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Coming up with your own Harry Potter character can be a fun and creative way to add even more depth to the wondrous world of witchcraft and wizardry. To get started, all you need is a pen, a notepad, and an imagination. Think of a name for your character, then give them a unique personality and describe the way they look. You can then decide which school and house they're best suited for, along with other details, like their friends and foes, special skills, and choice of pet. When you're done, bring your character to life by drawing a picture or writing a story about them!
Steps
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Name your character. Get as creative as you want—the characters in the Harry Potter universe often have quirky or unusual names. If you're having trouble coming up with a good name, try putting magical-sounding words together in different combinations. [1] X Research source- Give your villains darker-sounding names to make them sound more sinister, like “Argyle Frostfang” or “Sophia Nightshade.”
- If your character is a muggle-born or half-blood, it will make more sense to give them an ordinary-sounding name.
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Describe your character's physical appearance. Put some thought into how you want your character to look. How tall are they? What color is their hair? How do they dress? Your character's style should serve as a kind of visual representation of what they're like. Little touches like this can make your witch or wizard feel truly one-of-a-kind. [2] X Research source- Consider giving your character other distinguishing features, as well, like a scar, birthmark, or signature item of clothing.
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Outline your character's special skills and abilities. Perhaps they're an expert in casting verbal spells, or they're an Animagi that can transform into animals. They might even have strong suits that aren't related to magic, like picking locks, giving advice, or playing pranks on people. [3] X Research source- For added realism, pick out skills for your character that make sense with their background or the house they're in. [4] X Research source
- Your character's unique magic can help them in difficult situations. For instance, they might use their understanding of Parseltongue to learn about a Slytherin villain's secret plans.
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Fill in the blanks with other important details. Flesh out your character even more by describing their likes and dislikes, family history, hobbies and interests, or even their favorite food. Spend as much time as you want developing your character's personality. The more information you provide about them, the more three-dimensional they'll be.- If you want your character to be believable, avoid assigning them traits that don't match their behavior or upbringing. For example, a pureblood wouldn't have much knowledge about the muggle world.
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Quiz
wikiHow Quiz: Which Harry Potter Character Am I?
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Choose a school for your character to join. Hogwarts is the most famous school of magic, but it's not the only one. There are many other schools that teach young wizards and witches, such as Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute, both of which are referenced in the books. Making your character from one of these schools can be a good way to help them stand out. [5] X Research source- Other lesser-known wizarding institutions include Uagadou, which is located in Africa, Ilvermorny, which is based in North America, Castelobruxo, which can be found in the jungles of Brazil.
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Decide what house your character will be in. A simple way to do this is to go online and take the official Sorting Hat Quiz on the Pottermore website. Put yourself in your character's shoes and answer all the questions the way they would. Then, review the results of your quiz to see which house your character is best suited for. Of course, you can always just make up your own mind about where they belong. [6] X Research source- You'll need to create a Pottermore account in order to take the Sorting Hat Quiz.
- Be sure to give your character features that reflect the house they're in when you're envisioning the way they'll look, like the emblem on their uniform and the color of their scarves and other accessories.
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Equip your character with a wand. Wands can be made from many different woods and cores. Generally, a wizard's wand matches some aspect of their appearance or personality. An experienced witch may wield a wand with elegant patterns and designs, for instance, while a practitioner of dark magic may use one carved from bone.- Consider many different attributes, like material, shape, length, and flexibility. Write out a short description of your character's wand or draw a sketch to show off its main features.
- You can read more about wand types and materials by reading articles on the Pottermore website. [7] X Research source
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Select a pet for your character. Every student at Hogwarts has a pet that accompanies them and assists them with their lessons. Some of the most common pets include cats, toads, and owls. Rats are also allowed. However, you can give your character any kind of pet you like. Remember, it's your story! [8] X Research source- Think of other small animals that your character might keep as a companion, such as a spider, newt, or exotic bird.
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Determine your character's boggart. Boggarts are shapeshifting creatures that take the form of what a witch or wizard dreads most. Fantasizing about what your character sees when they encounter a boggart is an imaginative way of revealing their biggest fears. For instance, it could look like a goblin, a Dementor, or a Basilisk, depending on the person. [9] X Research source- Your character's boggart doesn't have to be a fearsome creature. It could also be a professor that's constantly tormenting them, or a group of taunting peers.
- Remember, the only way to a overcome a boggart is to laugh at it. How will your character finally face their fears?
