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Horace & Hermione
The Moment: Horace Slughorn makes a welcome addition to the teaching staff from book six onwards, a genial, chuckling presence full of enthusiasm for Hogwarts’ brightest and best. “What about you Miss Granger?” he asks Hermione in one lesson, “what do your parents do in the Muggle world?” “They’re dentists,” she replies. “Fascinating!” he gushes. “And…is that considered a dangerous profession.” Sublimely odd.
Better On Film? Yes, primarily because twinkly old Jim Broadbent is on hand to deliver the lines.
You Say: “It shouldn't have been that funny, yet I found myself in the cinema laughing so hard I couldn't breathe!” – Sam Buckingham
Christmas At St. Mungo's
The Moment: This typically wondrous Christmas sequence sees Harry and Ron travel to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries in order to visit Mr. Weasley. Whilst there they spot Gilderoy Lockhart, still recovering from the backfiring charm he used back in book 2. It’s a nice callback, and a welcome opportunity to see inside the oft-referenced hospital.
Better On Film? We wouldn’t know. In their wisdom, the filmmakers decided it wasn’t worth including.
A Thestral For A Knave
The Moment: The Thestrals are skeletal, winged horses visible only to those who have come into contact with death. Whilst the other students are frightened by the creatures, Luna Lovegood demonstrates a real affinity with them, foreshadowing the philosophical approach to death she reveals later in the book. Still not convinced by them? Wait until the Battle of Hogwarts…they’re loyal if nothing else!
Better On Film? They're extremely creepy, and very nicely rendered. It's probably best Harry couldn't see them back in the first film...
Dudley's Farewell
The Moment: As the Dudley’s grudgingly accede to the Order’s offer of protection, they leave Harry without so much as a kind word. Except for Dudley that is, who stops to shake Harry’s hand. “I don’t think you’re a waste of space,” he mumbles, “you saved my life”. So he’s not all bad after all…
Better On Film? It was cut from the final edit, but Dudley’s farewell exists as a deleted scene on the DVD. Very nicely done it is too, with Dudley’s shambling awkwardness making for a genuinely touching moment.
The Veelas
The Moment: Whilst attending the Quidditch World Cup, Ron and Harry are transfixed by the appearance of the beautiful Veelas, who serve as mascots to the Bulgarian national team. However, when angered, the Veelas suddenly transform into gruesome, Harpy-like creatures sporting scaly wings and bird-like faces. “And that, boys,” notes Arthur Weasley sagely, “is why you should never go for looks alone.”
Better On Film? The Quidditch World Cup section (spectacular as it is) is cut drastically short in the film, meaning we are denied Mr. Weasley’s advice on the big screen.
You Say: “I liked when they actually showed The Quidditch World Cup. OH WAIT THAT WAS ONLY IN THE BOOKS!” – Lloyd Maliphant
12 Grimmauld Place
The Moment: It’s not a particularly dramatic moment, but we love how 12 Grimmauld Place reveals itself from nowhere in the middle of Muggle London. Sirius’s old home, the HQ of the Order, is hidden from prying eyes by a nifty fidelius charm rendering it visible only to those with the Secret Keeper’s permission. Just the place to house a secret organisation…
Better On Film? The film does a wonderful job of presenting Grimmauld Place, having it spring from the side of the neighbouring house in a brilliant piece of magic / Muggle juxtaposition.
Attack On The Burrow
The Moment: Just as Harry and Ginny are starting to get cosy one Christmas, the Weasley household comes under attack from Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback. As a firestorm rains down on The Burrow the inhabitants desperately throw themselves outside in order to fight back…
Better On Film? It’s actually a non-canon moment, in that it never takes place in the book. However, as a slice of pulse-quickening action, it makes for an exciting addition.
Becoming Crabbe & Goyle
The Moment: Convinced that Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin, Harry and Ron disguise themselves as henchmen Crabbe and Goyle via a dose of polyjuice potion, and attempt to make him confess. It’s a rare chance to see Malfoy with his guard down, and he duly proves himself every bit as loathsome in private as he is in public.
Better On Film? We’re somewhat hamstrung by the child acting on display here, but the transformation scene is impressive enough.
Exchange Students Ahoy
The Moment: With the Tri-Wizard Tournament looming on the horizon, the brightest and best students of various other magical institutions pitch up at Hogwarts to compete. A clever ploy by Rowling by which to expand her magical universe, it’s a welcome reminder that the castle on the lake is not the only wizarding institution in the world.
Better On Film? Mike Newell cranks up the sense of wonder by bringing to life the new students' weird and wonderful modes of transport. Whilst the boys of the Durmstrang Institute turn up in a macho underwater ship, the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy steal the show with their (winged)horse-drawn carriage.
You Say: “When the Beauxbatons girls turn up in Goblet Of Fire” – Stuart Morgan (@Fireman_stu)
Honeydukes
The Moment: Harry’s first look inside Hogsmeade’s famed confectioner appeals to the big kid inside everyone: “There were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-coloured toffees and hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows.” Awesome. We’ll take a quarter of the Fizzing Whizbees please.
Better On Film? It looks as mouth-watering as you’d expect. For those keen on a closer look, a branch of Honeydukes has now opened in The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter theme park in Florida.
