The Harry Potter [1] franchise has given us endless Halloween costume inspiration [2], but if you're tired of trotting out your usual scar and round glasses for Harry or greasing up your hair for Snape, we have a list of Harry Potter character costumes that don't come to mind right away — but will be awesome when fans recognize you. Here are some costumes that aren't your typical witches, wizards, and muggles!
A Death Eater
What to wear: A silver skull-like mask and all-black everything, including a hood/cape.
How to act: Totally menacing.
Luna Lovegood
What to wear: Be one of Harry Potter [5]'s most eccentric but instantly recognizable characters with the pink coat, comic books, and blue and pink glasses.
How to act: Speak in a breathy voice, and act a little loopy but surprisingly lucid.
Sirius Black
What to wear: A burgundy velvet coat, high-necked black shirt, and long black wig make you one of the most mysterious (and kinda dreamy, to be honest) characters in the franchise.
How to act: Enigmatic and wise.
Madam Hooch
What to wear: A short, spiky wig and a black robe over your button-down. Bonus points if you can wear light-colored contacts.
How to act: Like you might take flight at any moment.
Mad-Eye Moody
What to wear: The roly-poly mad eye makes this costume, along with a short red wig and brown overcoat.
How to act: Tough, like you can't be stopped.
Nymphadora Tonks
What to wear: A purple (or any brightly colored) wig, a black hoodie that looks like a cape, and a choker.
How to act: Powerful, but not like you can't work with a team.
Lucius Malfoy
What to wear: A long blond wig and a long black leather coat over all, yes, black.
How to act: Sneaky, like you're smarter than everyone, and just a trifle evil.
Young Snape
What to wear: Everyone's already done regular Snape, so channel the young Severus with a Hogwarts uniform (you can recycle your original Snape wig).
How to act: Shy, and be in love with one particular girl.
Hagrid and Harry
What to wear: This is the ultimate baller Harry Potter [6] costume. One of you dresses like Hagrid, one like Harry, and then you both get in a makeshift motorcycle and sidecar.
How to act: Like you're on the move!
Luna Lovegood as a Lion
What to wear: Your old Luna costume, plus a cute, fuzzy lion head.
How to act: Like Luna with a side of cat.
Professor Flitwick
What to wear: Lots of white hair sprouting from everywhere but your head, plus a huge mustache. Have a goblin-y look about you.
How to act: Intelligent and no-nonsense.
Young Peter Pettigrew
What to wear: Your Hogwarts uniform with your hair slicked back and fake buck teeth.
How to act: Sneaky, and like you might turn on your friends.
Hedwig
What to wear: A white owl costume.
How to act: Like an owl, obviously.
The Dursley Family
What to wear: Got a group? Put Vernon in a button-down with a pillow under the shirt, have Petunia wear a sundress and a sour puss, and put young Dudley in a jersey with a big chain.
How to act: Awful, just awful, the lot of you.
James Potter
What to wear: Essentially, you can reuse your Harry Potter [7] costume, but wear your hair with a part and lose the scar.
How to act: Totally arrogant but still charming.
Ron and Lavender
What to wear: For this couples costume, Ron needs a Gryffindor sweater and leather helmet, and Lavender needs a cardigan and sweet pink headband.
How to act: All over each other.
Cormac McLaggen
What to wear: A quidditch uniform with Gryffindor colors. Carry a broom and pretend to fly it.
How to act: Cocky and super flirty.
Dolores Umbridge
What to wear: A pink twinset with a gold brooch turn you into one of the scariest teachers at Hogwarts.
How to act: Talk with a saccharine sweet voice, but say vile things with it.
Gringott's Dragon
What to wear: A gray dragon costume.
How to act: Breathe fire, and be a little overprotective.
Young Voldemort
What to wear: A dark gray suit and greasy, parted hair.
How to act: Show a lot of curiosity in the dark arts. A lot.
Arabella Figg
What to wear: A transparent raincoat over a housedress. Tote a rolling suitcase.
How to act: Like you love cats . . . and can keep a secret.
Lupin and Tonks
What to wear: For Lupin, you can go with his distinguished professor look or his werewolf look. Tonks needs some brightly colored hair, of course.
How to act: In love, but like you have other problems to get to.