Determining who the second strongest wizard in the Harry Potter series is after Albus Dumbledore can be a bit tricky. There are several powerful contenders for the title, and ranking them requires looking at their magical abilities, dueling skills, knowledge, and achievements.
Quick Answer
If judging purely on magical power and dueling skill, Lord Voldemort is likely the second strongest wizard after Dumbledore. However, an argument could also be made for Severus Snape being the second strongest for his extensive knowledge, mastery of difficult magic, and spying abilities.
Top Contenders for Second Strongest Wizard
Here are the top candidates for the second strongest wizard in Harry Potter after Dumbledore:
- Lord Voldemort
- Severus Snape
- Minerva McGonagall
- Kingsley Shacklebolt
- Bellatrix Lestrange
Let’s look at each wizard’s abilities and accomplishments to help determine who should be considered the second strongest.
Lord Voldemort
As the main antagonist of the series, Lord Voldemort is certainly one of the most powerful wizards. Some key abilities and achievements supporting his bid for second strongest include:
- Incredible magical power – Voldemort mastered extraordinarily difficult magic like flying without support and cursing a teaching position.
- Skilled duelist – He defeated many talented aurors and Order members, and even held his own against Dumbledore.
- Dark magic mastery – Voldemort pushed magic to its limits by creating new dark spells and mastering forbidden curses like the Unforgivable Curses.
- Horcrux mastery – He pushed immortality further than any other wizard by splitting his soul into seven horcruxes.
- Gathered followers – Voldemort’s charisma allowed him to surround himself with powerful Death Eaters.
- Cheated death – He survived his rebounded Killing Curse when attacking baby Harry by existing as a spectral form.
Voldemort’s prodigious skill and almost unrivaled magical accomplishments make him a top contender for second strongest wizard.
Severus Snape
While lacking Voldemort’s raw magical power, Severus Snape’s magical knowledge and achievements present a strong case for him being the second strongest wizard. Here’s why:
- Extensive magical knowledge – Snape mastered a vast array of spells, potions, and dark magic.
- Skilled Legilimens and Occlumens – He used these abilities to successfully spy on Voldemort.
- Mastery of difficult magic – Snape could fly without support and slow curses as a counter-curse expert.
- Brilliant potioneer – He improved textbook potions and created new spells like Sectumsempra and healing spells for werewolf wounds.
- Deception – Snape convincingly deceived Voldemort with his spying for nearly 17 years.
- Courage – He repeatedly risked his life spying on Voldemort and protecting Harry.
Snape’s expansive magical knowledge and mastery of difficult magic combined with his bravery and deception skills create a strong argument for his being second only to Dumbledore in power and ability.
Minerva McGonagall
As one of Dumbledore’s most trusted allies and an exceptionally skilled witch, Minerva McGonagall deserves consideration for second strongest wizard:
- Transfiguration mastery – McGonagall was one of the world’s most gifted transfigurers.
- Powerful protective magic – She was able to protect Hogwarts from harm on multiple occasions.
- Quick dueling skills – In the Battle of Hogwarts, she dueled Snape and the Carrows simultaneously.
- Leadership – As Head of Gryffindor House and eventually Hogwarts Headmistress, she commanded great respect.
- Intelligence – Her sharp mind allowed her to see through deception and plan secure defenses.
- Teaching excellence – McGonagall was regarded as one of the best professors by students.
While she doesn’t quite measure up to Snape or Voldemort, McGonagall’s rare transfiguration talent, protective powers, leadership, and dueling make her one of the strongest magical contenders.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
A powerful Auror and eventual Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt is another strong candidate:
- Skilled duelist – He battled many Death Eaters and helped transport Harry safely many times.
- Strong protective enchantments – Shacklebolt was adept at defensive charms, disillusionment, and memory modification.
- Leadership – He organized the efforts against Voldemort as an Auror and later reformed the Ministry of Magic.
- Bravery – Shacklebolt faced danger fearlessly in the Order of the Phoenix.
- Level-headed – His calm demeanor allowed him to plan effectively against Voldemort.
While Shacklebolt didn’t demonstrate the rare abilities of Voldemort or Snape, his combination of strength, leadership, and bravery in the fight against Voldemort make him one of the most powerful good wizards.
Bellatrix Lestrange
As Voldemort’s most devoted follower, the insane and sadistic Bellatrix Lestrange deserves mention:
- Prodigious duelist – She defeated many talented witches and wizards, including Sirius Black.
- Powerful dark magic – Bellatrix was one of the few Death Eaters capable of the Unforgivable Curses.
- Occlumency – She could shield her mind from intrusion to protect Voldemort’s secrets.
- Fanatical loyalty – Bellatrix’s unwavering devotion to Voldemort inspired fear in many.
While mentally unstable, Bellatrix’s lethal dueling skills and mastery of the dark arts make her one of Voldemort’s strongest Death Eaters. But her blind loyalty and one-dimensional focus on Voldemort limit her capabilities compared to more balanced wizards.
Ranking the Top Candidates
Considering all their powers and abilities, here is one potential ranking of the top candidates for second strongest wizard:
- Lord Voldemort – His prodigious raw power, magical knowledge, and dueling skills make him second only to Dumbledore.
- Severus Snape – Snape is extremely close behind with his vast knowledge, mastery of difficult magic, and spying abilities.
- Minerva McGonagall – Her exceptional transfiguration talent, leadership, and dueling should place her third.
- Kingsley Shacklebolt – Shacklebolt’s considerable power and bravery in fighting Voldemort rank him fourth.
- Bellatrix Lestrange – While a terrifying duelist, Bellatrix’s mental instability prevents her from ranking higher than fifth.
There are reasonable arguments for ranking Snape above Voldemort or McGonagall above Shacklebolt. But Voldemort and Snape stand clearly above the rest for their rare magical abilities and knowledge.
Conclusion
Determining the second strongest wizard after Dumbledore is tricky with several powerful contenders. But based on their magical power, achievements, knowledge, and skills, Lord Voldemort and Severus Snape appear to stand above the rest.
Voldemort’s extraordinary raw magical power and dark magic mastery push him just above Snape’s deep knowledge and mastery of difficult magic. But a reasonable case could be made for Snape by emphasizing his deception abilities and bravery in spying on Voldemort for the Order. Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Bellatrix Lestrange also deserve credit for their considerable talents.
Ultimately, there is no definitive canon ranking of wizards by power or skill after Dumbledore in the Harry Potter universe. Fans will continue debating who is most deserving of the title second strongest wizard based on their own perspectives and criteria. But looking at all their capabilities, Voldemort or Snape appear to be the strongest contenders for the distinction.