'Harry Potter' Villains: We Rank the Best of the Worst

12. Severus Snape

Is he good? Is he bad? We can't quite get a grip on sneaky Snape (Alan Rickman) -- and that's why we love to hate him. He's contemptuous of Potter and his friends, but Severus is a spy in the house of Slytherin, and Dumbledore trusts him (with his life), so we gotta give the greasy-haired guy SOME respect.

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11. The Dursleys

They have no magical powers (unless being dull and preening are considered magic), but these three are villains from the start. Harry's just a much-resented burden to them. If Aunt Petunia's like Cinderella's evil stepmother, that'd make Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley the stepsisters ... yeah, we'll go with that.

10. Dolores Umbridge

The Ministry of Magic's representative at Hogwarts may be all smiles and giggles, but Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) is a true witch (with a "b") at heart. In 'Phoenix,' she seizes power from Dumbledore, burns "I will not tell lies" into Harry's hand, and bans boy and girls from making out. That's so not cool.

9. Professor Quirrell

It's not that Professor Quirrell (Ian Hart) himself is so evil, but he's weak enough to allow Voldemort to inhabit his body, seek the sorcerer's stone that would bestow eternal life, and confront Harry as Quirrell's ghostly second face -- giving new meaning to the term "eyes in the back of his head."

8. Draco Malfoy

The scion of one of the most dangerous families in Hogwarts history, Malfoy (Tom Felton) grows from schoolyard bully to real and dangerous threat. Well, with a father like Lucius Malfoy and an aunt like Bellatrix Lestrange, what would you expect? Draco's just trying to take over the family business, so to speak.

7. Dementors

These dark creatures are guards at Azkaban, but they moonlight as mayhem makers elsewhere. Their prime function? Sucking the souls out of wizards and muggles like they were delicious pouches of Capri Sun. And in 'Phoenix,' Harry's wicked cousin Dudley gets to feel what it's like to be a juice box.

6. Tom Riddle

Harry and pals might not be afraid of no ghosts, but Tom Marvolo Riddle (Christian Coulson), whose name can be arranged by deft Scrabble players to read "I Am Lord Voldemort," is a little scarier: He's a memory, the Dark Lord as a young Hogwarts scholar, discovered chillin' in the Chamber of Secrets. Creepy.

5. Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail

Would we find Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) so vile if he were, say, a puppy instead of a rat? We sure would, given that he betrayed Harry's parents to gain Voldemort's favor and helped capture Harry, bringing the Dark Lord back to life. It just goes to show you: Never trust a rodent. Is that species-ist?

4. Barty Crouch Jr.

This sneaky Death Eater (David Tennant) pulls off quite a coup in 'Goblet of Fire' when he kidnaps Mad Eye Moody and impersonates the professor while infiltrating Hogwarts. And though he delivers a few good lessons, he's pure evil. Then again, we'd be bitter and evil if we were named Barty Crouch, too.

3. Bellatrix Lestrange

Sirius Black's crazy cousin, Death Eater Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter), tortured Neville Longbottom's parents, spent years in Azkaban and ... well, we won't reveal what she does in 'Phoenix,' but it's really, really bad. On the plus side, she's by far the hottest villain on our list. No offense, Wormtail.

2. Lucius Malfoy

Sure, the elder Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) tried to bring Voldemort back by reopening the Chamber of Secrets, but this key member of the Dark Lord's Death Eater coterie truly proves he's pure eeeevil in 'Phoenix,' spearheading the effort to wrest "the prophecy" away from Harry. Apparently, blondes aren't more fun.

1. Lord Voldemort

Harry's arch-nemesis needs no introduction, but we'll give him one anyway. You Know Who (Ralph Fiennes) is the crusty-faced, flat-nosed Dark Lord of the Death Eaters, the murderer of Harry's parents and hater of all non-pure-blood wizards. His main life goals: Live forever ... and kill Harry Potter. So, yeah, he's pretty evil.

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