Highlights
- Shrinking scenes in Harry Potter movies help manage budget limitations, cut down on duration, and allow for creative liberty.
- Deleted scenes offer a different perspective and provide more context to the plot, giving viewers an “alternate universe” version of the franchise.
- Some noteworthy deleted scenes include Hagrid riding the tube, Harry sitting alone by the fire, the fallout from Sirius Black’s attack, Snape and Karkaroff’s heated discussion, and emotional moments with Petunia and Dudley.
In the process of crafting movies based on books, shrinking scenes are needed for a few important reasons, and that’s especially true for the Harry Potter series. Budget limitations for special effects, cutting off duration, and creative liberty from the filmmakers sometimes meddled in the movie productions.
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Nonetheless, these deleted scenes in the Harry Potter movie franchise are worth seeing, as they might change one’s perspective on the already-produced movies they might have seen before. Some of these deleted or extended scenes feel like an “alternate universe” of the franchise, and some give more context to the plot as explored by J.K. Rowling in a more detailed manner in the books.
8 Tube Ride
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The scene where Hagrid rides the tube with Harry was included in the extended version of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone which initially aired in 2004. Seeing Hagrid in the subway may be one of the most amusing views for Londoners who are commuting in the hustle and bustle of Big Smoke.
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Being half-giant and half-human makes Hagrid stand out among the crowds, although he most likely thinks that riding the tube is a fun experience. Unfortunately, this scene is not included in the regular version anymore. If not, the muggles would have stared at him in awe.
7 Harry Sits By Fire In Great Hall
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Another deleted scene in Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, during a Christmas scene, after Harry showed Ron the Mirror of Erised. As we all know, the mirror is one of the most important scenes from the first movie, seeing how the mirror greatly impacted the boy who lived.
In the scene, Harry is seen isolating himself away from his friends and seems very down. Looking at this, Ron asks Harry if he wants to play chess or visit Hagrid, to which Harry rejects them all. Ron then proceeds to warn Harry about how he feels something is wrong with the Hogwarts mirror, and he wants Harry to be careful about it.
6 The Fallout From Sirius Black’s Attack
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
It is unfortunate that this specific scene is removed in the final movie of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. In the scene, it is shown that the Gryffindor students are gathered in the common room, while Professor McGonagall scolds them for the leak of the common room password.
Instead of the Fat Lady, Sir Cadogan was able to appear in the portrait, and he then allowed the escaped Sirius Black to enter the common room as he had the password. In the book, this password is Stolen from Neville Longbottom with the help of Crookshanks, who also appears in Hermione’s embrace in the deleted scene.
5 Hearing Snape and Karkaroff
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
At the beginning of the winter Yule Ball from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is seen walking among students who seem to be in their “passionate” sessions. One particular couple seems to be having a lot of fun inside a carriage before Harry hides behind a pillar after looking at Professor Snape and Igor Karkaroff in a heated discussion.
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Even in the middle of an important secret meeting, Snape yells at the shaking carriage, “Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett! And ten points from Ravenclaw, too, Stebbins!“. This scene would’ve been an interesting point about how the Hogwarts students are still teenagers too.
4 Harry And Petunia’s Final Chat
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
It cannot be denied that Petunia has done a lot of atrocious things to Harry Potter all his life. Without justifying her evil deeds, the deleted scene where she reminisces about losing Lily Potter, her sister, is a deeply emotional scene.
Aunt Petunia is known for her jealousy over her sister, calling her a freak for having the magical ability, although she secretly wants the power herself. In the deleted scene, her “human side” is shown and makes one think that she maybe does not hate Harry, but she resents him for having all the special abilities she has always wanted all her life.
3 Harry and Dudley’s Goodbye
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Just like his mother, Dudley Dursley also has a deeply emotional deleted scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In the scene, the Dursleys are preparing to leave their residence to flee from the danger of the Dark Lord, in case he comes for them to know Harry’s location.
Before getting in the car, Dudley went to Harry and said, “I don’t think you’re a waste of space”, to which Harry replied, “See ya, Big D!”. Dudley, who happened to have a dangerous encounter with the dementors, was saved by Harry, and since then he seems to have a softer side to his cousin.
2 Draco Throws Harry A Wand
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
This deleted scene is definitely one of the most interesting ones, as Draco seems to have an overwhelming sense of guilt for taking orders from the wrong side of the war. He is seen throwing the Elder wand to Harry Potter, his former nemesis, so he can defeat Voldemort in the final battle.
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It actually does not exist in the book, and the decision not to include it in the movie is not the best one to follow the authenticity of J.K Rowling’s vision. Nonetheless, it would have been a cool scene to see the other side of Harry’s mortal enemy, Draco Malfoy.
1 In Noctem
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Everyone knows by now that Snape is a complex character that is first misunderstood by many. Although he is not the nicest teacher in Hogwarts, especially to Harry, Snape is proven to be a deeply brilliant character who later garnered the fandom’s love. In the deleted scene from The Half-Blood Prince, Snape is seen standing in the tower, contemplating his decision to protect Draco and make him the killer instead.
No dialogue, no words, just Snape’s mellow gaze that is mixed with fear, eeriness, and an overwhelming sense of sadness. This deleted scene would have been a great ambiance and atmosphere maker of the impending doom that later takes place in the movie.
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