Aurors serve as one of the magical world's greatest protections against the Dark Arts in the world of Harry Potter. Employed by their respective country's Ministry of Magic, anyone who hopes to become an Auror must meet high academic standards and undergo rigorous training. Only the bravest and most skilled witches and wizards ultimately become Aurors and have what it takes to survive and succeed in the field.

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There are many powerful Aurors, but we're here only to look at the cream of the crop. The focus for each selected character is on their ability to combat the Dark Arts and safeguard the magical world. Even though Gellert Grindelwald is more powerful than most of the witches and wizards on this list, his time disguised as Percival Graves was a facade for corrupt purposes, meaning he's disqualified from joining the ranks of those who are legitimate Aurors. Defeating the powerful likes of Grindelwald and Voldemort or holding one's own against them does increase the likelihood to be higher on this list.

Updated July 28th, 2020 by Richard Keller: Essentially being the "special agents" of the Potterverse, the Aurors responsible for defending it from the machinations of evil wizards make for a fascinating subject to look into. Of course, we're all familiar with the most famous of them, but their ranks are studded with names unsung and unexpected. We've added a few more of their most notable members to fill out the roster a bit more and expand the spotlight.

Hesphaestus Gore

The Ministry of Magic as seen in the Harry Potter movies

Hesphaestus may be one of the earliest Aurors, if not the first, to serve under the Ministry of Magic. He was most likely part of the first Auror recruiting program conducted by Minister of Magic Eldritch Diggory.

While there's not much about Gore's service as an Auror, there is information concerning the role of Minister of Magic. Among his achievements were the resolution of the Goblin Wars, reinforcement of Azkaban, and the officiation of a broom race from the English city of Aberdeen to Rome, Italy.

Percival Graves

Fantastic Beasts Colin Farrell Percival Graves

Before his kidnapping by Gellert Grindelwald, Percival Graves was a high-ranking member of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). His wizarding school grades and achievements allowed him to become the head of MACUSA's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It's not known what happened to him after his capture at the end of 1926.

Theseus Scamander

Newt Scamander's brother Theseus is referred to as a "war hero," an informal title he earned after aiding Muggles during the First World War. Minister for Magic Archer Evermonde forbade wizards and witches from intervening in the war, but the principled Theseus felt compelled to join the conflict and while his exact accomplishments are unknown, they were significant enough to make a difference and be considered a hero.

Theseus became Head of the Auror Office and tasked with hunting down and apprehending Gellert Grindelwald. While Theseus was unable to complete this mission in The Crimes of Grindelwald, he was powerful enough to defend himself and protect others against the formidable dark wizard, and to put out the blue fire that threatened Paris. More of Theseus's power will likely be showcased in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them 3.

Rufus Scrimgeour

Billy Nighy as Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I looking intense

Most of what is known about Scrimgeour pertains to his time as Minister for Magic and not as an Auror. We do know that Scrimgeour's success as an Auror qualified him to lead the Ministry once the public knew that Lord Voldemort had returned. Scrimgeour fought enough Dark wizards that he was eventually promoted to Head of the Auror Office, a post he occupied until his promotion to Minister.

His true power is demonstrated in the fact that he put up a valiant fight against Voldemort and refused to reveal Harry Potter's whereabouts, even when brutally tortured. It's this kind of resilience that made Scrimgeour an effective Auror, and he could've been a strong Minister if he'd spent less time trying to make the Ministry look good for the public instead of figuring out how to combat Voldemort and his followers.

Ron Weasley

J.K. Rowling asserts that Ron and Harry revolutionized the Auror department, and Hermione made a better world for the wizarding community. Destroying a Horcrux, helping Harry and Hermione attain the other Horcruxes, and dueling many Death Eaters certainly proved Ron was powerful and qualified enough to be an Auror.

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As such, Ron helped track down and seize many Death Eaters after the Battle of Hogwarts, which demonstrates the pivotal role he played in creating and maintaining the peace that the magical world enjoyed for many years after the Voldemort's final defeat. Ron only remained an Auror for two years, though, after which he became his brother George's partner at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which was still his occupation during Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. While brief, Ron's time as an Auror left a lasting and positive impact.

Neville Longbottom

Neville using Gryffindor's Sword to kill Nagini

Before Neville became a Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts, he briefly served as an Auror. J.K. Rowling confirmed that after Kingsley Shacklebolt became Minister for Magic, he would've wanted Neville, Harry, and Ron to become Aurors and round up all the remaining Death Eaters after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Slaying Voldemort's last Horcrux Nagini is undeniably Neville's most powerful moment, but he also proved that he could be excellent Auror material by leading Dumbledore's Army in his seventh year, during which he withstood torture and resisted against the Carrows. Rowling confirmed that Neville would've helped finish the job, ensuring no Death Eaters tried to be like Lucius Malfoy after the First Wizarding War, securing unjust freedom by pretending they hadn't willingly served Voldemort and enforced his reign of terror.

