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Harry Potter is one of the most popular and beloved fantasy sagas of all time. The long-lasting popularity of the book and film series is, in large part, thanks to the many iconic and memorable characters introduced. Another reason why the Harry Potter books and movies remain popular decades after their release is because of the many emotional scenes and heartbreaking moments that add a deep, emotional layer to the story. While Harry Potter features an incredible and unique magical world full of adventure and mystery, some of the most memorable moments in the saga include sad storylines, beloved characters’ deaths, or heartbreaking scenes.
Many fans still mourn some of the Harry Potter characters’ deaths, while others still feel sad over some of the most heartbreaking scenes that don’t include death. Some of the saddest Harry Potter scenes deal with heavy emotions, and while a character’s death can be heartbreaking, sometimes it’s the aftermath of that death and how the characters suffer that can be extremely gut-wrenching. In other cases, a character’s suffering or backstory can lead to some of the saddest moments in the saga, even if no one dies. With so much suffering and heartbreak in Harry Potter, fans looking to rewatch the movies or read the Harry Potter books again should first mentally prepare themselves for some of the saddest scenes in the saga.
Harry’s Memories of the Cupboard Under the Stairs Was a Sad Reminder of the Abuse He Suffered
There are many sad and heartbreaking scenes in Harry Potter, but one that’s often overlooked happens as he gets ready to leave the Dursleys’ house for the last time. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry gets ready as he awaits the members of the Order of the Phoenix who will help him get to a secure location. Since he’s about to turn seventeen, the age where wizards become adults, the protection that kept Harry safe with the Dursleys was about to end. So, as he gets all his clothes and belongings ready, he does one final look around the house alongside his loyal pet, Hedwig.
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“And under here, Hedwig” – Harry pulled open a door under the stairs – “is where I used to sleep! You never knew me then – Blimey, it’s small, I’d forgotten…”
Harry looked around at the stacked shoes and umbrellas, remembering how he used to wake every morning looking up at the underside of the staircase, which was more often than not adorned with a spider or two.
When Harry reaches the cupboard under the stairs, he shows Hedwig the place where he used to live before he knew he was a wizard. This is a small moment that many fans don’t remember, and the scene wasn’t in the movie adaptation of the final Harry Potter book. However, others probably understood the sadness of the scene, particularly after Harry thinks back to the time when he lived in such a small space that was full of spiders. Thinking back at how much Harry suffered under the Dursleys, how poorly they treated him, and how young Harry was when he had to go through all that adds an emotional toll that might make many fans sad at the scene.
Hedwig Being an Innocent Casualty Broke Many Fans’ Hearts
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is filled with sad moments as the Second Wizarding War comes to an end, and many characters die while fighting against Voldemort. But there’s one death that many feel unfair, and that was Hedwig’s death. Hedwig’s death happens right at the beginning of the story, when Harry and the Order of the Phoenix members are leaving the Dursleys, and the Battle of the Seven Potters begins. In the movie, Hedwig flies in front of Harry to protect him from a curse, and the beloved owl dies instead. But the book version is quite different and, for many, even sadder.
A second’s relief, and then another burst of green light. The owl screeched and fell to the floor of the cage.
The motorbike zoomed forward; Harry glimpsed hooded Death Eaters scattering as Hagrid blasted through their circle.
In the seventh Harry Potter book, Hedwig also dies during the Battle of the Seven Potters. The only difference is that the owl isn’t flying freely nor does she try to save Harry’s life. Instead, Hedwig is inside her cage as one of the Death Eaters’ curses hits her, and Harry can’t do anything to save her. Hedwig’s death is much more heartbreaking in the book, as her death isn’t after a heroic gesture but rather as an innocent casualty. In many ways, Hedwig’s death is a somber reminder to Harry that no one is safe during the war and a scene that some might have to get ready for before reading the final Harry Potter book again.
Cedric’s Death Still Brings Tears to Some Fans
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire gave fans one of the saddest and most shocking deaths in Harry Potter. During Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, he becomes one of the Hogwarts champions who have to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. The other champion is Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff student. The final task of the Triwizard Tournament involves a complex maze with many dangers lurking around, and whoever reaches the cup at the center of the maze wins. Harry and Cedric reach the cup at the same time, and they agree to grab it together. But what no one expected was that the cup was a portkey, an element turned into a transportation device that takes Harry and Cedric to a dark and creepy cemetery where Voldemort and Wormtail await.
“Harry, let go of him,” he heard Fudge’s voice say, and he felt fingers trying to pry him from Cedric’s limp body, but Harry wouldn’t let him go. Then Dumbledore’s face, which was still blurred and misted, came closer.
“Harry, you can’t help him now. It’s over. Let go.”
