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The Harry Potter franchise owes its popularity thanks to its complex storyline and incredibly detailed world-building. And much like in the real world, the magical world of Harry Potter has a primary governing body, the Ministry of Magic. The Minister for Magic is the head of the Ministry and the equivalent of the Prime Minister in Great Britain. During most of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger’s time at Hogwarts, Cornelius Fudge was the Minister for Magic.
Throughout the years, there have been several Ministers for Magic. Many in the magical community hoped Albus Dumbledore would become the Minister for Magic eventually, yet Dumbledore remained at Hogwarts. When Lily Potter, Severus Snape, and the Marauders were growing up and started studying at Hogwarts, the Minister for Magic changed several times as Voldemort rose to power.
10 Ignatius Tuft (1959-1962)
Ignatius Tuft was the Minister for Magic when James and Lily Potter were born. He was the son of Wilhelmina Tuft, the previous Minister for Magic between 1948 and 1959. Most believe Ignatius Tuft was elected Minister for Magic only due to his mother’s popularity.
After Minister for Magic Wilhelmina Tuft died in office, and her son Ignatius took over. He held highly dangerous and questionable ideas and tried to institute a Dementor breading program. Because of this, Ignatius Tuft was ousted from office after only serving one term.
9 Nobby Leach (1962-1968)
Nobby Leach was the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic. This was a highly controversial appointment at the time, as bias against Muggle-borns was still present in the Ministry. Several Wizengamot members resigned from government posts in protest.
Nobby Leach’s tenure as Minister for Magic was clouded with rumors and conspiracy theories about his involvement in England’s 1966 FIFA World Cup win. However, Leach constantly denied these claims. He left the Ministry of Magic in 1968 after contracting a mysterious illness. Some believe Abraxas Malfoy, Draco’s grandfather, played a part in Leach’s departure.
8 Eugenia Jenkins (1968-1975)
Eugenia Jenkins became Minister for Magic after Nobby Leach left office. During her time as the head of the Ministry of Magic, the Squib Rights marches took place between 1968 and 1969. Squibs were demanding better rights and opportunities. However, a group of extremists Pure-bloods broke out in riots.
Eugenia Jenkins dealt aptly with the riots as Minister for Magic. But during the first rise of Lord Voldemort, she was ousted from office. The magical community felt she was unable to deal with the challenge.
7 Harold Minchum (1975-1980)
At the time James, Sirius, Lupin, and Peter were creating the Marauder’s Map at Hogwarts, Harold Minchum became Minister for Magic. These were tumultuous times in the Wizarding community. Voldemort was growing in followers, and the First Wizarding War took place during his time, between 1970 and 1981.
Harold Minchum was severe and a hardliner. He placed more Dementors around Azkaban but was unable to stop Voldemort’s rise to power. Around this time, James and Lily Potter got married and Lily became pregnant with Harry.
6 Millicent Bagnold (1980-1990)
Millicent Bagnold was Minister for Magic by the end of the First Wizarding War. Voldemort’s first downfall came in 1981, as he was presumed dead after Voldemort’s confrontation with the Potters. During her time in office, Millicent Bagnold was responsible for the Death Eaters trials.
When Millicent Bagnold was Minister for Magic, Barty Crouch was head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But as his son was tried for the attack on the Longbottoms, Barty Crouch was put in charge of the Department of International Magical Co-operation. Millicent Bagnold retired in 1990, and many hoped Albus Dumbledore would succeed her. However, Dumbledore refused.
5 Cornelius Fudge (1990-1996)
Cornelius Fudge was a junior minister at the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes before becoming Minister for Magic. And even though Albus Dumbledore refused the office, Fudge relied heavily on Dumbledore for advice during his first years as Minister.
Cornelius Fudge’s time in office saw the return of Lord Voldemort. However, Fudge refused to accept Voldemort’s return and led a smear campaign against Dumbledore and Harry Potter. But when Voldemort appeared in the Ministry itself during Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts, Cornelius Fudge was forced to accept his return and was ousted from office. Fudge stayed in the Ministry as Advisor to the Minister for Magic.
4 Rufus Scrimgeour (1996-1997)
Rufus Scrimgeour was the Head of the Auror Office before he was appointed as Minister for Magic. He replaced Cornelius Fudge as the magical community called for a stronger leader in the face of a Second Wizarding War. Scrimgeour tried to reassure the wizard population by publicizing arrests, reorganizing Ministry offices, and even trying to recruit Harry Potter.
Yet Scrimgeour only created the appearance of safety and security and failed to realize Death Eaters had infiltrated the Ministry. This mistake cost him his life, and Scrimgeour was killed after the Death Eaters staged a coup at the Ministry only a year after his appointment as Minister.
3 Pius Thicknesse (1997-1998)
Pius Thicknesse was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before becoming Minister for Magic. But he did not run for office and instead was appointed after the Death Eaters coup, and was under the Imperius Curse. For this reason, Thicknesse isn’t part of most official records of Ministers for Magic.
Pius Thicknesse was a puppet of the Death Eater regime and had no control over anything he did during this time. As Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Thicknesse took measures to prevent Harry from leaving the Dursleys’ home. This made the Order of the Phoenix suspect Thicknesse was under Voldemort’s control even before Scrimgeour’s death.
2 Kingsley Shacklebolt (1998-2019)
Kingsley Shacklebolt was an auror who joined the Order of the Phoenix during the Second Wizarding War. He fought alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione during the Battle of Hogwarts. Shacklebolt was Acting Minister for Magic during the aftermath of the Second Wizarding War before he was officially elected for office.
As Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt led a massive reform of the Ministry. He worked alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione to end corruption and bias against Muggle-borns. Shacklebolt also banned the use of Dementors as Azkaban guards and appointed Harry Potter as Head of the Auror Office.
1 Hermione Granger (2019-)
Hermione Granger played a significant role in the defeat of Voldemort throughout her years at Hogwarts. Alongside Harry and Ron, Hermione fought in several battles during the Second Wizarding War. When the war ended, she returned to Hogwarts to complete her education before joining the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry.
Hermione Granger was a top Ministry employee during Shacklebolt’s time as Minister. As a Ministry employee, Hermione fought for the better treatment of house-elves, a cause she first started to advocate for during her time at Hogwarts. Sometime in 2019, Hermione Granger succeeded Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister for Magic.