Discover the Personality Types of Harry Potter Characters: Bringing Hogwarts to the Real World with the MBTI

Humans are naturally drawn to stories. We create, tell, and read them. Myths and narratives will always be a part of humanity.

We grow up with stories. However, there is more to identifying with a character than socialization in the formative years.

I believe we are never truly “too adult” to consider which character we are in a book or movie. Why? Engaging with characters can help us identify aspects of ourselves we may not have consciously considered. 

Moreover, characters often navigate conflicts and challenges that allow us to explore difficult emotions or situations from a safe distance. Relating to fictional characters can be comforting and provide a sense of control over complex feelings or situations we face in our own lives.

Such profound challenges are also the case for nearly all characters in the Harry Potter universe. Harry Potter bravely overcomes the rough start of You-Know-Who trying to murder him. Severus Snape silently carries the burden of past mistakes, moral battles, and never-ending mourning of the beloved Lily Potter. Meanwhile, Fred and George Weasley are all about an optimistic disregard for rules and tradition.

One might argue each has a very distinctive personality type. More specifically, the Myers-Briggs personality type.

So, which Harry Potter character are you?

This article explores Harry Potter characters from the perspective of the Myers-Briggs personality types, adding a bit of psychology to the Harry Potter franchise and a bit of magic to psychology. 

The Magic of Personality Types

One of the deciding moments in a young wizard’s life is finding the wand that suits them. Just as every wizard of J. K. Rowling’s wizarding world has a unique wand, each person carries a distinct set of traits, motivations, and tendencies that shape who they are. Personality types provide a framework for exploring these complexities — in real life and the enchanted world of Harry Potter characters.

Personality types are somewhat magical because they help us better understand ourselves, the people we meet, friends and family — and the fictional characters we love.

Engaging with Harry Potter Myers-Briggs types is about exploring the deeper patterns in navigating life from a fresh perspective. Just as Harry’s courage and strict moral code often drive his decisions in crucial moments, our personality traits influence how we handle challenges, relate to others, and pursue goals.

In Harry Potter stories, the characters’ personalities are vibrant, unique, and multifaceted, offering us windows into different ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. Personality typing, like Myers-Briggs, brings an added dimension to the Harry Potter series by connecting these fictional characters with the real world of psychology.

Related: Where Would the Sorting Hat Put You? Exploring the 4 Archetypes of the Harry Potter World

How Would Your Favorite Harry Potter Characters Do on a Personality Types Test?

Do you think Hermione Granger would love taking a personality test — or would she be frustrated by being unable to study for it? Probably both, and I would expect her to deliver notes on improving the test items afterward, too.

For this article, I imagined the most prominent Hogwarts students and alumni taking the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI) and learning their personality types.

Assigning personality types to fictional characters can be as subjective as it is insightful. The types I have assigned are based on crucial patterns in behavior, decision-making, and values. Still, there is no one “right” answer. For example, Severus Snape was described as an INTP (Logician). Yet, due to his visionary, strategic, and emotionally complex nature, he also aligns with an INTJ (architect).

After all, people (like any Harry Potter character) are complex and multi-dimensional, often blending traits across personality types. The beauty of this approach is that it opens the door for reflection and discussion — on both the characters and ourselves.

So, let's consider our favorite protagonists and their assigned personality types. Read on to see if they sound familiar.

Harry Potter - ISFP (Artist)

ISFPs are the adventurers of the Myers-Briggs personalities. They are introverted, artistic, and action-oriented. These traits match Harry Potter’s independent and reactive nature. Speaking from the perspective of chief functions, Harry’s:

• Fi  (Introverted Feeling) makes him deeply value personal loyalty and moral compass. Harry faces so many seemingly impossible challenges throughout the series. Yet, he has an uncanny ability to always prioritize other people’s lives to his own and protect Ron, Hermione, and the entire wizarding world.
• Se  (Extraverted Sensing) explains his spontaneous, in-the-moment approach to danger, which, for example, made him a Quidditch hero or helped him deal with the relentless Dark Lord.

Hermione Granger - INTJ (Architect)

INTJs are logical, strategic, and highly driven. They are independent thinkers and natural problem solvers, fitting Hermione Granger’s intellectualism and long-term planning. INTJs’ primary functions are reflected in Hermione:

• Ni  (Introverted Intuition) gives her a future-oriented perspective and an uncanny ability to see patterns, like when she deduced that Professor Remus Lupin is a werewolf in Prisoner of Azkaban . Throughout the year, Hermione notices clues and pieces these patterns together long before anyone else.
• Te  (Extraverted Thinking) fuels her desire for efficiency and structure in her studies and problem-solving. Generally speaking, Hermione is a great example of a perfectly organized person.

