Dolores Umbridge
Tortured Students & Banned The Teaching Of Practical Magic
When it comes to the worst Headmaster or Headmistress of Hogwarts, the answer is very easy, thanks to Dolores Umbridge’s brief reign during the events ofThe Order of the Phoenix. Aside from enforcing overly strict rules that suffocated the ability for students to learn, make friends, and express creativity,Professor Umbridge’s worst offenseis torturing students herself as punishment. She did this with special pens, which would carve words into the skin as students wrote lines.
In terms of education, she banned students from being taught practical magic, only allowing theory to be studied. Had she continued as Headmistress, an entire generation of young witches and wizards would have had no experience with casting spells, making them defenseless, as well as dangerous in their own right, given how easily spells can go wrong.
4Severus Snape
Allowed Two Teachers To Perform Dark Magic & Torture, But Ultimately Kept The School Safe
It’s somewhat difficult to rate Severus Snape’s year as Headmaster, as Lord Voldemort effectively ran the country, and Snape had to stay undercover and mask his true intentions. On the face of it, 1997-1998 was an awful school year for Hogwarts, with a return to austerity and the appointment of two vile Death Eaters as professors, Amycus and Alecto Carrow.
Amycus was particularly cruel, not only torturing students himself, but also forcing older students to practice dark magic on other students who had misbehaved. However, while without context, this may make Snape sound like the worst headmaster ever, he likely kept the Carrows on a leash, and had a real Death Eater been in charge, things could have been even worse. For example, when Ginny, Luna, and Neville attempted to steal the Sword of Gryffindor, he only punished them with time in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid. He also allowed teachers not to report their students, who otherwise would have ended up punished by Amycus Carrow. Ultimately, like his predecessor,Snape died to save the schooland Wizarding Britain, but perhaps he could have done more to save students from the Carrows.
3Phineas Nigellus Black
Famously The Most Hated Headmaster Of Hogwarts
Phineas Nigellus Black is a character whom book readers will be familiar with via his portrait in Dumbledore’s office, and whomHogwarts Legacyfans will recognize as the Headmaster during the events of the game. By walking around and listening to the students or eventhe other professors, it’s possible to hear just how hated he was. His decision to ban Quidditch that year did little to raise his popularity.
Professor Black inHogwarts Legacyis broadly depicted as incompetent and uninterested, mostly leaving the school in the hands of Professor Weasley. However, leaving the school to a competent deputy and with good teachers appointed across the board isn’t exactly a bad thing, and so while he was hated, ironically, he wasn’t that bad for the school. In the books, Phineas' portrait is often rude and proud, sometimes refusing to help Dumbledore, Harry, and Hermione. However, eventually, he was of use and even played a small part in saving Hogwarts.
2Albus Dumbledore
A Great Man, But Perhaps Not The Best Headmaster
Albus Dumbledore is a difficult headmaster to pin down, as on the face of things, he is almost entirely morally good and was one of the biggest factors in bringing down Lord Voldemort, thus protecting Hogwarts. However, he would also leave students in peril, and at times, he hired incompetent or even dangerous teachers, although, admittedly, nobody wanted theDefense Against the Dark Arts job.
Examples of students being in danger include detentions in the Forbidden Forest, using the Philosopher’s Stone to bait Voldemort, and allowing Harry and friends to confront Quirrel, and that’s in Harry’s first year alone. Later on, when Dumbledore knew Draco was trying to assassinate him and endangering others, he did nothing, even if this was partly to protect Draco from Voldemort. In terms of education, Dumbledore appears to have had a very hands-off approach, which is fine for competent teachers, such as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, but not so great for others. Nevertheless, he was always fair, incredibly polite, and loved by the vast majority of students and staff.
1Minerva McGonagall
Plenty Of Experience As Deputy, Capable, & Well Organized
While little is known about historical headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts, few could have been as well-prepared to take on the role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in 1998. Having served as deputy headmistress for many years and having even temporarily filled in a few times as head when Dumbledore was dismissed or indisposed, Professor McGonagall would have known exactly how to run the school and how to navigate it through any future crises.
As a stern disciplinarian, the students listened to her, and yet she was also fair. In terms of organization, there’s no doubting Professor McGonagall’s ability to run the vast boarding school of Hogwarts. She also proved that she’s brave enough to stand up for her students when she dueled Snape in the prelude tothe Battle of Hogwarts. While it’s impossible to know exactly how McGonagall fared as Headmistress after 1998, it’s hard to imagine anything but golden years for Hogwarts.
