In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter franchise, there are four houses within the school of Hogwarts, each representing wizards of a certain stature. The lions of Gryffindor represent the bravest of the wizarding world. With most of the franchise's protagonists coming from this house, there is no small batch to choose from when considering who the best is.

Here we're going to attempt to do just that, and we are looking at students, teachers, and alumni alike. We will be considering their impact on the story and how accurate their placement into Gryffindor was. These wizards have all made their presence known throughout the hallowed halls of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, and now we're going to determine who the best really is.

8 Rubeus Hagrid

Hagrid (1)
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Hagrid would make quite the grand entrance into the films, kicking down a door to ensure Harry Potter would be attending his first year at Hogwarts. Hagrid would have a sordid history at the school, being falsely accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets during his third year, and, as a result, would have his wand snapped and be expelled.

Thanks to a good word from Albus Dumbledore, Hagrid was given the position of the gamekeeper and allowed to live on the school premises. This would stem from Hagrid's love for animals, often standing up for them at his own expense, such as when he spoke up for Aragog despite the creature's dislike for humankind. Hagrid would face many repercussions professionally and personally, but he rarely hesitated when it came time to do what was right.

7 Ron Weasley

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
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The youngest male Weasley, Ron, would have much to live up to when entering Hogwarts. With his brother, Percy performing well as a Prefect, and his twin brothers, Fred & George, acting as the class clowns, many quickly judge Ron before he can state his identity for himself. But something Ron wanted more than anything on his first day was to follow in his family's footsteps, as every Weasley up to that point had been sorted into house Gryffindor.

After being sorted, Ron would initially act as the more cowardly of the trio, but his true bravery would begin to show during the quest for the Philosopher's Stone. During a game of chess, Ron sacrifices himself so that Harry and Hermione can move on, knowing that he would be ruthlessly struck down as a result. While he could be hot-headed, he was always quick to stand up for his friends, even if they didn't always get along.

6 Remus Lupin

David Thewlis as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter
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Remus Lupin was one of the Marauders that would form a tight bond that transcended any curses. This would prove to be quite true after his friends realized that Remus had been afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy from a very young age. Despite this curse, Remus would still work tirelessly to keep a normal appearance so he could be there for his friends when they needed him most.

Remus would keep this promise well into his adult life, taking on the role of Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, hoping to protect his best friend's son, Harry Potter, from Voldemort's servants. Years later, after his wife gave birth to their son, Remus held true to his values of doing what was right, no matter the cost, as he told his wife he would participate in the final battle. This would ultimately cost him, as he would die alongside his wife.

Related: Harry Potter Houses: What Makes Each Hogwarts House Distinct and Who's In Them

5 Sirius Black

Gary Oldman as Sirius Black in Harry Potter
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Sirius Black, another of the Marauders, would go to great lengths to help those he holds dear. When Remus suffered transformations into his werewolf form, Sirius would learn to become an Animagus, turning into a dog so that he could keep Remus in check at night. Sirius was so devoted to his friends that James Potter had entrusted him as his son's godfather.

Sirius took this role seriously, breaking out of Azkaban so that he could protect Harry Potter, despite being accused of betraying the Potters to Voldemort and killing his friend, Peter Pettigrew. Sirius would earn Harry's trust and bravely fight alongside him at the Ministry of Magic. It would be here that Sirius would face his death as his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange would knock him through the Veil, a one-way trip to the land of the dead.

4 Minerva McGonagall

minerva-mcgonagall
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Minerva is the first Animagus to be depicted onscreen, changing from a cat into her human form with ease, much to her class's shock and awe. Not only is Professor McGonagall a Gryffindor, but she would also become the head of Gryffindor House, taking charge of all Gryffindor students.

Minerva had always been a firm but fair instructor, never afraid to take points away from her own house if it meant disciplining her students who had made critical errors in judgment. Minerva was never afraid to throw herself headfirst into danger, especially if her students were in trouble. Minerva is also extremely clever, with her sorting taking over five minutes as the sorting hat had to decide between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

3 Hermione Granger

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Emma Watson as Hermione
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Hermione Granger is a bold woman who could easily be mistaken for a Ravenclaw, due to her high intelligence in academics. From a young age, Hermione would set out to prove herself, knowing that her family lineage would politically set her back when compared to her peers. Hermione would take her anger and use it to push herself further, even daring to use a time-turner during her third year so that she could attend as many classes as possible.

Hermione would use her courage for her friends, and not just in the sense that she would protect them. Hermione never holds back when speaking to those she holds dear, making her come across as mean-spirited when she simply wants what's best for them. And while her commitment to following the rules can make her seem timid at times, this would not be the case, as she would prove when she punched Draco Malfoy in the face for insulting her and her family.

Related: The Wizarding World: Is There a Future For J.K Rowling's Franchise?

2 Albus Dumbledore

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Dumbledore
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Albus would live up to the legacy of House Gryffindor as he would help lead a team of young wizards and witches against the man he loved, Gellert Grindlewald. Albus couldn't stand to see the loss of life that Gellert's plans would lead down, but could not outright duel him due to a blood pact the pair had previously made.

Albus' leadership wouldn't end there as he would go on to become the headmaster of Hogwarts. During his term, he helped defend the school from the threat of Voldemort and introduced Harry Potter into the world of wizardry. Despite his knowledge that Voldemort ordered Draco Malfoy to kill him, Dumbledore refused to cast Draco out, knowing that doing so would result in Draco's death. Even when faced with death, Dumbledore refused to break the deception, ensuring that Snape and Draco would be kept alive.

1 Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry
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The boy who lived. Harry was quickly marked (literally and figuratively) as the one destined to defeat Voldemort once and for all. While the Sorting Hat did show some hesitation in sorting Harry, noting his fear of being placed into Slytherin, Harry's courage would shine through, and he would be placed into Gryffindor. Wielding Godric Gryffindor's sword to slay the mighty basilisk, Harry would never question his placement again.

Harry's strength and courage were tested yearly as new challenges awaited him. He would stand against the followers of Voldemort, ancient beasts, dementors, dragons, and more, all to protect the ones he loves. With the Wizarding World franchise being built off Harry's story, his impact is felt to this day, even as the franchise begins branching out to stories that were before Harry's time.