Ron Weasley - ESFP (Entertainer)

ESFPs are spontaneous, sociable, and grounded in the present. Ron Weasley is an embodiment of this humorous, action-oriented Myers-Briggs personality. His:

• Se  (Extraverted Sensing) means he is highly attuned to his environment and is thriving in the present moment. You might remember how he quickly gained enormous confidence and thrived in high-school dating after he (believed) he had a dose of liquid luck.
• Fi  (Introverted Feeling) explains his deep loyalty and emotional reactions, especially toward his friends and family. Remember when Harry, Ron, and Hermione played a game of massive wizard chess when they went looking for the Philosopher’s Stone? Ron does not hesitate a moment before sacrificing his safety (potentially, life) for his closest friends so that Harry can continue the quest.

Albus Dumbledore - INFJ (Advocate)

INFJs are visionaries with a strong sense of morality, compassion, and insightfulness. Albus Dumbledore is a classic INFJ in his guiding role, spontaneously acting as a natural leader wherever he goes. Through the lens of Myers-Briggs functions:

• Dumbledore’s Ni  (Introverted Intuition) supports his ability to see beyond the immediate and plan for the long term. We see Albus Dumbledore as a silent, soft-spoken, confident leader who can be secretive about his plans to the point of pushing Harry away and leaving him emotionally stranded. However, the reason is his farsightedness barely anyone else could understand.
• Fe  (Extraverted Feeling) explains why Dumbledore cares deeply and has immense compassion and commitment to others’ well-being.

Draco Malfoy - ESTP (Persuader)

ESTPs are bold, pragmatic, and focused on immediate action. Draco’s brash and opportunistic behavior fits him into this Myers-Briggs personality type. His dominant functions are as follows:

• Se  (Extraverted Sensing) drives his impulsivity and desire for external validation through status and power. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , Draco agrees to carry out Voldemort’s mission to kill Dumbledore, drawn to the immediate reward of gaining power and proving himself, even though he is unprepared for the reality of the task.
• Ti  (Introverted Thinking) enables Draco Malfoy to manipulate situations and people when necessary.

Lord Voldemort / Tom Riddle - ENTJ (Commander)

ENTJ is the personality type of leader with a strategic, even ruthless mindset — when at their worst. Lord Voldemort is nothing if not authoritarian and power-hungry. Within his personality type, the chief functions explain how:

• Te  (Extraverted Thinking) fuels his obsession with control and efficiency. Lord Voldemort meticulously organizes his Horcruxes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  to ensure immortality. His desire to split his soul and hide the pieces in powerful, well-guarded objects demonstrates his strategic thinking, logical, calculated decisions, and need for control over life and death.
• Ni  (Introverted Intuition) helps Voldemort focus on his long-term vision of dominating the wizarding world, a plan that was clear even from his days as Tom Riddle. His manipulation of Ginny Weasley through the diary in The Chamber of Secrets, ultimately leading to the events in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, is a prime example.

Rubeus Hagrid - ESFJ (Caregiver)

ESFJs’ best qualities are warmth, nurturing nature, and community-focused actions. In his ground keeper’s caretaker role, Rubeus Hagrid is the true gentle giant. This personality type has the following functions:

• Fe  (Extraverted Feeling) drives Hagrid’s need to care for others, especially magical creatures. He is more than a bearer of positive energy. When Hagrid sees a creature in need, he gives his all to nurture and protect them. We witness this trait in raising Norbert (baby dragon), defending Buckbeak, helping Aragog (giant spider), and caring for Ron when his broken wand backfires, causing him to vomit slugs.
• Si  (Introverted Sensing) reflects Hagrid’s respect for traditions and fondness for memories, like his intense loyalty to Hogwarts and Dumbledore or frequent reminiscences about the creatures he met and loved.

Minerva McGonagall - ISTJ (Inspector)

ISTJs are practical, detail-oriented, and highly responsible. Minerva McGonagall takes great pride in her no-nonsense personality and commitment to duty. Her dominant functions are:

• Si  (Introverted Sensing) explains her respect for rules and traditions. Yes, she may come off as being highly opinionated and strong-willed, but we never see her being wrong.
• Te  (Extraverted Thinking) fuels McGonagall’s efficient and methodical approach as Deputy Headmistress. When Weasley twins, Fred and George, stage a spectacular rebellion against Dolores Umbridge by setting off a massive array of enchanted fireworks throughout Hogwarts, McGonagall remains unphased by the commotion and simply says, “I wonder how you expect to gain an education while you’re running riot in the corridors”.

