J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world enchanted readers around the globe, and it features a stunning cast of characters, inventive magic, and a charming and well-developed setting. But there's a world outside Hogwarts. England's wizards are governed by the Minister of Magic, and during the story, Mr. Cornelius Fudge is the Minister, later replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour.
Many wizards in the Harry Potter lore are less than thrilled about Mr. Fudge being Minister, and he gets fired at some point. Meanwhile, there are 10 particular witches and wizards who could make for a great Minister. Some may need to grow older first, but they all probably have what it takes to lead the wizarding community. Who might they be?
Albus Dumbledore
This is an easy choice, and in fact Dumbledore himself says how many people wanted him to be Minister. He turned down the job, though, to stay at Hogwarts as a grandfatherly figure to all the students.
Still, it's easy to see how he could become Minister: his vast influence and network of friends, his incredibly deep knowledge and skill with magic, and most of all, his kindness and compassion for others. He believes in second chances, as Hagrid put it, and Dumbledore can see the good in nearly anyone and bring out that potential. Imagine him doing that to the entire community!
Arthur Weasley
Mr. Weasly is a sort of father figure to Harry, especially since Vernon Dursley is little more than a domestic tyrant. Arthur has a healthy and balanced perspective on people and the wizard community.
He's neither a bully nor a pushover, and he's kind without being a sucker. Mr. Weasley is a trusted and core member of the Order of the Phoenix, and he's got office experience working at the Ministry already. That, and he has a positive view of Muggles, which could lead to healthier wizard-Muggle relations.
Remus Lupin
He was part of Sirius Black's and James Potter's group of misfit troublemakers during his youth, but Lupin grew up to be a responsible and tough man who has seen the darker side of the Wizarding world. Why would he make a great minister?
Like Dumbledore, he has seen tragedy and became kinder for it rather than cruel, and he's a great teacher and guide, being able to draw out Harry's true potential during Defense Against the Dark Arts classes.
Minerva McGonagall
As Hogwarts' Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore's friend, a core member of the Order, and a generally tough and smart witch, she's nearly as easy a choice for Minister as Dumbledore himself is.
McGonagall has a reputation for being strict and uncompromising with her students, but unlike Snape, she does this to realize each student's potential, and she earnestly wants what's best for everyone around her. It's tough love, and that makes her a natural leader and protectve figure. Let's not forget that she's a master duelist and knows all kinds of arcane lore about magic.
Hermione Granger
Despite her Muggle upbringing and Muggle-born status, Hermione was a rising star at Hogwarts even in her first year, outstripping anyone else in her class. But she's not just an avid reader; Hermione is a genius with all sorts of spells, and an excellent and level-headed friend who can face danger right alongside Harry and Ron.
She's a fighter, a friend, a master witch, and an emotional rock. Who wouldn't want her in the Minister's office?
Ginny Weasley
Ginny could be Minister of Magic for similar reasons as Hermione. She's not quite an academic genius like Hermione is, but she often joined Harry on his adventures against evil, and she never once wavered against the odds.
Though she fell victim to Tom Riddle's horcrux diary in her first year, Ginny quickly transformed from Ron's shy little sister to a real witch in no time. She's also a major player in Dumbledore's Army, and she keeps a cool, level head and cares greatly about her friends. She'd make for a tough but fair Minister for sure.
Bill Weasley
As the eldest Weasley sibling, Bill is often the role model for his younger brothers, and he's earned it. He doesn't share his father's love of Muggle artifacts, but Bill is a brave member of the Order of the Phoenix and he's a solid wizard, too. As a bonus, he's easygoing and smart, making him flexible and easy to get along with.
As a Minister, Bill would be easily adaptable and easily approachable, making him a sort of "he's one of us" leader.
Cedric Diggory
Mr. Diggory's life was cut tragically short in his seventh year at Hogwarts, but until then, he was an impressive young wizard. He was a Hufflepuff, and this House has an undeserved bad reputation. Hufflepuffs are cooperative, industrious, and humble, making them the foundation of any society or workplace.
As Minister, Cedric would work hard for the common good of all and stay humble the entire time, which would no doubt make him a popular Minister. To add to these solid credentials, Cedric was even chosen as a Trizard champion, which says a lot about him (and all of it good).
Barty Crouch, Sr.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Crouch succumbed to madness at the end of his life and lost his life at the hands of his Death Eater son. Until then, he was the very model of a Ministry employee, being a major department head and guiding his employees with a steady hand.
He's professional, smart, and level-headed (most of the time, anyway), and he's not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get some real work done for some real results.
Tom Riddle, Jr.
Yes, really! Until he became Lord Voldemort, the paragon of ultimate evil, Tom Riddle Jr. was really not much different from Harry. Both boys suffered the early loss of one or both parents and ended up alone and unwanted, with everything to prove. This is why they both loved Hogwarts so much, and for a time, Tom really wanted to be a teacher.
He was also a genius student, widely admired by his classmates and professors alike. That, and he was highly ambitious and driven, and charismatic, too. If he used all those talents for good instead of evil, he could have been a powerhouse of a Minister. Perhaps if Dumbledore tried harder to steer him off the tracks of evil, it could have been fine.