While Harry Potter might be aimed at children and teens, it definitely appeals to people of all ages because it deals with some very heavy themes. And while the series might have many magical moments filled with wonder, it’s also an epic tale of good versus evil. There are scary dark wizards and strange creatures like Inferi and dragons. The story features many rather terrifying moments and many of the scariest center around Lord Voldemort himself.

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As a being who split his soul into multiple pieces in order to live forever, Voldemort is a formidable antagonist who is also known for his cruelty. His crimes against others start from a young age, and the threat of Voldemort is always present and foreboding.

Blaming Hagrid For Moaning Myrtle’s Death

Riddle confronts Hagrid

While Voldemort might look much more nightmarish when he’s an adult and has taken on his snake-like appearance, he’s also scary in a different way as a teen. He might look handsome and act charismatic, but he’s very cruel underneath the mask. In the scene from Tom Riddle’s diary flashback when Harry sees Tom Riddle pinning the death of Moaning Myrtle on Hagrid, viewers get an idea of what the villain is capable of.

Quirrell Revealing Voldemort On The Back Of His Head

Quirrell shows Voldemort in the back of his head in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

While Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone might be a book geared to a younger audience as Harry is only eleven, it actually contains some pretty terrifying moments. When Quirrell reveals that he has been host to Voldemort for all this time, it’s disturbing and upsetting to read about and also to see in the films. It’s a grotesque image, and it definitely will always live in fan’s minds. This might be one of the biggest surprises from the entire series.

Trying To Kill Baby Harry

Voldemort tries to kill Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

While the scene when Voldemort enters the Potter’s house is shown in fragments, it is very upsetting. Not only does he ruthlessly murder James Potter, but the Dark Lord then turns to baby Harry. The fact that Voldemort has no issue murdering an innocent child is horrible, and it's also heartbreaking to watch Lily try to defend her son. It takes a real monster to kill a mother and her baby boy.

Hugging Draco Malfoy

Voldemort hugs Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter

This is a scene that isn’t in the books at all, but it left quite the impression on people who watched the movie. While in some ways the moment is hilarious because it’s just so strange and weird, it’s also very uncomfortable and scary. Voldemort is not a person anyone would want to be hugged by, and he’s so awkward at it that it made everyone watching feel grossed out.

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Voldemort is almost at his scariest when he’s trying to act like a normal person because it’s just so clear that he doesn't have regular emotions or care for anyone else but himself.

Nearly Killing Ginny In The Chamber Of Secrets

Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets

While Voldemort is creepier looking in many of his other forms, this is another instance when the handsome Tom Riddle reveals the monster within. While the Tom Riddle whom Harry meets in the Chamber is a strange new creation from the part of his soul left in the diary, the essence of Tom Riddle is the same. He uses Ginny to get what he wants and slowly takes over her mind. This shows his ability to emotionally manipulate others, and he almost killed Ginny when she was just a child.

Drinking Unicorn Blood

Voldemort sucking the blood froma unicorn in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

While this scene might not exactly show Voldemort himself, it’s one of the scariest in the entire series. The Forbidden Forest at night is nightmare fuel, especially for a bunch of eleven-year-olds. Discovering a cloaked figure in the darkness feasting on the blood of an innocent unicorn would be enough to make anyone cry. It’s a very disturbing image, and the mystery of the scene is part of what marks it so horrific.

The Purgatory Scene

Harry Potter Horcrux Theory Snake VOldemort

While Voldemort at full power is very scary because he terrorizes people and has horrible beliefs, there’s something deeply off-putting about seeing Voldemort’s broken baby soul. In this scene in Harry’s mind where he talks to Dumbledore, it’s made clear how damaged Voldemort’s soul is, and it’s not a pretty sight.

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The main reason this moment is so scary is that it’s just hard to look at. It shows a very literal visual sight of what evil can do to someone and how it deteriorates them into something ugly.

Child Tom Riddle At The Orphanage

Young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter Half Blood Prince

There’s something absolutely chilling about a young child who is capable of doing cruel and heartless things. It’s no surprise this is such a common trope in horror movies, and it’s also very effective in Harry Potter. In the flashback scenes with Tom Riddle at the orphanage, it’s made clear that Tom Riddle was terrorizing others as a kid. He kills a pet rabbit and harms other children, and this is definitely very difficult to witness.

Torturing Charity Burbage

Snape and the other Death Eaters with Voldemort

While this scene is thankfully very short in the movie, it’s still one of the hardest to watch. This very bluntly shows just how evil Voldemort and his followers are. They are bigots who harm and kill innocent people just because they aren’t from pure-blood families. This is the type of evil that’s difficult to watch, and even more so because it exists in the real world.

Voldemort’s Return

Voldemort touches his new physical form after returning in Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire

While there are many Voldemort scenes that scare fans, perhaps the worst of them all is the entire sequence when Voldemort is brought back to his human form and full power. He is very high on power and cruel in this scene. He seems extra-snake-like and inhuman, and he shows that he’s not just mean to his enemies — he’s also brutal to his followers. Seeing him enjoy torturing Harry and also cruelly murder Cedric is a lot to take in.

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