Books

8 Halloween Costumes For Harry Potter Super-Fans

by Julia Seales

Let's be real: Harry Potter costumes are always popular around Halloween. After all, plenty of people are obsessed with the series, and there are tons of recognizable characters if you need a costume idea. Even if all you have is a pair of glasses and a marker, you can draw a lightning-shaped scar on your head and become Harry Potter.

But, if you’re trying to be a bit more unique, you may want to look beyond the classic choices for Halloween. Of course, it will always be fun to dress up as Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It will always be terrifying to go all in pink as Umbridge, or to doodle the dark mark on your arm and go as Bellatrix. But there are actually a lot of Harry Potter characters who often go overlooked when it’s time to find a costume.

There are over 700 characters in the Harry Potter series, and most costumes barely cover the top 15. This means that there are literally hundreds of options for Harry Potter-inspired costumes — you just have to find the perfect one. Perhaps casual fans won’t recognize you if you choose one of the more ~obscure~ Potter characters for a costume, but a true Harry Potter fan will appreciate the following great (yet less mainstream) options.

1. Hermione As A Cat

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Black Cat Ears, $4, Party City | Black Corduroy Skirt, $19, Amazon | Black Over-Knee Socks, $10, Amazon | Gryffindor Scarf, $25, Amazon

Remember when Hermione has an accident with Polyjuice Potion? Upgrade your Hermione costume with this easy twist.

2. Mrs. Figg

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Rain Bonnet, $5, Amazon | Clear Rain Jacket, $10, Chearleading | Stuffed Cat, $13, Kohls

She's a Squib who loves her cats — what's not to love?

3. The Grey Lady

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Ravenclaw Diadem, $130, Harry Potter Shop

The mysterious grey lady — the ghost of Ravenclaw — was later revealed to be Helena Ravenclaw. She helped Harry in the quest for the lost Ravenclaw diadem, and she can help you in your quest for the perfect Harry Potter-inspired costume.

4. Romilda Vane

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Amortentia Necklace, $16, Etsy | Box of Chocolate, $16, Godiva

Romilda, like you, had a devastating crush on Harry Potter. Her methods of wooing him (spiking Cauldron Chocolates with love potion) were most definitely not OK, but she's an unconventional character that only real Harry Potter fans will recognize. Maybe you'll forge your own love connection while dressed like Romilda!

5. Great Aunt Muriel

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Gray Wig, $17, Party City | Netted Hat, $8, Amazon | Tiara, $10, Walmart

Great Aunt Muriel is opinionated, loves to eavesdrop, and owns a fantastic goblin-made tiara. She wasn't really the life of the party at Bill and Fleur's wedding, but you can be in this costume.

6. Madam Rosmerta

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Butterbeer Necklace, $12, Etsy

Madam Rosmerta, the landlady of the Three Broomsticks, has a look that's easy to recreate. All you need is a coat and some Butterbeer (in the form of a necklace you will definitely want to wear after Halloween).

7. Celestina Warbeck, The Singing Sorceress

Costume Necessities:

Feather Boa , $8, Amazon | Old Fashioned Microphone, $9, Deal Extreme

This sorceress is famous for her song A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love. Add some glamour to your Harry Potter-inspired costume by dressing as this glamorous yet obscure character.

8. Neville's Boggart

Warner Bros

Costume Necessities:

Faux Fur Collar , $15, H&M | Snape Wig, $30, City Costume Wigs

Snape is the ultimate scary costume, at least according to Neville Longbottom and the form his Boggart takes. But you can make it a bit "riddikulus" by adding Gran's clothes and vulture hat to the mix.

Images: Warner Bros (8)