Cormac McLaggen

Cormac McLaggen was a Gryffindor student one year above Harry Potter at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Known for his arrogance, overconfidence, and well-connected family, he was a member of Horace Slughorn's Slug Club and a rival to Ron Weasley. He served as a minor antagonist during Harry's sixth year, primarily through his disruptive presence on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Despite his abrasive personality, he returned to fight against Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Cormac is first introduced in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on the Hogwarts Express. He is invited to join Professor Horace Slughorn's luncheon compartment due to his influential uncle, Tiberius, who was a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic. Throughout the year, Cormac remained a prominent member of the Slug Club, attending events like Slughorn's Christmas Party. His most significant role was in the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts. He competed against Ron Weasley for the position of Keeper. McLaggen was a competent player but was secretly hit with a Confundus Charm by Hermione Granger, causing him to miss his final save and lose the position to Ron. Later in the year, when Ron was poisoned and unable to play in the match against Hufflepuff, McLaggen was chosen as his replacement. His performance was disastrous. He refused to listen to his Captain, Harry Potter, and spent more time trying to instruct the Chasers and Beaters than defending the goalposts. His attempt to demonstrate how to hit a Bludger resulted in him knocking Harry unconscious, which ultimately led to Gryffindor's crushing defeat. At Slughorn's Christmas party, he was Hermione Granger's date, an invitation she extended solely to annoy Ron. Hermione found him so unbearable that she spent most of the evening hiding from him in the lavatory.

Despite being of age and free to leave Hogwarts before the final conflict, Cormac McLaggen was seen aboard the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, implying he returned for his final year under the Snape regime. He answered the call to arms via the Hog's Head and fought bravely alongside Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix during the Battle of Hogwarts.

McLaggen is described as a large boy with wiry hair. His defining characteristic is his personality, which is marked by extreme arrogance and a sense of entitlement. He is boastful, believing himself to be superior to his peers in both social standing and skill. This is evident in his interactions with Harry during the Quidditch match, where he dismisses Harry's authority as Captain. He is also pushy and lacks social grace, as seen when he corners Hermione Granger under the mistletoe at the Slug Club Christmas party. His confidence is not backed by performance under pressure, as his Keeper skills crumbled due to his need to control the entire team, leading to a humiliating failure.

• Quidditch: McLaggen possessed some athletic ability and was confident in his skills as a Keeper. Harry Potter noted that McLaggen might have been a good Beater. However, his arrogance and inability to function as a team player made him a liability as a Keeper.
• General Magic: As a student who reached his seventh year at Hogwarts, McLaggen would have been a competent wizard, having presumably passed his O.W.L.s.
• Dueling: His participation in the Battle of Hogwarts indicates he had proficient combat magic skills, enough to hold his own against Death Eaters.

• Wand: Like all wizards, Cormac owned a wand, though its specific details (wood, core, length) are unknown.
• School Supplies: He owned the standard Hogwarts school supplies, including a cauldron and parchment.

• Ron Weasley: McLaggen viewed Ron as an inferior rival for both the Gryffindor Keeper position and Hermione Granger's affections. He openly belittled Ron's skills and family background.
• Hermione Granger: Cormac had a romantic interest in Hermione. She, however, used him to make Ron jealous and found his company insufferable, actively avoiding him at Slughorn's party. She also ensured his defeat at the Quidditch tryouts by using a Confundus Charm on him.
• Harry Potter: McLaggen showed little respect for Harry, questioning his judgment as Quidditch Captain and ultimately injuring him during a match. Harry found him intensely annoying and pompous.
• Horace Slughorn: Slughorn favored McLaggen due to his connection to the influential Tiberius, inducting him into the Slug Club. Slughorn's favor was based on nepotism rather than McLaggen's personal merit.
• Tiberius: Cormac's uncle, whose high position at the Ministry of Magic afforded Cormac a level of status and recognition he used to his advantage.

• Cormac: An old Irish and Scottish Gaelic name, often associated with legendary kings and heroes. The name can mean “charioteer” or “son of the raven.” This heroic association provides an ironic contrast to his arrogant and unlikable character.
• McLaggen: A name of Scottish origin. The root “lag” can mean “to fall behind” or “to fail to keep pace,” which aptly describes his failure to perform as a Keeper and his inability to secure either the position or Hermione's affection.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Cormac McLaggen is portrayed by actor Freddie Stroma. His role is largely faithful to the book, with a memorable scene where he licks his fingers after tasting a dessert before offering it to Harry.
• The surname “McLaggen” appeared on an early list of forty students J.K. Rowling created for Harry's year, though in the final books, his character was made a year older than the main trio (J.K. Rowling's original notes).