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Come up with an interesting backstory. Write out a little about your character's history, from their childhood to the present. You could go into their family history, how they discovered that they're a witch or wizard, and any secrets they're bringing to school with them. Their backstory will help explain where they came from and how they grew into the person they are now. [10] X Research source- Work other elements from the Harry Potter series into your character's background. For instance, you might make them a star Quidditch player, or point out that they were next door neighbors with Neville Longbottom growing up.
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Think about who your character's friends will be. You can imagine that they're friends with characters from the books, or use the opportunity to come up with other original characters for them to hang around. Is your character a people person, or are they more of a loner? Will they associate with many different students, or mostly stick to their own house?- Don't be afraid to explore unexpected relationships. Your character might be a promising young witch whose best friend is a muggle, or a conflicted Slytherin who ends up befriending a loyal Hufflepuff and changing their ways.
- If you decide to make up other original characters as friends, be sure to give them names so you can keep track of who's who and put them into your stories.
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Dream up an enemy or villain for your character. After you've assembled a friend group for your character, choose a person or group of people to pit them against. This could be a rival student from another house or a bully from their own. Write out a couple short sentences explaining why your character and their enemy are at odds. [11] X Research source- Don't forget to name your character's nemesis and give them a basic backstory of their own.
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Decide how your character fits into the timeline. They could have been around during Harry's battle with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, or they might have come along later as a new student. You might even imagine a futuristic version of Hogwarts with all new students and professors after magic has been discovered by muggles. The possibilities are endless! [12] X Research source- Basing your characters and stories after the events of the books will give you much more freedom over what happens in the world you've created.
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Draw or write stories about your finished character. Once you're done building a profile for your character, draw and color a detailed picture of them to bring them to life. You might also choose to incorporate them into your own original fanfiction. Remember to include each of their identifying elements, like magical abilities, clothing, wand, and pets. [13] X Research source- Use an online character creator to model your character and try out different outfits, hairstyles, and accessories. [14] X Research source
- Keep expanding your cast of characters to add to the already rich world of Harry Potter. You're only limited by the scope of your imagination!
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can you improve your creative writing skills?Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020.Keep writing and challenge yourself with new writing projects using your imagination. If you hear something that's interesting to you, try to write a story about it differently from how you heard it. The same goes for something you've seen—write it differently from how you saw it, and let your imagination flow.
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QuestionCan my character play quidditch?Community AnswerThey could, but they don't have to. Everything about your character is up to you. Otherwise, they wouldn't be yours.
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QuestionHow do I post it on the internet so my friend can see it?Community AnswerYou can post your story on wattpad.com or fanfiction.net, your friends would be able to see it there.
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Tips
- Have fun! There are no rules when it comes to creating your own characters, which means you're free to develop them however you want.Thanks
- You may have to go through a few different versions of your character before you get them just right.Thanks
- Invite your friends to create their own characters, as well. You can then come up with and act out new stories together.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Unlike how they're portrayed in the movies, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang both accept male and female students in the books, so they are options for any character regardless of gender.
- You don't have to write a novel with your character if you don't feel ready. For practice, try doing short stories based on shenanigans they get up to at Hogwarts.
- Fill in one of those character 'cheat sheets' You can find online. The more detailed, the better. If you can fill in all of the questions, you know your character.
- Find surprising twists or hidden backstories for your character. Maybe they'll fall in love with a Slytherin or become a tri-wizard competitor ?
- Don't over-exaggerate your character! Make them seem realistic, like they might be someone to pop up in one of the books!
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References
- ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/features/etymology-behind-harry-potter-character-names
- ↑ https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/10-top-tips-for-creating-unique-character-designs--cms-25966
- ↑ https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-fantastic-beasts-secret-powers-trivia/
- ↑ https://www.pojo.com/harry-potter-spell-list/
- ↑ http://ew.com/article/2016/01/30/harry-potter-jk-rowling-magic-schools-hogwarts/
- ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-sorting-hat
- ↑ https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/wand-lengths-and-flexibility
- ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/features/pottermore-guide-to-wizarding-world-pets
- ↑ https://www.hp-lexicon.org/creature/non-corporeal/boggart/
- ↑ https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-killer-backstory/
- ↑ https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-scary-terrifying-villains-bad-guys/
- ↑ https://www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline/character-timelines/harry-potter-timeline/
- ↑ http://www.creativebloq.com/character-design/tips-5132643
- ↑ http://www.dolldivine.com/hogwarts-student-maker.php
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