When a lengthy book series is adapted for the big screen, it is only natural that certain characters, scenes, and sub-plots have to be sacrificed for time; this was no different with the Harry Potter series, especially when it came to the later and longer books.
Some of the most wholesome or heart-wrenching moments throughout the seven Harry Potter books were often away from the main plot and so sadly did not make the cut even though they would have made great scenes on their own.
7 The Weasleys At The Dursley's House
One of the most chaotic and hilarious scenes from the books came from The Goblet of Fire when Arthur, Fred, George, and Ron picked Harry up for the Quidditch World Cup. Attempting to arrive via Floo Powder, the four Weasleys end up stuck behind the Dursley's boarded-up Muggle fireplace and have to blast their way free into Aunt Petunia's perfectly arranged living room.
Other than some ever-entertaining Muggle talk from Mr. Weasley, film-only fans most missed out on some more Weasley twin antics. Eager to test out their new products on anyone but themselves, Fred accidentally spills a bag of sweets and intentionally leaves one for the reluctantly dieting Dudley Dursley. Predictably the Ton-Tongue Toffee is eaten, and the rest is pure chaos as Arthur tries to fix Dudley's tongue but has fine china thrown at him by a scared and angry Vernon Dursley.
6 Harry's Raw Grief
One of the most powerful scenes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that could have been included in the film, was when Harry, who had already been through so much, was overwhelmed by his raw grief over the death of his godfather Sirius.
Other than tugging on the tightest of heartstrings, this scene also shows just how calm, patient, and understanding Dumbledore is in the books. Despite Harry sending the headmaster's possessions flying, wrecking his office, and shouting at him, Dumbledore has nothing but praise, love, and sympathy for Harry.
5 The Muggle Prime Minister
Fans of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince who have only watched the film would be surprised to find out that the entire opening chapter of the book is actually from the point of view of the Muggle Prime Minister. Not only is this chapter full of funny tidbits like the Prime Minister being impressed by his newest and fastest employee Kingsley Shacklebolt, known to readers as a wizard, but it also does an excellent job of recapping the events since Lord Voldemort's return into the open.
What elevated this chapter to greatness though is that by showing how real-world events such as extreme fog or bridge collapses can be explained by events from the wizarding world, it makes the reader question if this could all be real. After all one of the greatest draws of the Harry Potter series is how it all feels just one Hogwarts attendance letter away.
4 Harry Lecturing Lupin
Dumbledore once told the students of Hogwarts that it takes just as much courage to stand up to friends as it does to enemies, but in The Deathly Hallows, Harry took this one step further and was brave enough to tell his friend and former teacher some hard truths. When Remus Lupin visits the trio at Grimmauld Place it quickly becomes apparent that he wishes to join them on their adventure and leave his newly pregnant wife Tonks with her family.
As someone who grew up without parents, Harry is having none of this and to the surprise of all present lays into Lupin about his responsibilities as a parent. Despite tempers being raised, wands drawn, and regret at calling Lupin a coward, this is a moment of astounding maturity from Harry who has only just turned seventeen. He knows that any pain and hard feelings at the time are all worth it if Lupin goes back to Tonks and their unborn child.
3 The Quidditch World Cup Match
Arguably there is nothing more agonizing in the Harry Potter series than watching the buildup, and experiencing all the hype for the Quidditch World Cup, only for the film to cut to post-game celebrations after the Golden Snitch is released.
Fantastically described in the books movie watchers miss out on a level of Quidditch never seen before with not one but fourteen Firebolts zooming around. Harry, himself a proficient Seeker, is blown away by the individual skill of international Quidditch stars as well as the equally impressive teamwork and tactics.
2 Harry's Career Advice
Although a Career Advice meeting might not sound like the most riveting of scenes, book readers know that the simple combination of Professors McGonagall and Umbridge alone in an office with Harry as spectator is a recipe for pure entertainment. As headmistress, Umbridge is sitting in on the meeting and tries her best to interrupt and squash Harry's hopes of becoming an Auror.
Professor McGonagall to the delight of Harry and readers, however, is having none of this and constantly rebukes anything her rival says, even implying that she is an incompetent teacher, before declaring that she will personally make sure that Harry achieves his goals, purely to spite Umbridge. Although there are many great McGonagall moments in the films, there is nothing more satisfying than watching her tear down Umbridge's authority while sticking up for her students.
1 Neville And His Parents
Whilst all of the scenes that take place at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, unfortunately, failed to make it into The Order of the Phoenix film, non hit harder than Harry looking on as Neville Longbottom visited his parents for Christmas. Having learned the tragic fate of the former Aurors from Dumbledore, Harry feels nothing but pain and pity as he watches the simple interactions of Neville and his parents, permanent residents at the hospital after being tortured to insanity.
The most heartbreaking moment comes when Neville's mother Alice hands her son an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper, and despite his grandmother telling him to put it in the bin, Neville pockets the wrapper. This small moment of a boy's love for his mother, seen through the eyes of an orphan may not have been flashy enough for the film, but it will always hold a special place in book readers' hearts.