The Harry Potter movies remain one of the most remarkable achievements in modern cinema. Somehow, Warner Bros was able to adapt the entire book series into eight movies while keeping almost the whole cast intact. True, there had to be changes and much of the novels' material cut out. Yet, it still succeeded as a fantastic franchise to entertain millions. Obviously, the screenwriters were building on J.K. Rowling's work to craft this terrific series.
However, it's impressive how several parts of the film were never planned at all. Some were brought in by the actors to try and spark things up from a character design to behavior. Others were because of sudden ad-libs. Even better was several moments that were pure accidents but fit into the movie perfectly. Over eight films, plenty of these moments occurred to aid the saga. Here are 15 Harry Potter moments or elements that were never scripted and help make the series so magical.
15 Luna's Wacky Dance Was All Evanna Lynch's Moves
Luna Lovegood was always an odd person on screen. In Deathly Hallows, Luna takes to the dance floor with her father and embarks on a weird dance, spinning around and flapping her arms like a bird.
This wasn't in the script, but Evanna Lynch was inspired by the original text to craft a dance only Luna could perform.
14 Draco Yanking Crabbe Down Was For Real
A funny bit at the end of Chamber of Secrets is when everyone is applauding Harry's heroism. That includes Crabbe, who rises to his feet until an annoyed Malfoy drags him down.
As it happens, Jamie Waylett didn't realize he wasn't supposed to take part in the applauding, so Felton was trying to keep him from ruining the scene. Instead, they just made it better.
13 Jason Isaacs Invented Lucius Malfoy's Entire Look
The original concept for Lucius Malfoy was a man with shorter hair and more "normal" clothing. Jason Isaacs designed the character's look from his long blonde hair to the elaborate outfits.
He also came up with the idea of Lucius keeping his wand inside his cane. It was different from the book version, but Rowling loved it as much as audiences.
12 Bonham-Carter Accidentally Hit Matthew Lewis With Her Wand
Helena Bonham-Carter was an excellent choice for the mad Bellatrix Lestrange. Yet, one moment had her going over-the-top. When holding Neville captive, Bellatrix was meant to touch him with her wand for a spell.
Bonham-Carter accidentally jammed it into Lewis' ear instead. They put it in as just the sort of twisted thing Bellatrix would do.
11 Watson Didn't Want To Hug Both Harry And Ron
While it's obvious now that Hermione and Ron were going to be together, even Rowling wasn't planning on it in the early books. At the end of Chamber of Secrets, Hermione is supposed to hug both Harry and Ron goodbye.
Watson was too embarrassed to hug both boys in a huge crowd, so settled for hugging Harry and shaking Ron's hand. It ended up being fun foreshadowing for Hermione's feelings for Ron.
10 Bonham-Carter And Watson Added In Bellatrix Scarring Hermione
It's amazing how the movies often improve on Rowling's work. When captured by Bellatrix, Hermione has "mudblood" carved into her arm in a horrific moment.
The books had Hermione being tortured, and it was the actresses who came up with the scarring. Even Rowling had to give credit for the dark touch.
9 Mark Williams Kept Changing The Rubber Duck Scene
A running bit of the series is how wizards have misconceptions of "Muggle" life. This leads to a funny scene where Ron's dad, Arthur, interrogates Harry on various Muggle objects such as "what is the purpose of the rubber duck?"
Actor Mark Williams came up with an entire score of questions on his own that he would toss out in each take to ensure the scene was funny.
8 The Trio Were Really Laughing At Harry Kissing Cho
Some of the best scenes of the main Trio play on the real-life friendship of Radcliffe, Watson, and Rupert Grint. An excellent example is when the trio are fighting about Harry's kiss with Cho.
Hermione snaps at Ron "just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon" with the trio laughing. The laugh was them reacting to the odd line, and it was kept in for the reaction.
7 Ralph Fiennes Hugged Tom Felton Without Warning
One of the biggest "meme-worthy" moments of the film is when Voldemort suddenly pulls an uncomfortable Draco into a hug.
Tom Felton's nervous look is not pure acting as in twenty takes, Ralph Fiennes only did the hug once. They made that the final take, thanks to how Felton reacted to Malfoy worrying he'd joined the wrong side.
6 Radcliffe Added In Harry's Taunt To Lucius
At the end of Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Lucius Malfoy have a confrontation with Harry knowing Malfoy was involved with things.
Playing it cool, Lucius states that he "hopes Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." Radcliffe ad-libbed the reply of "don't worry, I will be." It was a great touch to add to Harry's strength.
5 Isaacs Accidentally Used An Unforgivable Curse When He Couldn't Remember The Proper One
In the script, after Harry tricks Lucius into attacking Dobby, Lucius tries a curse on him. Isaacs turned out to forget just what kind he had to use, so he began saying "Avada Kedavra."
All fans know that is actually a killing curse. It was kept in, yet it's amazing how Lucius could think he could get away with an Unforgivable Curse right in Hogwarts.
4 Jason Isaacs Pantomimed Malfoy Attacking Dobby
Jason Isaacs was a good choice to play Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. He handled the idea of talking to thin air for the house-elf Dobby. Chris Columbus was confused when Isaacs suddenly started stabbing out with his foot, thinking he'd tripped.
Isaacs explained he was "attacking" where Dobby would be. Columbus kept it in for the CGI guys to add Dobby being abused by his master.
3 Tom Felton Came Up With Malfoy's Reading Line
In the second film, Harry and Ron use Polyjuice Potion to pose as Goyle and Crabbe. Draco is suspicious when he sees "Goyle" wearing glasses, and Harry covers by claiming they're for reading.
Felton tossed in the line, "I didn't know you could read" which was instantly kept as just perfect for Malfoy.
2 Emma Watson Added In The Word 'Crickets' When Meeting Harry
The push of the first movie is that Harry is the only person who doesn't realize how famous he is in the Wizarding World. When Hermione meets him on the train, her first words are "Holy crickets, you're Harry Potter!"
It was Watson who threw in the "crickets" bit, which Chris Columbus loved and kept in the film.
1 Ralph Fiennes Kept Changing Voldemort's Big Speech To Keep Everyone Alert
At the climax of Deathly Hallows Part 2, Voldemort embarks on a huge speech about his power and that everyone should surrender. The reactions of the actors is intriguing as the speech in the movie is just one of a dozen variations.
Fiennes kept changing it in each take to get different reactions and spark the scene up.