The Magical Ladies of Harry Potter in and out of Costume

J.K. Rowling developed an entire wizarding world around “The Boy Who Lived”, but the stories of women he met along the way were just as captivating. These awesome female characters shaped the Harry Potter universe as much as Harry did, despite the fact their names weren’t on the book cover.

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These powerful ladies showed us what it means to be a true warrior and put your life on the line every day. They were fierce, determined and incredibly courageous, inspiring little girls (and women) around the world to find the same qualities in their heart and fight for what’s right. If you’re still suffering a major case of Harry Potter nostalgia, take a look at magical ladies who defined childhood for millions of young book lovers.

Goblet of Fire gave us several exciting new characters, including French beauty Fleur Delacour. She represented the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic during the Triwizard Tournament, and won hearts of many – including Ron Weasley! Thing got a little bit weird, since she later married his brother Bill and their family had a hard time accepting her until she proved worthy of his love.

The role in the Harry Potter series opened many doors for this French actress and she finally started landing English speaking roles she longed for since childhood. Poésy played small supporting parts in critically acclaimed movies 127 Hours and In Bruges before being cast as the lead in TV series The Tunnel.

Luna Lovegood was one of Hogwarts’s most eccentric and dreamy students, but she was also incredibly kind-hearted, extremely perceptive and bluntly honest. Despite constant teasing she suffered from her peers, Luna always stayed true to her quirky ways. This allowed her to toughen up and transform into a brave young woman, who never broke under pressure and always stayed loyal to her friends.

Luna Lovegood is still the most recognizable character Lynch ever played, but she didn’t give up acting. She appeared in several movies after Harry Potter, including indie drama My Name Is Emily. Lynch is constantly working to promote healthy self-esteem and body image.

Padma Patil and her twin Parvati attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the same years as Harry, but they were surprisingly sorted into different houses. Unlike her sister, Padma was a Ravenclaw student, but that didn’t stop them from staying close. They attended the Yule Ball together, joined Dumbledore’s Army and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts with the rest of their peers.

Afshan Azad made a lot of amazing friends on the set of Harry Potter, but this experience didn’t inspire her to become a full-time actress. She went through an extremely traumatic experience in 2010, when her brother and father attacked her because she was dating a man from a different religion. Despite the fact she doesn’t have the support of her family, her loyal friends and thousands of fans across the globe are on Azad’s side.