Sirius Black - ISTP (Crafter)

ISTP is the personality type depicting independent, action-oriented, and adaptable Sirius Black. His rebellious and spontaneous nature is further deepened by analyzing the chief functions of the personality type:

• Ti  (Introverted Thinking) drives his logical, hands-on problem-solving approach. Even though he could also be seen as an ENFP for his rebellious, no-nonsense spirit, we witness his more methodical side when he creates the secret map of Hogwarts, known as the Marauder’s Map, with James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. This project involved careful planning, attention to detail, and logical reasoning.
• Se  (Extraverted Sensing) explains his tendency to live in the moment and take risks. We remember that one such moment led to his demise when he reminisced about his time with James Potter and got reckless.

Severus Snape – INTP (Thinker)

INTPs are analytical, highly observant, inventive, and independent thinkers. This personality type corresponds to Snape’s intellectual depth and complexity. These are the functions that explain INTP’s complex personality type:

• Ti  (Introverted Thinking) drives Snape’s meticulous approach to potion-making and spells, with a focus on internal logic. Thanks to her intense drive and meticulousness, Hermione Granger was the only one of Snape’s students who could measure up.
• Ne  (Extraverted Intuition) fuels his creativity and ability to think outside the box, such as creating new spells. Just remember Sectumsempra, a dark spell created by Snape during his time as a student at Hogwarts. These traits might also remind you of another, slightly less prominent, wizarding INTP —Arthur Weasley, especially in his inventiveness with Muggles’ objects.
• Fe  (Extraverted Feeling, inferior) explains Snape’s struggle with emotional expression despite his hidden emotional depth. His life-long hidden yearning for Lily Potter testifies to it.

Luna Lovegood - INFP (Mediator)

INFPs are idealistic, imaginative, and deeply introspective, perfectly fitting Luna Lovegood and her dreamy and unconventional worldview. These are INFPs’ main functions:

• Fi  (Introverted Feeling) explains Luna’s strong internal values and desire to stay true to herself. Luna Lovegood is somewhat of an outcast but never seems to doubt herself. This internal strength and authenticity probably made Neville Longbottom fall in love with her.
• Ne  (Extraverted Intuition) drives her open-mindedness and abstract thinking, which leads her to suggest locating Hogwarts’ Room of Requirement and helping her friends prepare for confronting Death Eaters.

Fred and George Weasley - ENTP (Debater)

ENTPs are quick-witted, curious, and innovative Debaters. Fred and George Weasley, with their mischievous, inventive nature, perfectly fit this Myers-Briggs personality type, living their lives to the fullest. We can understand Fred and George better if we look into their dominant functions:

• Ne  (Extraverted Intuition) makes the brothers skilled at seeing possibilities and creating new products, making them the creative element of the series (and a headache to their parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley).
• Ti  (Introverted Thinking) fuels their analytical approach to pranking and business. Even though we see them as a chaotic force, Fred and George turn out to be great businessmen, which would not be possible without excellent analytical skills.

Molly Weasley - ISFJ (Defender)

ISFJs are nurturing, protective, and practical. And Molly Weasley is nothing if not protective and nurturing. Her motherly and family-focused personality is better understood if we examine her dominant functions:

• Si  (Introverted Sensing) reflects her respect for traditions and home life. Molly is a matriarch of a full house: apart from her husband, she has six sons named Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ron Weasley, and only one daughter named Ginny Weasley. And even though she is spread thin (understandably so!), she knits a sweater for all her children — plus Harry — every Christmas.
• Fe  (Extraverted Feeling) drives her deep care for others, particularly her children. She is a true lioness when she defends her children in the final battle when Bellatrix Lestrange attacks Ginny, showing her fierce protective trait.

Ginny Weasley - ENFP (Champion)

ENFPs are enthusiastic, independent, and passionate. Ginny Weasley possesses a bold and adventurous personality, matching this personality type. Nymphadora Tonks is another example of an ENFP. Her playful, creative, and spontaneous nature shines through when she, for example, uses her Metamorphmagus ability to entertain people at Grimmauld Place. This ability also shows her enthusiasm for making others laugh, a hallmark of the ENFP’s open-minded and spirited personality. These are the main functions and their manifestations:

• Ne  (Extraverted Intuition) fuels Ginny’s creativity and desire for exploration. Her curiosity and adaptability are evident in how she fearlessly takes on different roles, from being a skilled Chaser on the Quidditch team to confidently standing up against opponents like Draco Malfoy.
• Fi  (Introverted Feeling) drives her strong sense of personal values and loyalty to her friends and family.