Tina Goldstein

Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

MACUSA relieved Tina of her Auror position after attacking the abusive No-Maj Mary Lou Barebone, but Tina proved herself a resourceful and powerful individual which allowed her to later be reinstated. She managed to quickly apprehend Newt Scamander after seeing him using magic so blatantly in front of No-Majs. Her skills proved invaluable in locating Newt's suitcase and helping him regather the creatures that had escaped from it.

When faced with Gellert Grindelwald, she held her own while dueling him and later disarmed him of his wand. In The Crimes of Grindelwald she tracked down Credence Barebone before Theseus Scamander was able to, and she successfully restrained Theseus with magic at another point in the film. Tina also held off Grindelwald's blue fire and helped put it out before it could devastate Paris.

Alice and Frank Longbottom

Frank and Alice Longbottom from Harry Potter.

Alice and Frank Longbottom are grouped here because practically everything that's known about them applies to both, including their great power. As Aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix, Alice and Frank were strong enough to defy Voldemort three times. They fought and captured many Death Eaters, and managed to survive the First Wizarding War.

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After the war ended, Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband, brother-in-law, and Barty Crouch Jr. tortured Alice and Frank for information about Voldemort's whereabouts. The Longbottoms withstood the Cruciatus Curse for an incredible amount of time, but were eventually driven mad by the torture.

Nymphadora Tonks

Nymphadora Tonks

Even though the Ministry of Magic officially denied Voldemort's return, Tonks realized she could simultaneously do her job as an Order of the Phoenix member and as an Auror. She fed the Order crucial information, protected the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries, and led shrewd Ministry officials like Rufus Scrimgeour astray where the search for Sirius Black was concerned, all to protect a good man and focus on the fight that mattered.

As a skilled duelist, she honorably upheld her duties as an Auror and member of the Order by defending the innocent and fighting many powerful Death Eaters during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, the Battle of the Seven Potters, and the Battle of Hogwarts. The only Death Eater powerful enough to defeat Tonks, in the end, was Bellatrix Lestrange.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

George Harris as Kingsley Shacklebolt in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix casting a spell

Like Tonks, Kingsley was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and an Auror. He was also smart enough to realize that regardless of the Ministry's stance on Voldemort's return, his missions as an Auror and an Order member could be closely aligned. Kingsley was clever enough to lead the Ministry astray on the hunt for Sirius Black but also keep their trust as Cornelius Fudge had Kingsley accompany him when they went to Hogwarts to confront Albus Dumbledore about Dumbledore's Army, with Fudge completely unaware about Kingsley being part of the Order.

The Ministry's faith in him as an Auror paid off in bigger ways as he was assigned to act as a bodyguard for the Muggle Prime Minister. Kingsley fought bravely in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of the Seven Potters. He also fought bravely during the Battle of Hogwarts, for which he helped create and lead the battle plan, and toward the end of it, he held his own while dueling Voldemort. For his many powerful and courageous services, Kingsley was named Minister for Magic after the Second Wizarding War.

Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody

Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody, the world renowned Auror

Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody gained a reputation as a fierce Auror during the First Wizarding War. It was said that half the Death Eaters in Azkaban were there thanks to Moody. As such, most Death Eaters who faced Moody ended up in Azkaban, but some like Evan Rosier was killed when facing the legendary Auror.

Moody continued to be of great service after the war ended, particularly when he captured Igor Karkaroff, who revealed that Ministry employee Augustus Rookwood was a Death Eater. Even though Moody was retired from being an Auror by the Second Wizarding War, he was still a key figure in the Order of the Phoenix and his legacy lived on as his protégé Nymphadora Tonks became one of the most effective Aurors for the Ministry, not to mention an invaluable member for the Order.

Harry Potter

Jamie Parker as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Defeating Voldemort once and for all and the many feats it took to get there already solidifies Harry as one of the most powerful on this list, but what truly sets him apart is the longtime success of Harry's Auror career. Under Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, and alongside fellow Aurors Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom, Harry worked tirelessly to apprehend the Death Eaters who remained at large after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Ron and Neville left the Ministry to pursue career paths closer to their passions after the job Kingsley gave them was done, but Harry stayed on for many years, becoming Head of the Auror Office and ensuring that the magical world could be safe and enjoy a period of peace and prosperity, the likes of which they hadn't known for years. Alongside Hermione Granger, he helped further revolutionize the Ministry and make it far better than the government they'd known from their youth. The power of creating and maintaining peace and safety is underrated, and Harry was a crucial piece in making it possible.

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