Harry Potter: 10 Most Powerful Slytherin Students
1. Merlin
Fans indeed know precious little about the medieval days of the Wizarding World, but one figure you can't ignore is this classic wizard trope. While readers/viewers never got the chance to see him or understand him, it's easy to assume that his reputation as one of the most influential figures in magic was well-founded.
This character is, of course, a universal figure in fantasy stories. He's arguably the first-ever wizard conceived in fiction, and Harry Potter naturally has ties to him.
Like most versions of his story, Merlin was a member of the Court of Camelot, working under King Arthur. However, unlike the typical depictions that jump in after his glory days, the Wizarding World told fans where he got his training in the first place.
When he attended Hogwarts, it was still a somewhat new establishment - meaning he was arguably the first Slytherin student of note. It's also safe to assume that he trained under Salazar Slytherin himself, meaning he had direct ties to the origins of the house.
The character was so powerful and influential that he seeped into wizard culture, with exclamations like "Merlin's beard" and the Order of Merlin award showing his impact on the world.