“He wanted me to bring him back,” Harry muttered – it seemed important to explain this. “He wanted me to bring him back to his parents…”
The cup was turned into a portkey to take Harry to the cemetery, so Cedric becomes another innocent casualty in the fight between Harry and Voldemort. Once Voldemort realizes that someone else has arrived at the cemetery with Harry, he orders Wormtail to kill Cedric. Cedric’s death is heartbreaking, and the aftermath is even sadder. The scene in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie might even be more heartbreaking thanks to the talented performance of Jeff Rawle, who plays Cedric’s father, Amos Diggory. Amos’ grief and anguish as he realizes that his son is dead is a heartbreaking scene that fans might have to mentally prepare for before rewatching the fourth Harry Potter film.
Harry Visiting His Parent’s Grave for the First Time Was an Emotional Moment
While there are many heartbreaking deaths in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there are other sad moments in the final Harry Potter book that don’t include any deaths. And one of these moments happens when Harry and Hermione visit Godric’s Hollow. Tensions are high by the time Harry and Hermione arrive at Godric’s Hollow, as this is a few days after Ron leaves them. Hermione is also worried that Voldemort expects Harry to go to his birthplace eventually. And while their time at Godric’s Hollow is quite eventful, it also includes one of the saddest scenes in Harry Potter that many weren’t prepared for.
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The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.
Harry’s desire to go to Godric’s Hollow has nothing to do with the mission to search and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. He wants to go to the village where he was born, where he lived with his parents before they died. And once Harry and Hermione arrive there, they eventually go to the village’s graveyard, where Harry finds James and Lily’s gravestones. This is a sad and emotional scene as Harry comes to terms with the idea that his parents’ remains are there and that they were never coming back.
Neville Visiting His Parents at the Hospital Was a Sad Reminder of His Suffering
The Harry Potter movies left out a lot of Neville Longbottom’s backstory. One of the things the movies left out was what really happened to Neville’s parents. While in the Harry Potter movies Neville’s parents appear to be dead, their fate in the book series is much darker. Frank and Alice Longbottom, Neville’s parents, aren’t dead. They were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and other Death Eaters, and since then, they’ve been at St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum wrapper.
“Very nice, dear,” said Neville’s grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder.
But Neville said quietly, “Thanks, Mum.”
Harry goes to St. Mungo’s in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix after Mr. Weasley is attacked by Nagini. There, he runs into Neville, who is at the wizarding hospital with his grandmother to visit his parents. It’s already sad to know what happened to Neville’s parents, but the scene at St. Mungo’s is even sadder as fans get to truly appreciate how much Neville goes through. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny witness as Neville’s mother gives Neville a gum wrapper, which he seems to keep to himself as a heartbreaking souvenir of his time with his parents. The scene is even sadder as it happens during Christmas, and while it’s not in the fifth Harry Potter movie, those who are about to read or re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix should mentally prepare for that moment.
Many Harry Potter Fans Still Grieve Dobby’s Death
Dobby is a Harry Potter fan favorite. The House-elf who first appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to save Harry from danger is much more present in the book series than in the movies. Regardless, Dobby’s death is just as tragic and sad in the movie and the Deathly Hallows book. Dobby apparates in Malfoy Manor to save Harry and his friends, who are imprisoned there by Bellatrix. But as they try to escape, Bellatrix throws a knife that ends up killing Dobby.
“Dobby, no, don’t die, don’t die -”
The elf’s eyes found him, and his lips trembled with the effort to form words.
And then with a little shudder the elf became quite still, and his eyes were nothing more than great glassy orbs, sprinkled with light from the stars they could not see.
Dobby’s death is one that many Harry Potter fans still don’t recover from. Dobby was innocent and sweet and always willing to help Harry and his friends. Harry’s grief is also extremely sad, as well as the following scenes as Harry digs Dobby’s grave without magic. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows features many deaths, but Dobby’s death is easily one of the deaths that hurts the most, and fans might need to mentally prepare themselves before re-reading or rewatching the scene.
Percy Returning to Witness Fred’s Death Is Still Tragic
The Battle of Hogwarts sees many casualties as the Second Wizarding War comes to an end. But probably the most tragic and heartbreaking death is Fred Weasley’s death. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 doesn’t really show Fred’s death scene, even though they eventually show that he died. The final Harry Potter book, on the other hand, details the moment of Fred’s death and is even more heartbreaking. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Percy Weasley were there when Fred died, making the entire scene even sadder.
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“No – no – no!” someone was shouting. “No! Fred! No!”
And Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred’s eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.
Percy had distanced himself from the Weasleys once Percy started working for the Ministry of Magic. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry tries to discredit Harry and Dumbledore and deny Voldemort’s return, and Percy takes the Ministry’s side. Percy eventually comes to his senses and asks for forgiveness as he arrives to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts. Percy was fighting right by Fred’s side, joking while Harry, Ron and Hermione appeared. Suddenly, a curse creates a big explosion that sends everyone flying through the air. And as the dust settles, Harry hears the screams as Percy and Ron realize that Fred is dead.
