The series of books and movies about Harry Potter became a cult for an entire generation. Many people read the books and even more people watched the movies. And even though the screen version turned out to be successful, the producers still couldn’t manage to fit in all the details. That’s the reason why the audience missed a lot of things that could’ve changed their opinion, not only about certain characters, but also about the whole story. Some of these moments were supposed to become a part of the movie but they were removed… in vain.
ViralSection is about to tell you about the scenes that were cut from the Harry Potter series, even though many wish they had stayed.
1. Reconciliation with Dudley Dursley
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part I, the Dursleys are being evacuated to stay protected from evil wizards. Worried that Harry is staying, Dudley gives his cousin a farewell handshake and thanks Harry for saving him from the dementor. That’s quite a touching moment, isn’t it?
But initially, the scene was much better. Having heard Dudley wonder why Harry is staying, grumpy uncle Vernon mumbles that Harry doesn’t want to go with his relatives. The Boy Who Lived confirms it and adds that he would be “a waste of space” anyway. That’s when Dudley, despite his father’s obvious disapproval, comes up to Harry and says that he has never been a waste of space and confirms his words with a handshake. In return, he gets a pleasantly surprised smile and a, “Thank you.”
There is an important nuance. After the scene, Harry says “See ya, Big D.” Only Dudley’s close friends use this nickname for him. In addition, before that, he said to his uncle that it was a farewell and that they will never see each other again. Harry is ready to part with Vernon and Petunia forever, but he leaves a place in his future for his cousin.
What did we get? A trivial farewell scene between the savior and the saved.
What could we have gotten? Serving up Dudley as a better character and the final reconciliation of the cousins.
2. The conversation between Severus Snape and Igor Karkaroff
In the fourth movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, there was supposed to be a scene where Harry leaves The Yule Ball and accidentally hears a conversation between professor Karkaroff and Severus Snape. Karkaroff hints that Snape has the Dark Mark and asks him to roll up his sleeve. But Snape coldly answers that there is nothing for Karkaroff to worry about. It seemed to be an ordinary moment — people with a dark past often have to deny it, but fans quickly realized that Snape was a double agent and that he had nothing to fear because his mark served the good. Before the release of the seventh book, fans were already sure of this.
Moreover, Harry sees several kissing couples when leaving the hall — one of them is in the swinging carriage. Despite the fact that Hogwarts generally gives the impression of a school with very Puritan morals, this episode seems unexpected.
3. The meeting of Crouches, Senior and Junior
Before another test, Bartemius Crouch, Sr. is talking to Harry. At this moment Crouch, Jr. approaches them disguised as “Mad-Eye” Moody, drops a couple of unimportant lines, and suddenly licks himself even though he has never done that before. Crouch, Sr. sees it and instantly changes his facial expression. He is shocked. This short scene could’ve added intrigue and made it clear to the audience that something was wrong with Moody much earlier than when it ended up becoming obvious.
4. Draco Malfoy’s redemption
That’s another scene that could’ve completely changed the viewer’s opinion about one of the main characters in the story of the Boy Who Lived. Draco Malfoy throws his wand to Harry Potter so that he can defend himself against Voldemort and fight him. He does this in front of the Darkest Lord and all the Death Eaters, knowing that there will be no way back after this gesture and that the harshest punishment will find him at the first opportunity.
One short episode could’ve shown the whole depth of remorse for Draco, who worked for evil, and all the strength of his desire to at least slightly correct what he had done.
5. Mourning about Sirius Black
This is a very sad episode that is missing in the final version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The latter doesn’t give any impression that Harry really mourns the dead Sirius Black. It feels like his death stayed unnoticed, his godson almost didn’t know him, so he wasn’t mourning deeply.
The books describe how he misses Sirius in detail and how Harry blames himself for his death, but the movie is missing this part. Though the movie could’ve had it, because initially we were supposed to see Harry refusing to go to the school feast and staying alone. All of his feelings were written on his face. Ron tries to persuade his friend to eat, but later goes downstairs and shakes his head, answering Hermione’s unspoken question, “No, Harry is not alright.”
6. Farewell to Petunia Dursley
Petunia Dursley is another character who hasn’t been unfolded completely. In the scene before the evacuation that we’ve already mentioned, she is standing in the middle of her empty house. When Harry enters, the following conversation takes place between him and his aunt:
— I’ve lived in this house for 20 years and now in a single night, I am expected to leave.
— They’ll torture you. If they think for a moment you know where I’m going, they’ll stop at nothing.
— You think I don’t know what they’re capable of? You didn’t just lose a mother that night in Godric’s Hollow, you know. I lost a sister.
After that. Petunia silently goes away, leaving Harry to realize that she was really mourning her sister and that she was missing her. Perhaps her bad attitude toward everything magical was explained partially by the fact that Lily died at a young age because of magic.
But eventually, Petunia stayed and remained a heartless, and even evil, character in the movie series.
7. A hint at Ron’s feelings for Hermione in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The love story between Ron and Hermione was totally unexpected and many still think that it was Granger and Potter, that J. K. Rowling was initially planning to make canonical. However, the hints for the characters’ final choice can be noticed much earlier. If the director decided to keep a couple of frames in the final version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, fans would have had much fewer guesses.
It’s very simple — by just looking at Ron’s face when he watches Hermione dancing with Viktor Krum, any questions you have about his true feelings will literally disappear.
Do you think the removal of these scenes made the movies more intriguing or should the directors have kept them? We would be glad to hear from you in the comments!
Preview photo credit Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / Warner Bros. Pictures
