The wizarding world of Harry Potter is a special space fans go to escape from the harsh truths of reality, however, Hogwarts isn't all that much better in terms of magical fun. Between the abysmal drama and the profound symbolism, the movies can actually be pretty bleak.
On the other hand, the serious tone of the movies somehow makes for a more moving experience, which explains why viewers are so attached to the franchise. While fans hold all of the moments close to their hearts, there are specific scenes that will forever stick with them.
Wizard's Chess
There are several reasons why The Sorcerer's Stone still holds up to this day, but it's undoubtedly a classic for a reason. While this scene is nothing compared to the later more serious scenes of the franchise, it's still an intense moment that gets fans' heart rate up.
It became quite clear during the scene that Ron was going to be left to fend for himself, and the audience didn't have much faith in his abilities. However, he was able to prove his worth in his efforts to sacrifice himself for his friends, and luckily, they did end up winning the game in the end.
Battle In The Chamber
This anxiety-inducing fight from the Chamber of Secrets was enough to put fans on the edge of their seats. Between the Phoenix blinding the Basilisk and Harry slaying the menacing creature once and for all, it was a riveting battle that viewers love to watch to this day.
Being that Harry was still a young wizard in this movie, he made some rookie mistakes that made fans nervous about how he was going to escape the frightening situation. However, with the help of the sword of Gryffindor, Harry was able to save the day once again.
Harry's Patronus Spell
It's hard for viewers to forget this heartwarming scene from the Prisoner of Azkaban. While fans wanted to believe, along with Harry, that his father was able to cast the Patronus to save him and Sirius Black from the Dementors, they, unfortunately, discovered that wasn't the case.
However, viewers were almost even more thrilled upon the discovery that it was Harry himself that was able to cast such a powerful Patronus spell due to time travel. This was an epic scene that taught fans that through courage and sacrifice, they are capable of whatever they put their mind to.
Harry and Cedric's Graveyard Scene
Just when viewers thought they had escaped the stress of the Tri-Wizard Cup competitions, in comes one of the most intense and crushing scenes of the franchise. Cedric Diggory became such a beloved character in a short period of time, so naturally, fans were brokenhearted when they witnessed his sudden demise at the hands of Voldemort.
Assisting Cedric in the maze was among Harry's best decisions in the Goblet of Fire, however, Harry wasn't able to protect him from his inevitable and deadly fate. Rest assured, though, that Cedric was surely thankful that Harry was so good to him, even in his final moments.
Sirius Black's Tragic Murder
The Order of the Phoenix is one of the most tragic movies of the franchise, thanks to this gutting loss. When the audience first saw Sirius appear to rescue Harry from Lucius' wrath, they were sure to have thought that he came to the rescue to save the day; however, that was far from the case.
When Bellatrix Lestrange first cast that unexpected, fatal spell toward Sirius, the world as fans knew it was over. Sirius Black will always be a character that remains close to not only Harry's heart, but to lovers of the saga as well.
Harry And Dumbledore's Cave Journey
Although hard to watch, this moment in the Half-Blood Prince is one of the most symbolic of them all. When Harry and Dumbledore journeyed down to the cave to obtain the locket Horcrux, the professor knew exactly what he had to do when he saw the layers of protection spells Voldemort had set in place.
While Harry didn't want to see Dumbledore vulnerable and in pain, he obeyed Dumbledore's wishes to force him to drink the forbidden substance, no matter how much he resisted. Dumbledore made many great decisions throughout Half-Blood Prince, however, the fact that he followed his gut to go through with the grueling process of retrieving the Horcrux was all the more rewarding after they were freed.
Dobby's Honorable Death
If fans didn't already loathe Bellatrix Lestrange enough, this death scene from The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was sure to change their minds. Not only did she deprive the Wizarding World of the beloved Sirius Black, but she made sure to take the life of one of everyone's favorite House-elves, too.
It's undeniable that Bellatrix Lestrange is the evilest Harry Potter character by how willing she is to kill innocent people at the drop of a hat, yet not even that moment can take away from Dobby's great legacy. Not to mention how beautiful his graveside view was, so much so that the moment still moves viewers to tears.
The Resurrection Stone
Hearing Harry mutter the words "I am ready to die" in The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was something the audience was just not prepared for. Yet, lovers of the franchise appreciated the moving moment with Harry and the spirits of his loved ones, when they promised they would be with him "'til the end."
For various reasons, this scene not only gave viewers goosebumps, but it moved them to tears instantly. Throughout the whole series, fans had always wanted to see the dynamic between Harry and his parents, so this scene definitely gave everyone that perfect sense of closure.
Harry's Final Comeback
Fans' hearts collectively sank after watching Harry willingly attempt to sacrifice himself in The Deathly Hallows Part 2 upon discovering he himself was a Horcrux. Nonetheless, viewers everywhere were thrilled that it could not be done, given that the part of Voldemort's soul in Harry died and not Harry himself.
Not only was Neville's speech moments before heroic and moving, but it was the perfect opportunity to stall Voldemort's Army long enough for Harry to make his epic comeback and engage in one of the most epic battle scenes in history. Nothing was more satisfying to devoted fans than seeing Harry beat Voldemort once and for all.
Snape's Final Truthful Moments
One of the most unforgettable moments of the whole film series was when the audience finally found out about Snape's allegiance to Harry's family. Between his heartbreaking backstory and all he has done to protect Harry over the years, fans couldn't help but be moved to tears by this grand reveal.
While viewers weren't entirely sure of Snape's motives throughout the franchise, it felt good to know that fans had a reason to love him, despite his cold exterior. Fans were absolutely devastated to witness his death a few moments later, but fortunately, Harry was able to see the truth and recognize Snape's efforts in his final moments.