Harry’s Grief After Losing Sirius Is One of the Most Heartbreaking Moments
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is filled with sad scenes and shocking revelations. Some of these didn’t make it to the screen adaptation of the book. Others, like Sirius Black’s death, remain one of the saddest moments both in the book and in the movie. But while the scene in the fifth Harry Potter movie is sad, Harry’s grief in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is truly heartbreaking, and many fans might want to mentally prepare for it before reading or re-reading the book.
“Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man! This pain is part of being human —”
“THEN — I — DON’T — WANT — TO — BE — HUMAN!” Harry roared, and he seized the delicate silver instrument from the spindle-legged table beside him and flung it across the room; it shattered into a hundred tiny pieces against the wall. Several of the pictures let out yells of anger and fright, and the portrait of Armando Dippet said, “Really!”
“I DON’T CARE!” Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. “I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANY MORE —”
He seized the table on which the silver instrument had stood and threw that, too. It broke apart on the floor and the legs rolled in different directions.
Harry lost so much at that point, and Sirius was the last parent figure in his life. Sirius’ death is very sad, most of all because of the toll it takes on Harry. When Harry was at Dumbledore’s office after Sirius died, Harry struggles to remain calm and keep his emotions in check. Harry was only fifteen years old at the time, which makes everything even sadder. And as Harry starts mourning and breaking everything in Dumbledore’s office, readers can’t help but feel extremely sad for Harry, and share and understand his pain. This scene isn’t sad only because of the pain Harry feels about losing Sirius, but also as fans can truly understand and feel Harry’s stress and the pressure he’s under at such a young age.
Harry’s Sacrifice Is More Heartbreaking Than People Realize
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sees the last confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. The Battle of Hogwarts is the last battle of the Second Wizarding War, and while everyone knows that Harry survives and Voldemort dies, the journey and Harry’s own sacrifice isn’t any less sad. Harry goes willingly to the forest to sacrifice himself once he learns that he is also a Horcrux and that he must die in order to defeat Voldemort once and for all. He didn’t know he would survive; he never even suspected it, which makes his sacrifice even more tragic.
Terror washed over him as he lay on the floor, with that funeral drum pounding inside him. Would it hurt to die? All those times he had thought that it was about to happen and escaped, he had never really thought of the thing itself: His will to live had always been so much stronger than his fear of death. Yet it did not occur to him now to try to escape, to outrun Voldemort. It was over, he knew it, and all that was left was the thing itself: dying.
Harry is only seventeen years old, with the fate of the wizarding world on his shoulders. And as he learns he must die, he doesn’t hesitate, even though he’s afraid, even though he wishes someone would stop him. The scene in the Deathly Hallows movie is sad, especially as he uses the Resurrection Stone to see his parents one last time. But the scene in the final Harry Potter book is even more heartbreaking, as readers get a much deeper understanding of Harry’s emotions and fears. Those who want to read or re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows should be mentally prepared for the anguish and heartbreak of this scene.
Kreacher’s Suffering Is Heartbreaking and Often Overlooked
Kreacher is the Black family House-elf who lives at Grimmauld Place and first appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. After Sirius Black’s death, Harry inherits Sirius’ home, Grimmauld Place, and with it, Kreacher. But while they don’t get along at first, they eventually end up on friendly terms after Harry, Ron and Hermione spend time at Grimmauld’s Place and learn exactly what happened to Kreacher. Kreacher was close with Sirius’ brother Regulus, who was a Death Eater. And as a Death Eater, Regulus offered Kreacher when Voldemort needed a House-elf to test the defenses at the cave where Voldemort left one of his Horcruxes, Slytherin’s Locket. So when Harry, Ron and Hermione are trying to find Slytherin’s Locket, they learn about what happened to the real one and about Kreacher’s heartbreaking story.
“Kreacher drank, and as he drank he saw terrible things… Kreacher’s insides burned… Kreacher cried for Master Regulus to save him, he cried for his Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord only laughed… He made Kreacher drink all the potion… He dropped a locket into the empty basin… He filled it with more potion.”
“And then the Dark Lord sailed away, leaving Kreacher on the island…”
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Regulus didn’t know what Kreacher would have to go through while helping Voldemort, and as Kreacher tells the story to Harry, Ron and Hermione, it’s easy to see why many would find this one of the saddest and most heartbreaking moments. Kreacher’s story and his suffering as he was forced to drink the potion in the cave is extremely tragic, especially after remembering how much Dumbledore suffered as well when he took the potion. Yet while Dumbledore had Harry by his side to help him, Kreacher was there with Voldemort, who not only didn’t help the elf but laughed and later left the elf to die in the cave. Luckily, Kreacher was able to escape the cave using House-elf magic. However, his suffering remains one of the saddest Harry Potter moments that many might have to mentally prepare for and one that many fans still feel sad about simply by remembering Kreacher’s story.
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