Dolores Umbridge - ESTJ (Director)

ESTJs are structured, authoritarian, and task-oriented. Few people from the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts included, fit the description of an ESTJ as perfectly as does Dolores Umbridge’s obsession with order and control. Here is how the main functions affect this type:

• Te  (Extraverted Thinking) explains Umbridge’s need to impose rules and maintain power. She creates increasingly strict decrees, such as banning student organizations and controlling what professors can teach. Her insistence on imposing these rules (particularly through her Inquisitorial Squad) shows her desire to maintain control, often disregarding personal feelings or moral considerations to achieve goals efficiently.
• Si  (Introverted Sensing) reflects her attachment to traditional values and the Ministry of Magic’s hierarchy.

Neville Longbottom – ENFJ (Giver)

ENFJs are empathetic, supportive, and team players who thrive in collaborative settings. Even though he started as a timid boy, Neville Longbottom grew into a brave, inspiring figure for his friends and an unintrusive leader. His primary functions are:

• Fe  (Extraverted Feeling) drives his deep concern for others, especially when he steps up as a leader for Dumbledore’s Army during the chaos of the final school year. He looks after the well-being of the members, making sure they are safe in the Room of Requirement and ready to protect each other, showing his deep empathy and responsibility toward the group.
• Ni  (Introverted Intuition) helps him embrace his role in the fight against Voldemort, showing foresight and purpose.

Which Harry Potter Character Are You? Bring Out Your Inner Magical World

Everyone who has read Harry Potter has wondered which character they might be.

Whether you are the daring and brave Harry, the resourceful and clever Hermione, or the ambitious and determined Draco, there is a magical character that mirrors your unique traits, especially when we explore the personality psychology behind the beloved wizards, as we did in this article.

However, are you ready to dive deep and find your magical match? And then take the experience a step further with deeper personality insights? We have several tools to achieve just that.

Find Out Your Harry Potter Character Match

For all of you who secretly (or overtly) wish to discover which beloved Harry Potter character reflects your personality, we have created a fun Which Harry Potter Character Are You? quiz. Coming in early 2025, you will have the chance to discover your magical match!

Take this enchanting 13-question quiz to determine whether you share qualities with the brilliant Hermione Granger, the daring Sirius Black, or another iconic character from J.K. Rowling’s universe.

Coming in early 2025 — discover your magical match!

In the meantime, we have several other personality tests you may want to consider.

Extend the Exploration Beyond Harry Potter: MBTI Types and Other Personality Tests

At the heart of this adventure is self-discovery.

Once you know your Harry Potter character, exploring how their traits compare to well-established personality systems, such as MBTI, Big-5, or Enneagram, can be exciting. These BrainManager tools offer a deeper lens into the qualities you may share with your Hogwarts counterpart — and could even reveal aspects of your personality you did not expect!

MBTI

The MBTI helps us understand how we perceive the world and make decisions. In this article, the main Harry Potter characters were mapped onto 16 MBTI types.

However, suppose you want to delve deeper into a more serious exploration of your type and how it manifests in real life. In that case, we offer a professional personality type test inspired by the MBTI.

Take the 16 Personality Test to see how your MBTI type matches up with the Wizarding World.

Big-5

The Big-5 model breaks down personality into five key traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Every character in Harry Potter demonstrates these traits in unique ways. For example, Sirius would probably score high on Openness due to his rebellious spirit and imagination. At the same time, Dolores Umbridge’s high Conscientiousness and low Agreeableness would highlight her need for control and lack of empathy.

By measuring your Big-5 traits, you might uncover which character’s strengths and weaknesses resonate with your own.

Enneagram

The Enneagram’s nine distinct types help us explore core motivations and fears.

Each Harry Potter character embodies an Enneagram type based on their fundamental desires and concerns. For example, Harry himself can be seen as a Type 6 — the Loyalist — constantly looking for security, doubting himself at times but ultimately striving to protect those he loves. Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy reflects a Type 3 — the Achiever — focused on external success and appearances and struggling with his need for validation.

Discovering your Enneagram type could shed light on how your inner motivations align with those of the beloved wizards and witches.

Personality Types of Harry Potter Characters: Somewhere In-Between Fun and Serious Self-Exploration

In the enchanting world of Harry Potter, unique personalities like resilient Nymphadora Tonks, whimsical Luna Lovegood, or fanatical Bellatrix Lestrange illustrate the complexity of our inner world.

The equally childish brother of the seemingly immature George Weasley, Fred Weasley, exemplifies how personal growth and evolving personality traits can shape one’s journey. In all his playfulness, he dies a brave hero amid the final battle.

As we explore their MBTI types and transformations throughout the series, we are reminded that we each hold the power to grow, change, and shape our own story.

Embrace this journey of self-exploration, allowing the lessons of these beloved magical folks to inspire your own development path.