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As of late, I have seen a significant amount of debate regarding the roles of various characters in the Harry Potter series. It seems that the only unarguable conclusion is that Harry is the series’ hero. But what of the other roles? Obviously, Voldemort is the series’ villain, but where does that place Draco? Presently, I am particularly concerned with the role of the anti-hero. Well, to that, I say the answer is Severus Snape.

Because the term anti-hero was created because of literature, its definition is rather subjective – by no means set in stone – therefore, I have no qualms using Wikipedia’s definition, as it is articulate as any: “In literature and film, an anti-hero is a character that possesses some of the personality traits and weakness traditionally assigned to villains, outlaws and those that either are shunned by society or do not abide by the status quo, but nonetheless have enough heroic qualities and intentions to align them with the heroes in the readers' minds.”

There are many different types of anti-heroes – some are even the central characters in a series, rather than your typical hero – but this basic definition boils it all down.

Furthermore, another definition reads: “This is a kind of hero who seems to express qualities that are opposite that of the traditional hero such as courage, honor or honesty. The anti-hero succeeds, but does it on his or her own terms. The anti-hero may reject the qualities that society deems noble, but battles forces in his or her own way.”

By these definitions, we can begin to cross out various characters as Harry Potter’s anti-hero. Voldemort, for example, is the series’ clear villain. He does not simply possess villainous traits; he is the villain. Draco, too, cannot be the anti-hero, because he very much abides by the status quo, and (though his family’s opinion on lineage is not popular), he is not shunned by society. Furthermore, Draco cannot be the anti-hero because he does not possess any heroic qualities or intentions. Instead, Draco’s role is the antagonist: “a major character in a book, play, or movie whose values or behavior are in conflict with those of the protagonist or hero.” (Though, it could be argued that Draco is a foil character (“a character who serves as a complete contrast to another character, thereby setting the qualities of each in high relief”).

Another suggestion is that Hermione is the series’ anti-hero. This, too, cannot work. Hermione clearly possesses none of the traits listed in the first definition. Her personality traits and weaknesses align with your typical hero – or, in Hermione’s case, heroine – and not with that of a villain. Though she is persecuted by those like the Malfoys because of her blood, she is not rejected by society, because the general wizarding world – particularly the parts she’s most familiar with – is accepting of lineage. Unlike the anti-hero described in the second definition, Hermione is more or less a by-the-books kind of girl. The few exceptions to this argument – such as her not discouraging Harry from learning the Unforgivable Curses – stem from her being too unfamiliar with the subject at hand (as with the Unforgivables – she’s grown up Muggle, not fully understanding the gravity of the Dark Magic of the curses), and from her innate thoroughness. She realizes that Harry must fight fire with fire, but she would never suggest that Harry start the fire.